#is catnip to me unfortunately

[sunflowermp4]

so obsessed with this little moment from ep 3

[quietwingsinthesky]

still thinking of the “like someone’s former prime minister” line for some reason. god he is so stupid. why’d he say it like that. why was that his dramatic reveal line. how long did he rehearse that. i need to chew on him until he cries.

[undead-potatoes]

I bought this game like 4 days ago lmao

[basingstokemercury]

Today in moments that are fun to pause on

[continuousmeowing]

the patient needs stories about unethical science and self destruction to live ,.,,

[wufflesvetinari]

lkwajelkrjewar fine. FINE. i'll do it MYSELF goddamn it

tarka was only good in 1.5 episodes in canon so i am not surprised the writers had no specific interest in "unhinged asexual from planet pound town" as a concept (thank you ruon tarka tag from 2 years ago lmao, i'm obsessed)

unfortunately, i am interested in "serious for-real character from risa, specifically." and i have COVID and my brain has run stupid little circles around the concept. my thoughts are as follows:

some of the frankly bad writing where various protagonists were willing to trust him and/or let him do risky things despite his blinking "I AM NOT TRUSTWORTHY" high beams could be attributed to risian pheromones--but not, like, in a sexy way. like a charisma bump in the rpg sense where the other person doesn't have to come out LIKING you at all, you are just more of a PRESENCE. stamets certainly didn't like him but look at the stupid experiment he let happen on the discovery for no reason lmao

i think this would mostly work on species with a close genetic makeup to risians, like humans--it did not specifically work on saru for instance. it also does not work on oros. i think Certain Tourists to risa have an idea of the pheromones as a kinky sex thing but risians themselves do not. it's just a part of the social language

it has been pointed out that 5 years in solitary is probably worse for someone socialized on Planet Touchy/Sexy/Expressive. tarka thinks of himself as Not Like Other Risians but he WAS raised there and imo the shot of oros pillowed on his arm would be within tarka's cultural comfort zone even if they are not romantically linked

speaking of: "Risians have a more permeable understanding of romantic vs. platonic relationships" is good, but to make it more Alien Sociology i think it would be fun if the species outsiders see as "fluid/open/label-less" instead just have way more categorizations based on specific feelings towards others that can be combined lego-style into each specific relationship: so rather than "eros vs. philia" we have "Type A Love + Type B Love + Type M Love and that's how i relate to my newest partner." and fifteen million definitional words spring from that. everyone just kind of knows them and the relationships do change over time

agree that tarka feels very asexual if you read his relationship with oros as romantic. however i don't prefer the read that this causes him particular trouble on risa. instead, it's the intensity of his relationship with oros that would be nonstandard/queer on risa. a risian would look at tarka and go "holy christ, chill out. balance your fucking humors"

[reginashorsepainting]

Never not rotating them in my mind

Ahhhh, Kaga arc. Truly the gift that keeps on giving.

That time Samura woke up and went "hm. I cast romcom tropes"

I don't even have words, though Anotsu has them aplenty

[badbuge]

started listening to s2 of prime defenders and I feel like my brain has stuck a fork in an outlet and I can’t move bc my muscles are locked up from the electricity and so I’m perpetually being electrocuted. but in like a good way

[genderjester]

U know what maybe ill start watching jjk

[maharlika]

had to put @recurring-polynya's tags out here because they're so good

#byakuya kuchiki#hard agree#i think he was raised to believe that devoting his life to being clan head/serving soul society was the most selfless thing he could do#so he's not really able to process anything as selfishness after that b/c how can you be selfish when you had to give up your entire self?#(do not get me wrong. this is not sympathy. he is very selfish)#but i also think that a lot of bleach is about how love is fundamentally selfish and it's what you do with it that counts#like i'm not sure it's byakuya's *fatal* flaw only b/c there are lots of chars in bleach (gin and tousen for 2)#for whom loving selfishly becomes all-consuming and ruins their lives and ultimately kills them#byakuya is literally just like sora--he came back from the brink of being consumed by his own selfishness#the redemption arc is in progress. he is still deeply insufferable.#but that's kind of his charm right?

my read on byakuya is that he receives little joy from his social position and feels confined by the expectations of his status but endures the responsibilities because he's accepted his fate. his stoicism didn't come naturally, wearing it more like a mask, while his true emotions get shoved down deep and anger is the one most likely to surface. his fatal flaw is his selfishness. rukia's execution is all about how it makes him feel. ("when you were condemned I didn't know what to do. honor the oath I made to my parents or the promise I made to hisana"). he's accepted rukia as his sister but his love for her is expressed as an extension of himself ("you pointed your blade at my pride"). the losses faced during the invasion are his fault ("I could not take out those you trampled all over the seireitei. I led many officers to their deaths. I brought sorrow to their families"). he does genuinely enjoy fighting and finds satisfaction in proving his superiority as a swordsman.

[cineatros]

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ masks & moonlight ୨ৎ Sophia Laforteza

you're catnip to a girl like me

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 batman!reader x catwoman!sophia ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 headcanons!

.ᐟ cw: enemies to lovers, injuries, violence, kissing

mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: the elusive thief who keeps slipping through your fingers, the infuriatingly charming woman who wanders into your galas uninvited, stealing the spotlight (and occasionally your jewelry) just to see that flicker of frustration in your eyes.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who loves pushing your buttons because she adores the way you try so hard to stay composed—until one night, when she teases just a little too much, and you finally snap. and oh, she lives for it.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who loves dogs more.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who keeps stealing your enemies in the dead of night, the charming thief who loves making your job harder because she is helplessly, attracted to you and absolutely adores the way you get so righteously annoyed every time she does it.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who is your greatest thorn in Gotham, the infuriatingly skilled thief who loves stealing your weapons mid-battle because she is obsessed with getting a rise out of you—and absolutely adores the way you get so adorably frustrated searching for your missing gadgets.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who always notice when it comes to someone flirting with you, when some overconfident rookie cop or a flirtatious socialite tries to get too close. when a charming informant leans in a little too much, she’s suddenly at your side, draping herself over you with a smirk that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. she would never admit she’s jealous, but the next time you see that poor fool, they look like they’ve had an unfortunate “accident” involving a conveniently misplaced tripwire—or a mysteriously emptied bank account.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: that always near your crime scene so that she could help you defeat your enemies whenever you get outnumbered.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who knows when you get hurt. the first to notice when you don’t move as sharply, when your breathing is just a little too uneven. when you stumble into your loft, barely able to peel off your cowl, she’s already there—silent as a shadow, waiting. she would never admit she broke in just to check on you, but the sting of antiseptic and the careful way she stitches your wound say otherwise. she never stays until morning, but you always wake up to fresh bandages, a neatly cleaned workspace, and the lingering scent of her perfume on your sheets.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who sometimes gossip with alfred whenever you're out of the house.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who gets pissed off—and unfortunately, sometimes takes it out on you. she always throw the first punch when her frustration bubbles over, when a deal goes wrong, when the world pushes her too far. she finds you on a rooftop, masked eyes flashing, and suddenly, you’re dodging her strikes instead of trading banter. she would never admit she just needed to let off steam, but the way her hits are controlled—never meant to really hurt—tells you everything.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: stage being badly hurt so you could take care of her.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who, despite her fury, she couldn’t stop tracking the one who nearly killed you. She’d never admit it, but seeing you so badly hurt made her blood run cold. Already halfway to Gotham’s underworld, claws out, she was ready to tear apart whoever put you in harm’s way. She didn’t need permission, didn’t wait to be told to calm down—but when she returned, anger smoldering but subdued, she watched you tend to your wounds. Only when you met her gaze did the last of her rage fade. She’d never admit it, but you were alive, and that was all that mattered.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: gave you a kitten to make sure you remember her everytime you see it.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who you caught singing on the rooftop of your building, her voice a rare melody that drifted through the night like a whispered secret. Sophia never sang—not in front of anyone, not even you—but tonight, the soft lull of her voice wrapped around you, lifting you as if angels themselves had taken hold. You weren’t supposed to be here, weren’t supposed to hear this, but you couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, afraid that even the slightest shift would shatter the moment.

˚୨୧⋆. catwoman!sophia: who, despite all your efforts to calm her down after a fight, still stormed around the room, her anger seething. words couldn’t reach her, and you were losing your patience. so, you did the one thing you knew would get her attention—without thinking, you grabbed sophia’s face, forcing her to look at you. before she could snap at you, you kissed her. it wasn’t gentle—it was forceful, raw, a way to take control of the moment. when you pulled away, she stood frozen, the anger melting from her eyes as she finally heard you, your lips still burning against hers. you didn’t need to speak to make her understand. your kiss said everything.

a/n: some random headcanon for catwoman sophia lolz. just read a spiderman!lara

[orellazalonia]

Chaotic Cat Curse

Summary: You were accidentally cursed and turned into a cat, causing all kinds of fun chaos for Bucky: destroying things, attacking his shoelaces, and generally making his life impossible. (Bucky Barnes x reader)

Word Count: 1.4k+

A/N: Will be writing another fic with reader having the power to shapeshift into animals, but for now; I’m testing the waters with cat and chaos. Happy reading!!!

Main Masterlist | Shapeshifting Shenanigans Masterlist

You didn’t mean to touch the glowing, ominous-looking artifact in Strange’s Sanctum. Really, you were just trying to dust it off and maybe get a better look. It was dusty! And pulsing with weird red light! How were you supposed to know it was cursed?

The moment your fingers grazed it, there was a loud pop, a blinding flash, and then… paws. Fur. Whiskers. And an overwhelming urge to knock things off shelves.

Bucky was not impressed when he found you ten minutes later, sitting smugly atop a bookcase, licking your paw and knocking down an ancient scroll with a flick of your tail.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," He muttered, staring at your tiny, floofy form. You blinked slowly at him, then meowed very dramatically. It didn’t help that Wong started laughing the second he walked in. "They touched the Soul of Bastet? Oh, that’s rich."

Strange said the spell would wear off in a few days. Until then, you were stuck as a cat. A small, fluffy, highly expressive cat who unfortunately still had all your chaotic human instincts. Just… furrier.

Two days into your feline vacation, Bucky had to bring you along to Sam’s apartment while waiting for Strange to “align the right moon phase” or whatever nonsense he was mumbling about. You were restless, bored, and determined to explore every inch of Sam’s place. Which led you to the kitchen.

And the catnip.

To be fair, Sam did foster animals sometimes. So technically, the bag of catnip wasn’t for you. But Bucky had looked away for two seconds, and you were already rolling on the floor. Eyes wide, pupils dilated, and tail puffed up. The sounds you made could only be described as a mix between a war cry and screech.

Bucky walked into the kitchen to find you mid-roll, rabbit-kicking the air like a tiny lunatic. “What the hell?” He muttered, only to freeze as you bolted toward him and latched onto his boot like it owed you money.

“Seriously?” He tried to shake you off gently. “You’re high off your tiny furry face.”

You yowled in mock betrayal, then darted under the couch only to return five seconds later to attack his laces with renewed fury. Bucky was trying to have a perfectly normal conversation with Steve over speakerphone while you turned his shoelaces into your mortal enemy.

“I swear, this is just temporary,” He said, ignoring your furious little growls as you pounced on his foot. “Strange said they’ll be back to normal soon.”

“Are you being mauled?” Steve asked, deadpan.

“No. It’s fine.”

You flipped onto your back at that exact moment, paws curled and pupils blown wide. You stared at Bucky upside down like a possessed Furby.

“…Okay maybe a little.”

Eventually, you flopped in the middle of the floor, panting softly and staring at the ceiling like it just insulted your mother. Bucky sighed, grabbing a blanket and gently wrapping you like a tiny burrito.

“You better appreciate this when you’re human again,” He carried your limp, purring body to the couch. You immediately drooled on his shirt and let out a happy little meow.

Bucky looked down at you with the flattest expression imaginable. “Never telling Sam about this.”

By day three, Bucky had accepted begrudgingly that life with you as a cat meant no peace. He couldn't eat, sleep, or walk around barefoot without risking a stealth attack from a small feline assassin with a personal vendetta.

This morning, he woke up to find you perched on his chest like a judgmental gargoyle. Your face was three inches from his, your tail flicking with menace.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” He asked groggily.

You didn’t blink. Instead, you yawned. A very slow, dramatic, fang-filled yawn, then delicately slapped him across the nose with your paw.

He stared at you.

You stared back.

Then you jumped off the bed like nothing happened, leaving him to question every decision he’d made.

Later that day, you discovered a mirror. Not a small mirror. A full-length one leaning against the wall. And you were not okay with the strange, fluffy imposter staring back at you. You puffed up like a Halloween decoration, back arched, tail three times its normal size. You hissed, swatted the glass, then bolted out of the room like it owed you money.

From the kitchen, Bucky heard the thump, the screech, and then the sound of something shattering.

He found you on top of the fridge, tail flicking furiously, glaring at the now-cracked mirror like it insulted your ancestors.

“Did… did you fight yourself?”

You blinked at him with absolutely zero shame.

“Right. Of course.”

Another time, you had discovered it completely by accident. Bucky had taken off his vibranium arm to clean the joint, and you’d been fascinated. It gleamed, it was shiny, it made noise.

So obviously, it had to be your new toy.

The moment he left the room, you pounced.

He returned to find you curled around it, swatting at the fingers occasionally. When he tried to take it back, you hissed like a tiny demon and chomped down on the thumb with impressive commitment for a creature with no actual fangs.

“I can’t believe I’m being held hostage by my own arm,” Bucky muttered.

You growled in reply and flopped dramatically over it, like a dragon hoarding treasure.

That evening, Steve even brought over a laser pointer as a joke. Bucky thought it was stupid. You thought it was the greatest thing ever created by humankind.

The first time the red dot skittered across the floor, you chased it like your life depended on it. You bounced off furniture. You slid across the floor. At one point, you ran headfirst into Bucky’s shin so hard he dropped his coffee.

You immediately launched into a somersault, landed on your feet, and meowed at the laser dot like it had insulted your honor.

Steve was in tears. Bucky was unamused.

“Stop encouraging them,” He grumbled as you launched into another full-speed chase across the living room, knocking over a lamp.

“They’re going to break everything.”

Steve was still laughing, holding the laser pointer “Worth it.”

-

You’d been a cat for what felt like forever, and while the novelty was fun (mostly for you), you were more than ready to be yourself again. Bucky had been surprisingly patient even though he was tempted to cage you in an upside down laundry basket a few times and tape it to the ground.

Today, you were curled up in Bucky’s lap, purring softly as he absently ran his fingers through your fur. For a cat, you’d definitely picked the best spot in the whole compound: warm, safe, and right where you could hear his steady breathing.

Bucky was surprisingly calm, almost… fond of having you like this, despite the chaos you'd caused. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” He muttered, his voice low and rough.

You blinked up at him, half-asleep, when suddenly a strange warmth spread through your body. It started at your paws and traveled fast, like someone was flipping a switch from fuzzy to flesh. Your fur melted away, your legs stretched, and your claws shrank into fingers. Before either of you could blink, you were sitting there fully human again, only much bigger, and very, very confused.

Bucky froze. His eyes went wide, mouth hanging open like he’d just seen a ghost. “You’re-“ He started, then cut himself off, because honestly? No words could describe the moment.

You looked down at yourself, touched your face, then looked back up at Bucky with wide eyes. “I’m… me again?” You whispered.

He reached out carefully, almost afraid you’d disappear again. “Yeah. You’re you. Took you long enough.”

You stretched, flexing your fingers like you hadn’t used them in ages. “Yeah, being a cat is fun and all, but I kinda missed this.”

Bucky chuckled and shook his head. “Glad to have my partner back. Though I have to admit, I’m gonna miss the little fur ball who kept me on my toes.”

You grinned. “Don’t get used to it. No more letting me near cursed objects, okay?”

He nudged you gently. “Deal. But next time you turn into a cat, at least warn me so I can get some popcorn.”

You laughed, and for the first time in days, the apartment felt exactly like home again.

[hellspawnmotel]

I’m genuinely wondering here, but you’re not like, wholly obsessed just with the weird route and all the creepy, forced on romance stuff right? I say this as someone who’s known that you’ve done a lot of analysis on the weird route and such, from reposts mostly of your art, and I just wanted to ask that cause honestly, you never know if someone who talks extensively about vile things that happened to children in media are people who want to just analyze how media handles such grave and sensitive topics or just genuine creeps.

I know that sounds deranged and maybe pearl clutchingly puritan, but sadly it isn’t like it’s completely unheard. Like, some creator of Fnaf fan game for example, dormitabus or whatever, made the purple guy a child rapist and then it turns out the creator was a groomer themself. So I hope you understand why some people are always going to have their guards up when it comes to media that explores horrific things such Child sexual assault, suicide, murder and so on and even just discussions about that, in case some seem to be a little to off-puttingly obsessed with it.

I understand your apprehension, I've been on the internet (and in the world) long enough that I've seen plenty of examples of what you're talking about. it's often really hard to tell the difference between somebody who genuinely wants to talk about and analyze darker topics in a compassionate way, and somebody who's just being a pervert about it, especially when the phrase "I explore darker topics" has unfortunately become something of a red flag on its own. there are lots of creeps out there, and they can be really good at pretending theyre not (so they can keep being creeps easier). which is all to say, I don't blame you for worrying.

I don't know how comforting this is going to be for you, but the truth is that I AM more interested in the weird route than the normal route, generally. I've always been drawn to stories about people going through really horrible shit, especially the ones that do that using a lot of symbolism and metaphors (i.e. alluding to real-world issues using absurd or fantastical circumstances). I've liked that sort of thing since I was six years old watching digimon tamers on fox kids and acting out my toys dramatically killing each other. I like irreversible tragedy and trauma and seeing characters cope in the aftermath, but portrayed through the lens of fantasy so it feels safer to engage with. so of course that's something I want to also explore in my own work.

I will say though, that the weird route's forced romance stuff in specific isn't what draws me to it. it's the fact that it combines a lot of different concepts and themes I'm interested in- genre deconstruction, fantasy tropes, metanarrative, gender, autonomy, doing a "this comfortable and familiar story but Fucked Up" thing, I could go on. I would probably still be crazy about it without the weird divorcecore angle. it's just like, catnip for me lol. but my main goal is always to use the things I love to enrich the lives of other people and cause as little harm as possible while doing that.

but really I can't convince you of anything. the choice as to whether or not you're comfortable with my work and how I express these feelings, is not up to me. that's entirely your decision and I don't expect everybody who looks at what I make to want to keep looking at it. that's the risk you take when making art of any kind. I can tell you sincerely that when I discuss or portray "darker topics" I always try to do it with empathy and understanding, and without exploiting the situation or people involved, but it's entirely up to you whether or not you trust that I'm coming from a decent place with that, and whether or not I'm doing it successfully is going to change based on personal opinion too. but even though it's your decision, when you DO choose to put your trust in somebody like that, and that trust is broken, it's not at all your fault. we NEED trust in order to function socially, and somebody betraying that is never the responsibility of the person being betrayed. the burden shouldn't be on you to sniff out when a relationship, even the relationship between writer and reader, is being exploited or misused.

if you decide to trust that I'm being truthful and I have good intentions, and trying my hardest to be respectful, that's a massive compliment to me and I wear it as a badge of honor. if not, I won't take offense and I'll keep trying to do right by these subjects when I create anyway. ✌️

[little-buzz]

Imagine being the youngest patron in the Hazbin Hotel

I needed to get out my idea because the Hazbin Hotel fixation is starting. I have my issues with the show, but so far, I've enjoyed it! I'm considered the baby in my friend group, which stemmed these headcanons in the first place. Anyway, I let me know your thoughts about this post!

Hazbin Hotel x Reader (platonic)

You were banished to hell in somewhat recent years, so you’re considered the baby of the group. You’re not treated like a child, per se, but the guys frequently tease you about it. Husk calls you ‘kid’ to piss you off, as does Angel. You’re certain they only know you by that nickname and not your actual name.

No one understands the references you make, whether it be from a meme or films. You consider it really unfortunate when they look at you weird or if Charlie awkwardly laughs at your comment. Charlie humors you with your references, but she still doesn’t understand your slang.

You like to spread some harmless mischief in the hotel when you’re bored. You have added googly eyes to the booze in Husk’s bar, which he didn’t think was funny. At least Angel found it humorous and Charlie kept you from Husk’s wrath when he realized it was your doing.

You like to play with Keekee when you have time to spare. You balled up a piece of paper and throw it for her to chase. You made the poor choice of getting catnip for her. You didn’t think Husk would react to the plant as well. He threatened you to keep his secret. Because you value your limbs intact, you didn’t spread that information around.

You force the group for a movie night, which doesn’t involve sex-related films (much to Angel’s dismay). You pick out a movie you think mostly everyone will enjoy. Charlie and Nifty are usually the most excited to watch the one you picked. You find the film hard to enjoy because Angel and Pentious are relentlessly commenting about the scenes. No amount of shushing from Vaggie will stop their annoying chatter. There is a silver lining though because you watch movies with the girls every so often without their presence to ruin the film.

[thirstkanaphan]

Casting Ateez in a BL (revised and expanded)

Purely self-indulgent and a way for me to draw from my stores of BL knowledge (see my tags) and procrastinate on my actual work

Hongjoong

Hongjoong doesn't quite fit standard BL male lead visuals, yet he has shown himself to be intense, jealous, and possessive with atiny (and certain other members), which makes him a good fit for a cult fave Taiwanese BL. I would cast him in a Lin Pei Yu drama as a lead who secretly and furiously pines over his love interest for years, leading to an explosive moment of passionate intimacy, only to then ghost the love of his life for five years in order to prove himself worthy.

We Best Love 1 & 2 (Taiwan 2021)

Seonghwa

With Seonghwa's ability to draw from the emotional spectrum in his art (sadness, longing, grief, anger) and his unconventional yet staggering good looks, he would be a great fit for a Korean BL directed by my queen Hwang Da Seul. A show about the cost of aiming for perfection in a society that values beauty above all else. Seonghwa would definitely try for a more authentic depiction of queerness in a BL and would not be afraid of playing a messy character yearning for love.

Bleuming (Korea 2023)

Mingi

Given Mingi's penchant for pushing boundaries and zagging where others would zig, I see him fitting in with his new friend Up Poompat in a high-budget Thai BL adapted from a Chinese web novel. A show filled with questionable/downright problematic tropes and an incomprehensible plot, yet with great ratings due to its flashy visual style and high heat. Yes, I think Mingi would have a field day and charm the pants off everyone on the set.

My Stand-In (Thailand, 2024)

Yunho

Realistically, Yunho has the best chance of being cast in a Korean bromance drama like The Devil Judge or Beyond Evil, playing an honor-bound yet impressionable rookie who comes under the thrall of a mysterious and dangerous older mentor. However, we are casting him for BL and I think he would be perfectly suited for a Japanese BL filled with comfortable and nostalgic vignettes of everyday life and extended scenes of one character cooking for the other. His handsome, boy-next-door good looks would make him the ideal romantic lead who quietly devotes himself to his childhood friend-turned-roommate.

Living With Him (Japan, 2024)

Wooyoung

Has there ever been someone more suited to a pulpy Thai BL? I mean this as a compliment, of course. Yes, these shows have a reputation for being little more than sexy melodramas with poor production values, but I see the vision. Wooyoung's magnetism, swagger, and confidence would land him a show produced by Be On Cloud with great cinematography and a high-concept story held together by tape and glue. That wouldn't matter, because Wooyoung would get every advertiser of ice tea and printer ink to fund the show.

KinnPorsche (Thailand, 2022)

San

Yes, I know San was actually used as a visual reference for a character on KinnPorsche, but he would be playing it safe as a nice, strong, romantic lead in a New Siwaj-directed Thai BL. Physically, he embodies all the attributes of a seme, defined as the active pursuer in the narrative. He is the soft dom of our dreams, and would gently yet persistently woo our skittish ML while dealing with the emotional fallout of an intergenerational trauma that threatens his happily-ever-after.

P'DEEEAAAAAN!!!

Until We Meet Again (Thailand, 2019)

Yeosang*

Yeosang is tough to cast, because we know he sees himself as a doberman while the world insists he's a maltese. Unfortunately, his angelic good looks and soft-spoken demeanor would make him catnip for a Koran BL casting director looking for the ideal uke (the passive resistor in the narrative). He would play a sweet-natured yet timed character with a tragic backstory desperate to be loved by the touch-too-possessive ML who has known him since childhood. The show would be inexpensive yet tastefully staged, with a soft and dreamy style. The chemistry would be awkward and unconvincing, but the visuals would do most of the heavy lifting. His co-star would dine out on fan-meetings for the next 2-3 years.

Cherry Blossoms After Winter (Korea, 2022) starring Ok Jin Uk, from the trot idol group SUPERFIVE

*Thanks to an excellent suggestion by @byemambo, I am also casting Yeosang in A Man Who Defies the World of BL, using their explanation:

Mob is easily one of my favorite BL characters because I rewatch A Man Who Defies the World of BL religiously. I know we tend to see Yeosang as this ethereal beauty or someone who defies the odds of reality, but Yeosang to me is one of the funniest and wholesome members once you really take in his personality and composure. I feel like even if he tries not to due to his wallflower and observant tendencies, he draws you in, which is also Mob's dilemma until he has to come to terms with his bigger than life presence in the grand scheme of things. Although he spends so much time avoiding the spotlight and desire to lay low, he finally comes to terms with how signifiant his role is in the lives of others, and I find that beautiful (even if the series itself is unserious in nature haha).

Jongho

This was the hardest casting, because Jongho is so emphatically anti-fan service. Yet his prickly appeal and fondness for weepy dramas makes me think he could tough it out in a melancholy Japanese BL. Despite a mean and grumpy demeanor, his big round eyes would fill with devastation as the person he loves is taken from him too soon, only to get him back with only enough time to say their goodbyes and learn something about acceptance and memory.

Eternal Yesterday (Japan, 2022)

I will happily hear your substitutions or recommendations.

[jesncin]

Hellblazer for Kids

I've already talked before about how a tonally authentic Hellblazer middle grade (or YA for that matter) isn't impossible at all once you recognize kids stories can actually cover a wide breadth of heavy topics too. I believe that even a character like John Constantine, whose "origin story" happens in Newcastle when he's more grown, still has stories to tell that precede that event.

Understand that “The Mystery of The Meanest Teacher- a Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel” went for the most commercially safe approach to "Kids' Hellblazer" for a lot of marketing and business reasons (kids horror graphic novels are a tough sell unless tied to a bestseller IP like fnaf/goosebumps, so they focused on humor, an american school setting, a Bailey School Kids or Teacher From the Black Lagoon approach, got a big name writer etc. they also went for the DCSHG approach where they basically shrunk John Constantine into a kid instead of talking about his childhood) but you don't need, like, sex/gore/swearing in order to tell a tonally authentic Hellblazer kids graphic novel.

Here, let me- a published middle grade graphic novel author- pitch you a "kids Hellblazer story" for fun:

John and Cheryl Constantine are sent to boarding school, think an oppressive setting like Miss Trunchbull's school in Matilda but with the whimsy of a haunted location like a manor by the sea. John and his sister have to take care of themselves but also uncover a nefarious occult plot orchestrated by the school principal- like a Series of Unfortunate Events vibe. John leads the charge and gets into trouble while Cheryl foils him as the one who "just wants to be a normal school kid". These two and their bond are the heart of the story as siblings who survived abuse together.

Add in John's ghost baby brother the Golden Boy haunting him as survivor twin angst. John notices the Golden Boy interacting with the ghosts of students who have long haunted the place (like Coraline [we don't acknowledge that author] missing ghost children, they have a terrifying quality like missing eyes or something to give the kids and their parents' nightmare fuel) and investigates.

There will be this overall theme of the principal allegorizing people in power abusing children to keep their systemic power, and framing marginalized people as unsafe to kids. Have a classic Hellblazer character like Ray Monde be a librarian (this will act as Hellblazer purist fans catnip or at least catnip to me) who John considers the only safe adult he can trust. All the kids and even adults spread rumors that Ray is a creep, but he's actually the kindest person there. Miss Honey type but drag queen.

John can have messy queer feelings like having a crush on a bully or whatever and Ray can be a guiding force that helps him figure stuff out. And probably say something gay that will get your book banned (is it a Hellblazer book if it isn't challenging society in some way)? Cheryl gets wrapped up in the occult plot as a victim and John has to save her.

It'll be a difficult read for how it talks about dark and mature topics (grief, abuse, internalized queer self hatred, etc.) while also being adventurous and fun. I can easily make you cry from a story like this.