#that they'd reveal at this early of a stage??

[demon-of-the-ancient-world]

@fuckyeahisawthat thoughts?????

Dune 3 filming

https://x.com/solacecinema/status/1856382637721694234?s=46

X

Daaaang....Z is gonna be busyyyy next year!!!! 😅🤣

Anyway, that's cool! Can't wait to see some more Dune filming. 🥰

It seems we'll also get to see Pregnant Daya 🤰🏽 for the first time. 🥹 Lol

[itzkingbo]

butterflies & roses

chapter one.

Stray Kids ot8 x fem!reader

masterlist / next chapter

overview: you are one of their managers. you're tired, overworked, and sad. the last thing you want to do is worry your boys. but they notice everything. and the love and care for you, like you do for them.

word count: 1.8k

contains: cussing, mentions of pain, fluff, nicknames, use of y/n, mental illness

a/n: RAAAHH imma be so honest. this started off as a one shot drabble idea for anon and turned into whatever tf this is. but i love it? i fear ill have to make this a series 😔 lemme know if you wanna be part of the taglist! pookie out 🤪

Sure, you were one of the boys' many managers, but to them you were special. With the DominATE tour right around the corner, all of you were incredibly busy. You worked day in and day out to practically keep 3racha alive in the studio as they finished up any last touches to the solos they'd be revealing on stage.

You had barely gotten any sleep the night before, eyelids heavy with exhaustion as you dressed yourself for another tiresome day at the company. Many things went unnoticed by your usually trained eye. You left your quaint apartment in the sweatpants you had slept in, only mascara, and a coffee cup with only sugar because you forgot to pour it before you left.

Luckily you were smart enough not to drive yourself and settled on taking the bus. Several stops later you were waddling through the front doors of JYPE, one airpod in and a half-crooked smile to the doorman. The elevator ride seemed to take an eternity and you slipped into a daydream against the cold metal railing.

The loud ding snapped you out of it quickly, and you scurried past the other staff members entering the box. With a flushed face, you moved down the hall towards the dance practice studio, then shoved the door open.

Music harassed your ears immediately and you walked over to the counter to set your things down and cover your ears. It made your head pound. You hadn't even noticed your headache until now.

When the music suddenly stopped, you looked up to see Minho staring at you. "Y/n-ah? Are you alright?" His voice was calmer than usual, laced with genuine concern for his favorite manager.

You took in a deep breath and nodded, lowering your hands from your ears. "Just.. a headache. I didn't sleep well last night." You say honestly. This causes Minho to furrow his brows and step closer to you.

It was just you two in the practice room at the moment, as the rest of the boys were usually not this early. His hands move to cup your cheeks, and if they weren't already red, they would be now.

He moved your head around cautiously, looking into your eyes and then moving away to his bag. When he returned, he handed you a few pills. "Medicine. You need to take care of yourself like you take care of us."

You take it with a smile and reach for your cup. When you look down your straw, your brows furrow and you let out a low growl.

"What's wrong now?"

".. I must have been too tired. I didn't even finish making my coffee before I left." You grumble, handing him the cup to see for himself.

A hearty laugh escapes his lips and he sets it down and hands you his water bottle. "Maybe instead of managing you should take a nap in the studio."

This made you scowl, and you took the water and then plopped the pill into your mouth. "I can't afford a nap right now, Minho. There's too much to do and not enough time. The tour is right around the corner."

His snicker didn't go unnoticed and you shot him a glare. "You sound like Channie-hyung." He snorts, moving back to the laptop to finish his warm-up before practice.

When he unpauses the music, you notice he has turned the volume down and your glare softens. The sound of his sneakers squeaking on the floor fills the room as you make your way to the chairs in the corner.

It only takes a few short minutes for the practice room door to bust open, and the loud yapping of the boys makes you flinch at the sharp pain in your temple.

Minho stops completely and faces the boys, hands on his hips. "Hush! Manager-nim has a headache!" He whisper-yells, barely audible over the music.

Chris is quick to jog over to the computer to turn off the music. "Heh!?" Jisung harps, clearly having not heard his elder the first time. A hiss escapes your lips and you bring a hand to your head.

Felix turns to you and his eyes widen. "Oh! Sorry, Y/n.. we'll be quieter." He says, his puppy dog eyes causing your anger to vanish. "She has a headache, Ji. Please be less loud today."

Han's head snaps in your direction with an apologetic look, and he mouths you a quick 'Sorry' before placing his stuff down with everyone else's.

As they begin their warm-up stretches, their fearless leader dares to approach you, hands behind his back like he wants something. "Yes, Chris?" You ask quietly, trying not to upset your head while you wait for the medicine to kick in.

He bends down to your level, hands on your knees. "What time did you sleep last night?"

The question makes your chest tighten. You're HIS manager. The one who scolds HIM for late nights and no self-care. Yet here he was, looking at you like you had spit in his Cheerios.

You look down at your lap, pouting slightly. "Six.." You muttered, and his eyebrow cocks the way it does when he isn't too sure of something. "Y/n."

"Six. In the morning." This time you've said it louder, still refusing to look him in the eye. But he forces you to. He is older after all. "Christ, Y/n. We left the studio together at midnight." He scolded, tone stern yet filled with worry.

You huff and cross your arms. "I know. I just, couldn't sleep." You say, glancing at him from the corner of your eye. There had been so much on your mind lately. The tour, schedules, meetings, family, your boyfriend. Well. Scratch that. Ex-boyfriend. It was a sudden breakup that happened a few days ago. You hadn't had time to process the loss, the now empty bed, and quiet apartment.

Chris stares at you, watching as your eyes water. But before he can say anything, his name is called. "Hyung. C'mon." Hyunjin calls out.

You look down at the man, a small frown painting your features. "We'll talk more later." He says, now standing up after patting one of your knees and walking over to the group.

Throughout the entire practice session, you zoned out every other second. You were either falling asleep or in your head. Time after time, one of the boys would look your way with a frown or walk over to bring you water.

Once they finished up, Chris looked over to see you completely passed out with your head leaned back against the wall. He waved the others on, moved over to you, and tapped your shoulder gently. “Y/n-ah.” His voice was soft, and you hummed in response as your eyes opened slowly.

With a small smile, he grabbed both of your hands and pulled you up to your feet. Your eyes widened at the sudden movement and you grabbed onto him for support. "C'mon sleepy head. Let's go."

He grabbed your things, shouldering your bag after tucking your empty cup away. Then, he slung your arm over his shoulder and his hand found your waste.

Then he lead you out of the practice room, and down the hall to his studio.

When the door creaked open, Jisung's boba eyes met your tired ones. He felt like he could squeeze your adorable little cheeks at that moment, but he resisted and stood up to help you to the couch.

You didn't complain, far too tired to fight them at the moment. The moment your head hit the cushion, you were out like a light. "I'll go fetch her a coffee, keep an eye on her." Chris said, looking over at Jisung as he left the room.

"Yes sir." Han saluted, sitting in his chair and facing the laptop.

Your soft snores filled the room and created a comfortable silence mixed with the clicking of the keyboard and mouse.

Not long later, Chris returned with a few cups of coffee and Changbin behind him with bags. The aroma of something baked instantly flooded your nose and woke you from your nap. You grumbled and turned to face the boys with half-lidded eyes as you rubbed them. "How long was I out for?"

"Literally thirty minutes." Han chuckled, taking his coffee and breakfast. You groaned and sat up straight with a grumpy expression. It softened quickly as you were handed a cup with your name, and a turkey croissant. You licked your lips and bit into it with a satisfied hum.

The three laughed at your excitement for food and took their places in the studio.

The rest of the day was spent working on small projects, as well as the backing track for each solo. Then you were off to your office to finish the week's paperwork. You hadn't even realized how late it had gotten. However, this wasn't the first time you were glued to your chair by 11pm.

A subtle knock on your office door made you jump, and you looked up to see the familiar Aussie face. "Y/n." He greeted before moving over to your desk.

"Chan. What are you still doing here? It's late." You scolded, brows raised at him.

He scoffed and leaned against the wall nearest to him. "Says you. C'mon. You need sleep."

You shake your head and continue typing away. "Can't. I'm not finished yet." "I wasn't asking."

You look up again, stunned at the demanding tone he was using. Frankly, it pissed you off. "I'll leave when I'm done here." You say, tone slightly aggressive.

"You say that now." "Christopher! Get off my ass, would ya?" You didn't mean to snap at him.

"Y/N! Go home! Look at you! This morning you could barely stay awake, you looked exhausted. You're a mess!"

His words caused you to stop what you were doing and look up at him. You bit the inside of your cheek, saved your work, and slammed your laptop shut. "You have no room to talk to me like that." You huffed.

"Maybe not, but at least I'm trying here. You can't work in these conditions."

You began to stuff your things into your bag, then pushed past him out of your office. "Fuck sake. Leave me alone."

"What is wrong with you!? Why are you acting like this, Y/n?" He begged, following after you like a lost puppy.

You ignored him and kept walking. "Answer me."

"Nothing! Nothing is wrong, Bangchan! I'm just fucking tired!" You snapped again. You stopped walking and looked at him. That's when he realized you had tears running down your face, brows furrowed angrily.

You weren't mad at him. Your tears weren't angry. They were sad. He noticed the bags under your eyes. How much thinner and pale you looked. Your hair was greasy and tangled, very much unkempt like the rest of you. Why hadn't he noticed sooner?

"Oh. Y/N." He reached out to touch your cheek, but you flinched and turned away. "I'm just tired."

With that, you hurried away from him and left the company building.

[zeroeightzeroone]

homesick - han jisung

love collection

genre: hurt/comfort

pairings: fem!reader (infp) x idol!han jisung (istp)

warnings: none?

wc ~3.7k | moodboard

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ｡ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:

you miss your boyfriend–you miss him a lot.

how could you not?

all you have wanted to do for the past couple of weeks is throw your arms around jisung and hold him close. you want to keep your boyfriend so tightly against your chest that you're encapsulated by the warmth radiating off his body, the warmth that never fails to comfort you, resting your head against his chest to listen to how his heart beats in tandem with your own. you miss the physical closeness with jisung.

stray kids has been on tour since late april this year, and the last leg of the tour is expected to end early april next year. while that's quite a long time for the boys to be away, they'd be back in asia in late july and on a break until the tour kicks back up in early september. it's currently the beginning of july.

thankfully, you weren't taking any summer courses. through the grace of whatever higher power there is up there, you managed to convince your boss to let you work remotely so you could join jisung and the boys for two weeks during the japanese leg of their tour back at the beginning of june.

you loved watching jisung perform. seeing him firsthand from the crowd, in his element when he's on stage, performing his art and perfecting his craft, makes your heart lurch; you fall for the man all over again, watching him up there. seeing it firsthand is completely different from watching videos of him–you can feel the energy radiating off him when he's up there.

at the end of those two weeks, you and the boys ended up in the same place: the airport. you were boarding a plane back to seoul, and they were boarding a plane to their first tour stop in america. due to the influx of reporters and fans waiting at narita international airport, your goodbyes to the boys and their staff had to be in the hotel, inside your rooms, hours before checkout time.

knock, knock, knock.

"come in!" you call whoever is on the other side of the door; if it's any of the boys, then they will be accompanied by jisung, who has the extra room key for your room.

you grunt in a squatting position as you move your luggage from laying on the ground, on its back, to standing upright on its wheels. you hear the keycard machine beep from the other side of the door in confirmation as you're hunched over, wheeling your luggage up against the wall before standing up straight and rubbing your palms against your jeans. you watch as the front door opens to reveal the eight boys, jisung in front, holding the keycard to your hotel room. behind them, the managers and some guards come into the room with them, but the bodyguards stay outside.

"y/n!" felix whines with a pout as he pushes forward, running to you and enveloping you in his arms, "fly safe, okay?"

you pat the freckled boy's back appreciatively as you nod.

"make sure you text ji when you land, okay?"

"i will, but you guys will still be in the air when he gets that message."

felix pulls away, his hands on your shoulders as he looks at you, "still, it's the thought that counts." you smile and giggle at felix, who moves aside for the next couple of members to say their goodbyes to you.

your exchanges with jeongin, minho and changbin are on the shorter side; brief hugs with jeongin and changbin, who thank you for coming to support them in concert, meanwhile minho gives you a half hug and pats your head as he bids you farewell, thanking you for taking two weeks out of the many months jisung will spend talking about how much he'll miss you.

meanwhile, hyunjin, chan and seungmin's hugs last a little longer when you're swayed around a little bit and told to be safe, get a lot of rest on the plane and not miss them too much. chan lets you know that if there is any other time you're going to be free when they're on tour, let them know, and they'll arrange everything for you–from the plane tickets to where you're staying–anything at all.

seungmin, the member you're closest to after your boyfriend, whispers in your ear quietly to ensure it's kept between the two of you: "i know you're going to ask me to take care of jisung for you, so don't worry about that. don't worry about hannie; we all got him."

the reassurance brings a smile to your face, and your grip on seungmin gets tighter in appreciation. the boy sways your bodies back and forth, patting your back when you separate. when he pulls away, he steps aside to reveal your boyfriend standing there with a pout, his big, brown eyes glossy as tears build up at his waterline. you have to bite your lip to keep from sobbing.

you were already feeling on the verge of tears when felix came rushing in and pulled you into a hug. chan's words about arranging anything and everything if you're free, then seungmin assuring you that they'll look out for your boyfriend while on tour and now, here's your boyfriend, your hannie, your jisung, looking at you with teary eyes.

you open your arms and jisung runs into them, prompting you to take a step back at the sudden impact, but jisung's tight grip around your waist protects you from any chance of falling backward. jisung buries his face in the crook of your neck while your arms are wrapped around his neck, your chin resting on his shoulder as your eyes are squeezed shut. your grip on each other is tight, knowing that once either of you lets go, the next time you'll be in each other's arms is in two months.

jisung lets a choked whimper slip out that he tries to hide with a cough. you smack his back gently, "ya!"

you clear your throat, trying your best to stay composed and stern as you utter the next words.

"if you cry, i'm going to cry too!" your voice cracks and trembles as you speak.

"i'm not crying," he denies. though his voice is muffled from his head buried in the crook of your neck, you can clearly hear that it's softer than usual, shaky, and uneasy.

you let out a pained laugh, "liar." the tears flow down your cheeks as you hold him even tighter.

"i'm not lying!" jisung continues to deny. he lifts his head up from your neck, and you stand there, still in each other's arms, looking at each other, "see."

what you see is how jisung's cheeks are flushed, wet with tears that probably fell and landed on the fabric of the hoodie you're wearing, his lashes clumped together with tears as he tries to keep his lips pursed together when they're trembling and threatening to go back to that pout. on the other hand, your tears are freely falling as you stare up at your boyfriend through your fluttering lids, mouth opening and closing as you breathe heavily through your pouted lips, cheeks also flushed and damp. you smack his chest.

"what?" he whines.

you open your mouth to laugh at him, but instead, a sob comes out. you fall back into his arms and bury your face into his chest as you cry.

"look who's crying now," jisung retorts as his arms move around your body again, holding you close. one hand rests on the small of your back while the other caresses your hair.

"yeah, the both of you," minho teases and jisung glares at the boy, but the older one just smiles back.

the rest of the boys watch the exchange between you and jisung with a slight ache in their chests as they remember how hard it was to say goodbye to their friends and family before leaving. chan looks around and he gathers everyone to leave, wanting to give you and jisung a minute alone to say your goodbyes before the driver takes you to the airport.

pulling away, jisung moves his hands to your face and brushes your hair back, some strands sticking to your skin because of tears as you hiccup. even when your hair is out of your face, he continues to stroke your hair back while the other hand is on your cheek, gently caressing the skin with the pad of his thumb. the two of you stare up at each other, sniffling.

"i love you," jisung whispers, his voice hoarse from crying.

you nod, sniffling and hiccuping in return, "i love you too."

jisung smiles down at you, "hey, i'll be back before you know it."

your eyelids flutter as you blink quickly, and your hands play with the back of the sweatshirt jisung is wearing.

"i'll text you everyday," he reminds, "i'll call you as much as i can, and as much our schedules and the time zones allow for."

you sigh shakily, "i'm gonna miss you so much."

"i'm going to miss you so much too, my love," jisung brushes your hair back again, "god, i wish i could just take you with me. two months away from you? that's too long."

you snicker, nodding in agreement, "i do too. but hey, i'll get to see so many videos of you taken by stay, doing your thing on stage."

your boyfriend smiles, gazing down at you lovingly.

"i'm so proud of you. look at you," you sigh, lips curled up in a smile, "my boyfriend is going on a world tour."

"do you know what that means?" you tilt your head in confusion, "souvenirs from every stop that remind me of you!"

since he left, both of you have been sending texts daily and video calls whenever your schedules permit it and when the time zones line up enough so it isn't too early or too late for either of you.

sometimes your calls only prompt you to miss jisung even more, wishing he was next to you and that his voice wasn't just coming through a device while he's on the other side of the world, but the distance also means you continue to long for the day jisung comes home. you know his parents long for that day as well, his mother sending you texts every couple of days asking when you're free so you can go out together. as jisung likes to put it–spending time with her future daughter-in-law.

however, as the number of days away from jisung increases, the number of days before jisung returns also decreases. with that in mind, you try to stay positive and look forward to the day he comes home.

now that the boys are in america, they've been quite busy rehearsing, checking and then rechecking their formations and any technical details that could go wrong during the concerts, the process repeating at each venue as they sync up their equipment with the new venues. their team organizing and making sure everything is okay with the venue and other organizers. as a result, jisung has been too busy to call late at night as he passes out the moment he's in his hotel room from the venue, then waking up a couple hours later to hop on a flight to the next destination.

he sends you texts here and there throughout his day, sending random photos of himself and the members during rehearsals or before and after the show. on jisung's end, he sent a text over when he landed early in the morning, saying he could probably hop on a call quickly when he gets to the hotel, seeing as they're going to be in inglewood for a little over a week for two shows instead of one. you were about to leave work when the message came through. going home for the evening when the message reminded you of your phone call with jisung's mother.

"hello, eomeonim (mother-in-law)," you greet when the line connects.

"y/n, myeoneuri (daughter-in-law)," she speaks into the phone, her tone sweet as usual. she doesn't say anything for a moment before speaking, "is this a bad time? you don't sound like you're at home?"

"ah, sorry eomeonim," you apologize, "i just got off the bus, but i'm on the way home now. but don't worry, i can talk if you need me."

"ah okay, i won't keep you too long then, myeoneuri," she assures before continuing, "have you spoken to jisung on the phone recently?"

you hum as you think, "I think it's been a couple of days since our last phone call; why? is he okay?"

you hear jisung's mother sigh on the other end of the line, "i'm a little worried, if i'm honest," you hum in acknowledgment and she continues, "he sounded quite down on our phone call yesterday and the day before. he told me not to worry when i asked… i know this might be a lot, but would you mind talking to him? if it's you, he'll open up more–at least, he'll have talked about what's on his mind."

"yeah, yeah, of course," you agree, "i'll see if we can call tonight, and i'll check up on him, see how he's doing, eomeonim. don't worry too much, i'm sure ji is okay!"

she chuckles on the other end, "ah, you sound just like him, y/n. don't tell him i sent you!"

you laugh in response to her rushed addition at the end of her statement: "i won't say anything," she sighs in relief, "was there anything else you were curious about?"

she hums, "nothing else, thank you so much, myeoneuri. i'll see you on the weekend, okay? come over whenever you want! the door is always open for you!"

your cheeks flush in embarrassment as you smile, "thank you, i'll see you in a couple of days. bye eomeonim!"

"goodbye, myeoneuri! get home safely. i love you," she bids her farewells, which you exchange right back with her before she hangs up the call.

thinking back to that conversation, you wonder what worried jisung's mother about him; was it how he spoke? his tone? the words he used? was he quite active in the conversation, or did he seem more passive? you wonder what exactly she meant by jisung sounding quite down, but you guess you'll figure it out when he calls you in the morning.

it's around eight in the morning when your phone rings from the bedside table. yunjin should already be awake and ready for work, so the ringer volume doesn't wake anyone up except you. you roll around, feeling around the bedside table for the device. you accept his call quickly and place the phone to your ear.

a deep yawn leaves your lips before you say, "ji baby?"

you hear him hum in acknowledgment on the other end before he replies, "yeah, baby, it's me." a sleepy smile forms on your lips at the sound of his voice. " did I wake you?"

you groan softly as you flick the lamp on, the sudden brightness causing you to squint, "yes but i don't mind. i just wanna hear your voice. are you back at the hotel now?"

"yeah, we got back a while ago. i just wanted to be ready for bed before calling; this way i can fall asleep while you're on the line," jisung explains, and you feel your cheeks heat up at his sentiments.

he continues to talk about what they did today. you're gradually more awake and more attentive as the minutes pass, so eventually, you realize what jisung's mother was referring to when it sounded like he's been down. jisung is speaking monotone, his voice softer, and when he speaks, it sounds like his mind is elsewhere.

when he's finished, you decide to segway into that conversation, "how are you feeling?"

he pauses for a moment, taken aback before he shrugs, "i'm tired, it's been a long day of rehearsal. what about you? how are you feeling?"

"i'm doing good, i'm hearing your voice, so i'm doing great," you answer quickly before he tries to shift the conversation to you, "are you physically tired or?"

jisung is lying in bed as he speaks to you, looking up at the ceiling and thinking of his replies, "yeah. dancing and all."

"emotionally?"

"emotionally?" he repeats to which you confirm, "i mean… i'm okay–better now since i'm hearing your voice after a couple of days… it's been a busy last couple of days."

you nod, running a hand through your tangled hair as you listen to jisung on the other end. his tone is still distracted as his words graze over how he's feeling, avoiding delving deeper into it. realizing that maybe he isn't ready to delve deeper into his emotions, you allow him to shift the conversation to your life and what you've been up to while he's been on tour–asking you how work has been and if anything new has occurred. you answer jisung honestly; there is nothing new at work as it's the same job you've had since getting into university; the only new events would be the lunch you have on the weekend with jisung's mother, aunt and grandmother.

the latter part of your updates brings a smile to jisung's lips, his heart warming at the thought of the most important women in his life spending quality time together. but at the same time, hearing your updates about your life back at home, no matter how small you think they are or if they're the same things that always happen, has jisung's chest aching in a completely different way.

"ji?" you call, not hearing anything coming from his end, "did you fall asleep?" you pause to listen, to survey whether or not you hear soft snores or heavy breathing that indicate that he is indeed asleep.

instead, jisung responds after a couple of moments, "i'm still here. i'm awake."

"are you okay?" you wonder, "if you're tired then i can go–"

"no, don't go," he quickly interrupts, "sorry."

"don't apologize, i just wanna make sure you're okay," you reassure, and you hear him hum in acknowledgment.

"i miss you," he declares softly, his voice solemn as he speaks.

"i miss you too, ji," you sigh, instinctively clutching the pillow closer to your chest.

the boy on the other end ponders for a moment before continuing, "i miss you a lot. i don't really know how to explain it," jisung blinks up at the ceiling, "i miss you all the time, but when we get back to the hotel or when i'm not performing, i miss you even more."

jisung's eyebrows knit in frustration as he continues to explain himself.

"i love being on stage, i love performing," he states, "i can't explain how i feel when i'm performing either, but… there's a feeling of contentment or fullness? i don't know… i just know i love to be up there. but…"

"but?" you encourage him to continue as his words trail off.

"but when i get back to the hotel, or when it's all over, i feel tired: the adrenaline doesn't last as long as it usually does. but even though i'm tired, it's hard to fall asleep."

you aren't sure where to place jisung's words, unsure if you've ever felt the way he's been feeling lately, uncertain if you can relate, but at the least, you want to understand and reassure him that you're there.

"there's a feeling of emptiness that kinda just sits there when i'm not on stage," his voice is softer when he says the word 'emptiness' like it's a fragile word, one he's unsure of, "i wasn't sure what it was before but listening to you talk started to help me realize what caused the emptiness."

"something i said helped you realize?" you repeat for clarification.

"yeah, listening to you talk about home, work, the local cafes, the conversations you have with my mom–just everything about your life at home," jisung lists, "i'm feeling homesick."

your lips part in awe when the last word leaves his mouth, the singular word allowing you to reconceptualize what he said previously and gain a greater understanding.

"i tried my best to distract myself and rehearse more to combat those feelings of emptiness but nothing seemed to work; it just stuck there. listening to you helped combat some of my homesickness but…"

"but it's still there," you finish his sentence, and he agrees with a sigh.

"i love being onstage, i feel so alive when i'm up there," now, when jisung speaks, his tone is clearer, and his thoughts are clearer, the way he's speaking signalling that instead of being lost in his own thoughts he's got both feet on the ground and he's working through them, "but i miss home so much. god… i miss you so damn much."

you smile sadly when you hear him sniffle.

"i miss my bed at the dorms, the air fryer at the dorms that we don't even use. i miss the smell of your laundry detergent and shampoo, i miss being in your arms, and you playing with my hair. i miss being at home."

jisung cries softly as he speaks, sniffling and continuing to list off the things that he misses at home. it brings tears to your eyes; using your comforter to dab the tears off your face.

"hey…" you call into the phone, "would it help if i sent little voice messages throughout the day so you could hear my voice? i can send pictures of things you love here too? just a couple more weeks, and you'll be here, and i'll hold you so tightly you get sick of me."

"i'll never be sick of being in your arms," he remarks, "and if it isn't too much, i would love that, all of it." jisung smiles at your suggestions, appreciative of you and your ideas to help him combat his homesickness until he's back in seoul.

"i'll try my best."

"baby?" he coos, prompting a soft response from you, "do you think we can video call? i wanna see your face before i sleep. can you stay until i fall asleep?"

your cheeks heat up from your boyfriend's suggestion, and your heart feels giddy at seeing his face for a couple of minutes before he falls asleep. " of course, baby."

[pjsk-story-summaries]

Our Happy Ending Event Story Summary

TL;DR: In an attempt to keep Phoenix Wonderland happy and allow the troupe to follow their dreams, Rui proposes that Wonderlands x Showtime becomes a freelance troupe to Shosuke and Keisuke. After getting tentative approval as long as they perform one more show at Phoenix Wonderland, he tells the troupe. Tsukasa and Nene are immediately on board, but despite their insistence, Emu affirms her decision to stay at the Wonder Stage.

Though they all try to stay positive, they're all saddened by the fact this will be the end. They decide to put on The Tale of the Traveling Troupe. The Virtual Singers decide to put on their own version of the show to cheer them up.

Emu reads over her script, saddened by original ending of staying together forever. Hinata comes by and notices her sorrow. Emu tells her that she has to stay behind, because this stage was where she fell in love with shows with Grandpa. She wants to see her friends off with a smile.

The next day, the Virtual Singers invite the troupe over to watch the show. Emu, worried the others will be concerned by her red eyes, has MEIKO lend her the Mikudayo costume to hide behind. Though the show's ending changed to have the three leave but return once their dreams came true, Emu still found herself near tears.

After rehearsal, Emu stays behind to wait for her brothers. She starts crying once she's alone. Nene had forgotten her phone back at the stage, so Tsukasa and Rui follow her. They find Emu there, sobbing. Nene yells at her for trying to hide her feelings, and Tsukasa declares that while he understands Emu's wish to see them all leave with a smile, it's okay to cry now. They all end up teasing and crying together.

The Otori brothers arrive shortly after. They tell Emu to leave with her friends. She should go see the world and learn all about it, so she can bring what she's found back with her. It's what Grandpa had told them to do, after all. The stage will be fine, because her selfish wish to protect it is no longer her own. Emu decides to follow her friends.

The final show is a huge success. As a parting gift, Shosuke gives them contact information for three potential troupes to mentor with, as well as a promise to always be allowed to perform at the Wonder Stage.

Fan translation (WxS Translation Team) / Song (Kirapipi★Kirapika) 2DMV

Chapter 1: Emu finds her brothers going over attendance statistics for the park. She's pleased to find the numbers increasing, and that people liked the 30th Anniversary show she put on with the Phoenix Stage earlier. Her friends put so much into that performance, and it paid off. However, she and her brothers recognize the time for goodbyes may soon be approaching. The thought makes Emu sad, but she wants to see her friends off with a smile.

Emu brought the survey results to the Wonder Stage. The rest of the troupe is glad to see such positive reactions, and how much it forced them to grow as actors. Tsukasa reveals how he had asked for more ambassadorial experiences after the ArcLand performance, and that despite the rejection, it was what landed them this performance. Tsukasa and Nene want to keep finding ways to gain new experiences. Emu wants to support them, but Rui's having a hard time deciding. He announces that he'll be leaving practice early that day.

Chapter 2: Rui secretly went to the Otori household to discuss the troupe's future with Keisuke and Shosuke. He proposes that Wonderlands x Showtime becomes a freelance troupe so Tsukasa and Nene can keep learning as actors in different places, but they'd still be able to support the park by performing there occasionally. He also asks permission to ask Emu to come along.

Keisuke points out the issues providing this special treatment could bring to the park, and is hesitant about letting Emu go. Rui insists, and they cave. Keisuke decides to consider the proposal.

Chapter 3: Rui proposes the freelance idea to the troupe. Tsukasa and Nene are excited about the possibility, but Emu knows she's going to stay here no matter what. Rui understands this, but still asks again. She'd still be able to make people smile while traveling, after all. She refuses again. She will protect this place Grandpa loved so much.

Later, Nene asks if there's anything they can do to convince Emu to come with them. If Emu isn't with them, then it's no longer Wonderlands x Showtime. Tsukasa's near tears about the ordeal. Rui receives a call from the brothers officially accepting their freelance proposal.

Chapter 4: Rui goes over to the Otori household to discuss specifics. Rui reveals Emu declined the offer, so the brothers will create three contracts. They also ask if the troupe would stay to put on one final show for the park's upcoming anniversary. Rui knows his troupe will agree. It will be the last show they ever do together.

They all discuss the plan in SEKAI. Emu realizes how sad everyone seems to be, despite the fortunate opportunity. She decides to make sure everyone leaves with a smile and proposes they do the tale of the traveling troupe. Everyone agrees. She's glad they're all smiling now.

Rui hesitates a moment before exiting the SEKAI. The Virtual Singers notice how sad he looks. This show was made for him, after all, and the ending is about them all performing shows together forever. MEIKO proposes doing a show to cheer them up- their own rendition of the tale, but with a changed happy ending.

Chapter 5: Emu reads her script alone in her room. The ending makes her remember how happy she was to finally have a troupe way back when. She has to keep smiling so they don't worry.

Hinata stops by to offer some extra hot chocolate. She notices Emu's hidden sadness. Emu talks to her about her conflict. She still hasn't changed her mind.

Emu remembers back to a childhood memory. Grandpa had taken her to see her first show at the Wonder Stage. Emu fell in love with shows then. Grandpa explains how shows have the power to take you to any wonderland, and that this place will always make her smile. The real world isn't full of smiles all the time, but shows can drive her to change that.

That's why she can't leave this place. She will see her friends leave with a smile.

Hinata goes downstairs to talk to her brothers. She reveals how sad Emu really is about this. They don't want to intervene in the troupe's business, but they want to see Emu smile more.

Chapter 6: Emu arrives at the Wonder Stage first. She's worried the others will worry about how red her eyes are. MEIKO pops in to ask if she'd get them all to go to SEKAI to watch a special show. Emu asks if she can go early to hide her red eyes.

The others arrive to find Emu wearing the Mikudayo costume. Though confused, they go watch the show. The ending changed from "making shows together forever" to recognizing each of their individual dreams. Though they separated ways, they'll come back to perform again together someday.

Emu's happy about this ending. Still, she can't stop herself from crying. She hides her emotions behind the mascot costume and a cheery voice.

Chapter 7: After rehearsal, Emu stays behind to clean the stage. She's happy to see all her friends leave so happy. She can't stop herself from crying once she's alone. Emu remembers some important moments in their troupe's history- meeting Tsukasa, then Nene and Rui, the Halloween show, and the island, and Project Wonder. It only makes her sob more.

Rui, Nene, and Tsukasa are touched by the Virtual Singer's show, but concerned over Emu. They know she tends to hide her true emotions. Nene realizes she left her phone at the Wonder Stage, so they all turn back.

Rui hears Emu crying near the stage. Nene runs over. Emu tries to deny that's she's crying, but Nene yells at her for trying to hide it from all of them. If she's going to cry, they'll all do it together. Emu wants them to all be smiling when they have to say goodbye. Tsukasa jumps into his introduction speech before explaining that he shares Emu's wish to see them all smile. Still, they're allowed to be sad right now. He immediately starts crying. Emu laughs and calls his face silly, to which he teases her back. Nene comments how she meant for this to be serious but now it's ridiculous. Rui says it's just like them before crying himself.

Shosuke and Keisuke arrive at the stage. They had been looking for Emu, but feel the need to say this to everybody. Though they wanted to support whatever Emu decided, they realized this isn't for the best. They want her to go. She's just a kid. She should be exploring the world, learning about it to bring the dreams back to the park. They had done the same, after all. Grandpa told them to. Besides, the dream to protect the Wonder Stage isn't just her own selfish wish anymore.

Keisuke appreciates Rui's concern over the park, but tells him not to worry about that anymore. They've done so much for the park, this is the least they can do. The Wonder Stage will always be open to them.

Tsukasa, Rui, and Nene ask if Emu would follow them one more time. She says yes.

Chapter 8: The day of their final performance as Phoenix Wonderland employees arrives. They changed the ending for their show, too. Seiyurin, playing the village elder's daughter, tells the troupe to go out and see the world together, bringing smiles wherever they go. The village will be fine while they're gone.

At the finale of the show, Emu overhears a little girl telling her grandpa how much she loved the show. The crowd was filled with smiling faces.

After the show, the troupe discusses how well their send-off went. The others stages promised to put on shows here while they're gone, something they're all grateful for. As a parting gift, Shosuke gives them contact information for three groups willing to mentor them. The troupe says one last goodbye to the Wonder Stage before ending with a big "wonderhoy!"

[delusionalfanficwriter]

diabetic

Dr. Elena Rodriguez was in the midst of a whirlwind since she started dating Maya Bishop and Carina DeLuca. Their connection was intense and passionate, but they were still in the early stages of their relationship. Elena had been keeping a significant secret from her new partners—she was diabetic. She'd hidden it carefully but as they spent more time together, it got harder to conceal.

They worked together at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and their personal lives were intertwined. Keeping her diabetes a secret was becoming increasingly challenging, especially during shared meals and late-night chats. Elena's blood sugar levels would often play tricks on her, leaving her feeling unwell, but she had become a pro at hiding it. One evening, after a particularly long day at the hospital, Elena joined Maya and Carina for dinner at their place. She'd been unusually tired all day but brushed it off, not wanting to burden her partners with her health issues. As they sat down to eat, Elena's hands shook a bit, and her vision blurred for a moment.

Maya noticed Elena's unease and exchanged a concerned look with Carina. They'd both noticed that something wasn't right with Elena, but neither wanted to pry.

"Elena, are you okay?" Carina asked gently.

Elena tried to put on a brave face with a weak smile. "I'm fine, really."

But her voice wavered, and her hands trembled as she attempted to eat. Carina reached out to touch Elena's hand, her concern deepening.

"Elena, you don't look fine," Maya added, her worry evident.

Elena's resistance began to crumble as she realized how much her condition was affecting her partners. She took a deep breath and decided it was time to spill the beans. "Okay, okay, I need to tell you something."

Maya and Carina exchanged a worried look before giving Elena their full attention.

"I have diabetes," Elena confessed, her voice filled with vulnerability. "I've been trying to hide it from you both, but I can't anymore. I've been managing it, but today, it's really acting up." Maya and Carina felt a mix of emotions—concern for Elena's health and relief that she had finally shared her secret. They immediately jumped into action, offering their support. "Let's check your blood sugar," Maya said, grabbing a testing kit.

Carina held Elena's hand reassuringly. "We're here for you, Elena. Thank you for sharing this with us."

As Maya returned with the testing kit and helped Elena check her blood sugar levels, they discovered they were dangerously high. It was clear that Elena needed insulin, and she couldn't delay it any longer.

Maya and Carina exchanged a determined look, then gently but firmly guided Elena to the couch in the living room. “My medication is in my lunchbox. I can get it myself-”

“No. Stay here, we’ll take care of you.” Maya quickly shut down the thought as she sat on the table facing Elena and Carina quickly left and came back with the lunchbox pulling out the medication and setting the correct dose.

With Elena's consent, they administered the insulin, their hands working together seamlessly.

Elena felt a profound sense of gratitude and vulnerability as she let Maya and Carina take care of her. The experience brought them closer, deepening their bond and revealing the strength of their newfound love and support for one another. It was a bit uncomfortable but Elena bet it was because she hasn’t had people to lean on before so this was very new territory.

As they finished administering the insulin, Maya and Carina looked at each other, concern etched on their faces.

"Elena, do you have a diabetes management app on your phone?" Maya asked gently.

Elena hesitated, her reluctance apparent. "I do, but I've been managing just fine on my own."

Carina, her love for Elena evident in her eyes, spoke softly. "We understand that you're strong and independent, Elena. But sharing this app with us would help us support you better, especially in emergencies."

Maya added, "It's not about control; it's about being there for each other."

Elena's defenses softened as she realized the validity of their points. She didn't want to fight with them, and deep down, she knew that they were offering their support out of love and concern.

With a sigh of surrender, Elena nodded. "Okay, I'll share the app with you both. But promise me, this won't change anything between us."

After their pivotal moment of sharing Elena's secret, the room was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by the soft hum of the night outside.

Carina, ever the nurturing presence, leaned in and said with a playful smirk, "Well, Elena, you've been keeping quite a secret, haven't you?"

Elena chuckled, her eyes sparkling with a mix of emotions. "Yeah, I have. I'm sorry for not sharing it sooner."

Maya's fingers traced abstract patterns on Elena's arm, her voice laced with genuine understanding. "Elena, we all have our secrets. What matters is that we're here for each other." Carina nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We're a team, through thick and thin."

Elena felt a sense of warmth and belonging wash over her. "Thank you, both of you."

As the night wore on, they decided to move to the kitchen, not only to change the setting but also to satisfy their late-night cravings. The aroma of brewing coffee filled the air as they worked together, each taking on a task.

Maya handed Elena a piece of fruit, her eyes locking onto Elena's with a smoldering intensity. "You know, Elena, there's something incredibly attractive about your strength and vulnerability."

Elena's cheeks flushed, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Maya, you always know how to say the sweetest things."

Carina, in her usual assertive manner, leaned in and captured Elena's lips in a passionate kiss. It was a kiss filled with longing, a silent promise of the desire that simmered between them. "Elena, we want you—all of you."

Their desires were no longer hidden beneath the surface, but instead of a passionate frenzy, their actions were deliberate, filled with a deep understanding of the moment. Their touches were gentle yet charged with the promise of intimacy.

Elena's voice quivered as she whispered, "I want both of you too."

Maya's fingers traced a path along Elena's arm, igniting a trail of goosebumps. "Let's explore this together, at our own pace."

Carina leaned in, her lips brushing against Elena's earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. "No rush, no expectations, just us."

As the night deepened, they moved to the bedroom, the air heavy with desire and anticipation. Elena felt a profound sense of trust and love, knowing that they were embarking on a unique journey together—one that was not bound by clichés but fueled by their genuine connection and affection.

In the quiet moments that followed, their shared laughter and whispered confessions filled the room, creating an intimate tapestry of love and longing. They were ready to embrace the unknown, united by their love and the promise of a future filled with unique experiences and genuine emotions.

[symphonic-scream]

🫂

Hm

Here's some Queers stuff

Specifically, Makoto and Haru, trying to have a kid

So science? Out the window. Keep that in mind

Makoto: hey, Tae. Can I ask you a question, as my doctor?

Tae: sure Sprout, what's up?

Makoto: and you can't tell Sae

Tae: confidentiality, 100%

Makoto: is there anyway that, at this stage, we could do something to get a useable, sample?

Tae: what

Makoto: Haru wants a baby. She admitted while a little drunk on our wedding night she wanted it to be ours. I, haven't told her I heard her. I just, want to know if, I can still give this to her

Tae: ...I'll talk around, get some ideas. I'll do my best, Sprout. The two of you deserve a shot

Makoto gets a call a month later. Tae has a fertility doctor there (in casual clothes), and he lays out his plan with her. They'd half her Estrogen for a bit, and give her another hormone as well. It's technically a female hormone too, but. In a male body, it produces more little swimmers

Makoto: ...I want to try it

Tae: great. And this one is a pill this time

Makoto: oh thank god

Another month later, Tae and the dude check in. He thinks he can work with this, and tells her to let Haru in on it

Haru sobs into her wife's shoulder. There was a chance? And Makoto, was willing to do something like that for her? It meant the world

Haru: what about you? Your shots...

Makoto: I've felt fine so far. I've never been like, horribly dysphoric. My voice won't just drop drastically, and it's only halving it. I'm fine love, especially if I can make you happy

Two and a half years of monthly visits. Two and a half years of monthly results, being told they need to try again. Over and over, heads leaned together quietly in the car, parked. In their own lot. Not going up to their home yet

Then, late May, right after Hifumi moved in, Tae laughs triumphantly from the other room. Makoto watches as her and her doctor friend hug in celebration through the door, before coming to tell them the good news

Tae: Haru, your counts are consistent with early pregnancy. We can't guarantee it'll stick at this stage, so i want you to relax, take it easy, let your body use it's energy to get that little one to a stable stage

Other doctor: next month? We should be able to do a little ultrasound, look at your baby. Congratulations you two, looks like all our hard work has paid off

Haru's sobbing on the little cot, and Makoto is crying, hugging her all happy.

Haru: we did it,,, Mako, we're gonna have a baby!

Makoto: I've never been so happy in my whole life,,

Tae: neither of you should take the train, I'll give you a ride back to Kichijoji. I'll leave you with a good vitamin for Haru to take every morning with breakfast, to make sure we're doing everything for this to stick

Makoto begins her routine of sitting on Haru's legs are she reads a bit before bed, her (borrowed from Makoto) shirt rolled up to reveal her belly

"Hey squirt, this is your mom. The other one, since Haru's got you in there." Traces the bit of pudge Haru has, adoration in her eyes. "I can't wait to meet you, little miracle. Neither can your mama, but she gets to have you now. I can wait while you two bond"

Haru: Mako, Tae said it might not fully take,

Makoto: I, working towards a psych doctorate-

Haru: you're on a years break from your studies

Makoto: not important. I believe, they'll have a better chance if I show em a little love. Your love is what gets me through the day, so

Once they get that confirmation that baby looks like it'll make it, Makoto is asked if she wants to switch back to her regular doses

Makoto: ...if we decide to try for another, would I just have to go through this again? Or would staying on this course be better?

Haru: Makoto-

Tae: honestly? Stay like this for now. As long as you still feel fine, this is safer in that regard. It took so long for this one to go through, there's no guarantee it'll happen again if you stop

Haru: no, she's going back-

Makoto: so you only want one?

Haru:

Makoto: I'll stay on this course. The second I feel bad, I'll go back. I promise. But I don't wanna be the reason we can't have anothrr

Haru, staring at her wife without her shirt, humming and swaying while cradling their son to her chest, a look of complete adoration on her face: oh, we are so having at least another baby

[lauraroselam]

I was supposed to be able to ignore social media all this month, but I keep having stuff to announce. Anyway: 1. Dragonfall got longlisted for the British Fantasy Society Award, which was unexpected but delightful. If you're a member you can vote for the shortlist until Feb 20th. Not really expecting the shortlist since the list is stacked, but still happy to be longlisted. I'm aiming to bring a different approach to gender in epic fantasy with this book, in a genre that is usually fairly traditional in its depiction of gender roles in the name of 'historical accuracy.' Side note, but I've found it...interesting when one of the early, pre-pub reviews I saw (before I stopped looking) complained that the book 'ranted about my gender agenda' when the book has two very short scenes explicitly about gender. Maybe 3 pages in total in a 400+ page book? The first is the last male dragon who has been raised among only women getting a quick primer on how gender works in Loc after he's fallen to the human world and is trying to pretend to be a human himself (he's not very good at it), and the second is the nonbinary character sharing their own experiences of gender. The rest of the time it's just embedded since it's a queernorm world.

I've felt a bit hurt by that, to be quite honest--as a femme presenting AFAB nonbinary person, it reminds me of the occasions where I try to remind people that yes, I am nonbinary, and they'd rather still pretend I'm a woman because I look like one and it's easier for them to not have to think about it. Also no group is a monolith, so even some other NB readers might bounce off the way I want to talk about gender, which is fine. On the flip side, I've received really, really lovely notes from nonbinary and gender non-conforming readers who have felt it's one of the very rare times they've seen themselves represented in fantasy. and that's been really lovely. It's basically why I published the book, even though it was quite personal, and, as the years go on, I find myself increasingly bruised by trying to release art that means something to me in late-stage capitalism. I spent a lot of time last year seriously wondering if I was going to quit publishing once I finished my contracts, I found it so exposing this time around. I cherish every note from a reader that helps me remember my words connected with someone. 2. I thought Dragonfall was only going to be 99p for one day on Amazon UK, but it's still cheap. Grab it if you're in that geographical location if you like. 3. If you're in the US, Barnes & Noble is doing a pre-order sale so you can use PREORDER25 to get 25% off the paperback of Dragonfall, out in June, or you can go to the B&N Emberclaw page and maybe see the cover for it even though it's not yet been officially announced. You didn't hear this from me and when it's officially revealed you have to promise to still act surprised, okay? https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragonfall-l-r-lam/1141941880?ean=9780756418922

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emberclaw-l-r-lam/1143890903?ean=9780756418441

Thank you for reading. Ask me about my gay dragon gender agenda.

[toomuchracket]

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR3CbuG4/ the visual for Matty yelling at pit cuz his pregnant gf is in there <3

and also Going off the “gf is pregnant” part it could be fluffy if like the pregnancy is still super early and it’s not really out in the open, no one knows yet maybe so some people are a little shocked at how protective he’s being

no like you've literally just found out you're pregnant but it's before the 12 week stage so you and matty (who, btw, is SO excited about having a baby) haven't told anybody at all. and matty is really really hesitant to let you go into the crowd as you normally would with charli and some of you guys' friends, but you know that everyone would start assuming something was up if you were at the side of the stage or seated (they'd immediately guess you were pregnant and then your whole fun reveal/getting to tell people moment is ruined), so he compromises by making sure you stay near the front where he can see you. and its fine at first (matty's being extra cute and winks at you during m&yts when he sings "i had a dream that we had kids"), you're having fun and everyone's being chill - the fans love you and they're excited to dance and sing along with you. and then some guy, either on something or just a cunt (or both) decides he wants to be at barrier so he starts shoving through all the fans and ends up elbowing you just below your ribs. and matty sees it happen and it's very much like the og video with the "i'll fucking knock you out" but there's like 29 other threats following it ("don't you fucking dare" etc), and he gets security to kick the guy out of the full show. and everyone's like "um ok", and matty comes down offstage and stands on the other side of the barrier, and he asks everyone around you if they're all ok, and everyone's fine. and matty's obviously really really worried about you - holds your face and gently asks if you're alright (yes), did he hurt you (little bit but it's fine), do you want to come out of the crowd (no!), then hugs you and kisses your hair before he tells you he loves you and gets back onstage. and then i think he does a spiel about concert etiquette and how nobody gets away with being a twat at one of his gigs before he plays the next song. and it's all fine, but matty's distracted, thinking and panicking about you (and future baby) during the sound. i actually think he brings you up onstage for a robbers kiss under the guise of being cute (and it is and the crowd goes wild), and then literally is in your ear like "i am NOT letting you back out there to get squished", so you either have to sit onstage (maybe you just go and chill with polly and jamie) or watch from the side. and you're a bit miffed but you humour matty anyway, and he definitely relaxes more when you're out of harm's way. when he comes offstage at the end he's immediately over at you, cuddling you and apologising for pulling you out of the pit, kissing all over your face and making sure you're ok, giving it "have to protect my family, don't i?" in your ear. and i think everyone else in the band kinda has an idea what's going on but matty was so infuriated onstage that nobody even dares to ask anything other than "you ok, love?" to you in case he goes mental at them lol <3

[haveyoureadthistransbook]

Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography by Christine Jorgensen

goodreads

This handsome reprint of Jorgensen's 1967 memoir makes it abundantly clear how moments of grace can descend on even the most ordinary of lives. When ex-G.I. Jorgensen went to Copenhagen in the early 1950s to consult experts in sexual deviance, she was afraid they'd simply proclaim her a fairy. A full battery of hormonal and psychological tests revealed that, while she was drawn to men, she was no garden-variety homophile; she was a lady. Keeping the secret from her family, Jorgensen endured a groundbreaking series of operations, finally emerging in November 1952 as a delicately beautiful young woman. "I merely wanted to correct what I considered a misjudgment of Nature," wrote Jorgensen, who died in 1989. No one seeing the photographs included here (many of them new to this edition) can doubt the success of Jorgensen's transformation or wonder too long at the fascination she engendered back home, where a newspaper bought her story for $20,000 and she was proclaimed New York City's Woman of the Year. A stage and screen career soon followed. As Susan Stryker points out in a new introduction, Jorgensen offers a somewhat flattering and selectively abridged account of herself in the autobiography, but no more so than any plucky girl smiling her way through what must have been, at times, a harrowing and lonely journey, but one that she conducted with remarkable dignity.

Mod opinion: I haven't read this memoir and I'm not that interested in reading it myself, but it is an important look into trans history.

[spiderman616]

Idea for knuckles game a rough draft

In the same way that Shadow Gens was paired with Sonic Gens, I'd package the Knuckles game with Sonic Unleashed since the game focuses on combat in the night stages and since Angel Island wouldnt be the only land mass floating

I see this game being one big hub world where, aside from bosses and the tutorial, any stage can be played in any order,

So the game starts, and we see a prerendered cutscene of Knuckles sitting in front of the Master Emerald when suddenly he feels Dark Gaia's awakening and, when consulting the Master Emerald he feels the Emeralds power dwindling which causes Chaos and Tikal to be forced out¹ upon questioning Tikal on whats wrong she reveals that Dark Gaia² had been awoken early and since the Master Emerald is tied to the earth or something they need to visit hidden ruins of the 4 great civilizations³ the Nocturnus Clan, the Knuckles Clan, the Babylonians⁴, and the Giant Owls⁵. Tikal will tell you where you can find each ruin and will enter her sprite form to guide you from the side, and Chaos will stay by the Emerald while Knuckles runs through the levels, the Knuckles Clan uses Lost World from Sa1, and the Giant Owls would use Labyrinth zone⁶ or something similar, the Babylonians and Nocturnus Clan could use any stage as im not sold on anything for them. Tikal and Knuckles would converse during stages, similar to heroes, and during boss fights, they'd talk to the corrupted ruin guardians⁷. Each ruin has a piece of Dark Gaia either possessing the spirit of or impersonating a member of each civilization. The Knuckles Clan uses Pachacamac, the Nocturnus Clan uses Nestor the Wise, the Babylonians use a new character made for the game, and the Giant Owls would either use Longclaw or a new character made for the game, and beating each boss or stage would give knuckles a special item or buff so the Babylonians would give Knux an ark of cosmos, Longclaw might give knuckles magnetic armor or something, Pachacamac would give the shovel claw, Nestor gives a buff to the radar. The radar is for extras and shortcuts. After defeating all the bosses, Knuckles will return to the Emerald where Chaos is corrupted and a final battle ensues. After purifying Chaos and recharging the Master Emerald, Tikal and Chaos return to the Emerald. And that's it. Thank you for your time⁸

¹Chaos showed up in battle, so i assume he and Tikal are still in the Emerald

²i assume the knuckles tribe had prophecies on Gaia or something

³see battle and chronicles

⁴id make the Babylonians a great civilization just because it's the only tribe that goes that far back

⁵longclaws tribe from the movie, which i dont remember if they got a title

⁶Labyrinth zone is a good stage. Fight me

⁷name pending

⁸its still a rough draft

Anyway, that is my pitch

interesting... well this sounds pretty solid although i am curious on what the gameplay would look like since you mostly focused on plot

[juliewooly]

and this is what you missed on…

🎵 The Music Simdustry 🎶

(TW: mentions of fatphobia)

It’s 2014-2015. If your child hasn’t had at least a phase of wanting to work at Moon Technologies, they’d be in the minority. However, Netisims (Sims on the Net) were surprised to find out Moon Tech's founder's son was in that minority.

Him becoming the CEO of a music label was enough to ensure eyes were on the project, but the beauty of the first member revealed of his first ever group helped as well. Mirae is a viral-moment-magnet becoming the talk of the town for her stage presence, looks, and lewks during FROST’s debut era.

But let’s take it back. Take it back to 2007. A group by the name of Ki-Ti debuts under a company named Starfish. They become the first (and last by 2015) group to have NINE consecutive PAKs. Dubbed Simnation’s Girl Group, they are often regarded as the best and most beloved k-pop group of all time.

One of their most popular and by far most talented member is Lee Nayoung. She’s been hitting every note and executing every dance move perfectly since she debuted. She debuted again as a soloist in 2014 and— to the surprise of no one— performed a PAK. She plans to comeback in March of 2015… but this was only announced after Starfish's new girl group's debut was pushed back. Ki-Ti was Starfish's only girl group and group period before the rebrand to BLÜM Entertainment. With a group so big and beloved, it's only natural that their second act be very anticipated.

So when Ki-Ti's little sibling group was revealed to have an early 2015 debut, anticipation was boiling over.

But not so fast! MIS is the name of the former Moon Tech air's company and their group has now debuted at the very beginning of 2015. News sites are posting article after article, forums and comment sections are flooded with buzz for FROST. Most of the comments end up being about how beautiful Mirae is, how catchy the song is, and how they're disappointed that Jungah (FROST's main vocalist) isn't as skinny as they'd hoped. Good or bad, it doesn't matter what they're buzzing about. Just that they're buzzing.

And if everyone is buzzing about FROST... how is that going to bode well for BLÜM's new group? That's why they pushed back the debut! At least... that's what people are theorizing. At least fans have something else to focus on. Nalina's first comeback and-- a new video series on BLÜM's official YouTube channel with trainees that are living together?

Something's cooking for sure... and to get a taste of the dish you'll just have to stay tuned to...

🎵 The Music Simdustry 🎶

[ridiculoustrainsofthought]

The Phantom of the Auditorium Musical

Okay, so hilariously, a friend of mine made a post that joked about making a kid’s version of Phantom of the Opera and while I wanted to make a Wishbone joke that it already exists, I suddenly remembered there actually was a “retelling” of sorts with the Goosebumps series. So I went to look it up and ended up discovering there’s a musical version of this with a full cast album and everything.

This was the original poster I saw at least. But anyway, I've been listening to the full album that was produced in 2021 and it's given me a lot of feels. So spoilers ahead although I will also add a disclaimer that I haven't seen the actual show yet so I'm just going off the impression from the soundtrack. But let's go over the plot:

 Now given my love of Phantom of the Opera, my mind has somewhat been racing over the comparisons. I love how fascinating of a take this is to have a ghost story about some kids who are preparing to perform the play but the specific script they're using hadn't seen the light of day in 70 years because the first and last time the show was done, the lead actor died in a staging accident before the curtain went up on opening night. Naturally there have been rumors at the school that the place has been haunted for years by the boy who was meant to play The Phantom as an effort to keep the play from ever being performed. And the production does seem to be cursed when rehearsals start and strange happenings occur. So our leads decide to investigate since it seems whoever is doing this is targeting Zeke, the boy playing The Phantom this time.

You can probably guess the twist a mile away that after our leads, Zeke and his best friend Brooke, discovered the trap door that had been built for the original production, a new boy appears at their school like in the next day or so. Gee, how strange. But he and Brooke hit it off right away and when it seems Zeke is being framed as the one behind the pranks at rehearsal, new kid Brian is happy to help! (Unrelated but the idea of these guys paralleling Erik, Christine and Raoul, just hanging out and Erik playing dumb while actually helping in the Phantom mystery is kind of hilarious.) They aren't really subtle about there being something weird with Brian either since we hear very early on that while everyone knows about the ghost, very few have ever seen him. Then in the song where he and Brooke meet, he brings up little asides like how he's not new very often and you'd think after all these years he'd learn to keep his mouth shut since he's so socially awkward. It's kinda cute and makes sense he wouldn't really know how to interact with people considering his situation.

So naturally, you'd think the big reveal is they'd find out Brian is actually the ghost and the one behind all the mishaps, right? Well, sorta. Turns out there's someone else who is actually behind all the warnings and pranks that's trying to get the show closed. Well! There's no ghost then! Mystery solved~!

The show goes on like normal and opening night finally arrives. Everyone is off to their corners getting ready in the mad dash before curtain rises when suddenly Zeke gets attacked by The Phantom! The show starts and everyone goes on without him because someone has deftly slipped into his place. Brooke has an idea of who when she sees The Phantom for the first time and the bright green eyes behind his mask proves it's DEFINITELY not Zeke. But she doesn't want to disrupt the play and things go off without a hitch until suddenly the ending comes and The Phantom decides to address the audience. Yes, he is the boy who died all those years ago, but it's time for him to tell the whole town the truth of what happened that fateful night. And with that, he's gone, disappearing in a cloud of smoke. End scene. Standing ovation. Everyone is happy. Brooke immediately rushes backstage to find Zeke and confirms that he's okay but that wasn't him out there. She thinks it might have been the REAL Phantom! Speaking of... Brian? Why are you dressed like that? You stole Zeke's role?? Why??? Which... Both are right. It was him that stole Zeke's role. And he's the real Phantom. See, while the prankster may have been determined to keep the play from being performed, Brian has wanted nothing more all these years than to get his spotlight. He WANTED the school to do the show so he could get the opening night that was stolen from him. His unfinished business, if you will. But all these years, the school and the town had forbidden the play to honor his memory. So now he can be at peace having finally gotten to say those lines and hear that roar that he had so looked forward to as a kid. But... Unfortunately since he's completed his business, even if he's been falling for Brooke, he feels like it's time for him to move on. They'll all see each other again some day. And this time he disappears for real, the curtain call is in a cemetery where we see Brian's name on one of the head stones.

"That's all fine and dandy, but is there a point to this story?" Actually yes. I wanted to give some background to this since it really only makes sense in context and I feel like the show / story might still be pretty obscure. But it's eaten my mind. The one thing that I like while there's the overhanging tragedy and mystery going on, the main theme of this show is about getting closure. And maybe in a way, redemption. For Brian, of course, but this is something seen with other characters too. Brooke and Zeke have their opening number saying they've always been in the ensemble and this needs to be THEIR year to get named roles. And to be the leads was just icing on the cake. Their teacher, Ms. Walker, says that her grandmother was the teacher back in Brian's day. And not only did she never get to do the show they worked so hard on, but, despite the school demanding every copy of the script be destroyed so it could never be performed again, she saved a copy and hung onto it the rest of her life. Why? Because she had always hoped to have another chance? Because unlike everyone else, she thought Brian would want it to survive? It's not coincidence that Ms. Walker decided to do THIS play when she got the chance. She's giving her grandmother some closure and maybe forgiveness for what happened. (Brian never blamed her. Rumor says that when she died, the script was discovered with a mask and rose lovingly laid beside it.) Brian of course gets his closure with starring in the show he always dreamed of, but more importantly, he's been alone all these years. Zeke and Brooke gave him a few months to do things he never got to do including making friends, falling in love, encouraging him to face his fear with the trap door that killed him, and working with Ms. Walker probably gave him some closure with what happened to his teacher / her grandmother when he knows it wasn't her fault.

And of course the whole town can heal in a way because the school is no longer haunted, and after generations knowing about this "cursed play" legend, the audience also finally got to see it in full and maybe take away some of the sting that's hung over the town all these years. Especially when the song about The Legend says how the princpal didn't want to do the show in the first place and wouldn't give them the proper funding, but the teacher was determined to do it anyway, I'm sure there was plenty of blame going around for those details to have survived all these years. Was it the poor funding that caused the staging accident? Was it proof they shouldn't have gone through with it in the first place if it was so dangerous? Was it foul play? I have a feeling the town knew he didn't "vanish" that night, finding him later in the aftermath, but that's how the legend goes. But hey! No incidents, standing ovation, and Brian's speech about what happened finally giving some closure to all the rumors. Closure. In the sweetest sense of the word.

I included links to the songs above, but if you'd like to just listen, I'm also sharing them here.

[carmyn-rambles]

Cyphen stared at their computer screen.

Testing with NotSentientAI_version2.exe has concluded. Results: 3/18 goals met.

…This wasn't working. It was not working at all.

Well, okay, it was, but not working well enough. Progress was slow. So incredibly slow.

They had thought they still had a month to try and work on this new AI iteration, but apparently, their brain hadn't processed that it had been July 31st; the end of that month. Things haven't been going well since.

As they tried to re-focus on getting this stupid AI to function anywhere near as well as the first one did, they heard someone in a really loud car pull in to the parking lot. It sounded like Holt's car, but they dismissed that thought as soon as it came; he wouldn't come by, out of the blue. They drummed their fingers against their desk, trying to focus.

They went through a mental checklist to try and figure out what they needed to work on next. This AI was nowhere near complete, and it was so stupidly difficult to get any work done when it was so early in development compared to the last one. They always hated how slow the early stages of development were, and worse, they had the memories of what they'd already done with the first AI. Everything they did now felt inferior to the memory of their previous work.

Cyphen picked up on the sound of footsteps outside their apartment, sounding heavy and upset, approaching from the parking lot. They imagined someone returning from a rough day at work.

Cyphen looked over their code editor, and was about to resignedly get to work once more, only for their attention to get stolen away again when those very footsteps arrived at their door, quickly followed by someone banging on their door.

"C, I swear to god!" Holt's voice rang out, irritated.

Oh.

That had been Holt's footsteps.

That had been Holt's car.

...

Damnit.

"I know you're in there, open the fucking door!" He called out.

"Wait a damn second!" Cyphen called out in response, standing up from their desk, only to lose balance from standing up too fast, and had to catch themselves on the wall. Afterwards, they walked to the door of their apartment soon after.

They unlocked the deadbolt, then the door, and opened it to reveal Holt's feathered face, twisted in anger.

"C, if you screwed everything up, I swear I'm going to pummel you," He pushed a claw into their chest.

Leave it to Holt to shout in the doorway.

Cyphen gave him a deadpan look, pushed his claw away, and stepped to the side, so he could enter the apartment.

Holt stormed in, only to stand right behind Cyphen as they closed the door. “Care to tell me why you stopped giving me updates?“ He snapped, arms crossed.

"There was a delay in development." Cyphen responded, crossing their arms in return.

"That's no excuse to stop sending fucking updates," Holt said, "How the hell am I supposed to know things are going to plan?"

Cyphen looked away with a bitter expression. "They're not."

Holt stared at them. "The hell is that supposed to mean?!" Holt exclaimed.

"Calm the fuck down, it just means I need another month," Cyphen sighed. "The AI isn't ready."

Holt was stunned for a second, staring searchingly at Cyphen's inexpressive face.

Then, he snapped back into action. "C, we don't have another month!" He shouted. "You fucking- this always happens! You just cut off our planned communication when things go wrong," he gestured frustratedly, "even though communication exists to help stop things from going wrong in the first place-"

Cyphen scowled, pulling their arms closer to themselves, not appreciating being scolded like this.

"-or to mitigate things when they go wrong- if you had told me about this random 'development issue,' maybe I could've held things back on my side-"

"Too fucking bad, Holt," Cyphen snapped, fed up with listening to him rant about this. "We're being held up by a month. End of discussion."

Holt stared at them, shock turning to outrage, and he grabbed their throat with his talons.

"We don't have another month," Holt hissed, restraining himself from anything more than a tight hold on their throat, keeping them silent. "Everything's already moving. Either get your damn AI sorted, or find some other fucking solution, because if this goes to shit, I am bringing you down with me." Holt finally released them.

Cyphen rubbed gingerly at their neck before looking up at his expression. They looked away, silent for a few moments. "...Understood, Holt."

There was a tense silence.

”I'm done with trusting you. I swear to fuck…“ Holt grumbled, opening the door and stomping through, only to turn around just before he left.

“This is your last fucking chance, C.” He glared at them for a few more seconds, before scowling deeper, slamming the door behind him when he left.

Cyphen was left alone inside their apartment, with nothing but the light of their computer monitor. They stared at the closed door, and their hands clenched into fists in frustration, frustration with Holt, with themselves, with their stupid fucking AI, with everything-

They slammed a fist against the wall.

And they inhaled, exhaled.

No point in getting upset. They needed to get this done.

Cyphen locked their door, locked the deadbolt, stepped back to their desk.

They checked their deadline, and looked back at their current AI.

Testing with NotSentientAI_version2.exe has concluded. Results: 3/18 goals met.

…They needed to get their old AI back.

[hallucinateonpaperspines]

Could you explain a few thing about the ending of ch 4 of Ouat. Why did all the cybertronians leave ? How did they manage to find the kids I imagine the adults would have hiden them somewhere Save and have papa unicron keept watch ? Were all those miners slaughtert by Mara and Jonah and why did they take the bot and not kul him?

I'd be happy to!

For the kids, it was more a case of accidentally revealing themselves than it was being found per se. They simply got too close to the strangers from the stars, curiosity overruling common sense. The whole situation was the result of several combining factors.

Earth was in its first forms of "normalcy," seemingly abandoned after the disaster. Even if Envoys/Unicron were sharing information that the cause was alien, most of the population never had direct interactions with Cybertronians and relied on that secondhand information as it was filtered to them. When it came down to it, all humanity knew for sure was that they'd been left to die. It was a horrible event, but a past one. As a result, info about the aliens was simplified among the adults and glossed over with the new generation that was being born into these conditions. Parents wouldn't want their children to mourn what they could never have and not fear the monsters that were not present. Additionally, the trail to Jasper would have been a common and familiar road to take, Vince just happened to take longer and more often visits to his old home. I'd imagine it wouldn't be uncommon, especially in the early years, for families to take the same journey. A way to memorialize the past for those who remember. It wouldn't have been odd to see a group of kids exploring and playing in that area. Furthermore, the children left immediately after hearing the report. There wasn't a chance to warn against or really notice their mischief in the confusion.

The colony group and humanity at large just wanted to be normal again. They were willing to adapt and overcome but were blind to the potential that the stars could burn them again. That is what made the kids vulnerable and unprotected.

So that is the human factor, but what about Unicron?

It essentially drums up to a sensory issue. Unicron can sense the presence of humans and their life signals, but he can only directly communicate with Envoys. This entire situation, and bond types, is completely unprecedented for any Cybertronian and Mr Destruction is no exception. Unicron is definitely warming up to humanity, but he's also navigating a spark connection to thousands of individual minds and millions of life signals. Humanity may not have a population in the billions anymore, but that does not mean what is left to manage could be considered small if you ignore what it has been reduced from. Too much information makes for a very slow reaction time.

It's one of the reasons why he latched on to June Darby so quickly, a mind containing familiar images was surprisingly grounding.

June, you are an emotional support human, congratulations!

Okay! That actually transitions really well to the mining incident. That debacle was left purposefully ambiguous since it was from Stunbolt's POV and he's a grunt with unreliable narration, but I'll try to explain a bit.

Once Unicron was able to process what was happening, the boy was pissed. Understandably so. Shockwave's request was a global one, J-O1 was his favorite site, but not the only site. Mara and the assortment of specimens is a hint of that. Two things happened during that attack. Globally, Unicron shifted the surface. This resulted in severe damage to the mines and was bad enough that a quick evacuation was deemed logical. Then locally, Jonah and Mara staged their own attack. The personnel left was a fraction of the initial operation, meant to relay when the surface was safe to approach again.

Stunbolt was taken for interrogation purposes. Mara is an escapee from the specimen collections, she got out before she could be delivered but she knows that there were others that didn't. Jonah confirmed that when he found the remains. They both want to report this issue to the nearby colony and June Darby. A plea for retaliation against kidnappers and murderers. Stunbolt serves as a witness, evidence, and potentially inside information.

Thank you for reading!

[thesakuragarnet]

Embers In The Dark

THIS IS 18+ ONLY!!!!

Summary: Burnin' goes rogue during her night patrol to meet with her lover.

Tags: Dabi X Burnin', rarepair, mild sexual content, implied sexual content, swearing, enemies to lovers, secret relationship, Burnin' is secretly a member of the PLF, smoking, established relationship, pre-paranormal liberation war arc, light smut, slight romantic fluff, grinding/kissing

Word Count: 1,904 words

AO3 link

It's the middle of the night, and Burnin' got approved for one of the many night shifts at Endeavor's Agency. However, tonight, her "hero" duties are the last things on her mind. Instead, the text on her phone is burned into her brain.

Staples: Meeting. 10.

Moe Kamiji wasn't just an ordinary sidekick; she was a member of the Paranormal Liberation Front. Burnin', Endeavor's top sidekick, was one of many Pro Heroes plotting to take down the society that handed them their paychecks. They had eyes everywhere...in politics, in business, in the field; it was inevitable that one lived at least within 1000 feet of a PLF member. She had managed to keep a low profile...for the most part, other than establishing herself as Endeavor's right hand and catching the eyes of a notorious A-rank villain. Dabi had noticed Burnin' the moment she was hired by Endeavor's Agency. Part of him felt like she was just as much of a replacement for him as Shoto had been. She was always cleaning up his father's messes, operating side by side with him...they even shared a birthday, which Dabi thought was especially odd. In truth, he was a bit jealous. Despite not having the Pro Hero recognition that he had craved growing up, she still received ample amounts of his father's attention. He'd gotten close to revealing his true identity to her several times when they'd had fights about Endeavor. Sure, Burnin' believed he was just as corrupt as the system that kept him employed, but Dabi knew the truth. He wanted Moe to know the truth, but...that would be too far. After all, their relationship was casual. It was quiet. He was sure Compress was the only one who had seen them slip into Dabi's quarters every so often, and Dabi knew he'd keep his mouth shut unless he wanted his other arm to be fried off. 

Their relationship had merely started as a one-night stand. To Dabi, it was more like a hatefuck. There had been a grand PLF meeting that all of the satellite Pros attended, and Moe caught Dabi's eye from the stage. He'd meet with his newest pet, Hawks, briefly, before stalking straight toward her. He'd demanded to know her convictions, demanded to know why exactly she was there, and demanded to know more intel on Endeavor. Relishing in the power she seemed to hold just out of Dabi's reach, she'd toyed with the villain, explaining that if he wanted information, he'd have to be nicer about it. Dabi didn't take that well at all.

The next morning, he'd expected her to be gone and back to her precious Agency. What he didn't expect was her to wake him up with forehead kisses and gentle strokes through his hair. It caught him off guard. The first time, it made him irrationally angry. She was just playing with his emotions...or at least that's what his brain told him. By the fourth time, he stopped pushing her away and closing himself off; she'd even helped him clean his scars and change out his staples. 

Moe walks down the dimly lit street, head held high and eyes scanning her surroundings. Their usual meeting point was at the next block in the alleyway. Moe looks around, making sure that prying eyes aren't stalking her before she swiftly turns...and stops cold. The dim blue light of Dabi's cigarette burns rather brightly as he inhales, smoke blowing out his nose when he takes the thin object from between his lips and crushes it to ashes in his palm. 

"You're early," Moe hums, crossing her arms over her chest. Dabi's usually late. 

"Decided to end my meeting with the bird ahead of schedule. I...wanted to see you," Dabi admits slowly, as if the words pain him to speak aloud. 

"Oh, really," Moe smirks, her copper flame hair casting shadows on the walls as she struts toward the villain. Dabi's gaze is cold but shaky. After forcing himself to bottle up his intense emotions for years, he has trouble expressing them at all. He looks down his nose at her as she stops in front of him, a mischievous smile on her face. Dabi rolls his eyes as more smoke billows out of his nostrils, though whether that's from the cigarette or his Quirk is unclear. 

"Why exactly did you wanna meet so late with me?" Burnin' grins, knowing the answer by Dabi's mannerisms. He only smokes when he's trying to distract himself from something. The hunger in his gaze is palpable. 

"Some top sidekick you are if you can't figure me out yet," Dabi spits with a familiar biting edge to his voice. Moe loves messing with him. 

"Oh, Dabi, I figured you out a long time ago," Moe teases, but her words send a chill down Dabi's spine. He can't have her finding him out. A twist of anger bubbles in his heart, mixing with the carnal emotions already coursing through his veins. He needs to get it out. Without a word, he grabs her, and Moe yelps in surprise before Dabi silences her with a deep, lustful kiss. She cringes momentarily at the taste of the cigarettes before she breathes in Dabi's scent. Dabi always smelled clean...more like sterile from how often he had to clean his wounds to avoid going septic. Like an ashy hospital with a hint of whatever cheap cologne he used. Moe didn't care. Part of her liked it. Soon, Burnin' melts into the kiss, letting Dabi walk her backward until her back is against the wall, their lips never once breaking contact. Gruffly, he grips her shoulders, pinning her to the brick as he bites her lip; his chest heaves from how hard he's breathing. 

"Dabi," Burnin' moans breathlessly against him as he grabs her chin, lifting her head up to sink his teeth into her neck. His other hand travels down her body, ghosting tentatively over her chest and moving down her sides, gripping her thigh with his jagged fingernails. 

"Fuck. Why can't your costume have a higher collar or some shit," Dabi snaps under his breath, wishing he could leave more marks. Moe chuckles, but her laugh dissolves into a passionate sigh as Dabi wraps his arm around her waist, pulling them close until their hips are pressed against one another. She can feel his hard-on through both of their clothes. 

"That down bad for a Pro Hero's sidekick, huh?" Burnin' smirks mockingly, but Dabi ignores her. If he thinks about it too much, his horniness is gonna be overcome with disgust. He doesn't want reminding that he's fallen in...something with Endeavor's top sidekick. Even if her convictions align with his own, the mere concept still leaves a bad taste in his mouth. His brain and his heart are constantly at war over this...thing that he has. These emotions that he doesn't want to give names to. 

"Shut up," Dabi mutters coldly, clicking off the fire extinguisher on the back of her costume and discarding it on the ground. Before Burnin' can make a witty comeback, he swiftly spins her around, pressing her up against the wall so he can grind against her backside. 

"Ooooh. Feisty are we? Gonna pull my hair, too?" Burnin' teases playfully as she rolls her hips against him, making the friction almost unbearable for Dabi. A low, cracking moan leaves his lips before he does just that; the villain grabs her ponytail and jerks it, arching her back and making her cry out in surprise before her sweet voice dissolves into a pleasured sigh. The pain is minimal compared to the strength of his own flames, and he grabs the flaming green strands with ease. Dabi leans forward and licks up the side of her neck, his breaths coming out hot and heavy with every thrust against her.

"Fuck," He groans, eyes rolling back into his head as he reaches around, his hand slipping beneath her costume and rubbing against the outside of her panties. Burnin' melts into his touch, bracing her hands against the wall to avoid sliding down it as she moans his villain name over and over.

"God, Dabi," She moans, grinding against his fingers until his dark laugh is in her ear. 

"Folding so quickly for me. No more comebacks?" Dabi snickers between labored breaths. He doesn't know how much longer he can keep their clothes on. Burnin' doesn't answer; she can't at this point. Her mouth hangs agape; satisfied, high-pitched breaths are forced out of her with every motion.

Suddenly, a grating voice crackles through the speaker in Dabi's ear. 

"Dabi. You're needed at the PLF headquarters," Skeptic says flatly, and Dabi promptly pulls his hand from between her legs, covering Moe's mouth with it before he presses the microphone in his ear. 

"I'll be there in a few hours," Dabi responds, trying to keep his voice even. Before he can remove his hand, Skeptic's already yelling.

"No! Not in a few hours! Now! Immediately!" 

"Get off my ass, weirdo. I'm busy at the moment," Dabi retorts, anger coating his tone. 

"Would you like Geten to simply call all the shots for your Regiment at this meeting, then?" Skeptic trills mockingly, and Dabi's eyebrows furrow. He sighs.

"I'll be there. Let me tell Ujiko," The villain growls, and he hears Skeptic's triumphant hum from the other end of the line before it goes dead. Dabi drops his hands, and Burnin' gasps for breath, turning around to face him. 

"You're leaving?" She mutters, disappointed. Dabi shrugs.

"I don't trust the ice bastard to make the right decisions. Sorry, darling," Dabi grumbles, gritting his teeth at how insanely aroused he is. If Moe wasn't on duty tonight, he'd take her with him. He takes a deep breath before gripping her waist and pulling her in for a final kiss. Moe melts at his touch once again, her arms gently wrapping around his neck, softly stroking the hair on the back of his head. Dabi hums softly into the kiss, indulging in the passion, albeit only for a moment. His tongue prods at her bottom lip, and she eagerly meets it with her own. Dabi groans, his fingernails digging into her hero Suit as he balls his hands into fists; part of him just wants to rip it off of her altogether. He wants nothing more than to claim her in this alley...but...he has work to do. With a choked growl of annoyance and regret, he breaks the kiss, forcing himself to tear away from her. 

"I'll see you again soon, Staples," Burnin' grins, wiping the spit off her lips from the sloppy kiss with her sleeve. Dabi's eyes soften at the silly pet name, but he blinks it away almost instantly. Moe steps back.

"Ready, Ujiko," Dabi mutters into the microphone in his jacket. Without warning, he lurches, black ooze pouring from his mouth and surrounding him. His shimmering cerulean eyes gaze into Moe's red-orange ones until they're covered in inky sludge. With a sudden splash, he disappears; a simple puddle of the dark slime remains where Dabi once stood. 

"They've gotta get a better way of transport," Moe huffs, edging away from the gross substance. She looks up at the stars in the sky, and they twinkle back at her. 

"Goodnight, Dabi," Burnin' whispers to the empty alleyway.

[gryphons-n-kelpies]

Yandere Bundle Pack Round 2

Welcome to the official opening stage of the Yandere Bundle Pack: Maid Café Edition!

Like my previous bundle, this event has the goal to spread some attention to other Yandere VN developers and their projects! However, we are throwing a twist and having fun with our precious Yans!

This will serve as the official Q&A for the bundle pack. If you want to see your favorite yans in this bundle or you are a dev and want to take part, feel free to throw suggestions or get in touch with me through here, Twitter (if DM's let you) or email me fireheartedmonster[at]gmail.com

The pack will be released in August!, so the month of July will be used as a teaser for the audience while collaborators decide if they want to join or finish their parts~

Who is going to be in the bundle!

You are going to have to wait until the sale is announced. Those who are official collaborators can choose to release their designs early will be reblogged to gain excitement.

How much will the bundle cost?

Ah well.. That depends on the final number. Considering I want to be able to pay for shipping and materials (I personally print and cut the stickers myself), and support my collaborators.. However, I will aim to be fair as best I can! My last bundle pack was roughly 20 yandere stickers that costed $15!

I'm a collaborator and want to drop out because of [reason] is that okay?

Perfectly! Life does happen. And if reasons get in the way, I don't want you to feel obligated to keep going and stressing out over this. If you can't join this pack, maybe you can join the next one? Who knows. Heck. Should I have time, I might try to include your yandere anyways so you still at least gain more interest.

I want this yandere to join but you said you won't include them. Why?

I have one personal rule. To never bash someone for liking a Yan/Project even if the creator isn't savory. I don't hold it against those who can still separate art from the artist. But I will not draw what I am uncomfortable with, nor will I seek out the creator and ask if they'd like to join the pack.

I don't like [x] character because [reason]. It's the only reason why I won't buy the pack!

I've considered this! So I am going to have two options available for that 1) The supporter can buy a smaller pack. They can select who they want in their bundle (collaborator included will be supported) 2) The supporter can request to replace the offending Yandere with a copy of another, OR whatever sticker that is in my shop!

This is what I can answer right on top of my head, I can add more in time as things get asked. Though~ I can reveal this: If you buy the full pack, I will include Finn from my Lament project (As the yandere in that project is you), and if I sell specific amounts of packs, I will reward everyone with sexy maid outfits of Morogh, Alec, and Sidney