#flash fiction challenge 22

[hashioki7]

Bath

A month had passed since Laura and Travis had become a couple.

When he confessed his feelings, Laura was overjoyed. She felt as if she were walking on air. At that moment, she thought she finally understood what it meant to be on cloud nine. For a while, she couldn’t believe it was real. Travis, of all people, had feelings for her.

Given their past relationship, anyone would be shocked to hear about this development. However, no one knew the secrets of their shared history. Regardless, Laura had rationally analyzed that her developing feelings for Travis made sense. Despite everything that happened, he ultimately saved her life. After the incident, her initial resentment and suspicion toward him gradually transformed into gratitude, which eventually led to her current feelings.

But what about Travis? Was there any reason for him to like her instead of hate her? Laura had been troubled by this question as she noticed her feelings for him evolving. It was only recently that she began to realize the answer might not be so straightforward.

From that point on, Laura acted quickly. She frequently visited North Kill to spend more time with Travis, and when they couldn’t meet, she kept in touch through messages and calls. She tried her hand at baking, changed her makeup style, and bought new perfumes, among other efforts. Finally, her persistence paid off last month.

Yet, despite all this, Laura was deeply dissatisfied. Travis was an excellent boyfriend, even more so than she had imagined. Although his work often delayed his replies, he always responded eventually. He constantly looked after her when she visited North Kill, buying her ice cream when she wanted and tidying up her clothes. He awkwardly yet earnestly escorted her during their shopping trips and was even better at cooking than she was. His aloof and taciturn nature seemed insignificant compared to his other qualities. He was practically the perfect boyfriend.

So why? Why did she feel so discontented?

With a sigh, Laura closed the teen romance comic she had been reading on her smartphone. Despite being together for a month, they hadn’t even kissed yet.

Laura believed the problem lay with Travis. She had tried to create romantic atmospheres at night, taken him to couple-friendly spots, and more, but he remained unresponsive. She knew he likely hesitated because of their age difference, but that didn’t ease her growing anxiety. While it was clear he cared for her deeply, she began to doubt if it was truly as a lover. Was she merely a friend or, worse, someone he felt obliged to protect?

This couldn’t go on. Clenching her fists, Laura decided to take drastic measures. She was a determined woman who carved her own path.

“Laura!?” Travis’s loud voice echoed along with the splashing of water as she opened the bathroom door. “W-what… why so suddenly…” His voice trailed off, and it was hard to understand his words. His black eyes were wide with surprise as he stared at Laura standing at the door.

“I thought we could take a bath together. We are a couple, after all.” Despite her boldness, she had wrapped herself in a towel, feeling too embarrassed to be completely naked. She stepped cautiously onto the slick tiles. Travis, clearly panicked, tried to say something but ended up only moving his eyes rapidly. Ignoring his flustered state, Laura approached him and stopped right in front of him. Their eyes met. Travis froze, and the turbulent water in the bathtub stilled.

Laura had made up her mind. If he still rejected her now, she might not just cry. But she had to do this. She thought she saw a flicker of anticipation in his eyes, which gave her the final push she needed.

“Laura!” She let the towel fall. Her face burned with embarrassment, but she held her ground. Her small yet shapely white breasts, toned waist, and long, smooth legs were all on display. She wanted Travis to see everything.

“How… do I look?” “…You are beautiful…” A crushed murmur escaped from between his lips. His mouth twisted into a grimace as if struggling against something. However, the gaze he directed at Laura was unmistakably heated and misty. His wet black hair clung to his reddened forehead. She felt the murkiness that had been clouding her mind suddenly dissipate. In its place, a warm steam seemed to fill her entire being, and Laura felt her body temperature rise abruptly. “Can I join you?” she asked. Travis nodded silently, his neck bright red.

“Hey Travis, Why won’t you look at me?” Laura asked as they sat facing each other in the large bathtub. Travis, still blushing, shook his head as if trying to clear it. “This isn’t right��� it’s too soon…” “There’s no such thing as ‘too soon’. We’re a couple, aren’t we? Are you going to ignore your girlfriend when she goes this far?” Laura’s voice carried a hint of frustration. Sensing her irritation, Travis finally looked up, his brows furrowed deeply. “Are you sure… you’re okay with me?” The question made her blush, but Laura had no reason to back down now. “Of course.” “Alright.”

Before she knew it, he had grabbed her arm and pulled her close. She found herself leaning back against him, his arms wrapped around her from behind. “I’ve been holding back… I didn't want to do anything you’d dislike anymore.” Travis’s fingers gently brushed her side underwater, causing her to shiver slightly. Then she felt something hard and thick against her hip. Travis was aroused. By her nakedness. She felt a radiant joy fill her heart. There was no doubt in her mind that she was the happiest person in the world right now.

“Thanks to you, my self-control is shot. Prepare yourself for after,” he murmured lowly into her ear, making her tremble with anticipation. He placed a gentle kiss on her neck. “I’m ready for it.” As his hand softly cupped her breast, Laura leaned against his strong chest and closed her eyes.

[fanovember]

Fanovember 2024 prompt list

(Written list below the line)

We decided to go through literary genres this time, although you can fit the prompt however you please (by using the literal word in your piece, a small reference, or writing in the style of that prompt!)

→We'll be posting some ideas every day to spark creativity if any prompt in particular doesn't work well for you. Although you don't have to complete the challenge 100% (I won't, more on that later)

→There's no limit on extension at all, whatever you need will be fine. (At least 200 words was the initial idea, but I, for instance, sometimes need less)

→You can write in any language you want, we'll repost anyway. It's also valid if you mix languages! (I'll use Spanish since the media I've chosen is originally in that language)

→Arists are welcome too, of course!

→Some people suggested creating an Ao3 Collection for this challenge and we have listened carefully (also had some help from @prettysophist, tysm again!) So here it is! Fanovember 2024 Ao3 Collection is now available for all of you. Remember to tag and categorize your works correctly so people can find what they'r looking for/avoid anything they don't want to read. Be nice!

→Remember to mention this blog @fanovember and use any (or all) of these tags both here and on Ao3:

#fanovember

#fanovember 2024

#fanovember 24

→Needless to say, this event does NOT allow AI generated content of any kind. We want to see the most human of arts and writings

Personally, I don't think I'm completing the full list, as I'm absolutely surpassed by daily responsibilities. But since Softober went well, I'll choose 12 or 13 of the prompts that appeal to me the most and write those throughout the month. You can do whatever works best for you too, we don't want you to feel pressured by any means.

Choose your fandom (or fandoms) and start creating! Let's have some fun!!

Fanovember 2024

01. Romance

02. Short story

03. Terror

04. Adventure

05. Art

06. Retelling

07. Historical

08. Journal

09. Theatre

10. Witchcraft

11. Religion

12. Fantasy

13. Astrology

14. Mithology

15. Poetics

16. Reality show

17. Press

18. Urban fantasy

19. Film/Movie

20. Family

21. Music

22. Epistolary

23. Sci-fi

24. Autobiography

25. Cuisine

26. Dance

27. Board games

28. Classic

29. Triller

30. Flash-fiction

[theemporium]

hi king!! could i get a uuuuhhh…

"I'll do anything for a woman with a knife."

🩷 w/luke? xoxo

we tried something different with a wee historical fiction/prince au🤠they are not my forte but i wanted to try challenging myself. thank you for requesting!🫶🏽

22. "I'll do anything for a woman with a knife."

.

Luke had always found the royal festivities to be tedious and long winded. 

Maybe it was because they very rarely focused on him, with most guests taking interest in his parents or his older brothers—Quinn especially, being next in line to the throne. Or maybe—just fucking maybe—he found them tedious and long winded and boring because they were. 

He wasn’t even sure what the reasoning behind this one was, if he was being completely honest. Though, there was never usually a good reason for many of the high class patrons of the kingdom to deny the chance to be invited into the castle or flaunt their pretty fabrics. But Luke had to assume this one was semi-important if people from neighbouring kingdoms—people of importance—were making the journey. 

Still, it did little to make him feel anything but utter boredom as he did his rounds. He flashed the guests a few smiles, usually letting Jack or Quinn take over the conversation. And once he had shown his face for a socially appropriate amount of time, he found himself sneaking off in the shadows to find something to occupy himself before his father’s expected speech. 

Usually, he would find himself sneaking into the kitchens to see if the staff would slip him a few desserts before dinner or some snacks to entertain him with. 

This time around, Luke didn’t even make it to the secret corridor that led down the kitchen before he was pressed against the wall, his breath knocked out of his lungs and something cold pressed against his neck.

“Shit,” you hissed, only your eyes visible to the boy as you glanced over his face. 

Maybe it was the adrenaline pumping through him that didn’t have him thinking straight. Maybe it was the excitement for something different to happen at this ball. 

Or maybe Luke just lacked common sense and self-preservation because the only response he managed after a random woman dressed in all black with a knife pressed against his throat was, “pick the wrong prince?” 

You blinked. “You matched the description.” 

“So…I was the right prince?” He asked, something akin to amusement in his voice and it threw you off.

“Do you have your life threatened often?” You questioned, partially rhetorical because a part of you was genuinely interested in the answer. “You seem very calm.” 

“I just assumed if you wanted me dead, I would have been dead already,” he replied honestly, making no move to try and escape your hold. He had a feeling you would bury that knife in him before he even got the chance to take a step.

“I could still kill you if you don’t listen to what I say,” you told him, and he knew better than to question how truthful you were with that promise. 

But still, Luke was young and sheltered and spent far too much of his time trapped in the castle, learning how to be a prim and proper gentleman. There was something thrilling about you and, for reasons his own brain couldn’t comprehend, he didn’t want to lose your attention just yet.

“I’ll do anything for a woman with a knife,” he retorted, his lips twitching upwards when he noticed your eyes widen slightly in response. 

“It’s like you have a death wish,” you grumbled, the edge of your blade digging a little further into his skin.

“So if I wasn’t your target, who was?” He asked casually, like you were two acquaintances catching up. Like there wasn’t the possibility of someone turning the corner and finding the two of you. Like there weren't guards already starting to notice his absence. 

“None of your business,” you snapped, your eyes narrowed in annoyance. He wondered if you were contemplating whether or not he was worth killing and adding the extra hassle for.

“It seems like my business when you have a blade to my throat,” Luke added cheekily. 

“You have no sense of survival,” you told him like it was an insult. 

He grinned. “Perks of being a prince, I assume.” 

“I don’t have time for this,” you grumbled and, in a blink of his eye, you were already three paces away from him. “You’re distracting me.”

He pushed down the uneasy feeling in his chest the second you were no longer pressed against him, the second your eyes were no longer on him. “Will I see you again?” 

You paused, tilting your head to the side. He couldn’t see your mouth but he had the strongest sense that you were smirking beneath your mask. 

“Depends what kind of enemies you plan to make, Your Highness.”

.

[batpham-discord-highlights]

Happy Pride everyone!

This year, the server is doing a small month long challenge for our lovely writers and artists.

Each of the 4 weeks of June has a very general prompt (we've included some ideas if you have trouble thinking of anything, though you don't have to use those at all).

For the ARTISTS: do one (or more if you want to) quick piece of art per week surrounding he week's prompt. If you post them on tumblr, tag this blog (@batpham-discord-highlights) with your batpham server pride challenge art so we can reblog your creations!

For the WRITERS: do one (or more if you want to) piece of flash fiction (which is any piece of writing that is 1k or under) per week surrounding the week's prompt. We'll have an AO3 Collection for the event if you want to add your work. Of course if you post on tumblr as well, tag us and we can reblog it :D

Also: you're welcome to spend more time on your pieces, make it bigger/longer, or make more than just the one per week if you want to (this goes to both our lovely artists and writers), but the goal was just to have some quick, easy fun surrounding queer characters, identities, and relationships :>

Image ID under the cut

Batpham Server Pride Challenge 2024

4 themed weeks for Pride Months for quick/sketch and flash fiction (under 1k words)

Some quick ideas are listed for each week, but are just suggestions, not required. We also tried to add some variety to the suggestions.

-----

Week 1: June 1-8 CANON QUEER CHARACTERS/RELATIONSHIPS

(Disclaimer: we understand that there's nothing to go off for DP, and are very sad about it)

Constantine, Kate Kane, Renee Montoya, Dick, Pied Piper, Conner Hawke, Harper Row, Bernard, Diana

Week 2: June 9-15 FANON QUEER CHARACTERS/RELATIONSHIPS

(Characters that aren't explicitly queer, but are definitely queer-coded)

Trans Danny/Dani, Sam,Bruce, Johnny13/Kitty, Dash, Lancer, Aunt Alicia, Eternal Trio

Week 3: June 16-22 POC QUEER- FANON OR CANON

Kwan, Duke, Selina Kyle, John Stewart, Cyborg, Tucker, Valerie, Paulina, Helena Bertinelli, Roy Harper

Week 4: June 23-30 QUEER COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

Found Family, Coming Out, Drag Kings&Queens, Pride Events/Parade, Protest, Gay-Straight Alliance (School)

-----

If you wish to spend more time on your art or write more than 1k, you are welcome to!

[mama-ivy]

Writing Challenges

Flash Fiction Friday

FFF 257 - Count the Days

FFF 265 - Galaxies Away

FFF 270 - Lights and Sirens

FFF 273 - Invisible Guest

FFF 275 - Full Moon Frenzy

FFF 276 - Dark and Stormy Night

AU-gust 2024

Day 12 - Animagus -- under construction

Day 20 - Crossover/Fusion

New Years Writing Challenge 2025

Bad Dreams

Whumpril 2024

Day 13 - You brought this on yourself.

Day 14 - Urgent Care

Day 22 - Stoicism Breaks

[lockwoodandcoff]

And that is time!! Thanks to everyone who participated in this very first Lockwood and Co Flash Fiction challenge! I'll post the links to all the stories soon, but for now, be on the lookout for our next challenge! We're gonna do a midweek one, so round two begins Tuesday, August 22!

[polizwrites]

PoliZ's WIP Update - 22 January 2025

 Busy week IRL,  so didn’t quite make my  1.5k/week goal, or get this posted on time. 😬 I touched 3 fics (2 new and 1 WIPs) for a total of 1533  words.

Tony Stark Bingo - Mark VIII [TSB_R8]  (Ends 31 May)

This amazing bingo event from the folks over at @tonystarkbingo is still open for pre-made card signups, I believe. I have  twenty-five squares filled,  and one WIP  at the moment.

* S1 - Bodyguard - filled this with A Dark and Stormy Knight - a vaguely medieval AU WinterIron AU double drabble which crossed over with the Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF276 Dark and Stormy Night]. It came in at 200 words and will get posted on Ao3 at some point.  

* Oct Adoptable: Facial Hair Bros - Filled this with  New Kid in Town- a double drabble that crossed over with the Flash Fic Friday prompt  [#FFF287 I Can’t Stand It]. Tony is complaining to Pepper about that so-called wizard stealing his look - she thinks Tony doth protest too much.  It came in at 200 words and will get posted to Ao3 before this event ends. 

* A1 - Evil Exes - I’ve been poking at a couple of different ideas, but got inspired by starting to read Ed Brubaker’s  Reckless graphic novel  to work on an AU where Tony hires Bucky to take revenge on his ex - but the story’s taken a twist that I’m wrestling with a bit.  A Reckless Man   is up to 605 words. 

Post July Break Bingo 2024  [pJBB_24] (Ends 30 Jun 2025)

I requested two 2x3 cards for this  Discord-server only event from @julybreakbingo  – so if you want to join in the fun, let me know and I’ll try to get you an invite!  I have four  fics posted & 0 WIPs - need to figure out some more crossovers.

Fandom Free Bingo: Gingerbread Edition  [FFB]   (Ends Nov 30 2025)

The @fandom-free-bingo blog offers up themed cards on a monthly basis - I requested a 3x3 card (with 3 alternates) in December and have two fills already. 

* A3 - Road Trip - Used this prompt towards Chapter Five of  Half of the Flesh and Blood That Makes Me Whole - where Bucky returns from a self-assigned mission and gets to know Tony a little better.   It came in at 1560 words.    

Year of the OTP [YOTP_25]   (Ends Dec 31 2025)

Decided to jump in on this challenge where you create twelve works for a specific pairing by using the monthly prompts provided. 

* January - Sharing Clothes -  filling this with a new chapter of  Carrying Things Forward  - a followup to my omegaverse fic A Little Bit Carried Away where  Alpha!Bucky has moved in with omega!Tony and they’re figuring out their relationship.   It came in at 1342 words.  Chapter Three is in progress at 561 words.  

* January - Stockholm Syndrome -  used this prompt in combination with last week’s Flash Fiction Friday prompt  [#FFF288 Loud Lie, Quiet Truth]  for Redirected Aim .  The Soldier’s mission had been to retrieve the serum Howard Stark had reformulated, leaving no witnesses.  He chose a different target.  It’s a WinterIron fic that came in at 687 words and will get posted to Ao3 before the event ends. 

Warm and Fluffy   Bingo  [WFB]   (no end date)

Nine fills on my card, courtesy of   @warmandfluffybingocards  - need to try for another crossover or two!

* B2 - Sharing Clothes - see YOTP Sharing Clothes above.  

* G1 - Kiss on the Forehead - Filled this with A Damper on Dinner - a domestic Stony ficlet where a power outage threatens their romantic dinner.  It came in at 151 words and will get posted to Ao3 at some point.   

————

On  other creative fronts:  I’m working on the Sheriff Rogers figure for one of my Marvel Trumps Hate 2024 auction fills - I have nom and a Steven Grant figure to go! I also just signed up for @fandomtrumpshate as part of their Crafts Bazaar - stay tuned for more info!

If  you’re looking for one of a kind gifts for birthdays or other celebrations, check  out Stuffed With Character    over on Facebook for a full list of my designs (now over 150!).   These soft stuffed figures are  mostly Marvel and monsters, but I have some Star Wars, Star Trek, DC   and Disney figures as well. Plus I love to take custom design   requests  for any fandom!  I’m currently booked through the next couple of months, but should have commissions opening up this spring. 

[carolhsu]

Academic Blog 8: Emotions - The External World

This blog post talks about David O'Reilly's animated short film "The External World". It has an absurd visual style, which challenges the audience's emotional perception. The film is a non-linear narrative work in the traditional sense. Instead, it places the audience in a high tension of senses and emotions through a series of discontinuous, bizarre but deeply symbolic scenes. This approach can be explored from multiple angles in conjunction with emotional theories.

Gregg and Seigworth (2009) mentioned that affect transcends the realm of representation and enters the realm of feeling. They point out that emotion is an intensity that flows between bodies, often without relying on language or narrative to convey it. OReilly's "The External World" abandons traditional narrative logic and instead focuses on sensory stimulation and non-semantic emotional experiences. For example, a child is trapped in a ridiculous fictional scene because he has not learned to play the piano, and finally kills his father who had been hitting him on the head because he was not good at playing the piano. The audience's attention is not focused on the meaning of the plot, but on the meaning of the plot. It’s to the emotional intensity and absurdity of the scene. This non-representational approach is similar to Sluijs and Smelik's (2009) point of view in their analysis of "Elephants Dream", which emphasizes that emotional experience comes from "discontinuous episodes" rather than linear stories. These sequences place the viewer's senses in a state of constant challenge, resulting in a direct flow of emotion.

Figure 1. the boy kills his father who had been hitting him

Gregg and Seigworth (2009) mentioned that emotion is a kind of intensity that can flow between bodies and does not rely on the transmission of semantics. The visual style and sound design in "The External World" take full advantage of this: chaotic scene changes, over-exaggerated character expressions, and sudden voice changes, taking the audience through a series of highly tense emotional fluctuations. For example, a scene in which a character is suddenly swallowed up by fire and disappears instantly brings fear and uneasiness to the audience. This emotion directly affects the audience's body, rather than understanding its meaning through rational thinking. This is consistent with Ahmed's (2004) description of emotions, who suggests that the power of emotions lies in their ability to cling to the body and instantly influence our sensory experience.

Figure 2. the girl takes photos of a sunbathing bug with a flash

OReilly's short film also demonstrates the "continuity and change" of emotions, which Gregg and Seigworth (2009) particularly emphasize: "Emotion is a continuous process of change, existing in relationships and interactions." The film's scenes change rapidly, keeping the audience's emotions in an unstable state of flow. For example, in one clip, the audience may be amused by a character's antics (the girl desperately takes photos with a flash of a sunbathing bug), but the next moment be disturbed by the character's tragic ending (the bug is killed by the girl because its intolerance to light). This fluidity and relationality of emotion embodies what is described in the archive as the “becoming of emotion”: emotions are not static, but constantly changing and generated through the interaction between the scene and the audience.

Strange plot settings can leave a deep impression on the audience. Sudden explosions, exaggerated music, weird plots, and gloomy tones can all make the audience feel stronger. I think this kind of design can help my future creations to use different elements to make the audience to feel the intense strong uneasiness.

Bibliography

Ahmed, Sara. 2004. Affective Economies. Social Text, 22(2), pp. 117-139.

Gregg, M. and Seigworth, G. J. ( 2009) The Affect Theory Reader. Durham: Duke University Press.

O'Reilly, D. (2010) The External World. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo0LoBenwRg&t=122s (Accessed: 18 December 2024).

Sluijs, J. & Smelik, A. (2009). Interactivity and Affect in Intermedial Art: Theorizing Introverted and Extraverted Intermediality. Intermédialités / Intermediality, (13), 177–196. https://doi.org/10.7202/044046ar

[mi5016janiru2024]

Research about the topic that I chose

History of Comic Books

Secondary Research

Introduction to the History of Comic Books

Comic books emerged from newspaper comic strips in the early 20th century and became quite popular as a versatile medium for story telling or artistic expression. Initially focused on comedy and serialized tales, they diversified into various categories such as super heroes, adventure stories, science fiction among others. This paper examines various turning points in the history of comic books right from their birth to present day times when they have continued to impact popular culture, societal norms and values.

The Birth of Comic Books

The history of comic books dates back to the early 19th century, with the first-ever comic book widely considered to be "The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck," published in 1837 by Swiss artist Rodolphe Topffer. This early work set the stage for the development of the comic book medium.

Golden Age of Comics (1930s-1950s)

The Golden Age of Comics is characterized by the emergence of superheroes and the widespread popularity of comic books as a form of entertainment. This era began in earnest with the introduction of Superman in 1938’s Action Comics #1, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Superman’s debut marked the birth of the superhero archetype: a powerful, morally upright character with extraordinary abilities who fights for justice and defends the innocent.

Key Comics and Characters:

Superman: As the first superhero, Superman set the standard for the genre. His superhuman strength, ability to fly, and commitment to truth and justice resonated deeply with readers during a time of economic hardship and global unrest.

Batman: Introduced in 1939 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman offered a darker, more noir-inspired take on the superhero genre. With no superpowers but relying on his intellect, detective skills, and gadgets, Batman became an instant hit for his complex characterization and gritty crime-fighting adventures.

Wonder Woman: Created by William Moulton Marston and introduced in 1941, Wonder Woman broke new ground as a powerful female superhero. She embodied themes of feminism, strength, and compassion, inspiring young girls and challenging traditional gender roles.

Comic books during the Golden Age had a profound impact on children and society at large. In the midst of the Great Depression and World War II, these colorful and action-packed stories provided an escape from harsh realities and offered messages of hope and resilience. Children were captivated by the daring exploits of superheroes, who embodied ideals of courage, justice, and moral integrity.

The Silver Age of Comics (1950s-1970s)

The Silver Age of Comics, which began in the mid-1950s and lasted until the early 1970s, marked a period of revitalization and innovation in the comic book industry. This era saw the reimagining of classic characters, the introduction of new heroes, and a shift towards more complex storytelling. The Silver Age is often characterized by its imaginative plots, scientific themes, and the development of a shared universe within comic book publishers.

Key Comics and Characters:

The Flash: The Silver Age is widely considered to have begun with the debut of the new Flash, Barry Allen, in Showcase #4 (1956). Created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, Barry Allen’s Flash introduced the concept of the "Speed Force" and set the stage for the reintroduction of other Golden Age characters.

Green Lantern: Hal Jordan, the new Green Lantern, debuted in Showcase #22 (1959), created by John Broome and Gil Kane. This character brought a sci-fi element to superhero comics, with Hal Jordan as a space-faring hero wielding a power ring that could create anything he imagined.

The Fantastic Four: Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, The Fantastic Four #1 (1961) revolutionized the superhero team concept. The Fantastic Four had a more human and relatable approach to superheroes, with their personal struggles and family dynamics.

Spider-Man: Introduced in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Spider-Man quickly became one of the most popular superheroes. Peter Parker’s struggles as a teenager dealing with everyday problems and superhero responsibilities resonated deeply with readers.

The X-Men: Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, The X-Men #1 (1963) introduced a team of mutants who fought for a world that feared and hated them. This series addressed themes of prejudice and social justice, making it relevant to the civil rights movement of the time.

Modern Era and Digital Age (1980s-Present)

The Modern Era of comics, beginning in the 1980s and continuing into the present day, has seen significant changes in storytelling, artistic styles, and the way comics are consumed. This era is characterized by darker and more mature themes, a focus on character development, and the rise of independent publishers. The Digital Age has further transformed the industry with digital distribution, webcomics, and graphic novels gaining prominence.

Key Comics and Characters

1980s: The Rise of Grit and Realism

Watchmen: Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen (1986-1987) deconstructed the superhero genre, presenting a dark and complex narrative that questioned the morality of vigilantes. Its mature themes and sophisticated storytelling set a new standard for the industry.

The Dark Knight Returns: Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns (1986) redefined Batman, portraying an older, grittier version of the character. This graphic novel's success influenced the portrayal of superheroes as flawed and complex individuals.

Maus: Art Spiegelman's Maus (1980-1991), a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel, used the medium to tell a harrowing tale of the Holocaust. Its success demonstrated the potential of comics to tackle serious and historical subjects.

1990s: The Boom of Independent Publishers and Anti-Heroes

Spawn: Created by Todd McFarlane, Spawn (1992) emerged from the newly established Image Comics. The character, an anti-hero with a dark and supernatural backstory, became immensely popular, highlighting the potential of creator-owned properties.

Sandman: Neil Gaiman's The Sandman (1989-1996), published by DC's Vertigo imprint, brought literary depth to the medium, blending mythology, horror, and fantasy. It garnered a diverse readership and critical acclaim.

2000s-Present: Diversity and Digital Transformation

Ms. Marvel: Introduced in 2014 by Marvel Comics, Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel represented a significant step toward diversity. As a Muslim Pakistani-American teenager, Kamala's story resonated with readers from various backgrounds, promoting inclusivity in the superhero genre.

Saga: Written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples, Saga (2012-Present) combines science fiction and fantasy in a unique, mature narrative. Its success has shown the viability of ongoing, creator-owned series in the modern market.

Webcomics and Digital Platforms: The rise of digital platforms like Webtoon and ComiXology has democratized comic creation and distribution. Series such as Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe have gained massive followings, illustrating the power of digital comics.

Conclusion

In conclusion, comic books have evolved from humble beginnings into a dynamic medium that continues to shape popular culture and inspire generations of readers. From the first comic book publications to the introduction of iconic superheroes like Superman, comic books have left an indelible mark on society, offering imaginative storytelling and moral lessons that resonate across diverse audiences worldwide.

[randombouquet]

Hello,

So this page is to try and experiment and grow creatively, finding ways to integrate AI to assist me in that (shout out to my fav collaborator Chat GPT). Taking daily time to try and flex and train those muscles with only myself to be accountable and disappoint.

We're starting off with a 30 day creativity challenge with small tasks and some big to keep me motivated and undettered.

Here's the outline:

30-Day Creativity Challenge for Your Blog

Day 1: Micro-Story MagicWrite a 100-word story based on the first object you see today.

Day 2: Snap & CaptionTake a photo of your morning routine and write a captivating caption.

Day 3: Mood PlaylistCreate and share a playlist that reflects your current mood, along with a brief description of your song choices.

Day 4: One-Sentence JournalSum up your day in one powerful sentence.

Day 5: Color Palette ChallengeCapture photos of objects in your surroundings that create a compelling color palette when put together.

Day 6: Character CreationWrite a brief introduction to a character you've just thought up, complete with quirks, likes, and dislikes.

Day 7: Photo RecreationRecreate a famous artwork or photograph in your style.

Day 8: Flash FictionWrite a 300-word flash fiction piece inspired by the word "Discovery".

Day 9: Virtual TourCreate a photo or video tour of your favorite spot in your home or city and describe why it's special to you.

Day 10: Quote InterpretationShare a quote that resonates with you and create a visual interpretation (drawing, photo, digital art).

Day 11: Review in HaikuWrite a haiku review of the last book, movie, or TV show you enjoyed.

Day 12: Shadow PlayTake a series of photos focusing on interesting shadows during different times of the day.

Day 13: The Sound of EmotionsRecord and share ambient sounds that represent your current mood, with a brief explanation.

Day 14: Dialogue ChallengeWrite an intriguing dialogue between two people who just met in an unusual circumstance.

Day 15: Creative CollageCreate a digital or physical collage that represents your week.

Day 16: Life in MonochromeCapture your day in black and white photos.

Day 17: Dreamy DescriptionsDescribe the most recent dream you remember with vivid details.

Day 18: Silhouette StoryPhotograph silhouettes during the golden hour and weave a short story around them.

Day 19: Letter to YourselfWrite a letter to your future or past self and seal it in an envelope (to be opened later).

Day 20: Nostalgia TripShare a childhood photo and narrate the memory associated with it.

Day 21: Recipe RemixInvent and photograph a new dish by remixing ingredients from two of your favorite meals.

Day 22: Urban SafariCapture the wildlife of your city (birds, insects, pets) through your lens.

Day 23: Minimalist ChallengeCompose and photograph a minimalist scene that conveys a strong emotion or story.

Day 24: Echo PoemWrite a poem where each line is a response or reflection to the previous one.

Day 25: Time-Lapse ArtCreate a time-lapse video of you drawing, painting, or crafting.

Day 26: Perspective PhotographyTake a photo that plays with perspective in an unusual way (e.g., forced perspective photography).

Day 27: Found PoetryCreate a piece of found poetry using headlines from old newspapers or magazines.

Day 28: Themed PhotoshootPlan and execute a themed photoshoot, detailing the process and inspiration.

Day 29: DIY DecorCreate and showcase a DIY decor project for your home or workspace.

Day 30: Reflection and ProjectionReflect on the 30-day creativity challenge with a blog post summarizing the experience, your favorite entries, and what you've learned about your creativity.

[gone-to-fight-the-fairies]

I posted 3,307 times in 2022

That's 554 more posts than 2021!

105 posts created (3%)

3,202 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@justagirlinafandomworld

@ne8ula

@ladylannisterxo

@gaitwae

@marveladdicts

I tagged 2,827 of my posts in 2022

Only 15% of my posts had no tags

#vibin' - 259 posts

#din djarin - 243 posts

#grogu - 159 posts

#wanda maximoff - 151 posts

#loki - 151 posts

#stephen strange - 134 posts

#castiel - 126 posts

#fanart - 115 posts

#bucky barnes - 108 posts

#steven grant - 107 posts

Longest Tag: 134 characters

#i don't know what to call it but that cheap fuzzy fabric they sometimes use for clothes that sticks to dry skin... gives me the chills

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Funko Marvel advent calendar that I've forgotten to do until after Christmas for the last two years

Day 1 here we go!

He's so little 😆😆😆

23 more to go!

18 notes - Posted December 2, 2022

#4

Take care of the fucking children in your god damn country before forcing women to bare more for you.

22 notes - Posted June 24, 2022

#3

My friend sent me this 😂

22 notes - Posted February 4, 2022

#2

Din Celebrating Earth Holidays: Easter

A/N: Just an Easter drabble of our favorite galactic father

Pairing: Din Djarin x reader

W.C: 600

Valentine's Day w/ Din Main Masterlist

See the full post

32 notes - Posted April 17, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I Bet

Summary: Attachment is something you can’t afford but always wanted.

Challenge: Written for @justagirlinafandomworld ‘s wonderful Flash Fiction Challenge: Love Songs. I was assigned ‘You're Still the One’ by Shania Twain. I really like the story I came up with, thank you for the prompt!!

Pairing: Din Djarin x Jedi!Reader

W.C: 106 (whoops I tried)

They said you’d never make it. Bo-katan, Ahsoka… Luke.

‘Attachment will get you killed.’

As a Jedi, love and compassion were within your rights. But that one word was always just out of reach.

You never directly looked into Din’s eyes. When the sharp visor pointed in your direction, everything changed. That one pivotal moment where everything the others had said faded away. You didn’t need to see the face beneath the ridged edges of beskar. You saw who he was. A father, a fighter. You saw love and attachment laced together in perfect harmony.

And it only made him stronger.

You would die for that.

51 notes - Posted February 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

I've been distracted this year but I'm grateful to be on this platform and look forward to being more active in the coming year. Thank you to everyone for the interaction and support ❤💙💚❤💙💚

[shortfictionweeklychallenge]

Short Fiction Weekly Challenge

Time for a new prompt from the Short Fiction Weekly Challenge, tumblr edition.  Let it spark your imagination.  Any character, any fandom, any original world.   Reblogs welcome!

Post your story to your blog and send the link to Short Fiction Weekly Challenge!  The link will appear in our feed and the site index, and your blog will be listed on the Participating Blogs page.

This week’s SFWC prompt:

Week of July 22, 2022

An Arm and a Leg: Your character may well have scars from healed injuries. But have they lost more than a little skin and blood? A limb or part of one? An eye, their hearing, a sensory organ critical to their species? What about one or more of their companions? What replaced it and why? Do they have a fully-functional prosthetic, better in some ways than their original part? A serviceable replacement that works, mostly, and while it’s not great it allows them to function? A cosmetic appendage only, because there is no replacement possible or perhaps that’s what they prefer? Nothing? What adjustments have they made, and what things still catch them off-guard? Are they treated differently in society?

Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt.  A masterpiece missed the deadline?  Don’t let it gather electronic dust.  Submit it anyway and Short Fiction Weekly Challenge will publish it.  

This week’s featured previous prompts are:

New Year, New You: Make a new character, or write for a character you haven’t before. It can be a completely new OC, a new character in your game or story, or an established character in a property you like but never wrote them before. Write anything from a short scene to a complete fic or story. 

Piercing the Veil--When has your character seen things for what they truly are? Seen past the plots and the machinations of other characters to what was really going on? That sudden flash of insight when the pieces come together and everything makes sense. Was it real? How do they deal with their new-found insight? Do others believe them, or are they alone with the truth? Explore a time when your character’s intuition guided their actions.

Got an idea for a prompt?  Submit it here.

[fanovember]

IT'S FINALLY HERE, PEOPLE, OUR PROMPT LIST FOR THIS YEAR'S FANOVEMBER!!! (Written list below the line)

We decided to go through literary genres this time, although you can fit the prompt however you please (by using the literal word in your piece, a small reference, or writing in the style of that prompt!)

→We'll be posting some ideas every day to spark creativity if any prompt in particular doesn't work well for you. Although you don't have to complete the challenge 100% (I won't, more on that later)

→There's no limit on extension at all, whatever you need will be fine. (At least 200 words was the initial idea, but I, for instance, sometimes need less)

→You can write in any language you want, we'll repost anyway. It's also valid if you mix languages! (I'll use Spanish since the media I've chosen is originally in that language)

→Arists are welcome too, of course!

→Remember to mention this blog @fanovember or use any (or all) of these tags:

#fanovember

#fanovember 2024

#fanovember 24

Personally, I don't think I'm completing the full list, as I'm absolutely surpassed by daily responsibilities. But since Softober went well, I'll choose 12 or 13 of the prompts that appeal to me the most and write those throughout the month. You can do whatever works best for you too, we don't want you to feel pressured by any means.

Choose your fandom (or fandoms) and start creating! Let's have some fun!!

Fanovember 2024

01. Romance

02. Short story

03. Terror

04. Adventure

05. Art

06. Retelling

07. Historical

08. Journal

09. Theatre

10. Witchcraft

11. Religion

12. Fantasy

13. Astrology

14. Mithology

15. Poetics

16. Reality show

17. Press

18. Urban fantasy

19. Film/Movie

20. Family

21. Music

22. Epistolary

23. Sci-fi

24. Autobiography

25. Cuisine

26. Dance

27. Board games

28. Classic

29. Triller

30. Flash-fiction

[deanwinchesterswitch]

Weekly Fic Recs

Lots of feels this week.

I also read a bunch of the drabbles for the Flash Fiction Challenge: The Sequel! hosted by @justafangirlinafandomworld. But, because of tumblr's stupid fucking limits on posts now, I will have to include them on a separate post.

Legally Yours-Ch. 23 ~ @smol-and-grumpy. Author's Summary: Dean Winchester tops the list of hottest entrepreneurs 2020 and yet, there’s still something he wants but can’t have because, in order to get that, he would have to settle down and get married. She agrees too quickly because she wants to secure a more comfortable life for her and her daughter. Will she be able to help Dean get what he wants without losing herself in the fake story they spin up to deceive his father and the world?

Now and Then-Part 5 ~ @thinkinghardhardlythinking. Author's Summary: Y/N and Dean met a few years ago, both lost in the uncertainty of their lives which were so far from what they had hoped for them to be, but love affairs end, some with heartbreak. Y/N moves on but when her new life sends her crashing back into Dean’s orbit, she wonders if, for her, it will ever truly be over.

Natural Disaster 2.0 ~ @calaofnoldor. Author's Summary: A follow up to ‘Natural Disaster 1.0′ in which you deal (poorly) with the emotional aftermath of the shooting.

In The Steam ~ @jay-and-dean. Author's Summary: Dean doesn’t want to be strong right now.

As I watched in Sorrow ~ @dontshootmespence. Author's Summary: After experiencing an unimaginable loss, Y/N floats through life, living for…she doesn’t know anymore. When it all becomes too much, she’s greeted by a woman in black with a deal so sweet, she can’t bear to let her grief and her morals get in the way.

The Famous Final Scene ~ @jawritter. Author's Summary: Now it’s time to leave. Yes, now it’s time to leave. It’s the famous final scene.

Goodbye ~ @firefly-in-darkness. Author's Summary: Y/N can’t fight her feelings anymore, she has to leave.

Legally Yours-Ch. 22 ~ @smol-and-grumpy. Author's Summary: Dean Winchester tops the list of hottest entrepreneurs 2020 and yet, there’s still something he wants but can’t have because, in order to get that, he would have to settle down and get married. She agrees too quickly because she wants to secure a more comfortable life for her and her daughter. Will she be able to help Dean get what he wants without losing herself in the fake story they spin up to deceive his father and the world?

Someone You Loved ~ @cockslut-padalecki. Author's Summary: Y/N knows she’s the reason why she and Dean split but it doesn’t stop the pain from hurting any less.

Driving My Baby ~ @calaofnoldor. Author's Summary: Dean doesn’t know about your mad skills behind the wheel, but it turns out there’s nothing hotter than seeing his baby driving his Baby.

Mechanic and Mistletoe-Part Ten ~ @deanwanddamons. Author's Summary: Y/N, an ER nurse is driving home to her Mom on Christmas Eve. Her car breaks down on the side of the road. She calls Winchester Singer Autos and Bobby sends Dean to help her. Will she make it to her Mom in time for Christmas? And will she get back home in time for her shift on Boxing Day?

Dressed In White Noise ~ @thoughtslikeaminefield. Summary: She’s finally met the man of her dreams.

Torn-Chapter One ~ @winchest09. Author's Summary: Princess Y/N had her whole life planned ahead of her. She was engaged to Prince Sam, a man that she loved ever since he walked into her kingdom and swept her off of her feet. So when things start to slowly change, she can’t help the doubts that form in her mind. Was it love? Or was someone about to walk into her life that would turn everything upside down?

Harder! ~ @wayward-and-worn. Author's Summary: It was just an unconscious reaction.  An “Atta boy!” thwap to his perfect and firm ass as he passed by on the way to the car after clearing out a nest.

Legally Yours-Ch. 21 ~ @smol-and-grumpy. Author's Summary: Dean Winchester tops the list of hottest entrepreneurs 2020 and yet, there’s still something he wants but can’t have because, in order to get that, he would have to settle down and get married. She agrees too quickly because she wants to secure a more comfortable life for her and her daughter. Will she be able to help Dean get what he wants without losing herself in the fake story they spin up to deceive his father and the world?

Head Over Boots For You ~ @welldonebeca. Author's Summary: Dean had planned some sweet breakfast for the two of you. When you walk into him singing and a kiss leads into something more, your plans change.

[anonymousdandelion]

for the fanfic ask, 22 and 28?

Thank you for the ask! Questions drawn from this list, if anyone wants to join in.

22. events you participated in this year

I haven’t actually done much in the way of organized events (in part because I never trust myself enough to commit to writing something in a context where anyone else is potentially dependent on my following through). But I have participated in the Soft Omens Snuggle House Discord server’s “Guess the Author” game every month since April, and that has been an absolute blast every time! (My GTA entries are all posted in this series, in case anyone wants to take a peek at that.)

I’ve also participated in a few informal daily prompt challenges, though I’m not completely sure if those would technically be considered events:

@kedreeva​‘s March Flash Fiction (my prompt fills here)

Summer Omens (I only ended up filling the first few prompts, but those are posted here)

Ace Omens Discord’s 20 Days of Hugs (my prompt fills here - though I’m still catching up on posting the last few remaining in my backlog from July!)

@greenfiredragonfly​‘s Angstember (except I challenged myself to take all the prompts and make them fluffy; prompt fills here, though I’ve yet to actually getting around to posting most of them)

Maybe next year I’ll develop the confidence to participate in other, more formal types of events. Or maybe not. Guess I’ll just have to quote Neil Gaiman and wait and see. ;)

28. longest fic you read this year

Hmm... not for the first time, I’m wishing that my AO3 history could be searched, filtered, sorted by word count, etc. Since I can’t check using that, I may well be forgetting a long fic I read eight months ago (or, for that matter, eight days ago; anything’s possible).

But the longest one I can think of is @elderly-worm​‘s stunning 605-chapter, 373711-word through the ages fic: Do You Know What Eternity Is? Technically I read some of it last year, as I followed that fic as a WIP... but even if only factoring in the chapters posted since January, the word count still comes to somewhere around 200k. Which is Quite A Lot Of Words.

Particularly because most of the time I tend to read shorter works and oneshots, it’s very impressive when a longfic gets me to stick by it for so long!

[btschooseafic]

Hey you, what’s your dream?

Pairing: platonic!oc x ot7

Details: manager!oc, predebut/idolverse, partial BTS World!verse

Summary: Debut day!

Warnings: This is a fictional story based on real events. The characters presented here are not the same as their real life counterparts. (TW: panic attack, dieting mentions) [Masterlist]

Track 22: Debut!

Started From the Bottom- Drake

“Started from the bottom now we’re here

Started from the bottom now my whole team fuckin’ here.”

Debut Showcase, Gangnam Ilchi Hall-June 12, 2013

“Aviva-yah,” Yoongi called. Aviva looked up with her camera, only to be faced with Yoongi snapping a picture of her with his. He looked down at his camera and grinned. “Looks good.”

Aviva looked him over. “So do you. I really like the skirt.”

Yoongi did a little twirl. “Hip hop!”

“Ah… I’m so nervous, I’m stiff as a board,” Jin muttered.

“Want a massage, hyung?” Jungkook offered. Jin blinked at him.

“Seriously? Yeah, that would be great.” Jin sighed happily as Jungkook massaged his shoulders. Aviva walked over, getting a shot of them. “You’re good at this. How come you don’t do it more often?”

“Cause this is a special occasion,” Jungkook told him. “Don’t get used to it, hyung.”

“…I’ll pay you in food,” Jin offered.

“…I’ll consider it,” Jungkook said. Aviva laughed. They glanced at her.

“Yah, go away, camera-ninja,” Jin said.

The boys preformed Bulletproof Pt. 2, No More Dream, and Like to round it out. In-between changing their outfits, Aviva got a quick word with Yoongi and Hoseok.

“How’s it going out there?” She asked them. Yoongi and Hoseok looked at each other.

“Good~?” Hoseok said.

“Good~” Yoongi agreed. Namjoon stepped up behind them, putting his hands on their shoulders. Hoseok clutched his chest as Yoongi plastered on an overly surprised face.

“What’re you guys doing?” Namjoon asked.

“Talking about how great you guys are,” Aviva told him.

“Yah!” Namjoon flushed. “It’s time to get back on stage!” He pointed his finger in the air. “Let’s go!”

Afterwards, Aviva stood off to the side, watching the boys get interviewed about their first performances.

Yoongi spoke about how they were more authentic than other idol groups doing hip hop. Namjoon spoke about wanting to reach out to teenagers and get them to think about what their dreams were, and wanting to win a Best New Artist Award.

At the end of the night Aviva presented them with a custom-made cake. “Sorry I didn’t bake this one,” she said. “But I saw an ad for this bakery, and I thought it could be cool.”

“It is!” Jimin assured her. “Your cakes are probably the tastiest, but this one is very pretty.” Aviva clenched her fist.

“I’m going to improve my cake decorating skills.”

“Ah, that’s not what I…” Jimin smiled at her determined expression. “Okay, I can’t wait to see what you come up with—shall we eat?”

M!Countdown Debut! June 13th 2013

At their debut M!Countdown stage, Aviva was carrying around her camera again, to get behind the scenes footage.

Joonho and his assistants were working hard to mark sure every item of clothing was perfectly place. Jihye and Eunjung were chatting as they waited for their turn. However, Aviva could see that Eunjung had already gotten to Namjoon earlier this morning with an important addition to his hairstyle.

Aviva laughed, stretching her arm up and tracing the letters RM that had been shaved into the side of his head. “I haven’t seen this yet…”

“What? You don’t like it?” Namjoon said nervously.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted. “It’s just… I wonder what you’ll think about this style when you look back at it. Fashion is so changeable…”

“All the more reason to enjoy it now!” Hoseok said, popping up behind them, wrapping one arm around her shoulders and the other around Namjoon’s back.

“You would say that,” Aviva said, flicking the spiky mask.

He laughed. “You really like this thing, huh?” He struck a dramatic pose. “What I do for the sake of art!” She and Namjoon both laughed along with him.

Jungkook and Jimin walked over. Jimin spotted the camera and swerved slightly to sit on a nearby bench.

“I’m going to practice,” Namjoon said, turning towards the wall and taking a few deep breathes before launching into one of his verses. It was the quick one.

Hoseok mimicked him jokingly. Jungkook watched and then did the same. Hoseok laughed.

Namjoon frowned, pointing at Jungkook. “I hate this kid.”

“No, you don’t, Namjoon-ah,” Aviva said easily.

“If you’re gonna copy me, try and do it properly, at least,” he challenged. Hoseok shrugged. Jungkook tried. “Not similar!”

“He can’t do it so well when he’s under the spotlight like that,” Hoseok told Aviva.

“Well, Namjoon-ah does have his own style of rap,” Aviva thought. “You should rap like yourselves, not like him. That’s what makes you all special.”

“Aw.” Hoseok poked her on the cheek. “Cutie, manager-nim.”

“…Can we move on?” Aviva said. “Your audience doesn’t want to hear about me, they want to hear about you.”

Jimin quickly rapped the verse, blushing when they turned to him.

“Ah, sorry,” Jimin said in English for some reason.

“No, it was cool,” Namjoon told him, patting him on the shoulder. “You’re the coolest.”

Readier, the boys loosened up by seeing who could rap the fastest in English. Then Namjoon moved on to walking through their performance. Aviva could see the maknae line’s eyes glazing over as he spoke. Taehyung spotted her and blew her a kiss. Jimin noticed and laughed quietly. He moved over to her.

“Shouldn’t you be listening to your leader?” Aviva teased.

Jimin grinned sheepishly. “Ah, well… I thought maybe our fans could use an update on what we’re doing? That’s who you’re recording this for, right? Our fans?” He thought. Aviva nodded. “Right now we’re in the waiting room.” Jimin pulled at Jungkook’s arm. “Jungkook-ah.” Jungkook turned around and stepped closer to them. “The camera’s on, see?” Jungkook bent down slightly.

“Yah, you don’t have to bend down,” Aviva said. “I’m not that short…” Jungkook laughed. “What will you do next, Jiminie?”

“Next we will…”

“Lose weight!” Jungkook said. Aviva frowned.

“Eh? Why~”

Jungkook laughed. “Stop with the aegyo, noona, you’re too old for that!” He turned back to Namjoon, walking closer over to him to listen.

“…Jungkookie’s a little grumpy today, isn’t he?” Jimin thought.

“Nervous?” Aviva wondered.

“I am,” Jimin admitted.

“I meant Kook... but, yeah, probably everyone is. I mean, I’m nervous and I’m not even performing!”

Jimin grimaced.

“Namjoon-ah, Jungook-ah, have you changed your socks?” One of the assistants asked. The boys broke up to continue getting ready.

“Well… we’re going to lose weight now, I guess,” Jimin said. “Yes, going to lose weight diligently. So I can show you great abs.” He looked down at himself.

“Your abs are already great,” Aviva told him honestly. Hoseok popped up behind Jimin, his plainer mask hanging over his chin.

“What are you doing?” He wondered.

Jimin blinked at him. “What?”

“Jiminie’s giving the fans an update!” Aviva told Hoseok.

“Right now we’re changing into our cool outfits before rehearsal,” Jimin told her and the camera. He wiggled his many ringed fingers at her.

“Bling~Bling~” Hoseok said. He held up his own gloved hand. “It says Bangtan Sonyeondan on it!”

“They are cool gloves,” Aviva agreed. “But you’re interrupting Jiminie.”

“Yeah, don’t interrupt me while I’m speaking to the camera, hyung!” Jimin said. “I get…” He glanced at Aviva and then looked away from her, staring at his feet. “…Shy.” He laughed nervously.

“Why?” Hoseok wondered. “It’s just Avi-yah.”

“It’s fine.” Aviva switched off her camera. “We can take a break.”

“Thanks, noona.” Jimin smiled at her.

“Cookie?” Yoongi offered, holding a small snack bag out to them.

“Ah, no thanks, hyung,” Jimin said. “I’m still dieting, so…”

Yoongi shrugged, holding it out to Aviva.

She took one. “Thanks.”

“You know, your shyness is cute, but you have to get used to the cameras if we’re going to debut now,” Hoseok said to Jimin.

Jimin frowned. “Yeah, well, how do you suggest I do that, Hobi-hyung?”

“Hmm…” Hoseok grinned. “I dare you to flash your abs to the camera.”

“Eh?” Jimin said. “Why?”

“Why?” Aviva agreed.

“Well, he’s going to be doing it on stage all the time now, so it’d be good practice, right?” He figured.

Jimin’s brow furrowed. “He’s got a point.”

“Yes, but the internet is forever,” Aviva reminded him. “If I post this…”

Jimin let out a breath. “Let’s do it.” He gripped the edge of his shirt. “Film me, noona.”

Soon they moved upstairs to the stage for the rehearsal. She got a shot of them moving up the stairs. Jungkook spotted her and waved.

“Ah, manager-noona, when did you get here?”

The other members shot her peace signs as they passed.

They moved straight from the rehearsal into the pre-recording for No More Dream. Aviva watched from the side and then ran around the corner to meet them as they exited the stage.

Aviva filmed them walking off stage, down the hall. The assistants were waiting with tissues to blot at their sweaty faces.

“This leather…” Namjoon muttered, pulling at his shirt, which was sticking to him with sweat. She switched her camera off, letting it hang off her neck. “Honestly.”

“Bend down.” She motioned at him. He did and she carefully dabbed at his face with a tissue, not wanting to ruin the makeup artist’s hard work. “There’s water and towels in the dressing room.”

“Good,” Yoongi said as he passed her. “It’s hot.”

Aviva froze, spotting Jin crying as he stepped off the stage.

“Oppa…” She frowned, noting one of the other cameramen was following him closer to get a shot. She followed them too. “Yah, give him some space.” The camera man hesitated. Aviva flashed her employee ID, and a glare at him. The camera man waved his hand and retreated out of the room. Jin was surrounded by assistants who were wiping his face and fanning him. Jimin and Namjoon were hovering, watching him concernedly. “Hi, Jinie-oppa. It’s okay to cry, you know.”

“But, I’m the oldest," he choked out. "I'm not supposed to..."

“You may be the oldest, but you also have the most sensitive heart,” she thought. “It’s a curse and a blessing.”

“I need to… get ready… for the… performance.”

She frowned at his ragged breathing.

“Seokjin-oppa.” She leaned up, brushing his hair away from his face. “Can you breath with me? Copy my breathing. Come on, slowly in… and out… good job.”

“Sorry,” he muttered, as his breathing settled.

“Hey, it’s a big moment, it makes sense to have big feelings, you don’t need to apologize, okay?”

“Okay.” He smiled slightly. “Guess I’ll say thank you, then.” He bent and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, manager-nim.”

“You two are being very sweet, but you should know, Avi, that he’s crying because his pants kept falling down,” Namjoon teased.

“Yah!” Jin protested, his face turning pink. Namjoon laughed as Jin got him into a headlock and rubbed roughly at his head.

“Ah, watch it—Eunjung-ssi is going to yell at you!”

“Eh? I thought it was because he made a mistake?” Jimin said to Aviva. Jin glared at him. Jimin patted him on the arm. “Don’t cry, hyung, it makes me want to cry too.”

Jin rejoined the others to do their huddle and cheer before they stepped back out onto stage to preform Bulletproof Pt. 2.

Jin waved at her as he passed. Yoongi gave her two thumbs up. Namjoon flashed her a peace sign.

After the performance, Aviva was waiting for them again near the door.

“We did well!” Jin said, hugging her. She laughed.

“Ah, oppa, I’m filming!”

“Our first broadcast recording!” Jin hugged Hoseok.

“First success!” Hoseok did a double fist pump.

“Oh yeah!” Namjoon echoed him as Jin moved on to hug Yoongi. “We’ll do even better on tomorrow’s stage.”

“We will do better tomorrow,” Jin agreed, though he was more subdued than the other two. He smiled weakly. “I have confidence for tomorrow.” Aviva couldn’t find the words. Instead she reached up and brushed his hair out of his face again.

Music Bank, No More Dream Debut!- June 14th 2013

The next day during rehearsal, Yoongi showed off his shirt with his stage name on it to the camera.

“I’m Suga, you see that?”

Aviva nodded. “Otherwise I wouldn’t know who you are.”

“Yah, you brat, it’s for the dry rehearsal,” he said. “You know that.”

Taehyung laughed behind them. Yoongi made a silly face at him. He laughed harder.

Aviva went out into the seats out a couple rows away from the stage to film their rehearsal.

“Yah, noona, don’t you have confidence in me?” Jimin whined after they finished the rehearsal and gathered back in the dressing room. “I know I made a small mistake with the kick, but I promise I’ll practice—and I always get the jump right every time. Every time!”

Aviva was taking a break from filming to charge her camera.

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“The part when I jump over Hobi, I saw how nervous you got!”

Aviva blushed slightly. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Jiminie, I just… you know I worry.”

“Then don’t watch that part, close your eyes,” Yoongi suggested.

She frowned.

“I can’t do that. I have to support you guys, and get behind the scenes footage, and—“

“Okay, okay.” He waved his hand. “It was just a suggestion.”

She chewed at her lip. “I like the thing with the hat though. It’s cute.”

“I’m not sure cute was what Hobi was aiming for, but I’ll take it!” Jimin said.

Aviva got her camera back in time to film Jimin and Yoongi practicing their dance moves. Taehyung joined them.

“We have to do well,” he told Aviva seriously. “There’s only one chance.” She tilted her head.

“One chance for…?”

He blinked at her. “There’s only, one chance~” He started to sing.

She nodded. “One Shot, B.A.P.”

“Ding, ding, ding—correct!”

Meanwhile, Jungkook trying some of Namjoon’s throat spray.

He coughed. “Are you supposed to drink water with this?”

“Hmmm?” Namjoon looked at him sleepily.

Aviva turned to get shots of the other members. Jin spotted her and waved with the sleeves of his leather jacket, which he was wearing backwards. She laughed.

“Why are you being so cute?”

He pouted at her. “Are you suggesting I’m not usually cute?”

“You’re not usually this shy,” she thought.

“Ah, I did a shy introduction, so I’m still shy now,” he explained.

She nodded. “Well, that’s okay, oppa, I like both the shy and confident versions of you,” she said honestly. He blushed. “Where did Kook go? He was just here...” He laughed.

“Ah, yeah, he’s fallen asleep again.”

Jungkook had almost passed out in his chair.

“Drink,” she ordered him, handing him a water bottle as one of the stagehands fanned him.

“What?” He smiled at her, dazed. “Oh, manager-noona, hi.”

She frowned. “You need to eat something, get your blood sugar up.”

“But I’m on a diet~” Jungkook said. “You can’t make me~”

Aviva sighed. “What about some juice?”

He blinked and nodded. “Yes please.”

“I’ll get it for him,” Jin offered, pulling his jacket on the right way around now. Aviva glanced over at Jimin, who was still practicing.

“Get one for Jiminie too, please.”

Jin nodded.

“One juice for the maknae and one for the Bagel Man, got it.”

Aviva squinted after him.

“Why is Jiminie a bagel?”

“It’s a combo between baby face and glamorous body,” Jungkook explained. He smiled. “Namjoon-hyung told me I’ll probably be like that someday.” His brow furrowed. “Hmm, where did Namjoon-hyung go?”

“I’ll look for him.”

She found him sitting on a chair in the hallway, his head in his hands. He looked like The Thinker, except even stiffer than stone. She switched off her camera, having a feeling he wouldn’t want the fans seeing him like this.

“Namjoon-ah…” Aviva punched lightly at his back. “You’re so tense. Come on, man.”

He squinted at her.

“If that’s an attempt at a massage, you’re failing.”

“No, I’m just hitting you.”

“Oh. You’re doing great then.”

She sighed, laying her hands flat and smoothing them over his shoulders, kneading at the tense muscles.

He made a bit of a happy noise.

“Better?” She asked in his ear. He jolted and then stiffened again. “Sorry.” She withdrew from him.

“No! I…” He turned, his face red. “It’s fine. That was… nice. Thanks. You, ah, weren’t filming that, were you?”

She shook her head. “I do still need some more footage though.”

“You’ll find it,” Namjoon said confidently. “You’re good at this.”

“You’re so amazing, Syub Syub,” Hoseok was saying to Yoongi back inside the room. “You actually danced.” Yoongi turned, spotting Aviva with the camera.

“I usually don’t show off my dancing,” he explained to any future viewers.

“You’re so cool,” Hobi praised. Yoongi smiled awkwardly. Hoseok turned to Tae. “V-ssi, you should show us too.”

Taehyung blinked. “Show what?”

Hoseok hummed one line of the song. “That part.”

Tae did a confused little head wiggle for the camera.

It was cute, but awkward.

“The truth is, V-ah doesn’t do that part,” Yoongi told the camera.

“Oh?” Hoseok smirked.

Yoongi squeezed Taehyung’s shoulder.

“You don’t need to know that part. It’s not yours.”

Hoseok shot an apologetic look at Tae, who was frowning, and then attacked him with a hug, biting his shoulder for some reason.

“Ah, hyung, you’re not a vampire!” Tae said, laughing.

“You’re so cute I just wanna eat you up!” Hoseok told him. Taehyung ran away from him, hiding behind Aviva.

“Yah, leave Taehyung-ah alone,” Jin said, stopping his neck stretches to glare at Hoseok.

“Are you okay?” Aviva asked Yoongi as Tae leaned on her. “How’s your shoulder?” He frowned at the camera. “Ah, sorry, I can edit that out.”

“Please do. The shoulder’s fine,” he told her. “Right now, I’m a little nervous for the pre-recording. I feel dazed, but I’m keeping myself on my toes.” Hoseok and Jin popped in and out from behind him making faces. Tae flashed a peace sign in front of the camera. Yoongi completely ignored them. “We’ll work hard. Please watch over us.” He smiled, just a tinge of annoyance on his face.

“But you’ve been great in front of the camera,” she told him. “I really appreciate it, since it gives me more material to pick from… but don’t force yourself, okay?”

“I’m not,” he told her.

“Swag!” Namjoon called out as he passed the camera, ready to preform. Aviva tried not to laugh. Yoongi bowed slightly. Hoseok and Jimin flashed peace signs.

Aviva watched from the side, grinning as girls shrieked at Jimin’s abs reveal, and cheered at Jimin’s leap.

“We finished it!” Namjoon said as he came off stage, smiling in relief.

“Ah, that was scary!” Yoongi said, rubbing his chest.

Jungkook pronounced it, “So-so.”

“The end!” Hoseok said, flashing a peace sign at the camera.

“Hi.” Jin waved shyly. “We did well, I think.”

“The end!” Tae said, flashing a peace sign. Aviva laughed.

“Hobi just did that!”

Tae pouted.

In the dressing room, Aviva looked at Jimin.

“Have you been avoiding me?”

“Not you, necessarily…” He eyed the camera and stepped closer, pointing. “That red light scares me the most. It makes me wonder what I should say.”

“Just be yourself,” Aviva told him. “If I record anything you’re uncomfortable with sharing, I can always edit it out. I promise not to post anything you don’t want me to.”

Jimin smiled, stroking the lens like it was the face of his lover.

“You’re a good girl, huh?”

“I won’t be if you keep touching the lens!”

He laughed.

Across the room, Jin was making faces at Aviva, passing his hand over his face, and changing his expression dramatically. A sleepy Taehyung was sitting next to him as he got his makeup fixed, clearly not amused.

“Wow, I’m so nervous,” Jungkook said as they headed back towards the stage for the live broadcast.

“You got this!” Aviva told him.

During the performance, Aviva was out in the audience again, catching shots of the fans cheering, especially when the boys flashed their abs, and got into their dance solos.

Afterwards, the boys made more faces at her as they came off stage. The photographer had disappeared somewhere, so Aviva was put in charge of taking the after-performance group photos for the fans. Tae and Jimin were reaching across the group to hold hands, as Hoseok bit down on Jimin’s head for some reason.

“Hobi!” Aviva called out to him. “Do I need to get you a teething toy?” The boys laughed, including Hoseok.

“Ah, we are born in the year of the dog, after all! Come play with us!” He walked over and grabbed her hand, waving at one of the assistants. “Hi, hi, noona, can you get a picture of us with our manager too?” He patted Aviva on her head, ignoring her protests. “We won’t post it anywhere, so just stay still and let us commemorate this moment. You’re part of it too, you know.”