#here’s to hoping art school will BUILD MY CONFIDENCE

[bumblefruit-ahhh]

WHEEEEE FUN FAN ART! FROM MANDELBROT HALL!

I’m sure a lot of people have seen this already, but Studiofilmpo (on yubtub and insta I think) is fundraising for their pilot. It looks amazing, and if you like indie animation, definitely check it out.

[coichii]

BABY, ITS COLD OUTSIDE ✭

—(🎧)—> your visiting your best friend, about to head out for the evening. it’s all changed by a seemingly instant blizzard. now that you have to spend the night at his, could this be your chance to tell him that you love him?

pairing - bsf!hyunjin ♥︎ fem!reader

genre: bsf to lovers, comfort & fluff

word count: 1.8k

warnings: mutual pining, sleeping in same bed(non sexual) before dating

series note : hello !! welcome to part four of my winter series, “winter records of love” where there will be 8 individual short stories for each member :) these stories are based off of songs I deem “winter” feeling ! this story is based off of “Baby, it’s cold outside” by Frank Sinatra. enjoy!

“Hyunjin? Have you seen my coat?”

The weather? Absolutely ran through with snow.

It’s a nice winter day, no less than 20 degrees outside. The wind blows flurries of snow across the sky, piles of it building up and overflowing the grass and roads. A winter wonderland, if you will.

Hyunjin had invited you over to his, knowing his place had a fireplace and yours didn’t. He didn’t want you to suffer in the cold, knowing you would be to shy to ask yourself.

Deep down, Hyunjin knows he asked you to come over for a different reason. Yes, he was worried about you being cold and possibly getting sick, but, he also has a massive crush on you.

Ever since freshman year of highschool, he’s been insanely into you. Seeing you walk past him on your way to class to talking to you every single day in and outside of school, only confirmed his love.

He loved how you supported him when he started his idol career, cheering him on from hellevator to chk chk boom. He loved everything about you, but he wasn’t sure if you felt the same.

How wrong could he be. You’ve loved him ever since high school too. You loved the way his eyes lit up every time he would rave about dancing. Melting when he would show you his absolutely beautiful pieces of art. Honestly dying every time he even looked at you.

You love him, but he’s a world famous idol, and you’re just some nerdy college student. You shouldn’t succumb to such feelings, you’re just going to get hurt.

“Oh, uh.” He looks around. “I can go look.”

You hum at him as he scurries off, searching around his tiny apartment for the beige, wintery coat you decided to wear to his.

You don’t want to leave, but it’s getting late. The sun sets early and the snow is picking up, and you wouldn’t want to worry anybody about your safety.

Hyunjin walks back into the living room empty handed. You swear you can see a blush on his cheeks but you’re not all to confident.

“I checked, couldn’t find it.” He looks out the window. “You can’t leave in that.”

You mirror his actions, turning your head to look out the window.

It might as well be a blizzard outside.

The snow was now coming down in herds rather than flurries. Snow piling up hiding the foundation of houses just across the street. You’re not even sure if you can see the orange of the sky anymore because all you see is white.

“Wow.” Is all you can mumble out as you continue staring. “How am I going to get home?”

“You can stay here for the night, I won’t mind. It’s too dangerous for you to leave anyways.” He argues, looking in your eyes for any sense of discomfort.

“O-oh uh… are you sure? I mean I don’t want to be a bother.” You stammer, hands flinging in a distinct motion.

“Y/n, I’ve known you since high school. I promise it’s not an issue. Besides,” he looks out the window once more. “what can you do.”

You think for a moment, but you know it’s pointless. He’s right, what can you do. The snow is here and it’s here to stay. And it’s not like you don’t want to spend the night at your handsome crushes house.

“You’re right.” You sigh. “I hope I won’t be a bother.”

“Y/n.” He says sternly, grabbing your hands. You ignore the burning in your cheeks as he ignores the burning in his. “You aren’t and will never be a bother.”

You can hear the sincerity in his voice as you nod, taking note of the look in his beautiful, black eyes.

“I’ll set it up so that you can sleep.” He smiles, letting go of your hand and walking towards the one bedroom’s door.

You’re positive you’re flushing red.

Staying over??? At his house??? The sweat might as well have been pouring down your skin at this point.

You’ve known him since Highschool, and you’ve been over plenty of times both when he lived with his parents and after he had moved out. You practically have the entire place mapped out in your mind. But, you had never slept over before. Blame your strict parents and nervousness for that.

You ignore the bubbling anixety in your chest as you follow hyunjins steps, walking towards his bedroom.

Inside you see him cleaning up anything that had been left on the floor, decently clean for a man. You also notice him having a new pair of sheets in hand.

“Oh? Where are you going to sleep Hyunjin?” You nervously ask, heart rate spiking when he turns around and faces you.

“I’m going to take the couch. Want you to be well rested for when you drive back in this weather.” His voice is low, almost as if the darkness from outside was making him tired despite it being no later than 5pm.

“You’re sure?” You ask, and he just hums in response, mind too focused on pulling the sheets past the corners of the mattress. “Why don’t you shower so you can be in bed soon. I know you’ve had a long day.”

You hum back at him as you find the linen closet, grabbing a soft pink set of towels and moving to the bathroom.

◂—♥︎—▸

It’s been about two hours since you had showered, and about an hour since you had fallen asleep.

The sheets are beyond comfortable, feeling equivalent to a cloud as you soak up its warmth. You should be dreaming like this, comforted and relaxed.

But in your head, you’re experiencing one of the worst nightmares you think you ever have.

A reoccurring one at that. You’ve seen it time and time before as a child, the vision severed into your mind permanently. You don’t know why, but this one is particularly vivid.

Colors flashing, noises loud, lights blaring. It’s terrifying, so you can’t say you’re exactly pissed when you wake up in a cold sweat, hand clutching at the loose shirt hyunjin gifted you for you to sleep in.

Shakingly, your sweaty hands reach for the tiny lamp that’s resting upon hyunjin’s nightstand and flick it on, exhaling sharply as the once dark figures in the room start to take shape.

The dream is over, and you know it, but you still can’t get that eerie, unsafe feeling out of your heart and stomach.

You know what you need to do.

“H-hyunjin” your voice is low and quivering as you creep into his living room, seeing hyunjin sprawled out of the couch with a thin blanket cloaking his body.

“Jinnie?” You nudge his body, him groaning and twisting. “Jinnie, p-please wake up.”

Hyunjin pries his eyes open, squinting until he processes the sight of hot tears cascading down your cheeks.

“Woah woah, y/n. What happened.” He moves his hand to wipe the tears away with his soft thumb. You ignore the turning of your stomach as you lean into his touch.

“I-I’m sorry this is s-so embarrassing.” You sniffle, moving your hands to hide your reddening face.

“Ba- I mean y/n. If it’s making you cry like this, then it can’t possibly be embarrassing.” He gently pries your hands from your face, forcing you to lock eyes with him. “Tell me what happened so I can help you.”

“I uh, just had a nightmare. It was vivid and s-scared me.” Hyunjin coos at your response, rubbing his finger against your cheek.

“Oh, y/n. You’re safe now, y’know.” You nod. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

You think for a moment, heart still racing uncontrollably. You know you won’t be able to sleep anymore with this feeling in your chest, and you also that hyunjin always helps to calm you down.

“I-if you’re not u-uncomfortable. C-can you sleep in bed with me?” Your soft voice hits his ears, and he immediately smiles and sits up.

“Of course, y/n.”

◂—♥︎—▸

A stream of light breaches a small crack in the blinds, hitting and warming a slice of your face.

In bed lies you and hyunjin, his arms found their way around your waist in the middle of the night, his head buried into the crook of your neck.

You hear him groan beside you, your body growing hot as slightly tightens his grip around your body.

“Mhm.” He groans, eyes slowly prying open. It takes him a while to process his armed wrapped around your waist, face turning red as he moved it back to his side.

“y/nnie, good morning.” He grumbles, voice slurred with sleep. “How’d you sleep?”

He’s moved back to his side of the bed now, the area he had been in when he first got in bed with you.

He doesn’t know how he moved from there all the way to your side, but he’s not complaining.

“Well thanks to you. Seriously, you have no idea how much it means to me.” You mumble in response, burying your face back into the cold, satiny pillow.

“You don’t have to thank me at all, y/n. I do it because I lo-“ he breathes in. “Y/n? Can I tell you something?”

Your breath hitches in your throat, heart dropping and picking up speed. “Y-yeah sure. What’s up?”

He sighs, “You don’t need to thank me because I love you. I’ve loved you since I’ve known you. I would help you again and again and again no matter what. I’m sorry if it’s sudden, but I never want you to question why I would do something for you.”

Your silence frightens him as you soak in every single word that he said, looking in his eyes as yours begin to sparkle with tears.

“C-can I kiss you?” He ask, bringing one of his soft palms to your cheek. You sheepishly nod as he brings his face to yours and presses his lips against yours.

It’s soft, delicate, and sweet. Lips mold together seamlessly, each press deeper bringing a wave of blissfulness. It’s better than anything you have ever felt, warmer than any kiss you have ever experienced.

Pure love.

◂—♥︎—▸

“So, date next week?” You ask as he throws your coat over your shoulders. He smiles as he turns you around to face him. “Mhm!”

“Okay then. See you then, jinnie.” You smile, making your way to the door as he suddenly grabs your wrist from behind.

“Heyyy. No goodbye kiss?” He pouts, lip sticking out in an annoyingly adorable fashion.”

“Okay, okay. C’mere.”

And wow, does it feel amazing to press your lips against his. To not be drowned in doubts or uncertainties anymore. To know the man you’re in love with is in love with you too.

It’s the warmest, most beautiful feeling in the world, and you would have it any other way.

[zaczenemiji]

Curtain Calls and Curveballs II

Kenji Sato x Actress!Reader

Synopsis: After high school graduation, you never expected to see Kenji Sato again. But fate reunites you both at the same university where your love/hate relationship continues to grow.

Word Count: 1,376

Genre/Warning: Coming of Age, Enemies to Lover, Eventual Romance, Slow Burn

Author's Note: Oops, it became a short series 🫢 Part 3’s otw and I changed the title

PART ONE | PART THREE

MASTERLIST

You were dead wrong when you thought that high school graduation would be the last time you’d ever have to interact with Kenji. You remember your last words then, saying, “Congrats, Sato! I hope this is the last time I ever have to deal with you again.”

To which he replied with, “I’m sure this isn’t the last, (y/n)—to me at least—if ever you really are going to be the actress you dream of being.”

You were hurrying across the busy campus of your university, juggling a stack of drama textbooks and a cup of coffee.

Just as you were about to approach the performing arts building, you noticed a group of students gathered around a bulletin board. Your curiosity built up as you got closer to see what the commotion was about.

“Did you hear? There's a big baseball game this weekend.” a familiar voice called out.

You turned, heart skipping a beat. You didn’t expect to see anyone from high school here, let alone Kenji Sato. He stood there, his signature confident grin in place, holding a baseball glove.

"Kenji?" you blurted out, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Kenji raised an eyebrow, looking equally taken aback. "I could ask you the same thing,” he said. “I thought you were off to some fancy drama school."

“I am,” you rolled your eyes, recovering from the shock. “This university has one of the best drama programs in LA. What about you? I thought you were headed straight for the big leagues."

“Not yet,” Kenji chuckled, shaking his head. “I've got a scholarship to play baseball here while I get my degree.”

The two of you stood there for a moment, sizing each other up. The familiar tension from high school crept back in, but it was tinged with the novelty of your new surroundings.

"So, you're still playing ball?" you asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, and I'm still throwing strikes," Kenji replied with a smirk. "And you? Still pretending to be someone else on stage?"

“Ugh!” you rolled your eyes, but couldn't help the small smile tugging at your lips. "It's called acting, Kenji. Something you'd know nothing about."

Kenji laughed, the sound surprisingly warm. "Fair enough. So, are you coming to the game this weekend? It's against our biggest rival. Should be a good show."

"I might," you said, shrugging. "If I don't have rehearsals."

"Typical," Kenji said, shaking his head. "Always busy with your little plays."

"And you're always busy chasing a ball," you retorted.

The rivalry that had defined your high school years was still there, but it was different now but no less present.

"Well, I've got to get to practice," Kenji said finally, stepping back. "Try not to trip on stage, (y/n)."

"And you try not to get hit by a pitch, Sato," she shot back.

As you went your own way, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. Being in college felt like being in an unknown and bigger territory with so much more people. It was nice to come across someone you know in a crowd of unfamiliar faces; even if that was Kenji.

So many things have changed since you got into college. The only thing that didn’t, of course, was your rivalry with Kenji but the competition was less intense since you were in different programs.

This shift allowed you to focus on your individual passions without the constant pressure of direct competition. Here, in college, people didn’t know about the rivalry you had.

But this anonymity disappeared quicker than you thought because, for every time you came across each other, you’d always be hurling sarcastic remarks; as you two always did.

One bustling afternoon in the cafeteria, you were with your new friends, laughing and discussing your upcoming production.

"Hey, (y/n), I heard your play's actually worth watching this time," Kenji called out, smirking as he approached with his tray.

“Kenji,” You looked up, a frown on your face. "I thought you'd be busy throwing balls around. What brings you to the world of real talent?"

Kenji chuckled, setting his tray down. "Just wanted to see if you're still pretending to be someone you're not."

One of your friends raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of you. "You two know each other?"

“Unfortunately,” you said, rolling your eyes as you sighed. "Kenji here thinks he's the king of everything just because he can throw a ball."

"Careful, (y/n). Your jealousy is showing," Kenji retorted, grinning.

Your friends exchanged looks, quickly picking up on the rivalry. "So, you two have a history?"

"You could say that," Kenji said. "She's been trying to keep up with me since high school."

You scoffed, "In your dreams, Sato."

On baseball games, you’d attend with a group of friends from your program more to support the school than to see Kenji, or so you told yourself.

As you settled in your seat, one of your guy friends nudged you. "Isn't that the guy you're always talking about? The baseball star?" He asked.

You sighed, rolling your eyes. "Yes, that's Kenji,” you said. “Try not to feed his ego."

Kenji was on the mound, winding up for a pitch. He glanced towards the stands where he spotted you and your friends. With a smirk, he nodded in your direction.

"Is he waving at us?" another friend asked.

“No,” you shook your head. "He's just trying to show off. Watch, he'll probably strike this guy out just to make a point."

Sure enough, Kenji delivered a fastball that struck the batter out, the crowd erupting in cheers. He turned back to you, giving a mock bow.

Your guy friend laughed. "You weren't kidding,” he said. He's got a flair for the dramatic."

"Tell me about it," you muttered. "He's always been like this."

More than once, on your rehearsals, you’d find Kenji standing by the doorway, leaning casually against the frame.

"Nice performance, (y/n)," he called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Almost believed you were someone else."

You paused, turning to face him with a raised eyebrow. "What are you doing here, Kenji?” You asked. “Lost your way to the field?"

The director looked between the two of you, intrigued. "Friend of yours, (y/n)?" He asked.

"Hardly," you answered, crossing your arms. "Just someone who thinks he's more important than he actually is."

Kenji grinned, unfazed. "Just wanted to see what all the fuss was about,” he said. “You know, your acting. Seems like everyone's talking about it."

"Well, I'm flattered," you said dryly. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have real work to do."

As Kenji left, one of your fellow actors whispered, "He really gets under your skin, doesn't he?"

You sighed, shaking her head. "He's been doing it for years."

During hell week, your exams season, you’d spend your time in the library a little longer. Of course, Kenji knew about this. He’s been keeping tabs on you since coming across you when you were freshmen.

You were studying in a quiet corner of the library when Kenji walked in. He made his way over, pulling out a chair across from you.

"Studying hard, I see," he said, grinning. "Trying to finally beat me at something?"

You looked up, exasperated. "Kenji, some of us actually have exams to prepare for,” you replied. “Don't you have a game to practice for?"

"Already did," he said. "Thought I'd see what the academic life is like. How's the memorizing going? More lines to learn?"

"At least I use my brain for something other than sports," you shot back.

A nearby student, overhearing the exchange, glanced over with curiosity. "Do you two always bicker like this?"

You nodded, not missing a beat, “Pretty much. It's our thing."

Kenji laughed, leaning back in his chair, "Can't let her get too comfortable, can I?"

As he left, the student shook his head, smiling, "You two have a strange relationship."

You didn’t even know that guy or from what program he’s in. It felt like it was high school all over again where everyone knew of your rivalry, and it’s the only thing they knew between you two.

And soon enough, it will be what the world knows about you two.

PART THREE

Taglist is open! Comment if u wanna be tagged on future Kenji oneshots

@hismistresss @sweetangle8 @aerivina

@eternallyvenus @puppyminnnie @wattpadsuckssohard @sakura-onesan @reggies-eyeliner @buggs-1 @miffysoo @spencerrxids @stupidbutsmart @marimargirlies @mixvchelle @lannnu @lailuv21 @christiinee @abracarabbit @youngbananamilkshake @flutterfly365 @o-schist @brazilsho @arrozyfrijoles23 @finestflora

[pinksmonkey]

Posting my Ultimate Byler Evidence/Analysis List here directly because it probably makes it more convenient and I should have done this a while ago. XD

There is so much proof for Byler being endgame in S5 of Stranger Things. They are so cute together, and so much in the show has been building up to their relationship. I just wanted to share some of my favourite Byler analyses, because they are so cool, detailed, and in-depth. I love reading about all the hints, symbolism, and subtext for Byler, it's amazing how much thought must have been put into all these things. Why go through all the effort of adding these details if they aren't actually going anywhere with them? Mike is so queercoded, and they are truly in love with each other.

🫥 Just gonna leave some good Byler analyses here 🤐

Most of the links go to written Tumblr posts, and a couple of them are Reddit posts. So it's a lot of reading. If you prefer watching videos over reading, I highlighted my Byler YouTube playlist in green so it's easy to find.

And apologies for any of the links that aren't working, I know some of the posts have been deleted now sadly, but there's no way I'm re-numbering all these so I'm just leaving them in. My fellow Bylers, please stop deleting your amazing posts. ;-;

So anyway, here is the list of some of my favourite Byler evidence/analyses of all time (not in any particular order):

1. Mike's Season 4 Monologue To El

2. Camera Roll Byler Proof Part 3

3. Mike's Monologue and Milkvan

4. Mostly Byler Post Index

5. Dawson's Creek Parallel

6. "My Experience With Stranger Things"

7. What Ollie Learned From Film School

8. Byler Music Analysis

9. Why Don't The Duffers Discuss This?

10. ST Theories Masterpost

11. If Byler Isn't Endgame Then Someone Screwed Up

12. Byler Crumbs From The Cast and Crew

13. Favourite Combination of Endgame Byler Proof

14. I Doubt Byler Then I Remember This

15. The Fact That We Have This Interview

16. You Know Your Ship is Endgame When

17. Mostly Byler Post Index 2

18. Losing Hope Of Byler Endgame?

19. Why I Think Byler is Endgame

20. So Many Thoughts on This

21. Mike's Wall Art

22. Painting Miscommunication Leading to Mike's Monologue Coded

23. Yes, That Scene Did Foreshadow Mike's Monologue as Disingenuous

24. Mike's Monologue Didn't Sit Right With Me

25. Blue And Yellow Pen

26. That Tweet Is So Sweet

27. Heart Eyes, Literally

28. "My Process of Realizing Byler is Real"

29. Looking at Will, Not El

30. High School Musical Parallel

31. Said It Before and I'll Say It Again

32. Delusional Milkdud?

33. ST Writers Twitter Analysis 1

34. ST Writers Twitter Analysis 2

35. For When You Are Doubting Byler

36. Is Mike Bi or Gay?

37. Fully Convinced

38. The Ultimate Byler Playlist (my Byler YouTube playlist)

39. 100% Confident

40. Mike in S4 and S2

41. Mike Is Angry With Himself

42. It's Been A Year, Mike

43. Rink-O-Mania Remodel

44. The Development Of Will And Mike's Relationship

45. Mike's Lies

46. El Was Holding So Much In

47. Flickergate + Lettergate

48. Did Mike Ever Like El Romantically?

49. Mike Is Stupid

50. Byler Won't Write Itself

51. What's The Alternative Explanation?

52. Comparing Mileven and Byler

53. It Was Always About Them

54. Mike Is Not Ok

55. He Has A Love Interest

56. Will's Happy Ending

57. Trying To Be Normal

58. It's Not That Milevens Are Homophobic

59. Byler Is Reality

60. A Proper Look At El's Shrine To Mike

61. Mileven Through The Seasons

62. Suspicious

63. I Can't Doubt Byler

64. D&D Soulmates

65. Let's Talk Phones

66. Not Delusional

67. What Do They Want?

68. The Main Character

69. Mike's Mental Health

70. So Close

71. This Look Confirms Byler Isn't One Sided

72. Mileven Is Bones

73. They Don't Care About Mileven?

74. The Airport Hug Will Always Be Famous

75. The Monologue Mystery, Why Did They Lose?

76. The Cabin Scene

77. Why Couldn't Mike Say It For 2 Seasons?

78. He Was Trying To Find Will

79. Mike The Surfer Boy

80. Mike Definitely Shows Attraction To Girls

81. The Cast Knows

82. Mileven Loses On All Fronts

83. The Bouquet

84. 53 Minutes And 5 Seconds

85. Pink Panther

86. El And Choice

87. Will's Spotify Playlist

88. He'll Come Crawling Back To You, Begging For Forgiveness

89. Mike's Character Arc Prediction

90. It's The Same Look

91. Will's Truly Happy Ending

92. That's The Same Look, Right?

93. You're The Heart

94. Mike And El's Relationship In S4 Was Really Weird

95. Fireworks Parallel

96. Mileven Has Been Built Up For 4 Seasons

97. Not Stupid: The Fate of Mileven and Byler

98. This Suddenly Makes So Much Sense

99. Metaphors In Filmmaking

And unfortunately Tumblr will only let me add 100 links per post, so when I've posted part 2 of this list, I'll link it here: Part 2

[rafesfuckdoll]

Destined To Be Pt.1

summary: Two best friends Leilani and Katie that bring Y/N and Rafe to earth. The destined duo. inspired from my moodboard!!!

warnings: none!! this is just a introduction into the two moms life before we get into y/n and rafe.

word count: 1.4k (this will be a 4 part fic so it'll get longer sorry yall!!)

Part 1: Beginnings

The summer of 1981 in Outer Banks, with its rolling hills and whispering beaches, was painted in vibrant shades of green and gold. Leilani L/N, with her unruly mane of black curls that seemed to catch the sunlight just right, lived in a cozy house with a sprawling backyard. Right next to it was the house of the Camerons, where Katie Cameron, a girl with freckles speckling her cheeks like a galaxy, spent her days.

Their friendship blossomed from a genuine and innocent place, as two young kindergartners bonded over their shared interests in chasing butterflies and confiding in each other. Beneath the warmth of the afternoon light, they sat under the shade of a venerable oak tree in Leilani's backyard, their little legs hanging over the frayed picnic blanket.

"Katie, you know what I just thought of?" Leilani mused, her eyes glinting with mischief, indicating a mischievous idea forming in her mind.

"What?" Katie responded enthusiastically, her chestnut-colored pigtails bouncing playfully as she eagerly shifted her gaze towards her companion, filled with curiosity and interest.

"We should build a secret clubhouse right here," Leilani declared with all the authority a five-year-old could muster.

Katie's eyes expanded in surprise. "Yes! We'll have a password that no one else knows but us!"

Their adventures became limitless from that moment onwards. Using discarded cardboard boxes and old bedsheets, they built a secret hideout where they stored treasures such as acorns and shiny rocks. At night, they shared their hopes and ambitions—Leilani's dream was to become a mural artist decorating city walls, while Katie's goal was to become a well-known veterinarian who could communicate with animals.

With the passage of time, the strength of their bond intensified and developed. Throughout the challenges of elementary school crushes and middle school drama, they stuck together, their friendship serving as a stable force during the tumultuous years of adolescence. Leilani's bedroom walls were transformed into a gallery of their memories, adorned with pictures of them in DIY Halloween costumes and flashing bright smiles on the annual first day of school.

"You'll always hold a special place in my heart, Leilani," Katie whispered one evening while they were having a sleepover, the light from a flashlight casting a warm glow on their faces.

"For eternity," Leilani responded seriously, solidifying their agreement with a pinky swear.

Changes came with high school, yet their friendship stayed constant. Leilani became a member of the art club, spending her afternoons covered in paint splatters, while Katie thrived in science and math, securing a place on the academic decathlon team. Even with their varied interests, they were always by each other's side, discussing everything from crushes to future college endeavors and beyond.

"Lani, do you think we'll still be friends when we're old?" Katie asked one day, lying on the grass and staring up at the clouds.

"Of course," Leilani replied without hesitation. "We'll be those cool old ladies who still get into adventures."

High school passed in a blur of exams, dances, and late-night study sessions. Leilani developed a love for art that translated into vivid paintings, each one telling a story of her life and friendships. Katie, with her sharp mind, excelled in her studies and dreamt of opening her own veterinary clinic one day. Despite their different paths, they were always there for each other, providing support and encouragement.

After graduation, life took them to different colleges. Leilani attended an art school in New York City, where she immersed herself in the vibrant culture and honed her skills. Katie went to a prestigious university in California, where she studied veterinary medicine with dedication. They kept in touch through letters and phone calls, sharing their experiences and dreams.

"New York is incredible, Katie! The art scene here is like nothing I've ever seen," Leilani wrote in one of her letters.

"And California is beautiful, Lei. I'm learning so much about animals and how to care for them. I can't wait for you to visit," Katie replied in her letters.

Even though they were miles apart, their bond remained unbroken. They visited each other during holidays and vacations, exploring each other's worlds and deepening their friendship. Leilani took Katie to art galleries and introduced her to the bustling city life, while Katie showed Leilani the serene beaches and animal shelters she volunteered at.

Years flew by in a blur of laughter and shared secrets. Eventually, Leilani developed feelings for Theodore, a tender spirit who played melodies on his guitar that resonated with her soul. In Ward, Katie found someone who matched her boldness, a fearless businessman who shared her adventurous spirit.

Amidst the joyous clinking of glasses in honor of each other's forthcoming weddings and the elegant twirls on the dance floor under the shimmering canopy of stars above, Leilani and Katie both had a deep-seated understanding that their paths were about to diverge in a significant way. Savoring lemonade, they lounged on Leilani's porch on a pleasant summer night, listening to the crickets chirping in unison.

"Katie, I've been considering something," Leilani said excitedly.

Katie's raised eyebrow revealed her curiosity, her blue eyes searching for answers. "About what, Lei?"

"I've been contemplating starting a family," Leilani admitted, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her glass. "And I was thinking... what if we did it together?"

Katie's face lit up with a smile that reached her eyes. "You mean... we plan to have babies at the same time?"

Leilani nodded with excitement. "Imagine, Katie. Our kids could grow up just like us—best friends from the very beginning."

The concept began to grow, developing into detailed plans brimming with optimism and excitement. They imagined their children running through the same backyard where their own adventures began, sharing secrets under the same oak tree that had witnessed their childhood dreams.

After graduation, both Leilani and Katie moved back to the Outer Banks, fulfilling a promise they had made to each other years ago. They bought houses next door to each other, just like their parents had done. Their bond deepened more and more with every passing year, keeping them as close as ever.

Katie, now Dr. Cameron, opened her own veterinary clinic, fulfilling her childhood dream. Leilani, an accomplished mural artist, brought color and life to the city streets with her vibrant paintings. Their lives were busy, but they always made time for each other, their friendship a constant source of joy and support.

It was in the spring of 1999 when their dream was fulfilled. Leilani, with joy in her heart, introduced a beautiful baby girl named Y/N to the world, and just a few days later, Katie welcomed her son, Rafe, with open arms. Together, side by side, they found themselves in the hospital room, each cradling their precious newborns in their arms, their faces adorned with tears of happiness, trickling down slowly, like a gentle, steady stream.

"Katie, it's unbelievable," Leilani murmured, her eyes fixed on her daughter.

"We made it happen," Katie said, her voice filled with emotion. "Our kids are here."

Leilani glanced at her dearest friend, their relationship now spanning to the next generation. "Here's to the future, Katie. For Rafe and Paris."

Katie smiled, nodding. "For Rafe and Paris."

Their children would grow up together, sharing the same unbreakable bond that had defined their mothers' lives. The adventure was just beginning.

Leilani and Katie spent the next few weeks adjusting to motherhood, often calling each other for advice and support. They took their babies on walks through the familiar streets of the Outer Banks, pointing out the places where their own childhood memories were made.

As Y/N and Rafe grew, their mothers' dream of them becoming best friends started to take shape. The two children played together in the very backyard where Leilani and Katie had built their secret clubhouse all those years ago. They chased butterflies, built forts, and whispered secrets under the same oak tree, their laughter echoing the joyous sounds of their mothers' past.

"Look at them, Katie," Leilani said one afternoon, watching their children play. "It's like seeing us all over again."

Katie nodded, tears of happiness welling in her eyes. "We've come full circle, Lei."

Their lives, intertwined from the very beginning, had created a legacy of friendship and love that would continue for generations. As they watched Y/N and Rafe grow, Leilani and Katie knew that their bond would never fade, and their children would carry forward the spirit of their enduring friendship.

The adventure was far from over. For Leilani, Katie, Y/N, and Rafe, it had only just begun.

[astarionsilverbough]

okay so here’s what happened:

i started college. it’s been incredible. i’ve been working on campus as an aid to the president (of the college). I’ve been making connections in real life in a way i haven’t since junior high.

i created and run a transgender aid and education group. we’re in the middle of creating a curriculum for workshops that will be held for staff and faculty during development days.

i was chosen as student body president. i hope to make some truly lasting and positive changes while i’m still at this school - before i transfer to an art university for animation.

for the first time in my entire life i have lived entirely offline. i have challenged myself to build community in the real world - not to disparage online community, but i’ve always used it as a way to control who is allowed in said community with me, which is no way to actually function or build connection.

it’s truly been an incredible year - but i have to say that there truly was never a day when i didn’t think about this online space and the community here. all of you gave me the courage and confidence to take this leap; your constant support and encouragement was absolutely instrumental in forging this path.

after a long time away - relearning balance and human interaction - i have made the decision to come back. i cannot guarantee a timeline for anything. but i am making a concentrated effort to be Here as well as Out There.

i have missed you all so much. thank you for giving me the bravery i needed to meet my own eyes in the mirror.

with so much love,

Saint Judas

xxx

[blossomwritesthings]

𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 | 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬

⬷ 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 ┊ 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 →

pairing: minho x felix (minlix)

genre: dancer!minho/artist!felix. brothers best friend troupe. college au. age gap (abt 4 years). minho pov. extremely dark themes throughout, including smut - MDNI, 18+ only.

word count: 3.0k

the playlist 🗡️

a/n: I'm already starting to write chapter 5 of this people, and it's continuing to get better and better as I work on it lmao!! 😂 This chapter was a little bit on the shorter side and dealt with a lot of the world building, but I wanted to set a solid foundation for how most of minlix's childhood was...But even still, I dropped subtle hints throughout that possibly could allude to something a lot more and darker happening on behind everyone... anyways, hope you guys enjoyed! 💙

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ᴅᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴏsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ sɪᴛᴇs (ᴛʜɪs ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇs ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴs). do not copy, spin-off, or write inspired work based off of this fanfic without full permission to do so. ©ʙʟᴏssᴏᴍᴡʀɪᴛᴇsᴛʜɪɴɢs ⤐ ᴀʟʟ ʀɪɢʜᴛs ʀᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ

̶﹒⊹﹒ʙᴀɴɢ-ʙᴀɴɢ,  ᴛʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ᴅᴇᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ！،، 🌌  𖥻 𓂃 ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴇ’ʟʟ ʙᴇᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀ ᴅᴏᴡɴ  ᴛɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ╰╮ 🌑

  The first time Lee Minho saw Lee Felix after five years of being apart, he was shocked by a jolt of lightning. And it wasn’t the good kind of lightning. To be honest, it was painful and searing. It left his skin feeling red and raw, the veins in his entire body thrumming with stark, firey surprise. 

  His entire life, the image of Lee Felix in Minho’s mind had always been that of the pure younger brother. The younger brother to his childhood best friend, Chris. Growing up, he and Chris spent every waking minute together — including attending the same middle/high school and even university. And of course, Felix was always around. Always a phantom floating in the background, sometimes a part of their plans, but sometimes not. Annoying, at times. But sometimes, fun to hang out with. It just depended on whatever mood Felix was in— as he was always moody.

  He existed in the back of all Minho’s thoughts but as a mere side character to the elaborate story that he and Chris were building together as best friends. And once they went off to university together, Felix finally fell away to the wayside. Granted, during their four years of studies, Chris would briefly mention Felix in passing… about how he was the popular kid at their old high school and how he was excelling in his grades. 

  But for the most part, the two best friends were a little too busy with their own hectic lives to care about an annoying little brother. What with Chris diving headfirst into his Musical Producing Degree and Minho pursuing his passions within his Technical Performance Degree, they had their hands quite full. On the side, they worked at the same performing arts studio that a lot of their classmates worked at too. Chris was busy interning as a producer there, while Minho was an apprentice dance instructor. 

  They worked like that, studying at the Korean National University of Arts and working at their part-time jobs for four long years. And finally, in their Senior year, their lives came full circle again. Just like that, Minho was transported back to the days of their childhood, when they were bumming around their small town in Busan and hanging out with Felix whenever he begged Chris enough to let him into their cool party of two. 

  Immediately upon enrollment at the University, Lee Felix was a sensation across campus. He was making waves in the culture— with his fashion sense, his aura, his good grades. Everything about him radiated confidence— or so, that’s what some of the seniors in Minho’s dance classes whispered about. In the cafeteria, Minho could hear sophomore’s laughing and gossiping about the elaborate parties Felix held at his dorm, about the crazy shit that went down at them between his large group of friends. 

  And of course, Chris was swamped with too much work and his studies to care about meeting up with his little brother anytime soon. Minho had heard from the grapevine that Felix was studying something related to fashion design. Honestly, Minho was quite surprised at that fact, since Felix had always dressed rather…simply, growing up. 

  If anything, Chris was the one out of the two brothers who were more fashionably inclined and more interested in streetwear and trendy clothing options. Meanwhile, Felix opted for a lot of preppy looks… things that showed off his pure and innocent vibe. 

  But perhaps, based on the wild parties that he was throwing, Felix was no longer that young and wide-eyed boy from their childhoods. 

  Minho was wrapped up so much in his world of just fucking graduating that he never had free time out of work or classes to run into Felix. He only heard snippets of the younger boy’s life from other people… about his popularity and his godly looks. 

  It wasn’t until one day in the middle of his senior year, when it was a cool September day out and the trees were bursting with colors of gold and crimson that finally— finally, he saw Felix again. After so many years. 

  Honestly, it was like a chance of fate. 

  He had gotten the day off from work because his mentor was on vacation for the weekend, and he was already finished with all of his homework for the rest of the weekend. So he was completely free to do whatever he pleased. That, of course, included a nice long walk around the university’s gardens. 

  Minho loved the autumnal scenery outside. How the chilly air bit at his cheeks and sent a shiver through his bones, how the drying leaves crunched underneath his boots, how there wasn’t a soul in sight around him. As much as he loved Chris, and the two other friends — Hyujin and Changbin —  that he had made at university, he also didn’t mind the somberness of his own company. 

  At least, he was the only one traversing the gardens until he came upon a figure sitting alone on a bench. It was strategically placed under a large oak that was weeping leaves of crimson. The topaz and garnet flecks of color danced around the figure, twirling down, down, down, onto the ground around them like little flecks of a brilliant autumnal rainbow. 

  As Minho approached the figure more closely on his path back to his dorm, he noticed the person’s sloped shoulders and the way their curly, bleached-blonde hair swept across the nape of their neck in the graceful breeze. And it was only when he was close enough that he could smell their scent — of sweet lilies and candy apples — that he realized the person was focusing on something. 

  They were… drawing, in a sketchbook that they held in their arms. With their legs crossed atop the bench, they were completely focused on their craft. And with the glance Minho took at the ivory paper in the person's lap, he could tell they were designing some kind of outfit. 

  “Beautiful day to do art, hmm?” Minho mused out loud in a quiet voice. Even still, he completely startled the artist — awakening them out of their daze of craft. 

  For a moment, they froze in their place, just sitting there in silence as Minho finally rounded the corner of the bench and faced them.

  Just then, they managed to tear their eyes away from the paper in their hands, offering Minho their full attention. 

  Minho’s breath caught in his chest instantly. 

  The chilled breeze ripped it right out of his lungs, making it hard to inhale and exhale. 

  He could feel his entire body set on fire at the sight of who the person was… 

  Lee Felix. 

  The boy he hadn’t seen in almost four years. 

  The boy who was always in the background while Minho grew up beside his best friend Chris. There, but not of any importance... half of the time. 

  And yet, there he was once again — like an ethereal, shining ghost of the past. 

  Because goddamn, was the older version of Felix ethereal. 

  His skin was so smooth and milky-white, that it looked like the outside of a brilliant seashell. 

  His pink, rosebud lips pursed a little bit as his eyes scoured down Minho’s entire frame. Chestnut-brown irises lit up with realization only slightly, as his brain finally registered who was standing in front of him. 

  But perhaps the biggest shock for Minho was the way that Felix carried himself, the way he was dressed. Because although he had heard rumors about it around campus, he hadn’t seen it up close and personal yet. 

  Felix was dressed in loose-fitting linen pants that were the whitest of creams, paired with a ruffled shirt that had buttons all down the cufflinks. Half of the buttons attached to the v-neck of the top were open, offering Minho — and practically the entire fucking campus — large glimpses of the chiseled muscles just underneath the fabric there. A black leather trench coat was draped across his shoulders, offering a semblance of warmth against the cool autumn day. And each time he moved, the pounds of jewelry he was wearing clinked and shined against each other — silver rings and cords of pearls around his neck and at least a dozen different piercings in his ears filled with diamonds and silver studs. 

  “Holy shit— it’s been, what… five fucking years or something?” Felix was the first one to speak after Minho had initially spooked him out of his artist stupor. Running a few ink-stained hands through his blonde tresses, he offered Minho a casual, dazzling smile. 

  Minho was a little taken aback by his words, how he let the curse words slip free from his red-stained lips so easily. Growing up, Felix had never been a big one for the profane. But he supposed, Felix was no longer a child and an adult in university, of course, it was normal for him to use a derogatory word once in a while. 

  “Yeah, it’s been a long time. How’ve you been, Lix?” Minho asked, walking towards the nearby tree that was still raining autumnal leaves down on both of them and leaning his shoulder against the cool bark. “I hear you’re studying fashion. That’s gotta be pretty interesting.” 

  Shrugging slowly, Felix made quick work of shoving his sketchbook back into the canvas bag at his side. “Eh— it has its annoying moments, but for the most part, I like the shit that I learn about fashion. It’s pretty interesting.” Not affording Minho a glance as he focused on tidying up his workspace, the elder man was able to freely examine the younger as much as he wanted. Felix seemed a lot more… nimble, since the last time Minho had seen him. Too skinny, if he was really honest with himself. Just then, Felix met his gaze again, eyes scanning his entire face. “And I heard you’re a prestigious dancer around these parts.” 

  Minho could feel the familiarity of a blush creep up his neck and into his cheeks. He didn’t know why he was getting shy about it, but— the fact that Felix, a young, small part of his childhood, was offhandedly flattering his skills, did something funny in the pit of Minho’s stomach. “Uhm— I’m just an apprentice dance instructor at this place outside campus. It’s nothing fancy. And when I’m not working, I’m in the studio of the Technical Arts Building practicing for class.” 

  “Oh, then I’ll have to come by sometime so you can teach me so cool moves,” Felix said, playfully wiggling his eyebrows. He was still looking at Minho’s face, watching as the crimson flush overtook his entire body. Bursting out in a fit of laughter, Felix almost doubled over at the sight of it. “Holy fuck— your face is so fucking funny!” 

  Rolling his eyes only slightly, Minho sighed from the embarrassment. “Stop torturing me, I hate when people I know watch me dance. I refuse to have Chris in the studio for that very reason.” 

  At that, Felix’s laughter stopped abruptly. “And why is that? Is it just too— embarrassing, or something?” 

  “I don’t know what the feeling surrounding it is. I just… I prefer when strangers watch me, that way they can’t pick apart my body language in the moment or my facial expressions.” 

  Slinging his tote bag around his shoulder, Felix stood up from the bench and tilted his head to the side quizzically. “Yeah, I think I get that. It’s why I don’t like people watching me draw. Makes me feel like they’re peeking into a part of myself I’d rather keep hidden.” 

  “Even if you’re only drawing clothes?” 

  “Well, kinda— but more so when I draw things just for… Me. That’s the stuff I never want to see the light of day, let alone other’s eyes.” 

  Minho could feel a faint smile creep across his lips at that, finding comfort in the fact that Felix could somewhat relate to him. Unlike his friends Chris and Changbin, who just loved to show everyone their newest work. And besides that, Minho’s dance partner and friend Hyunjin was quite a moth to the spotlight as well. So he had no one to relate to. 

  “I guess we can both hide our craft away from everyone until the end of time then.” Minho laughed, nudging Felix’s shoulder lightly as he walked past him. And just like that, they fell into an easy traverse across the garden's pathway. For being shorter than Minho, Felix sure did keep up with the brisk pace he set. 

  Felix turned to him as they walked, a tiny smirk gracing his lips as he practically stared right into Minho's soul. “And who knows, maybe if you played it right— I’d offer you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see my real, personal artwork.” 

  The way that Felix’s tongue twirled around the world ‘played’ was dangerous for Minho at that moment. Even still, he managed to flash him a nonchalant smile. “Felix— no. I’m like… five years older than you.” He had heard the gossip around campus, how Felix would sleep with anyone he could get his hands on. Boy or girl, it didn’t seem to matter to him. But unlike Felix, Minho was the exact opposite. The last solid relationship he had been in was when he first started university, and they had mutually broken up after the guy moved across the world to be a transfer student in Europe for his Sophomore year. 

  “Although, I like when people say no… gives it a sense of thrill, hmm?” Felix said in a soft tone, the words cascading around Minho, floating over his ears and making the edge of his spine shiver only by a little bit. 

  With that, Minho pushed Felix a little by his shoulder again, enough to force more distance between their walking bodies for his mental sanity. “Okay, hot stuff- keep it in your pants for your own age group.” 

  Felix dropped the topic after that, laughing softly and focusing more on the surrounding landscape around them. For a while, they walked in silence, just taking in the beautiful scenery that was all around the garden. As the quietness wrapped around them, Minho’s heart rate was able to calm down. He wasn’t used to Felix being so… openly flirty. His entire life, Felix had always been the quiet wallflower around everyone else — the one that wasn’t loud and never stepped out of line from his parent’s guidance. He was the better, well-behaved child out of the two brothers. 

  “Hey, I’m having a party at my dorm this Saturday night, you should stop by sometime— it’s gonna be a real fucking blast,” Felix started, as they slowly neared the main campus’s grounds. When he saw the wide-eyed look Minho gave him in surprise, he waved off any worries the older man might have. “Don’t worry, it’s super chill— and you won’t be the oldest person there, I promise.” 

  Raising a questioning eyebrow slowly, Minho’s gaze locked with Felix as he studied his face. And just then, he realized that the entire time they had been reconnecting in the park, he hadn’t been able to get a read on the younger boy. He thought he had been able to gauge his emotions, but really, Minho was realizing that the smiles and laughs might’ve just been a farce in the first place. 

  “I’ll think about it, okay?” Minho offered, not having the heart to completely turn him down. Because at the most, he could tell that Felix truly wanted him there. Even though they hadn't spent time together in so long, perhaps things would change now that they were both adults and attending the same university. “The fact that you’ve barely been here three months and you already know so many people to hold parties at such large calibers honestly kinda scares me.” 

  Rolling his eyes, Felix playfully hit Minho’s shoulder, “Oh shut up— I’ve been the popular kid for a long time now.” 

  “Apparently so.” 

  After that, they stopped just in front of the freshman’s dormitory complex. The housing on campus was dispersed between the school years so that the seniors lived on the other side of campus from freshman. Just to make sure the parties of the young folk didn’t disrupt the soon-to-be-graduates. 

  “Well, this is me. I should uh— finish my project.” Felix motioned with his head to the tote bad he still had a firm grip on. “It was nice seeing you though, Minho. And maybe you’ll grace everyone with your dancer presence this weekend.” 

  And without even realizing what he was doing, Minho reached out across the widening space between them and gently ruffled Felix’s long, blonde tresses. For a mere second, the expression on Felix’s face turned completely glassy, melting into a certain emotion that Minho couldn’t quite place. That he didn't want to understand.

  “I’ll see ya around, I guess.” Minho found himself saying in a soft voice, his hand dropping from Felix’s long locks and briefly brushing across the back of his neck before fully pulling away. 

  And before Felix could say anything else — before Minho could do anything more out of character or anything else stupid — Minho finally left the charged orbit of Felix’s presence. Backing away, he turned and started down the park’s pathway again without another glance behind him. 

  Even when he felt gentle eyes following his figure the whole way down the path that led back to his dorm. Even when the feeling didn't leave him until he was completely out of sight, Minho never stopped and never looked back. 

  It was better for both of them, he thought at that moment. 

  Yes, definitely a lot better than anything else. 

─── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ───

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[r3yaxx]

CROWN OF STRIKER

Chapter : 00

The rain had just begun to fall over Seoul on a chilly autumn evening when Officer Kim Dong-hyun discovered a small, shivering infant tucked away in a baby box near the police station. In that quiet moment, as neon reflections danced on wet pavement, Dong-hyun's hardened eyes softened. He lifted the fragile bundle with steady hands and murmured, "You'll be my little fighter." And so, that night, a child was reborn—not as an orphan lost to fate, but as a promise that even in darkness, hope could be found.

From that day forward, the baby—later known simply as (Name)—grew up under the firm yet caring guidance of Officer Dong-hyun. Her new father was no stranger to hardship. He had seen the worst of humanity, yet in raising her he found a renewed sense of purpose. Every morning before the break of dawn, Dong-hyun would rouse (Name) from her sleep, insisting they run together through the empty streets. "Strength is forged in cold mornings and long miles," he would say, his voice steady despite the chill. And so, while other children slept, she learned discipline, resilience, and the art of never giving up.

School, however, was a different battlefield. At the age of eight, (Name) was already accustomed to the sting of cruelty. Whispers followed her in the hallways, calling her "the foundling" and "the abandoned one." But she never allowed those taunts to shatter her spirit. Instead, she found solace on a tattered football pitch behind her school—a rough, uneven ground where she would dribble a deflated ball as if it were the key to her destiny. Every kick, every sprint, was a silent declaration that she was more than the sum of her scars.

At the age of twelve, destiny intervened when (Name) was invited to join a local youth football academy. It was here, amid polished pitches and the gleam of new equipment, that she first encountered Min Gi—a girl whose life had been very different. Min Gi came from wealth and privilege, her every need catered to by an overbearing family that prized perfection above all. Where (Name) had known struggle, Min Gi was accustomed to adoration and praise. And with her flawless technique and confident swagger, Min Gi carried an ego as grand as her talent.

Their first meeting was unceremonious. In a training session filled with bright chatter and the smell of fresh grass, Min Gi's voice cut through the noise. "You play?" she asked, glancing dismissively at (Name) as she laced up her immaculate boots. (Name) replied coolly, "Yeah. You?" The brief exchange hung in the air like a challenge. Min Gi smirked. "I'm the best here," she declared, her tone dripping with arrogance.

For (Name), the spark was lit. She didn't care about social status or the weight of wealth. She cared about the ball, the rush of the game, and the promise of a future she was determined to build with sweat and skill. Over the following weeks, during drills and scrimmages, their rivalry unfolded on the field. Each time Min Gi tried to dominate, (Name)'s relentless drive forced her to play defensively. It culminated in one fateful match where (Name) outpaced and outwitted her at every turn. The final whistle blew on a staggering 6-0 scoreline—not only a victory for (Name)'s team but also a humbling defeat for Min Gi.

After the match, as the echo of cheers faded, Min Gi's anger bubbled over. Cornered in the locker room, she confronted (Name), fury in her eyes. "You think you're better than me?" she spat. (Name) met her glare with a calm smile and replied, "Aren't I?" The retort stung, and though Min Gi's pride was wounded, something unexpected happened that day. In a moment of vulnerability, as tears shimmered on the brink of falling, Min Gi found herself whispering, "Teach me."

"Huh? You want me to teach you?"

"I want to be reborn"

Thus began an uneasy alliance: Min Gi, the once indomitable prodigy, now clinging to (Name) like a shadow. From that day on, Min Gi's defiance gave way to a secret admiration—a desperate need to learn from the girl who had shattered her invincible facade.

Officer Dong-hyun, now weathered by years of discipline and sacrifice, sat her down in their modest living room. His lined face was serious as he looked into her eyes. "You want to pursue football at the highest level?" he asked quietly, almost as if fearing her answer.

"Yes, Father," she replied, her tone steady despite the swirl of excitement and anxiety within her.

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "If this is truly what you want, then I won't stop you. You have the heart of a warrior. But promise me—you'll be careful. The world out there is unforgiving, and once you step onto that field, there's no turning back."

Her eyes softened at his words. "I know, Father. I'll be careful. I promise."

Dong-hyun's gaze lingered on her, a mixture of pride and concern. "Remember," he added, "true strength isn't just about winning games. It's about knowing when to fight and when to protect yourself. Your talent is a gift—but with it comes responsibility."

In that quiet moment, (Name) felt the weight of her decision, balanced by the love and caution of the man who had raised her against all odds. His reassurance was a silent vow that no matter how far she soared, he would always be there—watching, guiding, and loving her unconditionally.

Meanwhile, far from the warm reassurance of (Name)'s home, Min Gi faced the bitter cold of her own reality. Back at her family's mansion, her decision to commit fully to football was met with shock and disappointment. Her mother's voice had trembled with anger during their heated confrontation.

"You were meant to be a scholar, Min Gi! Not some ... footballer," her mother had scolded, her eyes blazing with hurt and indignation.

Her father's words had been no kinder, laced with the expectation of legacy and refinement. "Our family name is at stake. You throw it all away for a game?"

Unable to bear the weight of their criticism, Min Gi had run out into the night, tears mixing with the drizzle. The cold pavement was merciless beneath her feet as she fled, her heart pounding with a mixture of rebellion and despair. For hours, she ran, until the familiar comfort of a quiet park allowed her to pause and reflect. It was in that lonely moment that she realized the only person who truly understood her passion was (Name)—the one who had shattered her pride and shown her what it meant to fight for something real.

And even as the pain of her family's disappointment gnawed at her, a spark of resolve lit within her. She would follow (Name) to the ends of the earth if need be, proving that true talent was worth any sacrifice.

The training was brutal. The national team recruitment process was a crucible that tested every ounce of (Name)'s willpower.

Sprints until they threw up. Technical drills until their feet bled. Matches against seasoned professionals.

But they never backed down.

By 18, they were ready. Their debut match at 18 was nothing short of sensational. The stadium was packed with cheering fans, and the atmosphere crackled with anticipation. The South Korean U-20 Women's National Team—soon to be known as Cheongryong FC—faced a formidable opponent from Europe. From the first whistle, (Name) set the tone with her fierce determination.

The stadium lights shone brightly, illuminating the field as the match entered its final moments. The scoreboard read 2-0, with Cheongryong FC on the verge of securing their victory. But (Name) wasn't satisfied with just that. She wanted one more goal—her third, her hat trick.

From the VIP section, some of the world's most renowned footballers sat with their eyes fixed on the game. Noel Noa, Snuffy, Lorenzo, Loki, Chris Prince, Lavinho, and a few others had gathered to witness the rising force that was South Korea's golden girl.

"She's something else," Chris mused, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his seat.

"Fast, technical, and composed," Loki added, eyes narrowed in deep analysis.

"Yeah, yeah, but does she have flair? That's what really matters," Lavinho smirked, already plotting how he'd get a reaction out of (Name) later.

Lorenzo, lounging lazily with his signature shark-like grin, chuckled. "She's like a shark herself—once she sees the goal, she's not letting it go."

Noel remained silent, watching with the calculating gaze of a man searching for the next great talent.

Back on the field, (Name) adjusted her stance, her signature pink hair catching the wind as she surveyed the pitch. The opposing team had tightened their defense around her, desperate to prevent her from sealing the game with a third goal. But she saw the gaps.

Min Gi, as always, was shadowing her, ready to support. "You ready?" Min Gi called out, eyes scanning the defenders.

"Always," (Name) replied, a sharp smirk curving her lips.

The moment the ball reached her, she sprang into action. A sharp feint to the right—her defender followed. Another cut to the left—she was free. The goal was in sight, and she knew exactly what to do.

She launched the shot.

The stadium seemed to hold its breath as the ball soared, curving beautifully before slamming into the back of the net.

GOAL!

The crowd erupted. 3-0. Hat trick complete.

(Name) turned around, triumphant, as her teammates swarmed her, cheering. Min Gi, of course, was the first to grab her, lifting her up for a brief second before setting her down with a huff.

"You just had to be dramatic, huh?" Min Gi muttered, but there was no real bite in her tone.

"You love it," (Name) shot back, grinning.

Their celebration was short-lived.

A heavy hand slammed against (Name)'s shoulder.

"You... you think you're untouchable, huh?"

One of the opposing players, face twisted with frustration, stood before her.

(Name) raised an eyebrow but remained calm. She extended a hand, offering sportsmanship. "You played well."

The player slapped it away.

"You—!" The girl's voice cracked, emotions spilling over. "You're not some football god! You're just lucky!"

Min Gi moved instantly, stepping between them, her entire frame radiating hostility. Her voice was dangerously low.

"Watch your tone."

The tension was thick enough to suffocate. (Name) gently touched Min Gi's shoulder, grounding her.

"It's fine," she murmured.

But Min Gi's fingers curled into fists. This wasn't about (Name) being fine.

This was about validation.

Because to Min Gi, (Name) was the only one who had ever mattered.

And no one—no one—was allowed to disrespect her.

As the celebrations continued, the professionals in the stands exchanged looks. From the stands, Noel Noa and the other football legends observed the scene. Chris Prince smirked, adjusting his headband.

"Interesting," he mused.

Noel Noa crossed his arms, his gaze locked onto (Name).

Snuffy nodded approvingly. "She's got the killer instinct."

Noel finally spoke. "She's efficient. No wasted movements. If she keeps this up, she'll be dangerous at an international level."

Chris leaned forward, intrigued. "She'd make a perfect striker under me, don't you think?"

Loki laughed. "You say that about every talented forward."

Lavinho stood up, stretching. "Enough talk. I want to meet her."

You can read more chapters on my Wattpad account under same username @ r3yaxx

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Hi! I saw your matchup requests were open so I'd like to request a romantic male matchup for Supernatural, Marvel, and DC? (if you aren't doing them feel free to ignore this! And if I requested too many fandoms, do whichever you'd like, I don't want to overload you!!)

My name is Bianca, she/her pronouns, and I'm 18. I am 5’9”, have brown wavy hair (wolfcut?), tan skin, and hazel eyes. I have an athletic sort of hourglass build? My hobbies include reading (classic literature, horror, dystopian novels), writing, painting, and running; a LOT. I absolutely love running and flex my leg muscles ironically every chance I get, which annoys everyone lol. I'm pretty active, and do boxing some archery, and XC/track. I'm always cooking or baking something, my fridge always has some type of dessert. My knowledge in random things/facts is very vast, I have too many interests and retain so much information, and I have an excellent memory. I am a big cat person and love mine to death, she is my child. I am Romanian and English is my second language, but I live in the US (that being said, I'm sorry for any mistakes I can't spell to save my life).

My style/aesthetic really varies but it's mostly like a 90s type of look, a bit dark and grungy. But in the summer, I've been told I dress like a hippy lol. Flared/baggy pants, small shirts and crop tops, leather jackets and big sweaters; otherwise I dress like Adam Sandler. I wear so much jewelry, specifically necklaces and bracelets, and am usually in some type of platform or tall shoes. I may be slightly addicted to music. I love rock/metal and rap, and occasionally some art pop. My favorite bands/artists are Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Metallica, Future, Metro Boomin, and secretly Doja Cat and Lady Gaga.

As for my personality, that's difficult to explain. I'm an ENTP and ambivert, and am very energetic (and oftentimes dramatic) I'm short tempered (lowkey have anger issues), sarcastic, and a little mean without meaning to be. It takes a while for me to get comfortable with people, and don't really like physical touch unless I'm really close with them. However, I am very loyal to those I love, whether it be romantic or platonic, and care deeply for them. I'm both a logical and creative thinker, and put on this tough and confident persona but I can be really sensitive at times. I'm pretty funny (at least I hope so) and make remarks solely to amuse myself and sometimes others around me. Also, I have ADHD. I find it funny to confuse people and it's hilarious when they get weirded out. I'm also super talkative (which you may have realized by this essay, so sorry for rambling) but also a good listener and am always willing to listen and give advice. Overall, I'm not a very good person but I have some good qualities.

Thank you for taking the time to read this <3

(sorry if it doesn't make sense I skimmed it to proofread😭)

Hey! I'm sorry this got out and posted so late! (Btw, your request makes sense, don't worry :))!

I hope you enjoy your matchups!

(Funnily enough, I was watching Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore) as I was making this)

Romantic Matchups; Supernatural, Marvel, and DC

~~~

Romantic;

~~~

Supernatural;

Dean Winchester -

You met Dean Winchester when you were both kids, attending the same school during a very rare two years when he and the other Winchester's weren't moving around as much.

If that makes sense..?

Work with me here.

It started when Dean saw you getting teased by some slightly older kid for being "too weird" and for spouting random fun facts. Dean, ever the protective type, jumped in to stop them.

This was during middle school, by the way, kids are cruel.

As an eleven-year-old or something, Dean was kind of impressed by your encyclopedic knowledge of almost everything.

But, when he found out that you knew a lot about rock bands, that won him over instantly.

You two became fast friends, spending recess sharing snacks and swapping stories - Dean always loved your dramatic retellings of random history facts.

Dean was beginning to wish he could stay at the school, no moving, just stay in the same state, the same city, so he could continue being your friend.

He dreaded when he'd have to move again.

Surprisingly, he got to stay longer than he thought he would; to high school, he went with you.

Dean introduced you to other classical rock music, insisting Led Zeppelin IV would change your life.

In turn, you showed him your favorite Guns N' Roses tape, which he eventually admitted wasn’t half bad.

Eventually, he told you about when he and his dad did. Even though it was kind of frowned upon to let regular people know about what they were up to, he told you.

He trusted you, loved you, and knew you would blad or anything.

Just don't tell his dad he told you.

You had countless late-night talks, lying on the hood of the Impala under the stars. Dean would open up in ways he never did with anyone else, and you’d always listen, offering a quiet strength he didn’t know he needed.

And then...

When you turned 18 and got accepted into your dream college, Dean was thrilled for you - but the goodbye was bittersweet.

He didn’t say it, but it felt like he was losing a piece of himself when you left.

He had your number... But he never got the courage to call you... And then he got too busy... With hunts, you know?

And you were off doing your own thing...

Dean kind of came to the realization that you were probably doing better off without him.

You didn't need him anymore.

Years later - decades even - after you had graduated from your dream college, and found yourself working in a different city, Dean found you again while working on a case.

“I’ll be damned,” He muttered with a grin, leaning against the Impala as you stared in disbelief. “Still spouting random facts, or do I finally get some peace and quiet?”

Who knew you were going to walk out of the same grocery store that he was getting ready to walk right into?

The reunion was slightly awkward...

But you and Dean quickly slipped back into old habits effortlessly.

By this time, there was something new brewing, something deeper.

There's something there that wasn't there before... ;)

Before you knew it, you were inseparable again.

Dean’s feelings started to grow the more he spent with you.

And you found yourself drawn to Dean, in the way he protected people he cared about still, like you and Sammy, even at great personal cost.

His loyalty was something you deeply admired.

The romantic tension built slowly, with stolen glances, lingering touches, and Dean cracking jokes to hide how much he wanted to kiss you.

The first kiss happened after a particularly rough hunt. Dean came back to the motel bruised and exhausted, and you scolded him for being reckless.

"You're cute when you're mad," He then said, making you look up at him.

You held his stare, your anger wavering the longer you did as a shiver ran down your spine at the intensity.

He kissed you, slightly impulsive, but perfect.

Dating Dean means lots of road trips in the Impala, with him blasting classic rock and you sneaking in some Megadeth when he’s not looking.

You love to cook not only for yourself but Sam and Dean too; Dean loves whenever you cook or bake - will ask for pie all the time, be warned.

Dean would surprise you with little gifts after a particularly long hunt; bracelets or necklaces that match your style; either grunge or boho.

Arm wrestling matches where Dean pretends to let you win, only to be genuinely surprised by your strength.

Teaching Dean random boxing moves, even though he’s already skilled just so you can "critique his form."

Dean would make sure you are okay during intense or stressful situations; making sure you are not too overwhelmed.

If you are, he'd get you out of the situation, obviously.

Will meet your cat, though Dean doesn't know how to interact with your cat. And your cat is kind of 'meh' about him.

They warm up to each other eventually.

Dean likes to pretend he doesn't notice that you have stolen some of his clothes. He loves it when you wear his clothes, by the way.

~~~

Marvel;

Peter Parker - (Honestly, it could be any Peter, but I thought Tom's Peter worked best) -

As Tony Stark's daughter - yes, lucky you! - you've been in Peter's orbit long before he officially met you.

Yony often mentioned you casually, since you were his very smart, talented daughter after all.

He described you as “a little too much like me - God help the world.”

(By the way, your dad loves spoiling you because you are so cool, you don't act spoiled at all.)

You officially met Peter at the Avengers Compound when Tony introduced you during one of the days you hung out with Bruce Banner.

You came to the compound every Sunday to learn more from Banner and have him help you with your homework if you needed help at all.

You noticed Peter’s awkwardness immediately, making you think about how you were probably acting awkward as well.

Awkward.

You didn't know how you got there, but you ended up accidentally rambling about some random historical fact to him.

Peter was immediately smitten but tried to play it cool, which was hard when you were both witty, smart, and gorgeous.

Peter quickly became your favorite person to banter with, as he could keep up with your fast-paced humor.

Yeah, Peter thought you were pretty funny.

And you even laughed at his jokes too!

You bonded over a shared love of learning and your habit of talking too much about random topics.

Peter loves to text you often with pictures to check in with you when he's on a mission or when you aren't together for some reason.

You’d bake cookies together in the Stark kitchen, with Peter marveling at your skills while simultaneously breaking every egg wrong.

Somehow everything is covered in flour or with eggshells everywhere and in everything.

Peter started to realize that he was falling for you when he found you rushing up to him at the Tower. There was a bright smile on your face and a book in your hands as you ran up to him, telling him all about the new book that you had just finished and needed to tell him all about.

You fell for Peter when you saw how kind he was. He was always putting others before himself, even at his own expense.

The romantic tension built up when you were both staying up late on a school night working on a shared project together.

But, you only had your first kiss when Peter saved you from a dangerous situation.

Peter was rambling, freaking out, and checking you for any injuries when you just pulled him close and kissed him, shutting him up.

Dating Peter involves lots of movie nights where he insists on marathoning old sci-fi movies you secretly enjoy too.

He’d love how you sneak little treats into his backpack when he’s not looking, and you’d adore how he always checks in to make sure you’re safe. Even though he knows that you can take care of yourself.

Peter would always bring you coffee during late-night study sessions, even if it meant webbing across the city at 3 a.m.

He doesn't mind.

He'll do anything for you.

Helping him fix his Spidey suit, adding tiny upgrades just to mess with him. "What about a hidden button that can dispense cookies?"

Dancing together in the lab to Metro Boomin'.

Secretly listening to Lady Gaga together.

Loves gifting your new clothing, especially sweaters.

~~~

DC;

Wally West -

You met Wally West during your first week working with the Justice League.

As a new hero with impressive powers, you caught Wally’s attention immediately.

And as a self-proclaimed "Lady's Man", he approached you with his trademark charm, wanting to break the ice.

You impressed him when you beat him during a sparring lesson, showing off your boxing skills, and leaving him speechless on the mat.

Wally loved how energetic and witty you were, making it easy to strike up a quick friendship.

You bonded over your shared love of fitness, often going on runs together and trying to outpace each other.

He slows down for you so you can actually have fun together.

You like to prank each other sometimes. Nothing too bad, but fun and silly.

He likes to hide your jewelry or platform shoes from you, and you like to swap his snacks out with broccoli and put saran wrap on the doorway.

Wally fell for you one eventful night of fighting Lex Luthor.

Afterward, he watched as you made sure he was alright, making sure he wasn't badly injured.

He loved how deeply you cared for people, especially when you cared for him.

You realized you had feelings for Wally when he stayed up all night with you after a tough mission, he wanted to make sure you were okay.

The tension grew as Wally became more protective of you during missions, always cracking jokes to mask his worry.

Do friends go to the fair together?

I would guess so.

Totally normal thing.

Totally normal for Wally to win that plushie you saw hanging from a game booth.

Totally normal for you both to share elephant ears, beats having to buy two.

Totally normal for you both to go on the Ferris wheel together.

And totally normal for you two to kiss-

Wait.

It happened on the Ferris wheel. You were sitting side by side, watching the twinkling lights of the fair, you clutched the plush to your chest... And then, you both went to say something at the same time.

Awkward but cute.

Your heart was racing.

His was always racing, but it was racing more than usual :)

Your eyes met, and then...

Dating Wally means constant adventures, from impromptu road trips to late-night runs through the city.

Yeah, he still slows down for you.

Wally adores how much you challenge him and how much you make him laugh.

Will obviously go to you when he needs advice.

He totally would propose to you with a Dollar Store Ring Pop. Strawberry flavored.

Loves your cat, will bring treats and toys for your kitty. They are best friends.

Bro, you got ADHD, Wally's got ADHD, he understands and totally gets all the struggles.

If you need time alone for any reason, will make sure you have everything you need - and if you don't, he will run and get you what you need - and then he'd run off and do something while he waits for you.

Kind of clingy, but will understand if you need physical space from him.

He will steal your clothes. He likes wearing your sweaters, jackets, and even your jewelry.

[ko2vo]

hi i've been reading Bad Seeds and i think it's a great comic and i love your art style and choices! looking forward to when you pick it up again, keep up the great artwork and hope you're having a good week :)

also, can i ask what you think gave you the best help in practicing art to get to where you are? like drawing with references or copying and repeating certain anatomy structures or just sketching if something pops in your head, etc.

also if you don't read comments on the comic blog i wanted to say here that i think the detail you put into flesh and gory stuff is really nicely done and visually pleasing + believable.

anyway have a good day ^^

Aaaa! Thank you so much for reading it and for noticing the details ;O; I love reading tags and comments on Bad Seeds, they sustain me so thank you for a most delicious and hearty meal

For practicing art! I’ve chronically sketched and doodled since I was kid (in the margins of school notes, in cheapo sketchbooks, etc), went through a visual art program in my high school, and then did a couple of figure drawing classes in university, so I’ve done a mix of everything. Honestly, the past couple of years are the longest I’ve gone without consistently drawing (grad school kicking my ass) so I dunno if my advice will be too helpful, but I’ll ramble a little under the read more:

Studying anatomy and generally referencing photos/real life helped me improve my art the most, personally. IRL references helps more than photos because it’s easier to get a sense of form, depth, and lighting. In school, we did a lot of drawing exercises like contours, blind contours, and quick gesture drawings in our introductory classes and I remember being frustrated when I did them because they always looked awful to me, but it was kinda the point of the exercise. It helps trains hand-eye coordination and build confidence in line strokes because they’re all timed. Gestures are typically very quick, like 1 min, 30 seconds, 10 seconds; contours were usually a lil longer, like 4 mins, 6 mins, etc.

Here's some contours from when I was uhh 16 I think:

Exercises, studies, doing art projects that challenged me in different ways, experimenting with different mediums and styles, looking at other artists contemporary and old alike, they all helped. All of it can absolutely be self-taught as well, there are tons of art challenges/prompt lists out there and resources. One of the biggest benefits to formal classes was feedback from teachers and peers, but a good community or friend group can also serve that purpose.

I continued to do studies after high school, these ones are around when I was 20 or 21:

More than that though, I didn’t JUST study and train, that would have turned me off art real quick. I drew for fun and knew what I liked. For subjects, that was people, figures, and characters. For mediums, it was ink and pen and digital art. Overall, art for me was about storytelling and comics. There are dozens of sketched comic thumbnails that have never seen the light of day in my sketchbooks, as well as RPG maker game maps, concepts, and character designs.

I remember this was me doing a comic of my high school friends and I in a zombie apocalypse at 15 lol:

General sketching comics and character ideas and fandoms from ages 15-18 (I didn't do a lot of fanart but OFF was a big one, idk why I drew homestuck dave tho cuz I haven’t read beyond the first 2 acts lol):

I like getting the ideas down, even if it's messy and they never develop fully. I used to be very precious and secretive about ideas, but at this point I’ll toss ideas at my artist and writer friends cuz im not doing anything with them and we’ll tell the stories differently even if I do get to it. I like exploring toxic and unhealthy character relationships. I wind up exploring queer and peripheral topics. Gore and body horror and bodies. Quotes litter my pages, some are concepts, or snippets of conversations characters have, or what I overhear from people irl or streamers, or just words that sound pleasing.

Here’s an RPG I wanted to make about a group of masked kids that steal rich people’s pets to collect the reward money, and it eventually goes all wrong:

Here’s another RPG about an Angel Surgeon, who needs to deliver a pill by travelling inside a mutated angel with his surgical team (I was really inspired by a yume nikki fangame game called Vis I think):

I also just like hanging onto all of my sketchbooks to revisit ideas I’ve mindlessly jotted down, seeing what I’ve improved on and sometimes digger deeper into old ideas. Bad Seeds started out as a few sketchy interactions in comics I drew in an itty bitty dollar store sketchbook when I was either 19 or 20 lol first Daniel I ever sketched:

Not the first Poet tho; Poet was repurposed from another, even older story I had where he was an obsessive stalker of one of the main characters, but he was very out of place cuz the story was supposed to be a silly and cozy college romance? And Poet just emerged from the ether and brought a ton of darkness into that otherwise lighthearted universe LMAO but I liked his character, so he got shelved until Bad Seeds happened. It's useful, sometimes I've completely forgotten my own ideas and artwork until I pull out a sketchbook and rediscover old ideas.

So yeah, TLDR: when in doubt, just draw! Training and doing different exercises helps improve anatomy, memory and accuracy, giving yourself challenges can help you discover preferences and weaknesses to work on, but don’t forget to just draw what you enjoy and be self-indulgent, even if you think its bad.

My sketchbooks have turned into more of an esoteric visual journal recently as I try to get back into the groove. Some recent scribbles, quite happy with my crayon croissant:

Hope that was a lil helpful! Thank you for messaging!

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle's August Update

Everything's unpacked and set up! Even got a desk and 3 cabinets assembled. Washed some dishes, plugged stuff in, organized everything. I'm settling in tonight; will probably type some Past Life reaction posts to schedule for tomorrow or day after (I caught up on all my other YouTube videos, including some vods, but didn't want to listen to Past Life while walking around if I couldn't watch the visuals too... Life Series, my beloved).

As for other plans this weekend, I'm aiming to finish my Gluten Guys Past Life 'fic (one chapter left). Might explore my new area, but I did my shopping today, so I might just buckle into my room all day. Might do some art (Got my tablet set up; probably won't post anything straight away, but I'm glad to have it).

Excited to be in my new place; it's much nicer and more affordable than what I thought I'd end up with, and the location is everything I could hope for.

I got a new phone. I can actually use most apps again, omg. I've had my old phone since 2017, so it's nice to get an upgrade.

I also got accepted to Creative Life as a player. Happy with my teammates. The Discord server goes live for non-playing viewers tomorrow ("The Listeners") and I'll reblog the link here in case anyone's interested.

AKA, I'm chilling and settling in this weekend. I still have "Nymphomania" (next Frayed Knots chapter) on my to-do list, and it's my priority writing project once I wrap up this Past Life 'fic (that I totally thought was going to be a one-shot and is now 7 chapters... whoops).

We've got a Dog's Life update next Tuesday, and then we'll have 4 Chalaza chapters in a row to finish that 'fic. Almost done reposting all my Total Drama 'fics from FFN to AO3 as well- just 3 to go! (Not counting unfinished multichapters I don't want to cross-post at this time).

I'm taking a pre-semester class that I need to work on, as well as doing other life & school related things (Move-in forms, insurance, etc.) Expect Creative Life submissions these next few weeks (AKA, request & gift fics for other players) in addition to pre-written Chalaza chapters. My goal is to finish "Nymphomania" for Friday the 8th, but if it doesn't happen, it'll be up when it is.

Now that I'm finally with my computer for longer than a rushed weekend trip where I'm mostly out of the house anyway... I'm also looking forward to more FOP sideblog bios & character profiles. They need their art, and I hope I can spend some time building an art buffer so we can get those back on a regular posting schedule.

I don't think we'll have consistent FOP fic updates during my semester, but we'll probably still have the 50 Words Dimmadome arc near the end. I'm still holding out hope for my crossover fic, so we'll see; I have an okay amount written on my next chapter, but there's a balance I need to strike with the interactions, and it needs more attention than I've been able to give it lately, between school prep, moving, sickness, my job, etc. - But I'm past the sickness, I've left the job, and I've moved, so it's just the school prep now!

I kind of have to choose between fic updates and bios/profiles. In an ideal world, I'd like to wrap up this Frayed Knots arc before I switch to consistent profile updates, but... I am glancing nervously at the chapter after "Nympho" that's just labeled "Really big timeskip." In my heart, I know it's wrong to timeskip past the events that get Anti-Cosmo into a leadership position - That's what this fic is for, after all - but I expect to feel more confident once I finish "Nympho." It's just slow... Lots of rewrites to bring it up to date from the 2018 version :') I actually do have a decent amount in my timeskip chapter written; I just think it's lame and needs to be thrown out for a better plot point, and that takes brainpower.

Not sure how many people will read this post given that I'm posting it late at night (my time), but thanks for reading if you did. Just excited to be in my new room. Might send a picture of my desk set-up tomorrow... I just need to see if I can credit some artists. Gotta dig up the lady who did my wall art, plus track down the maker of my Cosmo and Wanda bead bracelets because they don't offer those designs anymore, but... they hang off the edge of my monitors and I want to show them. It took 1 million years to wash my new Past Life mug, but I am ready to bake a mugging tomorrow... I WILL get this dream photo of my desk and mugging together).

[kfkr1ze]

[002-B02] A Scary Sentai World is too Excessive!

Summary — ✈︎ Akuta confidently announces his concept for their first tour, but the other students are confused by how incoherent the proposal is.

Characters — ✈︎ Akuta, Kiroku, Nanaki, Muneuji, Ushio, Sakujiro

Location: HAMA Tours Meeting Room

Kaede: Umm, what is this…?

Akuta: EHHH!? What’s with that reaction!? No matter how you look at it, that’s clearly our tour concept!

Kaede: R-Right…

Nanaki: This is the concept proposal, right? There’s something like a crab…? Drawn on the corner of it.

Akuta: It’s not “something like a crab”, it’s the Monstrous Ultra Smooth Meat Bun Crab! Stop it guuuys, now I’m worried it’s too vague!

Kiroku: I… like this… drawing…

Ushio: Well this isn’t an art exhibit, so.

Sakujiro: Let us move on from the topic of the art. Rather, the real problem is the content of the proposal.

Akuta: ‘Kayyy, then I’ll get on with my explanation. Let’s turn to page one!

Muneuji: There’s only one sheet of paper.

Akuta: First up is the concept. I wanted to do a heart racing action scene with a buncha fwooms and bwaams! That kinda feeling is fine, right?

And all the guests can be action stars too! You get it? See? Everytime I think about it, I get too excited!

Akuta: That’s why the title is “The Touring Sentai Kankou[1] Rangers!〜 Revenge of the Monstrous Ultra Smooth Meat Bun Crab〜” Opening scene〜!

Ushio: Rangers…?

Muneuji: Now that I think about it, the other day he was making a big deal about us watching some Tokusatsu Sentai series. I believe he bought a subscription?

Akuta: So at Asu High, the HUUUGE Monstrous Ultra Smooth Meat Bun Crab makes his attack! His favorite snack is the brains and flesh of tourists!

Kaede: (This worldview of his is way too excessive…!)

Akuta: He’ll crush the school building! There are explosions! The students and parents are trying to escape. And, when all hope seems lost, someone calls out for help!

And that’s when we, “The Touring Sentai Kankou Rangers”, appear in a flash and save everyone!

I already got our colors down. I’m gonna be Kankou Orange! Kiroku is Purple and Nanaki is Turquoise! Pink is Muneuji and then Ushio is Lime!

Oh right, in the debut scene, when the explosion goes off, the smoke that comes out is gonna be in our five image colors. Like your stereotypical Sentai scene!

So after that, we defeat the Monstrous Ultra Smooth Meat Bun Crab, and then peace will return to Asu High for another day… BUTーー

Kaede: Wait um, before we continue, what’s with the Hishio-don thing right here?

Akuta: The ones we had the other day were SOOO good, so I drew it there as a bonus.

Nanaki: That literally has nothing to do with the concept.

Akuta: Alrighty, I’m continuing on with the explanation!

Akuta: So at the end, we’ll do the BEST LIVE EVER with us rangers and the Monstrous Ultra Smooth Manjuu Crab and then we review aannd that’s the・end!

Well? What’dya think〜!?

Kaede: To summarize… is it fine to say the overall concept is a “Sentai Action”?

Akuta: That’s OKAY!

Nanaki: How long did it take you to think of this?

Akuta: Seconds?

Sakujiro: I believe the fact that you conjured this all up within seconds is somewhat praiseworthy, however… It is quite incoherent.

Akuta: Incoherent! YAYYAYY!!

Kaede: Sakujiro-san, Akuta-kun takes “incoherent” as a compliment…

Sakujiro: How insolent.

Ushio: Its favorite food being brains is too gross so that has to get changed. And why are there so many explosions? Why do you want everything to explode so much? I don’t get the point at all.

Akuta: ‘Cuz explosions are a piece of art〜

Kiroku: …How will… you make… an explosion…?

Akuta: Isn’t that obvious? Clearly we’ll use the egg!

Muneuji: But it has already returned to the sea.

Kaede: An egg?

Nanaki: Ah uhーー It’s not a regular egg… It’s an egg shaped bomb. We saw something like that on dazzle.

Ushio: It’s just useless anime talk, so don’t worry about it. ‘Cuz we’re all dumb kids.

Kaede: (Even so, I wasn’t expecting a plan that flew this off the rails… I was too careless.)

(I should’ve checked in on him more… Maybe I could’ve caught this earlier on and kept him in check.)

Ushio: So? What’s our team name?

Akuta: I already said it! The Touring Sentai Kankou Rangers!

Ushio: T-That’s so fucking lame… I’m at a loss for words.

Kaede: (This is my responsibility. First, I got to get us out of this mess and get things sortedーー)

Nanaki: …Yeah, there’s no way we can go with this.

Kiroku: ………

Nanaki: First up, there’s no way we can make a gigantic ultra smooth crab. Not just that, but we can’t damage the school…

Akuta: Nonono, we’re not gonna ACTUALLY do it, it’s just an act!

Ushio: First day back and being forced to act in a show like this… Hell no.

Muneuji: Putting the willingness to act aside, will every person who comes to the school enjoy this concept?

People from all age and gender groups are gathering. Why not find a broader concept that they will all enjoy?

Ushio: How can you be sure that no one will get injured from the explosion? We won’t just be outcasted this time, our entire social lives will die.

I don’t think we should be exploding things so casually. For our own sake too.

Kiroku: …I feel like… you might’ve… forgotten… to think about… our budget.

Akuta: Uu……

Nanaki: As a concept, it’s not related to Asu High or HAMA in the first place.

Ushio: Don’t just come up with something on the fly. Take the time to actually think of a better concept.

Akuta: …T-This whole time you’ve all just been criticizing me! Even JJ Park will add a “but” to the end of his criticisms and actually praise people! Praise me more!

Muneuji: I’ve been trying to think of something praiseworthy this entire time, but I have not found anything yet.

Akuta: Whaaat…

Kiroku: …I think… your drawings… were… really good…

Akuta: ………

Bathroom.

Kaede: A-Akuta-kun…!

(Akuta-kun’s expression looked unusually tense there… Maybe it’s best if we get a bit of fresh air before meeting again.)

ーーEveryone! It’s a bit early, but let’s take a lunch break.

Location: HAMA Tours Office Floor

Kaede: (What are you doing right now, Akuta-kun…)

Nanaki: ………

Kaede: Nanaki-kun, do you know if Akuta-kun’s in the conference room?

Nanaki: Uh… I don’t know.

Kaede: I see… Thanks anyways.

Nanaki: …Yeah.

Kaede: (I’ll just buy a bento box for him downstairs and try calling for him… I hope he cheers up.)

Location: HAMA Tours Back Wharf

Akuta: ………

Nanaki: Whaaat are you spacing out for?

Akuta: Woaooh!? Nanaki, you scared me!

Nanaki: Got you. …Can I sit on this elephant?

Akuta: Go right ahead〜 It’s not like I own it or anything.

Nanaki: …I thought you might be feeling a bit down after what happened earlier. You got criticized pretty badly.

Akuta: …Aah〜

Nanaki: I make music myself, so I can get it a bitーー

Anything you make yourself is like seeing your bare self. It can get scary exposing yourself like that to the public.

But y’know… Even if it’s not a perfect piece, you’ll never get anywhere unless you do expose yourself like that.

We became Ward Mayors in order to start all kinds of new things like that.

There’s bound to be tough spots along the way, and there definitely will be people who criticize you. Actually, it’s the overwhelming majority who do at firstーー

But no matter what, I think to myself, “I have to start somewhere” …It’s the same for you too.

Akuta: Heh.

Nanaki: ?

Akuta: Thank you! Nanaki, you're like some kinda kindness expert. But don’t worry, I’m not depressed at ALL!

In the first place, if people don’t get my good points at all, they’re the ones who are gonna make my charisma go awayーー

So I just gotta say bye bye to those people! Right? Isn’t it simple?

In this world, we have “the freedom to not understand each other.” That’s what my Uncle told me.

Nanaki: ….....

Pff… Hahahaha…! I was just worried for nothing. Of course you’re the stubborn type. How interesting.

Akuta: Buu・uut.

…This time, I don’t wanna say goodbye to you guys. It’s the easy way out, so I don’t wanna do that.

Nanaki: ………

Akuta: Oh, you want some? It’s super good. Kiroku came by earlier to give me some. He didn’t say anything, though.

Nanaki: Baby cookies… It’s very Kiroku-esque huh. Then, I’ll take some. Munch munch…

Akuta: Munch munch… By the way, you’re the one who’s gonna write our song for the Hospitality Live, right Nanaki?

Nanaki: Eh?

Akuta: Your music is literally THE BEST! I always wanted you to be the one who makes it!

Nanaki: Ahー… Yeah, or wait no, I don’t…really care but… Nah, I have to think about it a bit more.

‘Cuz the truth is, I’m not really making music right now.

Akuta: EH!?? WHY!??

Nanaki: …‘Cuz I… lo…

Nanaki: I… I keep making… Love songs…

Akuta: Hahh〜!?

Nanaki: I wanna stop making them too, but like, I keep getting stuck in this loop, so I’ve been trying to keep my feelings in control, but…

Akuta: Wha〜t? I can’t hear what you mumbling, but we don’t need love songs y’know? Just make normal ones.

Nanaki: I know. Butーー Don’t you have something that you can’t help but think about, no matter if you’re awake or asleep?

Akuta: ………

Nanaki: That’s just what I feel like right now. But I could say the same thing about you…

The concept you came up with was just a mess that was filled with a buncha stuff you liked all over the place, right?

Maybe it’d be a good idea for you to take the idea you think about the most and use it as a base for the concept.

But not like movies or anything. Something a bit more internal, or personalーー

Akuta: Internal… Like what?

Nanaki: Likeーー L-Love troubles, or something…

Kaede: Ah, Akuta-kun and Nanaki-kun, there you are.

Nanaki: Ah…!?

Akuta: Ohh, Sensei!

Nanaki: T-That’s all I wanted to say, so I’m going now! Bye!

Kaede: …Nanaki-kun just left.

Akuta: Yeah. …Hm…

Previous — ✈︎ Masterlist — ✈︎ Next

Notes — ✈︎

For "The Touring Sentai Kankou Rangers" He says “Kankou” twice, once in kanji (観光) and once in katakana. It means tourism, so I decided to keep the “Kankou” in katakana as just kankou instead of trying to translate it twice, since afterwards he’s like I’m kankou orange ! For Enstars fans (sorry.) it’s kindaaa how people will say “ryuusei red” instead of “meteor red”

[ardenla]

The not-so-genius detective

I recently decided to challenge myself to write a non-horror short story.

This is my first time attempting to write a story that is supposed to be funny.

When I told my family about this they asked me if I was sick...

Without any further ado, I would love to hear what people think of this attempt at a comedic story:)

Word count: 2076

TW: Profanity (Doesn't go much further than 'shit' though)

“And this is detective Jayden Falkenstein.”

My boss has his hand on one of the shoulders of some kid, while looking like a proud father.

“That’s your nephew isn’t it?” I remark.

The chief looks astonished: “Oh my, you’re already familiar with him?”

“No.” I answer honestly: “But I feel like there’s something you too have in common.”

The man laughs as if I was giving him a compliment: “Oh well, he’s actually a lot brighter than me.”

“You wouldn’t say.” I scan the child before me with my eyes, there’s just something… terribly annoying about him. His clothes are made of many bright colours that don’t go well together, making me believe that he might be color blind. He looks unprofessional and attracts way too much attention.

His face bears the expression of a terrified child trying to hide his fear, with a look of fake confidence that is way too easily shattered.

There’s just no way that he’s a detective.

“So, sir, is he going to work here with us? Like an intern or something?” Or is he here to be baby-sitted by one of us? I secretly add.

“Oh, no, no, no. We need my dear nephew here to help us solve something.”

“Is he good with computers?” The chief is old, maybe that’s the problem? Was an IT-guy too expensive?

“I told you before, he’s a detective.” The man’s face turns serious, he must have noticed that I’ve been having difficulty with believing him.

His nephew must really want to play detective, there’s no way he went to school for it. Let alone leave with diploma in hand.

“You two are about the same age, so I expect you two to get along.”

“Around the same age?” I ask dumbfounded. I know the chief is getting old, but does he really have such difficulty with discerning 15-year olds with those in their twenties? It’s just impossible, he doesn’t even look close. And his terrible sense of fashion…

That and I don’t believe he would even be allowed to take his first driving lessons, let alone be allowed to step inside a bar.

The kid smiles at me: “I’m twenty-five, you know. I heard that you’re two years older.”

What…?!

I shake my head: “You’re not allowed to lie to a police officer, show me your ID.” I gesture to him to hand it over.

“Officer Coldon!” The chief calls out to me in frustration.

But the ‘detective’ hands me something “Here.” he says in a kind tone.

I take the object not really taking it seriously, until the picture and text reaches my sight.

…

…

He really is…

I feel utterly flabbergasted and it takes me a bit to finally find my composure again. While double checking if the ID is real or not.

I cough: “So chief, what’s the plan?”

The man in question looks at me still slightly annoyed: “Well, we got a message from the art gallery asking for help. Someone is threatening to take down the building.”

“I see, have they had the thread on paper or via mail?”

“Paper. The author of the note mentioned something like ‘sneaking inside like a snake’.”

“Can I see it?” I unconsciously reach out, hoping for him to give it to me.

Instead the older man shakes his head: “It’s being analysed by the lab right now. And it’s almost time to go.”

“Already?” The detective asks pouting.

That really can’t be an adult…

Both me and Jaiden get sent back home to change into more formal wear.

I’m lucky that I live quite close by to the gallery itself, I can head straight to the building.

After quickly finding something I believe to be fitting for a guest, I leave my apartment behind and walk to the place the chief wants us to meet up.

It’s in a park close by, I see they were able to get a normal looking van.

Then the other thing that I notice…

As if someone had eaten rainbows and puked them back out…

I frown and try to look away from the almost glowing thing standing before me: “Hell no, you’re not getting in there dressed like that!”

Surprise, surprise… It’s Jaiden standing before me, dressed in a manner even a freezing and naked hobo wouldn’t want. That hobo would most likely prefer to die.

Unconventional, torture to the eye itself. That describes it at best. I can feel the shame… Yet he does not seem to show that at all.

He’s comfortable in that?!

Detective Falkenstein looks at me with a smirk: “Well you’re dressed way too fancy for someone just visiting a museum.”

The audacity.

Suddenly the chief pulls both of us by our collars: “Damnit, both of you, get changed!!”

Both are forced to change on the spot for more casual looking clothes.

As we enter the building I glare at my colleague that did get his way by secretly keeping his God awful looking shirt underneath, slightly better looking clothing.

The chief had decided that the two of us have to partner up. There are others that are doing the same, but are given different routes to walk.

“So, one ticket for an adult and one for a child?” The lady behind the counter asks, taking my thoughts of annoyance to another place.

“I-I’m sorry ma’am, could you repeat that?” I’m pretty sure I heard something wrong.

“One adult.” She nods towards me, speaking almost in slow motion: “And one child.” She nods to Jaiden.

Immediately I shake my head: “That’s a grown man.”

A mischievous smile crosses my colleagues face, one I don’t like the look of.

“Sorry ma’am, my dad is only joking.” He takes my arm and I do my best to resist the urge to slap it away.

The lady behind the counter smiles a little, though clearly with murderous intent when her eyes rest on me.

Then she turns back to Jaiden, a soft smile crosses her face: “Would you like to participate in the scavenger hunt?”

The idiot smiles brightly: “Yes please.”

We get the tickets and I hear the lady whisper to one of her colleagues: “He’s so polite, he really did not get that from his dad.”

The other nods, “Yeah, he probably has a much better mother.”

When we’re finally out of hearing range, I pull the detective closer to me in anger: “That’s illegal!” I whisper-yell: “With our job we need to set a good example!”

Jaiden smiles carefree: “We also aren’t allowed to stand out.”

I hate to admit it, but in a way, just a tiny bit, he has a point. I better talk it out with him later.

Or perhaps I should set him the good example.

Engrossed in the piece of paper that was handed to him earlier, he mumbles: “Hmmm… where should we go next?”

It really isn’t the time to go on a scavenger hunt.

We soon find ourselves inside a long hallway, the walls are neatly lined with many paintings each in slightly different colours and moods.

I can understand why people calls this true art, the way the emotions are showing, the dreams and ideas of their creators all come together in one-

“That one looks super ugly!” My colleague bursts out in a loud laughter.

I look at him threateningly, but he doesn’t seem to notice at all.

“That…” He points at it: “Is truly the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. No one would want it on a t-shirt. They did call this art right? Is this the collection of the ugliest man-made squirts?”

“Jaiden!” I hiss his name at him to quiet him down, but it only seems to show him that I’m still here.

He turns to me, ignoring the emotions that I’m clearly showing and asks a question in an annoyingly casual way: “So, the scavenger hunt is asking me to give this one a name. I’m thinking of ‘barf in the barn’ or ‘shit cow exploding’…”

He’s asking me.

Damnit, how clueless can a person be?

I take a deep breath to calm myself down: “We should continue to the next.” I try to remind him. There’s no time to be loitering around here, we have a criminal to catch!

I cannot truly see what this painting means, but I bet it has something to do with the painter's hidden anger bursting out. I think to myself as we’ve entered another hallway and a painting has taken my attention.

“Ha, a six-year-old could do better.”

I’m a cop. I remind myself. Murder is a crime.

Though I need to repeat it multiple times in order for it really to seep into my mind.

Continuing on I suddenly notice someone in the crowd acting strange.

A man is staring at a painting, without moving or even blinking at all.

Is he even still breathing?

Carefully as to not get his attention I glance his way a couple of times.

Trying to concentrate, I think about what I should do.

Should I let my other colleagues in- and outside know?

Or should I-

Crunch…

Crunch……

The sound of someone eating right next to me takes me out of my train of thought.

Guess who it is…

Jaiden…

Again.

Yep. That’s right…

He’s eating a bag of chips.

I’m thinking of ripping the thing out of his hands, but he walks off just before I’m able to.

You’re not allowed to eat inside this part of the gallery! I want to yell, but he’s already stepping towards the man I’m suspicious of.

I can see him say something to the suspect and then hold up his bag of potato chips.

The suspect is taken out of his trance and smiles, accepting the offer and taking some of the chips from the bag.

The detective comes back to me: “You know officer Coldon, not everyone is a suspect. That man was simply entranced by the painting. It isn’t pretty, the painting, but to him it feels like something special.”

I would love to be allowed to hit this kid over the head.

I remain silent, trying to show in this way that I still don’t agree.

“We should go this way.”

“Why?” I ask.

Did he suddenly have a good idea?

“The scavenger hunt continues down that hall.”

I follow him, tired out by my own anger and frustration.

I want to be part of what saves this gallery, but now I’m unsure if I can really do it.

“This has to be it!” Jayden suddenly calls out.

“Please lower your voice…” I feel too tired to lecture him again.

He picks up a random looking, empty piece of paper.

“This piece of paper must have another message… like with invisible ink.”

I swear I’m done with this guy.

“There’s no way…” I say, knowing that it’s clearly bull.

Not paying attention, while taking a few steps back, he accidentally bumps into someone.

“Ah, I’m sorry.” He immediately apologizes.

I guess he does have basic manners.

“Don’t worry, it doesn't matter.” The man he walked into answers in a kind tone: “It still happens to me from time to time as well.”

“Still I’m really sorry.”

Are these two going to keep doing this or are they finally going to stop and move on?

We still have to catch someone.

“Oh right, sir, do you happen to have a lighter?” Jayden quickly asks: “I need it for the scavenger hunt.” He points at the piece of completely ordinary paper.

“Oh yeah, I have one.” The man starts digging through his pockets: “Please do return it to me.”

“Thank you.” My babysitting job answers politely.

Carefully he lets the small flame from the dark metal object lick the paper.

As his face turns sour he finally turns off the lighter.

The paper really was just a piece of random paper.

Before returning it, he takes a quick glance at the small object in his hand. For a moment it looks like something clicked inside his mind.

With a smile on his face he returns the lighter to its owner.

“Thank you for letting me borrow this. Unfortunately it seems like this isn’t part of the scavenger hunt.” He hangs his head down showing rather theatrically his frustration.

“I see, well kid, I hope you find it.” The man takes the lighter and calmly walks away.

As the man has gone around the corner, Jayden suddenly jumps and pulls my sleeve: “That’s him!” He stops himself just in time from yelling: “The snake mentioned in the letter, it’s on the lighter! His means of destroying this place is by fire.”

Too tired to struggle, I press against my hidden earpiece and call for backup, giving everyone the best description I can of the suspect.

As we’re finally called back, the chief tells us that our suspects fingerprints matched that of the letter that was sent.

But a better investigation and court will be held later to find out what really happened.

I glance at my colleague.

I guess he might have his charms, solving a case might not entirely be beyond him…

Though dumb luck did most of the job.

But I still can’t get over his horrible sense of fashion!

[obsidianpen]

'I'm really excited to hear you're focusing on original work after finishing B&G! I can't help but hope you'll come up with even more brilliant ideas...help make it diverge from the whole Harry Potter horcrux thing into something fresh. Just say the word, my Lord!...'

For now, I’ll stay anonymous, my lord. I don’t have much confidence in my world-building abilities and fear my ideas might be dreadful, so I won't claim them just yet. But that doesn't mean I can't share them. I know you mentioned you would be working on it in the future, but I tried to cook up some ideas as practice.

Wands feel too handsy, and spells seem too wordy (not really). Why can’t intent simply manipulate or create something? I worried that might be too easy. So, for about an hour, I meditated on the nature of magic and what the most powerful desire in any world might be, eventually concluding it was control over time. Then I realized that timekeepers and chronomancers already exist, which felt too sci-fi. (I haven’t watched Loki or Dark tho) 

This might sound sci-fi again, but what if horcruxes represented the art of stealing life or vitality from victims? It’s nothing new, really—kind of similar to vampires drinking blood. I know it’s a bit lame.

I also got stuck on another thought: how would anyone manipulate time, artificial goods, algorithms, or media if magic existed? Perhaps there could be a school teaching how to control those things without being controlled by them, emphasizing that if we're trapped in a cage of artificiality, our magic would wither. Honestly, it turned into more of a philosophical exploration than a fantasy plot.

In the end, I concluded that if anyone can give magic in a fictional world the depth I would love to read about, it could be you. I'm sure you have plenty of imaginative friends—you wouldn't need me but that won't stop me from brainstorming, hoping to spark a little inspiration from my bullshit.

[I truly want to DM you, but my impostor syndrome holds me back everywhere in life. I've admired you from afar and would feel anxious about a one-on-one conversation. I understand that you can't discuss your ideas here, as we don’t want anyone to steal them. One day, I might muster up the courage to DM you. Until then, please don’t be upset with me. Ily.]

‘admired you from afar’ staaahp 😭😭😭 but upset at all, and don’t worry I’ll turn anon back on probably in a couple days ❤️❤️❤️ and i enjoyed your philosophical exploration!!

[takibikaen]

My top 5 Bleach women and why I love them: Part 2

If you haven't seen Part 1 of this, here's the link. https://www.tumblr.com/takibikaen/725767150684520448/my-top-5-bleach-women-and-why-i-love-them-part-1?source=share

2/5. Orihime Inoue ~ The Princess

Why?

She’s ridiculously quirky and really wholesome, which really added a layer of emotion to the series as the character who could be empathic with so many individuals. Her struggles and belief she builds within herself in her friends and Ichigo is beautiful to see through the show. She’s a human teenager who wasn’t built for fighting like her friends but she still tries her best to help out and genuinely has a good heart void of killing intent.

The Orihime/Riruka interaction is even wholesome when you find out Orihime calls Riruka multiple times after TYBW lmao

Showing compassion in front of those who wronged you or are against you is hard to do. For Orihime, it’s her nature to be kind and non-aggressive even to those who hurt her. It’s a sentiment that one would usually discard especially in a lot of shows. However, I see Orihime being this way as reaching out to them because she knows they’re hurting on the inside like Sora and Riruka, or that they need to load power over her like Loly.

Throughout those experiences, she’s been able to keep her compassionate nature even in the face of all this. Obviously, I could keep on harping on how this makes her stand out from multiple other characters, but I’ll try not to. Her Fullbring powers are to reject phenomenon and I see her nature as an symbol of that, where outside events don’t get to her even in dark times, that she keeps true to herself no mater what.

We As one: are not intertwined. As two: do not share the same form. Of the third: we simply don't have eyes. Of the fourth: we have no hope in that direction. At the fifth therein lies the heart. - Bleach Vol. 27

Ichigo’s conflict in the Arcancar Arc was centered around protecting his friends to the point that he wouldn’t trust them to fight with him or confide with them. Orihime also goes through something like this, which that she goes to Hueco Mundo without telling them, so Ulquiorra wouldn’t hurt them. However in her heart, she was glad Ichigo and others came for her and even had a moment where Ichigo’s mysterious Hollowifaction scared her. The very thing Ichigo strived work towards to protect her and those they loved.

I especially look towards her pacifist nature being clear when Grimmjow demands she heals Ichigo so Grimmjow can kill him at full power in a new fight. Complete opposite of Unohana learning healing Kido to extend her fights, right? That’s why it ends beautifully when Orihime realizes Ichigo’s Hollow power shouldn't get in the way of her trust in him to end the fight. She comes forth to listen to her heart and gets past the idea of no hope, the Hollow eyes she stared into, Ichigo’s masked form, and believes in those she cares about. She doesn’t despair.

To finish it off, her growth in the Fullbring arc is good to see pay off especially where she has faith in Ichigo to make it through, that she’ll heal him even if it gives him the opportunity to get hurt again. Plus, she even develops her Fullbring ability to the point where she can defend and reactively attack at the same time, thus keeping true to her nature while fighting back. Orihime is genuinely a character who I love from her quirky & kind nature but to also how human she is in dealing with things outside of her control, and her internal growth towards her friends.

Pink background art belongs to @rakusakugk on Twitter. High School Orihime art belongs to @srkbom108 on Twitter, and the black-white background art belongs to @Mak_ai_ on Twitter. Absolutely talented artists.

Sorry, but Tumblr only allows 30 photos per post so there's a Part 3 of this mini-series.

Check me out on Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Kirun-Uzumaki

[sourkitsch]

I have been seeing lots of art this weekend + I’m also going to see a traveling show I’m in today so I am filtering all my thoughts here. I’ll try to provide context. This is long.

So in order to deal with all my issues I have a very odd way of dealing with my self esteem. I do this thing where I find myself and my life disgusting and I love myself despite it. I don’t expect anything from other people, I am so internally confident in myself that other people’s lack of care/negative emotions are functionally irrelevant to me. It’s always a nice surprise when people do like me despite everything! Obviously this applies to my art, as my art is an extension of myself. My art is equally as disgusting as I am, and my current work literally is, as I’ve decided fuck it I’m going to be as true to myself and my interests as humanly possible. I like my art, and I am confident enough in my technical skills, so if I paint upsetting little girls 24/7 it’s not my problem if others can’t stand the content. They’re well constructed paintings.

So. A show I was in with some friends at school traveled to this mansion where rich people hold benefit events and we were allowed to sell our works with an extremely small commission to the venue. Like 15% which is unheard of even nonprofit galleries take 30-40%. I did not put my pieces up for sale. Why bother, when I don’t think others would even be interested? When I said this to my friend after the show had already gone up, his eyes bugged out of his head. He hadn’t priced anything less than $1000.

I’d previously spoken to a professor about selling clamgina, which I’d never wanted to sell, or even thought would sell because it’s my vagina with snails eating it alive, but I want to submit it to a show I was invited to in NY and work being for sale is part of the requirement. I had said something like “yeah I’ll just price it high and hope no one buys it” She laughed and was like “of course someone will buy it!” And I was kind of confused. Also, pricing it high was like. $800 in my mind.

There was another time too, where I was talking to the senior who has gallery rep at my school and he was looking at a current piece and asking me questions and we got on the topic of galleries. And I literally said to him. Yeah I don’t think my work is commercially viable. I don’t think it’s gonna sell. He looked at me like I had 5 heads and I was like. Hm well maybe I’m wrong I’m sure there’s a niche audience. I went to his show on Friday and he had a painting up that was going for $6000.

All of this to say I think that filtering my work through my weird self esteem coping mechanism is like shooting myself in the foot repeatedly until there’s literally nothing left it’s just a stump and I’m bleeding out. What am I doing to myself. My peers who I’m (roughly) on the same level as clearly see some kind of value in my work that is equal to their own, even if the art I make is not to their personal taste. I could literally start building my post grad life right now with that kind of money. Oh my god. I think I’ve internalized the Franz Kafka but a girl who paints thing a little too hard.