#reciprocal synergy
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ldysmfrst · 3 months ago
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Is it creepy?
Well, I just got "yelled at" by a random anonymous person who said I was "too old" to be writing American Mate and Incomplete.
I am "creepy and sick" for writing Y/n stories about being mates or soulmates with K-pop Idols who are "that much younger" than I am.
To me, it is just a story. It is not a delusion that it will happen. It is not a hope for it to become real. It is a fantasy or a wish.
For one- Hybrids, werewolves, vampires, and Soulmates (in the sense of my story) do not exist. IT IS NOT REAL!
For two- Yes, I write them as the y/n being older than all or most of the Idol group because I am unsure how to write y/n as younger.
For last- Why can't I write stories for others to read as they like, giving them something to enjoy, somewhere to escape to and a world where things are possible?
I write because it helps my anxiety and depression. It is a bonus if it helps others with theirs or their loneliness.
I write because I can't sleep unless I do sometimes. It is a bonus if it helps others find the calm to sleep or chase away their nightmares.
I suspect this won't be the only message I will get from an anonymous source that makes me feel like a dirty criminal for a short time before I remember why I write what I write.
It just hurts to be called so many names that I won't even put them out for you, my dear readers, to see because you matter to me, and I will not let someone make you feel wrong about finding your outlet in the words of my stories.
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ldysmfrst · 3 months ago
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I’m writing! I promise!! Almost done with chapter two of Incomplete and almost finished with the editing of Reciprocal synergy.
Should be able to post both to Patreon today for the paid member holders!
💜💜💜
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Made this as a joke when bestie commented her writing fairy must have visited me to get me to pump out 3K words tonight.
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strangelovealchemist · 29 days ago
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I believe in the power of reciprocity, effective communication, empathy and common courtesy. I believe in encouraging, inspiring and empowering others.
These seven attributes form the foundation of any healthy relationship, friendship and business partnership. We all benefit immeasurably when we embrace and apply them in our daily lives.
When we recognize and appreciate others, their talents, their abilities, their skills and their time, we are essentially opening the door to the fusion of ideas, the spark of innovation and the mingling of kindred minds. The conversation begins, alliances are formed and it feels good! Everything else aside, feeling good and developing the ability to help others feel good is a great asset to have, for it breaks down barriers, fosters growth and encourages learning.
Making an effort to communicate effectively enriches our lives, our connections, and ultimately, our collaborations. Curious minds, creative synergy and shifting perspectives allow us to see the world with new eyes. Whether it be with a client, a business partner, a friend, a new acquaintance, a family member or a stranger. They all represent people. Strengthening relationships and building rapport is essential to a successful life. No man or woman can do it alone. We need each other. We are universally interconnected whether we are aware of this fact or not. Awareness and Action allow us to amplify and expand our impact, and in turn elevate our ability to make real, positive change in our own lives and in the lives of our fellow humans.
I believe in the power of reciprocity, effective communication, empathy and common courtesy. I believe in encouraging, inspiring and empowering others.
Let us engage.
Let us begin.
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asliceofzosan · 1 year ago
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sanji has always known he loved zoro.
subconsciously.
it's hidden in the steps he takes to maneuver around the sleeping marimo on the deck. it's written in the recipes he creates to account for the amount of nutrients he needs for his frankly ridiculous workout routine. it's embedded so deeply in the way he fights, back to back, one leg swinging in perfect synergy with zoro's blade. how he stands on his blind side more often on the field. but stands on his good side when they have a conversation.
so the words "i love you" come naturally to him. it's like he was always meant to say it to zoro. his presence was an appetizer. his words, the entreé. his actions, a delectable dessert that even his sweets-hating boyfriend craves for after a long day.
but sanji has never heard those three little words from zoro. not even once.
and sure, it's not like he goes around saying i love you to every beautiful lady he meets. he knows the gravity of such words. he knows how someone saying it can affect you in ways that can barely be comprehended by the human mind. it stirs something within ourselves that awakens the age old yearning to be cherished. to be held.
to be worth something to someone.
sanji can remember the rare times someone said i love you to him. once held in his mother's arms in a tender embrace that weakens with each passing second, it was whispered against his temple, frail fingers combing through his hair, and he cries without knowing that it would be the last time he hears those words for a very long time. once shaking in zeff's arms as the nightmares roar louder in his head than the storm that rattled the windows of the newly opened baratie, the older man choosing to be gentle with the child he willingly gave everything to in order to survive.
he's never heard it from someone who loved him like a partner. loved him like an equal. loved him in ways lovers are supposed to love each other.
maybe it's because he never had one of those until zoro. for the longest time, he survived on fairy tales and myths and legends. oral tradition passed down through generations of every family he encounters on their adventures out at sea. and though his life as a prince was nothing like the pictures painted in children's books, he always longed for a princess of his own. someone he could save from the proverbial tower guarded by a fearsome dragon.
he wanted someone to love him like a hero. their hero. someone who admires him for all the things he desperately projects for others to see him as worth keeping around.
zoro isn't a princess by any means. he's honestly so much more like the dragon. but also not. fearsome as he is fearful. immensely strong as he is soft hearted. a steady pillar as he is the first to crumble at sanji's touch.
and zoro never admired him like a hero. never cared about the best foot forward sanji took care to show others. in fact, he saw right through him from the very moment they met. it irritated sanji to no end how someone like that stupid marimo could read him like an open book. he took care to make sure the pages of his story that he deems undesirable were sealed away under lock and key. no one needed to know the plot points that brought him where he is. he needs to be the hero. he needs to be seen as the hero in his story.
but who exactly was he trying to save?
what kind of hero has no one to save?
it took several years for him to realize that the person he needed to save was himself. and zoro knew that.
of course he fucking did.
he never mollycoddled him. never softened the blow. always blunt and direct with him. it drove sanji up the wall once with how little tact he had. eventually, he actually started to appreciate how zoro never once sugarcoated anything with him. if he was upset, he'd show it. if he was happy, it would shine in his gaze clear as day.
and if he was in love?
well.
sanji can admit it took him much longer to realize that the love he felt for zoro was not only reciprocated but was so much deeper than what three little words could possibly convey.
there's a permanent space for zoro next to sanji, right in front of the sink, when dinner is over and the soapy water goes up to his elbows. the windows are always open in the crow's nest when sanji's watch comes right after zoro's, just enough for the smoke to escape but the smell to linger. the wordless nod zoro gives him when sanji is combing through marketplaces and dragged him along to be his pack mule. the strategically placed shoulder for him to jump off of when sanji needs to launch himself at an oncoming enemy.
the 2am fights that devolve into holding each other and apologizing without saying any words at all.
the way zoro carries him back to his bunk when he's fallen asleep in the galley writing recipes down. the kiss to his forehead. the hand that runs through his hair.
and here sanji thought his actions were the sweet dessert. for in the dead of night, when no one is watching, zoro's devotion is blinding. zoro's love shines like a beacon in a dark, stormy night.
the dragon perched on the roof of the tower, breathing fire for the lost prince to find his way home.
so sanji lets zoro comb through the pages of his story that he doesn't tell anyone else. he lets zoro guide his hand to flip to the blank pages, allows him to convince him that the parts of his story that mattered are the ones written by his own hand. and if the pages are soon filled with endless adventures of the prince and his swordsman, no one else will really understand it.
no one except zoro.
so yes. sanji always knew he loved zoro and that zoro loved him back just as fiercely or maybe even more.
even if he never heard those three little words.
what sanji doesn't know, is that when zoro is sure he is fast asleep, zoro whispers those words against sanji's ear. like a revenant prayer to a god. zoro doesn't believe in god.
but he believes in sanji. he always did.
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nextstop-fixationstation · 5 months ago
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OK analysis time! Matt said that Marcy's affection towards Sasha was more surface level than Anne's, which was described as "complicated." People might assume that this means that Marcy's affection for Sasha wasn't deep, or that their relationship wasn't.
If we're being honest here they weren't presented as having depth to their relationship so much as having acts and services. They're on the level with each other and can interpret each other's needs for a plan but they are lacking somehow when it comes to each other's emotional needs. This is something Darcy touches upon when they say they might not have ever been friends at all, and might be a core conflict between Sasha and Marcy. It's also a good example of why Anne is the actual Heart of their friendship. She connects and makes their dynamic deeper. While Marcy is desperate to keep people together and hates being alone, she admits she lacks a core understanding of emotional intelligence and this is something she admires in Anne. Marcy treats herself as a tool and mostly makes friends by doing things for them and complimenting them. She's kind of the perfect POV character for a journal that gives lore specifically because she's very attentive to things like strengths and weaknesses and team synergy, but isn't necessarily attuned to emotional intelligence. She kind of blocks herself off from feeling certain things too keenly or doubting herself, and masks it using this peppy overachiever persona.
Maybe if Marcy were more emotionally self aware, she would have been even more openly hurt by how dismissive Sasha is of her interests (even though Sasha clearly does like nerdy things), or she would have noticed that her friends don't really care for RP (etc). But in the series what we see is a Marcy so afraid of being left alone that she'll hide every emotion and every hurt aside from what she thinks will make people stay - she delivers compliments, improves infrastructure, says all the right things to earn trust. She's a great twist antagonist! Admitting that her friends don't or can't reciprocate her interests or desires is important to her arc, because it serves as a lesson to her that friendship is more than just doing things together or doing things for each other. Marcy and the others aren't just tools in schemes and plans.
We hear from Anna that Sasha has difficulty knowing when to bring other people to the table, so for someone like Marcy who thinks that she needs to earn everything through acts/upgrades, it makes sense that their relationship remained very surface level. Neither of them pushes the other to see things differently, while Anne does. Anne can acknowledge where people hurt and hurt her, and can acknowledge that this doesn't mean they aren't friends or significant to each other. Anne notes the complexity! It's why she's so compelling.
So, Marcy acknowledging how hurt she is that her friends don't want to do what she wants is significant because she also says, "I believe in you." Love goes beyond the stuff we do for each other. There's a bit of faith, too. What she did isn't right either. Being hurt isn't an excuse.
Darcy isn't just "evil Marcy," the Core is also every temptation for Marcy. Escapism, distraction, perfect friends who go on quests with her whenever she wants. There's a darkness to this kind of insecure attachment that Darcy reveals. Fear of inadequacy and irrelevance. Fear of loss. Fear of change. Fear of what is deeper than skin deep. Maybe my friends will forget me if I move. Maybe I'm just their nerd, just like Sasha's just cool. So their relationship isn't surface level to us, because this nuance is communicated to us through the subtleties of the show's execution. It's a really well acted, well boarded, well written show with fantastic music! It's really amazing!
Sasharcy IS very complicated! But it's complicated because they never dig deeper with each other until it's too late. It's also why it's significant that Sasha is the one to ask, "Can we save this friendship?"
Why is friendship with Marcy so easy? Is it because they got along and there's mutuality here, or is it because they didn't let themselves get any deeper than what was easy? It's so easy for them to just be the controller and the executor.
Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness takes time. It takes a lot of thought, discussion, and work. Friendship in the long term, deep enough to mean something and hurt when it's gone, is similar. It's not just sentimentality and acts of appeasement.
aaaaand that's what i think matt meant when he was like "marcy's affection for sasha was kind of surface level"! I will admit I was like noooo Matt noooo don't say it was surface level whyyyy but like i had time to think abt it so i'm fine now lol lmk ur thoughts💙
smth i didn't add to my original tweet thread is that i DO find it interesting that marcy appears to specifically empathize with the experience of lonely people who grow up a certain way or doing things a certain way to protect themselves from loneliness. she seems to have an intuitive understanding of people fitting into groups via niches, but is drawn to people who already seem like outcasts as opposed to being able to identify it when someone is surrounded by people they seem to easily connect with. Marcy has this fundamentally insecure and lonely viewpoint that makes her very interesting to read and analyze, and I suspect it also contributes to her popularity. I mean, clearly *I* love her
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ldysmfrst · 2 months ago
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This is so hardcore truth. I started my first story (Breaking and Entering) for myself.
Then I started writing my second story (Reciprocal Synergy) after reading fanfics for the first time and stopped after no one paid any attention to it when I posted it on here and AO3.
After reading an amazing story by @yoongiofmine I got inspired to write another story (American Mate) which I was originally going to keep to myself because the online world already shot down one of my stories so why do it again but my oldest child said “so what do it for yourself” and I did.
Now American Mate has a full Taglist, I have a permanent tag list, had a reader request for a story (Was It Fate?), and have started a fourth story (Incomplete).
Write for yourself.
Enjoy what you wrote.
Somewhere out there someone else will match your freak.
Someone else will want to escape into your world.
Someone else needs to feel that support even from a character in a story on their electronic device.
💜💜💜
I’m begging you to write for yourself.
“But readers don’t like—“ who cares?
The only reader of your story that you should care about is yourself.
Do you like your story? Yes? Then it’s perfect.
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makingspiritualityreal · 6 months ago
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Sleeping Beauty - Why the Moon and the Feminine Debilitate in Vishakha Nakshatra
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For the best understanding of my writing, I recommend that you watch the movie in question, even if you see it after having read my post I’m sure your experience will leave you enriched and with a greater sense of understanding of Vishakha Nakshatra energies.
Vishakha Nakshatra traditionally debilitates the Moon in the 4th pada of Scorpio if you use traditional Lahiri Ayanamsa. I don’t, as anyone who reads me knows about my endorsement of the Mula Galactic Center Ayanamsa, which places the entirety of Vishakha in Scorpio in our times, and I believe I can show you how this theme carries through the entirety of the Moon in this Nakshatra.
It is important to understand, that the struggle described here concerns women in particular. The reason why it’s so prominent in female charts, is that this Nakshatra's ruler is Jupiter and men are naturally more inclined to carry Jupiterian energy more gracefully, while women are fundamentally at odds with it. Men are designed to withstand pressure to protect the feminine, as it increases their Masculine polarity through giving them "a tough hide" over time. Women's Lunar energies however, react to being subjected to this energy with trauma, that they compensate heavily for to survive.
To an extent, the struggles described here can be relatable if you have any of your big 3 in Vishakha Nakshatra, but even with prominent Vishakha energy in your chart, the experience is not quite the same as having your Moon there, and your Sun there can actually become a positive placement over time. The Sun is born in Vishakha Nakshatra and this combo can turn out auspiciously due to the natural synergy of Solar energies in a female chart.
Let’s begin by describing the feminine qualities of planets - Venus and the Moon. The Moon is nurturing, adaptable, giving, caring, receptive, reciprocal. Venus is receptive but discerning, making her also a natural receiver and refiner, a strategic taker, who lays down and relaxes, while taking in only what’s best, ultimately spending oneself on what is worthy of one’s admiration. It is also a conqueror of the finest things, but it is never defensive, as it represents the sentiment of pride.
These feminine principles in theory should represent the apex of female behavior through those qualities. A woman is supposed to be proud, relaxed, discerning and freely respond to her environment. Her garden is supposed to grow and expand, nurture and be nurtured. And those qualities all fail in Vishakha Nakshatra due to its fundamental giving nature and Jupiter rulership, making it the gardener, not the object of worship.
Jupiter is giving and tolerant, Venus is taking and critical. The Moon adapts and attaches to its environment, Jupiter absorbs negativity from others to provide relief. What do we get as a result of this combo? A woman who can’t function in her basic feminine principle without a massive struggle.
Our Moon Nakshatra is what our earliest environment raised us to adapt to through our nurturing female figures. It is what we fundamentally have burned into our psyche and what we emulate as women. When your Moon as a woman is in Vishakha Nakshatra, you fundamentally have adapted to endlessly giving passes to other people as a result of your upbringing. You can see an example of that in the film, where Sleeping Beauty’s Mother calls her to get money out of her, despite her daughter struggling for basic survival financially. You can also see Sleeping Beauty working several jobs to carry that load and to fulfill everyone’s expectations of her, while they don’t treat her well and are never grateful for any of her sacrifices. Sleeping Beauty is willing to sacrifice all of her basic needs, just to satisfy a mother who drains her. As a result of such a conditioning, she grows into a pathological people pleaser, who can’t say no, even to her own detriment, and ends up putting herself in uncomfortable situations over and over, thinking that making a demand or advocating for her own well being is going to result in a punishment from her environment. We see this in the scene where she needs to rent a new apartment and ends up picking the first building on the flier, just to make things easier for the real estate agent, even though she can’t afford it and doesn’t enjoy it.
What is a Woman? A creature of delight and senses. Comfortable, open, giving, splendorous, cherished and protected. It radiates caring to others, because it feels effortlessly cared for. It expands, because it caries within so much comfort and abundance. But when the Moon is in Vishakha Nakshatra it gets none of those things. Instead, the feminine is neglected, spending itself for everyone else.
You can see that throughout the film as everyone, men and women, treats Sleeping Beauty instrumentally, to the point of subjecting her to a horrifying final experience of laying directly with death for the sake of someone else’s relief, someone avoiding responsibility for their own life and using the Vishakha woman for self gratification.
What is the tale of a Sleeping Beauty? A tale of a selective woman, patiently waiting forever if necessary, until the Prince with enough courage proves himself by rescuing her and showing initiative, and then promising to care for her for the rest of her days. Yet in the movie version, no prince is found and instead men use Sleeping Beauty to feel cared for, objectifying her and erasing her identity, which eventually leads her to snap. There is no Jupiterian Prince coming to save the Moon in Vishakha woman.
The Moon in Vishakha Nakshatra promises such a scenario in a woman’s chart, sentencing her to a very difficult fate.
There is a reason this Nakshatra is of an Out Caste. After suffering so much on the hands of so many people, Vishakha doesn’t really want to be part of them, finally embracing one’s freedom and individuality. And for that it is condemned, discarded and casted out the moment people can’t use it as their desired object. They only had any semblance of acceptance in slave roles to begin with, and that cannot be sustained, for the Moon is a Royal planet, of a "Queenly" nature according to Jyotish classics. A Royal planet will not accept a submissive role, Vishakha Nakshatra doesn’t want to offer natural, effortless splendor, so a Vishakha Moon becomes the queen of the wilderness, the queen of the outcasts and the downtrodden.
We don't see a continuation of this scenario in the movie, but if you follow Emily Browning's career she stars in roles, where a fight for her own freedom and agency leads to her own demise, as her feminine energy is oppressed for all attempts at self expression. This Nakshatra is the only one classified as Rakshasa, Demonic, among others of Jupiter rulership due to the struggles one must endure here just for the sake of their basic life. The sister Nakshatra of Punarvasu is of a Deva, Angelic nature, preoccupied with creativity and higher ideas, attracting a certain amount of divine sovereignty and protection. Purva Bhadrapada is of a Manushya, human temperament making them expert social climbers and using status and collective themes to buffer Jupiterian energies, despite that Nakshatra being such a testing point. But it is the Vishakha Nakshatra that is the rawest point of the Jupiterian soul, enduring the most negativity and hardship.
With the Moon in Vishakha, a woman's inner Queen needs to go through literal Hell to earn the right to live.
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What would happen if instead of deku choosing his wide he choose shoto instead what would happen to his wife would he still go after her how would it play out too.
Thank you for asking
I really love this
🖤🖤🖤🖤
Yandere DekuWife Alternate AU
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by u/ryuutoshi2
What would have been if Deku had chosen Shoto? The former hero in training was rising in notoriety alongside him. Always there. Always supporting. He knew Deku as well as he knew Izuku. Unshakeable in synergy it felt right to choose him. Choose him over his first true love, who seemed oblivious to all his telling actions. Oblivious to the painful yearning of watching you blindly trample his desires. And the way you cheered him on when he shakily admitted his relationship with some mysterious gent.
“That’s…wonderful Izu! I’ll have to meet him one day!”
You wouldn’t. It would be then that he abandoned the civilian identity to be the largest supervillain to date: Deku. Hand-in-hand with his villain lover as they collectively brought chaos to the world of heroes. Only the inner workings of the UA could suspect who he was and some would follow him. A closed incident that would lead the few who cared: Inko and you to mourn Izuku Midoriya.
“...All he wanted was to be a hero…”
���Maybe in his own mind…he was…”
His heart still yearned for you to hide crumpled photos whenever Shoto entered the room. To him, it was just the pains of withdrawal. A simple case of breaking his routine of obsession, instead of obsessing with someone who so quickly reciprocated that same level of affection. For years he’d fight it, drowning out his thoughts and memories of you with lust, mass violence, and diabolical schemes that would bring despair to the heroes he frowned upon. 
It happens by chance that he’s undercover in the daylight of the city. Smirking to himself as he passes a small-time hero on patrol. This information grab would be easy. An orchestrated diversion that would put him in the position to grab the data in a populated place while his beloved counterpart attacks. It plays on the hero's weakness: the protection of civilians. It would have been perfect. 
“Alright, Mister what can I help you with?”
At the front desk of the intelligence, the employee he was supposed to subdue was you. Grown and gorgeous as the day he left, was (Y/n) (L/n). The woman he spent years chasing and fantasizing over. 
He’s starstruck. Stuttering and flapping his lips as he’s reduced to the sweaty, overheating, obsessed dork you couldn’t see the feelings of. Ever patient you don’t rush him as he struggles to do anything–eating into the time he should have spent completing the mission. 
The sound of rubble crashing and the distorted laughter of his lover–Pyrodast rang out. The screaming and running began, and the swarm of panicked employees created the perfect chaos to steal those documents. But he let himself be pulled by you, tucking him under your desk as you dutifully pressed a hidden button. 
“Alright sir. Please stay here I’ll handle this!” 
He was so caught up fawning over your determined glare he almost didn’t catch what you said. Reaching out to hold onto your arm, worriedly pleading that you don’t leave him. And like something out of a dream you hold his shoulder rubbing soothingly. Flashing a smile he feared he’d forgotten. 
“It’s alright I can handle this,” You reached your other hand past him unintenionally caging him. He fluttered his eyes fully prepared to lean into you and capture your lips only to be reawoken when you pulled back. Letting you stand up straight with a darker look on your face and sleek hi-tech power gun. Holding the weapon with ease you cocked the barrel continuing to smile the way only you did. 
“Besides, both me and my husband are heroes!” 
With that you began firing away, immediately making contact with high powered villain judging by the pained grunt. Alarmed and completely in shock he disobeys your command watching as his not so past love expertly dodges the stray pits of steam and fire from his current love. Moving with the agility and speed of a spider you distribute tear gas bombs to blast in the villain’s face. You duck out of the way for most of his confused attacks, seemingly almost subdued when the gloved hands of Shoto reach for your head. 
Izuku has half a mind to scream out and he does. Drowned out by a resounding explosion, the hero’s defense gives you the opportunity to roll out of the way. More heroes quickly arrive on the scene, sending Pyrodast into a desperate escape. 
Hurriedly coming from behind the desk he tries to spot you among the rubble left in their wake. And like the sun at the break of dawn, you rise nearly unscathed and yawning all the while. Stretching as though you just woke up from a successful nap you smile in the direction of the tattered hole of the building. 
“Man, Suki great timing! You just barely missed my amazing defense!”
“Tch! Like I said before you shouldn’t need to do ‘amazing defense’! Just leave the hero work to me, detective!”
“Aw Suki, you’re just jealous I’m so good at my job! I just can’t retire!”
“Grrrr!”
“Kehehehe~!” Watching you tease the explosive hero, laugh at his glare, and insults stung. Too much like old times, he’d been overwhelmed by that tight-knitted jealousy that came with everyone who should speak to you. Specifically with this man. Even more painfully surreal, in tears of his own, he watches you pull out a silver and black band. Slipping it around your ring finger and fiddling with it as you prodded at the hero’s patience. He notices the way those red eyes look at you with a satisfied fondness that didn’t exist way back when.
It's then that he recalls your words…it makes him shudder. With disgust? with malice? with envy? The pure incessant desire to murder? Katsuki Bakugo was who you were married to the hero who had saved him from judgment on the account of a last favor before continuing to pursue him alongside the board of heroes. He didn’t think he could hate the hero more. He was wrong and if he hadn’t been pinged by a worried Shoto he would have killed him. Stabbed from the back at speeds you’d barely register but he didn’t. 
Wobbly and downcast, he returned to the rendezvous point letting Shoto handle the report for the day. Heterochromatic eyes flashed worriedly toward the no longer disguised Deku. It wasn’t long before they shed their masks and latex, settling into their afternoon routine within the highrise home officially owned by the former hero tycoon Shoto Todoroki. 
He didn’t need to speak. Simply leaning over to rest his chin on Izuku’s head as he held his lover by the waist. Sniffing the dyed locks he gets so lost he almost forgets what he originally asked. Or how Izuku doesn’t turn around to wrap his arms around his neck. 
Instead, Izuku leaned back, letting his head rest on the front collarbone of Shoto. He couldn’t share this most jarring discovery, not while his thoughts were still jumbled. When he finally knew how he felt then he’d tell Shoto, so they both wouldn’t make irrational decisions. 
A shame he’d forgotten how deeply in-tune his lover was with his struggle. 
The moment he realizes his Izuku is sleeping in he zeroes in on the exact moment for the shift in moods. Calling his covert underlings to retrieve the camera footage of the building. Unfortunately the cameras had been wiped supposedly taken away after the visit of some group in black suits. Thanfully his team was able to kidnap lightly apprehend a civilian with an undeleted video of the incident.
“So this is…them?”
As Izuku’s closest confidant for years, lending his ears to his romantic woes was a given. Already bonded by the intimacy that came with villainy it was easy to slip himself into his arms. Whispering in his ear and sharing each other’s breath, Shoto made himself the prime owner of Izuku’s heart. Or so he thought. He once tried to track you down before, fully prepared to use the family hitman to guarantee Izuku’s love. But Izuku’s smart, keeping you nameless and eluding Todoroki's covert operation team. 
But now that there’s a video albeit grainy he now knows who you were. The wife of Katsuki Bakugo, a position highly covetted by celebrities and teens. It seemed like a covert marriage considering official registrars had him married to some nameless character. But the video has you smiling, teasing Deku's mortal enemy. How dare you?! After putting Izuku through all that stress and dethroning him in Izuku’s heart. With a roll of his eyes he makes a call and it's with one thing in mind. 
To kill (Y/n) Bakugo.
Which would prove a difficult feat when half his team was out of commission or under arrest.  Needless to say he killed them before they could spill but your invulnerability was a problem. Somehow involved with some of the highest forms of government it was hard to know what your official title was or how you could so easily debillitate his team. But that wouldn’t be a problem for the openly vengeful Pyrodast who could easily put a bounty on your head. But alas the news didn’t even bother to cover the mysterious disappearances of the newest up and coming villains. Shoto Todoroki didn’t lose. Pyrodast wouldn’t lose. He couldn’t believe that. But he would say he was stumped almost completely losing sight of his original goal. Getting too caught up in a rivalry created all his own he committed days to locking himself away quickly shutting his monitor off when Izuku came to check on him.
“Sho-honey are you doing okay? Those bags under your eyes haven’t gone away yet.”
“Y-yeah I’m fine. J-just trying to tie a loose-end.”
“Well…okay.”
He digs his nails into his desk as he watches his love slink back out of his office. Alright, that’s it! He’s putting an end to this himself, he’s spent too many resources trying to take down someone who should have been a minor kill. So he suits up in the darkness of his office expecting to turn around and pull that green book on the far end of the–
“Well Pyrodast, it’s been a while since I’ve had a man chase after me so earnestly!”
Quickly turning on his voice modulator he whips around finally seeing the woman he’d been trying to kill for so long. Brandishing a glowing saber and wearing a latex suit under a stylish trench coat, your outfit certainly left much nothing to the imagination. 
“Hmmm are you here to return the favor?”
“Only half-way I guess! I’ve always wanted to fight against someone with the Todoroki style.”
Gritting his teeth from behind the mask, he felt the hiss of the recorder as he yelled. 
“I HAVE NO CONNECTION TO THAT NAME!”
“Of course not, the public doesn’t already theorize about your true nature at all!”
“GRAAAGH!”
The battle is intense and Pyrodast makes every attempt to burn you alive but your agile wuick and you use your weapon to cut through the titanium leather of his suit. All the while you’re laughing still flashing that stupid smile even as he slams your body into an adjacent cabinet. More times than he could count did you have him pinned and forced to endure your punches and infuriating flicks. By the time he was pinned down once again he was too tired to pull himself up, simply reeling at the controlled penetration of your saber into his bulky mask. 
Feeling the seering heat of the laser he’s fully prepared to lose his nose but immediately you retract your blade. Jumping off of him to skip to the door, you hum to yourself. Waving your fingers like a conducter would the crescendo come when the door is slammed open by Izuku himself.
“Shoto! What the he–”
“Oh my! I didn’t expect to see you! Let alone living!” 
Izuku’s eyes widen as he looks to you and the nearly unmasked Pyrodast heaving on the floor. Without thinking a blush comes over his freckled face and he begins to sweat.
“(Y-y/n)!? Uhm–I–ugh!”
You walk past him unknowingly filling his nose with your scent to have him unconsciously leaning in your direction. 
“Don’t talk to me, I don’t know how I feel about this just yet but at the very least keep your hubby in check? You can only replace limited edition glass china so many times.”
Speaking so nonchalantly, Izuku once again froze in his place, jumping to attention when Shoto was attempting to lift himself up. Running to his side he supports him as he attempts to angrily shout at you. 
“I’LL-Ack! I’LL k-kill y-y-ou–agh! ONE DAY-ugh!”
“Sh-Pyro?!”
“Yeah yeah just know I’ll be sending an invoice for the damages you cost me. Toodles.”
As suddenly as you came you left pulling the green book on the bookcase behind you letting yourself take the tube directly to Pyrodast’s office lair. With a gust of wind you're gone leaving the villains to stew in your wake. Shoto struggled to tilt his head up, wounded by the overwhelming blush and needy look on Izuku’s face. And In pain and sheer jealousy he screamed into the sound-proofed office.
“(YYYYYYYYYY/////////NNNNNNNNN)!!!!!!”
____
“You look happy, case go alright?”
“Yup the lead was on the money and I even met an old friend in the end!”
“An old friend? Friend or foe?”
“Hmmmm who can say…how was your day, Suki-cracker?”
“Usual. Real quiet. By the way, those ghost peppers you ordered came in!”
“No way! Gimme! Gimme! It’ll be my celebration candy!”
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hisui-dreamer · 1 year ago
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this time
Pairing: Azul Ashengrotto x gn!reader
Synopsis: your cowardice cost you from confessing to him once, but maybe you can get a second chance this time.
Tags: pinning, fluff, unrequited requited crushes, post-NRC, bot proofread
Word count: 1.5k+
Notes: this is dedicated to @azulashengrottospiano! thank you so much for changing my perspective on confessions and crushes, and i'll forever keep your words in mind haha. i hope you'll find this fic enjoyable!
Masterlist
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In the moment, you just knew; your feelings for him had never faded away.
It was as if the currents of time had kept your feelings for him hidden, carefully tucked away in a secret chamber of your heart. They lay dormant, patiently biding their time, while you busied yourself with the distractions of life after graduation. But the second you caught a glimpse of his aquamarine eyes, it was as if a dam had burst, unleashing a torrent of long-suppressed emotions that flooded your being.
Your friendship with Azul had been forged in an unexpected twist of fate, woven together by trust and mutual benefit. It all began when Jade fell ill after consuming a poisonous mushroom he had foraged on one of his hikes. In a moment of urgency, Azul found himself desperately in need of a temporary replacement.
At the time, the two of you were merely acquaintances, barely exchanging more than a few polite words. However, when Azul approached you knowing you had the skills to alleviate his mountains of paperwork, which he had seen from Crowley’s increasing spare time, you agreed to stand in for Jade as long as he would pay you handsomely.
Looking back, you’re so glad you agreed to help, and even more glad he had offered you the position.  
As you took on the role of Azul's secretary, you discovered a harmonious synergy between your skills and his needs. Your efficiency and attention to detail complemented his demanding work style, creating a seamless workflow that allowed him to navigate his responsibilities with ease. It was a delicate dance, a symphony of coordination and cooperation.
But amidst the professional arrangement, something unexpected unfolded. Beneath the facade of business transactions and financial arrangements, you soon found yourself enamoured with Azul's charismatic charm and intellect, his genuine appreciation for your support and efforts. Really, how could you not? You loved how he seemed so proud to others, yet he would show such vulnerable sides of himself when Floyd would push his limits. You loved the way his face would soften, the hint of a subtle, soft smile that graced his lips when you brewed his favourite tea just right. The genuine gratitude in his eyes as he whispered a heartfelt "thanks" echoed in your mind, warming your heart. And you loved how even after Jade recovered, he noticed how overworked and weary you were, the dark circles under your eyes deepening, and he let you rest on the couch in his office, his trench coat acting as a comforting blanket that smelled of him.  Time slipped away as you slept, the entire duration of the restaurant's bustling hours, yet he remained faithfully by your side to watch over you.
Oh, you loved him, without a doubt.
But you were also a coward.
You wished so dearly to express your feelings to him, to summon the courage and hope against hope that he might, just maybe, reciprocate your affections even just a little bit. But the sheer intensity of your emotions weighed upon your heart, casting shadows of doubt and uncertainty. Should you confess the depths of your emotions now, or would it unravel the delicate threads of the beautiful friendship you had painstakingly woven together?
In the end, fear had won the battle. The fear of rejection, of irrevocably altering the dynamics that had kept you so close. And so, after graduation, life took you on separate paths, causing you to drift apart, your feelings fading away into nothing but a fond memory of your school days.
Until now, that is.
Azul sits across the table from you, a vision of charisma and charm. His presence alone fills the restaurant with an undeniable magnetism. The atmosphere crackles with a sense of anticipation, mingled with a tinge of bittersweet nostalgia. The twins, Floyd and Jade, were supposed to join you both for this reunion lunch, but Floyd had conveniently fallen ill, and Jade stayed behind to look after him. It's as if fate has conspired to create this moment, this opportune time for the two of you to reconnect.
As you gaze at Azul, you can't help but notice how he incredibly handsome he is, even more so having matured over the years. His curly silver hair delicately frames his face, adding a touch of sophistication to his appearance. His cool blue eyes shimmer with a hint of shyness and fondness, drawing you deeper into his gaze.
Lost in conversation and the delectable flavours of the meal, your attention is suddenly drawn to Azul's tender gesture. His hand reaches out, moving with graceful precision, as he gently tucks a stray strand of hair behind your ear, ensuring it stays clear of the food. The touch is tender and intimate, a subtle act of care that leaves you breathless. In that fleeting moment, a surge of warmth courses through your veins, igniting a flutter of butterflies in the depths of your stomach.
But before you can fully savour the intensity of the moment, Azul's voice breaks through, laced with a hint of apology and concern. "Oh... sorry..." he mumbles. His hand retreats, as if realising the potential discomfort he may have caused. The fleeting touch is gone, but its impact remains as you feel your cheeks warm at his actions.
Oh, you're still hopelessly in love with Azul, just as you have always been.
A rush of emotions floods your being, creating a whirlwind of conflicting desires. You yearn to tell him how his touch ignited a flame within you, how it awakened feelings that have long been buried beneath the surface. But fear and uncertainty hold you captive, trapping the words within the depths of your heart.
"No, Azul," you say softly, summoning the courage that lies within, offering him a reassuring smile. "You didn't make me uncomfortable. Quite the opposite, actually."
His eyes widen in surprise, as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. A flicker of relief dances in his gaze, mingling with a renewed spark of hope.
"Oh... I'm glad then," he answers, his lips twitching in a manner that you know is his attempt to hide his embarrassment. A soft blush tints his cheeks, adding a touch of warmth to his already captivating features.
You feel the tension between you easing, and a sense of comfort settling in the air. The nervousness that had consumed the space between you dissipates, making room for a new energy, an anticipation of what lies ahead.
"Azul, you mentioned you're in need of a new secretary, right?" you inquire, seizing the opportunity to steer the conversation towards the unspoken desires that have silently entwined your hearts.
He nods, his brows furrowing slightly as he tries to comprehend the direction of the conversation. The corner of his lips quirks up in a curious smile, silently urging you to continue.
"Well," you pause, your voice soft but filled with determination, "do you think I'd be fit for the job?"
The room seems to hold its breath, waiting for Azul's response. His gaze lingers on you, his eyes searching your face for any hint of jest or uncertainty. There is a moment of silence, pregnant with anticipation, as the weight of your words settles between you.
A gentle smile graces Azul's lips, radiating warmth and affection. The flush on his cheeks deepens, adding to his irresistible charm. In that instant, he becomes the epitome of loveliness, a sight that captivates your heart and steals your breath away. His vulnerability, displayed in the gentle quiver of his lips, only makes you appreciate him more deeply.
Azul coughed gently as he covers his mouth, an attempt to regain composure and gather his thoughts. His gaze briefly averts, the vulnerability replaced by a sense of composed professionalism. His words stumble out, laced with a touch of awkwardness, but beneath it all, his true intentions shine through.
"W-well, obviously we're going to go through the proper procedure and an interview…" he stammers, the uncertainty in his voice betraying his attempt at maintaining a façade of formality.
But then, Azul's hand finds yours, his fingers intertwining with yours. The touch is delicate yet electric, sending a jolt of warmth coursing through your veins. The colours intensify, the air brimming with an electric energy that crackles between you. And when he speaks, his voice becomes a soothing melody, a sound that resonates within the depths of your soul, a melody you long to hear every day.
"But Angelfish," he says, his voice a tender caress that wraps around your heart, "you would not only be fit for the job, but you would bring a light to my days that no other secretary ever could. I can think of no better person than you."
His words penetrate the barriers you've built around your heart, shattering the doubts and fears that have plagued you for so long. A surge of joy and relief washes over you, manifesting as a bright smile that graces your face. Your eyebrows furrow shyly, a remnant of your school days, as if you're transported back to that time when everything was new and uncertain. But this time, there is no more running away, no more holding back.
This time, you would surely become his.
Masterlist
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if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!
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eternaltae7 · 2 months ago
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Hani’s Relationship with Jimin
Fox of BTS | BTS 8th Member
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As fellow performers, Hani and Jimin often found themselves collaborating on musical projects. They shared a similar work ethic, dedicating long hours to perfecting their performances. One memorable moment was when they worked together on choreography for a special stage. Hani admired Jimin’s exceptional dance skills and would often ask him for tips. Jimin, ever the patient teacher, would break down the moves for her, saying, “Let’s make it fun! Just feel the music!”
Their shared passion for dance led to countless late-night practice sessions, where they would experiment with new routines and ideas. Hani was inspired by Jimin’s creativity, and he loved her unique approach to movement. Their synergy on stage was palpable, and they often stole the show during group performances.
Support During Tough Times
Jimin and Hani were there for each other during challenging moments. Jimin had his own struggles with self-doubt, and Hani was a constant source of encouragement. She would remind him of his immense talent and the impact he had on fans worldwide. In turn, Jimin was always quick to notice when Hani was feeling overwhelmed. He would gently pull her aside, asking, “Are you okay? Remember, it’s okay to take a break. You don’t have to do it all at once.”
One moment occurred when Hani faced criticism for her performances. She confided in Jimin about her fears of not living up to expectations. Jimin listened intently, his expression serious yet comforting. “You are incredible just the way you are, Hani. Don’t let anyone’s opinion dim your light. Shine bright!” His words resonated deeply with her, and she left their conversation feeling uplifted and inspired.
Playful Banter and Affection
Their friendship was marked by playful teasing and lighthearted moments. Jimin loved to poke fun at Hani’s occasional clumsiness, often exclaiming, “Are you trying to invent new dance moves with those stumbles?” Hani would roll her eyes with a laugh, “I’m just trying to keep you on your toes!” This banter created a playful atmosphere that endeared them to the rest of the members.
Jimin also had a knack for making Hani feel special. He would surprise her with little gifts or notes of encouragement, leaving them in her practice area or during rehearsals. One time, he gifted her a bracelet that he thought would match her personality perfectly. “It’s just a little something to remind you that you’re always shining bright,” he said, his smile contagious. Hani cherished the gift, knowing it came from Jimin’s thoughtful heart.
Shared Experiences
Hani and Jimin created countless memories together, from group outings to spontaneous adventures. They often teamed up during variety shows, where their chemistry shone through in their playful interactions. During a cooking segment, they teamed up to make a meal, resulting in laughter as they hilariously failed to follow the recipe. Jimin would tease Hani, saying, “Maybe we should just stick to dancing!” to which she would reply, “Agreed! We’ll leave the cooking to the professionals!”
They often explored the city together, discovering new cafes and shops. Jimin loved introducing Hani to his favorite places, saying, “You have to try this dessert! It’s the best in town!” Hani appreciated Jimin’s enthusiasm and often reciprocated by taking him to her favorite spots, creating a shared experience that deepened their bond.
Support in Performing
Jimin was particularly supportive of Hani during her solo performances. He would often attend her shows, cheering her on from the audience. After her performances, he would rush backstage to congratulate her, saying, “You were amazing out there! I’m so proud of you!” His genuine admiration fueled her confidence and made her performances even more special.
Vulnerability
Their conversations often led to heartfelt discussions about dreams, fears, and personal growth. Hani appreciated Jimin’s openness, and their talks became a cornerstone of their friendship.
Affectionate Gestures
Hani and Jimin shared an affectionate bond, marked by warm hugs and supportive gestures. Jimin had a natural ability to make Hani feel cherished, whether through a simple pat on the back or a comforting embrace. He often pulled her into spontaneous hugs, saying, “Group hug!” which would make everyone laugh, but Hani would secretly cherish those moments of affection.
During a particularly stressful rehearsal period, Jimin took it upon himself to create a relaxing atmosphere. He set up a mini spa day for the members, complete with face masks and soothing music. When it was Hani’s turn, Jimin jokingly announced, “Prepare for the best spa treatment ever!” His lighthearted approach eased the tension, allowing everyone, including Hani, to unwind.
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ldysmfrst · 3 months ago
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Updates... Where do we go from here?
Hello, dearest readers,
I published everything I wrote before going to the hospital, except new story ideas, for my Patreon Membership holders because of their early access benefit.
These will be released in proper order and at respective times on Tumblr and AO3.
As most of you know, I wrote chapter 13 of American Mate after it came out.
It took me a few weeks to complete and has also been released to my paid membership holders.
This shows me that my health is improving gradually, and I thank you all for your patience.
Insomnia has been keeping me up, but last night, I got almost 11.5 hours of sleep, I guess my body decided it was time to catch up.
I will start working around the house and doing simple chores while continuing my physical therapy, doctor's appointments, and caring for the kiddos more.
In the meantime, I will continue to write for American Mate, Incomplete, Breaking and Entering, and Reciprocal Synergy.
I will attempt to return to the weekly-ish updates of at least one story.
However, do not forget that those of you with a paid membership are allowed to:
Ask a Character a Question. Ask For Extended Scenes. Ask For Additional Scenes. Ask For Drabbles or One-Shots (like 'Was It Fate?')
Today and tomorrow, I will take a break from writing to give myself time to assess my physical abilities.
I am hoping to get rid of the walker this next week!
Thank you again for your support.
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somebluemelodies · 1 year ago
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DAY TWO OF SPIDERBIT THEME WEEK STARTED BY @anonymous-dentist! :D SELECTED THEME: MURDER HUSBANDS (au slash something or other where purgatory happens later bc we were robbed of murder husbands plans) (i, uh… violence warning? murder husbands commit murder. i think this is one of the more interesting things i've ever written. you'll see why)
Their synergy is that of a well-oiled machine; quick yet eerily meticulous, like they’d done it together a thousand times already.
(Only one of them has. But the anger, the desire for blood and revenge from the other, is the perfect compensation.)
Their victims don’t stand a chance, one dropping to the floor right after the other with barely a chance to react.
The guard vaguely recognizes the man pinning him to the ground, whose arms are littered in scars new and old and whose clothes are stained with blood. A red and black dagger is held against its throat. They warned it, about this man. A potential threat, but not definitive.
Definitive, indeed.
The struggle only seems to make the man more pleased, laughing with a grin like the Cheshire Cat. The guard gets a few hits in with its baton, knocking him back, but he always comes right back, eager to fight. Eager to play. Eager to kill.
The other worker knows next to nothing about the other man dealing with it. But what’s more concerning is that they were wrong. There isn’t just one killer to be weary of. Since when was there two? Has it been two this whole time?
It’s this worker that’s the first of the two to go, the spider-hybrid above it playing no games with it, unlike his companion. The worker’s one and only attempt at self-defense is blocked with ease, and it watches as two extra sets of ruby red eyes open to stare at it, pupils as thin as needles.
(As if to say, you shouldn’t have done that.)
He strikes, and there are fangs piercing its neck. Immediately, it feels something coursing through its veins, numbing as its limbs feel as heavy as lead. The fangs are torn out of its white fur with no remorse, and the last thing it feels through coughing and sputtering is a spider leg piercing right through his chest. Digging.
And that’s that.
The guard sees it happen. And that’s the last thing it sees. Because the dagger that’d been shoved through its chest is pulled out and slicing against its neck, quick and efficient as it slumps to the floor, unmoving…
Cellbit climbs to his feet, lifting the dagger and swiping his tongue along the flat side of the blade, licking the blood clean off.
He watches Roier - his love, his husband - hold a heart without so much as flinching. If anything, the spider-hybrid seems just as pleased as he is, even if his expression is stoic, borderline angry.
(He knows how to read that man better than most people.)
Roier’s black sweatshirt is stained even darker still with fresh blood, hands covered in it too as he drops the organ carelessly, standing as well.
(Cellbit’s heart jumps, and he resists the urge to walk over, pulling him into a smothering kiss.)
It’s Roier who walks over to him first, finally smiling and looking evidently satisfied. Roier slips behind him, chin hooking over his shoulder, arms circling his waist as they both admire their handiwork.
“Que lindo,” the spider-hybrid murmurs.
The tone nearly sends a pleasant shiver down Cellbit’s spine. “Sim.”
Cellbit finally wheels around after a few moments pass, shoving his dagger away momentarily to cup Roier’s face and pull him into a bruising kiss.
His husband makes a surprised sound but immediately reciprocates, arms wrapping tight around his neck and deepening the kiss.
It tastes like blood; metallic and bitter and addictive.
(Cellbit’s heart hammers in his chest, and he’s never felt more alive.)
(Roier starts to understand the thrill, too.)
Two new bodies show up, mutilated and massacred as ever. But there’s a catch, this time. They don’t show up days apart; they appear on the same exact day, and the exact same place.
(And one of them is missing a heart.)
The dead Federation workers have been morbidly displayed on the quartz floor in front of the train station. Bloody symbols paint the pristine white floor crimson with another message, another clue.
Find it before we do.
Far away from the train station, in a tall, brooding castle on a hill, the island’s head investigator sits, carefully cleaning red off of his wedding ring as he and his husband strategize and plan out their next little date.
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pandorasword · 1 year ago
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Chaeri as the 8th and youngest member of BTS.
CHAERI'S MASTERLIST
Web article
Chaeri: the star who lights up the stage: her collaboration with NewJeans is a worldwide success
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For devoted BTS enthusiasts, the name Chaeri needs no introduction. As the eighth member of the internationally acclaimed K-pop phenomenon, she stands as the sole female artist among the group's stellar lineup. Born in 1998, Chaeri boasts an illustrious history with BTS, showcasing her prowess not only as a gifted singer and actress but also as a standout choreographer. Her dance contributions have left an indelible mark on BTS's most iconic tunes, including chart-toppers like "Dynamite," "Butter," and "Run BTS."
Beyond her stellar trajectory with BTS and her role as a choreographer for Ateez (noteworthy for choreographing hits like "Guerrilla," "Halazia," and "Bouncy"), Chaeri has chosen to extend her artistic reach by collaborating with another emerging group: NewJeans.
Debuting in 2022 under the ADOR label, a HYBE subsidiary, NewJeans is a five-member female quintet that has enraptured audiences with their distinctive blend of 1990s and 2000s pop and R&B influences. Their powerful harmonies and captivating musical style shine in hits like "Attention," "Hype Boy," "Cookie," "Ditto," and "OMG."
The collaboration between Chaeri and NewJeans kicked off in 2023 with the creation of the dance for their single "Super Shy." This infectious track narrates the tale of a bashful girl in love with a boy, with Chaeri's choreography adding an extra layer of captivation through fluid and synchronized movements. The accompanying music video for "Super Shy" soared past 100 million views on YouTube in under a month, claiming top spots on charts worldwide.
Yet, the collaboration between Chaeri and NewJeans doesn't conclude with "Super Shy." Chaeri continued to craft captivating choreography for the group's subsequent hits, such as "ETA," "Cool With You," and the latest addition to the idols' mini-album, "Get Up," titled "Gods"—the World Cup anthem for the popular video game League of Legends.
Enthusiastically embraced by fans and critics alike, Chaeri's dynamic creativity and versatility as both a choreographer and artist, combined with NewJeans' skill and charisma as performers, have earned them the moniker of a perfect artistic synergy.
In an interview, Chaeri expressed her delight at working with NewJeans, affectionately viewing them as younger sisters. The members of NewJeans reciprocated the sentiment, conveying their admiration and gratitude for Chaeri's guidance, acknowledging the invaluable lessons learned from her.
A Special Bond: Chaeri and Haerin's Musical Harmony
Within the folds of NewJeans, one member shares a unique and profound connection with Chaeri—her cousin, Haerin. 
Initially, some skeptics within the K-pop community speculated about the potential bias in Chaeri's collaboration with NewJeans, particularly due to the familial connection with Haerin. There were concerns that Chaeri, being Haerin's cousin, might exhibit favoritism in the allocation of roles within the group's choreographies, potentially giving Haerin an undue advantage.
However, as the collaborative projects unfolded, it became abundantly clear that Chaeri's commitment to professionalism and artistic integrity superseded any familial ties. The dance routines crafted by Chaeri for NewJeans were a testament to her impartiality, as each member showcased their unique talents and strengths in a harmonious blend. Haerin, despite the blood relation, had no special treatment in the choreographic assignments, proving that Chaeri's artistic decisions were rooted in merit and artistic vision.
taglist: @alixnsuperstxr | @bts-dream | @enchantingbrowneyedgirl | @ycuvi | @cosmicwintr
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mageknight14 · 1 year ago
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Nagi and Beat: What it Means to be Empathetic
One thing I really appreciate about Nagi and Beat's characterizations and dynamic in NEO TWEWY is how the game portrays them as the two of the most emotionally mature and empathetic party members in the game and how they express that maturity in distinct but equally important ways.
Let's start this analysis off with Nagi. The game makes a point to show off multiple times that she’s in-tune when it comes to others’ emotions. Take the side quest with Buddy Rapids on Week 2 Day 4, for example.
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When he flips out over not receiving a glass of water from Ken Doi and everyone is flabbergasted by how he reacted, Nagi actually takes the time to empathize with and explain why he would feel that way, that he probably felt unwelcome or deliberately provoked.  She literally absorbs emotions of others like a sponge, to her own detriment. She has this ability, knows it, knows how to work with it, but she can’t exactly turn it off. It gets to the point that an overwhelming burst of negative emotion from the people around her can cause her to emotionally break down, as we see from when she reacts to how the citizens are suffering from Shibuya Syndrome.
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She analyses people and feels them whether she wants it or not, and due to being a combination of simultaneously open minded and very direct, those not true to themselves strike her as very wrong, in the wrong, or plain bizarre, as we can see from how coldly she treats Motoi and Fret at first. She’s true to herself, and to others, and someone not reciprocating on the same level is a bad thing in her book.
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She suffers from hyperempathy and easily 'taps in' to what people are feeling, but she can struggle with finding the appropriate channel through which to express her feelings, such as her initial coldness towards Fret. Because of this, besides her infatuation with Sho, she’s fairly passive towards the group dynamic and synergy at first, instead to either gush about her beloved Lord Tomononami, EleStra, or both. This is especially notable when tensions start to rise between Rindo and Fret at the beginning of Week 2 and she can do nothing but weakly comment at the tense atmosphere in the air. 
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However, as we get to see throughout the game, she begins to lighten up towards Fret and if you look closely at how she interacts with him, she progressively becomes less outright insulting towards him and more distant and hesitant once she puts together than he might actually have a reason to be putting up a front. By the time week 3 rolls around she's not insulting him at all, actually engaging in convos with him because she's realized that Fret is a genuinely good person who acts fake as a coping mechanism. Most of this realization starts showing up during week 2 because Fret gets stressed enough by the situation they're in to let the "mask" slip on multiple occasions— you can see that Nagi's expression changes when her portrait is present during these instances because she starts to put it together. 
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While her arc isn’t as pronounced as the others, it’s still there nonetheless and revolves around her learning that she does not need to dismiss people right away and look past the surface, exploring in learning how to nuance so to speak. To cap it off, by the time week 3 comes around, she actively steps up to the plate more than once to help the others sort out their issues and integrates more into the group, truly embracing her role as the team mom, as seen as when she helps the other characters cope with their own issues on Week 3 Day 5. 
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Now, let’s contrast this with Beat. While he isn’t as academically intelligent as Nagi, can be slow on the uptake, and not really keen on using his head, he still gets a few good hits in and has a cutting-the-knot way of problem solving that is as much a positive as a negative quality. 
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In the first game, he calls out Konishi, who is presented as very smart, on her "unforeseen circumstances", and for someone mixing words a lot, he used those surprisingly straight and deliberately angers her so that she can focus on him while Neku snags Rhyme underneath her notice. He feels that the game is "whack" in NEO and is the first to call out Kubo against it and be suspicious of him while the others just found him sleazy and hatable ("might ask gramps some questions"), fairly quickly discerns that Fret and Rindo were at odds concerning the decision of trusting Kanon or not and that they needed to sort it out, and even recognizes Fret’s grief concerning Kanon herself and opts to let him have one last moment of hope and get some closure on the whole thing rather than just letting him bottle up these feelings in a negative manner forever.
I’d say that while Beat may not be academically smart, can often takes things at face value and can be considered dense at times, he is emotionally incredibly intelligent, even if not in the same way as Nagi: both are highly receptive to others’ moods and feelings, but while Nagi processes them with her heart and brains, Beat processes them with his heart and guts. 
Conversely, while Nagi suffers from her hyperempathy and can struggle with finding the appropriate channel through which to express her feelings, Beat intuitively 'taps in' to what people are feeling and also intuitively 'taps in' to what he can say to cheer people up or to motivate them to keep moving forward, as shown when he inspires the group to keep going forward even when things get dire at the beginning of Week 3 Day 4. 
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Nagi stumbles butt-over-head into people’s psyches and while she has a good grasp on the information and psychology, being excellent at reading people, she doesn’t have the means of transforming that into a pleasant interaction if things are at odds. Beat, however meets people partway, at middle ground, or if he senses that he needs to, goes all the way to drag them out of their shell. He doesn’t embarrass himself with the unnecessary, as he doesn’t like to beat around the bush but also seems to think that people do have their own reasons of acting the way they do. To solve the problem, you address the problem, politeness and other fioritures can wait (which, again, is as much a positive quality as a negative one). Nagi has more tact with it because she can sense when things will go on the fritz, and because she’s more actively trying to get along with people than Beat. Even when giving the cold shoulder, she still has restrains (it takes a breaking point to call someone a "degenerate ape") and at worst ignores what bothers her, or makes it clear. Beat, on the other hand, would directly hop to 'I don’t like you, yo' and show scathing hostility, as he does with Sho and Coco who, in contrast to Kariya, Uzuki, and Shoka, are not at all apologetic when it comes to their actions and still antagonize him, in which he responds back in kind. You wrong him or his friends, you’re on his shit list, period.
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This difference is seen most predominantly when the Wicked Twisters meet up with Sho again. Beat is immediately hostile thanks to his previous encounters with Sho in the first game and is ready to assume the worst of him, unaware of the shared history Rindo, Nagi, and Fret have with Sho at this point. And when Sho seemingly validates his concerns by attacking him and his friends, he's ready to write him off entirely. And it's not like Sho even cares about what Beat thinks of him to try and correct him afterwards.
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Nagi, on the other hand, immediately notices that something is off about Sho compared to when he allied with the team in the first week and picks up that it may be Noise-related. And sure enough, she turns out to be correct. Sho had been absorbing Rindo's Dissonance Noise while he was away and when he absorbs a whole bunch at once, his mind gets overwhelmed and he goes berserk, attacking the Wicked Twisters in the process. Sure enough, when Neku quite literally beats some sense into him after he was already worn down by the team, Sho doesn't antagonize them at all whatsoever. and even gives them cryptic advice concerning the storm that's coming their way later.
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To put it into perspective, Nagi is receiving all channels 100% of the time and as such had to define herself strongly against them to hear her own, affirming her personality and being very direct. It’s a radio always on that she can just tune out somewhat, but not turning it off. And if things get too overwhelming, she can take too much of that negative energy into herself and become severely affected herself if she doesn't have an immediate outlet. It's why she flips out at Rindo when she first meets as she was already unintentionally channeling the emotions of others and was being harassed by the DRS team beforehand and her missing the special EleStra pin was essentially the straw that broke the camel's back.
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Beat, in contrast can hop from channel to channel and tune in on people, but only a few of his choosing at a time. Hence why he’s more receptive of a variety of different people, if they are amicable to him. He instantly hits it off with Fret, wholesomely accepts Nagi, even reaches out to Rindo who’s more unsure and shy (seen in the day after recruiting him as he’s the first to come up to him to see if things are okay), wholeheartedly accepts Shoka in the team and develops quite the protective streak for her among the rest (seen when he warns Susukichi about taking her after Ayano’s passing). He’s the big brother all the way. Compare this to how he reacted to Neku and Shiki in TWEWY, where he welcomes the latter at first after apologizing to the duo for mistaking them as Reapers but immediately takes a justified dislike to the former because Neku was kind of being a huge prick at the time. 
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I think all of this is incredibly interesting in how the writers go about in portraying that nuances of what it means to be empathetic and emotionally mature and it just goes to show how much the TWEWY team cared about detailing the psychology and mindset of each character in a way that makes them all the more real.
And as a side note, I really appreciate Nagi and Beat’s dynamic. Rather than have them conflict as they could have so easily done (the athletic, skateboarding musclehead and the nerdy educated woman) the game has them genuinely enjoying one another's maturity and working to support the rest of the team, with Nagi even patiently translating anything she needed to of her dialogue for Beat's sake, as well as draw comparisons between the way Nagi treats Beat and Fret to foreshadow her issues with the latter and I think that's just neat.
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blood-orange-juice · 6 months ago
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Accidentally deleted an ask instead of replying, so I'll just make a post. The ask was about how me valuing Traveler and Childe's friendship makes my view of the character biased.
Idk, mate, I think it's impossible to separate a person from their system of relationships. Would Childe be the same character without his love for his family, his loyalty to the Tsaritsa, his fawning over Skirk and his strange obsession with the whale? I don't think so.
Maniacs and blood knights are found in media in abundance, it's his attachments that make him unique.
So why should we make his interactions with Zhongli or the Traveler an exception? Just because they can also be shipped and there have been bad OOC takes? Please.
What matters is not their *relationship* (whether the Traveler reciprocates and how exactly the result looks is left to the player), but rather Childe's ability to offer this relationship to an enemy. The strange amount of trust he shows, the reason he picks this person specifically, the way it ties into deep lore. Attachments and sympathies add depth to characters and this one adds a particularly rare kind of depth.
He saw someone who is trying to transcend their limits and possibly reality itself (someone like him) and offered his trust and admiration with no questions asked. That's incredibly beautiful and it tells us so much about him. He wouldn't be the same character without an ability to do that.
I don't think it shows my bias, I think it shows good writing on Hoyo's part. Characters sharing a story should interact and have synergy, it's not much of a story otherwise.
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skynapple · 9 months ago
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I thought Zayne would be the one I go for as he is generally the type I like in these games, but man it feels like pulling teeth. I love the whole "ah he's cold and serious but has a soft spot for MC" trope, but with this guy it's so hard to get anywhere… I was so thrown back as to how much he seems to resist showing any affection
Anon same, Zayne is such a trip.
The way I really thought he would be my type. I get it. Being cold is his personality trope. I just... didn't expect him to be constantly cold with MC too. Like the warmth is just NOT there sometimes unless you're in some of the tender moments.
And I do like him! As a character, I like him. I would venture to say I wouldn't even want to change him much necessarily (because we know he does, sort of). But...
Even in some of the established relationship stuff, she's like, grasping for affection, dancing the line of "I'm annoying him" constantly (even in my favorite card he basically confesses to her she says she doesn't believe him cause she thinks she's being annoying and rather than be super reassuring he's like hm ok let's leave then. It borders like, manipulative except for the fact that we know he's not.
I struggle so much with him because yes, he loves her so, so much.
As you get to know him, we also come to realize, he's not just "soft for MC" he actually cares so deeply for everyone around him - his colleagues (picking up so many extra shifts on "Valentine's" day so they could be with their loved ones, coming in to work on his day off to be with his inconsolable dying patient, you know he walks through the pediatrics ward also, candy on his desk not just for MC but just as a nice gesture for his patients in general, working himself to the bone to ensure others around him don't have any slack to pick up and don't have to work as hard). He may not be social but actions are definitely his love language, and it's there if you look for it. But the fact that the game makes you look so hard for it! That you have to always question it. To me anyway.
I get it, as the relationship matures, they start to understand each other. They have synergy. Obviously he softens, opens up a bit more, learns to receive her affection, learns to reciprocate it in a way that she actually wants to receive it. His whole, "oh you want me to cook for you? Ok, I'll come over every day then" card was so endearing. But you understand this is after a while of getting to know each other and established relationship.
His whole admission of I happen to need her vivacity in my life right to her face took me out it's such a confession of absolute adoration (to him) BUT it's a few and far between moment. And again, she immediately follows it with "Humans are experts when it comes to lying." Because she's so convinced that he's just playing along and not being super genuine because it's so out of character.
I don't normally like the whole childhood-friends-slow-burn-to-lovers either because it's so overdone and usually not done well.
But I still struggle a little bit. It's just a little too hard-to-get for me. Just not my cup of tea.
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