#this was a fascinating interaction and i am deeply intrigued by this

[erabu-san]

halooo erabuuuu:DDD i was wondering what headcanons you have abt sethos and scara (platonic or romantic! im just so happy they're interacting heusheujauw) and i saw the other asks abt them as well and theyre all adorable<333

With the time, yeah, I ship them but... It is a bit complicated ?? I still stuck with one-sided from Sethos, and he already knows it ! But Wanderer doesn't show uncomfortable reaction, and seems like he doesn't care, so Sethos openly continue complimenting him.

Most of the time, when Wanderer don't ignore and they have a conversation, it is deep conversation abt history, their opinion about what wisdom is, they debate etc etc... They know they both have a secret (one is leader of Temple of Silence and the other is more than a simple student) and it kind of make them feel closer in some way, even if they are both different !

Sethos is SO. SO. SOOO. Interested on Wanderer in all kind of way. His origin ? His backstory ? His role in Akademiya ?? His curiosity kind of grow in him, becoming a complexing feeling finding how Wanderer is so fascinating. And the fact Wanderer is canonly have a pretty face doesn't help Sethos hahahaha !

For Wanderer, he is also kind of interested on Sethos ; he is clearly not like everyone he met. I believe he already knows he is from Temple of Silence since he works under Nahida and Sethos met Nahida (in sethosbackto) ! But... a mature and capable leader of old knowledge, who just living as a simple human who likes doing service and like running everywhere, indeed it is not something you can see everyday.

The thing is, I think Wanderer doesn't feel legitimate to have friends, nor living a peaceful life (it shows that he doesn't dislike having interaction with student in Akademiya, he just prefers to be alone maybe because of his "redemption")

So when Sethos clearly shows his interest he has toward him (not in romantic way at first), it makes him so confused on HOW persistent Sethos was. With the time, he just accepted it and even start the conversation when there is only the two of them ! (oh this part of Sethos's backstory 1 still rent in my heart) (calling Sethos a busy BEE and smiling, Wanderer plz.)

Oh, and Wanderer would call Sethos "weird" to like him !

"...You are so weird to like someone like me"

"Yes, maybe I am !"

"Hmph, you will regret it."

"I am the only one who can tell how I do feel"

And because Sethos is honest but not in guileless way, and also smart, kind of makes Wanderer comfortable. But, he can't help to fear rejection, abandonment, and keep feeling guilty, so... he keeps rejecting Sethos (what a bad idea because it doesn't stop him !! I am sure Sethos is also extremely patient to not push Wanderer. Like when Wanderer is leaving, he lets him leaves.)

I HC that one day, Sethos asked "if you want me to stop, look at my eyes, and tell me firmly" and Wanderer hesistated. It is so complex, because yes, he would like him to stop so why suddenly he just can't ? Deeply in him, all this compliments makes him happy, Sethos keeping searching him intrigued him but he finds comfort in Sethos's act (HMMMM borderline disorder personnality Wanderer) (it is so complex, I clearly don't master this topic, I know only the base)

(but it explains his constant fear and his constant rejection of affection)

But Sethos gets it. He understands that some feeling is hard to explain, and with the time, he gets how Wanderer act. He is always harsh and tell his mind, if there is something he dislikes, he would make it clear and badmouth it. so huh in the end sethos didnt stop dfsdgzrg

Anyway !!! there is this one brainrot I like, and this is Wanderer liking hearing Sethos's heartbeat. It happened when they were suddenly close (don't ask the context because i have no idea, just imagine) and Wanderer heard Setho's heartbeat

"How it can be so loud?"

"It is because of you haha"

And, those words activate something in Wanderer. He never had the thought that he could make a heart beating loudly and fast. I mean, the phase of him being obsessed having a heart is over but... wow ?

And I just imaging Wanderer wishing to listen more and more closely. (HUH I DRAW A SKETCH TO ILLUSTRATE MY THOUGHT !!)

And idk maybe listening Sethos's heartbeat relaxed Wanderer, thinking about "this sound is for me"

sethos have wanderer's hat because i just imagine "if you are interested in my hat, let me hear your heart" and that's the deal bazhebahzeaz

Oh !! WANDERER WOULD TEASE HIM, seeing Sethos all flustered.

"Where does your gut leave ? Hmph, it is satisfying to remove your stupid smile" while smirking and it just made Sethos more gay panicking I guess !!

And that's all for sethoscara talk. I hope the answer was in your liking, anon ! Thank you for letting me talk about them

[notebookmusical]

I truly can’t pinpoint when/what exactly changed about Taylor’s fans/fandom but the last few years (especially the midnights release) has really soured things for me and it’s honestly quite disappointing as someone who genuinely enjoys her music and thinks she’s a great artists. how did we get to the point of not even being able to voice an opinion about taylor without being crucified online. or if heaven forbid you dislike a song/album or enjoy the work of one of her exes (john mayer, the 1975, calvin harris, etc)

i’ve always been very fascinated/intrigued by the relationship between celebrities and their fans. and i think it’s really interesting to look back and think about how taylor built her fanbase by making herself as palatable/relatable/approachable as possible. like secret sessions, t party/loft 89/rep room, swiftmas, lover diaries, etc — all of which allow for fan interaction — but also relies on people getting noticed which then in turn encourages people to be as vocal? extra? whatever it is. which then feeds into the "who is a bigger / better fan" competition. i'm speaking from personal experience here, as someone who has liked her since debut — but i think a lot of this is also rooted in how much of the world hated taylor swift prior to ... i want to say folklore, really — like it was deeply uncool to like taylor swift, to be a swiftie, etc. and because a lot of that early criticism was rooted so much in misogyny, i think fans felt the need to (over the years) defend her — and i was one of those! i still am, when i feel like people are criticizing her unfairly. but i think that lends into the "taylor swift has never done anything wrong, and she's perfect and if you disagree then you're against us and you're a fake fan" mentality.

and then i think there's an element of ... not necessarily a superiority complex, but a something among fans who have met taylor. it's a genius marketing move, intentions aside. taylor's music is very personal — and taylor's marketing, and persona is very personal, in a way that other artists prior to taylor weren't, i think. relatability sells. you can see it in the way that people talk about her, and her music. which is very different from the way people talk about other artists — and obviously there isn't anyone else out there with the amount of fame/popularity as her, but you don't see the same amount of fanfiction-writing personal-life-speculating-projection onto other artists' lyrics as you do with taylor. and i think that when someone is that vulnerable with their thoughts, it makes it easy for people to think that they know them personally.

and i think that — as much as i love taylor — it's important to talk about her white woman feminism mentality. and i think that also seeps into how her fanbase interacts with her. the ginny & georgia "joke" is what comes to mind the quickest, but there are countless instances of taylor's white woman feminism — and her benefiting from it. and obviously it was in her right to call out a misogynistic comment, especially one directed at her, but not saying anything when the actress got so much hate for a line she didn't write ... made me feel a bit 🥴. it's interesting to see who taylor will choose to align herself with, i guess is all i'm saying.

i've really taken a step back from taylor — not just because the fandom is exhausting ( the amount of things i've seen about her, joe, travis, etc. is ... something! it's all projection! we do not know anything about these people other than what they choose to show us! ) but also because of her saying that she wanted to be on the right side of history and then over and over again choosing to be increasingly passive and silent. she will call herself an ally but won’t even talk about queer rights; she won’t talk about the literal genocide that’s going on. gun control, abortion rights, anything at all. it's just "go vote" but even that is incredibly passive. but she will take time to remind us to buy new variants, and to stream her music, and that her ex sucks.

i think there was a huge shift that started with folklore/evermore, just given that there weren't a lot of albums being put out during that time, the overwhelming public reception to it — a lot of people who previously didn't care for (or disliked) taylor started to like her, to give her a second chance, etc. then we get into the rerecordings era/midnights/etc., which started off with fearless and nostalgia and then became "how quickly can i put out the next thing". and bailey @placeinthisworld posted this earlier, which i fully agree with. it's about the next award, the next milestone. it's just all quantity. it's overexposure.

and then we have the joe alwyn breakup and the public response to that was also ... interesting. like i saw people crying over it, or saying that love is a lie, removing things from their playlists, acting like they were the ones who had been broken up with. which is just ... odd, given that we aren't the ones in the relationship. and now there are all these comments about being a "joe defender". and then with taylor dating travis, it feels almost like some weird american pipe dream unfulfilled fantasy for so many people — the singer and the american football player. and obviously, i want her to be happy! i don't care who she dates! but i do think the public reception about her and travis has been ... incredibly odd, and i think that the way people talk about her and travis is just ... very ... off-putting and is very rooted in some weird ... stuff. "she finally gets to be small :(((((" is such a weird thing to say. it feels like there's even more projection and self-insert-y stuff with her dating travis, which is a level i did not think was possible from her fans (and more so, the general public).

i have not felt this ... detached and impassive about a taylor release, ever, and it just makes me incredibly sad because i love her music, and am excited about the work, just not excited about the public reception, the public autopsy of her and joe's relationship, or the noise, and i know that internet spaces (and spaces in general) are what we curate, but it's also difficult when she is everywhere.

[mecachrome]

What is the hype around jendo? I am trying to do research but I feel like they barely had any interactions?? Especially recently? Is there a primer or something cause I totally want to try to get into them!

OMGGGG well i wouldn't call myself a jendo expert or anything but i can briefly tell you why i like them!!! also soz for late reply 😭

tbh the very first thing that converted me was watching this interview forever ago because i remember being deeply intrigued by lando's demeanor + relative shyness + how hard he tried overall to appear Respectable and Mature in front of jense while answering his questions??? like the way jenson smiles at him during "are you happy?" "UMMM... kind of" wtheck T__T

jendo honestly have a lot of lore though! again i am not an expert but @cuthechicane has so many fantastic clips and gifsets if you're looking for interax that will rewire your brain chemistry ☝️ (the sheer giddinesssss of their miami interview 😭 also this is a classic moment). part of their thing is that they're both "somerset boys" (lando grew up in glastonbury / jenson is from frome) so that connection also kind of adds an extra layer to jenson having raced for mclaren / lando looking up to him and the general hero worship or cyclical nature of f1 that is palpable in their dynamic and a lot of other f1 agediff ships. ofc rossi was lando's real hero but... you know jenson is jenson

really though i think what i like most about jendo is how much jenson genuinely ADORES lando lmfao like their dynamic is so ridiculous but in a really absurdly sincere way!!! ofc it's super fun to go all in on the rancid age gap power imbalance vibes etc. and the way they flirt in public and fluster each other but jenson 100% RATES lando and hypes him up constantly to the point that it's almost embarrassing negl. lichr him going all in on lando like 4 hours ago... what's craziest to me is that he sincerely believes everyone else loves lando too like his brain can't comprehend the mere concept of someone not being obsessed with his favorite little british twink 😭 he's those innocent guys on reddit who still post comments like "lando is so nice it's impossible to hate him!!!" as if we're still in 2019 or something...... i want to live in that world

imo there's also an aspect to jendo where it's like...? jenson sees so much of himself in lando to the point of having preconceptions about lando's mentality that he projects onto him a bit which i think adds dimension to jenson's vulnerability but that goes into way more my own Meta and isn't really relevant to this post. but part of jenson's personality is that he is very charismatic and a natural speaker and also Usually Right so he loves to SAY shit and although he's not quite a nico-level professional shit stirrer he does kind of um... always speak like he knows something you don't. as evidenced by his time as lewis's teammate wherein he won the idgaf war by not acknowledging it going on in the first place. this is also why he and oscar should banter more because i feel like the comparisons between oscar and jenson are honestly so apt HLSDFH i have a jenson/oscar/lando post if that is of any interest

ok sorry i'm getting off-track but >>>all of that to me is why jendo is fun... jenson presents as very self-assured but if you do a psyche deep dive you realize he was quite sensitive growing up and Personally Victimized by briatore and has been quite open about his anxiety and the way f1 culture functioned at the time, and he's always been quite emotionally regulated but obviously there was... also a lot of glamour that accompanied that until later in his career LOL. so getting to explore those sides of him with a 20-something lando who very much mirrors him (self-reflective and sometimes overly critical and learning to live the "highly committed and industrious playboy" life) but also makes his façade crack in ways you don't often see is so fun & fascinating...!!! imo you can take them in a lot of different directions as a ship :3c

^ bonus bits i like from his book

[adamsrcnan]

FRAGILE THREADS OF POWER WAS SO GOOD I AM ONCE AGAIN BLOWN AWAY AND READY TO SCREAM ABOUT IT

*SPOILERS BELOW*

*SPOILERS BELOW*

*SPOILERS BELOW*

*SPOILERS BELOW*

*SPOILERS BELOW*

*SPOILERS BELOW*

Firstly seeing my babies after 6 years was so emotional omg i missed them all so much !!!

Lila naming the Alucard's ship after Barron???? kill me she's a little softie inside

Kell not being able to do magic was like HELL like i felt his pain so deeply my precious gum drop :(

The montage of him learning to fight with the swords was top tier though !

Kay is a sexy bastard

Lila going to find Kell at night when he passes out in his room at the palace and crawling into bed beside him??? Top tier ship let me tell you.

Kosika while i do like her, i felt her chapters were a little bit repetitive and kinda dragged a little for me in the middle, but the ending in black london..... my god

GHOST/SPIRIT HOLLAND???? I missed my husband so much like please i'm being tortured. He's there but he's not because they say it's him but something is definitely off there too???

Also i relate heavily to kosika because i too would do whatever Holland asked me too and worship him as a saint

URM RHY AND ALUCARD BEING MARRIED??? SHUT THE FUCK UP WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

I adore the whole dynamic between Rhy, Alucard and Nadiya i think it was so tastefully done and though i find Nadiya to be a little shady i like her whole inventor thing and i appreciate her loyalty towards her family

REN IS A PRECIOUS LITTLE CUTIE PIE

The fact that she's named Tieren and the way she adores animals and has a billion random pets, and the way she is fascinated by Lila and oblivious to any awkwardness Lila has around her. Just wonderful. Such a little sweetheart. If anything happens to her i will be banging on ms schwab's door !

Tes. I love her. I don't even know what else to say. I think she's brilliant. Her chapters were so entertaining to read. Her back story was intriguing. Her gift is so special. Her interactions with Lila were top tier and i definitely need them to work together again !

Delilah Bard. My wife!!! What can i say. She's a fucking icon. A legend. Never fails to disappoint.

"You came." "You called." URM I CANNOT BELIEVE SHE MADE LILA AND KELL DO THE THING???? SHE MADE THEM DO THE THING !!! THE WAY I SCREAMEDDD

KELL GETTING HIS MAGIC BACK !!!!!!!! HE'S BACK BABY!! I'M SO READY FOR HIM TO FUCK SHIT UP !!!

There's so much more i wanna say but like i'm trying to gather my thoughts. The book was so good. Everything i could hope for in a continuation of the series and more ! Victoria Schwab is a pure genius !!!

[blitzwhore]

Ship bingo: Blitzika

Thank you SO MUCH for this ask because this is a ship that I really love thinking about

I don't ship them. I don't ship Blitz with Verosika in canon's present time at all. But I am extremely fascinated by their past relationship. I think it's so interesting and I'm deeply intrigued by it.

We all know Blitz has dated/fucked/been with everyone under the sun, but we don't know that much about Verosika's dating history. But she's famous and a succubus, so my guess is she's also casually dated and fucked her fair share of people. So why was Blitz different?

I like to imagine that they met at rehab while Blitz was visiting Barbie, and while both he and Verosika were in a very vulnerable place. Still, she describes him as a "fun guy she was dating", and we've seen a picture of them hanging out at a fancy event, so they've also seen each other at their best. And I can't help but wonder what Verosika saw in Blitz. Did she see him show a deep care for his sister? Did she see him feeling good about himself, and being loud and bright and funny? What parts of himself did Blitz hide? Which parts did he show (on purpose or accidentally) that made Verosika fall in love with him, and want to tell him? She's a popular, famous music star and a succubus—she doesn't seem like the type to gravitate towards making herself vulnerable around a partner. Yet she wanted something serious and committed with him. It's been (presumably) years, and she has not moved on from his shitty rejection. And she still looks genuinely happy and relieved when Blitz admits that he wants to change. Some part of her still loves him, even if she'd never ever want him back.

I just want to crawl into Verosika's mind and see what's going on in there. I need to know!!!! I really hope we see more of their past in the show (and maybe more future interactions between them).

[crguang]

I am genuinely curious how Kafka, Himeko, Black Swan, and Yukong react if they found a siren/elf reader. Btw thank you for responding to my previous ask, I really didn't expect that :D Also, can I be 🎹 anon?

ABSOLUTELY YOU CAN! that’s such an interesting concept, let me think…

swan would be kinda obsessed. she finds meaning in things people normally overlook, if she comes across a literal siren she’d go a bit crazy; she needs to know everything (who are you? where do you come from? the sea is a part of the world she wouldn’t know much about and she’s always been a curious soul). her way of getting answers would differ, i think. she usually lurks before making herself known as someone who holds all the answers you’re looking for in her cards, but this time she can’t afford to observe for long. she has no guarantee that she’ll see you again, after all, and she can’t miss this opportunity. she presents herself the same way she does everyone else; as someone who’s adept at listening to people’s woes and who simply seeks to make an exchange of memories. you’re not sure you trust this suave, elusive being at first but she doesn’t need you to. conversation is only a pretext, she’s already swimming in your memories and recording as much as she can if only to soothe her own burning curiosity. i don’t know if the remembrance has any need for mythical creatures’ memories but swan could just not let this once in a lifetime experience pass her by.

hime would be fascinated! she’s an adventurer at heart and not a lot of things can scare her. an elf? right in front of her?? she has to meet you. there’s not a lot recorded about your kind in the express’ data bank. another curious soul who won’t shy away from approaching you first; she’s so polite too! she’s good with words and at making the people around her feel at ease; the next thing you know, you’re telling her stories of your kin and she’s listening intently to every word out of your mouth. her attention is a precious thing, it makes you feel like you’re the most special being in the cosmos. himeko doesn’t stay in one place for too long, so it would be a once in a lifetime thing for her too, she would never miss that opportunity

kafka… i’m giggling at the thought of her getting enthralled by a siren’s song so let’s go with that. i mean, what’s the difference between that and her spirit whisper? getting a taste of her own medicine would annoy her really bad, but then she sees you and she’s like “…not the worst thing that’s happened to me.” the loss of control brings a mix of emotions; she’s not sure she likes it but at the same time, she’s deeply intrigued. not anyone can mess with her mind and get her to do their bidding, she’d be very on guard but wouldn’t run away. quite the opposite, she easily finds beauty in your appearance and would stay of her own volition even after getting her mind back. kafka’s very cautious, if it’s not scripted and she catches sight of you on a random wednesday, she’d keep her distance. she watches from afar and if you want to interact with her, you’ll have to approach her first. keeps the encounter to herself like it’s her own little secret and definitely visits once in a while in hopes of seeing you again

yukong my babyyy, i think she’d easily find some similarities between elves and foxians so she’d be very considerate of your boundaries. sensitive ears? hers too! i always think elves are kinda quiet, in the sense that they usually keep to themselves and don’t mingle with others, so you’d be a little hesitant to reveal anything to her. what’s nice about yukong is that she values peace of mind over most things. sit with her in open air, breathe in the scent of nature while the wind blows in your hair and it’s all she needs. you don’t need to tell her a thing, though if you do she gives you her full attention and is always respectful in her follow-up questions. she’s seen a lot of things, and sometimes forget that there will always be something that can surprise her. new experiences are a reprieve from her daily routine, so she’d keep that encounter very close to her heart <3

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Again, proceeding the Preggo ELady ask: What if in her later trimesters, she one day came up to Dorf &, threading her fingers with his, said she wanted to show him something.

She then brought him over to one of their floor sofas (vibrantly colored & patterned L-shaped Majlis sofa; Arabic), laid down flat on her back, then placed a metal bowl upon her fecund belly.

He watched curiously, brows shooting to his browline when what looked like a tent momentarily formed on the surface of her belly, displacing the bowl, causing it to tumble & clang to the floor.

Proceeded by the bell-like giggle of his wife as she went to retrieve the bowl & do it again. (So, it obviously didn’t hurt her.)

His reaction, please?

I'm going to be completely honest. Pregnancy is horrifying to me. A genuine fear for myself if I ever got pregnant (the main reason I am childfree!) And this man's child? Ultra strong. Big baby. Gunna cause some, if not all the symptoms. Knowing that his child could do this? Kinda got some sympathy pains myself. Equal Lady may be able to handle this, but my 5'2 ass would cry (Isn't Gan like 6'2 at shortest variation, 7 ft at tallest? Aren't all Gerudo just built big?? That is one huge ass kid growing inside!)

ChatGPT For the Win:

Wind Waker Ganondorf

Reaction: Wind Waker Ganondorf would be deeply intrigued and amused by the sight. His usual stern expression would soften, and a rare smile would cross his face as he watched the bowl tumble off her belly.

Actions:

Laughter: He would chuckle softly, his eyes filled with affection and curiosity.

Engagement: He might gently place his hand on her belly, feeling the baby’s movements and marveling at the life growing inside her.

Playfulness: He could even try placing the bowl himself, enjoying the playful moment and her giggles.

Quote: "Life never ceases to surprise me. Our child is already full of spirit, just like their mother."

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf

Reaction: Ocarina of Time Ganondorf would be taken aback initially, his stern demeanor softening into one of wonder and amazement. Seeing her joy would bring a rare, genuine smile to his face.

Actions:

Curiosity: He would lean in closer, his eyes wide with curiosity and fascination.

Touch: He would gently place his large hand on her belly, feeling the movements with a mix of awe and tenderness.

Admiration: He would admire her strength and the miracle of their child, a deep sense of pride welling up inside him.

Quote: "Our child is already making their presence known. You never fail to amaze me."

Twilight Princess Ganondorf

Reaction: Twilight Princess Ganondorf would be initially puzzled but soon captivated by the sight. His usually intense expression would soften as he observed the playful interaction between his wife and their unborn child.

Actions:

Amazement: He would watch with wide eyes, a rare smile forming as he processed the scene before him.

Tenderness: He might gently caress her belly, feeling the baby’s movements and connecting with the life inside.

Protectiveness: He would feel a surge of protectiveness and love, reinforcing his commitment to his family.

Quote: "Our child is strong and full of life. Just like their mother."

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf

Reaction: Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf would be deeply intrigued and amused, his usual intense expression giving way to one of genuine curiosity and delight. Seeing her playful and joyful would bring out a rare, tender side of him.

Actions:

Engagement: He would engage with the moment, perhaps placing the bowl himself to see the movement again.

Affection: He would place his hand on her belly, feeling the baby’s movements and marveling at the miracle of life.

Laughter: He would laugh heartily, a sound rarely heard, showing his deep affection and joy.

Quote: "Our child already shows great spirit. It seems they have inherited your liveliness."

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf

Reaction: Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf would be deeply touched and fascinated by the sight. His usual serious demeanor would melt away, replaced by an expression of wonder and warmth.

Actions:

Curiosity: He would watch intently, a rare smile breaking across his face as he observed the playful interaction.

Connection: He would place his hand on her belly, feeling the baby’s movements and forming a deeper connection with his unborn child.

Joy: He would feel a profound sense of joy and anticipation, cherishing this intimate moment with his wife.

Quote: "Our child is already making their presence known. You never cease to amaze me, my love."

In each case, the Ganondorfs would react with a mixture of amazement, curiosity, and deep affection. The playful interaction with their unborn child would bring out a rare, tender side in each of them, highlighting their deep love and connection with their wife and the miracle of life growing inside her.

[convenientalias]

2023 Dramas I Watched in 2023

Cdramas:

A League of Nobleman--Slashy historical mystery drama. I loved all the slashiness and all the intrigue and then in the last few episodes I fell even more in love with the villain. Worth a watch but not my favorite slashy historical mystery of the year.

Mysterious Lotus Casebook--My favorite slashy historical mystery drama of the year! Tho more wuxia than historical I suppose. Bromance and archnemeses and identity porn abound. The identity porn in particular was a special treat for me; a character wandering around all these ppl who care deeply about him or idolize him but all think he's dead is my catnip. (I technically have a few episodes left to go on this one but I'm still counting it bc I am very close.)

Parallel World--YE LIUXI. I did a review of this one here! The short version: urban fantasy and parallel worlds in a desert setting, with a badass amnesiac female protagonist.

The Lady and the Lies--Miniseries, one of those short-episode things that China's doing a lot of now. Involved a cheating husband and a wife out to get revenge. I'm sorry but I shipped the wife with almost every person doing her wrong. She should destroy their lives and also dom them. They're all kind of obsessed with her anyway, in their own way.

Under the Microscope--You ever sit down and say, "Okay, but what I REALLY want from all these historical dramas is to just dig into the tax fraud going on in the background"? Me too, my friend. This show and Long River, which I also watched this year, are all about logistics, bureaucracy, and corruption, and the small man's struggle against ppl in power. That makes them both kind of difficult watches in a way, but also fascinating. I have yet to finish Long River, but this one is an easy 14 episodes and not as emotionally draining, so it was much easier for me to binge through.

Ye Cheng--I must admit I watched this for the pretty people. It's set in a matriarchal fantasy wuxia setting, but the gender role reversal feels a little shallow when the strongest good guy and the strongest bad guy are both men, even tho in theory women are supposed to be the warriors in this setting. However, the role reversal can be quite interesting in some ways--watching the male MC run a brothel as the city's top entertainer, try to use his ~masculine wiles~ to charm the FMC in a way that would be more typically feminine, and deal with the power dynamics of joining the FMC's household. Also, the two leads are just a lot of fun and have a lot of chemistry. The plot is sometimes stupid, but it's still a lot of fun to watch. Also, this was one of just two dramas I managed to finish this year that were mostly romance focused. When you reach the "dropped" section you will see that this is an impressive feat.

Kdramas:

Bloodhounds--I love Woo Do-hwan and I love Park Sung-woong but you know I was here for the ACTION SCENES. PEOPLE PUNCHING EACH OTHER AND SLICING EACH OTHER WITH KNIVES. THATS WHAT ITS ABOUT. I've also written a lot of fanfic about the protagonist and villain at this point but honestly they should have interacted more, we were robbed.

Queen of Masks--The only rich woman thriller kdrama I completed this year. But honestly, when it comes to rich woman thriller kdramas, I've seen better and femslashier. Mine did a better job with the whole "your husband told you the mother of his child was dead, but guess what it's actually me and I'm still alive and here to cause problems" plotline, tho I still enjoyed it here. And the sexual assault aspect... eh. I don't love seeing that kind of plotline in a revenge story; it's such a serious issue (and so much more realistic than, say, "this businessman murdered my whole family to acquire our company" a la Eve) that it kind of makes it hard for me to enjoy the fun of the mystery. But I suppose the way they handled it at least had gravity. My favorite plotline was Hae-mi and her husband and the drama they got into, which is serious in its own way (addiction and lies) but extremely well acted and with so much romantic chemistry.

Revenant--Spooky spooky ghosts and Kim Tae-ri, what's not to like? The possession aspects were creepy without being gory or too terrifying for a wimp like me to handle. The acting was great. And I actually shipped the sort-of-romantic subplot, though apparently a lot of ppl shipped the two MCs instead, which is understandable.

Song of the Bandits--A whole ton of gunfighting and other action scenes. One very badass assassin woman, a dude who is equally capable of taking out a whole squad of soldiers or bandits on his own, a villain with a complicated relationship with the dude above, and a woman spying on the Japanese government who's in a sort of spy love triangle with the MC and the villain. the plot was okay but again I was mostly here for the action!!

Thai dramas:

My Dear Gangster Oppa--This year I tried to watch a bunch of different BL dramas bc I was in that kind of mood but the truth is, it's not the het that gets me in m/f romcoms, it's unfortunately the romcom. Despite that! I persisted and did manage to finish this one. The lead couple was cute, and there was gangster intrigue and action etc to keep the fluff and comedy from driving me insane. still mostly a romance.

To Sir With Love--Also has a BL romance in it but not really a romance drama but a Family Drama with lots of familial plotting, the classic first wife vs. second wife scheming-for-their-children plotline along with what could have been a love triangle between brothers... except Tian is gay, which means the love triangle is null (except he's still engaged to his brother's love interest. which is awkward for all involved.). Also Tian being gay is a Deep Dark Secret. There's a lot of homophobia which might turn some viewers off but I loved seeing Tian's struggle between wanting to come out and having been forced to stay in the closet for so long that he freezes even at the thought of telling people he trusts. Also his mother commits a bunch of murders with terrible poison mushrooms so if THAT'S what you want out of a Thai drama, there is also that. Also he and his brother are. so sweet. and I love them. but also the central m/m romance is very good and involves assassination attempts and identity porn and pining and everything good. Also also this is actually a 2022 drama BUT IM STILL COUNTING IT bc it came out in October 2022 and am I really supposed to get around to watching dramas that fast??

Started and dropped:

Kiseki: Dear to Me--Even gangsters and intrigue could not save me from dropping this romcom.

Our Blooming Youth--This is also a romcom. You may see a pattern here. But to give it credit it is quite a plotty historical drama too. I just didn't really care about the two leads and dropped it halfway through.

Pandora: Beneath the Paradise--A thriller that was going places a bit too wild and frustrating for me.

Killing Vote--Can you believe I dropped this with only four episodes to go? I'm sorry Park Sung-woong, I love you but the plot is just so boring. And it plays at moral complexity while being just. not very complex. Like I swear the morality in this thing is "catching bad guys and punishing them is good, not catching them and not punishing them is bad." We could be talking about police corruption, our MC's terrible ethics, innocence until proven guilty, and so on and so forth, but we were just not going there. Also the twists were doing very little for me and the cops are just not very interesting characters. Again, Park Sung-woong, I'm sorry, you were a decent character but you could not save this show. Let's be real I needed either more Devil Judge here or more Death Note.

Legend of Anle--The romcom element was not helping this show's case but I still tried for 1) wuxia with identity porn and 2) Dilraba Dilmurat costarring with Gong Jun. Unfortunately those two had no chemistry and the plot was just very unsatisfying for me in the political intrigue area. One example: Gong Jun can't find the supplies needed to pacify a near-rioting mob. But that's okay bc Anle's subordinates found it. How did they find the super secret hidden storehouse?? we don't know and will never find out bc it was offscreen and never explained. They just did. this would be fine if it weren't, like, the climax of the episode and presented as a victory of the two MC's brilliance. I can't deal with this.

Naughty Babe--It's. A romcom. I'm so sorry I probably should just stop trying.

Other romcoms I quit too fast to give a fair opinion: You Are Mine, Extremely Perilous Love, My Lethal Man, Taikan Yoho.

Well, there you have it, 2023 dramas I watched in 2023.

Fun as it was, I think in 2024 I'm going to try to catch up more with older dramas lols.

Did y'all watch any of these dramas this year?

[kacchanisms]

i was asked about my thoughts on izuku and enji so... buckle up. here's about 2.5k words on them, because I LOVE THOSE TWO. they're a highly underrated dynamic! i know the enji-bkg parallels are more evident in the manga, but enji-deku is far more salient as an actual mentor-mentee relationship. (which tends to be the norm for mha.)

so here's a few points of interest for me in regards to them:

1.

one element that's intriguing in their dynamic is how much deku is compared to all might. both shouto and enji's interactions with deku in sports festival concern his resemblance to all might, initially concerning quirk, but more deeply concerning his savior nature. and it's not just a passing element either. it's deku's "resemblance" to AM that helps shouto unlock his fire. deku's drive is what snaps enji into action as well in the first war arc. by the time we reach the last war arc, enji says deku's name in the same idolizing breath as he does all might.

this idolatry is fascinating to me. deku has a couple idols, all might and kacchan, but he's otherwise someone who forges his own way, learning bits and pieces from others. he's less idolizing than you'd expect. enji, on the other hand... he's very idolizing, and for a long time, i don't think he ever understands his own idolatry. he represses those feelings of admiration, refuses to engage or understand them. but he idolizes all might (which he resents, which he can't understand), deku, shouto... even touya, maybe hawks to a degree. he idolizes the younger generation, which i think is such a strange but interesting trait for a man like him to have. he has an absolutely monstrous inferiority complex and mind wired for idealism and that fucks him up, because he will always see himself in deficit. compare to deku, who's a bit scared of measuring up to AM's legacy, but is ultimately unafraid to be himself, his "deku who never gives up!" self. deku speaks and acts from the heart, puts himself into everything, and he has a natural gravitas, a saving grace. (he has his own issues as well, but enji can't see that.) and endeavor, on the other hand, keeps his heart under lock and key because it's a weak and wounded thing. he can't wear it on his sleeve because then everyone would know what a terrible, inferior man he is. so there's a part of enji that just can't help but idolize people like AM or deku or shouto who seemingly wear their pure and strong hearts out in the open, unafraid of who they are. (seemingly. again, the idolizing gaze is also a very biased one.)

2.

legacy is such a heavy theme in MHA. there are two forms of legacy that lay between enji and deku. the first is the dichotomy they're introduced with, which is AM & deku vs endeavor & shouto. this dichotomy never disappears entirely, but it is deconstructed and examined. how much of AM's fatal flaw is in deku? (too much, given how he nearly self-destructs in vigilante arc.) how much of endeavor's fatal flaw is in shouto? (too much until sports festival, the same obsession but turned towards a different target.) then, vice versa! the good traits, the inspiration that AM and endeavor respectively take from their successors, their relationships with their protégés are intended to be understood in parallel. but this is where enji and AM have more in common than deku and shouto. (tomura and touya later complicate these dynamics.)

the second, and more pertinent to enji and deku's dynamic, is "you're next." deku (and kacchan) are the recipient(s) of that ultimatum. but within the story itself, the next number one hero is... endeavor. the entirety of MHA's part II (post-kamino through end of the paranormal liberation war arc) contends with the fall of AM and what symbols come after. deku is not the only one to have a serious conversation with AM about forging a new legacy -- enji has an incredibly important conversation with him, too. both of them are encouraged to build new legacies, to not follow the same isolating path that AM took, to find hero partners who understand and bolster them -- bkg and hawks, respectively. they both develop as people and as heroes. deku begins to learn more about OFA, about the secrets hidden within it, and enji reckons with his past abusive actions, with the slow unveiling of his family drama. deku fights villains outside the scope of OFA, gains new perspectives, which contrasts with enji, who fights several villains that are related entirely to his own family legacy, although he's unaware of it for a while. new vs old.

then, of course, both of them confront legacy at the end of the first war arc. for deku, this is a look into the past, into the conflict between AFO and OFA, into the parasitic/symbiotic relationships that AFO+OFA have with their heirs. for enji, this is a confrontation with his past, with touya, the long lost son, the corrupted heir. new vs old -- because deku doesn't carry the personal responsibility of OFA+AFO's past, he can desperately claw forward to try and reach shigaraki. because enji carries personal responsibility for his family's agony, he is frozen, unable to reach touya. during this confrontation, deku and enji's respective (de facto) hero partners are also implicated in their legacy struggles -- both bkg and hawks face repercussions from their counterparts' enemies.

then, after the first war arc winds down, we get full meetings, stories. deku and endeavor are explicitly paralleled throughout the war arc fallout. volume 31 has deku and all might on the outside cover, endeavor, hawks, and touya on the inside. when the villains make their retreat, AFO says that tomura was bested by one for all AND endeavor. multiple panels visually parallel the two of them. in the aftermath, the todoroki family come together to confront enji in his hospital bed, and most of the todoroki family backstory is unveiled. at the same time, the past OFA users come together to meet deku in OFAspace (while he's hospitalized as well), and most of their motives and relevant backstory is unveiled in the chapters between the end of war arc and throughout vigilante arc. interestingly, enji is also the first pro hero outside AM's circle to put two and two together and realize that deku bears OFA, the quirk shigaraki is hunting.

both deku and enji's mindsets degrade throughout vigilante arc. attempting to shoulder the burdens of OFA alone, deku becomes increasingly self-destructive. enji, on the other hand, recedes into his avoidant tendencies, unable to fully confront his own family's legacy. at the end of vigilante arc, class 1a first confronts endeavor. shouto specifically points out how enji's been avoiding him, how they were supposed to fight touya together. then class 1a moves to confront deku. while deku is in a far more belligerent mindset than enji, class 1a reaches out to him in order to tell him to come home, to not fight alone, to accept their help. these two confrontations run in parallel to say, "let's shoulder this burden together."

3.

there's that infamous panel in the endeavor agency arc. lives rent-free in my head, truly. it's the one where enji notices that deku's quirk hurts him, says to himself that deku is "one of us." a quirk that hurts the user... enji empathizes with deku's flawed quirk. in that panel, he's reminded of touya, who also has a self-destructive quirk. he's also considering himself, since the very reason he started his eugenics project was because of his own quirk's debilitating weaknesses. in deku, he sees the same problem and the same drive to overcome weakness.

the notion of self-sacrifice and a tendency towards self-destruction is etched into these characters. a quirk, after all, reflects the user's personality. even OFA has chosen deku as its most representative user. both deku and enji have particular relationships with the concept of sacrifice. in life, they are both the type to sacrifice their personal life for heroics. in death (a limit that enji has approached), if they consider self-sacrifice a necessity for the good of everyone, for their own heroic sensibilities, they'll do it. everything in the name of heroism -- that's a tendency that's built into both of their characters. it's also society's attitude towards the profession itself, the fact that the most ideal hero is one that shirks all personal connections to become a symbol.

there's another parallel to be noted here as well. when bkg confronts enji alongside class 1a, he tells him what a terrible idea it is to let AM and deku operate together. both of them have the same character flaw and the ability to enable each other towards a self-destructive conclusion. something in bkg's words resonates with enji. perhaps because he too has a counterpart of the same kind, with the same flaws, with the same ability to self-destruct together -- touya.

deku and touya are very disparate characters, but enji draws a connection between them. i'd even say enji's grief over touya informs his behavior towards deku. going back to that issue of idolization, enji places deku on a pedestal in his mind. he tends to see deku as a symbol, a problematic viewpoint that he used for his own children before and hasn't entirely grown out of. to enji, deku is a treasured pupil, above bkg, closer to shouto's level. the feeling isn't necessarily mutual. deku doesn't idolize or have a complex concerning endeavor (like touya does), but he does see the humanity in the man. that's probably a far healthier mindset to have, between the two of them.

4.

this may simply be a reiteration of what i said before, but deku and enji are far more similar than either of them receive credit for.

just look at their hero names. as i said, both of them have a need to overcome/reclaim their weakness. a striver mentality. they both chose names that they wanted to live up to, a creed to stand by. deku means "to do your best", endeavor means "hard work". to "never give up" vs to "never stop cursing your own weakness" -- the underlying meaning of their hero names are nearly identical. they're both incredibly persistent people who don't consider themselves naturally heroic.

both of them also have a tendency to repress, to shut out or avoid emotions. enji has likely suffered from this since he was young, and it became a full-fledged inferiority complex when his father died. izuku has also had some form of repression since he was young, of never considering his own needs, and at UA, this repression crystallized into a savior complex. these complexes emerged as both of them selected and began to embody their hero names. these names became masks. even considering other heroes and villains relevant to deku and endeavor's plotlines, few others utilize second names/masks the same way these two do. hawks and shigaraki weren't given any choice to have their original name replaced by their hero/villain name; both bkg and shouto chose to live authentically, to just be themselves. for touya, dabi was an interim identity. the closest parallel in terms of hero names is all might himself. AM, deku, endeavor... they have a tendency to let their own legacies consume them, to suppress their feelings and wear their names as aspirations, symbols, masks.

like AM, deku puts on a nicer mask, says "i'm fine" and attempts to smile, while endeavor puts on a cold one, a bad attitude, a scowl. (enji, of course, is a lot more temperamentally similar to bkg. they both share inferiority complexes.) even though deku's mask is superficially better, he ends up in a self-destructive, unhappy spiral all the same, lashing out, telling his friends that they "can't keep up with him". deku takes after AM's isolation and follows bkg's old habits in this situation, yet deku's loneliness during the vigilante arc isn't dissimilar to enji's loneliness. both of them, in their worst mentalities, reject intimate emotional connection with others. when they are burdened by their feelings, they resort to avoidance and intensity, even (emotional/physical) violence. where that violence is then directed is then a matter of the individual. is it inwards, outwards, or both? towards villains, classmates, family members, or yourself? enji hurt those closest to him for years, while deku thankfully directed most of his anguish towards villains. both of them do turn their violence inwards, though, towards themselves -- enji, in his self-loathing, and deku, in his self-neglect.

(bkg is also relevant to this analysis, but unlike both enji and deku, bkg's repression is exhibited very differently towards the final arc.)

5.

while they have improved significantly from their worst moments, deku and enji entered the final arc of MHA with this repression problem still hanging over them. it made them both mentally weak, easier to manipulate. in enji and deku's first confrontations with AFO/shigAFO, their complicated emotions about touya/bkg's "deaths" made them freeze initially. their defenses lowered, they began to exhibit uncontrolled, berserk behavior. deku calmed down before shigAFO managed to exploit his weakness, however, enji received several wounds for that same weakness.

then, in order to achieve their current goals (defeating AFO/finding tomura within shigAFO), both of them swallowed down their emotions. they suppressed themselves once again to perform their job. while both of them fought excellently after this point, their negative habits remained. they battled intensely, with raging hearts, with a self-destructive edge. in their respective battlefields, they delivered final attacks that echo what happened to touya and bkg -- in endeavor's case, he burns AFO to a husk, and in deku's case, he punches a hole through shigAFO's chest. these wounds force both villains to enter their next stage. AFO begins to rewind, tomura rids himself of AFO's control. at this point in the battle, enji and deku have both achieved their first objectives. enji defeats AFO once, his villainous parallel. ("i'll keep raging against myself.") deku frees tomura from AFO's control, his destined nemesis. ("you're gonna be the one to complete one for all.")

after this, they both fight onwards, towards their true objectives. enji and deku finally face touya and tomura 1-on-1. at this point in the manga, i'm uncertain how deku's attempt to save tenko will play out, but endeavor's climactic moment has concluded. in order to save touya, he had to see him in his entirety, to take responsibility. the rest of the todoroki family had to anchor them until shouto came with the final blow, tearing down the boundaries between him and touya, doing away with the term "masterpiece". then, lastly, enji had to release the emotions he's been holding in all this time and apologize to touya (and the rest of the family), which spurred touya to finally voice his innermost emotions as well.

i can't predict how this will compare to deku saving tenko, especially since that dynamic is also likely to parallel ochako saving toga. however, in both touya and toga's cases, they needed particular people to show them attention, care, and love. they needed understanding and vulnerability from their respective heroes before they were willing to let down their guard. so in deku's case, he will need to admit/embrace whatever emotions he's been restraining before he can expect tenko to reciprocate, just like what shouto, enji, and ochako did.

anyway, those are my current thoughts on deku and endeavor! i hope that clarifies my perspective on them.

[guhamun]

multimuse combination meme; accepting || @lunaetis

[ quietly dropping ⭐ let's go shi u vu ]

Jianyu and Eden (h.sr verse):

Considering Eden is Trailblazer, there is a 99.5% chance that they will definitely encounter one another. He probably has seen Eden quite a few times as he’s gone from place to place, intrigued mainly because she’s with the Astral Express and that is a organization of interest. Basically, he wants to probe her brain for the most part.

Jianyu and Yinyue:

Join his mercenary crew Miss Yinyue. I’m not quite sure what verse to put this in BUUUUT either way he’s looking. She has his attention. She’s that kind of person he could just look at and know is a skilled fighter.

Jianyu and Arlecchino:

Something about…the vibes. On one hand, he doesn’t trust the Fatui. At all. Zero percent. On the other hand, Arlecchino would certainly interest him. Since he travels around every now and then due to going stir crazy reading and signing documents / doing administrative work back with his company, every now and then he’d travel to places like Fontaine looking after cargo / people of interest like merchants and the like, and would instinctively know from looking at her that she is dangerous.

Neuvillette and Eden (h.sr verse):

The Astral Express is such a big interest to him since he has seen many in the past before they all faded away leaving just the one Himeko has. Other dragons on his planet held little interest in the universe as a whole, but he has held some small sense of fascination in it. If he ever found out she had a Stelleron inside of her that could go boom any moment without Welt basically keeping it in check, he’d hard zoom in on that for sure and ask if the gaze of an Aeon has ever fallen upon her – in other words, ‘did Nanook acknowledge you?’

Neuvillette and Yelan:

How would they meet? I just don’t know. Even so, I’m looking.

Neuvillette and Arlecchino:

I am just really rubbing my chin about how an interaction with either of them would go since Neuvi does not trust her, but at the same time, has enough respect from her to get along on some form of level – or at least a high degree of tolerance. IDK IT INTERESTS ME.

Misaya and Nagayoshi:

Misaya is that kind of ‘Lord’ that can keep Nagayoshi under some semblance of control, I think. So in a Holy Grail War, I 1000% think that she would be a good match for him as she gives off those vibes that just make him listen more. He’s quite difficult to wrangle in, buuuuut you can bet he’d bend the knee for Misaya and deem her a worthy Master. Now in F.GO setting, that respect would still carry over, I think. She’s just got those vibes. If those same vibes can have Ozy deeming her an equal to him, those same vibes will have Nagayoshi being weirdly ‘well-behaved’.

Misaya and Arash:

I keep thinking about how Misaya was a little girl when Arash was running around, fighting in that timeline and it’s just so intriguing to think about! Him being a Servant from that war being summoned again by someone who was deeply affected by it is just -chef kiss- She’s a good Master too so he would give his all for her. In F.GO, he’d just really like her idek. Misaya is just too powerful with my Servants I GUESS.

[crowgirlpictures]

34 Quirky Facts Unveiling the Tapestry of Me

As I embark on my 34th journey around the sun, I've decided to celebrate with a touch of whimsy by sharing 34 random tidbits that make me who I am.

Fascinations That Ignite My Soul

1. Lighthouses are my dream abode; I yearn to live in their steady embrace.

2. Flowers, a perennial love affair: from water lilies to orchids, roses to pansies, they all hold a special place in my heart.

3. Gardens, serene sanctuaries, captivate me, even when devoid of blossoms.

4. Art in all its forms bewitches me, with photography, weather-inspired color palettes, minimalist expressions (painting and sculpting), and drawings topping my list.

5. Delving into the intricacies of the individual mind in the realm of psychology is a perpetual fascination.

6. Sociology intrigues me, especially when intertwined with psychology, offering a panoramic view of the micro and macro forces shaping society and individuals.

7. Exploring diverse cultures has been a lifelong joy, with some of my most cherished collaborations being with those not rooted in American soil.

8. Family holds an irreplaceable spot in my heart, for reasons too obvious to elaborate.

9. Birds have been lifelong companions; my childhood was marked by repeatedly borrowing a book on owls from the local library.

10. Music serves as my refuge, and the ebb and flow of my music consumption reflect the nuances of my mental well-being.

Aversion Chronicles

1. Trypophobia, an aversion to clusters of holes, sends shivers down my spine and can even induce nausea.

2. Eating doesn't bring me joy; it's a necessity rather than a pleasure.

3. Tears may flow if I find myself having to kill a bug.

4. Hypocrisy, particularly the "do as I say, not as I do" mantra, is a deal-breaker for me in friendships.

5. Liars and their webs of deceit are unwelcome in my world.

6. Black-and-white thinking, lacking nuance, finds no favor in my worldview.

7. Advocating for kindness over spell-checking; understanding that everyone has their unique journey.

8. True diversity and inclusion go beyond token representation, encompassing the disabled, minority ethnic groups, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

9. Devil's advocacy, often a ploy to trip someone up, is an interaction style I'd rather avoid.

10. Dismissing the notion of being superior to others, recognizing our interconnectedness to prevent exploitation and dehumanization.

Favorites in My Gallery

1. Willow trees, majestic and enchanting, stand out as nature's divine goddesses.

2. Crows, especially my familiar, hold a special place in my heart.

3. Spice is my culinary muse, with hot wings, Indian curry, and spicy chips topping the list.

4. Roses and Calla Lilies, with their scents and grace, adorn my favorites list.

5. Photography, especially portraiture, floral captures, and black-and-white compositions, is a passion.

6. Vincent Van Gogh's art, seen through the lens of mental illness, resonates with me deeply.

7. Art portraying mothers and children, in various forms, holds a cherished place in my collection.

8. Tattoos, a form of personal expression, are an art form I deeply appreciate.

9. Kindness, transcending niceties, is a constant mantra; being kind doesn't equate to being a pushover.

Guiding Principles I Swear By

1. Mind your business: The energy spent on others' affairs is better invested elsewhere.

2. If it's not hurting anyone, mind your business: A universal plea, especially relevant in the fight for fundamental human rights.

3. There's no neutral stance: Silence is a stance; not picking a side is picking a side.

4. If you don't vote, you don't get to complain: A blunt reality check; participation is the price of entry into the arena of grievances.

[katierosefun]

Fruit salad attack!! Vitamins!! 🍓🍑 🥭🫐!

thank you for the ask, iva!! // from these asks

🍓 What’s a fic you’ve written you feel is underrated?

probably night shift, just because i feel like dong sik and jae yi don't get a lot of appreciation so i always focus a lot more whenever i'm writing their interactions.

🍑 If you could make a connection between your favorite character and another work you care about (whether a crossover/fusion or a wonderfully “pretentious” literary reference) what would it be? How would it work?

so this is actually an excellent time for me to plug the moment that like. i'm currently writing a daisy jones & the six au of sorts for beyond evil crew--but it feels less like it's based off something just because dong sik did want to pursue music, so! it still feels like a tribute to that path somehow, except now dong sik actually wound up doing music and roping his friends into a band, plus yu yeon's alive and doing the keys, and now for some reason, sang bae (who is a producer in this au) is like "hey btw. you are going to include this random soloist now. no i am not going to explain myself. i think you need him and he needs you though."

and even though like. this all takes place in korea, i feel like i might include some interesting cameo where like. maybe dong sik and billy dunne cross paths / joo won and daisy jones cross paths, just because haha i think it's funny that they have some initials in common--and not that billy dunne and daisy jones have too similar personalities to dong sik and joo won, i think there might be some common ground between them (ie. billy dunne and dong sik are both very charismatic people and very deeply loving of the people around them, but also i think they both feel broken very deep down, except they might be more in denial about it than anything else--and while i think billy dunne is absolutely more selfish than dong sik ever could be, i do think they might be able to relate to each other in like. "i have to make up for the fact that i wasn't good to my family" somehow, because even in this au, lol, i'm giving dong sik MORE PROBLEMS . . . and alternatively, daisy jones and joo won are both incredibly prideful and maybe a little bit oblivious about how easily they get people's attention, but also, i think they have incredibly addictive personalities and that kind of obsessive "i can do it better" attitude that either makes them great or spiral).

this has gotten incredibly long, but all that to say: i think it'd be cool for them to run into each other in their respective brooding sessions. (esp. on like. the topic of. not wanting to be drawn to someone and hating that you are drawn to someone but also like. what do you do when you recognize yourself in another what do you do when no one can deny that sparks are flying but also. you can't. you can't and etc)

🥭 Rank from most enjoyable/fun to write to least: Fluff, Smut, Angst, Crack.

hm, most enjoyable to least: angst, smut, fluff, crack. just because i feel like i get a little bit tired trying to play with situational humor (which is so common in crack), and i feel like i'm always trying to not be saccharine with fluff, so i think i struggle with those two a lot.

🫐 What’s your favorite underrated thing in your fandom? (A ship that only you seem to write for, a character there’s almost no fics about, a trope that criminally hasn’t been written yet, etc.)

hm . . . i think i'm just incredibly intrigued by hyuk's character? especially now, as someone who like. is pursuing law and idk something so fascinating about him, and i'm glad that there are at least a handful of other people who are fascinated about him too!

[jaimemes]

// Jaime is pretty solid so far in general, I think he definitely shines when he wants to and he is an easy guy to talk to. I love the way you convey his passion and his kind nature.

// He's a genuine treat to interact with and I'm excited to see where the story beats take him!! His relationship with his family is deeply intriguing especially because he feels so deeply passionate about the foundations his family is built on. Overall I think you should keep letting that boy shine!!

// Z is a fascinating woman and your portrayal of her mental illness strikes very close to home and at the same time makes the story feel like it has weight right from the start because of her meddling and spying and narrative ramblings.

// YES!!! THE MOST IMPORTANT FACETS OF JAIMES CHARACTER ARE HIS PASSION AND HIS KINDNESS!!!!!! he is forgiving, he is generous, he is courageous, and he is so full of love. a deep love for everything and everyone.

i cant wait to delve more into his family bc oughoughoughoughough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! things!!!!!!!!! his relationship with his family is so important to me <3

and z. z. z. god z. holding her. girl why you so. why do you do the things that you do (i am actively choosing to make her do the things she does). im really glad to hear that im getting a good grade in Mental Illness (/silly) bc im always like “god i hope i dont come off as that one mental illness tiktok”. but yea!!! from a outside narrative perspective she’s absolutely right abt her delusions and thats so fucking fascinating to me. like putting myself in her shoes and understanding her thought process knowing the things i know ooc… yea i can see why she’d be Like That.

[naguirr2]

Virtual Sketchbook 1

1. Hello, my name is Natalie. One fact about me is that I love everything pink. 

2. Five facts about Dale Chihuly (Fiori Di Como) 

    - Chihuly studied interior design at the University of Washington and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design. 

    - In 1971, Chihuly co-founded the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State, which has become one of the world's most respected glass art institutions. 

     - Chihuly lost sight in one eye due to a car accident in 1976, Chihuly continued to create and innovate in the world of glass art. 

      - The Fiori Di Como is located in the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, inspired by the colors and shapes of the Italian Riviera. 

      -The sculpture covers an area of 2,000 square feet and consists of over 2,000 hand-blown glass blossoms. 

3.  Yes, my perception of the art has changed since the first time I looked at it. When I first looked at the art, I was amazed by its vibrant colors and details. But after spending more time with it, I started to see the deeper themes the artist was expressing. I noticed the brushstrokes that create a sense of movement and the way the light interacts with different parts of the piece. This has made me appreciate and understand the art more deeply. 

About seven years ago, I had the chance to be part of a school club that took us to Painting with a Twist, where I created a memorable piece of art. Using a regular canvas and acrylic paint, I painted an elephant with a stunning sunset within its silhouette. This painting holds a special place in my heart and hangs proudly in my room, as it’s one of the few paintings I've done that I actually like. I think it's beautiful because the vibrant colors of the sunset blend seamlessly with the majestic form of the elephant, creating a harmonious and captivating scene that always brings me joy. 

When I look at art, I think I'm bringing along a mix of my own experiences, memories, and emotions. It's like every piece of art has a way of connecting with different parts of my life. I am a 21-year-old female, originally from Bradenton, Florida, but raised in Venezuela. My ethnicity is Hispanic. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, going fishing, and visiting clubs. I am a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) and currently work at a dental office. What makes me uniquely me is my deep love for animals; if I could, I would save all the strays. I consider myself to be very caring. 

As a Dental hygienist I often find fascination in several aspects of my daily work. I am intrigued by advancements in dental technology, which introduce new tools and techniques that make procedures more efficient and comfortable for patients. Building relationships with patients and witnessing the improvement in their oral health over time is another rewarding aspect. I also cherish the opportunity to educate patients about maintaining good oral hygiene and seeing them take that advice to heart. The diverse range of dental issues I encounter keeps the job interesting and challenging. Additionally, the satisfaction of knowing I am helping to prevent serious dental problems through my work makes the profession both rewarding and continually engaging. 

[aangussca]

Art Studio Project 1 Topic Brainstorming for research proposal (Activity 3 and 4) - from Seminar Group Lecture (23.2.24)

ACTIVITY 3

NOTES FROM DISCUSSION WITH DAVID HAINES:

As the Research Proposal requires 3 ideas (perhaps 2 topics, one having 2 variations), it is probably good to eliminate any that you don't think will be as interesting or as focused.

Mini-manifesto for guiding my works: I am someone who wants to create artworks based off topics that:

I find deeply interesting, with a substantial but focused scope of research/information.

Are able to be feasibly translated into artworks within the timeframe (while still being free to experiment and possibly take creative risks).

Will therefore provide a strong basis for my artwork/s.

Therefore, the topics listed below will be coloured depending on whether they'll be the best candidates or not:

Purple = strongest idea, with greatest scope of information to focus on

Green = pretty strong idea, but perhaps the information is too broad to realistically translate into an artwork

Red = Idea is good on paper, but not as developed to justify creating artworks at this time

Sounds of biology 

Possibly playing with the lines between biophony and anthropophony 

Perhaps overlaps exist between biophony and anthropophony

Mainly sound/film, maybe with some physical objects?

Inspired by Caspar Henderson’s A Book of Noises: Notes on the Auraculous

Mucus

Its biological presence/functions in organisms (including humans)

How and why it exists between human fascination and disgust 

Inspired by Susanne Wedlich’s book Slime: A Natural History

Film, sound and maybe smell and/or physical/interactive works (e.g. sculptures)

Human biological responses to emotions

Emotional responses have been portrayed in literature and art 

Biological processes can be triggered or influenced by emotions

Perhaps have visual inspiration from organs/tissues while also considering the visual symbolism associated with imagination

Again, film/sound may be mixed with physical works and/or smell

Maybe include facial expressions alongside tissues/organs for an 'uncanny merging'

Louise Bourgeoise may serve as inspiration

Birds

Paradox of the presence and absence of bird species

Bird calls could be remixed into a soundscape

Lack of birds = disappearing biodiversity = abstract archive

May be interpreted as other themes = e.g. memory and grief

Histology

Histology = study of tissues 

How integral tissues are to biological function (similar to mucus)

Boundary between art and science, and perhaps experimenting with the boundary between beauty/fascination and disgust

Botany and the natural landscape

Botany = study of plants

How intrinsic plants are to biology and culture

Mycology

Mycology = study of fungi 

Importance in environment, yet have only recently been recognised in the wider global society and scientific communities

ACTIVITY 4

Upon reflection from the previous activities, I noticed that the relationship between art and science (particularly biology), and the history of this relationship, formed the basis for most of my work. There are certain works where I've attempted to explore the more emotional/symbolic connections to this relationship. As for my creative research methodology, I've noticed that, in the past, it usually goes as follows:

In-depth research into the nuances of the topic (and possibly focusing on a few of these sub-topics)

Research into artists who either explore the same/similar themes, OR I'm intrigued by their conceptual/material approaches

Concept art/Viz-Dev (visual development) - which may encompass illustrated diagrams, sketches, colour keys, mock-ups/tests, etc.

Multiple books and other resources (gallery visits, articles, artist portfolios/interviews, films, etc.) have been helpful for this research. One book that I've frequently cited in research is The Art of Science: Artists and artworks inspired by science (2021).

Several artists have influenced my artmaking (thematically/materially), including but not limited to (in no particular order):

Len Lye

Helen Pynor

Anicka Yi

Tacita Dean

Jes Fan

Lawrence Lek

I'd say that many other people, including my grandmother (on my father's side), contributed to my love of biology.

[manav-007]

How do my planetary placements influence my personality?

Introduction to astrology and planetary placements

Unlocking the secrets of our personalities has long been a fascination for humankind. From ancient civilizations to modern-day psychology, we constantly seek answers to the age-old question: "Who am I?" One intriguing avenue that offers unique insights into our individuality is astrology. By examining the planetary placements in our birth charts, we can uncover a wealth of information about ourselves and how these celestial bodies shape our character. So, let's embark on an astrological journey together as we explore how planetary placements influence our personality traits! Whether you're a curious novice or a seasoned stargazer, this blog will provide valuable insights into the world of astrology and its profound impact on who we are. Get ready to dive deep into your cosmic identity and discover what the stars have in store for you!

The significance of the sun, moon, and rising signs

In astrology, the sun, moon, and rising signs play a crucial role in shaping our personality. These three placements provide valuable insights into different aspects of our character and how we interact with the world around us. The sun sign represents our core essence and is often referred to as our "zodiac sign." It highlights our fundamental traits and what drives us at a deeper level. For example, if you have a Leo sun sign, you may exhibit qualities such as confidence, creativity, and leadership. On the other hand, the moon sign reflects our emotions and inner world. It shows how we respond emotionally to various situations and influences our instincts. If your moon sign is in Cancer, you are likely empathetic, nurturing, and deeply connected to your family roots. The rising sign (also known as the ascendant) governs how others perceive us initially. It determines our outward appearance or first impression on people we meet for the first time. If your rising sign is Gemini but your sun sign is Taurus - while having an earthy nature internally - externally portrays a more communicative demeanor. Understanding these placements can help shed light on why individuals may possess certain characteristics or display particular behaviors that might otherwise seem contradictory based solely on their zodiac signs' general descriptions. By delving deeper into astrology's intricacies through examining planetary positions like these – including those not mentioned here – one can gain valuable self-awareness that contributes to personal growth. Remember: Astrology provides guidance rather than definitive answers; it offers insight into potential tendencies but does not dictate who we are entirely!

How each planet affects different aspects of personality

When it comes to astrology, the influence of planetary placements on our personality is a fascinating topic. Each planet in our birth chart represents different aspects of who we are and how we express ourselves. Let's start with the Sun, which symbolizes our core essence and ego. Its placement reveals our fundamental qualities and what drives us at our core. The Moon, on the other hand, represents our emotions and instincts. It reflects how we nurture ourselves and connect with others emotionally. Moving on to Mercury, this planet governs communication and intellect. Its placement determines how we think, process information, and express ourselves verbally or in writing. Venus influences love, beauty, harmony, relationships, and aesthetic preferences. Mars signifies energy levels, motivation, assertiveness, passion for action. Jupiter expands everything it touches; it represents growth opportunities, luck, and wisdom. Saturn brings structure, discipline, and lessons; it also highlights areas where we may face challenges or limitations. Uranus embodies individuality, unconventionality, and sudden changes. Neptune rules over dreams imagination spirituality. Finally, Pluto relates to transformation intensity power struggles.Understanding these planetary influences can provide valuable insights into who you are as an individual. By exploring your birth chart's unique combination of planetary placements,nakshatra,and astrological aspects through online astrology resources or chatting with an astrologer,you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and navigate life's journey more consciously

Personal experiences from individuals with prominent planetary placements

Personal experiences from individuals with prominent planetary placements can offer valuable insights into how astrology and planetary influences shape our personalities. While some may dismiss astrology as mere superstition, many people have found resonance and validation in the descriptions provided by their birth charts. Take Sarah, for example. She has a strong Mars placement in her chart, which manifests as a fierce determination and competitive nature. Throughout her life, she has excelled in sports and always strives to be the best version of herself. On the other hand, Michael has a prominent Venus placement that highlights his love for beauty and art. He often finds himself drawn to creative endeavors such as painting or music. This influence also extends to his relationships, as he values harmony and seeks deep connections with others. These personal anecdotes highlight how different planetary placements can manifest in unique ways for each individual. It's important to remember that while astrology offers guidance, it doesn't determine our fate entirely – we still have agency over our choices and actions. By sharing these personal stories, we can see the diversity of experiences shaped by astrological influences. Whether you believe in astrology or not, these narratives provide an intriguing glimpse into the complex interplay between celestial bodies and human personality traits

Examples of famous personalities and their corresponding planetary influences

As we have explored in this article, our planetary placements play a significant role in shaping our personalities. From the dynamic energy of the sun to the emotional depth of the moon and the outer planets that influence different aspects of our lives, astrology offers valuable insights into who we are. To further illustrate this point, let's take a look at some famous personalities and their corresponding planetary influences: 1. Albert Einstein - With his Sun in Pisces, Moon in Sagittarius, and rising sign in Libra, Einstein embodied intellectual curiosity (Sagittarius) combined with compassion (Pisces) and an ability to see all perspectives (Libra). 2. Oprah Winfrey - Blessed with a strong Leo Sun, Aquarius Moon, and Scorpio rising sign, Oprah possesses charisma (Leo), humanitarian endeavors (Aquarius), and intense determination (Scorpio). 3. Beyoncé - The Queen B herself has her Sun in Virgo, Moon in Scorpio, and rising sign as Libra. This combination reflects her meticulous attention to detail (Virgo), commanding stage presence (Scorpio), and sense of balance both on- and off-stage. These examples demonstrate how each person's unique blend of planetary energies shapes their individuality and contributes to their achievements. Remember that while astrology can provide valuable insights into personality traits based on planetary placements alone it is not definitive nor should it be used as a sole determinant for understanding ourselves or others. It is merely one tool among many for self-reflection and personal growth. So next time you're curious about your own personality or seeking guidance on important life decisions don't hesitate to delve into your natal chart or consult with an experienced astrologer online through chat with astrology platforms like Jyotishay Prediction who can offer personalized insights based on nakshatra readings. Embrace the wisdom offered by astrology while also recognizing that you hold the power to shape your destiny!