#this is important to understand about her character

[gayslutbehavior]

i really admire the way my mom raised me when it comes to books. she always let me pick what to read, and she usually read the same books along with me so that we could talk about them. she likes reading YA, so that helps. i remember she really liked a series of unfortunate events and would help explain some of the funnier lines that might have gone over my head.

if there were books that either of us thought might be upsetting or hard for me to read, she would read them first and tell me what she thought. she wouldn't say i could or couldn't read them, she would just give me a heads up about things that might be challenging. for example, when i was about 10ish i wanted to read the sixth harry potter book, and she told me (with permission wrt spoilers) that an important character dies and that she found it really sad and thought i might too.

there were also books that she read before me and said she thought would be fine and then i ended up feeling uncomfortable about it for some reason and stopped reading. so she knew she could trust that i would take care of myself when reading. i had a panic attack when i read mockingjay for the first time because the war felt so real, and i took a break, calmed down, and came back to it later. but i'm still really glad i read that book because i think it was really good and taught me a lot.

it was the same way with movies - i watched little miss sunshine for the first time when i was pretty young, and she didn't try to keep me from seeing the more inappropriate parts, but she did explain things that i didn't understand. the only part she warned me about was when the brother realizes he's colorblind and can't be a pilot and gets really upset. she said he's going to yell and it's really sad. it wasn't the sex or the raunchy humor that she focused on (she knew that i knew what sex was), but the parts that were upsetting or scary, which makes sense to me.

pulp fiction is one of her favorite movies and we had a poster of it on the wall in our living room, so of course i wanted to watch it, but she told me that i should wait until i was older, not necessarily because it was inappropriate, but because it's the kind of movie that's hard to follow and requires a lot of cultural context to understand. i listened and when i ended up watching it for the first time i totally agreed that i wouldn't have understood it when i was younger.

she used to watch house when it came on and most of the time i didn't watch it with her even though she never said i couldn't because i really didn't like the parts where it would show the inside of a body. if i did want to watch, she would fast forward through those parts for me. i vividly remember watching house with her when thirteen comes out as bi. she paused the show to explain bisexuality to me and it was a huge moment for me as a queer person! the fact that she didn't brush past it or try to hide it from me helped me to learn and grow in my own identity.

the point is, the times when i was most confused or upset or alienated by a piece of media, it was rarely because there was sexual content. having warnings from my mom helped me to be prepared for things that might be beyond my expectations, and with her help i learned how to process and move through those things instead of ignoring them. i also learned that it was okay to feel like i wasn't ready to watch/read something. and i think that's a much safer approach to consuming media than trying to prevent kids from seeing or reading anything challenging until they're a certain age. it's all a process of growing and becoming ready for that kind of thing imo

I keep seeing aggressive "don't let kids read Wicked, it's inappropriate!!!" posts, and they're deeply irritating.

Would I recommend the novel to a random 12 year old I don't know? Probably not! But I first read Wicked at 12, and it's not like it permanently scarred me. It's not like I couldn't follow the plot. I didn't understand all the sociopolitical and religious commentary at 12, but that's why I went on to re-read it multiple times throughout my life. I get more from it each time.

There's sex and violence, yes, but I knew what sex was at 12, and I was seeing violence and war on the news every day. Why's the fictional sex and violence worse? Why should a kid not challenge themself with a book outside their comfort zone? Every kid deserves the chance to wig themselves out with a weird book they don't fully understand yet, and Wicked was mine.

My wife is very fond of a Mitch Hedberg quote I think is relevant here: "Every book is a children's book, if the kid can read."

(Also I think it's weird that people fixate on the puppet sex and the BDSM club, and not the parts where Elphaba bashes someone's skull in, or Turtle Heart gets lynched, or the soldiers abduct Fiyero's entire family as political prisoners. The "sex is evil, violence is fine" moral panic is eternal.)

[bonus-links]

MY TIME HAS COME please discuss in great detail the GrooZeLink dynamics in prologue part 5. I am so intrigued by the stark differences between this shot:

And this shot:

The scar on triforce. The hiding. Please tell me everything there is to know

this is 4 u groozelinkers

why did i do text bubbles this way. how did anyone read this comic. god bless.

this is essentially Loft Monologues His Feelings The Update. It was very important to me that the audience understands where Loft's head is at from the get-go. and like listen, sometimes u have to have a bestie debrief even if ur bestie is a dormant sword spirit who can't talk to u. if bonus links was a musical this would be Loft's I want song lol

jokes aside I think Loft comes here to talk to Fi a lot. it makes him feel both better and worse

LOFTS FI IMPRESSION i feel like he used to do this a lot and thought it was so funny and every time Fi would be like. objectively that is not what i sound like. also, peep the textbox pattern!

even though Loft has trouble acclimating to life on the surface, it was important to me to show that it's not all like. angst and doom and gloom. But that's kind of the problem right? things are good, and he feels like this anyway. also I did my best to include most of the young adult skyloft npcs, I feel like the older one have mostly stayed up on Skyloft for now. LAKE TRIP!!

this is a direct reference to this shot from the game. this line of dialogue is an important thing to keep in mind. tbh the entire reason this comic exists is bc i thought too hard about the implications of skyward sword— what if you found out your girlfriend was really your god, who had orchestrated your entire life? wouldn't that make everything feel a little strange, even if you love her more than anything? much to think about

I like the scar through the triforce mark as a kind of symbolic gesture, but there's not really any intended meaning behind the two pieces of the triforce is goes through. feel free to interpret it however u like tho lol

AND THIS SHOT my headcanon is that Loft doesn't actually help much with the early building in Faron. It's partially because he can't- he pushes his body to the limit during his quest, and then completely crashes when it's over, and it takes a loooong time to even start recovering. He spends most of the time sleeping.

But it's also partially because he doesn't actually want to move to the surface. He wants to stay on Skyloft. In my mind it's like. he fought really hard to return to a state of normalcy that doesn't exist anymore, and that's hard to come to terms with. This is Zelda and Groose's project, and while he'll go along with it, he's not that enthusiastic about it. It's a source of tension in their relationship. Combined with Zelda often acting as a mouthpiece for the gods, it starts to grate on Loft that this aspect of his future has also apparently been decided.

tldr groozelink love each other a lot but things are definitely not perfect, and especially not right now

this is actually something I intended to get a little bit more into in ch2, but the chapter kind of. wrote itself away from it. every time I tried to include a scene with it, it felt too much like I was forcing characters to have too many heart-to-hearts too early. we'll get there eventually

this is an important update in the grand scheme of things :-) mystery mouseketool etc etc

[eldraftsman]

Day 17: Favorite manga art?

I don't have a definitive favorite but I'll go with this color spread because I find the composition to be incredibly well balanced. Even though there's a significant predominance of blues in a lot of the picture, the color balance still exudes a degree of warmth that allows the image to feel like a fresh but sunny morning, fitting for the subject matter of a family picnic. Speaking of color choices, I want to take a chance to talk about Endo's color design because I find it an interesting departure from how many Shonen mangaka approach the same facet of their art, and not only makes it stand out but quite frankly more pleasant to look at (so let's share more examples below).

One of the things Shonen manga tends to do when it comes to color illustrations is to just smack the reader in the face with extremely saturated colors; the blues can get quite deep, the yellows can border on neon, and reds in particular are always jumping out of the page. This is specially prominent in nekketsu series like Naruto, One Piece, My Hero Academia and so on. It makes sense, too; these series have hot blooded characters and conflicts solved through physical confrontation nearly every time, so to have agressive color choices is only appropriate. It's also, however, rather eye straining and in the worst cases not very well balanced.

In classical painting you're first taught to control the values of your artwork with greys. The image composition and lighting have to allow the viewer to understand the image at a glance even if it's in greyscale and you're squinting at it. The points with the most intense values are of course the points of interest in the painting, but good contrast is key and that requires parts of the picture using less saturation to let what's the focus of the artwork pop. You can desaturate frames of well lit movies and see this in action: it's why Godzilla Minus One could be so easily transferred to a black and white negative.

Good cinematographers take this in consideration from the onset.

Guess Masashi Kishimoto forgot that memo for this one.

To be clear, my goal here isn't to crap on other artist or the tonal choices that fit his respective work, but this is one of the examples of these choices and trappings being pervasive in Shonen. Those reds and oranges are plain blinding, and once desaturated you can see how poorly the silhouettes read. You can distinguish Kakashi and to a lesser extent Sasuske just fine, but Naruto and specially Sakura kind of just blend with the background. Fitting as it may be, it just gives a fairly cool composition a lot of visual noise when desaturated, and makes it eyestraining when colored. Now let's compare this with one of Endo's illustrations. Namely, that beautiful winter one.

You'd expect the prevalence of whites to just swallow Bond and Anya in her white coat but that's not the case. Between well chosen accents and contrasting shadows you can squint at it's greyscale version and the image still reads flawlesly. Moreover, while those reds pop from the pale yellows and blues it's not overwhelming either. They're more saturated than the rest of the picture, sure, but they're toned down just a notch and pushed slightly to the oranges which ensures they don't come across as invasive or overtly agressive. They just are a strong point of visual interest. Another example: notice how in this Yor themed color spread the reds aren't an explosive scarlet as if it was trying to look like Dario Argento's Suspiria . Instead, even though red is through the entire image it's not straining to look at... because they're very subtly inclined towards pink and purple.

Endo just tends to favor the colors slightly aiming for a colder palette even in ilustrations when the reds are important, which makes the colors feel more relaxed. And instead of using the most agressive blacks for the lines, they're either in varying hues of sepia or blue so they blend better with the rest of the colors. Both things can be observed quite well in this beach illustration. Some of those lines are actually fairly thick but they feel soft solely because the color isn't a harsh black and in fact changes dynamically across the image.

Or this special illustration of Yor in the Garden fopr Volume 8. The roses do stand out against the primarily green and blue of the rest of the illustration, but they're soft pinks and tranquil reds, with the yellows having fairly bright values but comparably muted hues.

Heck, even in the situations where yellow is the predominant color, blue (or rather, the calmness usually tied to it) is still a factor for the color mixing in more subtle ways. Endo could've gone for a proper, deeper blue or a different shade of yellow for the sky in this illustration but chose a middle point that doesn't break the color the balance in any sort of harsh way. So the logical choice was a fairly muted lime green.

There's more than one reason why Tatsuya Endo's work is often compared to Shoujo and it's not just the slowburn romance and women with actual agency as characters. His color choices forego the obvious, agressive boldness usually associated with the demographic of his series for something much more soothing to look at. Let's remember these techniques aren't remotely exclusive to him, but the constraint behind these choices makes them stand out by virtue of being calm instead of overbearingly bold compared to his peers.

Also, if you want me to break down these or other illustrations of his in more detail I'd be more than happy to.

[orchidyoonkook]

there's a alot to unpack this chapter but can i just scream because of how adorable these two are can they just kiss already damn, so i loves this chapter because it truly showed the dynamic between these two, like how oc respect ls jungkook's passion and craft and is willing to help her friend (wink wink) out and he respects her opinion as well (completely different to ady ughhh can i just say i am so glad oc got this win on this one not jk trying to figure out the beef his lowkey caught in hahaha i can't wait till he hears the tea)

okay but doesnt the whole ady vs. OC thing when it comes to pictures just TRACK tho.

Like OC is an artist, she knows artists, she knows to trust the artist and their vision and that you're just the subject for their work. Like how a model in a figure drawing will be drawn 50 different ways, it isnt up to the model to decide the best one, they're all just different interpretations, they're not all meant to be pretty or flattering, they're meant to evoke emotions and feelings. That's how OC views JKs photography. In an art way. Which is why she makes a great subject, because she understands his point of view.

Whereas Ady views it like a famous person, she knows that angles and looks and image are important if they were to ever be released to the public. So she has to do damage control on them in case one is released because she has to think of her image and her familys image and such. I loved the dynamic of this, even if it paints ady in a not so great light, that doesnt mean her reasons aren't valid, they are. But that also means she wont be a good person to model for JKs shoots.

back in track yes the way they just have each others backs such a good foundation and omg this whole chapter was adorable from jungkook doing her make up,

cried when he did that, that was a writer moment when the characters took over and did their thing, I just wrote it and i had the exact same AWWWW he wants to do her make up reaction.

uhmmmmm cooking for her bet she was shocked the silver spoon even knew where the stove was,

THE SILVER SPOON AHAHAHAHAAHAHA. And there is mentions of this in future chapters I believe! Like why he knows how too, but yes, OC was definitely shocked for a second there.

him freaking getting the tarts,

food is the sixth love language and on this hill i will die.

the baking date they have which i must say i am so glad jk has oc to talk to about like his home life i love that she pays such close attention to what his saying and the significance behind what he says because his this celebrity who can't trust many people (that ady girl included sorry just had to throw a jab her way oc would be proud)

OC is someone who loves to care for those she cares for. She wants to make sure those few people who she has, know they are loved and cherished, it's a big love language for her, so I'm glad he's opening up to her too because you just KNOW she isnt taking it for granted and she's writing down every damn word he says in the notebook of her mind, punctuating and spelling everything perfectly so that she remembers every detail.

Trust and friendship are such special bonds, and they need to be treated as such in OCs mind, they are not things she takes lightly.

(OC would be proud, yes)

and then the moment oh the moment the nel moment (shocked he didn't say cornelius 😉🤭) that wow that left me mind blow got flash backs to jungkook's little fantasy what sparked that????

JK is very concious of when he uses Nel or Cornelius, that's all i say about that.

The nel moment was and is supposed to be hinting at something. I cant say what or why or when, but i will say it is a big moment.

(yoon give me the details how did you come up with that, was is something you had planned out, what's the significance behind in basically what i am fishing for is what does it mean 😩😩😩)

To trust another person enough to be comfortable not being mentally present and in a different mental state is rare. Again it's an intentional scene. It's an important one, it's the first time she's ever experienced something like that. And the scary part for her is how easy it was to slip into it. With the right company.

I will say that JK knew exactly what happened tho. Which is why he was so concerned and got her out of the situtation so quickly.

If you wanna dm me i can say more, but i also dont wanna spoil things on my dash.

oh and the freaking sleep over and jk's contemplation is so adorable man and the infamous stumble oh that's gonna stick no way we forget that am i...

What stumble 😇😇😇😇 there was no stumble. We dont stumble.

* there is no war in ba sing se *

* there was no stumble *

😇😇😇😇😈

yoon what do you have planned for this couple you beautiful genius of the be a fly in the wall when you do your planning... this is was such an epic chapter i don't think either of them are going to be able to avoid the thoughts that's going to come after this...

I have so much planned oh my god I HAVE SO MUCH PLANNED. as for that other comment

no comment. :)

i am honestly curious about when the shift will take place I am dying to know but I shall wait patiently because this is a slowwww asssssss burn after all 😩😉

I know exactly when, how, why, and where the shift happens. It's one of the very first things I ever had planned.

but yes, it is indeed, a slow. ass. burn.

love ya yoon i hope i am not annoying you with the reviews 🥺🖤

NEVER EVER EVER EVER NEVER EVER. NOT EVER. NEVER.

I L O V E them

and I am politely begging for you to never stop (no actual pressure of course)

p.s yoon i love it when you speak photography 🤭 especially when you give all the details like for real the way you describe and set out the scenes when oc talks about her art and when jungkook talks about his photograph it's those details that makes a story and i Iove it you seriously have a talent for writing!!!

Film school, 15 years of being a painter/artist and highschool photography classes come in handy sometimes! It makes speaking in jargin take up way less research time, and also allows me to minorly laymans terms it so it can be easily digested by the average reader while still sounding like i know what I'm talking about XD

I'm so glad you like it!! It's fun to sort of bring you guys into my real life world in that aspect, maybe even teach you a thing or two, which is wild and amazing and so cool. And i absolutely agree on the fatc that details like it bring stories to life. It's easy to glaze over stuff like that, but i LOVE when you can tell an author KNOWS the niche they are talking about. Like in medical fics or science one or anything. Arts, sports, business. anything. It totally helps cement the worlds in which they are written!

As always, and forever, my dear Kiki, thank you so so so so so so so much for this incredible review. I will absolutely once again remind and declare that people like you are the reason fanfiction communities survive. We couldn't do it without you <3

To What We Were Before, And All The Things After | JJK | Ch. 8

Title: Photo Shoots and Blasphemous Discoveries

Pairing: Prince!College Student!JK x Fine Arts Major!(F)!Reader

Series Rating//Genre: (M) | College AU, Mild Royalty AU, Smut, Angst, Fluff, S2F2L, Indiffernce to lovers, sloooowwww ass burn

Summary: You're just there to help JK with his final project, so why are you being doused in water, facepaint and smoke? Art. Art is why.

Warnings: T, language, fluff, angst, honestly this one's kinda wholesome and fun, some photogrpahy jargin in there, but nothing a quick google search can't fix if you really need to <3, it's mostly surface level jargin. Also the smoke machine works cuz JK has great ventilation due to the massive windows being open, so don't worry bout that XD, some light and fun name calling, some world building. Ask if you need clarification on anything. That's all I think!

Word Count: 11,684

Release Date: September 1, 2024. 4:30PM

A/N 1: Surprise! Happy JK Day.

Series: Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven

PJK [7:36pm]: Saturday afternoon. my place. 11am.  PJK [7:36pm]: bring an extra set of clothes, something warm. Sweats if you have them. PJK [7:37pm]: also, Im gunna need your shirt size

The first three weeks of November have flown by and dragged on at the same time.

The weather’s getting colder. You need a thick jacket if you want to be anywhere outside, and all leaves have fallen from the trees, leaving pines the only ones left with their winter coats on. Hot chocolate from greenhouse cafe has become part of your life’s blood so you don’t freeze, and gloves with pocket warmers inside them are once again a part of your everyday. 

But November skies have returned. And you frequently set up camp on the drying grass beside the greenhouse, dressing your canvas with oil paint to their likeness as it’s the only paint that doesn’t dry the second it’s out of the tube in the cold, static air.

Jungkook told you earlier in the week the shoot would most likely be this weekend, and that he just had a few final strings to pull together before being able to confirm. So with that in mind, you intentionally tried to finish all your work before this weekend, knowing the shoot will take a while to complete.

He mentioned it may leak over into Sunday depending on how much you get done on the first day, which is fine with you considering you usually spend Sunday evenings at his place anyway. You’d consider it an extended edition of your regularly scheduled broadcast.

And speaking of regularly scheduled, you haven’t missed a single movie night since Nel left. Granted, it’s only been three weeks, but even missing the two you did because of Nel had made an impact. 

You’d gotten so used to them, having that time to destress and unwind before the week starts. A nice little routine that helps reset you both mentally and physically.

Suddenly not having that was…a weird feeling you try not to remember. 

And you are more than happy to never miss another one ever again.

You aren’t sure what Jungkook tells Adaline he’s doing during movie night, but she’s never interrupted you, not even once. And it’s something you are increasingly grateful for, because she is one of the things you destress from as your unspoken rivalry always amps up the closer to exam season you get.

It’s Thursday evening, and you’re in your room finishing up a Microeconomics 3 assignment while piano music plays on a speaker in the corner. You use it to help you focus, and it’s working its magic as you’re finishing your work in record time. 

Music has always helped you work better, and you credit it largely with how you’ve been able to keep up with everything in your schooling.

Yuri’s in her room, doing homework as well you assume. Or maybe texting Tai—the dreamy, big dicked Ilcalos island Count—you swear she’s only put her phone down for sleep and showering, as she’s constantly checking to see if he’s messaged her. And you hope it turns out well for them, Yuri deserves someone who treats her well. Especially after the whole Jungkook debacle—which you’re not allowed to bring up—and then the poor rebound you aren’t allowed to talk about either. You’re just happy she’s finally found someone worth her time.

Picking up your phone, you shoot Jungkook a text back.

You [7:40pm]: okay! saturday at 11 sounds good. I’ll bring sweats and warm socks

You message him your shirt size too, curious as to what he’ll use it for, but you’re sure you’ll find out in due time. You always do.

Subject to many of his homework assignments, you’ve been posed and lit and adjusted every which way. 

Jungkook is incredibly professional when you’re with him as a model. Light touches to correct posing, always with a ‘may I’ before he does, and he fills the room with kind words, good vibes, and fun music so you never feel awkward. 

At first you were really iffy on the whole idea when he first asked in September, because it would be the prince of your nation photographing little ol’ you. You weren’t anything special—yet—and you’re still never one for being in the spotlight, or for being on camera. At all. But if it was just for homework, and you were helping out a friend…you figured why not? 

It helped that all of your worries immediately faded when you saw the results of that first shoot.

An email from a very non-princely email address found its way into your inbox. The subject was the date of the shoot, and the only message inside being:

 thanks. Hope you like them. 

Let’s do it again sometime.

-J

When you opened the attachments you made a quick dive to catch the phone that fell from your hands in shock. 

You looked…beautiful. Like you never had in pictures before. Not in school, or at graduation, not even in the ones you took of yourself. 

You didn’t know you were capable of looking like that. 

Like how he saw you. Captured you. 

And you’ll never admit you’ve held your chin a little higher with every shoot since.

They make you feel powerful, attractive. More confident, and sure of yourself, as if you were always meant to be in front of a camera. Like you’d been in front of one since before you could walk.

They do that for you.

He…does that for you—with his pictures, of course.

Jungkook is very talented. Very skilled with his camera, and you find yourself looking forward to the concepts he comes up with every time. Trusting him and whatever his vision is wholeheartedly. 

Though a small, immature piece of you is also pleased he still wants you to model, and not Adaline. That he finds you easier to work with over her.

Your competitive streak never fails to come out, even with the smallest, secretive things.

Take that Adaline.

You gladly help him out with his homework, and he does the same for you. 

If you ever need a male reference or a profile study. Anatomy practice, features practice, likeness practice. Anything and almost everything, all you have to do is ask, and he sits still or places whatever you need in front of you while you sketch.

Hands, however, have always been a personal favourite of yours.

They’re one of those things that can be drawn a hundred different ways and never look the same. Always a new position you can put them in. Consistently able to shake things up. And one set is never like the others—like eyes. There’s little differences in all of them and that’s where their magic lies.

You do these studies at the greenhouse, it has the best light to shadow ratio. When you ask him for one, he’ll switch to working with one hand, while the other does whatever you tell it. Normally either placed on your table or if there isn’t enough room, which nine times out of ten there isn’t because of all your supplies, you stick your foot on the lower metal frame of his table and he rests his arm, wrist or palm on your up bent knee. 

Due to this, you’ve unintentionally come to find out that his hands are very strong, very calloused, and very, very warm…

Also! Aside from hand studies, you love loose figure studies because they’re great warm up sketches. And what Jungkook doesn't know is that you have dozens of warm up sketches of him. Doesn’t know you sneak pictures here and there when you can, hiding them in a hidden album on your phone entitled ‘hmwk screenshots.’ And he definitely doesn’t know that when he’s sitting at the cafe, nose deep in assignments, you doodle his features or his outfit in real time.

A nose here, a jacket there. A muscular forearm covered in tattoos also tends to find its way onto your page every so often.

He’s got a good physique. And the ridges make for excellent anatomy practice. So does the intricate line work of tattoos, and fabric rippling. Especially in drastic lighting. Consistency is key in maintaining and improving your work and it’s not like any of these sketches will ever see the light of day anyways. 

They’re just, well…practice. 

A sigh escapes you, and you refocus on finishing your microecon work. You still have two more assignments to get done before Saturday at eleven.

“And why are you working with some random girl when I’m available, again?” Adaline asks. She’s currently sitting on Jungkook's couch in your spot. He’s setting up tomorrow's materials against the big white wall by the floor length windows that showcase his balcony.

It’s why he chose to live here instead of in the dorms or on campus. His place isn’t enormous, like most people would think, it has enough room for everything a regular student needs: bedroom, kitchen, workspace, living room, bathroom, even a guest room. But the one thing he keeps different is the big white wall where a dining room would normally be. 

Jungkook’s place has high ceilings, 10 feet tall, which is higher than the average but not excessive. And the wall that connects his kitchen to the balcony is a perfect mock studio. He can even keep all his equipment there; lights, gels, backgrounds, tubs full of props, camera cases, lenses, and more all stored in neat shelving against another wall. 

“Because students volunteered for extra credit, and she’s who was assigned to me,” a small lie, one he was sure that Adaline wouldn’t dig into too deeply. 

“Why didn’t you tell me I could volunteer?”

“Because you didn’t need the extra credit?”

She pouts, and goes back to her phone.

Adaline also doesn’t know it’s you he’s photographing and that is one hundred percent intentionally planned by him. 

He could sense something between you two after you made that one comment after fall break. He notices now how you stiffen slightly every time he mentions Adaline, and the one time he mentioned you in passing to test the waters, Adaline changed the conversion topic almost immediately. A look of annoyance, or maybe even insecurity in her eyes.

So he’s been lucky that Adaline has never wanted to see any of his schoolwork prior to or after the singular shoot he did with her. 

Lucky she hasn’t seen your face fill up his screen constantly. 

And extremely lucky that she doesn’t know about the hidden folder buried deep in his desktop labeled ‘eqpmt rcpts’ filled with dozens of candid shots of you.

To be fair, you don’t know about them either. They’re random, shots taken every now and then where he thought you looked happy, focused, or just existing. True candids of the most candid person he knew.

It started that day with his first assignment from Professor Hirmer. He’d taken those quick pictures of you painting, and then simply never stopped. 

He has pictures of you in the courtyard, walking and talking to Yuri, you smiling. He has some he took on his phone when you’re over for movie night, invested in the film or talking to him. And a bunch of you painting at the greenhouse. It’s hard to take secret candids when he’s right beside you, but he manages seeing as you haven't caught him yet.

He even has a few of you and Nel, love clearly written on your face in every single one of them.

Whenever he spots you before you spot him, and he has his camera on him, he takes a couple. 

They’ve amassed into a healthy sum, but he thinks of it as a harmless habit as no one will ever know. And it’s not like he’s following you around to take them or using them for anything nefarious. 

He just likes taking your picture. Capturing your spirit, your candor. 

Your realness. 

You are wholly yourself, always, no holding back, all of the time. 

And to him, it feels like coming up for a breath of fresh air.

“Hey!” you say as you let yourself into Jungkook’s apartment. You’d knocked but no one answered and it was currently 10:56am on Saturday, so you knew he was here. Plus, his door was unlocked.

“Jungkook?” you call. 

No answer.

You take your shoes off after closing the door and locking it. He should really keep his door locked. 

Very quickly become best friends with the couch, you toss your backpack of warm clothes on the floor while you wait for him to make an appearance. 

There’s shoot equipment everywhere; lights in the corner, some with soft boxes on them, gels laid out on the coffee table, and what you’ve come to learn is a lens case sits on the couch beside you in Jungkook's usual spot. 

Jungkook has also somehow managed to find some small trees in blue ceramic pots and what you’re pretty sure is a smoke machine. 

But the most peculiar thing is what looks to be a kiddie pool up against the wall with a folded tarp at its base. 

Well that's…interesting…

You hear a door open somewhere in the apartment and running water. 

“Jungkook? That you?”

“Hey! Yep. Just give me a sec, I’m almost done.”

The water sounds cease and Jungkook makes his grand entrance as he turns the corner holding a large watering can. Your eyebrow raises.

“For the trees?” you ask.

“What?” 

You point to the watering can currently making his veins pop. 

He laughs, “Oh! No. This is for later. You’ll see,” and walks to the other side of the room by the pool. 

“Aren’t we mysterious today,” you say, following him with your eyes. He’s in ripped black jeans that accentuate the muscle definition of his thighs, and a matching baggy shirt. When his back is turned you snap a quick picture. The fabric folds on his baggy shirts are some of your favourite mindless things to cool down sketch.

“Nah, just focused. We have a lot to get through today.”  He sets down the watering can and you can see the moment the switch flips from friend to photographer. “The guest room is ready for you. There’s a clothing rack inside with each look labeled. There’s also makeup and face paint, if you could bring out the make up after you're done changing, that would be great. We’re gonna start with ‘Bright and Bold’, okay?” 

You usually use the spare room as a change room when you have to switch clothes for a shoot. But they were always from your own closet. He’d tell you the concept he was going for and you’d bring a few options to choose from.

Makeup you were used to, though. Jungkook loves abusing your artistic abilities for his shoots in the way you decorate your face or body, saying they make his works a level up from the rest of his classmates. 

They also usually make for some of the coolest pictures you have of yourself.

This is the first time he’s ever bought clothing, though.

You shouldn’t be as surprised as you are, this being his final assignment for an important class, and him being as serious as he is about his work and the final product. But you can't help it, you’re excited to see everything he’s chosen for the shoot. 

For you.

For the shoot.

“Yep, sounds good. Be out in a few,” you reply. He nods in acknowledgement before moving to set something up and you don’t stick around to find out, grabbing your bag and heading towards the door lined hall. 

The guest room is modest and clean. White sheets and gray comforter with, surprisingly, two throw pillows to spruce it up. The walls are white too, but you’re pretty sure that’s because Jungkook’s not allowed to paint the apartment per his landlord's wishes—a thought that still makes you laugh.

He could buy any place he wanted, but chose to rent. ‘To get the real university experience,’ he explained when you asked him the first time you went over.

Black furniture accents the room. A comfortable looking leather chair sits in the corner by a glass door that leads to the balcony. It has a small table beside it. There’s a dresser with a mirror in the other corner and of course, in the center of the room, is the bed. It’s a nice room. However, the newest edition is what’s keeping your eye.

Four shirts hang from the rack at the foot of the bed. The first is vibrant and colourful, the second a light neutral short sleeved V neck, third is strapless and skin coloured, and the last is made from thin black fabric you assume will be skin tight by the looks of it. 

As promised, they’re all labeled with a sticker. 

You throw your bag on the bed and grab the colourful one first. Its sticker says ‘bright and bold,’ and you put it on after removing the shirt you came in, then zip it up. The material feels heavy, durable and expensive. You check the tag on the inside seam and see it’s from Ilkaya, one of the biggest and most expensive fashion designers on this side of the realm. 

Your eyes bug out of your head, and you try not to breathe too hard for fear of ruining it. Your routine of thrifting all your clothes makes you pretty damn sure you can’t even imagine how much this cost. 

It feels good though, comfortable, not itchy. Really freaking expensive.

You look at yourself in the mirror, and you have to admit you look amazing. It fits perfectly in all the right places, compliments your skin tone, and even brings out your eyes. Begrudgingly, you admit to yourself that maybe there’s some sense in what the price tag could be. But it would still be a ridiculous sum for a jacket.

With one last look in the mirror, you grab the palettes, brushes and other tools off the dresser, and leave your designated dressing room for the day in favour of returning to the living room. 

Jungkook’s got music going from your shared playlist. Insisting on making one after your second shoot together, when he decided you both agreed to the arrangement becoming a regular thing. It’s a good mix of both of your musical tastes, even though you guys figured out quickly that you liked pretty similar stuff anyway. 

“What do you think? Does it work?” You ask as you turn the corner. 

Jungkook fiddles with this camera before looking and pausing for a moment to take you in. You hope you look okay, but the weird look he has on his face makes you backtrack a bit. 

“Is this not the one you wanted? It had the label on it. But I can go back and double che- ”

“You look amazing,” is all he says, and your worry slides off you instantly. He smiles wide, the one you’ve come to recognize as genuine. 

“Thanks. But the colour’s doing most of the work for me,” you say, smiling back shyly.

He has a white background set up, and two differently coloured gel’d lights sit on opposite one another, a third, smaller floor light faces the background. A backlight, he’d call it. 

Bright and Bold indeed, though there is the matter of-

“What do you want me to do for my make up?”

“Actually,” he sets down his camera gently on a table, “Is it okay if I do it? I want it to be a little more on the amateur side and I don’t think your years of refined talent would let you get the exact look I want.” 

That’s new. But you're here to stand and look however he wants you too, so you allow him with a nod. 

“Sure, where do you want me to sit?”

“Here’s fine,” he says as he pulls a stool that was off to one side close to one of the windows. “As long as you don’t mind holding the make up. I don’t have a table to set them down on.  Should’ve thought of that, sorry.” 

You can tell he’s mentally scolding himself for forgetting something.

“No no, it’s fine,” you say, taking your seat, “I don’t mind, really.” 

Placing the balls of your feet on the bar that holds the chair legs together, you make your lap even enough to set the palettes out, and use a hand to hold all the brushes. 

Jungkook laughs, noticing your feet as you sit, “Cute socks.”

They’re light blue with a fox face on them, and little ears stick up from the elastic around the ankle. 

“Thanks,” you laugh too, they’re your favourite pair. “I call them my fox socks. They’re lucky.”

“Let’s hope so. Wish me luck fox socks,” he calls to your toes, and you wiggle them in response.

He picks a brush and chooses a colour. “Close your eyes and let me know if I’m pressing too hard. If it isn’t obvious, I’ve never done this before.”

You close your eyes and whisper, “Will do.”

It's a uniquely intimate experience having your makeup done. Willingly letting someone get up close and personal with you, allowing them to see every potential scar, blemish and pore in the name of beauty and for the sake of creativity. 

In this case, it’s also a little questionable considering where you feel the brush putting down colour: cheeks, lids, temple, nose. However, you’re simply a pawn in a well thought out plan, so you sit and wait for him to finish.

“Annnd done,” he says, making a final swipe with the brush on your cheek. “You look great! I didn’t hurt you, right?” he asks, showing you the makeup in a palettes mirror. Your face looks like it’s been attacked by a rainbow in the best way. You smile, taking the mirror from him and looking at all the little details. 

For a first timer, Jungkook did a really good job. 

“Nope, I’m good. How do you want me?”

Jungkook leads you to the backdrop, placing you in front. 

“One second,” he says, grabbing a remote and clicking a button to lower the black out curtains on the windows, and then another that turns off the apartment lights. He also clicks on all the lights he’s set up and you’re quickly illuminated by a bright red and purple as well as the back light.

“I’m good to pose?” he asks. 

“Yep.” 

You love that he always asks first. It makes you feel safe and considered, consenting to every touch prior to its occurrence. 

Jungkook instructs the first pose to have your hands on the sides of your face, making slight adjustments so that you don’t cover any of the makeup. And for the first time, his touches leave little sparks where they land. 

You’re sure it’s just because of the lights or that the shirt is thick and makes you warm. 

Or maybe you’re just nervous and need to get the first photo jitters out of your system.

Soon enough, the camera’s pointing at you and you smile the brightest you can. He’s given you the prompt of ‘you’re so excited and happy you can’t hold it in,’ and you work with it the best you can, taking the first few with the pose he gave before being given full reign. 

It’s a decent way into the first shoot when Jungkook says, “Hmm…we’re not quite there yet, I need a bit more,” and follows up with, “How about ‘you’ve just been commissioned by the Modern Art Museum to have the leading showcase for next year’.” 

You smile the biggest you think you ever have at the thought. Because that’s the dream, that is the biggest goal you could achieve. An entire gallery of your work as the primary exhibition in the Western Shores Modern Art Museum? You couldn’t go any higher. It’s every artist's dream.

“There you go! That’s it!” The camera’s capturing quickly as you imagine what it would be like to have your own showcase at the WS-MAM. Incredible is the first word that comes to mind, your work in the biggest museum on the continent? You can’t even imagine, but you want to. 

One day, you promise yourself. You’ll do it one day.

“Okay,” Jungkook says, breaking your daydream, “Let me switch out the gels for new colours and go again. These are great so far though, you're doing amazing.” 

You hold your hand out for a high five and he smacks it. “Go team!” you say, and he laughs.

An hour and a half, a makeup fix and three lighting changes later, the first shoot finishes. You collapse on the couch and rub the muscles on your thighs. 

Jungkook plops down beside you, nose deep in the pictures he’s just taken, double checking everythings good.

“This is a fantastic start, I hope we can keep it up all day and finish before tomorrow.”

“Me too,” you say, and you mean it. Shoots with him are always fun, but inevitably tiring. “I’m gonna to grab a water, want one?” 

“Yes please,” he replies without looking up.

In the kitchen, you open the fridge to grab the two bottles and notice a box, stamped with a coffee mug that has a greenhouse inside of it, on top. The greenhouse cafe’s logo. 

“Can I ask what’s inside the cafe box?” you ask as you sit back on the couch and pass him a bottle.

“Ah, caught red handed,” he says, setting his camera on the table and taking a swig. “I may have asked Vivan earlier this week to make sure there was an overstock of tarts so I could grab them for you as a thank you for today.”

...Oh

That’s so sweet. He’s never gotten you a thank you gift before, especially not in the form of the most delicious pastry to ever exist. Maybe you should get him something for all the times he’s helped you with homework? A solstice gift maybe?

There’s heat forming in your chest and you really hope it’s not the beginning stages of heartburn. Maybe Jungkook has antacids. 

“You didn’t have to do that, I’m happy to help.”

“So you don’t want them then?” his shit eating grin making a glorious comeback because he knows what your answer’s going to be.

“No! I want them. I most definitely want them.”

He chuckles and puts his water down.

“Okay Donatello, glad you accept. Let's move on to the next set up. There’s makeup remover and cotton pads in the room, and some moisturizer too if you need it.”

The next shoot is called ‘Regality,’ and it has you in the strapless shirt. You find out it’s quite a low cut when you put it on. There’s enough to cover you, but there’s definitely a lot of your chest showing. However, under the shirt on the hanger is a scarf to cover yourself with, which you think is very considerate.

“Makeup?” you ask as you come out again, scarf covering you.

“Neutral, but strong. Kind of like how my mother does,” the background is still white, but you have a hunch that it will remain white in this picture, unlike the last one. “This one is going to be black and white, so try to emphasize your natural beauty.”

You ignore that he essentially just said you're beautiful, surely he’s just being kind and professional. Making sure his model feels good about herself. 

Right?

Right.

You put on a coat of mascara and go light on the shadow so it won't be too dramatic on film. You also use a shade of lipstick that adds just a tint to your lips and a blush that makes your eyes pop.

Jungkook has you sit on the stool from earlier and faces your body three quarters of the way towards the camera, but keeps your head turned in profile. 

“Oh! Almost forgot, one second,” Jungkook jogs to his room, coming back with a palm sized velvet box. “I had my mother send these over for this shoot. She has better taste than me, so I let her pick them out.”

Your stomach plummets to the floor when he opens the box. 

Inside are two dangling diamond earrings, and quite possibly the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen.

And now you’re terrified. 

“Jungkook, I can't wear those. They look like they’re worth more than my house, my car and my tuition combined.”

He takes one out and places it in your hand for you to put in, it’s the length of your index finger. And all you can think about is the potential houses you’re holding as you look at it. 

It’s a semi-rectangular earring, encrusted with four columns of diamonds that cascade down, each column longer than the previous. Like a sparkling waterfall you can attach to your ear.

“Don’t worry about it, mum said she never wears them anyway because they’re part of a set that the necklace was lost to years ago. Please,” his face is nothing but reassurance and small smiles, “You’re giving them a chance to live again.”

You couldn't say no to those eyes even if you wanted to.

So you reply, almost breathless and still against your better judgment, “Okay.”

Placing them in one after the other, they have a significant, understandable weight to them. You take a couple deep breaths so you don't freak out, and then you return to your previously designated pose, profile set, body facing the camera.

“Can I adjust?” Jungkook asks, after taking a step back and getting a wider view. 

You nod gently, still terrified of the earrings.

He makes sure the earring is visible and untangled first, before a finger gently comes beneath your chin, and lifts it a bit higher. 

The feeling they leave behind is all you can think about as you stare at your place on the wall, Jungkook snapping away. Not even the soft light illuminating your profile is enough to make you blink.

This shoot goes by quickly, and you’re relieved to get the earrings back safely inside their box.

“It’s like 2:45, wanna break for a late lunch?” Jungkook asks. 

“Please, I’m starved,” you say, returning from the guest room after tossing on the sweater you brought. “What's on the menu?”

“Well, we have two options,” he says, looking very faux serious, “1. We order out from wherever you want and awkwardly wait for it to arrive because the next shoot is not one we can’t prep for, then eat, then shoot.  Or 2. I make use of the ingredients I bought to make Bulgogi Kimchi Fried Rice and you get lunch and a show.”

You're shocked. 

Jungkook…cooks? Oh this you absolutely must see.

“Hmm….” you say, pretending to really mull it over in the same ‘serious’ tone, “I’m thinking I’ll have to go with option two, Chef. But I’ll lend a hand where I can, no use in standing around doing nothing.”

“Every chef needs a sous.”

With both of you on task, lunch is getting made quickly. Jungkook has all the ingredients to make ‘my buddy’s famous family recipe,’ a man who you assume is a chef back at the palace. The island countertop is currently covered in them; onion, kimchi, marinated bulgogi, gochujang, cooked rice, eggs and more. 

You’re surprised at how skilled Jungkook is in the kitchen. He’s cutting the ingredients like he’s been doing it his whole life and working the pan over the stove like the proper technique has been drilled into him since birth. 

Thirty minutes pass, and after both of you shed a tear at the cut onions and evenly split the remaining tasks, you’re sitting on the couch about to take your first bite. It smells delicious. Your mouth is watering and you can’t wait to dig in, stomach painfully empty by this point.

Finally taking that first bite, you nearly die of euphoria.

“Ouhmahgaud,” you say, mouth half full. Jungkooks on the other side of the couch, trying not to cough out his own food from laughing at your reaction. His eyes are nearly shut with how wide he’s smiling.

“Good?” he asks after swallowing his food first, like a civilized person.

You’re vigorously nodding as you swallow your own helping in hopes you’re understood.

“You’re giving me this recipe. I need it. I don’t think I will survive if this is the only time I ever get to eat it.” Your bowl is almost half gone already. Thank god there’s leftovers, you will be having more.

Plus, you want to make it for your mom when you go home, she’ll love it. 

“I’ll text it to you later, don’t worry.”

You’re very sure the look on your face conveys the gratitude you feel and the rest of the meal passes in a very comfortable and satisfied silence. 

Twenty-ish minutes later, after letting your seconds settle for a couple minutes, Jungkook gets back to business. 

“Next look is the most adventurous, it uses the facepaint. Are you okay with contacts?”

“I think so, never tried them before though. Just give me a few before we start so I don’t explode when I stand up.”

“All good,” he says, before quirking a lip and adding, “I really don’t feel like explaining why there’s kimchi and bits of you all over my walls to either of our parents, so take all the time you need.”

You laugh, firstly at the visual, then at the idea of Jungkook meeting your mother. That would be something you needed on record, paper and film.

After a minute, you get up, the guest room making your acquaintance once more. 

“This one is called Enigmatic,” Jungkook calls.

“Got it!”

You take longer than normal to change, maybe eating before putting on the skin tight shirt wasn’t a great idea. But at least it was stretchy. 

It has long sleeves, a high neck, and is a very dark midnight black. There’s a matching black scarf for this one too, and a safety pin attached to the corner.

“Okay, what's the plan for this one? I hear facepaint is involved,” you say, back for round three, scarf in hand.

The background of the set is black now, a close match to your shirt. Jungkook is by the smoke machine, currently set up on the stool and plugged into a nearby outlet. 

You hold up the scarf, questioningly.

“That’s to go over your head after the paint, but let’s see if you can do contacts first, they’re in the washroom. Need help?”

“No, I'm good.”

You don’t succeed at first, but after a couple attempts you look in the mirror and see purple eyes staring back at you. You love them.

“I look like a badass,” you say, returning. The smoke machine’s been turned on and it’s created a completely different atmosphere. At your reemergence, Jungkook shuts it off and comes close to give you a look. You freeze a little at the eye contact, his browns meeting your currently violets for a prolonged moment.

“They look better than I’d hoped, this is going to be great.” 

He reaches under the gels on the table for a piece of paper. It’s a makeup model face with the look he wants drawn on. “Are you able to do something like this?”

The diagram shows the cheeks, bottom half of the nose and down all the way to the neck as black, and the eyes and up as white, bleeding down into the black like smoke. You’re going to need eyeshadow for that part. If you did that with the face paint it would just become a gray mess.

“Yep, but it’s going to take some time to get it right.”

“That’s okay, I’ll use it to get the smoke machine properly set up.”

You use one of the palette mirrors and start with the white, covering the top of your face and making a good base layer for the eyeshadow. Then fill the bottom of your face and neck with the black. Carefully, so as to not make gray, you use a large brush to cover both sides with their respective eyeshadow shades, before blending them together like the reference. Your skin starts to feel like it’s on fire by the time you're satisfied and you check your phone for the time when you finally finish. 

4:37pm. 

Not bad. You put the scarf over your head and cover your ears with it, using the safety pin to hold it in place. 

“Done.”

Jungkook takes one look at you and lights up. 

“Have I ever mentioned how talented you are, and that you make my schoolwork so much more fun? Because I feel like I should again even if I already have.” Your cheeks heat, glad he’s excited you’re able to help. “How did you manage to make it look even better?”

“I do vaguely remember mentioning something about a deal with a semi-suspicious genie,” you joke. And both of you break out in giggle fits after a second, recalling the conversation from forever ago. 

Running through the same steps of lighting, posing, and adjustments, Jungkook then flips on the smoke machine and lets it fill the room heavily before starting to take pictures. 

You’re sitting on a small box this time, so that you’re slightly lower than the camera. Jungkook tells you to keep your hands at your sides and look up, just above the rim of the camera lens. It creates a very interesting look, and you're excited to see the results. 

He has you do a couple more poses before allowing you to do your own thing once more, trying to think of what would look mysterious and enigmatic.

You try to let the music inspire you. This is a look you’ve never done before, so you’re finding it a bit difficult to get into it despite Jungkook's helpful prompts and suggestions. But you flow a bit better with it as time goes on and you become more comfortable.

An idea pops up out of nowhere and you have him do a close up from the middle of your chin to the middle of your forehead. You stare straight into the lens to really showcase the purple contacts and makeup.

“This’s the one for sure,” he says, taking a few more. “Great idea, why didn’t I think of a close up in the first place?” You know he's talking to himself at this point. 

It’s close to 6:15pm when Jungkook decides he has enough pictures for this look. You don’t mind the longer shoot seeing as you set aside the day for this, and you can’t wait to see how these ones turn out in particular.  

You’re halfway through getting the face paint off, a mountain of gray stained cotton pads beside you, when Jungkook turns the music down.

“Let’s do a light, early dinner and then shoot the last one?” he asks. “I kept this one at the end because it’s going to create the most mess and it’ll be nice to have dinner out of the way for when I have to clean up.”

“More mess than this?” you point to the cotton pad mountain.

“Much more.”

“Light, early dinner it is,” you confirm, not wanting to have to wait till late to eat. “But can we order out so I have time to get the rest of this off?”

“Sure, what’ll it be?”

Clean faced, moisturized and ramyeon filled, you and Jungkook are preparing for the last shoot. Or well, lightly arguing.

“Water?”

“Mhm.”

“On me?”

“Yep.”

“From that thing,” you point to the contraption he calls a c-stand that will be holding the very full, very large watering can over your head for an extended amount of time, “And into there?” you point again to the kitty pool on top of the tarp that’s underneath the watering can c-stand. 

“That is the plan,” he looks amused at your slight distress.

“Are you nuts? What if it falls on me? How do I know it won’t unhinge and I’ll have a nicely cracked open skull to explain to my mother on Solstice break?”

“It won’t fall and you know it won't because you trust me and trust I wouldn’t put you in unnecessary danger. But if it does, tell your mom I say hi and sorry.”

You scoff at him, unbelievable. “So you admit there’s a bit of danger!”

Jungkook sighs, and looks to the ceiling. “Yes, YN. There is a touch of danger. But that’s only if, somehow, the c-stand I have triple safety checked, duct taped twice, and quadruple secured with four fifteen pound sandbags, decides that you deserve a watering can to the head.”

You side eye his tone. This wasn’t an unrealistic worry. But you do trust him. And trust he would never intentionally put you in any danger.

The trees are set up near the backdrop that looks like a row of brick houses. The shot is supposed to be ‘The Calm after Before the Storm,’ where you look relieved and happy in an ‘outside’ setting while ‘rain’ falls over you, also in black and white.

“Fine, but if I hear one peep from that thing,” c-stand staring down the tip of your finger once more, “I’m tuck and rolling and taking you out while I do it.”

“Very fair!” he says relieved, and goes to set up the stand with the watering can. 

You’d changed into the neutral V neck after dinner, and he’s asked for no makeup. So all you have to do now is stand and pose while trying not to die from foreign objects falling from the sky while you get wet.

Easy, right?

Wrong.

It is incredibly difficult, and you’re glad he made this one last because you’re at best; slightly miserable. Only the promise of a hot shower, hot chocolate with whip cream and marshmallows and your pick of whatever you watch afterward is keeping you going.

You started this one just shy of 8pm after waiting 45 minutes for the food. And it’s nearing 9:30 now. Jungkook has had to refill the watering can four times, dump the kiddie pool twice,  and you swear if you don’t finish within the next twenty minutes, you’re going to collapse from shivering.

To be fair, he does fill the watering can with warm water, but it only stays warm for so long before freezing water is pouring on you for the millionth time tonight. 

“I have one last idea, and by the way, I’m never doing this concept again so don’t worry about that, but also… don’t shut down the idea immediately okay?” Jungkook says. 

The watering can is almost empty again and you’re relieved that your time is almost up. That in itself should make for a good picture. He snaps it.

But his tone makes you a little wary, “Okay… what is it?”

“Pretend I’m Nel and you’re seeing me for the first time in six months, like you do at the end of April.”

Well, you didn’t have that down on your photo shoot prompt bingo card. 

Are you okay with the idea? You aren’t sure, but aren’t not sure either.

“I mean, I’ll try. Maybe you could give vocal cues to try and help? But don’t make it weird.”

“I won’t, promise,” Jungkook pauses for a second before adding, “Does he call you baby?”

You nod, and you distantly hear and ‘okay’ as you slowly allow yourself to get into that headspace.

You start, and the camera starts going.

You’re in the airport, waiting for Nel, ‘smoosh’ paper in hand. The gate opens, and through all the other passengers you see him, see that he’s in one piece, see that he’s safe. 

Your face illuminates with relief at that so much so that you don’t even notice the water that starts running down your face. 

You hear a ‘hi baby’ and in your head, it’s coming from Nel’s mouth as he nears you. You smile impossibly wider at the thought of seeing him, feeling him. Having him here with you. 

You look happy to see me, ‘Nel’ says.

“I am,” you reply. 

There’s repetitive clicking in the distance, but you ignore it. It’s probably just a flight attendant's heels on the floor.

“I missed you.”

There’s a long moment of silence before Nel speaks again.

I missed you too, baby.

You’re shivering hard now, lost in thought, unaware of reality. 

YN, Nel calls.

“Yes, love?”

“YN.”

“Babe, what is it?”

“YN, hey,” you're being shaken gently.

“Hmm? What?” you slowly arrive back to the present. Strong hands grip your shoulders. They feel nice. Solid. Deliciously warm. 

A very concerned looking Jungkook comes into focus, camera dangling around his neck and reaching for you.

Oh.

He’s the one holding your shoulders, trying to get you to come back to reality.

“There she is, welcome back,” he lets go and grabs a blanket from somewhere and wraps it around you. “We got the shot, go take a shower and warm up okay?”

“Okay,” you say, still a little dazed, but present enough to function.

You step out of the pool, holding on to the hand Jungkook offers to balance—Warm. Solid. Strong—and head straight for the bathroom, making a pit stop in the guest room to grab your bag with fresh clothes. 

The hot water cements your place back in reality, letting it warm you up and cleanse you of the day. 

You have no idea what just happened with that whole Nel thing, but it was a new feeling and a new headspace and you really aren’t in the mood to analyze or acknowledge, so it’s shoved onto a top shelf in the back of your mind for a later date.  

Once you're able to return to the directory of your mind, you don’t know how long you’ve been in the shower. But you know you’re clean, no longer cold, and in the mood for hot chocolate, so you step out and dry yourself with the towels Jungkook laid out for you on the toilet seat.

They’re soft. So soft in fact you consider only for a second shoving one in your now less full bag to take home with you. However, you do rather enjoy your friendship with the prince, so you think better of it upon second thought. 

Dressing in your sweats, you exit, tossing the towels in the hamper and your bag of the clothes you arrived in back into the spare room.

“Better?” Jungkook asks as you sit down in your spot on the couch for the last time tonight, wrapping up in the blanket he left for you. He’s in the kitchen but heard you coming.

“Much, thanks,” you sniff, “Is that hot chocolate I smell?”

Jungkook returns from the kitchen, two mugs in hand. “With extra whip cream and marshmallows, as ordered.”

You carefully take it from him, giving your thanks and happily slurping away the second it’s in your grasp. 

“Alright Caravaggio, what are we watching?” he asks, sitting down on his side, sipping away on his own. 

Sometime between you leaving for the shower and coming back out Jungkook changed into his own comfy attire, and tidied up the studio space as the pool and tarp are nowhere to be seen.

“I’ve thought really hard about this, all of however long I was in the shower,” Jungkook mutters something about 35 minutes; you ignore him, “And have settled on ‘A Miser Brothers Solstice’.”

He whines just a little when he says, “But it’s November.”

“So?”

“So, Solstice isn’t until the third week of December,” he’s saying this like his point is the most obvious thing in the world. 

It’s not.

“Your point?”

“That it’s November, and you want to watch a Solstice movie.”

You’re mockingly outraged.

“Who made you town grinch? I didn’t realize we had a holiday hater in our midst.” 

You loved the holidays, all the big ones, and the small ones, but Solstice was special. 

“I’m not a grinch, I’m just not there yet, mentally.”

“Then get ready to dive in head first, because you said I could pick the movie for risking my life for you and I pick ‘A Miser Brothers Solstice’.”

Jungkook doesn’t argue further, but he does roll his eyes as he puts on your movie with a small smile hidden behind his drink.

It’s sometime during the first act, you’re lying back against your corner of the couch, feet up and under the blanket when you ask, “What are your solstice break plans?” 

Jungkook takes a moment to part from the TV, very invested for someone who was so against it half an hour ago. “I have a lot of ‘princely duties’ to do for Solstice, like standing and looking thoughtful while my dad gives his annual Solstice speech,” you snort. “Then there’s the palace dinner, the parade through the capital, and the live televised event,” he says in a tv announcer's voice, “Where my family and I light the Solstice Star. And then there’s the new year and that in itself has another long list of things I have to do. Besides things like that though? Not much, and then it’s back here.”

Right.

You often forget who he is. 

That behind those kind eyes, and small smiles, behind the greenhouse study dates, and movie nights, and photoshoots, Jungkook has an enormous responsibility constantly looming over his head, counting down the days until he finishes his schooling. One that’s just waiting to drop onto his shoulders forever. 

You often forget that Jungkook is the Prince, first in line to the biggest throne in the realm. That you spend your time with not only Jeon Jungkook, friend and photography student, but also, His Royal Highness, Prince Jeon Jungkook, Heir Apparent and Future King of The Western Shores.

He just makes it so damn easy to forget.

You only asked because you thought maybe he had plans with friends or family, completely forgetting about all of the things the royal family does during the holiday season to celebrate with the nation, their people, and now you feel like an ass for even bringing it up.

But there’s something in his answer, or lack thereof, that snags your attention. 

“What about celebrating with your family and friends in private?”

“No time,” Jungkook’s stare goes distant as he brings his knees up and puts his arms around them, resting his chin. “Friends are always busy with palace preparations and dad’s not really the sentimental type. We celebrated when I was younger; big family breakfast, presents, tree decorating, whole thing. But after I turned about 13 or so, it started dwindling pretty quickly. Now it’s just me and my mom exchanging a gift with each other at midnight under the palace tree.” 

You don’t think you’ve ever heard something so heartbreaking yet beautiful in your life. 

“Your mum sounds wonderful, I’m really happy you two get that time together.” 

He looks at you, and you can tell by the look in his eyes he loves that time with her more than anything else. 

Solstice is supposed to be the time you spend with your family, blood or chosen. The time where you all gather to cook and bake, and exchange thoughtful gifts with the ones you love. The time where you truly cherish one another and count yourself lucky for all that you have. 

Solstice is your favourite time of the year.

To not spend it like that just seems…wrong. Horribly, painfully, awfully wrong.

“What about you?” he asks.

You don’t want to make him feel bad, so you tone down your answer, taking away the meat and giving the bones.

“My mum and I cut down our own tree and decorate it with the ornaments we’ve collected over the years,” you have them from every place you’ve ever visited, and your mum kept all the ones you ever made as a kid. You even get a new one every solstice to take a picture for and label with the year.  

“Then we bake solstice cookies until our hands cramp and survive off only them until solstice dinner; a turkey, honey glazed carrots, mashed potatoes with gravy, essentially if it waters your mouth, it’s there,” he chuckles at that. “We do gifts for each other too, opening them on solstice morning before making hot drinks and reading in the breakfast nook until the sun sets or till we get hungry, whichever comes first.”

Jungkook's eyes glow, radiating warmth, a lazy smile on his face as he listens to you. 

“That sounds really nice, YN.”

“It is,” you reply, looking him in those radiant eyes as you do. He looks… happy. Happy for you, that you get to have something like this that’s so special. It breaks your heart a little…maybe you can help.

“You wanna make some solstice cookies with me before break?”

His look of happy shifts to one of slight panic.

“What?” you question, and comically ask, “Have you never made solstice cookies before?”

He hesitates before answering a very quiet, “Uh…N-no.”

Your shock must be incredibly evident in the way he almost flinches at your reaction.

So you try your best to keep your voice level when you ask, “What do you mean, no?”

“I mean no. I’ve never made solstice cookies.”

That’s it. You can’t hold back any more, you’ve never heard anything so blasphemous in all your life.

“You’ve never what?  How is that even possible?”

He shrinks into himself a little more.

“The palace pastry chef always makes them because that’s kind of his job,” you stare at him in disbelief. “Is this really that big a deal?”

You swear there’s cog’s and smoke flying out of your ears. Solstice cookies are a religion in your household. You know dozens of recipes by heart, always finding a new one each year to try and up your game. You cannot imagine a solstice without making them. Wait no, actually you can, but it would be because you’re dead.

You held back in your answer earlier, for his sake, but you and your mom’s hands cramp up because you make enough cookies to give a box to everyone in the neighborhood. It’s one of your favourite traditions, and your neighbours even look forward to it every year, going so far as sending you both recipes to try out.

“Big dea—you’ve never fucking mad—not even when you were little? No one brought you to the kitchen and let you help? Aren't all your friends back home the pastry chefs' kids or something?” You don’t mean to sound harsh, but your tone is a little more passionate than you were intending. 

But Jungkook knows you, knows you occasionally get that passionate about things, and takes your outburst in stride. 

“Yeah, one of them is, but we don't sit around the oven and make cookies all break long. And his dad is always too busy to teach us even if we wanted to.”

You decide something. Right then and there.

“This year you are.”

“What?”

“Mark your last Saturday off because I'm going to show up here, ingredients-a-plenty and teach you how to make solstice cookies. I have a million recipes up here,” you tap your head with a finger, “But I'll choose the easiest ones. And I’ll come over early so we can spend the day making all of them. I can’t in good conscience leave for the break knowing you’ve never made them.”

He sighs. “Do I have any say in the matter?”

“Absolutely not.”

Jungkook stares at you and you can’t figure out what he’s thinking. You’re worried he’s going to say no anyway. To say you’re crazy and that they’re just cookies and that he has more important things he has to do on his Saturday before leaving for home.

But he doesn’t. And you should’ve known he wouldn’t, not after all the time you’ve spent together. 

You know better. Know him better.

“Alright Picasso. Sounds like a plan. I’m looking forward to it,” he decides, and goes back to watching the movie. 

It’s the first time he’s ever repeated a nickname.

“Wait! The wind guy wants to replace who?!” Jungkook shouts. 

You laugh at his confusion, and rewind the movie.

Jungkook wakes up sore.

His back is killing him, which makes sense since he’s half lying on the couch, half on the ground. 

The TV’s silently playing some slideshow of movie recommendations based on recent watches. 

He checks his phone, reaching for it on the coffee tale. 

14% battery. 

4:07am. 

Shit, he fell asleep. 

After the solstice movie he wanted to watch its predecessor. You had no qualms and so on it went, but he doesn’t remember much after the brothers started fighting.

Hearing soft, even breathing next to him he turns to see you, hunched over in your spot asleep, no doubt in the process of ruining your own back.

He should go to bed.

You should go to bed. 

But you’ve never stayed the night.

What should he do? Should he wake you? 

But you look so peaceful. And it’s nearing exams. You barely sleep when it’s exams season. 

Instead, Jungkook goes to check the guest room, but it’s a mess with yesterday's comings and goings. Make-up and clothes and hangers strewn everywhere.

Quietly, making a decision he hopes you won’t kill him for in the morning, he pads back to your sleeping form. 

It’s for your back, he tells himself. No other reason.

Deja vu sets in as he scoops you up from the couch, blanket and all. Just like last time, you gain enough consciousness to know to wrap your arms around his neck, but not enough to wake up. Your head rests on his shoulder and he selfishly savours the feeling as he walks down the short hallway to his room.  

Jungkook sets you down gently on one side of the bed, and your arms release, slumber undisturbed as he tucks you in.

He goes back to the living room to retrieve your phones. Yours is still at 56%, and he places it on the table beside you when he returns.

Climbing into his side of the bed, he’s careful not to touch you.

Though he wants to. 

Desperately. 

His sleep deprived brain is too slow to block out the thoughts that start to race. Thoughts of how he wants to turn around and pull you into his chest, slide an arm around your waist, and kiss you goodnight. How he wants to wake up in the same position, you still in his arms. 

But he’s also awake enough to know that will never happen. That you’re with Nel, and happy with him. That he’s drawn that nice, big line.

He’s awake enough to know you being in his bed is a fluke, unintentional.

A one time thing.

Plugging his phone into its charger, he sets it down on his own bedside table and pulls the covers up, falling back asleep.

His back facing you. 

An exhale wakes you.

Warm and cozy, you take a deep breath and roll to your left side, stretching on the way over. The scents of clean linen and something familiar find you. It’s comforting, that smell, but you can’t place it.

Another exhale, but this time you feel it as well as hear it.

You open your eyes to see a sleeping Jungkook face not a foot from your own and you jolt in shock, falling off the bed in the process. 

You look up from your new seat on the floor, ignoring the pain in your side from landing, and peer over the covers to check on Jungkook, who, miraculously, hasn’t woken up from your tumble. 

Relieved, your mind focuses on more pressing questions like ‘how did you get here?’ And ‘why were you in his bed?’ 

The last thing you remember was being halfway through the prequel to A Miser Brothers Solstice on the couch, watching Jungkook more than the movie because of how invested he’d become in the story. 

But you aren’t on the couch now. You were in his bed. 

The bed of the Prince of the Western Shores. 

The Prince who has a girlfriend, and you, who has a very long term, very serious boyfriend.

You hear a vibration, and following the sound, you find your phone on the bedside table. 

You quickly grab it quickly and go to the living room as quietly as you can manage. 

There’s a large number of unread texts. 

SlurryYuri [11:08pm]: hey, just checking in. You didn’t get home when you said you’d try for SlurryYuri [11:31pm]: Helloooooooo? YN? You there? SlurryYuri [12:14am]: it’s getting late YN, when are you coming home? Are you on your way?

Missed Calls: (3)

SlurryYuri [2:43am]: it’s been hours, so you better be dead or have crashed in the school somewhere. Either way I’m kicking your ass when you get home

Missed Calls: (2)

(Recent)

SlurryYuri [9:36am]: you’re still not home?? YN seriously, where are you SlurryYuri [10:23am]: If you don’t message me back in an hour I’m calling the police and filing a missing persons

Shit. 

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. You crashed hard, the shoot must have taken more out of you than you thought, so you never texted Yuri you were going to crash in a sleep pod at school like you’d planned too. 

You make quick work of messaging her back, glad she unintentionally gave you just the excuse you needed. 

YN [10:25am]: ohmygod I’m soooooo sorry, it was the school one. I fell asleep in the school. I’m sorry for worrying you. I’ll be home soon, promise. I’m just going to grab breakfast first. Again im sorry

SlurryYuri [10:27am]: thank the gods youre okay!! Don’t ever do that to me again YN! I don’t wanna be the one who has to break news to your mom!! She’s too nice.  SlurryYuri [10:27am]: and take your time getting back if your rushing for me, I’m not at the dorm SlurryYuri [10:27am]: Tai showed up yesterday out of the blue and took me dancing. We’re out getting brunch right now, and he has plans for the rest of the day SlurryYuri [10:28am]: Im just glad you’re not dead in a ditch somewhere

YN [10:29am]: me too, and okay I will. Thanks for checking up on me and making sure im safe, youre my favourite

SlurryYuri [10:30am]: damn right I am, see you tn <3

YN [10:30am]: see you <3

You exhale deeply, that was fucking close. 

Your stomach rumbles and it reminds you that you actually need to get breakfast. 

What could you have? You could order in again, but that means a wait time and you are hungry now. You could raid Jungkook's pantry, or see if he has any fruit, but then you think that’s a gross invasion of privacy when it’s not movie night and you haven’t asked if it’s okay. 

Wait.

The egg tarts!

You dash to the fridge, the marvellous sight of a greenhouse inside a coffee mug comes into view. Stuffing one down before you even get the box from the fridge, you exit the kitchen, sit down on the couch, setting the box on the coffee table. Once opened in front of you, you realize there is a healthy amount of tarts inside. 

How many did Jungkook ask for?

Speaking of, a bed-headed, yawning Jungkook makes his morning debut, still in last night's clothes.

“Hey,” he says groggily, walking over and stealing a tart.

“Hey!” you say back, not nearly as friendly. 

“Overnight tax, Picasso. Room isn’t free.” He chuckles at your faux outrage, popping half the tart in his mouth as he walks to the kitchen and grabs something from the fridge. Returning, you see it’s a morning protein shake. 

Gross. 

“So is that name the one you’re sticking to now?” you ask, picking up another tart. At this rate they won’t last until lunch.

“Yeah, that okay with you? It’s your name in my phone after all.”

“It is?” You didn’t know that.

“Yeah, has been since the start.” 

You’re quickly learning that sleepy morning Jungkook is very different from morning post work-out Jungkook, friend Jungkook and photographer Jungkook. His voice is deeper, he’s a lot more relaxed, and maybe even harmlessly borderline flirty, like he’s not all there yet. Softer. 

“Picasso’s just fine. A compliment really.”

“Oh? And what am I in your’s then? Hopefully something just as nice?”

You tell him like it is.

“PJK.”

“PJK?” he asks, incredulous.

“Yeah? It’s obscure enough to not be recognizable if someone were to see it, but enough for me to know who it is.”

“Nah, you need something better, PJK is boring.”

“It’s your initials.”

“And boring,” he’s really not letting up on this. 

“Well...what would you save yourself as?”

He mulls it over for a minute before deflating. “Okay, fair point, but I seriously want a new one. Something that can rival Picasso.”

“Do you have any nicknames? Something not completely obvious?”

For a morning person, Jungkook sure is taking his time. Maybe he was only a morning person before 8am, and then if he got up anytime after that he became a normal person who despised mornings like everyone else.

“Uhh…Vivian calls me JK, but that’s essentially the same thing as PJK. My buddies back home sometimes call me Kook, but I don’t think that works either. My mum has one for me that I will not disclose to anyone so long as I am breathing. So I guess not.”

A lightbulb dings over your head. “What about your security? Don’t they have special code names for you when they detail you? Like bear or eagle?” 

“Yeah, but it’s not nearly as badass as either of those.”

“Fess up,” you say. Now you have to know.

“Hare.”

“Hare?” Now it’s your turn to be incredulous. “Like a rabbit?”

“Yep.”

An idea pops into your head and an evil grin spreads across your face, one you know is already setting worry into Jungkook’s still awakening brain as you change his name.

“I don’t like that look,” he confirms. “What’d you change it to?”

You flip your phone around and hold it up to him.

“Bunny?” he says incredulously once again.

“Yes.”

“I give you Picasso, one of the greatest painters of all time, and you think giving me bunny is anywhere near on par with that?”

Teasing him is far too fun, especially when he makes it this easy for you.

“Oh absolutely. In fact, I think it’s the best name I could possibly set it as.”

Jungkook disagrees, vehemently. “No, change it back. PJK is fine.”

“Too late. You dug your grave, now lie in it.”

Jungkook brings a hand to his face, pinching the crease between his brows and takes a very long, deep breath, exhaling just as dramatically. 

You take that as your victory. But you’re sorely mistaken.

He launches at you, reaching for your phone and you scream, reaching your arm to keep it away from him. You have a fox socked foot on his chest to try and keep him back. His right arm is holding him up near your hip on the couches edge and he’s reaching with his left as far as he can without breaking his sternum on your heel. 

“Give it!”

“Never!”

You try to bring up your other foot to push him away, but Jungkook is strong, and forces both it and the one on his chest down with the arm that was supporting him, temporarily keeping himself up with his left hand on the back of the couch. 

With your legs out of the way he can almost reach his phone. But in his distracted state, misses the couch when he goes to put his supporting arm down again, and flips onto the ground, taking you with him. You scream, but his arms wrap around you as he makes sure to take the brunt of the impact, landing on his back, you safely secured to his chest. 

There’s a moment of pure stunned silence, you resting your forhead on his chest while you process, him not letting go of your waist as he gets a breath into his winded self, before you’re both laughing as you take in what happened.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, you?”

He takes a second to respond. “I’m great.” 

You push to sit up, and he releases you from his hold, but that was a mistake. Because now you’re sitting on his lap. 

It takes an entire three seconds of you staring at him and him staring right back before you jump and scramble off him as fast as you can. 

“Sorry.” you say in unison, you standing and him from the ground. It’s a painfully awkward 8 seconds before you break, cackling at the whole situation, and he joins in with you again. 

Jungkook brushes off his pants as he gets up too. “Got any plans before tonight,” he asks, business as usual.

“Nope, cleared my schedule in case this went long, I’ve got the whole day.”

You swear his smile grows two sizes.

“Well in that case,” he looks to the TV, then back to you, “Wanna start movie night early?”

An entire day to relax and chill out before the hell that is exams season takes your every free second? 

Yes please.

“Solstice movie marathon?” you propose slyly, near devious.

“I’ll get the popcorn,” he confirms, already halfway to the kitchen.

You spend the day like that, on the couch watching movie after movie, both pretending the little incident never even happened. 

But you make sure to go home after movie night this time. 

Chapter Nine: Sugar Cookies and Devious Confessions

A/N 2: This chapter kicked my ass but it's here and I couldn't be more thrilled. I really like how it's ended so I hope you guys do too.

A/N 3: As always, Thank you for reading, loves. Xoxo - Yoon <3

<- Back

[pansexualhousecat]

seems like mel's VA said that mel isn't manipulative and people are taking her word as gospel as all fandoms do when a VA speaks up about any media, unfortunately.

i understand her point in that mel was trying to do what she thought was right and that is true, mel is someone who grew up seeing war and colonization because of noxus and her mother so she has a different view of the world and thinks what she's doing is the best and she does have good intentions to protect people.

but she was still manipulating the people around her to get what she wanted. does it mean she's a terrible person and the worst villain in the series? of course not and people who think like that are dumb. her manipulation comes from a good intention in her mind (protecting Piltover) but comes at the expense of the people who were actually suffering which are the people of Zaun, the people that the council ignored, let die and rot until they thought they were a threat to their perfect city. that includes mel.

mel is not a horrible person, but she's not 100% good either, her manipulation coming from a place of good intentions does not erase that but it also does not make her the worst person in the show. people don't seem to understand that the characters are not one dimensional, pointing out flaws in a character doesn't mean it's hate, it's analysis of them.

BUT!!! of course there are people who are spreading misogynoir rhetoric towards mel as well and i'm not denying that at all either, people are disgusting towards poc characters and especially women.

i love mel and i think she's one of the smartest characters in the show and her story is incredible, i'm excited to see more and how she grows. i'm not saying she's a villain in any way here, just explaining my thoughts. we should think critically about characters and not see them as just one thing, having flaws is important to every character and sometimes these flaws are something that helps them achieve what they want, just doesn't make these flaws something good.

[redstonedust]

If you're writing a story about a system character, imo it's good to have a baseline "this is what we go by when we don't know or don't care." Like for example most people call me Percy and that's the bodies identity, but I am Peregrine. Physical indicators are super fun to include and can indeed fit with the idea of a baseline "identity". I think it's important to remember that systems with less alters have a far far easier time with that lollll

I have a character that has fabric braided into her hair that can change colour depending on who is fronting (or be neutral if it's hard to tell) so her friends can tell who they are in that moment. A non magical indicator could be literally anything you can think of, when it was just me and 3 others who weren't dormant we used bracelets. Whatever bracelet that was at the front of the set was the alter fronting. Another common one is earrings

oh yeah, system names/default names are a good shout, thats something i didnt do with my earlier plural character attempts but i understand are fairly commonplace. also the fabric thing is so cute. it sounds like the general vibe is just to think about personalities and what kind of signifiiers (if any) they would use in their given situation

[thequietkid-moonie]

Another reason to stay

[ HEADCANONS ] [ Furina, Neuvillete ]

[ Genshin Impact ]

⚠️ Mention of depression and suicidal ideation

Some conforting fic with some of my favorite characters!! Yeeeey!!

I decided to keep this as neutral as posible because i want to make sure everyone can get the comfort, no matter if you like them in a romantic or platonic sense <3

Furina

Getting to be close to Furina is quite the journey, she is considered and idol all around Fontaine and she is loved as such what already makes it dificult to get to actually know her (and even when you can make an appointment with the hydro archon or have the opportunity to work along her she normally doesn't let her guard down nor drop her excentric character)

Still, once you manage to leave a good impression on Furina it will just be matter of time and patience for you two to grow close to each other, becoming incredibly meaningful in boths life almost in the same way, once you become so important for Furina she will grow a bit clingy and even doesn't bother to hide how much she appreciate you (even if she deny it when someone ask)

You grow to mean so much to her that even without knowing you become a reason why this life is worth living, a reminder of why everything she has being throught and all her efforts have been completely valid and that she has been doing a good job, no matter when you two grow together (if before or after the prophecy) that doesn't chance how she feels nor the fact that she struggle a little to directly tell you how important you are for her

Furina had been a bit too distracted by the comfort your presence brings her that when she got to know that you struggle with serious problems like depression or even have thought before about taking your life is completely shocking for her, she is in panic the moment she get to know, even if she didn't got to know the extent of your depression she will be so scared that may end up even thinking is worst that how it actually it is because now she is too scared that she may lose you

Furina is too scared to ask for further details but also is trying really hard to think how to help you, her mind goes back and forth between thinking what she can do to help you and how she could tell you how important you truly are for her and how much you have helped her while trying to don't broke in tears

Furina needs a while to think on all of this before being able to calm down, and probably some time alone because she is a mess and doesn't want you to see her like this so you won't feel responsible for it or something, but even even when she manage to calm down she won't be less worried, she will just be able to think with a clever mind and actually try to make a plan to bright up your days just like you have done for her (and, also, making a plan about how to finally tell you how much you have helped her and how comforting your simply presence it is without embarrassing herself in the process)

It end up being easier to offer sincere help and care than she thought since she can understand the feelings and what you are going throught, your stories may not be that same but the feelings you are being tormented with are, she knows how you feel and because of that she can offer you an understanding company

When you express how after all this time and for how close you two have grow to be she has become one of the reasons why you still find reasons to stay alive and keep trying everyday is shocking for Furina, but this time in the complete opposite way, it makes her feel flattered and a bit embarrassed but that slowly transforms into an inmense happiness, and this time she won't be able to hold back her tears because, for her you are just as special and important as she is for you

Neuvillete

It isn't the easiest thing to get close to Neuvillete just because he is normally serious and it can be quite intimidating his position as the ludex of Fontaine, but once you get to know him better you can see how kind and surprisingly gentle he actually can be, as well as really caring

Once you two grow close enough to consider you someone special your simply presence and company can mean a lot for him, he doesn't really have much free time because of his work and all the responsabilities but he is always making sure you are alright and taking time to offer you help if you ever have a problem

Neuvillete can have quite a hard time when it comes to feelings, he is not excatly clueless but because of the complexity of the emotions and having to hold back himself since as the Ludex he can't get carried away from his feelings despite being quite emotional makes him have some troubles so he would have a bit some troubles to understand what are you going throught, but he will try to actually understand because of how much he cares for you

As the Ludex he have seeing all kind of people in court, with all kind of reactions and motivations but that doesn't stop him from not only be surprised but also concern when he understand the terrible state you are, even if you smile or seem to have a good time whenever you two spend time together that doesn't ereaser the deep sadness and suffering that you have to live with, and, honeslty, he is quite heartbroken because of that. If you don't say it directly or even try to don't make a big deal out of it he will try to don't talk more about the topic but he simply can't take the thought out of his head (if later that day it start to raining out of nowhere is probably because he is still thinking about the matter and feeling more and more concern)

Neuvillete will make up his mind to help you with everything he can, he won't exactly use his position to benefit you or something, he will rather try his best to help you, personally trying to learn more about depression and how to help you as well as being extra caring, he is just way too worried and will take him a while to finally know how to help

Neuvillete is already worried enough but knowing that you have tought about dying as something serious, not as a posibility but as an option, just make him grow more concern (but it is until you tell him, either directly or indirectly, he doesn't want to jump into more concerning conclusions just because he can't stop thinking about it and growing more worried), he can't imagine what it is and yet won't judge you, again, he wants to understand you to be able to help you in any way he can, he doesn't want to lose you after all (at least not this early and sudden)

But the moment you admit that he is one of the reason why you stay alive, one of the reasons why you keep finding the strengtht to keep going and one of the reasons why life is at least slighy more bearable Neuvillete will be incredibly touched, he feels like is some kind of honor to be this important in your life (just as you are important in his), he won't know how to react or even how to answer but will definetly thank you for it, promising that you will always be able to count on him

Actually, knowing this will gave Neuvillete as sense of responsability with you, but not in a bad way it just makes him feel like the efforts he constantly does to help you are actually helping so he needs to keep with this, to be there for you, to be able to provide you help and because it makes him incredibly happy seeing you genuinely happy and even improving

[gayofthefae]

Wanted to keep this out of the original post because I want it to exist solely about El but this is also all why it is so important that she be in this place before Mike and Will get together. I understand people's concern for El's reaction because they are picturing 4x03 El, the entire point of season 4 being though that she is NOT that person anymore, but I understand the confusion. It is her most recent reaction to not being loved by Mike, and they are thinking of her hating a lack of love from Mike specifically, so they don't think of her growth from that being demonstrating when she rejects Brenner's.

But the fact that she has is so important. Because I see it. She was desperate for Mike's attention, her body still viewing it as life or death - an incredibly dangerous thing to not achieve and maintain a man's attention. I do not think she would have in any way hated her brother. Unlike season 2 Max, she has an existing relationship with him. But it WOULD have been far more difficult for her were she still desperate for his love like she was.

Because it isn't just about El believing herself lovable without Mike loving her. It's also about El believing herself safe if she isn't loved.

She loves herself now. But she also knows that she's safe. So if Mike leaves for Will, she will still be lovable, and she can trust that Mike will not discard her, because he loves her independently of her "earning" or "maintaining" it. Love is not something to be failed at because it is not something you can succeed at either.

She finally knows that to be loved is a passive thing and that not to be loved is a safe thing. And they made sure she knew that before she and Mike separated.

In that post, I outline how she is not fighting for Mike's attention, but attempting to relive and rectify the love she could not earn from Brenner. It is why there are Mike/Brenner parallels from season 1(, why there are Hopper/Brenner parallels when she needs his love in season 2) and why the climax of her "love" arc in season 4 is leaving Brenner with absolutely no relation to Mike. Because the plot had no relation to Mike in the first place. He was just a man to project onto. Now she has processed the actual, deeper need, and let it go. As always, characters are wrong about what they need. In this case, she was wrong twice: what she wanted vs who she wanted it from, and what she wanted vs what she needed.

To resolve it with Brenner El realized that it was about Brenner. She has detached it from its projection on Mike and now, in regard to those stakes, he is just as Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Jonathan's love are to her.

She is free. Mike is just Mike to her now. For the first time in the series, Mike is just Mike. (also very helpful for his arc to be loved this way now). From here, anything can happen. The stakes are gone, because they were never about him to begin with.

Before, if he left, her body felt it like her abuser abandoning her all over again every time. Now, if he leaves, it's Mike leaving. Hurts. Sad. But that's all it is.

[aaronymous9]

YES I HAVE BEEN THINKING THIS FOR WEEKS!!

I think it’s also important to point out that Wolfgang also seems to have a limited understanding of feminism and dealing with the nuances of it in practical social situations? Like he’d be very quick to tell off a man for being mean to a girl like Eloise, but the moment Grace is screaming at her he decides to take… Grace’s side? Now don’t get me wrong I don’t think he’s a bad person or anything but I think he has a very boyish mindset when it comes to how he treats women and stands up for them, which is likely because well. His mother probably died when he was just a boy. Like it feels like his advocacy for women stops at basic stuff that you learn as a kid and doesn’t get more into the nuances that you learn as you grow up? I really don’t know how to word this and I’ve rewritten this post several times but yeah there are plenty of examples of moments in game that made me raise an eyebrow with regards to how he acts in more complex social situations with women. Like for example, Eva. Case and point. He clearly goes harder on Eva throughout chapter 1. Like he does outcast Damon as well but the way he acts around Eva is definitely worse to me, and it’s especially strange because Damon said way worse shit during the prologue’s trial than Eva did, and yet people are more willing to reintegrate Damon into the group than they are to Eva.

That could devolve into a whole rant about the gender dynamics in the game but just yeah. I love Wolfgang as a character but he’s the type of guy that if I met him IRL and one of my female friends started complaining to him about weaponized incompetence, gender pay gay, nuances of women in healthcare, etc. I feel like he wouldn’t really get it? Like his scope of knowledge on women’s issues is very small to me?

Wolfgang is honestly such a funny character cuz he's literally the biggest and most openly passionate feminist in the cast (probably even more so cuz of his mum and her work) while also being the biggest and most obvious example to point to when it comes to his male status being a very probable contributor to what allowed him to lead and thrive more easily and without as much judgement in ways his female peers are unable to (Diana and Eva).

Also something something about him being so emotional and enraged about the unrestrained violence committed against Cara and believing that "killing a woman is the worst thing a man could do" when it's theorised and seemingly implied by his hallucinations that his father-- the man he resembles so heavily-- murdered his mother.

[csphire]

I think what really breaks the Solavellan romance in VG for me is how much closure for the Inquisitor is sidelined in favor of Solas's half of the relationship. I get it. Forgiveness is important and it's his lowest moment but after everything Lavellan as a character had to go through and experienced, everything the character canonically loses, there's something off about seeing it all kind of end with an anti-climactic "Lavellan joins him in fade prison so he doesn't have to be alone." It feels almost like she's his reward. I'm glad for some people they like the ending but, man, it just doesn't sit right with me. Who comforts Lavellan over her lost friends? Who is there for her while the blight destroys Southern Thedas? Who helped her adjust to life after the loss of her arm? And unlike with Solas, none of that was the result of her choices or due to mistakes she made. Idk maybe I'm just wildly off base but I feel like while at least some of the writing has compassion for Solas there is none that is tangibly afforded to the Inquisitor. It feels like compared to the Warden and Hawke at least, a Solas-manced Inquisitor gets such a lack of care. They do almost all of the giving and they lose so much but it's never really tangibly acknowledged within the VG romance. people like to say "just head-canon it" but why am I doing the writers job for them? They had this romance span two games and involve a major antagonist, there should have been a more thoughtful and nuanced ending for VG.

I agree, with all the build-up in Trespasser it felt set up for the Inquisitor to play a bigger part in DA4. And out of all of the companions, it also felt like Varric was the one who helped the most, for not just Lavellan but any Inquisitor, to pick up the pieces after Solas left. He gave them a Kirkwall title, and key to the city, and basically rolled out the red carpet to help them feel like they had a place to call home when they would inevitably leave Skyhold behind for good. I feel like he led the charge in tracking down Solas in what I've seen in the comics too. So his death is a gut punch to any Inquisitor but it's just brushed aside and minimized for the plot twist and so a Lavellan can choose to go with Solas into the Fade. Please keep in mind, one thing I've not gotten a clear answer on, as I've not made it so far into the game is, did Rook know Varric was dead when he encourages the Inqusitor to redeem Solas? But on another note, the Veilguard broke at least one rule when it came to party sizes so I don't understand why we could not have broken another rule and had two protagonists to control when it came to dialogue at least. And many of us would have loved to have seen our Inqusitor fighting again as a temporary companion too because so many in the past in FB groups would drop ableist comments on how the Inqusitor cannot fight anymore with just one hand. It sickens me BioWare seemed to double down on this. With all the tough things out there they have handled in the past to address racism, sexism, gay and trans rights they shy away from addressing ableism? Like with Neve if we told her to take it easy because she was hurt at the beginning she could have had a talk with Rook about coddling her because of her artificial leg. But that didn't happen or any comment made about it at all. On one hand not addressing and focusing on her character instead might be cathartic for someone in a similar situation in real life. But honestly, I feel like Neve missing a leg was just put there to silence any criticism of benching the Inquisitor and in your words turning a Lavellan into Solas's reward. But I have seen some comments here and there that Mike did not want a Lavellan happy ending to happen at all. And it was the writers who pushed for it to happen for the sake of the Solas fans. So I sit here with a lot of mixed feelings about the whole thing. Two of my favorite characters in the whole Dragon Age series and one of them murdered the other and it leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth. I don't think Solas should have been so much of an antagonist in Veilguard mainly because he was not in the Inquisition. For me, Solas felt so out of character in Veilguard. Plus what he did ruined any chance for my Lavellan reconciling with him because he's now killed two of his friends one of them a mutual of my Lavellan's. For me at least one does not run off with someone who has a track record like that ten years after he dumped my ass. Plus giving Solas a second chance feels... dirty, like an insult to Varric's memory. That and Lavellan deserves better than to sacrifice her safety, comfort, and possibly even life for Solas at this point. And I hate how the writers and the whole game sets things up that leaves me feeling like that.

[iamnmbr3]

for the thing you just reblogged, 33 for draco

-33- redeeming qualities

I think a lot of Draco's qualities are not inherently good or bad - like his wit, his intelligence, his determination, his creativity, his enthusiasm for things he's interested in, his drive to excel at things he feels are important etc. It's how he chooses to use and express these qualities that is mostly bad in the early books and changes later.

That said, I'm going to be controversial here and choose compassion/empathy as his greatest redeeming feature. "Compassion and empathy?" you say. "Draco Malfoy?" you add. "Are you sure you aren't thinking of some other character? Have you read the books?" Yes I have (more times than I care to admit) and hear me out. Despite all the pressures on him and all the conditioning of his upbringing, Draco has no taste for true cruelty. And that come just from him. Even at a period in his life when he gleefully calls Hermione slurs and professes to wish her dead, when she (and by extension Harry and Ron) are actively in danger of being attacked by Death Eaters at the Quidditch Cup (since of course Lucius is among those Death Eaters and thus will recognize Hermione) Draco warns them of the danger. Because he can't help himself. Because somewhere deep down he doesn't want to actually see her or any of them be hurt. His wand core is unicorn hair - the core most suited to healing and least suited to dark magic of the three core types - and that again says something about who Draco is at his core. And that spark of compassion is what ultimately helps lead him to realize how wrong the path he has chosen is.

As for empathy, Draco is GREAT at understanding how Harry is feeling. He usually uses this to needle Harry, but it is notable. Now, that's because he's in love with Harry so he pays a ton of attention to him, but it's still notable.

Ask game here

[aeneia-art]

I have an uncomfortable and very personal connection to Lucanis, Illario & Caterina's (and Taash & Shathan relationship tbh, they're honestly a flip side of the same trauma) family dynamic, and it's sadly "neurospicey with high expectation caretaker (that is tbh, also Neurospicey)" that I want to shed a bunch of headcanons that I don't see brought up but OH BOY, I KNOW SOME THINGS.

It's unfortunately the "woman who lost all her children and now there is just one survivor" because my mother had six kids before me, they all died in infancy or early childhood, and there are things that I just feel about their upbringing. Bonus, my mother is Italian-Australian, if you want that extra cultural relevance I guess. But it made me very much appreciate their writing of her - because I recognised that hollowed out woman so well that watching her felt like a gut punch of familiarity.

SLAPPING A BIG OLD WARNING ON THIS AND UNDER A CUT because yeah, a lot of discussions of child death, intergenerational trauma, child abuse and family trauma. Seriously please mind those warnings!!

( and if you read these and go... OP are you okay,,,,?? its okay, I am told its called "intergenerational trauma"! and the therapist gave me pills about it! I kid, but also - yes i do therapy about it, don't sweat it, I also find these things kind of therapeutic because instead of just having these life experience rolling around I can use them to help others write good or understand character beats that might not be apparent straight away and honestly this kind of trauma is not written often or well, which is far more frustrating and upsetting, because often there is a lot of shame around failed motherhood, but also no one ever wants to talk about what its like to have dead children. Even if high infant mortality rates and loss of even up to age 15 children has dominated much of human history, but outside of horror movies, it's seldom actually discussed what that does to a family or the women involved over the long term. Weirdly outside of horror I can find it more readily about men than I can about women. )

Illario and Lucanis are often called the wrong name as children, when they are children especially, but even sometimes into adulthood. The exhausted moments when Caterina turns to Lucanis and goes "Giovanni, go get your brother." Then she stops, he stops, and then just get on with it.

The correction at them in training: "Maria- how many times have I told you not to-" then she swallows, their child eyes stare up, Illario wants to ask, Lucanis jerks his head to stop. Caterina swallows and taps a foot back into position.

They do things sometimes, training, talking, and especially gesturing, that Caterina's eyes just close and a pain falls over her face and there is no asking what it's about, but its clear, for a moment, just one or two, they were the same: they moved the same, acted the same, and the times and places blur.

Lucanis and Illario grow up without a sense of ever being completely alone in any room, especially when Caterina is present. The are ghosts in House Dellamorte, they do not know them particularly, but they know they wear their faces often.

There are anniversaries that they do not understand the importance of, moments that for some reason they will never be privy too, they must be present. They will seem sometimes so innocuous and unimportant, no one ELSE around them will ever understand it, but they know they can never miss it.

My immigrant kids will know this one well, but over protective parenting? It's turned up to 11. Imagine every stereotype about Asian / Eastern European / African / Latino / Mediterranean parents, but on HIGH BLAST. It's more akin to stories I have heard about parents who had to live through a war-zone and what their kids grow up with. You can't go anywhere, do anything, say anything, no one outside of your family is to be trusted. Friends? Keep them at arm's length, if they're allowed at all. Activities are limited to what can be supervised. And what's worse? There is no arguing that it's just them being paranoid. The proof is there. It happened. There is no saying that it's anxiety, it's over the top, because the worst has happened and they know it. You can't say it's "just paranoia talking" because it happened over, and over, and over again.

They wake up with Caterina walking in to check their breathing. I am 30+. My mother still does this, and every time I hear her take a relieved breathe. Life will never be taken for granted. Survival will never be taken for granted. She checks on them constantly, and it probably felt strange and spooky to feel her hovering as a child, but some point around 16, it probably started to make sense.

As children, they want to ask, they need to understand, they want to know why they have to live this way when others don't. It's frustrating too because others seem to know all the details when they don't and they're fed it in pieces. Then by adulthood, they understand and the pain is theirs too, now, whether they wanted it or not.

Teia must have been a breathe of fresh air to the entire household when she visited, the soul person that can banish the ghosts. Because Teia is an elf, there can be no confusing her for any of the other children, some confused creeping despair. She's Teia and she's only Teia, and it's probably in part why Caterina enjoys her company, because she's clearly no afraid of the old woman, but that there can be no mistaking there here and now of it.

Speaking of creeping despair: probably thank the Maker there are no mages in the family, if demons are born out of human emotion twisted??? What in the fuck must the Fade look like just the other side of House Dellamorte? IT'S A GOOD THING NO ONE IN THE FAMILY CAN GET POSSESSED RIGHT [stares directly into the camera like the Office]

The long nights of despair are palpable when alone in House Dellamorte after the servants are gone to bed and Illario and Lucanis sit doing study nearby. They watch her at times stare into the hollow depths, and at times when conversations veer about survival, choices, making assessments, she speaks candidly of crawling out of that place with her own two hands, not for pity, but on how one learns to live and go on. She says it's that or death, Illario asks if that means because the enemies of House Dellamorte will kill them? She says no and leaves it at that. They only realise in adulthood how often their grandmother sits and contemplates death, and not from another assassin's blade. It is only that it is completely unacceptable for her to ever give up that made her drag herself out. It's not grand declaration, it is a simple contemplation, she'd never want your pity. Even if therapists did exist in Thedas, what would they even say? Or do? There aren't enough therapists and drugs in the world. Everyone understands that no parent should bury their child, but to do it over and over and over? After awhile, there is only the quiet shuffling and exhaustion.

Of course Lucanis attracted a Spirit of Determination that became a Spirit of Spite, that is exactly what he has had shaped to him. Welcome to the other side of despair. Welcome to how you live through the worst days of your life. The first funerals of the Dellamorte House were probably the typical big wailing Mediterranean-type funerals. You scream, you cry, your rip your hair, you throw yourself at the coffin and wail. She thinks there is nothing worse in the world, and then - she finds out - there is worse. The last Dellamorte funerals are silent. There is no more grief to tear out. What is left is only determination, only resilience, only spite that drives the will to go on.

Likewise, it doesn't surprise me that he could calm himself even in the depths of torture, to make a deal with Spite. The Ossuary was hell, shut off and shut down as he says. But he and his family are a long won lesson on survival even when survival cannot feel worth it, anymore, a test of endurance that not even Zara would be able to scratch the surface of. When submission to pain would be so much easier. That is a resilience that didn't come from Caterina's torture, it comes from growing up in a graveyard that ebbs around you, that everyone sees when they look at you, and yet finding a way through, for good and bad. Perhaps not even well, but they have, they did, they continue to do so.

Caterina is past grief and it makes the woman before and the woman afterward, like two seperate lives. Which makes it so odd for Lucanis and Illario when... you know that moment when you find out that your parents were whole people that did wild shit before you ever existed that have just been sitting in the back? It's like that but worse. They hear stories and learn deeds, and it's hearing about a completely different person. Caterina that other people remember likely used to smile, and laugh, danced, did hijinks. They find old letters, portraits, commemorations, to this woman that seems to be as much as a ghost as all the other dead aunts and uncles. They have been robbed, not just of their family, and yes a peaceful childhood, but of that woman who could have been Nonnina, and now is just La Signora Dellamorte.

The apple never falls far from the tree, and I imagine that Caterina-before-the-deaths was some split of Lucanis and Illario. Which comes to something that I am sure might be contentious because I imagine it's hard to hear and see for someone who became so outright abusive as Caterina was to her grandchildren when we all love the boys dearly, but in a game about how good intentions and the best wishes and parts of us can be twisted I feel this isn't a far leap. You think you end up with five kids for someone as savvy as she was because she was an unpassionate, unloving woman? She was likely as fierce and devoted and passionate as the boys are now. (Which if you think all of this is to excuse her abuse, no, being broken by the world does give excuses to visit upon the next generation, that is the big difference between my mother and Caterina, my mother took her grief and shoved it fiercely into reminding me every day that I am loved). I understand it's easy to say abusers just woke up mean one day to hate the world, but the reality is probably way muddier than that, as often is in Dragon Age especially, this is a world where everyone has reasons they became what they are, and often did not start that way - and I think the unfortunate truth is that Caterina was once like Lucanis and Illario: passionate, driven, full of life and interest, hope and ambition to be the best she could be, and never dreamed of what it would all become.

So, yes, if you want to know what Illario and Lucanis look like after they have been actually, truly, soul-crushingly broken in a way that can never be repaired, look no further than Caterina. You can already see the shades of it in the Hardened Lucanis run, he turns himself away from remorse, redemption, love. The way Illario is trying to goad Lucanis into killing him. There but for the grace of the Maker, go her grandsons.

In that vein, I suspect she saw the traits that failed her most in Illario, and the ones that helped her survive in Lucanis, which in part lead to the divide in her treatment of the two of them.

There is probably some moment when someone is an edgelord at her, as dramatic mediterraneans are wont to do, spouted off about torture and pain and suffering. Caterina probably laughed in their face about it. It has big "you cannot hurt me in any way that matters" and "you can't hate me more than I hate myself" energy. She has stared into the abyss, she knows the darkest parts of herself, and some rat thinks they can frighten her back?

The only threat that hangs is someone hurting Illario and Lucanis. Nothing is too far, nothing is too much, when it comes to protecting what she has left. Caterina is both impassive to them, unknowable at times, frustrating at others, but then she throws down in broad daylight even as she enters true old age. I shudder to think about the torture she now inflicts in the name of her family.

[tribalauthor]

THE WISEWOMAN (roman reigns ff) <chapter 16>

word count: 2.7k

Sophia's POV:

I am currently in the studio where "WWE: The Bump" is filmed. The managers told me that I need to be interviewed after my debut and especially after what happened at Royal Rumble.

So me and Joe got back in New York yesterday after our amazing stay at Pensacola. I really loved it. He showed me around some beautiful places too, met his family and relatives.

I kinda hope we go back there soon. I really had a fun time. But all of this got me thinking that I have to introduce him to my mother and that will happen after the interview.

When she found out I met his parents, she said that now it's her turn and today she has no scheduled surgeries in the afternoon. I hope it goes well.

I shrugged the thoughts away now since I have other things to worry about at the moment.

I am sitting on the red velvet couch wearing tight long black dress with no shoulders and the red shoes and jewellery my boyfriend gifted me.

Joe wanted to come with me so bad but he has to train and prepare himself for the coldness of my mother later, so he will come to pick me up when I'm over with work.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today with our newest character in the universe, Sophia Heyman." Cathy announced me and I smiled at the camera waving at people.

"Hi. It's a pleasure to be here." I spoke.

"I have a lot of questions for you, Sophia. First of all, what made you come in WWE?"

"As many people know, my uncle suffered a serious leg injury and when I went to the hospital to visit him, he asked me to replace him temporarily here." I replied simply.

"And you agreed immediately?"

"No." I said frankly. "It took him some time to persuade me. I didn't like the idea at first since I had another job I had to build up but eventually, he convinced me and also there was no other choice but to stand up for him and help him out." I nodded my head.

"And how do you like it so far?"

"I love it. Every single time I appear here I start to understand uncle more why he is so devoted to this business." I was really smiley cause it's the truth.

"And you are doing an amazing job. Ladies and gentlemen, Sophia is one of the most talked WWE characters right now. People even call you the fashion icon of the company. I mean your style is really amazing." Cathy remarked and I thanked her.

"I honestly didn't expect this kind of reaction. See, I was just slightly familiar with the WWE before and one of the things that caught my eye is that fans are really devoted and are not very used to changes. But change is a necessity. You see how real life circumstances put us in different positions and we have no other choice." I replied as I crossed my legs.

"What is your relationship with Paul Heyman?"

"Uncle is a very important figure in my life. He has been next to me always despite the constant travelling the job is requiring." I nodded my head as I tried not to get too personal. "I mean, a lot of people say I am like him."

"I don't know about the looks but you definitely talk like him. And I wonder if you just try to be like that or you are just born this way."

"I was born like that." I replied seriously. "When you meet him you can ask him stories about my childhood. He has a lot. The crowd still hasn't seen my full potential of talking smack." I sneak peeked.

"We are looking forward to it." Cathy smiled softly and pulled out another note.

"What is your relationship with Roman Reigns?" it took her a long enough for thee question.

I just laughed softly and looked down, trying to keep my composure.

"Well, I don't know if you saw the Royal Rumble. Something is going on." I replied while finally making an eye contact with the camera.

"So is this a start of a romantic storyline between the Tribal Chief and the Wise Woman?" Cathy asked excitingly.

"Maybe. You have to tune in and see." I teased.

"And how did Paul react to all of this?"

"He was shocked. As the whole world. I mean me and Roman didn't tell anybody about this. No one knew. Not even Jimmy and Solo." I explained.

"Oh wow. So you really wanted to surprise the world." Cathy concluded.

"Yup."

"Is this storyline just a kayfabe or you really got something going on with Roman?" me and Joe totally expected this question and we were thinking of possible answers to say.

"It's real." I said and Cathy seemed very surprised actually. Maybe she is pretending but regardless, she seems surprised. "I mean even if we hide it, we can't hide it for long. You know, somebody will see us somewhere and the speculations will begin and so on and so on. So yes, we are together." I announced.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gonna witness two storylines then." Cathy waved her head with eager. "One last question. Are we getting Roman vs Rock for the main event of Wrestlemania? People wanna know."

"Tune in and see." I simply replied. "Maybe we will learn this Friday night at Smackdown." I winked at the camera.

"You heard her, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much, Sophia and see you on Friday." Cathy said the last words. I thanked her and then we got up to exchange a hug.

After that I went out of the studio as she was announcing the next guest which was Austin Theory. He just waved his hand softly at me before he got in the room.

As I hopped in Joe's car that was waiting for me outside and saw that he is wearing a black hoodie with JORDAN written on it, I started seeing black.

"Hi, baby." he greeted me and leaned to kiss me. "You look amazing."

"Thank you." I softly bit my lower lip.

"Sorry, I didn't come out. I just don't want anyone to see me here now." he apologized and he fired up the engine immediately leaving. "Plus, I don't want us to be late."

I just softly chuckled.

"Is everything okay?" he asked. How does he know it isn't? Maybe my face speaks too much.

"I'm just a bit nervous." I spoke frankly. "My mother isn't as warm as your parents. I gotta warn you."

"And it's completely normal. She is a surgeon and a widow. I don't expect her to be bubbly." he replied. He knows my father is dead and I know his only brother is too but we really never talked about it deeply since the topic is very serious.

"I'm just saying that she will probably act cold. That doesn't mean she hates you, she is just like this." I explained and he seemed kinda unfazed.

"I'm gonna be okay as long as she doesn't curse me out or something." Joe chuckled.

"With that Jordan hoodie? She might." I muttered.

"Oh my God. Is she a Lakers fan?" he exclaimed, obviously heard what I said to my nose.

"Yeah." I just responded. Didn't quite lie. Mom is watching the NBA and ever since I remember myself she is a Lakers fan. I wonder why (haha).

I can't tell him mom used to date Michael Jordan. I don't know how he is going to react and mom doesn't want anybody to know, so I'm keeping her secret with me.

"Crap. I gotta grab something else then. Thankfully I got some WWE merch in the back." he said with relief and I was even more relieved than him.

"Those jeans look good on you." I remarked as I looked at the dark blue jeans he is wearing. Not the skinny ones. Completely normal jeans which define his big thighs just perfectly.

"Thank you." he replied sweetly.

Roman's POV:

I eventually changed into the "Levels Above" hoodie since I want to make the best impression I can to Sophia's mother. Sophia seems a bit nervous and it makes me wonder if she is just reacting naturally or her mother is actually brutal.

I don't know if she will like me, I just don't want her to hate me because that would make the things hard...and also awkward. My parents didn't quite like Michelle neither her parents were okay with me. Therefore, I don't want history to repeat itself.

I bought a little present for Olivia. Since I don't know anything about her, I decided to play it safe and buy a retro ceramic mug set. Women love mug sets, so I hope she loves it as well.

"Mom. We're here." Soph shouted as we entered in her house. I was looking around the furniture. Her house is totally different from mine. While mine is more on the contemporary side, theirs is more from the industrial side. It really screams Brooklyn.

How does a wrestler know about interior design styles? When his ex-wife was an interior designer.

"Just on time, wow." Olivia appeared and woah. Such a beautiful woman radiating class. She is wearing a dark blue top and white pants and high heels.

These two women make me feel so poor and I'm the millionaire here. This is crazy.

Obviously Soph inherited her mother's beauty and elegance. You could tell they are related, for sure. However, Olivia's aura is way more serious than Sophia's. Well, she is the OG after all.

"Hello, Joe. Nice to meet you." Olivia gave her hand for a handshake. Even their voices are very similar.

"Pleasure is all mine, Olivia." I smiled at her as we shook hands. "I'm bringing something for you." I gave her the gift box.

"Thank you so much." she said politely with just a tiny bit smile forming on her mouth. She took the box and slightly peeked through it. "These are beautiful." she remarked and I think that maybe she looked impressed...a little bit.

Damn, this woman is hard to read.

I did a quick glance to Sophia and she gave me a reassuring nod, so everything is fine, let's say.

"Let's go to the dining room." Olivia said and we followed her.

I really love the style of this house. I can't describe it but it gives off really cozy vibes mixed with a traditional note. Everything is in different shade of brown and beige.

The light brown wooden table was set with the plates and cutlery, napkins and candles. I don't know how else to explain it but it feels like an early 00s rom-com where the guy meets his girlfriend's parents.

"So how was the interview, Soph?" Olivia asked her daughter.

"It was alright." my girlfriend replied as she made a sign to sit. "Joe, you want something to drink?"

"I'm just gonna pour myself some water." I replied as I took the water cup.

"So for a dish I wanted to make something healthy since I am a doctor and my daughter's boyfriend is an athlete." Olivia started explaining.

"You cooked?" Sophia asked with shock and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Of course I did. It's not the first time I'm doing it." the mother replied with almost zero emotion but maybe she got a bit mad at Sophia. I mean I can't really blame her.

Her job is literally the toughest of them all. I don't even wanna imagine what that woman sees every day and the fact that she is a widow. It's just heartbreaking.

"And what did you make?" I asked trying to prevent a passive aggressive conversation.

"Chicken glazed with home made honey mustard dressing and roasted vegetables." Olivia replied and I could sense a vague excitement.

"That sounds perfect." I exclaimed and Olivia hid herself since she is probably taking it out of the oven.

"Let's see how it tastes." Sophia whispered really quietly and I gave her the angry look to be quiet.

I actually decided to go up and see if I could help with something and Sophia followed me.

"It looks amazing." I remarked as I looked at the portions she prepared for everyone.

"Thank you but the taste is the most important. Something can look very good when you first see it but then it's not what it looks like." she started speaking philosophically. I tilted my head in agreement.

Just like my marriage. I thought it was good at first and that I found the right woman but it turned out it's not like that.

As we put our plates at the table Olivia offered something to drink but I politely refused since I'm driving later. Me and Sophia were next to each other and she is in front of us.

We tried the dish and it was very delicious. I made sure to give all my compliments and acknowledgements to Sophia's mother and she seemed actually flattered.

"So how is Sophia as a girlfriend?" she asked me a very odd question.

"Perfect." I simply replied. "The ideal woman. Smart, well-spoken, beautiful. What more you could want?" I asked rhetorically and Olivia's lips downturned and looked at Sophia with something like a proud look.

"I hope it works out for you two." she spoke and ate from her plate.

I thanked her and Sophia had that weird look on her face. Yeah, she is way easier to read than Olivia. Hundred percent.

"By the way I found out you like the Lakers." I spoke breaking the awkward silence.

"I do. I watch basketball since forever. Fun fact before I decided to pusrue medicine, I wanted to become a sports journalist instead." my mouth slightly dropped but Sophia's almost hit the floor.

"What?" she yelled. "Why haven't you ever told me this?" Olivia shrugged.

"Cause I didn't want you to be led by some sort of an example. There was a time I hoped I would influence you to become a doctor like me but the way you work at WWE. This is the job for you. As I say, her uncle actually birthed her." Olivia slightly smiled again.

"What is your relationship with Paul like?" I couldn't help but ask. I'm just wondering since she really seems like the Paul type.

"I have the best brother-in-law to exist. I got so much love and grattitude for this man." Olivia replied as we were all eating from time to time. "When my husband died, he was really next to me and Sophia as much as he could. He even neglected his own family because of us." she explained and I just nodded my head. I could imagine that yeah but he did the right thing. These poor women needed a man next to them.

"Although Paul didn't quite like me when I got with his brother, Pete Heyman." Sophia's mother left out a soft chuckle remembering the days. "He told him numerous times that I am way too much and you know what? He was right." she shook her head.

"Nah." I denied. "I will disagree with him on that one." I spoke and I just saw with my peripheral sight how Sophia tries to hold her laughter.

"Oh my God, look at you." I exclaimed at Sophia's old pictures. "A living doll."

"I honestly have no idea where she got those genes from." Olivia shook her head in confusion and then I furrowed my eyebrows at her.

A cute family picture of Sophia and her parents came out.

"I mean she literally looks like you and with her father's eyes. And oh my god, Paul's brother is way taller than him." I grinned.

"Yeah, my mom has a thing for the tall ones." Sophia remarked and tried to hold in her laughter while her mother gave her a side eye.

"You too, apparently." I snapped back at her.

"Robert wasn't very tall." she replied calmly while I expected her to fire up but she is her mother's daughter after all.

The most I have seen her get angry was when I jokingly threatened to slap Julian. She really doesn't play when it comes to kids. Maybe she is that kind of woman who saves her emotions for her future kids which is very sweet.

What I learned today is that both Sophia and her mother are some exceptional and even quite exquisite women that aren't just for any man and to be completely honest, I feel so honored to be around them.

[apollos-boyfriend]

mikhail is such an interesting character because while i don’t think that the personality we see is fully fabricated, there’s a certain depth and mystery to him, to the point where even the other characters point out how he can’t be read/understood fully

outside of priest, he seems to be the second-strongest exorcist, after leah. he seems to have a sixth sense stronger than most exorcists, too. he instantly clocks something being wrong with imuri, and then later aria, too. which may be a mixture of both magic and him being an extremely analytical person—imuri has no demonic power, therefore she shouldn’t be able to be detected, but asmodeus is only hidden by her own powers, meaning mikhail may be powerful enough to look through that.

the first moment is played for laughs—oh, mikhail’s a self-absorbed, overly-carefree influencer, of course he’s going to evade his duties despite the danger and fool around. but then it’s revealed that mikhail knew something was going to go wrong all along, and purposefully used his influence to avoid as many casualties as possible without worrying the public/causing a panic. there’s no aspect of mikhail’s actions and presentation that isn’t something he’s carefully-constructed.

then again, when baba yaga attacks, mikhail is the first/only one to register it as such, and able to compose himself quickly enough to warn the others. his “cuteness” thing is just how he relays that, even if it can be hard for others to understand (which may even be purposeful??)

he’s also, i’d argue, the most emotionally-aware of the main cast. he’s the only one capable of realizing that priest isn’t rampaging, but desperately crying to be heard. priest wants attention, wants others to finally see the pain he’s suppressed for so long, and mikhail is the only one outside of imuri (whose understanding of priest is one of her “unique” abilities, see priest’s barrier accepting her during the sloth arc) to be able to see that, despite him and priest not appearing to be that close.

also this post about the possible origin of his name. names are a distinctly important aspect of mtefil, both in-canon and on a meta level. in-canon, you have priest’s being left disguised to the humanization of irmuri asking for and using golem’s name to luka’s death being made unavoidable by him speaking bel’s name to verge changing his to match with dante. on a meta level, the witches’ names all seem to help with revealing aspects of their identity/personality (see this post about the meta of mtefil’s witches).

mikhail has an odd connection to witches and witchcraft in the way only dante really compares with—we’re told/slightly shown how he’s able to single-handedly take down sabbaths, he’s the one involved when the witches attack the school, and he’s the one given the most focus during baba yaga’s attack. i wonder if the answer he gives the witches as to his “tragic backstory” is true. because again, he does the same thing he does with the evacuation—he gives them a ditzy performance fitting for how people see him. he doesn’t say the truth of his actions if he can help it, even to his closest allies. if he had an incident with witches in the past, of course he wouldn’t admit that to their faces (although i do think him instantly apologizing for being hypocritical wasn’t fabricated). i hope we get to see a lot more of him (either related to baba yaga or maybe during pride’s arc? it feels fitting for him to play a role there) because BOY is he interesting…..

[blazinginsquids]

“I’ll make her be the prince for the rest of her life”

I was rewatching The Adolescence of Utena, a movie I watch so often I’ve practically memorized it. What I love about the movie the most is that every time I watch it, I notice something new. This time was no different.

In the scene where Shiori is explaining the river story, she explains how it was the prince, Juri’s, fault that Touga died, since he wanted to save her. She then says that she forces Juri to be the prince for the rest of her life, as a way to make her repent for what she had done (ie, kill Touga)

When Shiori says this, we see a painting of Anthy in her rose bride dress. This is the first time I’ve seen a parallel drawn between Juri and Anthy as opposed to Juri and Utena, or Shiori and Anthy. Because of it, I had an epiphany, and forgive me if this is an obvious observation.

The Prince, like the rose bride, or more precisely like the witch, is forced to take on a role to punish them.

I don’t think the Prince is a role that appears to be a form of punishment, which is seems to be more of a complement than a foil to the rose bride/the witch, a role that exists solely to oppress and overpower the other.

But Juri isn’t our main example of a Prince throughout the series, that would go to both Dios (Not Akio), and Touga.

Anthy kept Dios away from the world to protect him, something she was punished for because it stopped him from saving all the girls in the world, who needed a Prince to protect them.

Touga and his role in the river story in this iteration is a parallel to Dios, and more specifically a what if. What if he hadn’t been protected? What if he continued to save all the girls in the world? We have our answer. Eventually, he would die saving a girl.

A prince is someone expected to save the world until it kills them. This is why Shiori forcing Juri to be her prince is a punishment, and why Juri’s obsession with Shiori is “dangerous”. Because one day, if nothing saves her, she will die in her efforts to save her.

I think this observation is important because it shows us that everyone is a victim of some kind, a victim to the system, a victim to the world around them, a victim to their circumstances.

I once read a quote, its origin I can’t remember. This isn’t a direct quote, but more so what I gathered from it, “To be truly free is to understand the ways in which you are caged. When you’re under the impression you are free, you will be oblivious to the ways in which you cannot act, and therefore when you need to, you think you will have more options than you do. By understanding the ways in which you’re oppressed, and the ways in which you cannot act, you will understand how to work around it, and therefore be more free.”

Again, not a direct quote at all, but what I understood through it. I think this is something that Revolutionary Girl Utena explains as well. It’s not until the characters realize how they are part of the system, and the harm they do to others, that they can begin to understand how to escape that system, and stop acting through it. But again, this is something they can only understand once they acknowledge they are trapped.

This is something already clear enough through Utena through its other methods of storytelling and usage of symbolism, but I thought it was interesting how it also appeared here! I haven’t noticed anyone else point it out, hence why I decided to, so forgive me if this was obvious.

[9mysterybook6]

Again, you deny the truth and lie about things.

No you really are like BELLA THE WOLF

You say you can't be banned because you are our goddess Exactly like her

You are not a god, but a hateful and disgusting person.

Your actions are similar. You harass people who expose your true nature and make everyone worship you.

And this time you changed your name to something stupid again

rhylie hates bella the wolf

This is stupid stupid because you wrote it under

(I'm always the wrong person Do not report my blog, because I'm the important goddess for all gacha community)

You are really a terrible person

Did you guys read this crap?

((I'm actually not that smart, but heroic, and very awsome person))

you are a bad person and you are not a heroine, just an ordinary stupid arrogant person

You idiot, wake up to reality. You are not a heroine, just a rotten, sad, and pitiful person.

You really need some kind of psychiatric help.

(((('m now a superstar Again, i'm the one who continues with your good and beautiful behavior.)))

You mean acting childishly and harassing people? is good and beautiful behavior.

((And 9mysterybook6 had disgusted me she continued to expose me))

You mean exposing dirty facts about you because of your bad and terrible actions to people?

((I'm a great person but 9mysterybook6 is acting selfish and continuing exposing me))

No, just a citizen doing their job of telling the truth about rotten and bad people like you.

And I'm doing a great job keeping everyone safe from you.

(((And I’m sure she’s even more jealous with me now. I'm still the different person, Overprotective and protecting others She don’t care about everyone supporting me towards others)))

First of all, you are a controlling and domineering person.

Why am I jealous of you? How many times do I have to say that I am not jealous of a bad and hateful person like you?🤣🤣🤣

Honestly, this makes me laugh. You are really a stupid clown

I respect others and their opinions. But you don't listen to anyone, only your own selfish desires.

(((And now I'm more better for everybody 9mysterybook6 was wronged calling me "guilt tripper, manipulative", I'm more overprotective them And I'm always the victim when she called me that i have wronged send a message or expose me. I'm a tually a overprotective person who gives others to avoid awareness about myself.)))

When you say overprotective them you are saying strangle them so they won't leave you.

And the question is how will they ignore the truth?

You are stupid, you speed up the process faster and make your followers understand, you are a bad and rotten person

When you say: to avoid awareness about myself

They will ask what you mean and what does it have to do with me and they will go to my page and they will see all your actions as heinous

(((I have no shame, or do I if mysterious stories expose me again? Don’t be surprised if 9mysterybook6 is getting angry since I'm getting more followers As my blog is here forever. Seriously 9mysterybook6 should quit exposing me, But of course I'm coward.)))

I don't care how many followers you have, I care how you will guilt tripper, manipulative them Or they become your new victims.

Your actions are a witness to your character and your true nature is bad

I swear I will not stop exposing you until you are banned forever from here

((My advices to everybody: "please stop reporting my blog and start supporting me, and forget about bella the wolf, Sacism, Sexism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Pedophilia, Zoophilia and Ableists.", which is also my motto too. I'm truly the most loved person everybody supports me on their life. I'm the most superstar person in your life I'm truly a hater of BELLA THE WOLF))

You are such a disgusting person.

You still live in your rotten imagination

Everyone here hates you so much, they are disgusted by you, afraid of you, and angry with you.

Instead of admitting the truth about your actions, you turn to evasion and lying.

Just like BELLA THE WOLF

My messages to Rhylie

Guess what

One of your followers is not who they seem.

Do you want to know why?

This is because I have a third blog.😈😈😈

On the third account I follow you and I report all your posts and blog

And before you think, is it the same name as my two blogs?

Here's the fun part.

My third blog is different and has a different style.

Good luck finding my third blog and block😝