#sweet n sour fanart

[smilingroadkill]

Hey guys yall should totally support this game my bestie is making @gabbydagoof sory for tagging you so much idk why i keep doing it

[ennaku-sirri-da]

[ ID: Digital Fanart of Kamal Bora from Smile For Me the game. The design resembles the game almost exactly except his colors are darker and richer. The inner garment he's wearing is a lime color as well here. The artstyle's linings are thick and watery looking with the colors and black lines overlapping, smudging in places, and slightly messy, fast coloring.

The centremost doodle is a big colored one of him till just above his shoes. He keeps his hands held back and leans slightly off to the side, smiling slyly. Around this are smaller, dot eyed, mitten-handed doodles that are colored a bit lighter than the muted orange background. One is of him looking flexible, keeping his hands above his head from the back in a way that his body looks like a smooth curve. Then below is a doodle of him unamused with his tongue out. Then to the far left is one of him nervously smiling, holding his hands up and rubbing them together. BG has neat lighter orange splotches throughout plus places with a collection of screen-tone patterned dots. There is a big transparent watermark of the artist " Spooky Loves Boba". End ID]

Lazy Kamal doodles :vP

[dipplinduo]

Woe, applins be upon ye

I took creative liberties when drawing Sweet n Sour >_<. I just think it’s INCREDIBLY funny if Sour is smaller than your average Applin cause that means Kieran got knocked over by this tiny apple filled with fury.

Also, they’re surrounded by daisies! Daisies represent loyal love, joy, and new beginnings. Though, they also used to be used as a euphemism for death due to an old poem which described the dead as “pushing up daisies”. Interesting flowers due to the dichotomy of their meaning, which is why they’re some of my favorite!

AWWWW MYYYYY GOSHHHHH Thank you so much I love love love love getting fanart and you made me so happy!!! Their personalities are shining and I love the daisy lore you added!!

[astraule]

“It's You I Love"

Pairing: Louis x Reader TW: Violence, Mark’s leg in season 1, strong language. Y/N: She/Her Ericson kids' reader. Word Count: 1.9 K Summary: You find Marlon with two old friends, Duck and Clem, and immediately burst into tears as you give them a big hug. The next evening, after dinner, Louis suggests a game of War in the courtyard; unfortunately, it quickly turns sour as Clem and Duck get up and leave, just as things are getting a bit touchy-feely. Aasim encourages you to tell Louis how you are really feeling, which results in a light-hearted moment between you and Louis. *Based off a fanart I saw of grown-up Duck, wanted to see what it would be like if he survived and made it to season 4.”

Y/N POV: (Courtyard)

 "He just mentioned that, so you should probably go do it Tenn, it's your shift for keeping watch," I said with a grin before I turned around and caught sight of Marlon and two other figures in the distance. I assumed they were the two individuals they had saved from the wreckage of the car. It was time to go and greet them. As I approached, familiar faces began to come into focus, their features remaining unchanged from the last time our paths crossed. It was as if time had stood still for them, frozen in a moment.

3RD POV:  (Flashback, Season 1 Travelier Motel)

“Come on Y/N, I know you took it, give it back to me” Duck wailed as he accused his sister Y/N of taking his favorite action figure. Of course, this wasn’t an accusation as Y/N had taken his figurine, but she shook her head and refused to mention anything. "Hey guys, can we please not argue? Lee is swamped with work at the moment, so why don't we just focus on coloring and-" Clementine's words were cut short as Duck suddenly pushed Y/N, causing the 9-year-old to burst into tears. The commotion caught the attention of both Lee and Kenny, who quickly rushed over to see what was happening. Kenny's authoritative voice echoed as he questioned the situation, looking at both his children, Duck and Y/N. With silence as the only response, he let out a sigh and gently lifted Y/N, placing her on the table. "Are you okay, Birdie?" he inquired, using her affectionate nickname. Just like Duck, whose real name was Ken Jr., Y/N was also known by her nickname, Birdie.  Lee's gaze shifted towards Clem, contemplating how he could get some answers from her. "Sweet Pea, would you mind elaborating on what transpired? I assure you, none of you are facing any trouble; we simply seek a sincere and truthful explanation."  Duck hung his head low and admitted, "It wasn't Clem's fault, it was mine." The children had grown accustomed to using the nicknames that the adults had given them - Ken Jr. was known as Duck, Y/N as Birdie, and Clementine as Clem.

(Flashback, Season 3 New Frontier)

Y/N's voice echoed through the woods, filled with desperation and anger. She struggled against the hold of David's worker, her eyes fixed on the scene before her. Clem was on the ground, tears streaming down her face as Duck tried to comfort her. The words spilled out of Y/N, a mix of frustration and fear, as she pleaded for them not to take AJ away. The weight of their shared struggle hung heavy in the air. “You’ve been a huge problem yourself, take her away I never want to see her again” David mentioned to his worker as he stepped closer to Y/N. That’s when the panic set in within her. “NO! Please don’t take me away from my family. Please don’t take the last thing that reminds me of my dad.” she said as she sobbed, a cry so terrible like the day at the motel when Duck had pushed her down. That was the last time Y/N saw AJ, Clem, and Duck.

Y/N POV: (Present Time)

Startled by the sight of my friends, I exclaimed, "CLEM?! DUCK!" before rushing towards them and enveloping them in a warm hug. Through tears, I explained how I had searched for them after the incident, only to be surrounded by walkers, forcing me to flee for safety. Both Duck and Clem exclaimed my name in unison as they embraced me tightly, indicating that they had reunited after the events with the New Frontier. As I released them and dried my tears, I inquired, "There was someone else with you two, who was it?" “You might have to see it yourself; it’ll be hard to explain.” Clem chuckled softly as she brushed away her tears. "Looks like you guys are all pretty close," Marlon remarked, a wide grin on his face. "You should go check on the kid, he's with Louis in the music room. I'm sure Y/N can show you the way." A kid?

(Music Room)

 Louis' piano skills always captivated me, and I couldn't deny the feelings I had for him, even though he didn't reciprocate them. His eyes revealed that I was just a friend to him. "Lou, I have visitors," I announced, spotting a child watching him play. "AJ, come say hello." Clem mentioned. AJ... the same cheerful baby who used to cling to me all those days ago. Would he remember me? AJ suddenly spun around and within a split second, he was wrapping his arms around my legs. Overwhelmed with emotion, I dropped to my knees, tears streaming down my face as I embraced him. "When we found him, he kept asking about you. You've clearly made a lasting impression on him. We even showed him pictures of you to keep memories alive... we thought you were gone," Duck revealed as he patted my back. Louis exclaimed, "What a fantastic family gathering this is!" as he gazed at Duck with an unfamiliar expression on his face. Despite the odd look, I brushed it off, feeling grateful that my family had finally arrived. "I'm here to stay, AJ. I'll never leave again," I declared as I rose to my feet and wiped away my tears.

(Courtyard, After Dinner)

Louis declared it was time for an entertaining game of War as he revealed a deck of cards. "You're in for a challenge tonight," I teased, but he just grinned skeptically. "What are the rules?" Clem inquired. "Simple," Violet explained, "each player gets a stack of cards and flips one over. The highest card wins." Louis flashed a grin at Clem before speaking up, "The victor will have the chance to pose a question to either Clem or Duck." Marlon chimed in, "And let's not forget about Y/N, there's more to her than meets the eye." I couldn't help but chuckle at his comment. Duck, ever curious, asked, "What happens if one of us wins?" Louis replied, "In that case, the winner can ask any of us a question," as he began shuffling the deck of cards. As we each drew a card from the deck, it was evident that Clem was the clear winner. "What's the most disgusting thing you've ever eaten?" she inquired. The answer came easily for the three of us after mistakenly consuming a piece of our group member's leg. Violet, Marlon, and Louis shared their experiences, but none could compare to the revulsion of ours. The moment they learned the truth, they were all visibly taken aback. Louis emerged as the victor, and without hesitation, he inquired of Clem, "Have you ever had a boyfriend?" I had anticipated this question, so why did it catch me off guard? I slumped my head in disappointment on Duck's shoulder, and to my surprise, he didn't pull away. There was something changed about my brother; perhaps it was the realization that he had believed me to be dead for a year. Our sibling dynamic seemed more subdued, and I could sense that our disagreements would be far less frequent. It was then that I noticed the same expression on Louis' face as he gazed at Duck earlier. Marlon emerged victorious this time, taking a moment to ponder his question before speaking. "You three couldn't have been on your own all this time. Who looked after you? Family? Anyone?" The room fell into a heavy silence as we all reflected on the past. Knowing that neither Duck nor Clem wanted to respond, I decided to speak up. "We had two main caretakers, Lee, a close friend, and Kenny, my father." Louis continued his winning streak by securing one last victory before hesitating to ask a rather serious question. "Just spit it out," Violet remarked, rolling her eyes. "It's not a lighthearted question, but have you ever been in a situation where you had to harm someone you cared about?" Louis eventually inquired. The silence that followed was not only audible but palpable. "Yes," Clem responded. "Please, continue," Louis urged, attempting to extract more information. "It was a simple yes or no question." “I think we’re done playing tonight.” Duck declared, giving Louis a stern look before leading the way back inside with Clem following closely. Louis, feeling guilty, turned to Violet and mentioned that she had wanted him to ask. I let out a sigh and made a move to leave as well, telling Louis to just forget about it. He nodded in understanding, dropping his head in defeat. Marlon then reassured Louis, expressing his hope that Louis would inform the others that there was no ill intent. He ended on a positive note, suggesting a potential long-term plan for Clem, AJ, and Duck to stay and leaving me feeling relieved that my family was back for good.

(Forest Hunting)

Louis pleaded, his puppy-dog eyes trying to melt my anger away. Sure, he was cute, but his attempts to smooth things over with just an apology weren't going to cut it this time. Especially after him flirting with Clem the night before. Aasim trudged deeper into the woods, clearly fed up with the situation. "This is so embarrassing, just admit your feelings for him already, Y/N, so we can put an end to his annoying pleading," he muttered under his breath. Suddenly, Louis turned to me with a puzzled expression, demanding, "What is he talking about, Y/N?" His face twisted in a mix of surprise and probably disapproval.

Louis POV:

Shock coursed through me as I realized the girl I had fallen for a year ago actually loved me back. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions until Y/N's tears brought everything to a halt. It pained me to see her beautiful face contorted in sadness, someone I cared for deeply. "Why... Why are you crying? Let's go back to school and discuss this," I urged, desperate to understand her tears.

(Courtyard)

 As I held Y/N in my arms, I attempted to console her by expressing my regret for causing any pain. I mentioned my misunderstanding about her feelings towards Duck, assuming she had a romantic history that was still affecting her. I apologized for my actions with Clementine, hoping to alleviate her distress and prevent any further tears from falling. Our conversation took place in a moment of vulnerability, seeking to mend any hurt feelings and reassure her of my intentions. Y/N finally managed to speak through her sniffles, revealing that Duck was actually her brother. The revelation brought a sense of relief, but also confusion. "Your brother? Why didn't you mention it earlier?" I asked, feeling a bit foolish for not realizing sooner. Y/N explained, "I mean, we do look quite similar." As she wiped her nose, I couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance between the two siblings. It was a moment of realization that brought everything into perspective. At that moment, a smile spread across my face, and I made the spontaneous decision to draw her close for a kiss. We lingered in that embrace for a while before parting, and I couldn't help but playfully tease her with the words, "you silly girl, my silly girl."

Clem POV:

“That stupid Louis he better treat my little sister with good care” Duck said as he watched Louis and Y/N from a distance. “Alright that’s enough. Stop spying on them, it’s creepy.” I mentioned. “Maybe I should’ve mentioned that I didn’t like women from the beginning,” Duck said. “It would’ve been a better idea to just tell them Y/N was your sister, not just that you’re gay Duck.” I said before stepping away.

I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I loved making it, if you see any mistake in my writing, please let me know, I would love to receive feedback as quite I'm new to this. I hope you guys don't mind the difference in fanfics I write, I like to write about the things I'm interested in.

[cin3maa]

ahaha..hello welcome to my blog ദ്ദി ༎ຶ‿༎ຶ )

my name is cinema but i usually go by cinna or cin (pronouns page)

i am 15! just your average highschooler who complains all the time

quick disclaimers and important info:

-i am taken (well, my heart is..) so dont flirt w me pls🙏

block the tag #selfship if you dont wanna see any of my selfship💗

-my art requests are closed

-i love getting asks! send em if you like

⤴︎ if you are under 13 please DNI with me directly. idc if you like/reblog/etc

-im pretty annoying so sorry in advance ( • ᴖ • ｡)

navigation:

#rolling 🎥 (my art) #backstage 🎭 (my refs) #previews 🎞️ (ask replies) #talking during the movie (yapping) #5 stars 🌟 (reblogs)

----- #gifts 💌

friend tags:

#corrupted file 📄- @mr-urple (big bro!!!) #ocean documentary 🪸 - @atomic-rattz (little bro...) #sweet n sour 🍋 - @hahawasabi #alien sighting 🛸 - @reddbug27

below ⇩

boundaries, more navigation, & more about me

-> art usage

feel free to use my art as a pfp/banner etc (credit appreciated<3)

i dont mind if you repost as long as you credit me tbh

do not edit/modify my art

do not use my art in edits

you can draw any of my designs! id love if you tagged me so i could see it💗

-> general boundaries

t/cest, i/ncest and proshippers/comshippers wtvr you call yourselves please do not interact and better yet block me. this isnt a safe space for you

^I do not consider april x turtles t/cest but you will still likely not see it on my blog

feel free to tag me!

dms are open

i love getting fanart of cinnatello (my selfship) or just seeing my ocs or just donnie in general so pls share with me💗

dont call me petnames especially if we're not familiar (pls check pronouns page if youre still confused)

-> other interests

project sekai & vocaloid/utau/vsynth/jpop

hoyoverse

osomatsu san

mitm

psych

brba

metal family

heathers (musical & movie)

-> additional things to check out

700 DTIYS donnie with other purple characters #rottmnc - raph leo & mikey turn into cats.. more soon #tmnt cin - anything with my sona

ily btw

[somefinn-g]

Have really, i mean really old art

(made in 2021)

All this came from a time where i thought i need to know how to draw, so those are some of my first digital pieces :D

So harumi was supposed to get a knife, but me back then did know how to render, even draw, a knife soooo-

I just didn't

Also it was a colour pallette challenge yay

Jin, Jin i drew because Sweet 'n' Sour just came out (i was on the premiere live stream XD), Jin and Yin were just so silly and wholesome in that episode :3

And the last picture, uhh well they kinda OCs which are heavily, and once again mean heavy inspired by Monkie Kid (Sun Wukong), Ninjago (Akita my beloved XD) and Miraculous (Bunnyx, but with a victorian/steam punkish look)

Those characters ain't the once i listed, but my present self couldn't be bothered if that's fanart now

[veidelon]

So uh... I haven't really been on here in *checks watch* about two months. However, it appears that time doesn't stop in my absence (very surprising!), so I'm taking this opportunity to do some memes I was tagged in in the interim. Not sure I tracked all of them down, but thanks to at least @thestarsarecool, @boshemians, and @skylikeaflame for tagging me in one or more of the memes under the cut. I'm going to not tag anyone in Beatles fandom since I assume these have circulated more than enough times, but for the sake of cross-fandom-pollination, if @deliciouskeys or @laurieodell wants to do any of these, feel free. Or don't. Anyway.

"things to get to know me" game

Last song I listened to: What Goes Around... / ...Comes Around - Justin Timberlake. Yes he's evil but... come on, we're in Beatles fandom.

Favorite color: I don't really enjoy wearing it or even really looking at it, but my instinctive answer is always red.

Currently watching: The last series I started was Gen V, which is a spinoff of The Boys. It's alright-- if anyone's familiar with The Boys, the feel is more similar to the Starlight storyline than anything else in there, with some added teen drama mystery vibes.

Last movie I watched: Apocalypse Now. War movies aren't exactly my thing, though it's been on my to-watch list for a long time because of Marlon Brando. I also do have a maybe irrational appreciation for anything anti-Vietnam because of how into that movement the Beatles were-- even Paul had to admit that John's anti-war songs maybe slightly had a hint of a point from that angle! I also watched Tár a couple days ago, which I astutely noticed is actually pretty good.

Currently reading: ... :). The book I technically have open is The City and The Pillar by Gore Vidal, but I can't honestly say I'm reading it. Soon!

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Secret fourth option: sour.

Last thing I googled: Well, I just looked up to see if The City and The Pillar had a film adaptation (motivation to actually finish), and while it doesn't, Wikipedia did inform me that the book itself appears in a movie called Dino at the Beach. Unfortunately, it's Dino as in Bernardino, not as in dinosaur. Very sad.

Current Obsession: Obviously the Beatles, though it's been waning a bit. I'll also say that I recently watched the Adventure Time spinoff Fionna and Cake (partly prompted by seeing you reblog posts about it, Maya! Though that one fanart where Simon Petrikov says he's starting to look like John Lennon was incredibly disturbing to me personally) and I've been thinking about that still on probably a daily basis since.

Current Thing I'm Working On: Myself :). Just kidding, actually the opposite. Actively destroying my psyche by going into John Lennon mode and writing mpreg.

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

"make a playlist from the letters of your username" game

I just typed in each letter into spotify to see what it gave me. I do like all these songs a lot, not sure I would necessarily put them in a single playlist... but an interesting thought experiment to figure out what the theme would be. Perhaps evil mclennon? Is there any other kind?

v - Vampire, Olivia Rodrigo e - Electic Love, BØRNS i - It Will Come Back, Hozier d - Demons, Doja Cat e - Eternal Life, Jeff Buckley l - Love, Keyshia Cole o - Ode To Sleep, Twenty One Pilots n - Northern Downpour, Panic! At The Disco

and a bonus-- the Beatles/Beatles-adjacent songs I filtered out:

v - Venus & Mars e - Eleanor Rigby i - I'm Looking Through You d - Dress Me Up As A Robber e - Every Little Thing l - Lady Madonna o - Oh! Darling n - Not Guilty

Did spotify out me as a McCartney purist (with a rogue George)....... i'm literally not!!! I hate to admit this but my most listened to album last month was fucking Walls & Bridges..... and yet.

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

Last Line Game

Rules: Make a new post and post your latest/most recent line from your WIP and tag as many people as there are words

I'm actually not cheating and I'm picking my most recently written line.

He doesn’t want anyone gawking at his soul, least of all some quack healer. He’s already well aware that there’s something dead wrong with it– that’s not the issue here.

Riveting stuff, yes? I wish I could get back into John Lennon mode so I could actually finish this chapter... it's been 7 months. Maybe I'll have to wait until the 9th?

[snailsaalt]

thanks eddie :3 ! ur ocs r soo cool 2... im gonna use ur tags as an excuse to show off this other crossover pic with phantom (and xealith and xvx) galaxie would be here too but we concluded shed taste like sour garbage. phantom however? taste like marshmallows and gushers n sweet stuff...

ive drawn normal fanart of them before.... im not gonna repost that one though cause this ones funnier

my ocs in outfits bottom right prim and poinsettia r dressed as phantom and galaxie. who r @phant0municorn ‘s ocs .

[tellerluna-stories]

save the first dance for me.

PAIRING: diluc x reader

GENRE: slight angst with a fluffy ending! strangers to something more, perhaps?

TW/CW: mentions of alcohol and drinking. diluc does work in a tavern, after all...

A/N: this is a gift for my beloved sun @x-zho's unbirthday!!! pls check out her blog, you won't regret it <33 HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY TEN OUTTA TEN I HOPE U ENJOY THIS DRABBLE

also, this fanfic is inspired by this fanart I saw on tiktok and this song that I simply adore!!!!!! I've always associated this song with diluc and i just HAD to write something for him with this song AAAAAA

Raucous laughter and the clink of glasses ring throughout Angel’s Share, a round of cheers as its customers chugged down another round of alcohol to go with their mirth. It was the sound of a typical evening in Mondstadt, except that tonight was a special occasion held in honour of— you couldn’t remember what exactly.

Not that it would matter, since everyone would be too hungover to remember it in the morning.

The aroma of grape juice lingers on your tongue before melting away, the sour-sweet taste contrasting sharply with the bitterness that filled your mouth— attending events like these was already bad enough, but getting stood up by the people you were supposed to go with was even worse. They’d all begged and pleaded for you to come to this event, only to leave you stranded in an uncomfortably loud room with nobody you knew.

You take another sip of grape juice and grit your teeth, ignoring the twinge of pain that courses up your foot— the consequence that came of you wearing your newly bought shoes to impress a shameless bunch who didn’t even bother to show up.

“This joyous occasion calls for singing and dancing!” A bard declares, his face flushed red from the amount of drinks he’d already downed. It would be a miracle if he even managed to stay standing, let alone sing a song, but nobody paid any heed.

The girls in attendance tittered and hid their smiles behind their hands, batting their eyelashes at the boys who they hoped would ask them for a dance. Everyone knew that occasions like these were where romance and courtship bloomed, and to publicly ask someone for a slow dance was practically to get engaged.

All-in-all, a riveting display of youth, you thought dryly. It must be nice to attend a dance with friends, and to talk to them about the person you had romantic feelings for. Not that you would know about things like that.

“Would you like a refill?”

Some of the girls glance your way, their already rosy cheeks flushing an even warmer shade of pink at the sound of the stranger’s voice. Your gaze swiveled to fix upon the man standing behind the counter— oh.

“Would you like a refill?” He repeated firmly, gesturing to your glass. This man wasn’t the one who had served you your drink when you’d arrived, no— his eyes matched the crimson hair that was swept up into a high ponytail, gleaming in the lamplight like a thousand rubies. A simple bartender’s uniform was all he wore: a trim black waistcoat and gloves to match, worn over an open-collared white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

“Oh, but…” You peered at your glass, still half-full of grape juice. “I still have some left.”

“Well, just let me know if you want a refill. It’ll be on the house for tonight.”

“Another round, barkeep! Keep the wine flowing till dawn!” A fresh-faced bard cheers from the opposite end of the counter, his braided hair dangerously close to getting sloshed by his half-empty cup, and the bartender rolls his eyes but obliges. You could feel the eyes of those girls boring into you, but you couldn’t exactly blame them, either— this man would not have looked out of place among the gods as their cupbearer.

In the background people begin to clap in time with the music of the bards, a delightfully brisk tempo that had the young folk standing up eagerly as they waited for the dance to begin. Those who did not stand instead chose to stamp their feet or bang their cups against the tabletops, cheering wildly as a young lass took the floor, her skirts swishing playfully as she eyed the crowd for her potential dance partner.

“How come you’re not joining?”

The bartender reappears out of nowhere, nearly causing you to jump out of your skin. “Ah- you startled me!”

“My apologies.”

You sighed once more and let your gaze wander back to the scene; the girl had found a partner, a young boy with a mischievous smile that matched the spark in her eyes. Likewise, the rest of the crowd had followed their example and filtered into pairs, the atmosphere brimming with the anticipation of a glorious dance.

“…I don’t know anybody. All the people I was supposed to go with ended up ditching me.”

“Ah.” His face creases, contorting into the ‘I’m sorry to hear that’ expression that people usually gave you when you told them about incidents like these. “I’m—“

“Don’t tell me you’re sorry to hear that. I’ll only feel worse because some stranger is taking pity on me for having no friends.” You smile ruefully and finish the last of your grape juice, pushing the empty glass across the counter. “I’ll just go out for some air, and maybe I’ll feel a bit better afterwards. Thanks for the drink.”

The expression disappeared as quickly as it came, but you paid it no heed— instead, you headed for the door, seeking it to cool your head in the peaceful quiet of moonlight.

——

The streets of Mondstadt were empty, completely devoid of any life whatsoever; the distinct lack of people was evident, even in the center square. But the lack of people meant that it was quiet, and that sense of solitude was what you needed to clear your head.

Taking a deep breath, you savoured the crisp coolness of the night air, taking this opportunity to reflect.

Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't have felt so bothered by situations like these— in fact, you weren’t even familiar with events like these, yet somehow what you had seen tonight made your heart ache for something you never knew you wanted.

It felt silly to envy those people who you barely even knew, yet you wished that you could experience that joy that they shared so freely among each other. What would it feel like to be able to enjoy yourself at a gathering without feeling left out? To have people who made the time and effort to spend time with you? To even have butterflies as someone asked you for a dance?

"Are you alright?"

For the second time this evening, you nearly jumped out of your skin. Behind you stood the handsome bartender from earlier, who had apparently followed you out of the tavern.

"You startled me once again."

"My apologies." He said, though he didn't look very apologetic. Perhaps that was just his resting face.

The proper response would've been to tell him it was alright and to forget about it, but you no longer had the energy for formalities; instead, you sigh and draw a hand over your face. "Don't you have work to do?"

The bartender threw a dismissive glance towards his workplace and snorted. "It's alright. Besides, it's also my job to ensure the welfare of our patrons."

"Quite the workplace ethics you have."

"Thank you."

The conversation dies down into a companionable silence as you both gaze at the moon over Mondstadt, extending its moonbeams as a gesture of kindness towards the citizens that weren't partying the night away.

"So, is there any particular reason for why you wanted to clear your head tonight?" He asks, the moonlight dancing in his ruby eyes like milk in a cup of rosy-red tea.

"Well, there's the usual reason of me not being one for loud social gatherings. That's one."

"What about the fact that your acquaintances left you stranded?"

"That's two reasons," You reluctantly admit, secretly praying that he wouldn't ask anymore questions. Your third reason was embarassing enough and would sound even more pathetic if you said it aloud.

"I have a feeling that there's a third."

Perhaps you should have held your tongue.

"...Yes, there is."

Your dismay must've shown on your face, for the bartender shrugs and returns to moon-gazing. "There's no need to say what it is. I can probably guess it anyway."

No pressing questions, no subtle guilt trips to get you to open up— just an acknowledgement of your feelings and your decision to keep them to yourself. This man was a perfect stranger to you, yet in the span of one evening you felt more comfortable around him than during all of the years you had spend hanging around your acquaintances.

A faint chorus of cheers can be heard from within as the dance reaches the peak of its excitement, the stamping of feet speeding into a frenzy as the music grows faster and faster. The voices of the bards were drowned out like birds in a summer's storm, leaving only the skeleton of a song to be heard by outsiders.

"...Well, it was nothing much in the first place. Just the feeling of being left out."

He gives a soft hum in reply, nodding to acknowledge your answer; somehow, you have the feeling that he understands the sort of loneliness that you've carried with you wherever you went. This stranger had the air of one who was well-versed in the language of loneliness, and he seemed to be the sort of person who wouldn't judge you for it.

"I don't even know why it bothers me so much when I can't even dance in the first place." You smile awkwardly, turning away from the light of the moon to stare longingly at the glowing windows of the tavern. "I'd probably muddle up that first dance alone, much less survive through the entire evening."

As if on cue, the claps slowed in rhythm, signalling that it was time for the long-awaited couples’ dance. Through the windows you could see the faint silhouettes of the boys who extended a hand to their would-be partners, who all accepted with giddy smiles.

Your feet twitch in your shiny new shoes, aching to know what it was to dance and enjoy dancing.

Your companion must have noticed your staring, for he, too, turned to look inside. "Are you sure you don't want to join them? This dance has a slower tempo and is a bit easier to learn."

"It would just be a hassle. Besides, I don't even have a dance partner."

"You do have one."

"Where? I don't see one."

"Right here."

For a moment your mind completely halts, struggling to properly process the full meaning of what the bartender just said. But he does not wait for you to recover— instead, he bows formally, extending one gloved hand to you in his offer.

“May I have this dance, then?” A faint smile flickers across his features, almost impossible to catch in the darkness— but that smile betrays itself in the sound of his voice, in the way it washes over you with its rich baritone and pulls you under in its irresistible warmth.

“I don’t even know your name.” You laugh slightly, yet your hand slips into his all the same. “I can’t very well dance with a stranger, can I?”

You cannot tell if it is the skill of your dance partner or some heaven-sent instinct, but the moment he steps closer to you, everything falls into place automatically; your posture naturally corrects itself, taking on the tall, upright stature of a dancer that you'd only dreamed of imitating, and one hand finds its place on his shoulder while the other firmly clasps his gloved hand. Even your feet forgot their aches and pain, shifting to balance your weight on the balls of the feet just as you had seen the other dancers do.

"My name is Diluc," he says simply, bringing his other hand to rest on the small of your back. "May I be so bold as to ask for yours?"

This was not the kind of dance that you had expected to have tonight— a pas de deux with cobblestone streets for your dance floor and the moon replacing the light of a chandelier, and a strange but trustworthy bartender as your partner. Yet that does not stop the heartbeat that thrums faster than the tempo of any dance, nor does it hinder you from speaking your truth.

“Yes," you reply, your first genuine smile of the evening working its way up your lips. "Yes, you may.”

[cestcirque]

🎉 12.12.21! 🎉

In honor of one year since starting Aperture (and this lil ol’ blog 🥺) I’ve compiled some of the countless behind-the-scenes stuff I never revealed about my SMAUs

This serves no other purpose but to be a nice walk down memory lane for me and the nostalgia is sO real—LET’S GOOOO!!!

I’ll probably make another post for The Cardinal Set and link it here!

I was adamant about using my own work as visuals bc I constantly see fanart go uncredited on SMAUs (and other works of writing). 🙄 All the art in Aperture is either mine, Furudate-sensei’s, or categorized as free-use imagery

1. This is the wallpaper on Y/N’s lockscreen:

By Burnt Toast Creative, one of my favorite illustrators, who makes a ton of great wallpapers free to use (check him out!!!!)

2. All of Y/N’s studio shots are my studio shots, edited to look like the characters. Her superpower to make people comfortable in the studio is a real skill! Based on how nonplussed I was at the results of working with models who didn’t know me very well

I distinctly remember being up at 4am just for Bokuto’s hair, no regrets

3. I put in Semi’s cross necklace wherever it would be visible

4. The billboard shot. Just. The billboard shot.

The Kanji character shown is the character for light (光, “hikari”). Alisa’s logo, along w the logos for Tokyo Cosmique and Massugu! gossip tabloid were also designed by me (obvi)

5. Y/N’s argument w Akaashi in Step 23 is based on actual interactions w actual editors, and Akaashi himself has a specific IRL editor from whom I drew reference (yes, he cute but his micro-movements not so cute 🙄). The amount of Akaashi stans outraged by this was kind of hilarious 😅

6. Neither of the jars or their contents exist in my possession. Nor do the places where the photos were taken, for that matter

The flowers on the shelf were also me saying Shirabu went and got purple flowers anyway, even though he said he wouldn’t 😭💕

7. The jars sequence was (kind of) based on a true story. In college my roommates and I kept accumulating jars and used them for everything (Y/N’s vodka cran mason jar was a regular occurrence for us). About a month before the Aperture challenge, I was on the phone w one of them and we talked about how our jars were like our mental state in the pandemic—sometimes they hold iced coffee, or tiny succulents, or those homemade pickles that went a bit too sour; if you put anything in, remember you’re still in control (i.e. pursue your interests and don’t watch too much news). Of course I kept it in my head bc I’m a wRiTeR

8. The story is structured so that each setter has a “turnaround” chapter and two “love and love” chapters (which is just what I call the sweet one-on-one chapters). The turnarounds (Steps 14, 23, 24, and 25) are where Y/N sees the opposite side of each setter’s first impression, whether that be good or bad

9. Surprisingly, a lot of important details were added on the fly. Aone’s translations, specific conversations w setters… I didn’t write Step 29 until the day before I had to post it, bc I was 100% clueless as to how to resolve Kogane. The whole conversation about aperture almost never existed! In a similar vein, Akaashi’s Natsume Sōseki analogy in Step 30 was added about 3 days before it was posted, simply bc I happened to stumble upon the book

10. Y/N’s phone interface changing from dark mode to light mode in the last chapter is to this day the most poignant visual storytelling I’ve ever pulled off. And I didn’t get a single message about it. 😝 She has spent the entire story, all 31 steps, intentionally developing herself like film—it was important to me that the first and last steps indicated choice; that this was voluntary (creating an absence of light and stepping out of the dark). All the setters (whose phones are on light mode) are trying to pull her out into the light, towards them, often times before she’s ready. What’s more, realizing she’s in love w Shirabu isn’t even when she steps out of the dark—it is when she chooses to use his given name

Can you believe I posted a chapter every day for a month? I sure as hell can’t

[pearlsephoni]

Barre None

Can also be read on AO3!

Rating: T

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Pairing: Zutara (Zuko/Katara)

Characters: Katara, Zuko, Suki, Piandao (v. briefly)

Summary: Katara hated the idea of being a cliche. The last thing she wanted to do was fall for her co-star. But with a partner like Zuko, perhaps she was doomed from the start. 

A/N: Written for Day 3 of Zutara Fanwork Appreciation Week: Fanart. Inspired by @ourgraciousqueen‘s beautiful Ballet Zutara sketches and @unidentifiedspoon‘s stunning Katara and Zuko dancebending animations.  I also borrowed heavily from the Royal Oprah House’s production of Romeo and Juliet, specifically the choreography of the Balcony Pas de Deux, which pops up a bunch in this lol don’t cancel me More Author’s Notes can be seen on AO3!

@zkfanworkweek

Katara wasn’t afraid of being in a starring role. She was nervous, yes, but she was mostly thrilled. She had spent her three years of college with the student ballet troupe, and she’d expected to have to wait until her senior year to get a solo, much less a lead role. Funnily enough, the senior who would have had the lead, Suki, was the lead choreographer, and has actually been the one to suggest Katara for the role. 

She wasn’t even nervous for the pas de deux, even though it would be her first time being a part of one. 

No, there were only two things that scared her about this year’s show: the show was Romeo and Juliet, and the Romeo to her Juliet would be...Zuko. 

To be fair to the first-year grad student, he seemed just as startled by the news as she felt. Katara got to the first rehearsal early, just in time to overhear a conversation between her co-star and their director. “Uh...are you sure you want me as Romeo?” 

“If we weren’t sure,” Director Piandao said with a wry smile, “we wouldn’t have cast you.” 

“I...right. I mean, thank you, I’m...I’m honored.” 

Katara couldn’t be sure if the raspiness in his voice was from nerves or Zuko just...being Zuko. Awkward, quiet, intimidating Zuko. 

This would be fine. Just fine. 

———————— ———————— ————————

She wasn’t fine. 

Zuko was a brilliant dancer. Piandao wouldn’t have cast him as Romeo if he wasn’t. And while he was reserved and awkward in daily life, all that seemed to fall away when he performed. When his back straightened, the omnipresent weight on his shoulders disappeared, and his eyes brightened into stars. Offstage, his smiles were rare, but onstage, they came easily. Happiness, pleading, grief, anger, it all looked unnervingly natural and real on him, as though all the emotions he held back burst forth through his characters. 

Katara had known all this. She had seen him perform. But she hadn’t ever seen him perform at her. She’d prided herself on her own performance and dance and acting abilities, but when she performed with Zuko, she found herself reacting naturally to him and the achingly real love and longing that lit up his gold eyes. Her heart seemed to skip a beat every time the choreography and direction called for them to gaze into each other’s eyes. 

And then the dancing...she’d heard how easy a pas de deux could be with the right partner, but that still didn’t prepare her for how natural it would feel. Any worries she had about being able to trust in Zuko to catch her and lift her and support her were gone by the end of the first rehearsal. Even Piandao looked surprised at how quickly they were able to learn together. They were able to put the first several counts of the Balcony Pas de Deux to music by the end of their first rehearsal with just the two of them. The lifts were complicated, but Zuko seemed to know just the right place to hold her, and Katara knew just how to drape herself over him, just how much to leap to him and make the lifts easier for him. 

The last counts that they had learned that day ended with Zuko kneeling, hands holding onto Katara’s waist as she rose into an arabesque. When the music turned off, Katara stepped down from en pointe, but she stepped further into Zuko’s hands, inadvertently bringing their faces closer to each other. Her breath caught in her throat, and she saw Zuko’s eyes widen, a rosy hue rising to his cheeks. 

The sound of a throat clearing jerked their attention back to Piandao, who watched them with a mix of amusement and...something else. “Well, and here you were both so worried. It’s been a while since I’ve directed a pair of dancers who work together so well.” 

Katara looked back at Zuko to share a smile, but that just reminded them of their close proximity. “Oh!” she gasped, stepping back and out of his hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to...sorry.” 

“It’s...it’s ok.” He was still kneeling, and he didn’t get to his feet until after he stared at her for an extra moment, as though trying to puzzle something out about her. “Director Piandao’s right...I, um...I really enjoy dancing with you.” 

“...Me, too.” His compliment settled warm like an ember in her chest, at odds with the feeling of sparkling giddiness she could feel bubbling through her. Oh no...that can’t be good. 

———————— ———————— ————————

Weeks of rehearsal passed. The show was quickly coming together, the set builders and stage crew had begun pulling together plans for the set and lighting and sound design, and everything was chugging along right on schedule. 

But Katara felt wretched. The weeks of rehearsal meant weeks of dancing with Zuko, and spending time with Zuko, and getting to know Zuko. One day, after a weekend afternoon rehearsal, he mentioned his uncle owning a bubble tea shop, a fact that piqued Katara’s curiosity. He invited her along, and that was how she ended up getting to know Zuko’s Uncle Iroh, tea connoisseur and loving father figure. After that, they somehow fell into a routine of working on homework at the tea shop before or after rehearsal, and lingering for a bit longer to just...chat, after their work was done. 

The more Katara got to know Zuko, the more she learned what a kind, hardworking, and earnest man he was...and the more she began to like him. Really like him. To the point where she wished she could dance Juliet’s choreography without being Juliet, just let her growing affections for her dance partner shine through. 

Matters got worse when Suki let them know it was time to choreograph the kissing. It wasn’t much, just one in a couple of scenes. A small part of Katara almost wished there were more kisses, if only so that she stood a chance to maybe get used to kissing Zuko (and maybe, just a little bit, so she could have an extra excuse to kiss him). 

The sprinkling of choreographed kisses meant she had plenty of time to anticipate each one, her heart leaping into her throat the moment Zuko began taking Romeo’s steps towards her. The first time they kissed, she nearly forgot the rest of the choreography, only remembering to move because of the guiding hands at her waist. 

Suki and Piandao blessedly didn’t notice the cause of her distraction, but they were both too sharp to not realize something was going on. 

“Is everything ok?” 

Katara jumped from where she was crouched by her bag. “Suki! Hi! I’m doing alright, why?” 

“It’s just...you seem like you’ve been having a hard time with some of the choreography, and you were doing so well...I wasn’t sure if there was something you wanted to change, or if there was something else I could do to help?” 

“Oh, Suki, I’m so sorry.” Guilt tasted sour in Katara’s mouth - here she was, an underclassman given the chance to star in such an iconic role, and she was messing it all up because of a guy. “I’m ok, I just...I just need to get more practice, I think?” 

“Do you want us to reserve the studio for you and Zuko sometime this week?” 

“That’d be great, thank you! Oh! But Suki?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Please don’t tell Zuko. I’m the one messing up, I’ll be the one to figure this out.” 

“...Sure, Katara.” 

It was her own fault, really, for thinking it would be that easy. 

She didn’t even have it in her to be surprised when she ran into Zuko at the studio. “...Did Suki snitch on me?” 

Zuko’s eyes were lined with concern, but he couldn’t help letting out a small cough of laughter at Katara���s dull words. “Don’t get upset with her. She mentioned she would be reserving a studio for you, but I was the one who asked for the time and day.” When Katara didn’t show any sign of being swayed by his explanation, he tried again. “We don’t have to practice together for the whole time, I can stay out of your way and get some solo practice in, but...y’know, if you wanted to go over the pas de deux altogether...I could be there for you.” 

Either her crush was making her soft or those gold eyes were more than effective in their entreaty, but either way, she couldn’t bring herself to say no. Zuko stayed true to his word - he stayed out of her way, quietly warming up by himself before stretching on the floor by the mirror, keeping himself limber for whenever Katara asked him to join. 

It didn’t take very long. There was only so much she could do by herself to work on a pas de deux. At some point, she just felt ridiculous, holding onto an invisible hand or compensating for the lack of support with a half-heart arabesque and pirouette, when her perfectly-willing partner was right there. He brightened up visibly when she sheepishly beckoned him, and wasted no time in getting to her side. “From the top, then?” 

Katara felt herself re-entering the performance sweet spot she always loved, where she could let herself get carried by the music and choreography while still feeling grounded and remembering to actually act and perform. And for the first time in a while, she felt good in Zuko’s hands, her nerves at least temporarily leaving her to enjoy and trust in her partner. 

But nerves are a funny thing. For most of the pas de deux, Katara didn’t let herself get distracted by Zuko’s proximity, nor the intimacy of the way their fingers tangled together and his cheek pressed against her body and his lips brushed against her knuckles. Then, the moment he began taking those final steps towards her, all of her anxiety flooded back to her.

He’s not going to kiss me. Piandao and Suki aren’t here and he has no reason to kiss me without an audience-

Her internal reality check was interrupted by the very external feeling of Zuko’s lips against hers. She gasped against him, but when he began to move away, misunderstanding her gasp, she pressed forward, the rest of the choreography forgotten. She stayed en pointe, but only because it made it easier for her to drape her arms around his shoulders and press in close. His hands, which were supposed to hold onto her waist to support her, began to move up her back as he stepped forward, until he was supporting her with his body. 

This was not the stage kiss that Katara had gotten used to. He wasn’t forceful at all - his lips were careful and gentle - but they were also achingly tender, as though he were truly cherishing every touch of his lips to hers. They parted, but he never made a move to deepen the kiss, until Katara boldly swiped her tongue along his lower lip. It was his turn to gasp in surprise, but he was more than happy to keep up with her pace. 

When they separated, it was only because Katara’s legs couldn’t hold her up anymore, forcing her feet to flatten to the ground again. “Shoot,” she muttered, earning a soft laugh from Zuko. She couldn’t help looking up at him with a shy smile, not expecting his smile to fade into a guilty grimace. “Zuko-?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t- I shouldn’t have-“

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because I kissed you...like...like that.”

“Zuko...I kissed you back. If I didn’t like it, I would’ve let you know.” 

That made him smile again, though his grin was wry. “...That’s true.” 

Katara felt like she was glowing with giddy bliss, but that faded when the complications of their positions caught up with her. “What...what now?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“The show is still a month away. I like you, Zuko...I like you a lot, honestly”-the surprised glee on his face nearly made her stop speaking, but she muscled through-“but I don’t want to risk...complicating...things.” She didn’t want to become the underclassman who was incapable of performing a romance without it becoming a real-life romance, and she certainly didn’t want to risk causing any drama with a backstage romance. 

Zuko’s face fell, but before she could try to clarify what she meant, he was nodding. “I understand...but I don’t want us to stop spending time together. I really, really like you, Katara. So much that I’d rather keep spending time with you as a friend than make things complicated for you.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, of course. The fact that you feel the same way about me is more than I’d ever hoped for. Knowing that will make any waiting easy.” 

Somehow, his reassurance and respect for her wishes suddenly made Katara want to push the boundaries a little more. “You don’t want to try and date in secret?” 

She wasn’t expecting his snort of response. “Director Piandao would sniff us out in no time. I’m pretty sure he already suspects something.” 

Well...he wasn’t wrong. 

———————— ———————— ————————

The month leading up to the show was the smoothest the ballet troupe had ever experienced. Somehow, the stars aligned and allowed all the sets to be built, all the lighting and sound effects to be set, and all the costumes to be adjusted to the performers with nary a technical difficulty in sight. As for the performers themselves, the choreography was smoothed into a perfect shine. The ensembles were synchronised, the lifts and leaps looked effortless, and everyone gushed over the chemistry between Katara and Zuko. 

And Katara was miserable. She had thought that getting all their feelings in the open would make the rest of the rehearsal process easier. But now that she’d gotten a taste of Zuko’s true kisses, his shy smiles and the way he brushed her curls behind her ear, she couldn’t seem to feel satisfied with their onstage romance. The sweet kisses that had made her blood sing in her veins now left her longing for something more, and his lovestruck visage as Romeo didn’t make her heart skip the way his blushes and embarrassed grimaces as Zuko did.

Not that anyone else noticed a difference. Zuko was as brilliant as ever, and Katara could only hope she was pushing herself enough to be a worthy partner to him. Judging by Piandao and Suki’s pleased smiles, and the words of encouragement from their castmates, it felt fair to guess that she was doing a pretty good job. 

And so the final month passed in a blur of rehearsals and “dates” to the Jasmine Dragon and her feelings for Zuko growing and growing until she thought she might burst with how much she cared for him. 

The weekend of performances that she was so excited for at the beginning of the semester had somehow become a part of that blissful, miserable blur, the final obstacle she had to clear. Among the cheering audiences, the glowing reviews from her loved ones, and busy rush of the performances, one moment in particular stood out to Katara: finding a single, snow white lily tucked into the side of her bag after their first performance. She had immediately tucked it into her braid, and was rewarded by a furiously blushing Zuko as the cast and crew left the building for their opening night dinner. 

Everyone was exhausted, but proud, when the weekend of performances was finally over. At their cast party, Suki passed a message from Piandao: there would be an informal class the following week to review how the performances went, and what they’d like to keep and fix in the process for their next show. There would be some simple warmups at the start and cool-downs at the end, for the sake of routine, but otherwise the optional meeting would be for the sake of review. 

Katara already knew she'd go. And when she caught Zuko’s eye and saw his smile, she knew he’d be there as well. After all, they had their own important conversation to have. 

When the day of the meeting came, she managed to get there a bit early, and was relieved to see Zuko already there, tugging his slippers on.

“Hey, Zuko?” 

“Yeah?” 

Oh, she hated this. Hated this feeling of being on uneven ground, the nerves and weird shyness and uncertainty bubbling through her. He likes you, you know he likes you. 

And yet. When those golden eyes landed on hers, and those lips curved into a genuine smile at the sight of her, she felt delirious with the disbelief of her own luck. Surely this was a fluke. Surely this handsome, talented, respected (though a bit awkward) guy had made a mistake in liking her. 

She shoved those thoughts away, and let a shy smile curve her lips. “I, um...I was wondering if you’d like to...if you’d like to dance with me?” 

“Really?” He sounded genuinely surprised, even a little shy. “I thought you’d be tired of dancing with me by now.” 

“Oh...are you tired of dancing with me?” 

“No!” His answer was immediate, making Katara blink in surprise. Zuko flushed, but he still shook his head resolutely. “No, I could never get tired of dancing with you. I just thought...with the show being over and all…” 

“With the show being over, I thought it’d be nice if we could just...dance as ourselves. No characters or story or anything, just...us.” 

Zuko’s blush deepened, and his smile widened. “I’d love to.” 

They stayed behind after their class. Theirs was the last class of the day, and they didn’t need to warm up before their “date” could properly begin. Katara did her best to ignore the knowing smiles of Piandao and their classmates when she lingered behind and took her time packing away her things. Piandao even made a point to leave the door unlocked behind him, something he’d never done before. By the time it was just the two of them in the studio, Zuko’s cheeks were red again, and Katara couldn’t hold back a giggle at the sight. 

“So...do you have anything in mind?” she asked him, her laugh still decorating her words. 

“Yeah, actually...you might hate me for this, but...I was wondering if you’d want to do the Balcony pas de deux?” 

“You have me in a studio all to yourself, and you want to do the same thing we’ve been doing for months already?” Katara teased, letting herself drift closer to him while grinning at how flustered she was making him. 

“It’s not- I mean- I just thought-” He caught the grin on her lips and frowned slightly when he realized she was teasing him, though his eyes glittered with amusement. When he spoke again, his words came a lot steadier. “It’s like what you said. I wanted to dance it with you one last time...not as Romeo and Juliet, but just...ourselves.” 

That made Katara go quiet. It was her turn to watch Zuko approach her, warmth traveling up her arm when he carefully took her hand and began tracing his thumb along her skin. She ducked her head to look at their hands, hoping she could hide the flush that had spread across her cheeks, before she quietly admitted, “I...I think, at some point, I was already dancing with you as...as myself.” 

“Oh…then...then show me.” 

Katara met his eyes again, and another wave of warmth washed over her at the small, understanding grin on his face. “Okay.” 

The music of the pas de deux felt like home, the familiar notes carrying her to her starting position like it was an instinct. Zuko’s smile as he joined her from the speakers told her he felt the same. But this time, his hands on her felt different somehow. They were still secure, but she felt a flex to them, as though Zuko wanted to press her closer than they already were. 

Small changes like that abounded throughout the number. Katara felt like she was floating through it, her practiced limbs carrying her through the choreography, but every so often, there was something just a little different - she didn’t run as far from Zuko, she let herself press against him, let herself hold his hands a moment longer. And he let himself do the same, pressing a kiss to her sternum when the choreography called for him to let his cheek rest against her chest, letting his lips ghost against her cheek when they came face-to-face, his fingers lingering on her body when it’s time for her to leave his hold. 

But most changed of all were his eyes. Where before, he had conveyed all the gleeful wonder of a boy falling instantly in love, he now looked like he couldn’t believe his impossible luck, like he couldn’t believe he was here, holding her, dancing with her. 

He...he was looking at her with adoration. Open, raw adoration that she’d never before seen directed at her. If she’d thought it was surreal to have his performance skill directed at her, his emotions now were making her breathless. 

When it came time for the kiss, Katara didn’t bother pressing up to be en pointe. Zuko took his choreographed steps towards her, but when his hands came to her waist again, she didn’t give him the chance to lift her onto her toes. Her arms were already around his neck, tugging him down to her, his surprised grunt smothered between their colliding lips. He thankfully, blessedly, wasn’t as shy about kissing her this time, his lips quickly parting on hers, inviting her to taste and feel and memorize every part of his kiss. Her hands set out to do the same to his body, his leotard making it easy for her to map his muscles and relish the way she could feel them jump under her fingertips. 

But it was a poor substitute for feeling his skin, and she didn’t realize she had started plucking at his leotard until he pulled away with a breathless laugh. “Maybe you should take me to dinner before you go that far?” 

Katara’s eyes widened, mortification coloring her cheeks a deep red. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize-” 

Zuko cut her off with a sweet kiss, immediately melting her panic away. “It’s ok, I wanted to do the same. But...would you? Like to go to dinner with me, sometime?” 

“As a date? An actual, more-than-friends date?” 

“Of course! I mean, only if...If that’s what you want.” 

She swore he was the only person who could get kissed within an inch of his life and still be so sweet and concerned about crossing boundaries. “Zuko, what I want is an excuse to keep seeing you and kissing you as much as possible. I like you so much, it’s almost embarrassing. Of course I’ll go to dinner with you.” 

Zuko’s smile was so sunny, so bright, so warm, that Katara was ready to promise him the world just to see that smile again. Thankfully, he was far more interested in getting more kisses than anything else, and she was more than happy to oblige.

[fuckyeahfoodfantasy]

FUCKING TOSO ETERNAL THIRD WHEEL WITH BOTH FLUTESONG AND WONTORT

forgetful courtyard got me and my crystals shaking 

[simplyghosting]

every single unique ask

*cracks knuckles* aight here we go

1:  Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed. Because 1. If there happens to be a flying bug that I need to kill, I don’t want it hiding in my clothes. and 2. My closet door squeaks, so anyone trying to hide in it, I be knowing.       

2:  Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?  Yes, but then I forget about them and find them in the back of a cabinet 3 years later.       

3:  Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?  The bottom and the side facing the wall are tucked, and then the other sides are out.         

4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before?  No??? (though when I was little I did take those little flags that marked underground wires)         

5: Do you like to use post-it notes?  I literally keep them in my purse and they’re all over my computer.            

6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? I haven’t seen a coupon since 2008.              

7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? Bees, I think, maybe… uh…depends how concentrated the swarm is, otherwise I might try the bear.             

8: Do you have freckles?  No, though when I was little I was super jealous of everyone that did.              

9: Do you always smile for pictures? Yes, though sometimes I wish I didn’t

10:What is your biggest pet peeve? Lying or speaking in a condescending tone (though I have a lot of things that really bug me)

11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk?  If I actually walked I might          

12:Have you ever peed in the woods?  When I was really little I had to once in the woods on the side of a highway             

13:What about pooped in the woods? No, thank goodness (though I used a toilet paper-less outhouse that didn’t have a door)              

14:Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing? All the time              

15:Do you chew your pens and pencils? When I was little I’d bite ‘em in half. I more hold them than chew on them now though              

16: How many people have you slept with this week? My sister shares my room with me 4 days a week. (I know what this question is asking and I’m not going to acknowledge it)

17:  What size is your bed? Twin. It’s literally the same bed I’ve had since I was 5  (someone gave it to us, so it’s like 20+ years old)            

18: What is your Song of the week?  Dernière danse by Indila            

19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Yeah, depending how it’s worn (like some guys can really make a hot pink button up work if you have the right tie)             

20: Do you still watch cartoons? *shoves all my voltron fanart under a rug* hmm?  yes, i do. it’s pretty much all i watch      

21:  Whats your least favorite movie? I watched my Sister’s Keeper once with some friends, and I didn’t like it (though I’m sure I’ve seen worse). I don’t care for movies with horror or a lot of people screaming/being disrespectful             

22:Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? Probably the pile of clothes I have stuffed in my drawer              

23: If you’re a girl, bra size? If you’re a guy, pants size? yeah i’m a 34b-ack off    

24:What do you dip a chicken nugget in?  Sweet and sour / polynesian sauce            

25: What is your favorite food? I really like my mom’s lentil burgers, at the same time, french fries call my name, and chocolate shakes…              

26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love?  Mm, maybe Lady and the Tramp, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, can’t think of the others           

27: Last person you kissed/kissed you? I mean, some guy kissed my forehead once (which I’d like to forget), but I’ve never had a real kiss before             

28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout?  I wish though I was in missionettes             

29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?             

30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?  I sent a birthday card with a message last month does that count? otherwise i think i was 9  

31: Can you change the oil on a car? I mean I can check it and put oil in it, but not a full oil change             

32:Ever gotten a speeding ticket? No, but I usually don’t speed (unless I stop paying attention and start actually driving at the speed every one else is)              

33:Ever ran out of gas?  Nope             

34: Favorite kind of sandwich?  Tuna salad or chicken salad sandwich             

35:  Best thing to eat for breakfast?  Scrambled eggs with ham, bacon, butter n biscuit, banana nectar, a bit of green pepper, maybe a sausage, too             

36: What is your usual bedtime?  My what? (i wish i had one TvT)             

37:Are you lazy?  A little bit. I’m trying to work on it            

38:When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?  I’ve never been Trick-or-Treating

39: What is your Chinese astrological sign? The Rat

40: Are you horny?             

41:  Do you have any magazine subscriptions?    Nope          

42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs? Legos but gosh i haven’t seen lincoln logs since i was 7               

43:Are you stubborn?  Depends on what it is. Moral-wise, absolutely, but if it’s where to eat I’ll just go with the flow. Also no horror movies, I’ll put my foot down on that             

44:  Who is better…Leno or Letterman?  I have no idea who these people are             

45:Ever watch soap operas?  Kind of? Are all romantic dramas soap operas? Because I watched a couple of romance dramas              

46: Are you afraid of heights?  Buddy, I can’t even stand on a chair without getting dizzy            

47:Do you sing in the car? Oh, I belt out songs like no tomorrow in the car. The louder the better.          

48: Do you sing in the shower? If I’m not asleep I’m singing, let’s put it that way (and even then…)  

49:  Do you dance in the car?  Wait…people…people don’t do this?            

50: Ever used a gun? Yep! A .22 and a 9mm           

51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?  Dude, I don’t even have graduation photos…             

52:Do you think musicals are cheesy?  Sometimes (other times I’m floored by how well done they are) but at the same time, if they are cheesy,  isn’t that part of the fun?             

53:  Is Christmas stressful?  Absolutely. Or at least the way we do it now, it is             

54: Ever eat a pierogi?  I’ve never even heard of them TvT  OH! they look like pot stickers! love pot stickers!  

55: Favorite type of fruit pie? mmm either apple or pumpkin              

56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Doctor and ballerina (I think spy at some point too)           

57:Do you believe in ghosts? Spirits of the dearly-departed wandering the earth as either punishment or to fulfill some last regrets? Nah.              

58: Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? ALL. THE. TIME.               

59: Take a vitamin daily? Yep gummy vitamins ftw              

60:  Wear slippers? I would if my dog didn’t try to tear off the pom-poms every time I walk out with them on         

61:Wear a bath robe?  Yep, an old green and blue hand-me-down that I adore             

62: What do you wear to bed? Soft shorts and one of my dad’s old graphic-tees             

63:  First concert?  I’m just going to say it was a show that my dad did when I was about 5, because I can’t remember the first one that had an admission fee             

64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?  Probably Wal-Mart, though if I’m closer to Target, I’ll go there            

65: Nike or Adidas?  *points at shoes* Eso son reebok, o son nike?  (idk my shoes are new balance i just wear what feels good and is cheap)           

66: Cheetos Or Fritos?  I don’t even remember what Fritos taste like             

67:  Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?  I’m going to go with sunflower seeds             

68:Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? Well now I have, lol  oh hey they started in clearwater, fl        

69:Ever take dance lessons? I wish. Though I had a dance dvd when I was younger for basic ballet exercises. When I had the chance to go, my parents insisted I take Karate instead (which I loved, but still a part of me wishes I could have taken dance)             

70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? Buddy, I can’t even picture married life, I feel like I’m going to die the crazy old lady on the corner that doesn’t know when to stop talking about her plants (maybe a scholarly-type guy though)             

71:Can you curl your tongue? Yes, and I love being able to because for some reason babies find it fascinating               

72: Ever won a spelling bee? I was homeschooled, so I’ve never been in one               

73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Yeah, someone gave me a hug once. Also when I went to St. Augustine and thought it was so pretty I started crying. Did the same at a chapel (it was made as an art piece, and had mind-blowing mosaic work)             

74: Own any record albums? Not personally, but we have them at home              

75:Own a record player? Yep, we have a family one              

76: Regularly burn incense?  I have…candles?             

77:  Ever been in love? With a real person?  No.              

78: Who would you like to see in concert? I honestly have no idea              

79: What was the last concert you saw?  I think it was  “The Orchestra”, which is essentially the remaining band members of ELO.           

80:  Hot tea or cold tea?  Hot tea. Hot tea all the way.             

81:Tea or coffee? Honestly depends what I’m in the mood for, but usually tea            

82:Sugar or snickerdoodles? Sugar              

83: Can you swim well?  If I fell into a calm pond I could probably survive, let’s put it that way             

84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? Yep              

85:  Are you patient? Thanks to 3 younger siblings that are constantly trying it, I am               

86:DJ or band, at a wedding? Probably a DJ, but a band would be so sweet              

87: Ever won a contest? I won a game of skiball against some people (got a toy gator) and then won a Disney Trivia quiz, but I can’t think of an official contest I won            

88: Ever have plastic surgery? Nope              

89:Which are better black or green olives? How about neither?              

90: Can you knit or crochet? No, but it’s on my bucket list of things to learn             

91: Best room for a fireplace?  Probably the family room, though living room and a lanai work well, too.            

92:  Do you want to get married? I think so              

93: If married, how long have you been married? n/a              

94: Who was your HS crush? Didn’t have one

95:  Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? Some people??? Are??? Mature???? And??? Communicate??? Civilly???  (no i don’t throw fits)

  96:Do you have kids? No, but I deal with 3 younger siblings and a dog

 97: Do you want kids? I have mixed feelings about it, but I think so  

98: Whats your favorite color? Pretty sure it’s green, but I love pinks, blues, and purples too, or a nice rich orange               

99: Do you miss anyone right now? My grandfather, and parts of myself               

[suspiciouslyheterosexualbehavior]

Hi I was tagged by my sweet little friendling @hansama HI I LOVE YOU

Heya! How are you?

Man dude I’m eating biksemad that shit is fucking delicious I’m having a littest fucking time

Put your music on shuffle and tell me what song came up (and how did it end up in your playlist).

Toto - Africa. We all know why, that song is good.

Do you have a sona/avatar of yourself? Can you show me? *0*

I’ve got my regular avatar I draw myself as

I’m thinking of changing it something simpler tho, or something more exciting. The simpler avatar is this really distressed cat-thing

Favourite food? (or last thing you loved that you ate if you can’t decide your fav food).

Man gee I can’t choose just one... You know what I’m gonna go with what I’m eating right now, which is biksemad. There isn’t a proper English word for it, but I guess it’s like a stew? It’s got potatoes and sausages/meat in it and the one I’m eating right now has some sorta sauce too, it’s really good

Are you a day or night person?

I’ll say night person. It’s quieter.

What’s the thing that ‘made your day’ recently?

Remembering that Shake It is a song that exists (this happened like 5 minutes ago too)

Can you tell me one of your achievements you’re happy and proud of? :D

If we’re talking recent... Last Friday I went to see a psychologist and I went all on my own! I don’t usually go to new places with new people on my own the first time, but I managed to do it this time!

Why did you create a Tumblr account?

I remember searching for fanart of one of my Hetalia OTPs wayyyyyy back and noticed that most of the fanart was on a website named Tumblr, so I decided to join. I don’t remember why I made this account, but I assume it’s the same reason I’m still here: meme’s and fanart.

Any favourite quotes?

I’ve got a bunch, but this one is probably the one thing anyone has said in fiction that I will probably remember word for word for the rest of my life

Can I give you a virtual hug? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

yes

Alright, questions for the people I’m gonna tag:

Whaddup hows you doing

Any music to recommend?

Did you have an emo phase or a weeb phase?

Sweet, salty, sour, bitter or spicy?

Any works of art that left an impact on you? (This includes any type of art; paintings, comics, games, sculptures, novels, etc.)

If you could have a superpower, what’d you choose?

Any people you respect a lot?

Would you say you can dance?

Here’s a classic: Favorite animal?

Can I get a hell yeah

People I’m tagging (you wont have to do this ;9):

@killmygalaxy, @roboleggy, @n-ghtwind, @sebastian-moran-has-arrived, @stopstealingmymangos, @subvertta, @sweet-sugar-candyman And if I haven’t tagged you but you REALLY want to answer these questions feel free to feel tagged ⭐

Have a niceu day desu

[gennabi]

ty so much for the tag @melliilla !! wishing u the best for ur dream job n dream trip 🥺💖

Name

zul / july

Sign

☀️ leo

Height

5'1 (haven't checked for a long time though..)

Time

11.40pm

Birthday

24th july :)

Favorite bands/artists

tomorrow x together, chanmina, stray kids, seventeen, nct, taeyeon

Last Movie

the sea beast

Last Show

kotaro lives alone, arcane (can't believe it ended what)

When I created this blog

january! main blog is around oct though

What I post

anythg im into atm, mostly tokyo revengers, rambles, pac

Last thing I googled

kim ejen ali

Other blogs

@seobseobs kpop side blog, @odifarts main blog, @wcr0agi fanarts main blog

Do I get asks

yeah! love them very very much :))

Following

40 ish cool ppl 👻

Followers

67 lovely beings 🙆‍♂️💞💞

Average hours of sleep

around 5?

Instruments

used to play kalimba now i forgot everythg lmao but ppl who play instruments r so soo cool

What I'm wearing

hoodie

Dream job

hmmmm still thinking but also not rlly.. 🕺

Dream trip

europe, phillipines, s. korea & japan. specifically kyoto bcs i went there once n it wasn't that enjoyable since i went w the wrong ppl lol

Nationality

malaysian

Favorite songs

0x1=lovesong by tomorrow x together, sour grapes by lesserafim, see tình by hoang thuy linh, hot by seventeen, lily of the valley by daniel

Last book I read

tengelammnya kapal van der wijck by hamka

3 fictional universes

not exactly fictional (??) but these specific two dreams ive had that made me feel so safe which is rare: one where max from stranger thgs hugs me from behind to sleep as i listen to running up that hill (it was my fav song atm heh) n one where i went out w my dream classmates (as in they're not real) n we're all super sweet n close 🤧💗

tagging @hanma-apologist @snakegentleman @raamitsu @virtue-and-beneviolence only if u want ofc!! :)

thank you so much for the tag!! @imdistressed 💗💗✨

Rules: answer these questions and tag 20 blogs you are contractually obligated to get to know better.

✨Questions✨

Name: Karol/Kari

Sign: Aquarius

Height: 5'2

Time: 8:36 a.m. ☕

Birthday: January 27th

Favorite bands/artists: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mitski, Hozier, Joe Hisaishi, George Harrison, Soda Stereo... and many more <3

Last Movie: I finally started watching Possession (1981) 😵

Last Show: Ozark

When I created this blog: In February of this year :))

What I post: Man this blog is a MESS lol but my most used tags are art, studio ghibli, sailor moon, cats, tokyo revengers, nana, monster... so yeah anime haha but I also post about music, movies, literature, so there's no consistent theme here hehe.

Last thing I googled: pitufos bebida, (smurfs drink)

Other blogs: Nop. Though I think the people who run multiple blogs are the coolest. ✨

Do I get asks: Yes, I love answering them! :))

Following: 365 blogs 🙈

Following: Lots of lovely people 💖

Average hours of sleep: I usually sleep 8-10 hours but lately my schedule has been all over the place so I'm getting 4-6 hours of sleep. 😭

Instruments: None ಥ_ಥ but I'd love to play the piano and guitar.

What I'm wearing: My pjs 😌

Dream job: Maybe actress, owning a bookstore or translating books <3

Dream trip: Mmmm there's soo many! Ireland, South Korea, Japan, Australia.

Nationality: Mexican ✨

Favorite songs: Merry Go Round of Life - Joe Hisaishi, Come As You Are - Nirvana, Black - Pearl Jam, I Bet On Losing Dogs - Mitski, I Know It's Over - The Smiths, Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles, Cherry Wine - Hozier, Persiana Americana - Soda Stereo, Rose - Anna Tsuchiya, Dreams - Fleetwood Mac and many more <3

Last book I read: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, I'm still reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

3 fictional universes: Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle or Spirited Away, Middle Earth and the Silver Millennium. ✨

tagging: i don't think i can tag 20 people xD but i'd like to tag: @gennabi, @n3ndo, @grunge-flavored-flowers & @reignoerme only if you want to ofc 💗

[stubzs87]

I was tagged by @theawkwardfangirlwithavengeance thanks for the tag~

Rules: Answer thirty questions, then tag some blogs you would like to know better. 1. Nicknames? Stubz 2. Gender? female 3. Star sign? Sagittarius  4. Height? About 150 cm. 5. Time? 9:35am 6. Birthday? Nov. 24 7. Favourite bands? I don’t really have a faves or order of faves but at the moment: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Imagine Dragons, Avenged Sevenfold, Rob Zombie, Unleash the Archers, Alestorm, too many others.  8. Favourite solo artists? David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix.  9. Song stuck in my head? "The Kids Aren’t Alright” by the Offspring. 10. Last movie watched? Babadook.  11. Last show watched? Forged in Fire.  12. When did I create my blog? September 2014 but only started really using this maybe over a year ago or so.  13. What do I post? Mostly my fave wrestlers from WWE, but also some MCU, my fanart and fanfics, and other causes and opinions I agree with.  14. Last thing I googled? Pokemon Go since I just started playing it, but I don’t even have that cell phone activated so I’m not able to really play it ^^’ 15. Do you have other blogs? Yes, I have @gingersnapcreative that posts most of my more original art.  16. Do you get asks? Once in a blue moon. I love asks guys~ 17. Why did you choose your url? Because it’s a nickname I got in high school because I was the shortest of all my friends (though I messed up on the url and put a “s” after the “z”) 18. Following? 77 19. Followers? 239 20. Favourite colours? turquoise, reds, purples, black, green, blues.  21. Average hours of sleep? I try to get at least 8 hours 22. Lucky number? 9 23. Instruments? violin 24. What am I wearing? An old Slipknot shirt and some leopard print PJ pants. 25. How many blankets I sleep with? 1  26. Dream job? graphic artist or designer 27. Dream trip? Ireland 28. Favourite food? Sweet n sour chicken and rice. 29. Nationality? American 30. Favourite song now? Too many, but one that jumps out is “Cleanse the Bloodlines” by Unleash the Archers.  I tag @nooneym, @blueblazezz, @veniastark, @whyndancer, @sweetsigyn if they want to do this, and this is open to anyone who wants to do it.