#sven k

[iamlisteningto]

Text Chunk & Sven K’s Ouroboros

[ittybittysquiddieart]

I like this guy

[who-do-i-know-this-man]

⚠️Vote for whomever YOU DO NOT KNOW⚠️‼️

[monstrouscrew]

today's our cat's seventh birthday :::3 Sven is the best kitty ever 🩵 happy, fluffy, healthy, keep going, our furry sausage 🎉✨

(ID in the alt text)

[thcrns-and-rxses]

Sven’s Info

Name: Sven K. Iwata

Age: 19

Height: 6’5

Alaises: Rose, Délinquant, Rosie, Spike, Dagger

Family: Roseo T. Iwata (Father)

Sexuality: Omniromantic Greysexual Polyam

Pronouns: They/He/She

“Talks like this.”

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Published: Jul 13, 2023

As experienced professionals involved in direct care for the rapidly growing numbers of gender-diverse youth, the evaluation of medical evidence or both, we were surprised by the Endocrine Society’s claims about the state of evidence for gender-affirming care for youth (Letters, July 5). Stephen Hammes, president of the Endocrine Society, writes, “More than 2,000 studies published since 1975 form a clear picture: Gender-affirming care improves the well-being of transgender and gender-diverse people and reduces the risk of suicide.” This claim is not supported by the best available evidence.

Every systematic review of evidence to date, including one published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, has found the evidence for mental-health benefits of hormonal interventions for minors to be of low or very low certainty. By contrast, the risks are significant and include sterility, lifelong dependence on medication and the anguish of regret. For this reason, more and more European countries and international professional organizations now recommend psychotherapy rather than hormones and surgeries as the first line of treatment for gender-dysphoric youth.

Dr. Hammes’s claim that gender transition reduces suicides is contradicted by every systematic review, including the review published by the Endocrine Society, which states, “We could not draw any conclusions about death by suicide.” There is no reliable evidence to suggest that hormonal transition is an effective suicide-prevention measure.

The politicization of transgender healthcare in the U.S. is unfortunate. The way to combat it is for medical societies to align their recommendations with the best available evidence—rather than exaggerating the benefits and minimizing the risks.

This letter is signed by 21 clinicians and researchers from nine countries.

FINLAND Prof. Riittakerttu Kaltiala, M.D., Ph.D. Tampere University Laura Takala, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Psychiatrist, Alkupsykiatria Clinic

UNITED KINGDOM Prof. Richard Byng, M.B.B.Ch., Ph.D. University of Plymouth Anna Hutchinson, D.Clin.Psych. Clinical psychologist, The Integrated Psychology Clinic Anastassis Spiliadis, Ph.D.(c) Director, ICF Consultations

SWEDEN Angela Sämfjord, M.D. Senior consultant, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Sven Román, M.D. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

NORWAY Anne Wæhre, M.D., Ph.D. Senior consultant, Oslo University Hospital

BELGIUM Em. Prof. Patrik Vankrunkelsven, M.D. Ph.D. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Honorary senator Sophie Dechêne, M.R.C.Psych. Child and adolescent psychiatrist Beryl Koener, M.D., Ph.D. Child and adolescent psychiatrist

FRANCE Prof. Celine Masson, Ph.D. Picardy Jules Verne University Psychologist, Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants Co-director, Observatory La Petite Sirène Caroline Eliacheff, M.D. Child and adolescent psychiatrist Co-director, Observatory La Petite Sirène Em. Prof. Maurice Berger, M.D. Ph.D. Child psychiatrist

SWITZERLAND Daniel Halpérin, M.D. Pediatrician

SOUTH AFRICA Prof. Reitze Rodseth, Ph.D. University of Kwazulu-Natal Janet Giddy, M.B.Ch.B., M.P.H. Family physician and public-health expert Allan Donkin, M.B.Ch.B. Family physician

UNITED STATES Clin. Prof. Stephen B. Levine, M.D. Case Western Reserve University Clin. Prof. William Malone, M.D. Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Director, Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine Prof. Patrick K. Hunter, M.D. Florida State University Pediatrician and bioethicist

Transgenderism has been highly politicized—on both sides. There are those who will justify any hormonal-replacement intervention for any young person who may have been identified as possibly having gender dysphoria. This is dangerous, as probably only a minority of those so identified truly qualify for this diagnosis. On the other hand, there are those who wouldn’t accept any hormonal intervention, regardless of the specifics of the individual patients.

Endocrinologists aren’t psychiatrists. We aren’t the ones who can identify gender-dysphoric individuals. The point isn’t to open the floodgates and offer an often-irreversible treatment to all people who may have issues with their sexuality, but to determine who would truly benefit from it.

Jesus L. Penabad, M.D. Tarpon Springs, Fla.

[ Via: https://archive.today/IRShy ]

==

The gender lobotomists just got called out.

[cheesecake-beech]

Imagine Vicious 6 favorite Sanrio character

UH YES FREAKING PLEASE

sorry I went kinda crazy on this KJFGKDFAHHDKSJ

IT DIDN'T EVEN TAKE ME THAT LONG TO MAKE THESE ONLY LIKE- 1pm-10pm TODAY TO GET ALL THESE DONE I WAS FREAKING FOCUSED ON DRAWING THESE LMAO Bro I was so inspired THIS WAS SO FUN TO DRAW LOL

ANYWAY, VICIOUS 6 SANRIO BUDDIES???

Wild Knuckles - Bad Badtz-Maru & Pochacco

Old man is tasked with taking care of a dog and a penguin, dog is like a good doggo son to old man, meanwhile penguin is a troublemaker for old man. (something he's all too familiar dealing with skadjak.)

Badtz-Maru probably makes is a pain in the ass to look after him.

probably skateboarding everywhere inside his house, screeching his guitar just to be annoying

when he tries to give them food or sumthin, he probably does that spoon thing where you flick it and it just ZOOOOM DFSHFKHSDJ

Meanwhile Pochacco is just a good boy.

He plays outside, but he's polite about it. He has nice manners.

Oh and he takes naps on his couch.

Badtz also probably does a freaking kick-flip over the wall because he's bored and wants to go do something else, or to also just inconvenience Knuckles 💀, grampa YOINKS doggo from his nap (because obviously he can't just leave him at home by himself) then books it after him.

Belle Bottom - Kuromi & Chococat

They are the moment. Belle probably likes Kuromi because of her fashion sense and her slayness,

and Chococat, probably thought he was cute and now he's her little buddy. Probably just sits in her hair or on the desk when she's at the lair doing work n stuff.

Belle takes them shopping, because yes.

Jean Clawed - Keroppi & Minna No Tabo

He just accidentally got stuck with watching both of them

The little boy suddenly grabbed onto him and he was trying to shake him off his leg, because who the heck let a tiny kid into the lair. Then all of a sudden a frog fell from the top shelf so he caught him with his claw.

Keroppi didn't like seeing the giant claw hand all that much.

Especially being inside of it.

Minna no tabo just waddled into the base and thought he looked cool.

Jean is kinda freaking out when there's a frog boy crying freaking out and he's unsure what to do with the kid on his leg.

Svengeance - Pompompurin

COME ON- GOLDEN RETREIVER FOR GOLDEN RETIEVER BOY? AUDDHFSHJFHDK IT'S JUST TO GOOD

Sven absolutely loves him and will protect him and loves how squishy he is.

Pompom likes everyone, he sees big guy and sees big guy as friend, he also has similar colour hair! Besties!

Stronghold - Hangyodon

He likes how this guy looks, he thinks he looks funny so he grabbed him and put him on his shoulder.

Hangyodon was just like "k" he doesn't mind, he also thinks he looks cool.

Plus he also likes sitting on his shoulder while walking around.

Hangyodon and do or say anything and it'll probably make Stronghold laugh just because of how silly he looks to him.

Nunchuck - Corocorokuririn

Don't ask

She believes he will make great company as a evil companion in all her crimes.

He's just there.

EXTRA UNDER THE CUT!

Valerie - My Melody & Hello Kitty

She would spoil them, she would take them everywhere. GIRLS' DAY OUTTT

She would TREAT THESE BABIES to EVERYTHING.

SLAY all DAY

Take them out for sweet treats and other stuff, like everythings on her.

ONCE MELODY AND KITTY MENTION KUROMI AND MIMMY YOU BET YOUR ASS SHE'S ALSO GOING TO INSIST THESE GIRLS BUY THINGS FOR THEM dskjdhfdsafgkd

She finds them SO CUTE AND PRECIOUS

Like she looks calm but on the inside she's dying from cuteness

Alan - Marumofubiyori (Moppu)

Alan would've probably accidentally picked them up like "Ayo who tf is this and where did they even come from" and when Moppu suddenly just, falls asleep, Alan would probably just awkwardly start holding him unsure about what to do.

But he'd just sit down and let Moppu sleep, then after a while he'd also probably fall asleep as well, because he also probably needs a nap dshfsfafhdfkdj

They both snore lol

Elliot - My Sweet Piano & Cinnamoroll

OH YEAH, BBY ELLIOT LOVES BABIES??

Bro would be dying and sobbing from how cute they are

Cinnamoroll probably just flies around his house while Piano puts flowers around to decorate.

I wouldn't be surprised if how Cinnamo and Elliot met is if Elliot was just washing dishes and Cinnamoroll just flew in through the window and into his face.

Claude - Tuxedo Sam Tako - Strawberry King Claudia - Pippo

[purple-ana16]

Sol Survivor AU - small WIP

Sunrise the daycare attendant, a guardian for the kids he took care of and a parental figure to the small deer, the head of the Celestial family, the eldest sibling and the light of Moon's life. There were things he still those early days of awakening, it was hard and painfully but he wasn't alone. He had a point he got everything, friends, siblings, a family, and they were complete, there was only one member that remained out of picture he was on his way to coming back to the family, and Sun was happy, happy for the forst time in a long time, he was happy with his life. There were things to still to deal with such as their enemies and... the Creator. The Nao, Sven. The name he can't pronounce without adressing the horrors he did to people, to him, to his family.

--------------------------------------------

There was a particular day that remains in Sun's mind and will forever haunt him in his memories and nightmares. His dearest best friend, his daughter and the small light that flowered his days. So much things happened to finally give the proper opportunity to that little girl to give her the life he couldn't have. He was a single father man of the house. Or he used to, just like what it was left from their house, the house of memories died with the ones who were sitting still, waiting for their family to arrive: Evelyn and Jack, the kids of the house were playing peacefully when everything happened. Jack lelft some minutes before as Dazzle wanted some more threats for the cats so he took his time and went to the K-mart while Evelyn and the cats where at the house.

It was so fast, he really wished he could do anyhting to stop it, so safe her, to safe his daughter.

He should have opened the portal inside the house bit the nerves took him too fast, he could have probably died if he did it... sometimes wondering if he could be by his daugther's side

Him and Moon ran as fast as they could, screamming for the small girl to leave the house, but when the door was open and the little deer was almost almost out, the explosive took her.

—DAD! YOU'RE HER-

A big explosion, followed by a scream and lots crying, sobs and words that weren't enough to describe the pain he just felt seeing once again that he couldn't protect the kid.

It only remained one of the little ribbons with bells and the broken friendship bracelet... with a sign, Sun took the remain things and the ribbon, saving it with the nightcap in his chest cabity. He put his weight in the nearby wall sitting down with another sigh. It was time for a small nap before getting back to his plan, for now it was time for him for some rest, so with the cable he had he plugged himslef in the portable charger and went to sleep.

Tomorrow was another day.

[frozenprocedural]

taylor swift lyrics 46

I meant to post this MUCH earlier this month for your birthday! But at least it's still March!!!!! And this prompt kind of fits!

Neta and Alarik belong to @patricia-von-arundel.

"Is it Too Soon to do This?"

Rating: K+

“Uncle Alarik, you’re being silly!”

“I am not! This book is silly!”

“Aunt Elsa! Tell Uncle Alarik he’s being silly!” 

Alarik looked up to see Elsa standing in the hospital doorway, her face wan. She hid it with a smile- Alarik hoped Neta hadn't noticed. 

“I thought Uncle Alarik was always silly?”

“Hey! This book has a honeybee that doesn't know what a flower is! How am I the silly one?”

Neta giggled and swatted at his arm as Elsa came to her other side and sat down. While Neta was focused on Alarik, he saw Elsa's smile slip, replaced with a strained look. 

“Sven! Get back here!”

“Aunt Elsa, when am I getting my cast? I want to go home.”

Elsa couldn't smile when Neta turned to her. 

“Aunt Elsa?”

They were interrupted by the arrival of Anna and Kristoff, both of whom looked stricken. Elsa and Alarik immediately gave up their positions by the bed, and the two of them sat down with twin sighs. Elsa went to Alarik's side, and he wrapped an arm around her, feeling her shake.

Neta ran to the edge of the porch steps, giggling as she chased after the black-and-tan basset hound as he bounded away, one of her mittens in his mouth. 

“Mama, what's going on? Why can't I go home?”

Anna pushes Neta's bangs out of her face, deliberately looking away from the girl's outstretched arm wrapped in a bulky splint.

“The doctor said you'll need more than a cast, Neta. They're going to help you go to sleep and… they have to put some special wires in your arm to help your bone heal.”

Surgery. 

Neta has to have surgery. 

She dashed forward as Sven hopped down the steps, and Alarik watched in horrifying slow motion as her foot slipped on a slick patch they'd missed while shoveling. 

A nurse enters the room, carrying a clipboard with several forms, talking to Anna and Kristoff about the surgery. It feels unreal, as if he's watching a TV show, until Anna takes the forms and begins signing them, one hand kept on Neta's shoulder. 

He reached out, trying to catch hold of her before disaster struck, but he was too slow. His fingers grazed the fabric of her jacket before she fell away from him. 

“Alarik.”

He blinks, realizes Elsa's tugging on his hand, and follows her out into the hallway. 

“Let it out.”

He looks at her, shakes his head. “No, I'm fine. I don't…”

“Alarik.” Elsa's tone is as gentle as the hand she places on his cheek. “Please don't do that to yourself. It's okay.”

The dam breaks, and he sinks to ground, letting the tears fall. A pair of arms wrap around him, and he buries his head in Elsa's shoulder. She strokes his hair and hums a wordless tune. 

“I should have… should have…”

“Alarik, we were all there. It was an accident. Neta tripped.”

“But I was right there! I could have grabbed her!” 

Neta fell forward, missing the steps and landing on the unforgiving pavement on her left side, elbow out. Her scream echoed in his mind. 

Hands press down on his shoulders, and he looks up to see Anna. She has tears in her eyes as well, and he drops his gaze. 

“Alarik, it wasn't your fault. Accidents happen, okay? Now, Neta's asking for you.”

He nods, and Anna hands him a tissue. When they stand, she startles him with a hug that knocks the breath out of him. After a moment, he returns the hug. 

When they return to the room, Neta holds her good arm out to him, and he leans in for a hug. 

“Uncle Alarik? I'm going to be okay.”

“Of course you are, Neta! It'll be over before you know it, alright?”

She grabs his hand. “I'm going to be okay, Uncle Alarik. Please don't be sad.”

He squeezes her hand, his throat tight. “You're right. I'm just sad because you're hurt.”

“But I'll get better!”

He nods, seeing a team of medical staff come in. “Okay. You will. Thank you Neta.”

He steps out, letting the staff prep Neta for surgery, and when Elsa holds out her arms to him, he steps into her embrace gratefully. 

Neta will be okay. 

And maybe, eventually, he'll allow himself to be forgiven. 

……

It's been an exhausting day, but they're home. 

And Elsa doesn't want to tear her eyes from the scene in front of her. 

Neta lays on her side, her purple-casted arm resting on Sven, curled up next to her. Her head rests on Alarik's lap. After dinner, she'd insisted on laying next to him, stating that he still looked sad. Even at seven, she picks up on emotion quickly. 

Alarik strokes her hair, looking less haggard. Elsa knows it will take some time for him to accept his lack of fault in the accident, but Neta's trust in him will help. 

Save for the TV, set to low volume, the room is quiet. That is, until Neta speaks up. 

“Aunt Elsa? In the hospital, which baby were you talking about?”

Anna and Kristoff had been summoned for another round of paperwork, leaving Elsa and Alarik to wait with Neta, who appeared to be dozing in her warming gown. Elsa could see the worry on Alarik's face as he watched Neta. She squeezed his hand and bumped his shoulder with hers.

“Remember, stress is bad for the baby…”

That, at least, prompted a small smile. 

“I thought you were asleep…” Elsa whispers. 

“I wasn't!” Neta says brightly. 

“Elsa, what. baby?” Anna stares at her intently. 

Although she was certain her sister had already figured it out, Elsa speaks anyway. “Alarik and I were planning on telling you earlier, but we didn't want to bring it up after everything that happened.”

“I'm pregnant.”

[ciaossu-imagines]

This is a smut headcanon free space: what is your recent favorite smut headcanon about any character? :)

Wow! This is such an amazing ask, because it really does give me so much freedom to rant. I have so many smutty headcanons, so I just chose one recent, or strongly held one, for one character from each fandom!

For KHR, Skull gets really turned on by long make-out sessions and likes to drag them out. He also really likes the fact that, these make-out sessions, they leave his lipstick – his colours – all over his partner. It’s his favourite way of marking them up.

For K, Enomoto watches a lot of really fucked up hentai. Nothing with underage characters, because even the hint of that will absolutely sicken him, but some really kinky or extreme hentai tropes…he’s actually pretty chill about them now because he’s watched so much of it. He definitely has a playlist and monster fucking?? Up his alley.

For Nanbaka, Rock has a fantasy of using that Magic Shell chocolate ice cream topping in the bedroom. He really wants to pour it over his partner’s breasts, let it harden, and then he wants the fun of licking and nibbling it off…that or he wants to see if he can remove it in one whole piece so that he’ll have an edible mold of what he considers the most perfect tits in the world that he can munch away on (after he finishes ravishing them).

For Iruma-kun!, Opera really has a thing for brat-like subs.

For Bungou Stray Dogs, Fyodor…well, let’s just say that what he has in imagination, charisma, and mental stamina more than makes up for what he lacks in actual physical stamina.

For Servamp, Johannes would definitely be completely into strapping his partner down on an examination table and then running all sorts of sexual ‘tests’ on them to see what really makes them tick that way…and yes, he would be more than willing to incorporate toys into there.

For Saiyuki, Sanzo is the least picky of the main boys about his sexual partner’s physical looks but, given his nearly non-existent libido and his dislike for ninety-nine percent of people touching him, he’s the pickiest about who he has sex with overall.

For Mystic Messenger, Zen likes to throw his hair up into a ponytail or bun before sex just because it tends to get in the way…that, and a partner laying on your hair…not so much sexy as it is painful.

For Ikerev, Loki has a huge ‘marking’ kink, both giving and receiving.

For ES21, Suzuna likes to have sex while wearing her cheerleader’s uniform…and would be into roleplay.

For The Outsiders, sex with Two-Bit tends to be really goofy and fun and he actually gets really nervous if sex gets too serious and romantic.

For Ronin Warriors, Kento always grabs a snack after sex and really likes morning sex because then he gets laid, gets breakfast, and it’s the ideal start to any day, right?

For Kekkaishi, Masamori would be really into blindfolding his lover and possibly experimenting with other sensory deprivation type play on them.

For GetBackers, Shido doesn’t need any beastly form like Ban has joked…that boy is just naturally fucking hung. Biggest dick out of the whole cast of characters, to the point it’s intimidated some of his former partners. He’s careful about getting his partners used to his size though instead of just expecting them to take it all right away.

For Blush Blush, Sven can hold entire conversations during sex…not dirty talk or conversations about what’s happening, but just normal ass, run of the mill conversations.

For COTT, Odie ends up biting his lips or worrying them between his teeth a lot during sex.

For Ultimate Spider-Man, Flash gets too enthusiastic during sex sometimes and can cause accidents…he’s tumbled himself and his partner off the bed at least once.

[msmargaretmurry]

For the book meme, 21 & 45 please!

21. The book(s) on your school reading list you actually enjoyed. 

I'm so sorry to be a nerd but I enjoyed so many things I read for class. We didn't read many novels in K-12 (lots of short stories, plays, and poems) but I enjoyed the classics like to kill a mockingbird and the great gatsby. (i did NOT enjoy a farewell to arms.) more recently i have been reading so many books for grad school so here are some that i would genuinely recommend to non-academic audiences:

floating coast by bathsheba demuth

our gigantic zoo by thomas lekan

fordlandia by greg grandin

empire of cotton by sven beckert

the nutmeg's curse by amitav ghosh

45. What book(s) would you sell your soul to get a TV or movie adaptation of?

i gotta be honest i am still a little sad that the raven cycle adaptation got squashed. i would have ate that shit up with a spoon. but truly when it comes down to it my dream tv adaptation would have to be robin hobb's farseer trilogy. but only if they did it right. only if they made burrich hot enough.

[renpimpiblog]

Yello..how are you guys doing today?

The next episode iisssss....

The one where they say nipple a lot, that is almost like, the entire point of the episode??? I'm not complaining either way, It's funny

I really like this one, the premise is pretty simple, Ren and Stimpy try another idea to get rich, they become door to door salesmen of rubber nipples, encountering a good part of the supporting characters, like the fire chief, Mr horse, and others, even though the idea of the episode is pretty mundane, they use it to twist and stretch the crazyness and insanity that characterizes the show so much, so many bizarre things happen, and it all encapsulates so well in Vincent Waller's artstyle, which is my favorite artstyle from these episodes from season 2 (you know, before him and others ended up quitting alongside John K's firing..buh)

Despite all, I think that the ONLY bad point this episode has is the ending, I get that it's supposed to be a reference to the Three stooges??? So it's supposed to be nonsensical and out of place, but I don't knooooowwww, maybe the could've made a ending that blended a lot better with the episode itself and still maintaining the reference?, but overall I really love this episode (bonus POSITIVE points goes to the Latin American dub..I love how Ren sounds so pissed off there)

I give this episode a 9/10, amazing episode, I recommend it greatly teehee

Join us next time where we'll be taking a look at "Sven Hoek" ooohohohohohhhh that one it's pretty well known so...I hope you're looking forward to it

[kristannafever]

She Ain't Gotta Do Much - 14

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: M WC: 3776

Chapter Index

------------------

TWO MONTHS LATER

Kristoff yawned on his drive home, glad that he had the weekend to relax and recharge.  Even though winter had set in, the forecast was mild, and he still planned to make the best of his time off with Anna and arranged for them to go to the zoo for a buffet brunch; a date he had planned a long time ago that they never had the opportunity to do yet. 

The past couple of months could only be described as a roller coaster.   While there were lots of exciting twists and turns, there were also plenty of drops.  They’d had to turn away work for a time, had issues completing some jobs on time, and had gone through a handful of employees that they’d hoped would have stuck around through the chaos. 

But now things were finally operating more the way that they needed to. 

Enzo and a couple of other kids they’d hired were enrolled in the apprentice program and scheduled to do their first eight-week course in the fast-approaching new year.   That would leave Kristoff and Sven scrambling a little without the extra help from those four sets of hands, but they figured they could make do without overworking themselves too much.  Not to mention they were still hiring.

Zach was doing such a great job that he went to some of the smaller work they had on his own.  He’d be going back to school for his final year after the newbies were done their first go around.   The guy was so good at getting things done independently, that Sven and Kristoff agreed to up his hourly rate to a Journeyman even thought he wasn’t officially one yet. 

And all the other various other apprenticeship people they had, a couple of young women included, would be advancing their education throughout the year.  With the four extra Journeymen they’d acquired, K&S Contracting was now up to 21 employees, including him and Sven, Anna, and the other girl she’d hired to help her run the office. 

Kristoff and Anna’s long ago carefully planned outline to grow the business had been left by the wayside ever since that first week that Kristoff started on Tony’s deli.  On paper, it was great, and admittedly ambitious.  But it was also critically flawed.  They all should have assumed that it was going to take longer for Kristoff and Sven to get off the tools, coming from a background that was based on manual labour.  And, as it turned out, neither of them wanted to anytime soon anyway.  While they still worked extremely hard, they both took more time off the tools throughout the day to work on various other things.  Sometimes they’d meet back at the home office that was still in Kristoff’s house and go over upcoming jobs and talk to suppliers to get better pricing for materials, or whatever else required their attention.  Both of them were relieved they were able to get away from time to time and leave people they trusted in charge. 

The first month had been the hardest, everyone working long hours and on plenty of Saturdays, but then they’d hit their stride with the number of people they now had working for them and the jobs that were coming in.  And while they were still unable to take on some of the larger projects that had come across their desks in the past while, they were continuously working to build bigger and bigger, which was much easier now that anyone very rarely worked weekends to get caught up.

Kristoff relinquished the work van to Sven and leased his truck to the company and used it as his work vehicle.  Enzo had become his new passenger, and while Kristoff enjoyed the kids’ company, every so often he’d look over and wish it was still Sven sitting beside him.  He hadn’t worked side by side with his friend on a job since he wound up in the hospital all those months ago.

Christmas was a week away, and Kristoff and Sven both agreed to shut the company down over the break between it and New Years, giving everyone some much deserved time off.  Both men were looking forward to the break with their soon-to-be-fiancés. 

It was just the other day that Kristoff had mentioned to Sven that he was going to get Anna a ring and propose.  Sven had then demanded that they go for a beer after work to celebrate, then surprised Kristoff by driving to a ring shop instead, telling him with wide grin that he was also going to propose to Tilly.  While Kristoff never in a million years thought he’d be shopping for a ring with Sven, it was actually very welcome.  The four of them had become the closest of friends and both men agreed the choices of rings they’d made would make their ladies very happy. 

It was certainly going to be a memorable Christmas for all of them. 

When Kristoff got home and slid out of his truck, Anna was just bidding Julie a good evening.  Kristoff smiled at her as they passed on the walk and wished each other a good night as well.  He looked up to his door where Anna stood waiting with a smile that told him she’d be joining him in the shower again.

As always, it was wonderful.   

Anytime he was joined with Anna was incredible, and she was opening up his world to all sorts of new ways for them to come together.  The things she suggested, some of them downright naughty, left him constantly excited for any time they became intimate.  Now that work wasn’t so arduous, he thought about her constantly.

Part of him was nervous to propose, even though he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she would say yes.   He just didn’t know what to say, how to express the deep feelings he had for Anna.  She was his rock throughout the stress that had wrecked him when Sven and him had started to grow their business.   She was his rock still, for anything that was bothering him.  Which thankfully these days, wasn’t nearly much as it had been.

Anna taking over all the clerical work, payroll, books and accounting, phones and everything else that she did on a daily basis, was like a weight lifted off both him and Sven’s shoulders.  Neither of them realized how much time they actually spent working on all that stuff after work, until they suddenly didn’t have to worry about it anymore.  Anna was unbelievably amazing in taking over their office.  Kristoff had no idea she was so skilled at multi-tasking.  She knew where everything was, who was on what job, which clients needed to be phoned, and literally everything else.  Any time him or Sven had a question about anything, she knew the answer straight away.  She had her attention on absolutely everything besides working the tools themselves.

She impressed him and Sven so much, that after that first month, both men sat her down and told her they were putting her on salary which included a very nice raise.   Anna of course, the beautiful soul that Kristoff knew she was, insisted they didn’t need to do such a thing so early on.  Both of them argued with her on it, and in the end, they agreed to lower the salary just a little at Anna’s request so that she could hire another person to work the office with her.  Neither of them men had realized the work load that she had taken on was taxing her limit as she found herself falling behind with the more menial things like invoicing and filing as the company grew.  As soon as she hired Julie, things were right back on track.

And the hope was throughout the next year, that everything would become a well-oiled machine and they could start accepting quoting some of the bigger projects that came their way.

Kristoff abandoned his idea to cook dinner than night in favour of taking Anna out.  It had been a long time since they’d been on a nice dinner, and he planned to take her back to the place that they had their first date. 

Funnily enough, Kristoff still hadn’t added any new pictures to his Instagram since the first one of him and Anna outside of the same restaurant.  Tonight, that was going to change, because he realized as he was in the shower with her, he didn’t want to wait until Christmas to propose.  He was going to do it that evening.  And that would be a picture worthy of sharing. 

-----

Anna was delighted when Kristoff suggested going back to Smugglers Inn, the place they had their first date.  She told him she’d been wanting to back there with him since that first wonderful evening. 

He drove them in her car, which they took everywhere now since Kristoff’s truck was a work vehicle, and his nerves started to rattle him.  He suddenly felt like this was a horrible, stupid idea.  What was he thinking, proposing in a packed restaurant when he still had no idea what he was going to say.  He took a deep breath, not wanting Anna to pick up on his anxiety.  He did not want to ruin this for her by being scared. 

Yet the nerves did not leave him.  As soon as they parked and were walking up the walk to the restaurant doors, full blown panic set in and he hesitated just short of opening the big wooden door for Anna. 

She turned at his pause.  “Hey, is everything okay?  You seem like you’re worried-”

“I’m fine,” he said in a whisper, pulling her with him away from the door to stand in front of the sign for the restaurant.  He knew this was not going to happen how he’d planned.  He would ruin it all if he attempted the proposal with a bunch of people around.  He wished suddenly that he’d just waited until Christmas.

“Kristoff, if something is wrong, please tell me.”

Her eyes were pleading and he felt like a complete moron for a second as he looked at her.  And then he saw his inspiration.  It was in the way she was looking at him, there to support and help him with whatever he needed, that he realized he could do this right here and now.  They were everything to each other.

“Listen, Anna…” Kristoff looked around, making sure no one was coming to the door in that very second.  He smiled, his tension easing and took her hand into his.  “Forgive me if this was not how you pictured it, but I just need to tell you how much you mean to me.  How much I love and adore you.  There is no one else on the face of this planet that makes me feel the way you do, that supports me the way that you do.  You are absolutely everything in the world to me.”

He reached into his pocket and slowly sank to one knee, Anna’s eyes widening in genuine surprise and filling with emotion.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he started, and then surprised himself by getting as emotional as Anna was, while she stood looking at him with a big smile hidden behind her hands.  “Anna, my love, will you marry me?”

“Yes!” she squeaked, and surged forward to give him a fierce hug, nearly knocking him off balance.  He grinned and let the tears fall as he hugged her back.  Relieved and happy that he managed to get it all out more or less the way he wanted to. 

After getting to their feet, Anna giggling, still crying, he slipped the ring onto her finger and she gave a soft gasp as she looked at it on her hand. 

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, then looked up at him.  “I can’t wait to be your wife, Kristoff.”

“I can’t wait to be your husband,” he said, and pulled her into another hug just as a group of four was walking towards the doors. 

They remained in the embrace until they were alone again, and Anna let go of him to fish something out of her purse.  She came up with her phone, and told Kristoff to stand with her in front of the restaurant sign.  Then she lifted the phone sideways as he put her head near his, and she positioned her hand just below and between their faces so that the ring could be clearly seen.

The both grinned and she took the selfie. 

“I am posting this you know,” she giggled.  “I’m so freakin’ excited.  I’ll send it to you and you should post it too!”

Kristoff could not stop smiling.  He did as he was asked, thinking it was funny he’d already thought of posting the moment on his only form of social media, and then they went into the restaurant.  Just as they were seated at the same table they shared for their first date, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and looked at it quickly.  Unsurprising, it was a text from Sven.

-BRUH!  THE FUCK I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING THIS AT X-MAS

Kristoff typed back quickly and stuffed the phone in his pocket, determined to ignore it for the rest of the evening.

-Couldn’t help myself man.  It just felt right

-----

Kristoff finally checked his phone after him and Anna had gotten home after dinner and made some seriously passionate love.  There were quite a few notifications.

A text from Sven:  -I GET IT GOOD FOR YOU.  FUCK YOU.  BUT I’M HAPPY FOR YOU BRO

A text from Tilly: -Congratulations you guys!!!  We can’t wait to take you both out for a celebratory dinner!

A comment on Instagram from his Ma (who had gotten an account only a couple of weeks ago after hearing Anna talk about it): -Bless you both!  Your father and I are so happy!  Lots of Love! xoxo

A comment from Enzo: -Congrats! 

A text from Sven’s mother: -Congratulations Kristoff!  Wonderful news!

And plenty of other congratulations from all of the other people that Kristoff and Anna were friends with. 

It warmed his heart to feel so much love.  Especially from Anna.  They sat down to watch some TV before bed and she could not stop staring at the ring and looking at him with the happiest smile. 

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

“Tilly is seriously giving me the look now, you asshole.”

Kristoff looked at Sven. “No one told you that you have to wait until Christmas to propose.  Do it whenever.”

Sven waved him off.  “Nah.  It’s only a couple of days.  Even if I’m pretty sure she knows it’s coming now.”

“Wait until boxing day.  That’ll really throw her off.”

Sven laughed.  “No way in hell I am inviting in that shit storm.  Maybe I’ll pop the question on Christmas Eve.  We’ll see.”

Kristoff nodded.  They were sitting in a coffee shop not far between the two jobs they were both working on, meeting about how to approach the upcoming work in the new year and waiting for a Journeyman they set up to interview.  The mood was light, being the last day before their Christmas break. 

“If this guy works out, we’ll throw him on the salon job with a couple of the newbies when we restart in the new year,” Sven said, looking over the resume again.  “It’s really close to that electric company office reno, I can keep a close eye on both these jobs.”

“Sounds good.  And I’ll take a couple of the second and third years to that bigger job by the airport.  Zach can probably handle the Italian restaurant with Dean no problem.”

Sven nodded and made some notes in his notebook. 

They worked out on who to put on all the other jobs and then just shot the shit for a while, waiting for the interview they had set up in thirty minutes.  Anna had sent Julie home the day before since it was pretty slow, and he was a little glad that she would be gone when he got home early.  That way he could enjoy a shower with Anna if she was up for it, which she usually always was. 

They had plans to find themselves an office space eventually, but everything was working so well from there it was better for their overhead to wait a bit which might give them an edge at getting even more ahead of all the work that was coming in.  Anna had offered some of the money from her parents to get them a place for a new office, only he’d told her he was confident they’d be there within a year and to hold onto it for their wedding. 

They didn’t want anything big, just a nice ceremony and party with all their family and friends.  There was a garden restaurant in a nice older hotel in the city that Kristoff’s adoptive parents had gotten married in, and Anna said she was intrigued and would look into it.  Whatever she wanted to do would suit him just fine.  He’d give her input where she wanted it, but as far as he was concerned, she could have everything the way she desired it.

He loved her so much.

*****

Anna looked down at the little pink stick with two lines. 

“Shit,” she whispered. 

This was not the plan.  Kids, absolutely, only not now.  There was no room in the townhouse for a nursery with the home office taking up the only other bedroom.  Not to mention how busy they all were with work.

She felt anxious about the positive test, and also an incredible happiness.  This was her and Kristoff’s baby.  Their child.  Created from their love for each other.  How could she not be thrilled.  And she knew Kristoff would be too… but maybe not right away?  Things had just finally started going well and this was certainly going to throw a wrench into things.  She wondered how he was going to take it when she told him, which she would be doing right away.  This was not something she could hold onto.

They had already talked about getting married the following summer, but it appeared that Anna was going to be about 8 months pregnant by then.  She did not want to get married that way.  Which meant either rushing it in the new year, or waiting.  Anna preferred not to rush things, even if she could hardly wait to be Kristoff’s wife.

And if they waited, how long before they actually got married then?  Newborns were a lot of work.  And when would they try for another?  They both wanted more than one kid and it made sense to have them somewhat close together.  How would that all fit in to what they’d imagined when they talked about their future.

She spent the afternoon occupying herself with work even if it was incredibly slow with Christmas just around the corner.   She’d sent Julie home at noon the day before and told her to start her break a little early.  Anna had a feeling after all that there was a reason her period was late, and she wanted the house to herself after she took the pregnancy test that morning.

Kristoff came home early and Anna was ready to talk to him when he walked into the kitchen.

“Hey Baby, how was your day?”

Anna smiled at him.  “It was good.  How about yours?”  She stood up and kissed him.

“Great.  We’re officially off work for ten days, we’ve got a good game plan for the new year, and we hired that Journeyman.  He seems like he’s going to be a really good fit.  Lots of experience.”

“Glad to hear it,” Anna beamed at him, impossible not to feel his good mood in her soul.  She loved it when he wasn’t stressed out.  Although, now might come the stress with what she was about to tell him.  This would affect a lot the things they had outlined for work, not to mention their lives.

“So listen,” she started, clasping her hands in front of her.  This was one Band-Aid she was just going to have to rip off.  “Know how we talked about getting pregnant a year or so after we’re married?”

“Yeah?” he asked, clueless.

“Um, well, how would you feel if it happened sooner?   Like, right now?”

His face went blank and he stared at her for a second.  “Are you pregnant?” he asked quickly.

Anna nodded, heartrate ramping up, then Kristoff’s face broke into an incredulous smile.  “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I am,” she said, pulling the test from her back pocket and showing it to him.

“Holy Shit!” He grinned and pulled her into a fierce hug.  “This is amazing!  I’m so happy, Anna!”

She immediately started to cry.  How could she have thought he would react any other way.  She sniffed.  “Me too.”

“This is the best news,” he exclaimed, letting her go to look at her.  Then his face fell. “I… wait, are you okay?  Is this… is it okay?”

Anna nodded quickly, still crying.  “Yes, absolutely.  I am beyond thrilled, Kristoff.   Even if it wasn’t exactly planned.”

“How?  When did it… happen?”

She smiled.  “Tilly’s birthday party.  Remember?  We drank so much wine that night.”

His eyes went wide.  “So much wine!  Shit.  Well… oops.”

Anna laughed.  “Yeah.  I mean, I think I remember saying something about it not remembering where I was in my cycle, but neither of us really listened to me.”

Kristoff gave her an innocent expression.  “Oh, that was all you.  I was going to grab a rubber when you forced me onto my back and basically had your way with me.”

“I did do that, didn’t I?”  She giggled.  “Well, I guess I’m to blame.”

“Nah,” he said, and pulled her into another firm hug.  “It takes two to tango.  Maybe… maybe in the back of our minds… we both wanted this?”

Anna began to cry again.  She’d been thinking the same thing, knowing that neither of them had any second thoughts or worries about the risks they took that night.  They both just let it happen.  How truly beautiful this man was.  How lucky she was that he loved her. 

She hugged him tighter.  “You and me and a baby makes three.”

“Damn straight.”  He kissed the top of her head.  “I can’t wait to meet our child.”

---

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[lunarsilkscreen]

Black Cat

Has two differently mainline stories, the Manga Variant and the Anime variant. Mostly the order in which the story is told, because the Manga started like most Manga; an episodic about a Hero who is roughly inspired by the Ronin.

I'm talking here about why it's both a memorable series, and not quite a good series or as big as any of the other Manga stories like Naruto or One Piece.

Anime and Manga tend to follow two different paths , opposed to Western media.

Western comics, unless they're Archie Comics or newspaper comics, tend to be gritty and realistic and meant for a teen or adult audience.

Western Cartoons tend to be non-serialized "Family Friendly" k-6 entertainment.

But for the most parts: Manga, Anime, Cartoon, and Comics tend to target the same demographics and suffer from the same corporate control and tropes.

So in both; there's gritty or slapstick.

Because of the desire for these media types to be non-serialized, that is; no continuity between episodes..because they don't want an audience to turn on the channel one day and be unable to immerse themselves in the content, on paper it reduces total viewers and thus; and revenue.

So many MangaKa and Cartoonists *want* a serialized feel, because that's how you develop a dedicated fan base; but they still want the audience who drops in on strip 3,085 to not be completely lost and want to read/watch more.

I've gone to far on this tangent.

Black Cat started as a pseudo slapstick retelling of a secret agent cat that quit his job and went on the run. Literally because he's a child soldier and the agency owns his as.s

And the Anime retells the story from the moment [Train]> the Black Cat decides to quit his job. Instead of retelling it mid way in the comics.

It's because of this, I think, that the comic and animation doesn't really know what it wants to be. Which, ironically; is great considering that's the exact feeling that the protagonists have. He's a skilled assassin, and doesn't want to be that anymore, but finds himself in an adjacent career field as a bounty hunter. But only because he needs the money, and even then; only because his partner sven insists *because* HE needs the money.

And so the series occupies this weird middle ground between ultra serious, and ultra comedic. Not like Deadpool.

To put it another way; the series feels like the Live action remakes of anime on Netflix. Where the realism and the cartoon just aren't mixed very well.

Despite the directors of those series trying their very best to do so.

I wonder if it's part of the Western Lens MangaKa tend to complain about. But I doubt it.

It's likely a difference in perspective between the director/producer who purchased the rights to those series, and then tried to keep them "Traditional" despite... You know; Manga and Comics whole deal being to break tradition.

Black Cat is something that's backwards in comparison. Where the Animators work their hardest to make it less traditional, and less *gimmicky* while trying to maintain the details from the Manga.

I like the idea of what a fully-fleshed out Black Cat Series *could be*. Because Kentaro Yabuki seems to want a series that feels more fully fleshed out. He's very aware of his own series. I think.

I'm not sure if he has a hand in the anime TBH.

The magic in the series... However; is kind of ripped off of other popular series created at the time, like Sasuke's Sharingan, and every Assassin having an extremely dangerous power. But none of that seems completely coherent. Likely speaking more to metaphor or allegory than a magic system.

I would very much recommend Black Cat, but at the same time; I understand if it's not your vibe.

[rarestdoge]

SO CAM AND SVEN ARE FIRENDS ON DUM ISLAND NOW !!!! :CRYING:!!!! HELP WHAT "I want to be friends with Sven" O K ???? -tomodachi life anon

He probably only wants to be friends with him to prank and annoy him to death tbh 😭

[popculturebuffet]

Since it was fun doing Cartoon Network, let's try another network of shows. You already talked about The Hub/Discovery Family original cartoons on another ask, so gonna try Nickelodeon original cartoons next (split up by era). Who is your favorite character from each of the Nicktoons from the first half of the 90s from the shows you've seen like: Doug, Rugrats 1991, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Rocko's Modern Life, Aaahh Real Monsters, Hey Arnold, and KaBlam?

LIke last time (Which wasn't commented on) I'll also give my general thoughts but I was hoping this would happen. Doug: Doug himself, a relatable likeable guy and one of Billy West's breakout roles. Though Roger is a close second as while he's an ass, he's one of the better bully characters out there. The show itself was nice, calming and pretty decent all things considered, a grounded slice of life show that paved the way for others. IT's outclassed by some later ones to be sure, but it's still pretty neat. Rugrats: Chucky. He was this when I was a kid, he still is now. I love this neurotic little mess. The show as a whole was pretty great.. I went through a phase of not liking it and while I still like most other nicktoons on this block better, I can't deny Rugrats staying power, classic characters or all time banger episodes. The Movies are also pretty good and something we may be covering at some point. The Ren and Stimpy Show: Not sure if I have a faviorite here. As for the show I didn't really watch it much as a kid or as an adult: I can admire it's craft, and the gag from sven hoek "BUT FIRST, BUT FIRST, BUT FIIIIRRRSSST I"m gonna take a whiz! Don't you go anywhere", was a thing with me and my friend mars back in the day but I just never was that attached. Which is probably good as John K is a monster, but the rest of his crew did a good job as was the voice acting. It was just never really for me.

Rocko's Modern Life: Rocko Himself. Yes once again i'm picking the main character though out of the side cast, you all know who my boy is

But Rocko is such a relatable shy little guy he's hard not to love. Though again Wild Pig will always be goat too so they can share it I suppose. Point is Rocko is the best: a relatable show that hits for both adults and kids. As a Kid I watched it but wasn't really in love with it. As a young adult on the n, this thing became my religion and remains one of my faviorite nicktoons. A true classic with humor, relatablity and a whole lotta 90's nostalgia while still being mostly relevant. Watch this one if you haven't. Aaaah Real Monsters: Hard to say as it's been too long. I like Ickis design but all the design work here is awesome. The show itself is one worth revisiting, with great designs and a truly unique style. Wish I had more to say about it as I don't think Kid me was super on board.

Hey Arnold: Honestly? Harold. I thought this would be hard as the cast for Hey Arnold is truly one of the best in animation history, no exageration the amount of spotlight episodes means just about everyone's fleshed out. But Harold's tend to stick out the most with his Kitten Hostage Situation, Bar Mitzfah and especailly his job with Mr Green being some of the series best episodes. The kid was the right mix of obnoxious jerk and heart of gold. Also before we move on can we just.. appricate that the show has an episode where a child basically kidnaps a kitten, has the police called.. and he's STILL the most sympathetic one in the room next to the kitten's owner? It's a tesitament to the show's power: Hey Arnold is a charming, wonderful little show, one of the best slice of life shows period. Part of the reason doug isn't as good as it was in it's heyday.. is it made room for shows like Hey Arnold to exist. A truly wonderful show that gave depth to just about every damn character it had over time, had a lot of heart, charm and creativity. It's honestly one of the best cartoons period and I stand by that, also having a knack for atmsophere along with it's wonderful cast and shocking maturity (Seriously I had no idead Miriam was an alcholic as a kid or Mr Simmons was gay and had a homophobic mom but both are handled well for the time). True classic.

KaBlam: Character wise let's go by short: June (If Narrowly), The Chief (Tends to get the best lines and is enjoyably Da Chief type character boiled down to it's most hliaroius form), Sniz, Prometheus, Loopy Herself, Race Rabbit, and Tommy. As for the show I did a whole ass retrospective, but in short, it's fantastic. Not the biggest fan of prometheus and bob, but the rest of the recurring segments are all bangers on some level, though P and B is still gorgeously animated, it's simply not for me. It's a fantastic show, animation showcase and time capsule and well worth your time.