#that I’ve had the time to get so invested

[astriddestelle]

In light of discovering I’ve been a friends to lover girlie this whole time. Here’s are my top ten friends to lovers of all time canon and non canon.

1. The ship that started it all admittedly I liked Raven more so I shipped her with Robin, but my god Robin and Starfire were cute a whole ass ship I didn’t even realize I was shipping until they kissed in the movie and I was squealing like well I was a kid lol. My favorite episode aside from the Raven ones were always the ones focused on their relationship. Stranded was chefs kiss. I’m not a girl I’m not your friend. Date with Destiny had me gagged. Sisters the arm reach as she’s kidnapped beautiful. No other couple will compare.

2. God when this was airing what a time to be fucking alive. I was so obsessed with this ship. My first fanfic ideas were about this ship. I used to roleplay this show at school. They were so fucking messy with their just friends bullshit. Just friends my ass. I used to watch episode 22 routine on repeat and yes I have it memorized they almost kissed then spent the rest of series pretending they weren’t down bad for each other. They never actually made it official either which will forever haunt me to this day.

3. This one crept on me. I didn’t realize I shipped it until I shipped it and there was no going back. I mean come on. The look of love is literally their theme song. What do you mean Langa only likes skateboarding when Reki is there to watch and cheer him on. What do you mean Reki is afraid of Langa getting hurt not himself but Langa. Cindereki need I say more. The most casual friends to lovers cause they don’t even realize till the end. I went to skate infinitely with you who says stuff like that to someone they’re just friends with. How they adopt each others love languages through your the show. Ugh.

4. Alright imma be honest. This one started as me just wanting to read more Itadori fics but my god. If gege wasn’t a coward they would’ve been official (jk mostly) but Megumi only wanting to live a domestic life with Yuji, regaining the will to live after Yuji says he misses him, not having a reason for saving him not wanting him to die, start by saving me itadori…yeah. And itadori never giving up saving fushiguro, first words out of his mouth are always fushiguro, tells Sukuna to give fushiguro back. I mean how could I not.

5. Might be too early for me to be adding them to this list but so far Momo and Okarun have all the makings of being just as great as Robin and Starfire if not better. Two idiots sharing one brain cell the way they actually communicate with each other, Okarun getting salty when people insult his wifey, Momo getting jealous when people flirt with her husband. Okarun straight up telling Momo he can’t read her mind but he cares about her and values her friendship. Momo straight up saying she wants to talk to Okarun and loves hanging out with him. I’m into deep and it’s only been nine episodes. First time I’ve been this invested in a straight ship in years.

6. Back to the classics with this one. And I’m lowkey starting to sense a pattern. Cause why do they all involve redheads in some way and do I have a type? (yes) Kim and Ron are the original boss wife/fail husband. They’re so cute cause if you rewatch the series there’s all these little hints that they always liked each other (it took you 12 stinking years to kiss me) (I mean me and Kim sure everyone expects it but) but like didn’t wanna ruin their friendship fucking cute as hell idk if it was intentional on the writers part but yeah

7. Gwen and Geoff from Total Drama Island. They had one episode together and I was a goner. Idk I just love my sun and moon motifs as yall can clearly see. Something about the black cat golden retriever dynamic just tickles me I guess. I know yall see the potential. I rewrote total drama island just to get them to together it was bad

8. Harry and Luna from HP. Idc he shoulda been with her and not Ginny. No shade to Ginny but I just feel like they would’ve been such a great couple. Harry with someone who understands him and will never make him feel like he needs to live up to the savior role and Luna with someone who will never judge her for being different or odd. Sigh. So much wasted potential. So stinking cute oddly doesn’t exist as much anymore sigh.

9. Birdflash. I will not deny a huge part of this stems from really liking Wally West and that’s pretty much it. And I wanted more fics about him. I did not like Artemis at all, no one else shipped him with Zatanna or Rocket or Batgirl or Megan so Robin it was lol. But I mean I’ve been eating since so I can’t complain.

10. Ok while I don’t like this ship anymore I can’t deny I was obsessed with it for a hot minute. Danny/Sam from Danny phantom so much freaking potential and actually really cute from 10 year old me’s pov too bad they don’t hold up as an adult. I was very much obsessed with goths as a kid huh.

Honorary mentions

Adrien/Marinette: I haven’t seen enough of this show to put em in my top ten but my god is it cute af sometimes I just need to cute sunshine’s falling in love that is all. I’ve seen enough to know I’m rooting for both of em. A

Jade/Andre: I was obsessed with the episode he had a crush on her. Also in canon he’s the only one she calls a friend, they have lunch dates, she isn’t ever mean to him not as mean as she is to everyone else. I think it’s be cute af alright. Plus Andre wouldn’t flirt with other girls and make her jealous

Tododeku idk yall I just think they’d be cute af together not much else say. Same goes for Mina and Bakugo. Idk I just like em.

Sheen/Libby very refreshing to see a black girl get a love interest and not be discarded later. Sigh too bad that hasn’t happened since like 2006

can also throw on numbuh one and numbuh five from kids next door for similar reasons above. As well as numbuh two and numbuh five

[ginxyy]

Midnight laughs and twinkling lights

The rooftop was alive with music and laughter, a kaleidoscope of twinkling fairy lights strung overhead. A DJ spun upbeat tracks, the bass vibrating through the cool night air as the city skyline glittered in the distance. It was the perfect place to celebrate New Year’s Eve—if you could survive Hoshi’s antics, that is.

“Come on, faster!” Hoshi’s voice cut through the noise as he waved you toward him, his face lit with pure excitement. He stood next to a ridiculously oversized Jenga tower, the wooden blocks wobbling dangerously.

“Faster? If I go any faster, this thing will collapse,” you said, carefully pulling a block from the middle of the tower.

“That’s the point!” he said, grinning ear to ear. His competitive streak was in full force, and judging by the small crowd gathered around, everyone else was just as invested.

You placed the block on top of the precarious structure, stepping back with a sigh of relief. “Your turn.”

Hoshi narrowed his eyes, rubbing his hands together like an evil mastermind. “Watch and learn.”

He crouched dramatically, his gaze locked on the tower as if he were about to perform a magic trick. With a quick flick of his wrist, he slid a block out, only for the entire structure to collapse in a spectacular crash.

The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter, and Hoshi fell to the floor, clutching his chest as if he were mortally wounded.

“I demand a rematch!” he declared, pointing at you with mock seriousness.

“Not happening,” you said, crossing your arms. “I’m retiring undefeated.”

He laughed, standing up and brushing himself off. “Fine, fine. You win this time.”

The two of you moved toward the edge of the rooftop, the city lights spreading out like a sea of stars. Hoshi leaned against the railing, his usual boundless energy simmering down to a more thoughtful hum.

“This is nice,” he said, his voice quieter now.

“It is,” you agreed, taking in the view. “And surprisingly chill for you.”

He smirked. “Don’t get used to it.”

The music shifted to something softer, a prelude to the countdown. Hoshi glanced at you, his expression suddenly serious.

“You know,” he began, his fingers tapping lightly against the railing, “I’ve had a lot of great moments this year. But tonight… this feels different. Special.”

You tilted your head, surprised by his sincerity. “What do you mean?”

“I mean…” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think I’d want to spend New Year’s with anyone else.”

Your heart skipped, his words catching you off guard. Hoshi wasn’t usually one to get sentimental, but when he did, it hit differently.

Before you could respond, the countdown began, the crowd around you shouting in unison.

“Ten… Nine…”

Hoshi turned to you fully, his eyes sparkling with mischief and something softer beneath it.

“Eight… Seven…”

“You know what I heard?” he said, leaning in slightly.

“What?” you asked, your voice barely audible over the noise.

“Six… Five…”

“That if you kiss someone at midnight, you’re stuck with them for the whole year.”

“Four… Three…”

“Is that so?” you replied, raising an eyebrow.

“Two… One…”

Without waiting for an answer, Hoshi closed the distance between you, his lips pressing against yours in a kiss that was equal parts playful and sincere. The cheers and fireworks around you blurred into the background, the moment stretching on as he lingered, his hands resting lightly on your arms.

When he pulled back, he was grinning, his usual mischievous energy back in full force. “Guess you’re stuck with me now.”

You laughed, your cheeks warm. “I think I’ll survive.”

“Happy New Year,” he said, his voice soft despite the chaos around you.

“Happy New Year, Hoshi,” you replied, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the fireworks overhead.

He grabbed your hand, pulling you back toward the party with a laugh. “Come on, we have a whole new year to make epic!”

And with Hoshi, you had no doubt it would be unforgettable.

[cigarettesaftersae]

i'll like you - 05 hurt

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Series: reo mikage x f!reader | contains : fluff, angst, jealousy, academic rivals, fake dating

Reo Mikage wasn’t used to rejection. With his effortless charm, a bank account that could rival small nations, and an uncanny ability to make people trust him, he rarely had to hear the word “no.” Yet, as he stood by your empty desk, staring at the spot where his carefully selected flowers and artisanal chocolates once sat, a nagging thought crept in: you’re annoying

He had invested more than just money into this. The week spent at your mother’s flower shop wasn’t merely a display of wealth; it was strategy. His polished manners and easy smiles won her over quickly, and while he didn’t expect to care much about her stories or advice, he found himself oddly enjoying her company. She even started sending him home with bundles of discounted lilies and carnations he didn’t need. The plan was working—at least until this moment.

“Why are you even visiting my mom?” Your voice cut through the ambient hum of the café. You sat across from him, dipping French fries into ketchup, your gaze as sharp as the pointed end of a thorn.

Reo watched you eat with an air of calm, as if he had all the time in the world to explain himself. “I just told you,” he said smoothly, his lips curving into a small smile. “I wanted her to like me.”

“Yeah, I heard that part. I meant why?”

He leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands loosely in front of him. “Well, you said you liked me.”

Your hand froze mid-air, a fry dangling precariously between your fingers. “What do you mean?”

“You and your friends were out for lunch last month,” he said, his tone nonchalant. “I was nearby. Overheard the whole thing.”

“That’s ridiculous. I don’t actually like you.” The denial was immediate, almost reflexive.

“I figured.” Reo tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “You always glare at me like I’ve personally offended you.”

“Maybe you have,” you muttered, barely loud enough for him to catch.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, regardless, I’d like to propose something. I think you and I should date.”

The sheer audacity of his statement left you momentarily speechless. You stared at him, waiting for him to explain.

“Fake dating, of course,” he added casually. “To—”

“Fool your parents?” you interrupted, narrowing your eyes. “And why me, exactly?”

Reo hesitated, the confidence in his posture faltering for a split second. “I just thought you were the perfect candidate.”

You leaned back, folding your arms as you considered his words. A small part of you couldn’t ignore the potential advantages—especially when it came to Yuna. But then her voice echoed in your mind, sharp and accusing: You always lie. She was right. You’d lied so much it left your life tangled in knots you couldn’t undo.

“I can’t,” you said softly, almost to yourself.

Reo’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable. “You probably don’t care about the money, but I know you care about Yuna.”

“You’re right,” you admitted. “And if I agree to this, all I’ll be doing is lying. Again.” You spat the last word like it tasted bitter.

“Well,” Reo said, his voice light but his gaze steady, “how do you think you’re going to fix that? She’ll push you away and call you a liar, again.” His deliberate echo of your word made you bristle.

You scoffed, masking the flicker of doubt he’d planted. “And what do you get out of this fake dating scandal?”

His demeanor shifted, just slightly. “I want to prove my parents wrong.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you and Naomi together? Seems like she’d be perfect for the job.”

“Naomi? No. But I know that’s what people think.”

“Then get with her and stay away from me.”

“But it’s just—”

“My mom ran away and I’m a bastard child, right?” you interrupted, your tone sharp and cutting. “Makes me the perfect candidate to displease your parents.”

Reo flinched. He hadn’t expected you to say it so bluntly, and for the first time, his polished facade cracked. “Your family is the symbol of the Lion”

“I know that,” you said, your tone as nonchalant as if you were commenting on the weather. You dipped another fry into ketchup, chewing thoughtfully before continuing, “A generation of my last name made remarkable history—especially in engineering military equipment. They held better and higher leadership positions than your family ever did.”

Reo stared at you for a moment, his lavender eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to decode the puzzle in front of him. “I didn’t expect you to care about things like legacy,” he said, his voice softer now, less calculated.

“I don’t,” you replied, your gaze meeting his, unwavering. “But you do. And that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? Trying to fix your image, prove you’re more than just money and privilege?”

His lips pressed into a thin line. For once, he didn’t have a quick response. Instead, he sat back in his chair, studying you like a chessboard where he couldn’t predict the next move.

“You’re interesting,” he finally said, a trace of amusement creeping back into his tone.

“And you’re predictable,” you shot back without missing a beat. The sharpness in your tone didn’t waver, but as you leaned back in your chair, a faint smile tugged at your lips—one that didn’t quite reach your eyes. “But thanks for the flowers. I planted them.”

Reo straightened slightly, the words catching him off guard. “So… it’s a yes?” he asked, his voice lighter now, almost hopeful.

You sighed, dragging out the moment as if to make him sweat. “Yes,” you finally replied, the single word weighed down with resignation.

A spark of triumph lit up Reo’s face, though he masked it quickly with his usual composed demeanor. “You won’t regret it,” he said confidently, leaning forward as if sealing some unspoken deal.

“Oh, I already do,” you muttered under your breath, reaching for another fry. You didn’t bother looking at him, but you could feel his smug satisfaction radiating from across the table.

Reo Mikage was nothing if not persistent, and now, for better or worse, you’d stepped right into his carefully laid plans. The question was, who would regret it more when it all played out—you or him?

-

The next day, you found yourself sitting across from Reo in a small café near the school. It wasn’t exactly where you’d envisioned spending your lunch break, but here you were, fries in front of you and Reo’s intense lavender gaze fixed on your face.

“So,” you began, breaking the awkward silence. “How exactly do we do this... fake dating thingy?”

Reo leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed but his eyes calculating. “We’ll need a plan,” he said, as if he were strategizing for a business deal rather than a relationship scam.

“Obviously,” you replied, rolling your eyes. “It’ll be too suspicious if we just got together out of nowhere, so... we need to pretend to be friends for, what, a week?”

He nodded, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the table. “A week sounds reasonable. Long enough to make it look natural, but not so long that it’s boring.”

“Boring for who? You or everyone else watching?” you quipped, raising an eyebrow.

Reo smirked, unbothered by your jab. “Both, ideally. But more importantly, we’ll need to stage it right. We start hanging out casually—cafés like this, maybe studying together. Make it believable.”

You hummed in thought, poking at your fries. “So, what? People start seeing us together, and then we suddenly announce we’re dating?”

“Not suddenly,” Reo corrected, his voice patient but firm. “We let the rumors build. People will fill in the blanks themselves. By the time we ‘confirm’ it, it’ll feel like the next logical step.”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”

“Of course,” he said, flashing a charming grin. “When I commit to something, I do it right.”

You shook your head, leaning back in your chair. “Fine. But just so we’re clear—this is your idea, your plan. Don’t blame me when it all falls apart.”

Reo tilted his head, his grin softening into something almost sincere. “It won’t fall apart. Not with you involved.”

You stared at him for a moment, unsure whether he was serious or just playing you. Either way, you weren’t sure if you liked the way his words made your stomach flip.

“Alright,” you muttered, looking away. “But don’t expect me to do any cutesy stuff. No holding hands, no lovey-dovey looks, and definitely no kissing.”

“Whatever you say,” Reo said, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he wasn’t making any promises.

And just like that, the first step of your fake relationship began—with fries, plans, and a nagging feeling that you were in for more than you’d bargained for.

“We just need to make it believable,” you said, your voice low as you stared at the untouched drink in front of you. “For... Yuna.”

Reo raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. “You guys are still fighting?”

You sighed, tapping your fingers against the edge of the table. “It’s not exactly fighting. More like… avoiding each other.”

“Well, she’s a bitch,” you said bluntly, catching Reo off guard.

“What—?” he started, sitting up straighter, his expression a mix of confusion and alarm.

“She’s the reason I’m in this mess with Yuna,” you interrupted, crossing your arms and leaning back in your chair.

Reo blinked at you, genuinely surprised. “Wait, what do you mean? Naomi? What did she do?”

You exhaled sharply, the memory still bitter. “She’s the one who started spreading rumors about me liking Nagi. She twisted things, made it sound like I was trying to one-up Yuna or something. Next thing I know, Yuna’s pissed, and everyone’s acting like I’m some backstabbing liar.”

Reo frowned, his playful demeanor shifting to something more serious. “That doesn’t sound like her.”

“Oh, please,” you snapped, glaring at him. “Just because she’s all polite and perfect in front of you doesn’t mean she’s not two-faced. She’s manipulative, and she knew exactly what she was doing.”

Reo leaned back, processing your words. “Huh,” he muttered, more to himself than to you.

“What?” you demanded, annoyed by his sudden quietness.

“Nothing,” he said quickly, though his expression betrayed a flicker of doubt. “It’s just… I didn’t realize.”

“Yeah, well, maybe you should stop letting your parents pick your friends,” you shot back, your tone sharper than you intended.

Reo gave a small, wry smile. “Fair point.”

For a moment, the two of you sat in silence, the air between you heavy with unspoken tension. Then Reo leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table.

“Alright,” he said, his voice low but resolute. “If she’s part of the reason you’re in this mess, then that’s another reason for us to make this work. If we pull this off, we’ll show Yuna—and Naomi—that they’ve got it all wrong about you.”

You nodded slowly, mulling over his words. “Right... anyways, why are you and Nagi on the soccer team?”

Reo looked at you for a moment, then smirked. “I always wanted to try it. You know, something new. And Nagi’s mad skilled at it, so I figured I’d join. Could be fun.”

"I can't believe you and Nagi are even friends," you muttered, trying to picture them together in your mind. The thought of those two, so different in every way, being besties just didn’t make sense to you. Yet, here they were, inseparable.

Reo raised an eyebrow, a sly grin spreading across his face. "He's your crush," he teased, his voice light but dripping with amusement.

"Stop it, no he's not," you snapped, but your annoyance only seemed to egg him on. "And he's basically the reason why Yuna is avoiding me."

Reo leaned back, a glint of something calculating in his eyes. "Even more reason to fake date me," he said with a shrug.

You frowned, rolling your eyes. "How? It'll make me seem worse. Me dating my ex-crush's new bestie? That's worse."

Reo's smirk never wavered. "We'll give them a story. You tried to get along with Nagi to get along with me."

You stared at him, the idea settling in like a bad taste in your mouth. "That's even worse, and it’s because it’s about you."

Reo chuckled, unfazed by your resistance. "Not if we make it believable. We’ll spin it so it looks like you’re just trying to fix things with Yuna. Everyone will buy it."

You scoffed, shaking your head. "Yeah, because the idea of me and you suddenly being in a relationship isn’t suspicious at all."

"It’s not about us," Reo said, leaning forward, his tone turning serious for a moment. "It’s about making them think you’re moving on, making it look like you’re trying to do the right thing. You’re caught between Nagi and Yuna, and this could be your way out."

“It’s not about us,” Reo said, leaning forward, his tone turning serious for a moment. “It’s about making them think you’re moving on, making it look like you’re trying to do the right thing. You’re caught between Nagi and Yuna, and this could be your way out.”

“Just Yuna,” you said quietly, your gaze falling to the table as you tried to steady your thoughts. “I’m doing this just for Yuna.”

Reo's eyes softened for a moment, his usual smirk replaced with a more understanding look. “I get it. You’re trying to fix things with her. But if this works, it could help you, too.”

You didn’t look up, too focused on the tangled mess in your mind. “I’m not doing this for me. I just want things to go back to normal with her.” You grieve in your thoughts, the pain you caused for not just yourself but your favorite person of all, Yuna. Caught in a web of lies and mistakes, trying to figure out how to fix what you’d broken. The guilt gnawed at you, sharp and unforgiving.

You tried to push away the suffocating weight in your chest, but it lingered. The ache wasn’t just about you. It was about Yuna—how you’d failed her, how you’d let things spiral out of control. The one person who always had your back, and now she was avoiding you. No matter how much you tried to pretend it didn’t hurt, the truth was clear: you had broken something irreplaceable.

Reo's voice broke through your thoughts, softer now, a little less teasing. “Look, if you keep doing things for everyone else, you’re going to lose yourself in the process. Maybe you should let this help you, too. You deserve to have things work out for you, not just for Yuna.”

His words hung in the air, and you didn’t know how to respond. “I don’t need your pity and concern, Mikage.”

“Well, you got it anyways,” Reo replied, his voice steady, unbothered. "And since we’re in this relationship... I’ll buy you lunch every day, and you have to come to Friday dinners with me and my parents."

"Woah, woah—wait, every Friday?" You blinked at him, feeling your mind race a little at the thought.

"Yep, every Friday," Reo said, unfazed. "I’m doing this to convince my parents. If they see us together regularly, they’ll think things are... solid. Plus, you need to get used to my family if we're doing this, right?"

You frowned, running your fingers over the edge of your cup, considering the offer. “fine” you groan

.

.

.

[eternal-echoes]

"Twilight's Goodbye"

A TwiYor Doujinshi

Probably the only time Twilight will deliberately risk getting hit by Yor in trying to be physically affectionate with her is when he has to hug and say goodbye to her at the end of Operation Strix.

It’s been a while since I drew a TwiYor fanart that I’ve forgotten how fun it is to draw Yor. I’ve honestly been meaning to recreate the goodbye scene between Kenshin and Kaoru from the RuroKen series as TwiYor but since that’s a historical fiction and they’re wearing kimonos, it was hard to draw Twilight and Yor without reference of them wearing their own clothes. I came across Edward and Winry’s scene from FMAB and since Edward’s jacket seems close enough to Twilight’s coat, I decided to use them as reference. I haven’t seen FMAB (but I did see the first FMA anime) so this is the first time I used a reference from a series I didn’t read or watch. I use to think I had to be emotionally invested in the photo for me to recreate it with the ship I like but I surprised myself this time. (Or since I watched the first anime I’m still technically emotionally invested in this reference but I don’t remember shipping Edward and Winry back then)

Anyway, here’s the Kenshin and Kaoru goodbye scene:

And here’s the Edward and Winry reference:

[forcebook]

Hello there, do you mind sharing your favorite bls of 2024? Thanks!

hi! honestly i suck at keeping track of shows and ranking them asdfghjkl i want to keep better track next year tho and maybe even make some celebratory gifsets but we shall see!

and since you asked for it, i decided to check mdl and do a deep dive on which shows have aged well in my mind and score lmao

my top rated dramas of 2024 are:

love for love’s sake

my only 5 stars drama of the year. doesn’t surprise me at all. this show took me completely my storm at the beginning of the year. it has such a compelling story and it’s so efficient on so many levels. but most importantly, it sticks the landing. it gives closure to a story that wasn’t even finished. and it does so well. the definition of lightning in a bottle!

love in the big city

this show made me feel emotions unknown to humanity so i get my rating asdfghjkl felt really personal to me. it is also incredibly efficient and very necessary!

knock knock boys!

i said it halfway through its run and i’ll say it again: one of the best bls of 2024. no wonder i rated it this high asdfghjkl within its premise it promised very little and delivered soooo much with some incredible takes. while i love when bls do new things, to me a story told well is fantastic regardless of how cliché it might be to some. and knock knock boys manages to feel very familiar but also very refreshing with the way it handled some topics. super funny and it stuck the landing to me. in a completely different way from love for love’s sake but very satisfying!

jack & joker: u steal my heart!

this is the thai bl of the year to me. for all the conversations it started, interesting characters, refreshing plot and also for existing purely on the love and dedication of its creators. while it is not perfect, i do hope that when we look back on 2024, we see it as the year of jack and joker

century of love

i’ve loved daouoffroad since love in translation. i was a bit skeptical of century of love at first but i ended up loving it a lot. i’m also not surprised at all this made my top 5 asdfghjkl

now i would like to add a few shows that haven’t finished airing yet but had most of their run in 2024 and i’m pretty sure they’re going to be in top rated dramas

miseinen (our youth)

it is the japanese bl of the year to me. hands down. i could rant but at the same time i have no words asdfghjkl this show goes beyond efficiency or even sticking the landing (which i hope they do), but it’s the whole vibe. because while incredibly sad, you can see how much love and care exists in it. the characters are so alive and so complex and beautiful and godddd i love them. 10/10 no notes

see your love

came out of nowhere promising very little and delivered one of the best bls of 2024 imo. i don’t even remember when was the last time i felt compelled to gif a taiwanese bl but this show is sooo inspiring and fun and important. i just love it

caged again

this show promised nothing except wacky plot and delivered such a hilarious and compelling and heartfelt story. i love when i get these little surprises. shall live on in my heart

honorable mentions:

let's eat together, aki and haru 2: more please!

my only other 5 stars of the year. but it’s a movie so i didn’t include it up there. still. it’s a nearly flawless execution of a beautiful genre that i love: queer stories revolving around food and domesticity. it delivered exactly what it promised efficiently and i loooooove it so much!!!!!

sugar dog life

also came out of nowhere promising nothing and delivered a really solid little story, also revolving around food and domesticity. can you tell i’m biased lmao

the rebound

BALL IS LIFE!!!!!! we need more bls about sports. asap. we don’t have enough!!!! and this show was a surprise to me. i ended up super invested for the most part and i do think it stands out in the tiny little corner of bl sports therefore it deserves an honorable mention

blue canvas of youthful days

chinese bls always have a special place in my heart for fighting so hard to exist. this one is no exception. it got taken down when it first started airing and i’m glad they managed to release all of it eventually. it’s far from being perfect but i was still thoroughly invested in it. i love the main couple with my entire heart. and i’m soooooo grateful they got their happy ending!!

monster next door

as a deeply introverted person, this is the representation i needed asdfghjkl it felt refreshing and a conversation worth having about respecting introverts and other people’s ways of living. plus diew is autistic to me (source: i’m autistic) and it was an overall good show!!! bigpark my beloveds!!

and that’s it! thank you for asking 💕

[darcytaylor]

I'm aware this is unfair and you don't have to entertain it, but I resent Antonia a little bit for making me think less of Luke because of her actions. Whenever she posts, I reexamine my opinion of him, not because of anything he's done, but because him being with her doesn't square with the opinion I've formed of him based on how he shows up in the world. I know it's not his responsibility to fit in with my view of him, I'm just tired of this. I don't know what to think of him at all anymore. I want to be a fan but she's making it hard. There's always that niggling feeling in the back of my mind of, what if he's in on the trolling, y'know? I just hope it isn't the case.

Thank you for sharing this - it’s an honest and vulnerable perspective, and I know people can relate to the dissonance you’re describing. It’s natural to form an opinion of someone based on how they present themselves publicly, and when their personal choices seem at odds with that image, it can feel weird (I’ve brought this up in another post a while back). I think your self-awareness about this is important, especially in acknowledging that it’s not his responsibility to fit into the image you’ve formed of him, even if it’s frustrating at times.

I also get why you may be questioning if he’s in on the trolling (if there is any trolling to begin with - I mean, there probably is some, but most of it seems pretty harmless). That said, I do think things tend to get blown way out of proportion by the fandom. However, unless there’s clear evidence of something more intentional, try to remind yourself that it might just be social media noise and not reflective of any deeper meaning on his part (and even hers).

On a more personal note, I’ve realized that I wouldn’t likely be friends with Luke or his type of friends (sorry, but it’s true, haha). Theatre aside, I can tell they’re not a group I’d naturally connect with - and honestly, that includes Luke. Have I seen some questionable things done by Antonia and her mother? Yes. But again, I don’t know any of the people involved. Who knows? Maybe I’d actually be best friends with all of them, haha! It’s entirely possible my preconceived notions are shaping this belief.

So again, I can’t stress this enough: it’s important to remember that we don’t actually know any of the people involved, and that includes Antonia (we don't actually know what kind of person she is). The image she’s curated within the fandom is partly her own doing, but at the end of the day, maybe she just doesn’t care about how she’s perceived in these spaces. While that might bother some people, it could also be seen as a good thing. If she’s happy and living her life on her own terms, then maybe that’s all that matters to her - and that could be valid.

I’ll admit, I’m way more of a people-pleaser. I hate confrontation, and I’d feel emotionally crushed if I had thousands of people hating me online. But just because I’d approach things differently doesn’t mean her way is wrong or ultimately makes her a bad person. It might just reflect different priorities, values, or ways of dealing with public scrutiny.

She is also very young, and what she posts is on brand for her and her friend group - which includes Luke. This doesn’t make me hate Luke, though. I think he’s super talented, and I find myself more invested in his career choices than his personal ones.

I think this all comes back to the complicated nature of para-social relationships. It’s okay to feel conflicted or even disappointed - it’s a natural part of navigating these dynamics. But maybe it’s worth considering whether entertaining her social media is really helping you. If it’s becoming too frustrating, it might be easier to block her and remove that source of stress for yourself. I know people on the internet tend to repost things, so it can be hard to avoid her altogether, but there are definitely spaces that don’t focus on her actions and posts. Maybe try to find a community like that (even just for a little while), because at the end of the day, she’s just a person who might be dating Luke.

[prettyoddfever]

the Seattle Ryden story is fake.

Tumblr's new post format is way better than 2020, so I’m expanding my old post here.

THE GENERAL STORY:

I just googled this...

REAL-LIFE AUGUST 2007 EVENTS:

The band did a string of shows & appearances in the UK (Decaydance Fest, Kerrang Awards, Reading, Leeds) in late August 2007. The last show was on August 26th and then the band flew back home (they lived in Vegas & Chicago btw... not California). They had a few days off before they needed to be in Seattle for their Bumbershoot performance on September 1st. Brendon and Ryan had a work obligation in NYC on August 31st, so it looked like Ryan went to stay with Keltie in NYC. There were pictures of them hanging out in places like Central Park and they did this photoshoot.

Yes, Keltie threw Ryan a bday party at Angels & Kings on August 30th. Ryan hung out at Angels & Kings with Keltie and her friends earlier that summer too. Plus, Travie McCoy had a birthday party at Angels & Kings that summer with a cake that looked very close to the one Ryan got. Their bday parties were good publicity for the new bar. Angels & Kings had opened around early May that year and other Decaydance bands invested in it, but the P!ATD guys had been too young.

Ryan's friends who lived in NYC were at the party, like Gabe Saporta, Eric Ronick, and Travie McCoy (who also performed at Bumbershoot). However, Ryan's crew of Vegas friends he'd been hanging out with that year weren't there. It just seemed like a NYC thing. I didn't think it was weird that the band members who weren't even in NYC were absent, even though I didn't know specifically why. A lot of fans assumed that the guys wanted a few days off nbd. Also, even if Brendon was in NYC in time for that party, he was still underage. A couple weeks later he and Spencer were turned away from Crush Management's party before the VMAs lol.

Anyways, on August 31st Brendon and Ryan needed to do the interview for Fuse that was chopped up to use in all of those Videos That Rocked The World daily episodes that came out after Thanksgiving:

These episodes covered some big names, so it was very cool that P!ATD's opinion was included... even if the ads seemed to feature Brendon & Ryan more than the actual episodes did lol. Here's an example of the first episode (others were for Madonna, Aerosmith, OK Go, Guns N' Roses, Van Halen, Britney Spears, Public Enemy, Alanis Morissette, and Beastie Boys):

here's more from that episode.

The band's Fuse interviews were usually done in New York City while they were on tour. A few years ago I emailed someone who worked on the VTRTW set because I wanted to double-check the date and location of Brendon & Ryan's interview before sharing that it wasn't Seattle. She gave me some other contact info and three very kind people looked into their old emails & call sheets. The director and the executive producer for the VTRTW series separately confirmed the NYC location and 8/31 date. Maybe they were both mistaken about the location, and Fuse randomly decided to film in Seattle despite the fact that their studio was in NYC... but the romantic motivation for Ryan to join Brendon is still erased.

Also, whoever made up the Seattle story seems to think that birthdays were important and meaningful to Ryan to the extent that he would fly across the country in the middle of the night to spend it with someone ~special. Ryan talked to Upbeet Music in fall 2005 about touring on his birthday and said "Birthdays were never a really huge deal in my family so it’s not like I’m bummed out that I didn’t get a party or anything so it’s cool." Obviously people can change over the years, so I'm just adding that as a side detail.

THE PICTURE:

Does anyone know who the fan is who shared the picture above? and what their original story was? It’s repeated a lot but I’ve never seen a source, a direct quote, or anyone who even saw the original person’s post (which is super weird). The whole Seattle story sounds about as reliable as the current fandom’s “funeral picture” tbh. There was also a problem in the pre-split years where some fans would steal other people’s pictures, claim it was theirs, invent a story about meeting the band, and then crop out or draw over the original person (and spin a story about how they looked ugly that day, didn’t want their face online, didn't want the band to know who was sharing the story, etc). Maybe that happened here too.

side tangent: idk why people are saying that since Ryan's outfit in the picture above is the same as his birthday then he must have arrived in Seattle without luggage. Why even add that part lol. He clearly wore a different outfit of his for Bumbershoot.

Anyways, I do agree that the picture at the top of this post looks like it was taken around the same time as the interview based on small details with their hair & outfits (the fact that they're wearing the same general clothes isn't reliable because those guys could repeat outfits for daysss). Fuse was located on 7th Avenue across from Madison Square Garden. The background of the picture looks like it could potentially be in that whole area. Maybe a fan got a picture with them while they were heading to their interview, who knows.

OTHER SEATTLE THINGS THAT *SHOULD* BE UNRELATED:

Yes, Brendon changed a line in That Green Gentleman to joke about Ryan while they were doing an acoustic show at the Space Needle in Seattle in October 2008. That was a normal thing and shouldn't stand out in any way.

Please don’t ruin Northern Downpour by dragging it into the Seattle theory and/or making it a Ryden thing. People are wildly misinterpreting some interview quotes & events (possibly because they don’t understand Ryan’s role in the band), so there’s more in this post about Northern Downpour.

Brendon, Ryan, Spencer, and Brent all talked about how much they loved the Pacific Northwest starting from the first time they played a show there in fall 2005. The boys were from a desert area and talked a lot in the early months about how they hadn’t had the chance to travel much (except Brent had been to Canada). Each time they visited Seattle or Portland at least one of them would mention how they loved the weather, trees, etc. Their strong appreciation of Seattle started in 2005 and has nothing to do with a fake affair in 2007.

There are a lot of assumptions surrounding the Seattle story in general, most of which seem to come from a lack of knowledge about the band. Even this post still assumes & projects a lot:

Brendon was not Ryan's best friend in 2007. That was pretty easy to spot (there's more in this post).

idk what else people are saying about Seattle, but I'll probably add more here later

[rainia]

why would I obsess over a goddamn dnd podcast that goes on perpetual hiatus with no sign of return dudeeee I should never have trusted those white boys

[deepseawave]

obsessed w the tags on ur last reblog

Omgg, thank you haha, it was a quality post so I just had to appreciate it in full force 😂❤️

Can‘t believe someone would actually enjoy my yapping :,D

[romance-incubomp3]

aghhhh:(

[mycological-mariner]

My mother watched a documentary about the Endurance expedition and she’s already an angry woman but she was just straight up throwing curses and things at the screen

[look-at-the-stars-tonight]

I ran this morning AND wrote some AND made art and I’m so proud of me

[glittertimes]

My problem is that there is a very jaded smart part of me that isn’t surprised when ppl are awful and shitty this part of me fights back whenever I’m hurt.

But there’s also the naive caring part of me that just wants community and connection and I still don’t know how to be both at once so I can stand up for my boundaries but still be caring and understanding.

[seilon]

jesus christ I feel like shit

[acotars]

(I have no idea if this will make sense—sorry I’ve had some wine this evening and so I’m rambling)

I think this is a “popular” opinion but not widespread—people need to understand that there is so much nuance to reading. Obviously there’s the “you can like things I don’t like” and vice versa, but also in HOW people enjoy things. Like take Fourth Wing (I know I know), but while I also agree with a lot of the complaints, I still was just like “that was a fun time, I totally ignored all the sex scenes bc I hate how they were written, but I was vibing the whole time.” And I feel like some people would still respond to my opinion like “okay but it was so horrible how did you even enjoy it at all??? Lame”

Like okay Betty, I love high fantasy as much as you, but sometimes I want something that just fucks, okay?

(and not to say you aren’t allowed to not like things, but there seems to be a fine line between “hey! I didn’t like this but that’s okay” and “I hated this and I CANNOT comprehend why ANYONE could find even an inkling of fun from this + I’m going to subtly implicate that I think people who like this are stupid”) (obviously not for books that are objectively hurtful or offensive)

And of course you can go so many different ways than just that example, but it’s a mix of gate-keeping, prejudice, lack of empathy, and a bit of a superiority complex that makes it so hard for the reading community to really be united.

[mollyrolls]

highlights from my notes app. 30/79 and i couldn’t even finish the last chapter

⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖ AKAASHI KEIJI

undone ⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖

she would do anything for her best friend. including, but not limited to, pretending to be his girlfriend, so he can get the attention of the girl of his dreams, as much as it hurts

PAIRING: akaashi x fem reader

STATUS: complete

TAGS/WARNING: unrequited love, fake dating, angst, pining, friends to lovers, university au, language, alcohol use, warnings may change

MDNI: will contain adult content (marked in chapter)

TAGLIST: complete this form to be added

PREVIEW: real

CHAPTER ONE: evidence

CHAPTER TWO: complications

CHAPTER THREE: close

CHAPTER FOUR: truths

CHAPTER FIVE: plans

CHAPTER SIX: act

-> SEQUEL