#Filipino Sign Language

[sinag789tala]

evolution of how dog man would sign for petey the cat

[filipinofoodart]

How do you say longganisa in Filipino Sign Language (FSL), and Baybayin? 

This is just one way to say longganisa. For a clearer picture on how to use FSL, enroll at the Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies! Classes start in May 2025. There is an option to take classes in-person, or completely online.

Registration ends May 10, open to all!

To register: bit.ly/FSLLPT3

[philippinewildlifeart]

How do you say eagle in Filipino Sign Language (FSL), and Baybayin?

This is just one way to say eagle! For a clearer picture on how to use FSL, enroll at the Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies. Classes start May 2025. There is an option to take classes in-person, or completely online!

Registration ends May 10, open to all! To register: bit.ly/FSLLPT3

[filipeanut]

New art in store for “love month”. I typically veer away from romantic love art, but in the midst of the political climate both in the Philippines and the US, it felt nice to let some love in.

With over 170 languages spoken in the Philippines, every day is an opportunity to tell (or show) someone you love them. It was nice to include Filipino Sign Language in some of the art too - not only is it an actual language, it's one of the official languages of the Philippines next to English and Filipino. 

Read more about these designs and where to get them if you're interested, in my latest post.

Love, Filipeanut.

https://filipeanut.art/ways-to-say-i-love-you-in-different-philippine-languages/

[chestnut-undertow]

National Commission on Culture and Arts: (have seminar on Filipino Sign Language) Also National Commission on Culture and Arts: (speaks in English THE WHOLE TIME)

PUTEK NINYO OI.

[dearlawdimasimp]

i thank @julymusings for leading me to this TREASURE

Jason Todd x Filipino! reader headcanons

A/n: i don’t care if this will be my most flopped post, I had to do God’s work

He would LOVE Filipino food

Jason is pretty open with food considering he has traveled frequently for work.

Being accustomed to seeing rice available even if it’s high in carbs lol. Started as a pancit (stir fried noodles) boy to a BIG garlic rice boy ever since you’ve introduced him to it.

Could see him really liking champorado (chocolate rice porridge) for some reason, since there is something so homey about it. Plus it’s not that sweet. He definitely have tried it with tuyo (salted dried fish) when you mentioned it but prefers it just the champorado alone.

Jason enjoys Jollibee most specifically the fried chicken, both of you have movie nights with a bucket on the coffee table with pineapple juice or alcohol. Would find Filipino spaghetti ‘meh’ cause it’s a bit too sweet for his liking but he wouldn’t mind it after a few more tries since there’s that child-like taste that makes it addicting.

Would 100% love lumpiang shanghai (Filipino spring rolls) and quotes as he explains it to Roy or any of his brothers ‘a way better version of Chinese spring rolls’, just like how you told him. He stops craving for the usual spring rolls if you guys go for Chinese take outs from then on.

Despite what the media depicts of having adobo (soy sauce & vinegar chicken stew), sinigang (tamarind stew) or ube hyped. He does think Filipino food is still very underrated compared to Thai, Chinese, Japanese etc.

Could also see him enjoying clear soup stews like pork sinigang (tamarind broth stew, though initially too sour for him comes to like it later on) & bulalo (clear soup with beef shanks & bone marrow) because of the homey taste versus the flavored stews but he definitely still enjoys them (also see him being a big kare- kare (peanut butter stew) lover by your influence despite not fully able to handle bagoong (shrimp paste) because of how pungent & salty it is, I think he would unconsciously get used to it.

Like every other man, he would be a sucker for San Miguel beer. He knew about it even before both of you were dating since there is a small Filipino town in Gotham. Considering he goes to different bars from time to time. He would enjoy the concept of food on sizzling plate but it would take time for him to actually try exotic street food specially Balut (duck embryo) lol. But he’s down for it!

Spicy White Boy

Canon- wise, he knows Portuguese and there are lots of similar words with Spanish. Which I’m sure he knows maybe the most basic and common sense ones; so Jason understanding a good amount of Tagalog shouldn’t be surprising but would baffle you when you find out he started learning bit by bit for you.

It is very impressive indeed, there are not a lot of good resources in studying it. However, Jason is a Wayne and if his father was able to learn Kryptonian. He would easily be in a level of fluency by time.

And being the intelligent simp he is. He would understand it in a good level in less than a year or two when both of you are pretty much ‘all in’ in the relationship. Especially when you brought up one time before you were both exclusive, that you were scared of the idea of your partner being left out in family events even if English is pretty much the second main language in the Philippines.

Though I feel he would have more confidence in trying to speak the language after a few more years including a few slangs cause he doesn’t want to handle the anxiety of being roasted by your family & friends even if he obviously has thick-ass skin.

You keep telling him that he has already won his parents approval (too fast) when he swoon them with just the use of ‘po’ and ‘opo’ the first time meeting them. Plus the very occasional whispers of ‘gwapo’ , handsome, or ‘matangkad’, tall, here and there would give him a mix of a sheepish ego boost.

Culture Differences

THE ‘NO SHOES IN THE HOUSE’ RULE is a mutual practice that both of you have no problem doing. It has always been a routine for Jason when he gets home and right away he would wash up just so he could be in bed with you.

The no shoes rule seems to be only followed by Alfred when he drops by with groceries for him in his apartment. It bewilders his siblings when he makes a big deal out of it even if they are just dropping by (uninvited as usual) but also more like so you wouldn’t get triggered if you get to meet them but frankly it triggers Jason more since he’s quite neat as a roomie (plus future hubby points too.)

THE FAMILY CULTURE in a Filipino household is usually a mix of chaos and laughter which Jason is quite familiar with but with your family he could tell how close all of you are from all the frequent get together celebrations or holiday trips.

But also he was told a few times from some neighborhood titos (uncle) when he was still in the streets that the number 1 rule when dating a pinoy (shortened term for Filipino) is if you’re ‘dating a Filipino you’re also dating their whole family.’ You even tell him when you show pictures of your immediate relatives and family, that it’s basically a whole village if you include your extended relatives which shocks him even more. You don’t even know who are all your aunts or uncles names nor your second cousins.

You gave him a heads up and number of pointers to Jason when you were both talking about your families plus the never ending group pictures and selfies that awaits. You get worried if he would be overwhelmed even if he tells you, “Doll, don’t worry you literally met mine” “It’s not the same.” With a kiss on your forehead and the cute pout he loves still present.

He immediately gets interrogated and compliments which takes him a back getting him a bit shy. Would vibe with your cousins and would be forced to sing. The karaoke machine playing till midnight, the never ending food being offered in his plate but also your baby cousins getting attached to him which you greatly adore. He would purposely annoy you with flirty gestures in front of your cousins just for you to swat his arm or his biceps multiple times getting a reaction from your comments mixed of ‘yiee’ or ‘landi!’(flirt).

SOUVENIRS in Filipino is pasalubong, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re materialistic it’s more of the thought when a person is away; may it be for family & friends.

Jason bringing home food or snacks when he goes out or something unique when coming from a long mission for you has been natural. You don’t expect him to always bring something home for you of course. Fortunately, Jason loves spoiling you and seeing you sulk when you rummage his duffle bag filled with used clothes and is helmet is too cute. Plus, this is definitely one of the first words he would understand besides the word ‘makulit’ (a neutral connotation of annoying, cheeky, and naughty combined.) and other cuss words.

The first time Jason brings you to the Wayne manor Alfred and Bruce immediately doesn’t see you as a threat especially with a bottle of wine or fruits as formalities. You panic a bit when both of you weren’t able to bring anything to the manor every time you go after that, he has to reassure you it’s fine. Though he appreciates and finds it adorable on how much his family becomes fond of you because of how genuine you are.

When you and Jason travel, you would be having an extra luggage for goodies and shopping and would get endless teasing from Jason. You would tease him back though if he needs something but you would also use his luggage as well if needed for everything you bought.

[homunculus-argument]

You could probably come up with pretty unique characters by just taking a generic Stock Trope Character Type and then adding in an element that's completely unrelated to this character type cliché and then just not making it weird. A bumbling sitcom dad or a doe-eyed airheaded office secretary who just happen to be trans. A wild Crocodile Dundee-ass "has never met an animal he wouldn't wrestle" australian who just happens to be filipino.

An intimidating Tall Dark And Handsome strong and silent type man who is simply nonverbal, and doesn't consider people who won't learn sign language to communciate with him worth talking to. Prank-loving trickster twins who are muslim and frequently swap hijabs in the middle of the day to mess with people, because different-colour headscarves are the only way that people can tell them apart.

[finelinefae]

home (doctor!harry)

synopsis: y/n is homesick and harry wants to help her

word count: 7.7k

contains: fluff, Filipino y/n, doctor harry, medical talk, homesickness, brief moments of discrimination, workplace bullying, rude co-workers

a/n: happy soft girl sunday!!! this is such an interesting and personal topic for me because so much of this was inspired by my mama and her own personal experiences of leaving her home in the Philippines and moving to an entirely different country to create a better life for herself. this one is for all of my girls who are struggling with homesickness, who work in a job because they have to not because they want to, who try to support their families, who work in healthcare, whose first language is not english, who feel as though their identity is muddled up and so much more- this is for you and this is for my mama too.

. . .

‘You have just as much right to be here as everyone else.’

That’s what Y/N had been telling herself since she had left for work in the early hours of this morning. She had barely slept a wink last night, tossing and turning as her mind was riddled with things that hadn’t happened but weighed so much. 

Her backpack was filled with the things she listed weeks before. Her scrubs, a packed lunch, water, a few snacks to eat throughout the day and a couple of things loose at the bottom that jangled with each step she took towards the tube station. On her feet was a new pair of trainers her mother had bought her before she took the plane to a country she had never stepped foot in before the beginning of this month. 

“Mahal kita, mamimiss kita.” I love you, I will miss you. Her mother had said as she dropped her off at the airport. No tears in her eyes because they were all in Y/N’s as she clenched her fingers around the handle of her small suitcase that was just enough to last the first few months out of the three years she’d be living away from her family. 

“Mama,” Y/N cried, her family weren’t criers but today she was. 

Y/N’s mother shook her head, refusing to allow herself to cry when this was meant to be good. “Gagawa ka ng mga magagandang bagay.” You will do such good things. Her mother wiped away her tears, “Mananatili pa rin ako dito sa loob ng tatlong taon at magiging mas mahusay ka.” I will still be here in three years and you will be someone better. 

Y/N was homesick as soon as the plane lifted off the ground of her home country. The trouble with planes was the window was always too small and she could only ever look down and not behind. Once they flew over her country of the Philippines, she took in everything she possibly could - the bright colours of the sea and the sand on the beaches that stretched for miles. 

She would come back and she would be better, for her family. 

As she stepped off of the tube train and walked up the steps towards the light, she took the sunshine peeking through the gaps of the grey clouds in the London sky as a good sign. Even though things weren’t easy, it doesn’t mean they were bad. 

The hospital was huge in comparison to the hospitals where she had done her training back home. It took her a while to find where the entrance was without going in through the emergency department but eventually, she found her way to the front desk. 

"Hi," Y/N said softly, feeling unsure. Even though she was good at English after years of studying it during school, she still doubted herself, especially around fluent speakers. It made her feel embarrassed and more of an outsider than she already was. “I’m Y/N, I’m here to pick up my ID badge.” 

The woman at the desk, peered over her glasses and smiled, “Is today your first day?” 

“Yes, I’m a healthcare assistant,” Y/N offered a smile, as best as she could despite her nerves. 

The woman’s fingers clacked against the keyboard, “I’m afraid your ID badge has yet to be delivered so I’ll have to give you a temporary one.” 

Y/N’s smile faltered, “Oh okay,” 

“Let me print one out for you, I’ll be right back.” The receptionist slid off her chair. 

Y/N stood to the side, her eyes darting around the hospital. There were many healthcare workers already at work, pushing patients around in wheelchairs or walking in pairs down huge corridors. She gripped the strap of her backpack, her palms sweating. 

Suddenly, a man stepped up to the desk beside her, reaching over to grab a clipboard and a pen. He was wearing a white shirt with a stethoscope around his neck. Y/N’s eyes narrowed on his badge, seeing the word ‘Doctor’ written in bold. 

"Can I help you?" he asked in a detached tone, his attention elsewhere.

Y/N hesitated, noticing his lack of focus. "Um, no, I'm just waiting," she stammered.

He scoffed dismissively. "Typical," he muttered, setting the clipboard back down and finally turning to face her.

Y/N was taken aback by his striking appearance. Her breath caught as she met his gaze, momentarily forgetting her surroundings. His features were chiselled, framed by dark hair that fell effortlessly across his forehead. But it was his piercing eyes that held her captive, a mesmerising shade of green that reminded her of the leaves off the mango trees that grew in her hometown. 

His gaze found hers, and she noticed the subtle parting of his lips as his eyes settled on her. There was a softness in his gaze, a gentle relaxation evident in the way his shoulders eased down. Maybe it was from how frightened she looked as her gaze landed on everything around her but his voice was softer now, a hint of concern evident beneath the initial hardness, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Y/N blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly as she regained her composure. "Uh, no, I'm fine, thank you," she managed to reply, feeling a flutter in her chest at the unexpected kindness in his tone.

He nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, “Well alright then. I know how hard first days can be so if I see you around, don’t worry about asking me for help.”

“Oh uh, thank you…Doctor,” Y/N replied, taken aback by his kindness. 

“Y’ can call me Harry,” She noticed a dimple appear when he smiled. His eyes were fixed on her for a beat before he pointed to his name badge and continued, “S my name y’ see.”

Y/N couldn’t help but smile and a little giggle escaped her, “It’s a nice name.”

“What’s your name?” Harry asked but was interrupted by the receptionist returning.

“Good morning Doctor Styles,” She greeted as she sat back at the desk.

“Good morning Hannah,” Harry replied, his eyes darting from Y/N to Hannah.

The woman slid the badge over to Y/N. It was a printed-out copy of the badge she was supposed to have gotten, laminated and whole-punched to a lanyard. Y/N took it between her fingers and read her name on it, her eyebrows furrowing. “Um, I think my last name is spelt wrong,” Y/N said, it would be fine if it was a small spelling mistake but it may as well be a completely different name with the way it had been spelt. 

“Sorry?” Hannah’s smile faltered. 

"U-um, my last name is spelled wrong. I-I'm sorry, I don't want to be such a pain," Y/N stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she handed the lanyard back to the receptionist.

The receptionist glanced at the name badge, and then back at Y/N. "Oh, it must be because it's such a complicated name. I must have spelt it wrong on the computer. Are you sure you can't just use it? Only until your ID comes in?"

Y/N felt a sinking feeling in her chest. She hated confrontation or being an inconvenience, but she had already given up so much for a better life here. She couldn't give up her name too. "But it's my name," she insisted softly, her voice trembling with a mixture of frustration and determination.

Just as the receptionist's mouth opened to respond, the Doctor, who had been silently observing, cleared his throat. "Hannah, I think it would be better if we give Y/N the correct name on her own ID badge, don't you think?" He interjected gently, coming to Y/N's aid without hesitation. “The whole point of it is to let people know who we are, we wouldn’t want people getting Y/N’s name wrong on her first day would we?”

Hannah frowned and Y/N could tell she wasn’t happy, “Right, I’ll be right back.” 

Y/N released a sigh, putting a hand to her forehead, “Thank you, Doctor Styles.” She said even though she was extremely embarrassed. 

“Hey it’s Harry,” He smiled, “And you were right to argue with her, ‘s your name which is beautiful by the way.”  Y/N's cheeks flushed even deeper at his compliment, but she managed a shy smile in return, feeling a sense of gratitude for Harry's kindness and support. “Don’t let these people push you around. You have just of a right to be here as everyone else.”

Y/N’s lips parted as he spoke the words she had been repeating to herself since she woke up. Y/N watched him go, her heart still racing at the unexpected encounter, a newfound warmth spreading through her as she resumed her wait in the bustling hospital corridor. 

Hannah soon returned with an annoyed look on her face as she handed Y/N her temporary badge with her name written correctly. She thanked her and walked away already having gained a possible enemy but maybe a possible friend too. 

 . . .

“I don’t want her as my nurse,” An elderly patient said midway through the day as they were serving lunch. 

Y/N had been in her scrubs for five hours, with another seven to go. Her feet ached from standing all day, attending to the patients that had been assigned to her at the start of the day. While some of the other healthcare workers had been welcoming, she couldn't ignore the clear divide between them. They tended to gather in separate groups and have their own cliques going on amongst them, but Y/N appreciated their support as she adjusted to her new role, minding her own business as she did. 

“Margot,” Layla, another healthcare assistant, spoke to the eighty-year-old woman who was laying in bed waiting for her lunch to be fed to her, “Y/N’s a new healthcare assistant, she’s just going to be feeding you lunch.”

“I don’t want her,” Margot protested, “I want someone else.”

Y/N's gaze dropped, a sinking feeling settling in her stomach. She had been expecting this to happen at some point but she didn’t think it would happen so soon. "It's alright, Layla. I'll take over your tasks," Y/N offered quietly, not wanting to make a scene.

Layla's eyes softened with sympathy. "She's not usually like this," she whispered.

Y/N nodded, her resolve firm as she gathered her belongings to assist elsewhere. "No problem," she replied with a shrug, masking her hurt.

"C'mon, Margot," Layla urged gently, collecting the tray of hot lunch.

"I don't want a foreigner feeding me," Margot muttered sharply, her words stinging the air.

Y/N’s eyes stung as she left the room. She thought she had been lucky with her patient’s today and the majority of them had been rather lovely. They’d been interested in Y/N’s life, noticing her olive-toned complexion and black hair and asking her where she came from. The question allowed her to reminisce on her time back home and describe the foods and the environment she grew up with but it was only so long before she came across someone who didn’t care - seeing her as nothing more than a stranger in a foreign land that never quite felt like home.

Y/N took three deep breaths before stepping into the wing to cover Layla's shift for an hour. She knew she needed to shake off the hurt from the recent encounter, hoping that immersing herself in work would help ease the discomfort. 

Three other women were working on the ward when Y/N entered the room. They were sitting in the corner on plastic chairs, sharing a phone screen as some show played. One of them turned when they noticed Y/N was in the room which caused the other two to follow. 

“Hello,” Y/N spoke, timidly, “I’m here to help out Layla for a little while.” 

The women exchanged knowing glances, their expressions morphing into smirks. One of them, the apparent leader of the group, sneered as she replied, "Oh, great. About time someone else did some work around here. Layla's been slacking off all morning." 

“Really?” Y/N’s eyebrows furrowed, Layla had been very kind to her just moments ago. 

“Yeah,” The leader replied, her lips smacking together as she chewed on a piece of gum, “You can start by feeding those three their lunches.” She pointed her finger towards three patients lying in their beds. 

“All three?” There were only six beds in the room. 

“Is there a problem?” The woman folded her arms, the other two trying not to laugh behind her. 

“No,” Y/N shook her head, “No there is not.”

Y/N rolled up her sleeves and got to work, trying to spoon-feed all three patients as the other girls sat in the corner continuing to watch their show. Despite the mocking gaze of her co-workers, Y/N was fully determined to prove to herself that she could get through this. She needed to just put her head down and remind herself that this was for the better - the money would be worth it at the end of the month and she’d have enough to send to her family back home too. 

As Y/N sat with the last patient, one of the ladies stood up to go and tended to another one. “Janice,” She cooed, walking over to the side of the bed where an elderly woman lay asleep, “Janice wake up love,” She squeezed her hand, “Janice?”

Y/N’s head shot in their direction, her eyes falling on Janice who wouldn’t wake up. She dropped the bowl of food on the side table and rushed over, “Hello Janice? Can you hear me?” The lady asked as Y/N put her ear to her mouth to see if she was breathing. 

“She’s unconscious,” Y/N stated, “Her throat is blocked, did you feed her?”

The woman’s eyes were wide, “I-I-”

“Call the doctor,” Y/N instructed one of the other girls who immediately pressed the red button to alert the emergency services. 

“We don’t have enough time,” Y/N muttered, “Get me a tracheostomy tube.”

“We don’t have authorisation to-”

“I can do it, I’ve done it before, please.” Y/N’s adrenaline was running high but she remained calm on the surface, it was what she had been trained to do. 

The woman hurried over with a tube, and Y/N wasted no time. With steady hands, she performed a tracheostomy to create an emergency airway for Janice. Time seemed to blur as Y/N worked quickly and efficiently.

Minutes later, as Y/N finished, the doctor entered the room, taking in the scene with great concern and alertness on his face. “Where’s the emergency?” It was Doctor Styles, Y/N recognised him by his voice. 

She squeezed her eyes shut, even though the patient had been saved and was able to breathe better, it wasn’t protocol to allow Healthcare assistants to perform such an intricate procedure that could so easily go wrong. She could be in big trouble for this and it was only her first day. 

“Janice was unconscious, she was barely breathing,” One of Y/N’s co-workers explained.

Harry approached the patient, his eyes widening in disbelief as he realised what Y/N had done. "You did this?" he asked his tone a mix of astonishment and concern.

Y/N looked up, her stomach churning with dread. She could already picture the disappointment on her mother's face for potentially jeopardising her job on the first day. "I was trying to-"

"Do you realise how dangerous this procedure is?" Harry's voice cut through her explanation.

Y/N's gaze fell to the ground, her throat tightening with guilt. "Yes, I do."

"She could have died," Harry stated, his tone grave.

"I know, but I-" Y/N began, her words faltering.

"You saved her life," Harry's interruption caught Y/N off guard, her head shooting up to meet his gaze. For the first time, she saw the awe and shock reflected in his eyes.

“How did you know how to do it?” Harry asked, genuine curiosity evident in his tone.

“I learnt it during my training,” Y/N explained, her nerves still on edge.

“You just learnt it?” Harry chuckled softly, his gaze drifting to the other women in the room. "And what were you three doing when this happened?"

“W-well, we've yet to learn that procedure, Doctor Styles,” one of them spoke up, the rest nodding along in agreement.

Harry rolled his eyes, his attention returning to Y/N. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Truly remarkable,” he said, his gaze fixed on her. 

. . .

Y/N was exhausted at the end of her shift. Her bag was still packed, her lunch and snacks untouched, because she had been on her feet all day. Her skin felt sticky underneath her sweatshirt, she couldn’t wait to shower once she got back to the house. 

As she left the hospital, she inhaled the fresh air and felt the cool breeze against her flushed face.  She needed to get the tube station back to her boarding house but she was grateful to finally have a few hours away from the scent of disinfectant and rude co-workers. 

“Y/N!” Y/N spun on her heel as she heard the call of her name, turning to see Doctor Styles pacing towards her. It was the first time today she had seen him wearing glasses. 

“Doctor Styles, I thought you would be at home already,” She smiled as best as she could despite feeling much too tired to do so. 

“No, I still have a few hours to go.” He replied, that dimple and sparkle in his eye returning to his equally tired face. “I caught you walking out and left my office to come speak to you. I was really impressed by what you did today. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a healthcare assistant do that under such pressure.”

“Oh, it was nothing,” Y/N was terrible at taking compliments, even more so when she was tired.

“It was everything. You saved a woman’s life.” Harry stated. 

"Right," Y/N murmured, her mind still reeling from the events of the day and Harry's constant acknowledgement.

A brief moment of silence fell between them as Harry looked as though he was trying to speak but didn’t know how to word it properly, “Listen I…forgive me if I’m being too forward but would you maybe want to grab something to eat with me one night, maybe, I don’t know. If you want to of course, no pressure, and if you have a boyfriend that’s okay too but is it okay if you don’t tell me because that would be incredibly kind towards my pride.”

For the first time today, Y/N released a genuine laugh as he finished his rambling. “You’re not like the boys back home.” She said after she had composed herself. 

Harry frowned, “Is that a good thing?”

“It’s refreshing,” She told him, it was nice to experience something new and it be a good thing for once. “I will go out with you Harry.” 

A smile tugged at the corner of Harry’s lips, despite his attempt to suppress it by biting his bottom lip. He rubbed his hand over his mouth in a futile effort to conceal his grin, but the crinkles around his eyes and the dimples on his cheeks betrayed his amusement. "Okay," he chuckled softly, unable to contain his delight. "That’s good."

“I have an afternoon off in three days time, is that okay?” He asked eagerly, wanting to see her as soon as possible.

“I would like that,” she says, her voice filled with anticipation. “A lot actually.”

Their gazes locked for a brief moment. “Well, I should probably get going,” Y/N said, breaking the silence.

“Yes, of course. Can I give you my number first? I can text you the details later if that’s okay,” Harry asked, pulling his phone out of his back pocket.

“Oh, sure,” Y/N replied, taking out her phone, which only had her family’s numbers saved in it.

Harry quickly typed his number into Y/N's phone before handing it back to her with a warm smile. “I’ll hopefully see you tomorrow?” Harry asked.

“Yes, I’m here tomorrow.” Harry walked backwards towards the hospital entrance, smiling and shaking his head before turning his back to her.

Y/N was in disbelief as she began her journey home. She couldn't shake the feeling of surprise that someone like Harry would want to go on a date with her. Dating wasn't even on her radar when she arrived; she had suspected that no man would find her attractive because of how she looked - she wasn’t really deemed the stereotypical female in Western society. But Harry's genuine interest had shattered those doubts. As she navigated through the bustling streets, a newfound sense of confidence began to bloom within her. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something wonderful and a new distraction from her overwhelming life. 

. . .

Harry had been eyeing the clock all morning. 

“Have somewhere to be?” Niall, his co-worker, asked, having seen him glued to the clock. 

“Something like that,” Harry mumbled. 

With just an hour left of his shift, Harry couldn't shake the anticipation of taking Y/N out for dinner tonight. She had been occupying his thoughts incessantly for the past three days. The golden hue of her skin and the soft, round features of her face had etched themselves into his mind. He found himself mesmerised by the almond shape of her eyes, their deep brown colour reminiscent of a shot of espresso in the morning. 

He loved the melodic, soft tones of her voice and the way she spoke with an accent that brought life into the usual boring words people spoke to him every day. He thought about how her cheeks would tinge pink whenever she’d start speaking, how shy she was whenever he’d praise her or how expressive her eyes were whenever she wasn’t talking. 

He was a Doctor and knew all the ways in which the mind and body worked but he was beginning to question his beliefs since he had met Y/N because he was pretty sure he had fallen in love at first sight. 

Everything about her had been on his mind and he was desperate to find out all that he possibly could about the quiet, shy healthcare assistant who saved the life of a woman on her first day. 

Interrupting the images of Y/N that had been playing in his mind, was the sound of the buzzer to the emergency department. Harry sat up at the same time as Niall who was already standing to his feet to go and see what the problem was. He sighed, hoping for time to hurry up so the evening would arrive much sooner. 

“Hey it’s me,” Harry sighed a heavy sigh into the phone as he held it against his ear, sitting in his car in the staff parking area of the hospital many hours later. His forehead was pressed against the steering wheel as tiredness and guilt laced within him.

“Hello Harry,” Y/N’s soft voice rang through the speaker, soothing a piece of him that was just so tired, “Is everything okay?”

Harry’s eyes squeezed shut, “You’re probably going to hate me for this but is there any chance we can reschedule? Something came up at work and I’ve only just come out.” He was five hours overtime after a family had been rushed into the emergency room after an accident. 

He swallowed as he waited for her to reply, “Oh,” She said and the small remark made him feel even more guilty than he already felt. 

“I’m sorry,” He hated himself because it was all he had been looking forward to.

“Harry,” Y/N said his name, “It’s okay. I’ve worked in enough hospitals to know these things happen. Of course, we can go at another time but are you okay?”

He released a long breath at the question, “No not really,” it was the truth and another reason why he needed to reschedule the date. He had seen some pretty tough things today and it weighed heavily on his mind. 

“Have you eaten?” Y/N asked, concern in her voice. 

His eyes stung, his head falling back against the headrest, “No I haven’t eaten since breakfast.” 

Y/N sighed over the phone, “Do you live close by?”

“I live about ten minutes from the hospital,” He told her, wondering why she would ask. 

“Is it okay if I come by?” She asks, “I mean it’s okay if not.”

Harry’s shoulders dropped, “That actually sounds really nice.”

The fact that Y/N would be visiting him at his home seemed to ease the weight of the long day from Harry's shoulders. With a faint smile playing on his lips, he leaned back in his seat, feeling a hint of anticipation at the thought of her company.

When Harry got home, he saw how messy his apartment was. Feeling a sudden jolt of energy, he quickly picked up his laundry off of the floor and threw dirty dishes into the dishwasher. He took a moment to straighten up the living room and fluff the cushions on the couch. Trying to make everything look cleaner than it actually was in order to impress her. 

His buzzer rang and he quickly went to answer it, allowing her to come up as his heart raced in his chest. With one last glance around the room, he swiftly nudged something under the coffee table before reaching the door just as she knocked.

Harry felt all the tiredness from his body lift when he opened the door and found her standing there with a plastic carrier bag in her hands. She was wearing leggings and a sweatshirt, her hair tied up in a ponytail and her face make-up free. 

“Hey,” He breathed, a piece of him settling when he laid eyes on her, “Thank you for coming here.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” She smiled and walked past him after he moved to the side to let her in. 

Her eyes were wide as she took in his apartment, “This is a lot better than the boarding house.”

His eyebrows furrowed, “You’re living in a boarding house?”

She nodded, “Only until I can find my own place to live. It was what the company who transferred me here offered when I applied.” 

“I see,” Harry realised he was still in his uniform except his shirt was untucked and his tie was loose around his neck. 

Y/N placed the plastic bag on the kitchen counter, “I bought some things to make you since you didn’t eat. How about I start cooking and you can get changed?” 

Harry scratched the back of his neck, “I-I hope you don’t think I invited you over to cook for me Y/N. I actually really just wanted to see you.”

Y/N’s cheeks flushed, “It’s okay, I enjoy cooking and maybe it’s my excuse to see you too.”

He took a step forward, “If I had known you had been waiting to find an excuse I would have invited you over much sooner.” 

She shifted under his gaze, biting her lip to stop her smile, “Go get dressed,” She ordered and Harry grinned, it was the first time he had seen her act so assertively. 

He took a thirty-minute long shower, scrubbing off the remains of the day from his skin. He wore a grey sweatshirt and sweatpants, drying his hair with a towel as he re-entered the kitchen to find Y/N already plating up the food she had made. 

The kitchen was an aroma of fragrances Harry had never smelt before. His mouth watered as Y/N spooned rice onto plates and picked up the saucepan to bring to the kitchen island. “This smells amazing,” Harry sat on one of the stools, picking up a knife and fork. 

“It’s called chicken adobo,” Y/N informs him, “It’s a traditional dish of the Philippines, my mama used to make it for me and my sister when we’d come in from school.” 

Harry listened intently, “That’s where you’re from?” 

Y/N smiled, “It’s my home.” She took Harry’s plate and spooned some of the chicken on top of the rice before doing the same for herself, “I hope you don’t mind but I use my hands to eat,” 

Harry lowered his knife and fork, “Really?”

“Mhm,” Y/N picked up some of the rice and chicken with her fingers,  “It’s called Kamayan. It’s meant to help appreciate the flavours and textures of the food we make or are served.”

Harry looked genuinely interested as Y/N ate the food pressed into her hand, “Can I try?”

Y/N paused chewing on her food, not expecting him to want to try something that in many Western cultures might be considered bad manners. She quickly swallowed it down and nodded, “Of course.” 

Harry pursed his lips as he concentrated on gathering the rice and chicken into his hands. He felt the stickiness of the rice as he pressed it with his fingers. It wasn’t as graceful as Y/N had done as he attempted to put it all into his mouth. He chewed on the chicken, his taste buds tingling at the new flavour. 

Swallowing it down his eyes brightened, “It’s delicious!”

Y/N’s eyes crinkled, “Yeah? You think so?”

“I’ve never eaten with my hands before but it feels quite liberating.” He chuckles.

Y/N laughs, “My mama always told us to eat with our hands.” 

Harry repeated the action, scooping the perfect serving into his hand and eating it, “Where did you live when you lived in the Philippines?”

“I grew up in Roxas City- it’s on one of the many islands and it’s beautiful. The beaches stretch for miles and the water is so blue and clear you can see your feet walking along the bottom.” Harry watched as Y/N explained animatedly what her home country was like. Her words brought the images to life in his mind as he pictured her walking along the beaches. 

He was happy to see her relax into conversation the more questions he asked about her home, “What made you want to come here to work?”

Y/N’s smile faltered and Harry wished he could take back the question but she answered, “My family aren’t wealthy and I always knew I would have to leave at some point to go out and make enough money to bring back for them so we could have a better life. I trained in healthcare so I could come here and work.” 

Harry's expression softened, concern evident in his eyes. "Has it been difficult?" he asked gently. He knew it might sound like a cliché question, but he genuinely wanted to make sure she was coping okay. It must be incredibly difficult having to leave everything you know for something completely different. 

“I’m so homesick,” Y/N’s eyes watered, “Every day I go back to that boarding house and count down the days until I can go home again. I-I thought I knew English before coming here but it’s so difficult to understand when people are talking so fast and expecting you to know what they’re saying.” Harry grabbed a tissue and passed it to her. She took it in her hands and gave him a watery smile, “I miss my mama and my sister and the sun. London is so grey.” 

Harry reached out a hand and gripped her fingers, squeezing them gently, “Hey, you’re doing so good Y/N.” He started, “You’re so unbelievably brave for coming here and starting this new life. I mean I couldn’t do what you’re doing - I get homesick even when my mum lives ten minutes away,” Y/N laughs and the sound sparks something inside of him, even when she was crying she was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen in his life, “You should be so proud of yourself and I know your family is proud of you too.”

Y/N’s watery eyes looked into his, “Thank you,” She whispered, “This is the first time I’ve stepped outside my house other than to get that stupid train to work.” 

“Seriously?” Harry was shocked, no wonder she was feeling so trapped and cooped up. 

Harry glanced at their two empty plates before giving her hand a tight squeeze, “C’mon,”

“What-” Y/N watched as he grabbed his jacket and car keys.

“Let me take you somewhere,” He insisted, his voice warm and inviting. 

“But it’s dark outside?” Y/N slid off her stool and followed him to the front door. 

“That’s the best time of day,” He smirked and whisked her away to his car where he drove her through the streets of London, illuminated by the lights that lit up the streets. 

He parked on the side of the road somewhere and they walked for fifteen minutes until they reached a busier area of the city where people were still out with friends, “Hopefully it’s still there,” He mumbled. 

“What are you talking about?” Y/N frowned and her head lifted to see the bright lights from billboards that surrounded the square. Perfume adverts and models appeared on the big screens as tourists posed for pictures in front of them. 

“This is Piccadilly Circus,” Harry motioned to the place they were standing in. He intertwined their fingers and led her over to stand her in front of the biggest billboard of them all, “And that is your home.” He pointed to it and the billboard switched to a picture of a beach that looked almost exactly the same as the one she had grown up near. Big, bold letters with the words ‘Visit the Philippines’ were at the bottom but Y/N couldn’t seem to stop staring at the sea that illuminated the square, casting it in blue light. 

Her eyes glistened with tears, “I know it’s not the same,” Harry said, scratching the back of his neck, “But-”

“It’s my home,” Y/N gasped, a grin taking over her entire face, “That’s where I’m from Harry!” 

Harry’s grin mirrored hers, “It is!” He replies with equal enthusiasm. 

“Can you take a picture of me?” She reached for her phone and passed it to him. Y/N smiled like a kid at Christmas in front of the billboard and Harry quickly snapped a picture before it switched to a different advert. 

He handed the phone back to her and she looked down unable to keep her eyes off of that blue sea she had been missing. “This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” She murmured and looked up to see him already gazing at her, “Thank you.”

Harry smiled bashfully, shaking his head, “I know you don’t believe it yet but I think you were meant to be here at this moment in life and I think maybe I was meant to be here too.” He admitted. 

“You really think that?” She asked.

“I believe it wholeheartedly,” He stated. 

When the billboard returned to the picture of the sea, Y/N insisted Harry stand to get a picture in front of it. He pulled a face, pointing at the billboard and the picture came out all blurry because Y/N had been laughing too much. 

Late into the night, they stayed in Piccadilly Circus taking pictures of each other and with each other as the beach appeared on the screen. Harry swore his camera roll was now just pictures of Y/N squealing with excitement whenever the image of the beach appeared. 

In the moments in between, they sat and spoke. Comparing cultures and learning more about one another. Whilst Y/N had learnt about Harry’s family and living in the English countryside as a child, Harry had learnt all about Y/N’s time in the sun and how much she adored fishing in the spring and picking mangoes off her grandpa’s mango trees. 

It wasn’t a date, it was more than that. 

It was the converging of two paths in life that had now become one. 

. . .

Mahal na mama, Dear mama. 

I got my first paycheck today and I have sent you as much as I can. I hope it’s enough to buy you some new shoes because I know you are getting tired of your old ones. 

I have been working hard and I’m slowly growing used to the way things work here. I’d be lying if I told you it was easy, it’s been so incredibly hard. So many times I have been desperate to come home, wondering whether this was where I belonged or if it just wasn’t meant to be. 

But Mama, I’ve met someone. 

Don’t be upset. I know you always told me and sissy it should always be careers before boys but he has become my home away from home mama. 

He’s a doctor at the hospital and his name is Harry.

Every day he picks me up from work even though his apartment is right by the hospital and we walk into work together. He’s not embarrassed to hold my hand or kiss me goodbye either. 

I spend a lot of days at his home because it’s a lot nicer than my boarding house. He asks me to cook him some of your recipes and he tells me to tell you that they are delicious and he hopes one day that you can cook them for him. 

He loves to listen to me speak about home and I love to hear him speak about his. 

He’s introduced me to this whole other world of culture mama and it is so beautiful. 

I love you and I miss you but I am safe and happy and I am doing well.

I am still counting down the days until I can come home and visit you but just know I am no longer homesick because of him. 

Mahal kita Mama. 

. . .

“Ang pangalan ko ay Harry,”

“Ang… Pan-gaaa-”

“Pangalan,” Y/N tried not to laugh at the concentrated look on his face. 

“Pangalan,” She nods.

“Ang pangalan ko ay Harry,” Harry looks at her for confirmation and she nods, leaning forward to kiss him. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Harry, my name is Y/N.” She murmurs against his lips. 

She feels his lips curve against hers before he puckers them and presses kisses all over her face. She tries to pull him away but he keeps her in his grip until they collapse onto the bed. “Harryyyy,” She giggles as he presses kisses along her exposed collarbones. 

“What’s the word for kisses again?” He murmurs against her neck. 

Y/N’s hands run through his curls, pushing them back from his face. Her lips ghost against his as she murmurs, “Mga halik,” 

“Mga halik,” He repeats, his pronunciation improving. 

“Mhm,” She puckers her lips to kiss him to which he happily hums and returns her kiss. “I need to start dinner,”

“No,” He whines, holding onto her, “Stay.”

“But I’m so hungry and you need to help me with the lumpia.” She says referring to the spring roles she had taught him to make. 

“We can’t order a pizza?” He pouts, “I just want to hold you.” 

Y/N sighed but was unable to prevent herself from falling for the pouty look on his face, “Fine, we’ll get a pizza but only if we can get it with pineapple.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed, “Criminal,” 

“But you love me?” She grins, cheekily. 

“I do,” He kisses her before grabbing his phone, “I truly do.”

Since moving to a new country and meeting Harry, Y/N's life had transformed. He had brought back the sense of familiarity she had lost when she moved across the world. In him, she found not just love, but a true home—a place where she belonged and was cherished in return.

Her work and life in general had become easier because she no longer felt so alone. Every day they’d sit together during their lunch breaks at work and go back to Harry’s apartment at the end of their shifts. 

“Hi baby,” Harry greeted her whenever she’d get into the car with him. He’d lean over the console and kiss her. 

“Hi syota,” Sweetheart. She’d say in return and despite how tired he felt, he always managed to smile at the term of endearment she’d picked for him. 

Further into their dating, Harry had been desperate to learn her language. Even though Y/N told him it didn’t matter to her - they had their own ways of communicating that only they understood, bridging the gap between words that got lost in translation - he was instant on it. 

“But when our kids learn, I’ll be left out.” It was the first time he said I love you without even saying the three words. 

As they sat in his living room, which was slowly becoming hers too, eating pizza and watching Lord of the Rings, because Harry was insistent on making Y/N watch the whole series if she wanted to truly see the beauty of Western culture, Y/N realised that maybe Harry was right and this was where she was meant to be all along. 

“I love you,” Harry murmured as he held her in his arms on the couch. 

“Mahal kita.” I love you. She replied, feeling more at home in his arms than she did anywhere else in the world. 

3 years later… 

“Are you nervous baby?” Harry whispered in her ear as they sat side by side on the plane, their fingers intertwined. She was wearing his sweater and he had one of her rings on a chain around his neck, it was the physical representation of how they had interwoven their lives had become. 

“A little,” Y/N confessed, glancing out the window to see they were nearing the island she had left three years ago. “I’m worried they won’t like this version of me.”

“Hey,” Harry cupped her cheek in his hand, “They’re your family, they’ll love every version of you the same way I do.” 

Y/N’s lips turned upwards, “You promise?” 

“I’d never lie to you my love,” He kissed the bridge of her nose. 

The plane shook as it landed on the ground. Y/N could already feel the heat of the sun before she’d even stepped off the plane, just from looking out the window. Harry grabbed her duffle bag from the overhead compartment and took his own travel case as well. 

He was wearing a shirt that said ‘But Daddy I love him’ and white shorts with sunglasses buried in his dishevelled curls. They had been flying for hours, the both of them exhausted, but Y/N couldn’t seem to calm the jitters of seeing her home again. 

Harry pulled her into his side and kissed the top of her head, “Calm down, puso ko.” my heart. 

“Do you think she’ll be here?” Y/N was already craning her neck as they got to passport control even though it was impossible to see past the arrival gates from where they stood. 

She remembered what her mother had told her when she dropped her off to start her new life in England. 

“Mananatili pa rin ako dito sa loob ng tatlong taon at magiging mas mahusay ka.” I will still be here in three years and you will be someone better. 

She hoped she had done just as her mother said and she would be returning to her as someone better than the person she used to be. 

Once they got through the gate, Y/N stood on her toes and tried to spot her mother in the crowds. She didn’t expect to see her right away as her mother was rather short but she hoped she’d sense her presence somewhere in the room. 

“Do you see her?” Y/N asked, Harry was also looking around to see if she was somewhere. 

“Y/N!” A warm, comforting voice that echoed in the depths of her childhood and rang through her to this day, called for her amongst the bustle of people. 

Y/N’s eyes watered, “Mama!” She called, spinning around to find her. 

“Hey look baby,” Harry pointed and that’s when Y/N saw her. Her arms open, standing in the place she promised she would be three years later. 

“Mama!” Y/N dropped Harry’s hand and ran towards her mother, enveloping herself in her arms and feeling her soft skin against her own. She felt the hands that had held her as a child, cling to the back of her shirt. 

“Ang anak ko,” My child. Her mother held her. 

“I’ve missed you so much,” Y/N whispered, her eyes flooding with tears. 

Y/N pulled away, looking down at her mother and feeling a fresh flood of tears fill her eyes. A presence came up behind her, a hand on her shoulder. She put her hand on top of his and watched as her mother’s eyes widened in surprise, “Mama, this is my boyfriend, Harry.”

Harry cleared his throat, placing their bags on the floor, “Hello ang pangalan ko ay Harry. Ikinagagalak kitang makilala.” Hello, my name is Harry. Nice to meet you. His tone was slightly unsure as he spoke but Y/N beamed as he spoke the words to his mother, having spent the last few years teaching him. 

Her mother smiled, a tear falling from her eye. Y/N’s lips parted, having never seen her mother cry before. She took a step forward and then wrapped her arms around Harry, “Salamat sa pag-aalaga sa anak ko.” thank you for taking care of my daughter. 

Y/N covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing in the middle of the airport. She wanted to take this moment and bottle it up as she watched her two favourite people in the entire world embrace each other. 

If there was one thing Y/N had learnt from her time away it was that home wasn’t so much of a place anymore but the people instead.

These were her people.

They were her home. 

[shinuryoxx]

pairing/s: slight the recruiter x male!oc (if you squint, but it's not really important, nor is it part of the main pairings.)

cw: dead dove: do not eat, unreliable narrator, alcohol use, smoking, canon-typical violence, cursing, blood, mentions of organ harvesting, non-consensual drugging, kidnapping

word count: 2,265

italics in narration = thoughts

italics in dialogue = word emphasis

bold in dialogue = non-korean language

➊ 𝗱𝗱𝗮𝗸𝗷𝗶 __

ִ┈┈┈┈˖ ࣪⊹ ִ┈┈┈┈ ♰ ┈┈┈┈ ⊹ ִֶָ𓂅˖ ࣪⊹

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞 just hit the twelve-hour mark. just four more hours left before the club closes. the reminder is enough to make angelo's head throb, a headache in the making.

wiping the counter with a wet rag, angelo swings it over his shoulder once a woman, who looks way too young to drink, much less be in a club, occupies the stool in front of him. he can only nod mutely as she orders a cocktail, muttering a quiet: “coming right up,”

sex on the beach; easy enough to make.

angelo grabs a half-full bottle of vodka and pours one and a half ounce into a shaker. half an ounce of creme de cassis, a third ounce of peach schnapps, two ounces of orange juice, and two ounces of cranberry juice.

putting the lid on, angelo rapidly shakes the combination of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to thoroughly mix them before finally pouring the cocktail into a glass, garnishing it with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry, and sliding it towards the woman.

angelo then writes the purchase down on her tab as per her request. damn, it's her fourth drink tonight; perhaps he should cut her off before she gets more wasted than she already is. probably. but angelo doesn't really give a damn if people blow off all their money to get shitfaced or not. it's not his business nor his problem.

a small sigh leaves angelo's lips and he turns to the other bartender beside him. “cover for me. i need a smoke.” the filipino doesn't bother waiting for a reply before he's already trudging towards the back room and past the ‘staff only’ sign. the sound of his co-worker cursing him out behind him reaches his ears, yet angelo simply reaches into his back pocket for his pack of marlboro red and metal lighter.

as angelo steps out into the dingy alley beside the club, he curses under his breath when he pats his pockets and fails to find his lighter. fuck, did he leave it in his other pair of dress pants?

just then, a hand holds out a lighter under the cigarette between his lips and lights the tip for him. angelo blinks in mild surprise before turning towards the man, who the filipino just realized is beside him. he adorns an expensive-looking suit, seams pressed neatly without a wrinkle in sight, a black briefcase in his other hand, and a seemingly polite smile on his lips.

“thanks,” angelo says flatly and goes back to minding his own business. the silence stretches on, but he doesn't mind. he finally has some peace and quiet without the dj making him go deaf. it doesn't last long, though, as the man decides to speak up. “sir, would you like to play a game with me?”

“go scam someone else.” angelo is quick to shut the man down, not even giving him the grace of looking at him. however the man seems undeterred and merely chuckles amusedly. “i'm not here to scam you. play a game of ddakji with me and i’ll pay you 100.000 won in cash.”

angelo's attention is caught upon hearing a faint click. glancing back to the man, his dark eyes immediately drop to the opened briefcase with multiple stacks of bills inside and two colored paper tiles, one blue and one red.

oh. now, he's interested.

“and if i lose?” angelo raises an eyebrow in distrust, taking a drag out of his cigarette before blowing the smoke right at the man's face to which he calmly waves away with his lips still curved up. “you pay me back the same amount.”

“i don't have that much.”

“then you can pay me with your body.”

“you're not my type, and i'd prefer to keep all my organs.”

angelo's blunt response pulls another chuckle from the man. “oh? that's a shame. though, i meant something else. a slap for each lost. how does that sound?” the filipino seems to think it over for a minute before eventually shrugging. “sure. why not.”

“please pick a color of your choice.”

without much thought, angelo goes for the blue tile, picking it up and flipping it in his hand. the man drops the red tile on the ground in return, “you start,” the filipino just nods before adjusting his stance, puffing out smoke once more, and pulling his arm back. his gaze narrows at the target and he swiftly slams the blue tile unto the red one, only for it to not even budge.

angelo isn't given a warning as the man slaps him hard enough to almost make him stumble and lose his footing. it's a good thing he doesn't because that would be humiliating and a hazard to his pride. his cigarette, however, is sent flying from his mouth. for a moment, it's silent, the filipino not moving a single muscle and the man waiting for his reaction.

with lightning speed, angelo's hand shoots out, and the man's head snaps to the side at his strength. his uneven eyes widen ever so slight, and his smile finally falters. did… did he just slap him? yes. yes, he did. it was so sudden, so fast that even though he knew of the possibility of the other person retaliating when he slapped them, he wasn't able to react in time.

“asshat. that was my last one.” angelo glares daggers into the man in front of him. he doesn't receive a response immediately, and he's one second away from hitting him again, back hand this time, when the man's shoulders start shaking with… laughter? it's soft at first before increasing in volume.

“i apologize. that was not my intention. shall we play one more round?” the man turns back to angelo, a smirk plastered on his features once more. he purses his lips in thought, but nods anyway. the man's smirk widens knowingly as he picks up the red tile and leans back a little before drawing his arm back and striking angelo's paper tile.

angelo's eye gives a faint twitch at the sight of his flipped tile. he inhales sharply as he's slapped a second time, his cheek already reddening and stinging. attempting to return the favor, the filipino gets ready to hit him back, although the man is ready this time and catches his hand before it can land.

“ah, ah, ah.” the man tuts with a theatrical pout. “that's not part of the rules.”

“tsk,” angelo scoffs before relenting, pulling his hand back from the man's grip. he lets him go easily enough. grabbing the blue tile, the filipino takes his time to aim properly then slams it down. unlike before, angelo manages to flip the man's tile.

angelo holds out his hand, closing and opening his fist. “pay up.” the man merely smiles at his eagerness and reaches into his briefcase. he hands the filipino the promised 100.000 won, which he immediately checks them for their realism before pocketing them.

they play a few more rounds together and angelo hates to admit it, but he lost more than he'd like. if his cheek wasn't red before, it definitely is now. ignoring the pain, the filipino observes with mild curiosity as the man pulls out a brown card. angelo accepts it, his dark eyes tracing the three symbols on the piece of cardboard. a circle, a triangle, and a square, he briefly wonders if it holds any meaning, but brushes it off in the end.

“if you wish to participate in similar games and win more money, please call this number.”

that makes angelo turn the card over to reveal a phone number. he looks back up at the man packing his things up, closing his briefcase with a click before moving to leave, though not before shooting the filipino another charming smile. “i wish you well, mr. ortiz.”

angelo waits until the man is out of his line of sight before mumbling to himself. “...how does he know my name?”

a pained grunt escapes angelo's chest as he's socked in the jaw yet again and he tastes copper. he struggles against the two men's holds on both of his arms on either side of him, but to no avail. the carpeted floor does little to cushion his probably bruised knees.

“a month has passed already. i'll ask again; where is my money?” despite asking calmly, the man, his boss — or better known as min-jun, looks close to popping a vein. min-jun's calloused fingers brush the blood coating his brass knuckles, tilting his head at angelo's sorry state. condescending as usual.

angelo spits out the blood pooling in his mouth, painting the carpet red with his ichor. “i told you already; i’ll get it for you. i just need more time.” his chin is then caught in min-jun's tight grip and he has to hold himself back from spitting on the man's face as he grows closer to his face.

“aish, that's what you always say. if you don't have the money next time, i'm taking those creepy eyes of yours… and maybe even a kidney or two.”

and with that min-jun delivers one last final kick to angelo's stomach, causing him to wheeze softly and double down in pain. the two lackeys finally let him go. the man sneers down at the filipino, flicks his cigarette ash at him, and leaves his apartment with the other two trailing after him.

it takes angelo a second to recover before getting to his feet with a small grunt. the bedroom door to his left cracks open, and a teenage boy's head pops out from inside, quickly followed by a girl. “are they gone?” the girl is the first to break the silence.

“mhm-hm,” angelo swipes at his busted, bloody bottom lip, wincing subtly. the girl simply sighs before moving to look for a wet rag. “how are you going to get the money? he doesn't even pay you for working in his stupid club, and we're barely scraping by. the landlady has been looking for you, too.” the boy finally speaks up, concern etched onto his face.

right. rent is due again. although, angelo isn't really in the mood to woo her to bed again. “I'll find a way. you don't have to worry, ivan.”

“don't tell us not to worry when they just threatened to take your organs.” the girl comes back with a wet cloth. she drags angelo to their couch, which has definitely seen better days, pushing him to sit down before beginning to dab on his injuries. angelo lets out a quiet hiss at the sharp sting of alcohol.

“sophia, it's not your responsibility. besides, you're both too young to start working.”

sophia looks like she wants to argue, but she ends up holding her tongue as she continues to clean angelo's wounds. once she's done, he thanks his younger sister and the twins give him one last glance before disappearing into their shared bedroom once more.

with his siblings out of the way, angelo reaches into his pocket, and pulls out the brown card from before. a week has passed since his encounter with that strange man, and he hasn't called the number just yet. the filipino didn't see the need to… that is until now. desperate times call for extreme measures. beggars can't be choosers, after all.

taking out his phone, angelo types down the phone number before pressing the call button. it doesn't even get the chance to ring as the other person swiftly answers, obviously using a voice changer. “do you wish to participate in the game? if you wish to play, please state your name and date of birth.”

“ortiz angelo. third of october, nineteen ninety-nine.”

“i'll be back in a few days. don't leave the apartment unless for school, and come home immediately once all your classes are finished.”

“where will you be going?” sophia crosses her arms in front of her chest, narrowing her eye at angelo in suspicion. “somewhere,” he sighs softly as he ties his shoelaces by the door and gets ready to leave.

“jace is coming by later to check up on you guys.”

“really?!” ivan exclaims excitedly from beside sophia, grinning toothily. “we don't need a babysitter.” she pouts. “yes, you do.” angelo counters and pointedly looks at the twins with a raised eyebrow. the last time he left them fully alone, they almost burned the apartment down. it had taken more than getting inside the landlady's pants – more like up her skirt — that time.

“behave,” is all angelo says before leaving for the designated meeting place. it's not a long walk from his place and is actually in front of a nearby grocery store. eventually, the filipino arrives. he checks his phone for the time. 21:44. they should be here in a minute.

as if on cue, a black van appears in front of him and the front window rolls down to reveal a masked man with a white ‘O’ on his black mask in a hot pink uniform. “name and date of birth?”

angelo repeats the same thing he told the person on the phone and the van's door slides open. stepping inside and taking a seat, his eyebrows furrow in mild confusion at the sight of other people, all unconscious. something doesn't feel right, he thinks to himself.

all angelo remembers are his eyelids becoming much heavier than they did before, and smoke filling the vehicle before his eyes fell shut and he succumbed to a deep slumber.

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦

♱ 𝟬𝟬

♱ 𝟬𝟮

♱ 𝟬𝟰

♱ 𝟬𝟯

♱ 𝟬𝟱

♱ 𝟬𝟲

♱ 𝟬𝟳

♱ 𝟬𝟴

♱ 𝟬𝟵

♱ 𝟭𝟬

end

[naskaolgia]

any Craig headcannons? :3

LORD DO NOT GET ME STARTED

I have plenty:

My HC list for him is erm long so here it is if you wanna read, and I'd draw any of them if you guys want

Craig HCs:

•He dyes his hair black, I think he just likes to and his natural colour is strawberry blonde

•he's half Filipino and half south Korean with a little percentage of Peruvian and Colombian in him, his Filipino/Hispanic side comes from his dad and his South Korean side from his mother

• Craig knows fluent tagalog it was all his dad spoke to him when he was younger so he could speak it but ofcorse that brings me to another headcannon-

•I HC craig is on the spectrum, and was non verbal for a long time up until he turned 7, his father tried speaking to him in both languages English and tagalog but neither worked he tried teaching craig sign language which worked for the time until he turned 7

•his mother also had around Korean manga he found as a kid so I feel like he read that quite a bit and got a bit into anime that way

•his parents gave him that bowl cut and he didn't change it until highschool lmfao

•Craig is a late bloomer, i feel like he's like tiny until he finally hits puberty in like summer between 9th and 10th grade, and trust me once he grows he GROWS

•Craig and clyde are REALLY CLOSE like brotherly close, craig and clydes dad's were good friends and they have known eachother sense diapers, really good friends

•He's a huge romantic because erm yeah

•He was raised religious and has like daddy issues

•him and tweek getting married as soon as they become adults is more of a creek headcannon but I think its sweet ehe

•him and stan are very distant cousins on his Colombian side

I might have more but I can't think of any more rn

[dandysworldhcs]

Suffering through school stuff right now... ough.... Could we have some wholesome headcanons? Doesn't need to be about any particular character but It would be so awesome to see at least one Goob / Craft siblings one hehehe

Also just to add a headcanon to the massive pile on this blog, Filipino Poppy, because of a stupid yt short I watched, hehe

we all need some wholesome headcanons in these trying times

-looey makes squeaky toy sounds when excited or frazzled and everyone thinks its adorable. some other toons have started imitating him subconsciously and now when theyre all excited or startled you hear over half of the toons make a squeak sound.its so sillycore

-flutter is very cuddly, physical affection is one of her biggest love languages

-pebble and coal both have service dog training. they can detect abnormal blood pressure, panic attacks, seizures, you name it. dandy, bobette and the handlers are aware of this and know how to recognize the alerts. the rock dogs are very proud of each other and look up to each other a lot :-]

-coal is actually bobette's service dog !! she has fainting spells sometimes and coal helps alert her before they happen so she doesnt fall and injure herself

-scraps and goob have their own secret nonverbal/sign language in the event that one of them has a verbal shutdown [ive talked about this in a previous hc dump i think]. they sometimes use the language when they wanna tell each other a secret, or just for the funny

-adults are welcome to play and interact with the toons as well !! sometimes people who didnt have great childhoods come to gardenview and ask to play with some of the toons and they arent shamed or questioned for it. gardenview is a safe space <:]

-teagan is secretly a huge dork that kicks her feet thinking about her friends.there is so much love in her heart

-connie helps grieving kids by saying stuff like "hey.i talked to your loved one in the spirit realm and they said that theyre very proud of you :-) and they told me to give you a hug on their behalf". parents and adults think that the handlers asked connie to do this but the handlers have no idea that she does this. she does it out of kindness

these are a lot,,sorry if these arent really wholesome and i misunderstood,,

[idkwhatimdoinok]

Tried to recreate the Melinoe panel with a redesign but also with a reference photos of the Greek Alphabet in Greek Sign Language.

I might be flamed for this opinion, but I genuinely got upset seeing the signs in ASL and not Greek Sign Language. As someone who uses Filipino Sign Language (FSL) to communicate with some of my family members and just 2 years in learning ASL, it kinda gave me the feeling like it is saying that one myth of "all sign language is the same" :/

Like, I love seeing sign language being depicted, especially seeing how distinct they are from each other in each country! But the use of ASL in a Greek setting really rubbed on me the wrong way.

[filipinofoodart]

Why should you learn Filipino Sign Language? You will be able to communicate with your mouth full! You will also learn about Deaf culture, and make new friends! The Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies will be holding FSL classes this January to April 2024. Registration ends this Friday (Jan 12), open to all! Learn more: https://sdeas.benilde.edu.ph/class-schedule/ Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPHC3PKz3siRdaDr6oRv6RVUbGJM_TF7-YmNlX8Lx5aCOqLQ/viewform

[philippinewildlifeart]

Why should you learn Filipino Sign Language?

You will be able to communicate silently while bird watching or doing field research. You will also learn about Deaf culture, and make new friends!

The Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies will be holding FSL classes this January to April 2024. Registration ends this Friday (Jan 12), open to all!

Learn more: https://sdeas.benilde.edu.ph/class-schedule/

Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPHC3PKz3siRdaDr6oRv6RVUbGJM_TF7-YmNlX8Lx5aCOqLQ/viewform

[filipeanut]

Sketch-in-progress of how to say "hearing" in Filipino Sign Language.

Meanwhile if you are a hearing Filipino please fill up this FSL awareness form by this Saturday July 26, coordinated by the Filipino Sign Language National Network (FSLN2) and Deaf Accessibility Network of the Philippines (DANP):

UPDATE 07/23/25: link has been removed due to issues with survey responses.

[thelamentknight]

Rigoberto Macoco 

Early to Mid 40s

Male

Spaniard Filipino

Hometown is the Never Isles

Twisted from Captain Hook

Teaches Magical Artifacts, Ancient Languages & Curses, and Ancient Ruins Analysis for 3rd years only

His Favorite Food is Okoy

His Least Favorite Food is Sea Water

Dislikes Crocodile

Hobbies: Studying Maps and Constellation Charts, Sketching, collecting (seashells, coins, gems, trinkets, rocks, etc), and star gazing

Talent: Fairy Language (can understand what fairies say)

Macoco is an elegant yet extremely intimidating Professor at NRC. With 0 tolerance for his students bullsh!t and stupidity, even the most rowdy troublemakers respect and fear him greatly. Stern and strict, he is not a man who gives out compliments freely. He does have a dry (and somewhat dark) sense of humor.

Fun Facts:

+ Only teaches 3rd years because 1st and 2nd years annoy the sh!t out of him

+ Plays the piano well

+ He’s missing a left hand and a couple fingers from a crocodile attack

+ Loves Sea Travel

+ Lyre music is his favorite type of music (piano is a close second)

+  All his family members are d*ad

+ Was an NRC student. He was in Scarabia and became a Dorm Leader around his first year

+ Leona is in his class, but due to his constant absences, Macoco doesn’t even say his name for attendance. He just glances around , sees that Leona isn’t present, and just marks him absent 

+ Extremely skilled swordsman 

+ Isn’t keen on sharing his past 

+ When signing up for his classes, students would be confused as to why one of the fill out questions is “Do you have hearing sensitivity?” As it turns out, whenever the class gets extremely rowdy, Macoco pulls out a loud cork g*n and shoots the ceiling, which never fails to make everyone go silent. So he put that question there so he could give noise-block headphones to those with hearing sensitivity (he gives them a warning and some time for them to put on their headphones before he shoots the ceiling)

+ Has like 7 bottles of headache medicine

+ His cane is actually a sword

Voice Claim