#kiko and rai convos

[siriuslysatorusimping]

KIKO TIS MY DAY OF BIRTH AND I HAVE A REQUEST TO CELEBRATE MY 26TH ROTATION ROUND THE SUN.

I DEEPLY WISH TO KNOW IF GOJO READ AND OF RINKO’S RESEARCH OR DISSERTATION. DID HE SHOW UP TO ANY TALKS AND ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ALLOWED HER TO REITERATE THE BEST BITS OF HER WORK. DOES HE CONSTANTLY MARVEL AT HOW INTELLIGENT HIS WIFE IS. DOES HE LOOK AT HER WHEN SHE TALKS BRAIN SCIENCE AND SAY MY GOD MY WIFE IS SO HOT SMART CHICKS ARE SO HOT.

RAI, MY DEAR FRIEND, I WISH YOU THE HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. A WONDERFUL YEAR. I HOPE THAT 26 IS INCREDIBLE. 2024 IS YOUR YEAR. I BELIEVE.

I MUST TELL YOU THAT I SAW YOUR ASK ON MY PHONE AND IMMEDIATELY GOT MY LAPTOP SO I COULD RESPOND PROPERLY. (pls don't judge my quick, silly lil graphic)

YES. GOJO READS EVERY SINGLE BIT OF RINKO'S RESEARCH. HE LOVES HOW SMART SHE IS. HE PRAISES HER BEAUTIFUL BRAIN EVERY CHANCE HE GETS. HE ABSOLUTELY ADORES HER BEAUTIFUL, SMART, SEXY BRAIN, AND HE LOVES HOW MUCH SHE LOVES HIM. HE LISTENS TO HER RANT AND RAMBLE AND JUST FALLS EVEN MORE IN LOVE WITH HER EVERY TIME

YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU SAID YOUR DAD USED TO TELL YOUR MOM'S STUDENTS HOW SMART SHE WAS? I HAVE AN INSTALLMENT PLANNED WHERE GOJO DOES JUST THAT WITH RINKO'S STUDENTS, AND TOUMA GIVES HIM A TON OF SHIT WHILE HE DOES IT.

HE SAT WITH THE TWINS AND YUZUKI DURING HER DISSERTATION DEFENSE, PRIDE OOZING FROM HIS EVERY PORE AS HE WATCHED HIS WIFE'S YEARS OF HARD WORK PAYING OFF.

HE GOES TO HER CONFERENCES WITH HER IF HE CAN, TOO. AND HE HAS LIL NOTECARDS FOR HIM TO ASK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS IF NO ONE ASKS. BUT SHE DOESN'T MAKE THEM, HE DOES.

HE IS SO, SO PROUD TO BE HER HUSBAND. HE IS SO PROUD OF HIS WIFE. HE LOVES HER WITH EVERY FIBER OF HIS BODY AND BRAIN AND IS SO GRATEFUL FOR HER.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN, RAI. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!! 💕💕💕💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Hi again Kiko!

So, I am making an 8 hour drive home to see my fam for the holidays and this song has been on repeat for me.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4iya38ctQ1httyA6NOG9oW?si=QfUk2RhmRjuC2Py2DWW8EQ

I know you have a specific vibe in music for Goinko but this feels like them rn, the whole world is their oyster and happiness is out there 💚

RAI, YOU SENT THIS SO LONG AGO AND IM SORRY I TOOK SO LONG 😭😭

FIRST, I HOPE YOU MADE IT HOME SAFELY!!!! EIGHT HOUR DRIVES ARE THE WORST.

in all honesty, this song is a vibe, and I actually like it more than I expected 👀 I feel like it's Physical Paradox Goinko 🤔🤔 maybe a bit of Another Level now that they're in their happy ending!!

I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR FAMILY!! 💕💕💕

I know you lost your grandfather this year, and holidays are always harder for me because they remind me of my grandmother so I hope you're doing well in that regard. My family had Christmas over the weekend, and my parents have my grandma's old dining table. I was sitting there with my nieces and nephews and thinking about how ecstatic my grandma would have been to see seven great-grandkids around that table.

Sometimes, I feel like Physical Paradox is me giving Yuzuki a bit of the life she deserved to get in Another Level. Rinko getting to have sweet moments with her mother always makes my heart melt 🥹

[siriuslysatorusimping]

How would Another Level Gojo and Physical Paradox Gojo react if both versions of Rinko felt self conscious about some weight gain? Maybe she’s recovering from an injury and isn’t able to train or move like usual and her body changes a bit as a result?

Also, how would respective Gojo’s react if they switched Rinko’s for a week? 👀

RAI, HELLO!

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ANSWER THIS SINCE YOU SENT IT BUT I KEEP GETTING DISTRACTED.

Okay, realistically, both versions would give their respective Rinko’s shit because that’s who they are but really they would just see more to love. BUT.

Another Level Gojo would definitely give her shit about being down on herself. We already know he hates when she’s too hard on herself, so this would be another case where he would flick her on the forehead and roll his eyes teasingly.

I think she would start getting a bit self-conscious after giving birth for a bit. Maybe a year or so down the line she hasn’t lost all the pregnancy weight because that shit changes you and also she’s not going on jobs as much anymore because she’s the Tokyo Tech Principal and all, ya know? Of course, Gojo still looks fucking gorgeous and perfect so that would eventually start getting to her. He’d remind her that he loves her no matter what and nothing could ever change that, especially not a bit of extra weight. Then he would grin and smack her ass and joke that her having a bit more weight there is actually a benefit in his opinion 👀👀

Physical Paradox Gojo would also give Rinko shit, but in a gentler way. Primarily because she would try to rationalize her self-consciousness away. So he’d tease her about the fact that she’s hypocritical for trying to wish away her thoughts and feelings when she literally researches the psychology behind a lot of those negative feelings. He would just hold her close and tell her he’s always happy, ecstatic even, to remind her that he loves all of her through everything and every single change. That she’s his most favorite person in the world and nothing could ever make him feel or think otherwise, even when they argue or fight.

Physical Paradox Gojo would also threaten to spank her

As for how they’d react if they switched Rinko’s??

While it would be funny and they would have a good time, both would miss their own Rinko’s.

Another Level Gojo would discover that he too has an insane tattoo kink. He would be a bit taken aback at how much softer Physical Paradox Rinko is, and how she’d look at him and be like “bro, you’re so autistic it’s truly insane.” I think the most biggest difference he would notice, though, would be her complete lack of cursed energy. We also can’t forget that he would jump at the opportunity to try and tame the brattier version of Rinko 👀👀

But, like I said, he would miss his Rinko a lot. Because everything that made him fall in love with her to begin with had to do with her deep understanding of the pressure carries, which she only understood because she grew up in the jujutsu world.

Physical Paradox Gojo would have no idea what to think of Another Level Rinko. He would find her incredibly sexy, but the level of emotional awareness that Physical Paradox Rinko has wouldn’t be there and it would be jarring for him.

Tbh, I honestly think Another Level Rinko might be too much for Physical Paradox Gojo to handle 👀 she doesn’t have a lot of patience for normies lol so I don’t know how that would really go tbh 🤔

She would be a bit harsh for him, I think. Though she might soften because of the innate soft spot she has for him. Who knows?? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

I HOPE THESE ANSWERS SUFFICED 🫠🫠🫠

AND I HOPE YOU’RE DOING WELL, RAI 💕💕💕

This gif is me presenting my answers to you btw

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Hi Kiko! This year has been moving really fast. It's Mardi Gras season for me right now! We are on spring break as a result and I'm trying to get a bunch of work done for my prospectus so I can hopefully be ABD by next month. I'm also currently working through a back injury that I've been managing since 2020- finally got the okay to start lifting light weights again :) And I'm spending my first Valentine's Day in three years single. I'm loving myself more than my ex ever did, so I'm actually really fucking grateful. Got myself chocolates and I'm getting takeout from my favorite restaurant tonight (they have gumbo soup dumplings and matcha cheesecake. It's amazing). A year ago, I thought my whole world was ending. I was in the process of realizing my engagement was falling apart and my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer. I was diagnosed with chronic illnesses and told I'd never not be in pain again. And while there are still rough days, I'm in less pain than I was most of last semester. I'm learning to really treasure my time with just myself and my cat. My parents and I are getting to spend time together just the three of us. And I got a cool shirt that kind of looks like the one you posted about Rinko wearing in Gokudō, soooo I'll be wearing that to my next cosplay convention :) Your stories genuinely helped me survive last year. I am so grateful I stumbled upon this little corner of the internet, and as odd as it may sound, I try to channel Rinko on my bad days. It gets me through. We're here to help get you through, too, love! Sending so much love and a metaphysical king cake your way! <3 Rai

RAI!! HELLO!!!

Mardi Gras is WILD but so fun lol

HAPPY SPRING BREAK AND GOOD LUCK ON WORK!!! ABD ALREADY?? Amazing. You’ll do amazing. I just know it. My best friend is in that boat now and it’s crazy to think about. (Especially since she’s literally growing a human inside her, too.)

I’m so, so, SO HAPPY for you that you’re loving yourself and building a better life for yourself separate from your toxic ex. BUYING ALL THE CHOCOLATES. YES. GUMBO IS ALSO INCREDIBLE.

I love that your life is already better than a year ago. I hate that you had to go through so much, but it’s beautiful how you were able to find your strength to get through it all and come out even better! 💕

I’m so grateful and humbled that Another Level and Rinko helped you. They helped me too. They saved me. This little corner helped save me. Realizing that something I created could actually make any kind of difference really did save me from despair because I believed nothing I did was worth anything and would never amount to anything.

Rinko is so fun and beautiful and strong and I’ve realized that many of my favorite of her traits are ones I wished I could have. Her courage specifically. Her courage in the face of so much misery and hardship and choosing to still be the person who loves and cares and is kind. I think that’s one reason people loved her so much. She’s not stupidly or obliviously nice. She sees and hears and feels the pain and anger and bitterness but still chooses to not let them define who she is. She knows that there’s enough hatred in the world without her adding to it. She’s not perfect, she makes mistakes and she gets angry and she sometimes lets those drive her, but at the end of the day, she still doesn’t let them define her entirely. They’re just part of her existing as a human.

Rinko is a beautifully messy human, just like the rest of us. We’re all messy and emotional and imperfect, but without those things, life would be boring and empty.

I started writing this days ago and I had to save it to my drafts because I wanted to dedicate enough attention to it because messages like these really do pull me out of the darkness. Life has been kicking my ass so hard. Everyone around me keeps saying I’m doing so well and handling things in the best way possible, but that in itself is so exhausting. I’m exhausted. To be perfectly honest, I feel so, so fragile. But I know that’s a sign of my strength because I get up every morning and keep going even when it feels too heavy.

Rai, you are a beautiful human who is doing so incredible and you are so strong for working to be better for you. I’m proud of you and I’m proud to consider you a friend 💕

Also, I’ve been working on lil chibi designs for myself because I want to use them to order a custom case for my new earbuds and I will share one of the lil Gojo chibis I’ve been making.

Admittedly, writing has been difficult lately. I’m in the mood to write angst but I can’t figure out what it would be and I also want to write the Valentine’s Day blurb so badly. I’ll get it done eventually, I promise.

[siriuslysatorusimping]

I just read chapter three of Summer Nights, and remember when we were all talking about Gojo and ADHD? The executive e dysfunction felt strong in that chapter- the way he rationally knew he should stop talking and his mouth just wouldn't listen?? Yeahhhhhhh, that hit the mark.

OOOHHH, RAI.

First, I am excited for you to see part 4 of Summer Nights because we're going to see a bit of that rejection sensitivity that comes with ADHD 👀👀👀 In my experience, it occurs the most when the perceived rejection comes from someone you respect or care about, and uhhhhhh, Gojo respects and cares about Rinko a lot already.

BUT BACK TO PART 3: THE COMPLETE LACK OF IMPULSE CONTROL?? THE AWFUL COLD WATER MOMENT OF REALITY WHEN SOMETHING FORCES YOU TO REALIZE THAT YOUR BRAIN CHEMICALS JUST FUCKED YOU SO HARD??? GOJO FELT THAT.

He really was trying so hard to be a good friend and all sweet and rational and his brain just went 'lol nope. it's horny time."

On another note, I'm really excited to explore how Rinko starts seeing those signs in him more and more as they get closer, being a bit softer with him sometimes when she knows he needs it. Like, I have an installment in mind for once they're dating or married where he's having a really bad day, and she can just tell, so she just cuddles with him and gives him tons of compliments and is all soft and it's just 🥹🥹

Rai, I am so, so glad you sent the idea for a professor au months ago because I really love this dynamic and I'm also excited for your thoughts on Rinko in the next installment. She has a lot of issues of her own, and I feel like the lack of her life being constantly in danger gives a lot of space for her to be a bit more bitter and angry about her father. But at the same time, I think it also leaves a lot of room to explore the fact that she is more similar to Naobito than she wants to admit or believe.

I LOVE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON BRAINS, TBH. IT'S SUPER FUN. ANY TIME YOU WANT TO RANT ABOUT BRAINS, ESPECIALLY GOJO OR RINKO'S BRAINS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE 💕💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Kiko I hope you had a great first day at your new job!!!! And I hope the shit weather we're getting in Louisiana isn't hitting your part of your state cuz boy am I not having fun anymore lol. I have 2 things to bug you with on this Tuesday morning- I do have a teeny tiny lil Goinko ask: I am so curious to hear Gojo's inner dialogue when he's watching Rinko fight. Like the genuine sorta oh shit she's tough, oh shit she aint weak, Jesus what a badass... I'm gonna fuck her xD The second- I have been toying with the idea of writing my own fanfic with my own OC and um... I can't seem to start. I have a decent idea of the general plot, no clue how it will end, but I open up Word, type two words, and then close the program. Idk if I need advice or encouragement lol but I look up to you a lot as a writer so I decided to make it your problem too 😅

RAI, HELLO! 💕

I did have a great first day! It was long and exhausting, but in a good way! 😊

The weather has just been kinda cold and foggy. Like, my drive home today was very foggy. Could barely see at all. But other than that, it. hasn't been too bad!!

YOU ARE NOT BUGGING ME BUT I WILL PLAY ALONG 😂

My answers are below the cut!!

Gojo's inner monologue when he sees Rinko fighting? 🤔🤔

In a few situations, he's super smug that she's doing so well because he knows she doesn't even realize or acknowledge how strong she actually is. So when she's just destroying something, he's all cocky and proud of her. It reminds him how much he loves her because she can take care of herself. One of the things he's always appreciated about her is that she doesn't let her insecurities or pride get her into situations that are too much for her to take. She's not arrogant. She doesn't show off. She's just there to get the job done. But that's what makes it so sexy to him.

So when he sees Rinko fighting, he's literally just like, 'That's my girl. So sexy and strong. I love her so much. Ass looks incredible, too. And she needs to hurry because as soon as she wraps this up, she's mine. Wonder how pissed she'll be if I just take her here-' because he's a horny boi who always wants to be inside her 😂😂

Advice for how to start with your fic?

Don't try to start from the beginning. Start somewhere in the middle, and work from there. The ending doesn't have to be established right away, either. That can develop as you figure out the story! But as for how and where to start, anywhere. Have a random bit of dialogue? Start with that. It doesn't have to stay in the end, but having something there will really help you. Write nonsense. Write ideas. Concepts. Anything to get those juices flowing. Because nothing is more daunting than a blank page.

Two things I saw recently made me realize that I already did these things most of the time:

Writing choppy, maybe cheesy or dumb dialogue. You can fill in the rest later, or not at all. You can change it up or edit it, but cutting and editing, or even re-writing, is easier than getting yourself to write the initial draft.

"You look like shit." "Sure know how to charm a girl, huh?" "You'd be more pissed if I lied to you." "True." "Still look awful, though." "Fuck off."

You don't have to put markers or indicators because it's a first draft. First draft and final draft are rarely going to match, and that's okay. Preferred most of the time, actually. But yeah, just toss that dialogue down to help you get started and then go from there!

Start with notes or random shit about what you want to happen. Some people put it in brackets to describe the setting, scene, or character's actions so that they can continue writing without being bogged down by the pressure to figure out the rest perfectly.

I'll provide an example or two from a WIP of the lockout key idea dump I posted a while ago. (I make no promises that I'll ever finish or post this, but it's the best example I could find that doesn't spoil a bunch of stuff for the other stories)

[he comes to ask for a key even though he's already maxed out his number of lockout keys. he ends up trying to lean in closer and she shoves a cookie in his mouth instead] - this one is a general idea and one thing I definitely want to happen in that scene/snippet

[fire drill in the middle of the night forcing everyone outside until the alarm stops going off. he forgets his key because he had to rush out while he was half-asleep.] - this one is describing the primary setting for the scene/snippet: they're outside, he's very sleepy, and he forgot his key.

All in all, don't be afraid of being random and choppy for your first draft!

I hope this advice helped, Rai! I'm afraid I might have babbled a bit... 🙃

IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU. I HOPE YOU'RE WELL!! 💕💕💕💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Kiko, you wanna know a secret?

Remember that anon that sent you the original ask about prof Gojo and Rinko?

Hi. That was me. I was scared of putting any identifiers cuz what if it was a shit idea? I just read the latest chapter and my heart swells every time I see updates 💚

RAI, YOU SNEAKY DEVIL 😂 WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT IF IT WAS A SHIT IDEA?? IT WAS GOLD. PURE GOLD.

I love Physical Paradox so much. They're so fuckin cute and sweet and dumb. And I'm so, SO GLAD you decided to send that original ask about them being professors 🥹

Honestly, Summer Nights has been challenging me SO HARD. 😭😭😭

Fun fact: This was the... fifth version?? Originally, it was gonna be a pool party, but I couldn't make that make sense. Then it was gonna be that Gojo saw the tattoo when Rinko wore a sweater with a lil peephole in the back, and then I had an incredible epiphany of the summer trip we've landed at! But I've rewritten it quite a few times... 😭

But I also had so much fun writing Gojo losing his entire mind. Pre-dating Physical Paradox Gojo is just a dumb lil fuckboi who really doesn't understand that he is literally already in love with Rinko 😂😂

I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GOOD NEW YEAR SO FAR 💕💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Also for Physical Paradox- Is there a point where Gojo almost gives up on ever potentially being with Rinko and just accepting friendship period or is he pretty set on winning her over someday?

Hi again Rai! I know you sent this yesterday but I'm a potato and am struggling as a potato to pretend to be human 🫠🫠

As for your question...

We're going to see a bit of that soon, actually! Remember, it took Gojo about a year to convince Rinko to go on a date with him. But he didn't spend the entire year actively trying to convince her. He still went on dates, and there was a point where he thought he might be okay just being her friend! But honestly, he pretty much always knew that his goal was to convince her he was worth giving a chance.

He's also a bit dense, so he didn't realize that the main reason she didn't want to date him was because she thought he just wanted one night of sex. Once he realized that, he realized he actually had a chance to be more than friends because he definitely felt like she was just it for him.

I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU FOR SENDING THIS ASK 💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

So, just out of curiosity and not because I'm projecting at all... How did Rinko feel in the early stages of her situation ship with Gojo in Another Level? Like it's mentioned that they would go weeks without hearing from one another and I guess I'm curious about when Rinko really found herself getting attached and if not in the early stages, how she got the the point that the FWB situation was comfy for her? (Hi, I'm in a fwb situation and it is nothing like Goinko, my feelings are hurt lol)

Hi Rai! So, forgive my hellish rant below that starts very abruptly... 🙃🙃

UHHHHHHHHH

Okay. So I think the most unrealistic part of Goinko is the fact that there was no one else Gojo could have fallen for. Rinko was literally perfect for him because she understood him on such a deep level.

And not in the sense that she was meant for him, but in the sense that she was the only one willing to understand him. Who wanted to learn who he truly was and see the person underneath the Six-Eyed god.

By the time she fell in love with him, Rinko was able to come to terms with it because she knew Gojo wouldn't end up with someone else. She accepted they would never be more because she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Gojo would never end up settling down with anyone. I think it would have been different if there was a genuine possibility that he could have met and fallen in love with someone else. It was likely unhealthy of her to do, but it was something that helped her cope. It was okay that he wasn't going to choose her because he wasn't going to choose anyone.

As for how she felt early on?

I haven't put too much thought into how she handled it early on if I'm being honest, but I think it's that she expected nothing from him except sex. She expected him to be emotionally detached, and she repeated to herself over and over that his actions did not imply feelings or genuine affection. But I think something else that probably helped was that she was almost always busy. She was on a job, or she was going to see Megumi, or having dinner with Shoko or Nanami... I think it was that she made an effort to fill her life with more than a relationship because she believed she would never have one. She shut off that possibility and convinced herself she would never have it.

After Yuzuki died, Rinko kinda gave up on ever having or creating a family of her own. It was the old cliche of 'love finds you when you stop looking for it' type thing. She gave up on a family, on marriage and kids. And then she accidentally fucking adopted a ton of kids and ended up marrying the idiot who, for the first seven years she really knew him, only wanted to be friends and have sex.

I might go back and write a few little blurbs because they obviously had conversations about how he thought love was a curse and things like that. I think that as they got closer, as they became friends, they had those talks and talked about relationships and why neither of them was really seeking one.

But the main reason it worked so well for so many years is that they were genuinely on the same page for what they wanted from their arrangement.

Things started cracking when they stopped communicating. And they stopped communicating when Gojo began realizing he could and did want more.

Does this make sense???? I'M AFRAID I DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE??? I'M REALLY SORRY IF IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE 🙃🫠

BUT I HOPE THINGS GO WELL FOR YOU! I HOPE YOU'RE DOING OKAY. PLEASE JUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR HEALTH, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL 💕💕💕💕💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Okay, Kiko, 2 things - First - I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion on the 'just sex' stores. Here's the thing- I have read stories that really encapsulate the fact that just sex is rarely ever just sex. In reality, you're releasing a shit load of hormones and chemicals that are associated with social behavior, reward, bonding, mood, etc. etc. etc. Does that mean people have to fall in love? No. But I love seeing that even if FWB for fuque buudiees don't fall in love romantically, they give a shit about each other either on a sexual intimacy level or a deeply platonic level. I'll eat that shit up. Second - with all the ideas you have for our precious Goinko, have you considered recruiting a beta writer or playing with collabs? If not, totally understand, but if so, I'm sure there's a lot of people who would love to help you make these visions a reality.

OKAY SO, THE INTIMACY AND BONDING IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE NANAMI AND RINKO IN GOKUDŌ. LIKE 10000000%. They care about each other deeply, and they're genuinely friends, but there are literally no romantic feelings there whatsoever. Primarily because Rinko believes she'll never find love, and Nanami wants to settle down someday with a normal person who isn't involved in the shitty Yakuza life.

I'd also like to think that the beginning of Another Level had a bit of that. They bonded, they were friends. And then they tripped into being idiots in love because Gojo didn't know the difference between friendship and relationship 😂😂😂😂😂😂

As for a beta writer or collabs for Goinko AUs? I honestly hadn't given it much thought because I'm such a perfectionist and control freak 🙃 I can be very nit-picky (it used to drive my husband insane when he tried to help with something and didn't do it the way I explained or wanted it because I would just end up redoing it myself...) so I operate on the 'if you want something done a certain way, do it yourself' principle to avoid coming across as overbearing or rude to people who just want to help 🙃🙃 (this is something I need to work on because it always ends with me being burnt out lol I am very aware and I'm making a note to talk to my therapist about it again because we've been focusing on other things for a while)

I'm not opposed to other people writing things if they want to, though! I am incredibly grateful that people enjoy the character and dynamic that I created enough to want to write them for themselves, and never want to discourage someone else's creativity. The only thing I ask is that if someone does decide to do so, please stay as close to Rinko's character as you can.

IDK IF ANY OF THIS MAKES SENSE. BUT I DID MY BEST TO PUT MY THOUGHTS/REASONS INTO WORDS 🫠

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Okay, hi, here I am oversharing on the internet again about my parents lol, but I swear sometimes they're right out of a damn romance movie. I was reminded of this a little with the Surprise Pregnancy trope and I'd love to one day see someone write something with an adoption aspect (hi I am an adoptee). Trigger warning, though, brief mention of miscarriages. So, my parents were never able to carry a pregnancy past first term and it broke my mother's heart because (beyond being a badass scientist) being a mother was one of her biggest dreams. I think it was two or three miscarriages before my mother decided she had to make some kind of peace with herself or she was gonna drive herself crazy. So, she decided if she was meant to be a mom, she had to trust that it would happen one day, but that she was also deliriously happy with the family she had with my dad and their goofy ass Bassett hound. And then, the night she felt she made this peace, she got a call from a student that had worked under her at the college she and my dad were employed at - the student was pregnant and had realized she wasn't ready to be a mother, was leaving her dick of a fiancé, and needed to know this baby was going somewhere that they'd be cared for and protected and loved to pieces. And my parents agreed immediately to adopt. And that's how I got here, raised by two of the coolest people on the planet and having grown up absolutely loved to pieces by my whole family <3 I'm not sure why I feel so comfy telling you my life story, lol, but you make it easy, and one day when the inspiration fairies visit, I may try and write about it.

RAI. This is beautiful. Your parents sound so incredible and I'm so glad you got to grow up with such a wonderful family because it also meant that I got to meet you! Even if only through Tumblr lol

I feel the same way about my best friend's family seeming like they can't be real. They've been through a ton of shit (like, a lot of shit), but sometimes they act like a fucking Hallmark movie, and I have told them all to their faces. They find it hilarious and have to admit that they agree.

I AM ALSO ADOPTED, HELLO.

My circumstances are a bit different. My parents already had two boys and wanted a girl so badly. My mom is a pied piper and adores kids (no joke. If there are kids around, I GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL GRAVITATE TOWARD HER). She would literally adopt every orphan in the world if my dad would let her.

They decided to adopt a girl and ended up doing it internationally. The main thing I know about my birth parents is that my mom was sixteen when she had me. But other than that, not too much.

I've struggled a lot with identity, but my mom is one of my favorite people in the world. My family is also very white and I am very Asian. So the funniest thing is that THEY WILL FORGET THAT I AM NOT WHITE BECAUSE THEY FORGET I AM NOT BLOOD. So, that has led to my mother filling out medical forms incorrectly and having to ask for a new one, and acquaintances thinking my brothers are cheating on their wives until they DRAMATICALLY point at me and go "SISTER. mEET MY SISTER. MY ASIAN SISTER." 😂😂😂

Which is also why I find the gif of the guy at a hockey game with his sister so hilarious:

I love that you feel comfortable enough to share with me! And I hope that you are having a wonderful day!!! 😊💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Okay I thought of one lol - I don't love the I must hurt you to save you kinda tropes. They rarely feel resolved to my satisfaction, they make me cry, and I'm constantly sobbing "WHY CAN'T WE JUST FUCKING COMMUNICATE?!"

RAI, I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW HARD I AGREE.

BECAUSE FUCK'S SAKE. WORDS EXIST FOR A FUCKING REASON. AND IF YOU CAN'T/AREN'T WILLING TO COMMUNICATE WITH THAT PERSON, THEN DO. NOT. STAY. IN THE. RELATIONSHIP.

I HAVE RANTED A LOT AS USUAL, SO IT IS BELOW THE CUT

Now, the issue here is that it's human for miscommunication to happen. But the difference is trust. And not blind trust, but trust that's genuinely earned.

But, and this is literally just my personal opinion, most of the time, those tropes genuinely don't make sense. Their only purpose is usually for conflict and drama. Typically, they involve listening to someone the characters would never listen to on any other day. And then at the end of it, there's no growth, no development, just an, 'Oh, that thing that happened, and I forgive you, but I'm going to throw it in your face next time we fight.'

The most common one I see is, 'My parents hate you and threatened to take my inheritance/your parents hate me and threatened to take your inheritance, so I'm breaking up with you instead of talking to you and thinking about your actual happiness/desires because MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING. OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS, YOU STUPID CHILD.'

And tbh? That's so fucking insulting. If I were on the receiving end of being broken up with for that reason, I would feel so betrayed that the person genuinely thought I was shallow enough to care more about money than a living human. And part of me wouldn't want to be with them anymore knowing that they think so little of me.

I think a huge issue with these tropes is that the pacing is always off. It either feels too fast or too slow. Now, granted, pacing is hard to get right. But what ends up happening most of the time is that forgiveness happens with no consequences, or the angst is drawn out so far that it's exhausting to read. OR, you'll see the classic 'I started dating their best friend and destroyed their friendship'

ACTUALLY, ADD THAT TO MY LIST OF HATED TROPES: We broke up, so I immediately started dating their attractive best friend because they were sweet and caring and there for me while I was getting over a super horrible heartbreak and all of my friends who told me not to do it are just bad friends and don't care about me and don't want me to be happy

Now, to end my rant, I'll say this: there's nothing inherently wrong with these tropes or the things I just described. Those stories are hugely popular. And there's a reason for that. But it just leaves a huge opportunity for stories with healthy relationships that have the growth and development and trust that isn't blind but built.

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Hi lovely!

I feel like it’s been a hot minute since I’ve bugged ya! I hope all is well and that you’re staying safe during storm season and trying to keep cool!

I keep going back to Another Level like it’s a comfort show! When things get a bit overwhelming in real life, I find myself always turning to your content. Thank you for providing our little corner of the internet. It’s an escape I will ALWAYS treasure 💚🥰

RAI, HELLO. ITS NEVER BUGGING. DONT SAY THAT ABOUT YOURSELF. SEND ME ASKS ANY TIME YOU WANT.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN??!! You said not long ago that you were about to be ABD?????

I’m staying cool-ish? We got a small cold front in my area because of the hurricane that hit Houston… Sucks for people in Houston, but the couple days where the high temp was only 85F were really nice for me 🙃

I LOVE THAT ANOTHER LEVEL IS A COMFORT FOR YOU!! IT MAKES MY HEART SO DAMN HAPPY! 😭😭😭 messages like these are things I will always treasure 🥰 they help me during those low moments when my brain is being an asshole

I’ve been a lil MIA here lately tbh. Trying to force myself not to check tumblr obsessively because it’s not good for me lol… but I’m still lurking sometimes even if I’m not posting 👀

Funny thing… my birthday is coming up next week and I’m actually looking forward to it for the first time in a few years!! (*cough* since before I got married *cough*)

I’ve also been so fucking tired from work because 40 hours in the office a week is really hard after being completely WFH for almost a year. The adjustment is crazy. I really don’t have as much free time to write as I used to because I have more work to do at this job and I’m also IN THE OFFICE around people who can easily see my screen 😂😂

It’s good to hear from you, Rai! I think of you often and your fun lil psychology facts always make me smile!

I hope you have a lovely rest of your day/night 💕💕💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Here she is!!!! This is my second tattoo but my first one is itty bitty.

This one is very much to honor my grandpa. Idk if the resolution picks it up, but the dragon is surrounded by Lily of the valley flowers, which are his birth flower. And there’s an old myth about how Saint Leonard battled a dragon, and everywhere he bled, lillies of the valley blossomed.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!! I love the symbolism!!

I love the combination of dragons and flowers. IDK what it is, but it's so beautiful and they compliment each other so well.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!! 💕💕

[siriuslysatorusimping]

KIKO KIKO KIKO I DID A THING!

I got this dragon tattoo on my back and now I’m so freaking excited to do another Rinko cosplay bc it feels like it fits her so well!!!!

RAI!! IT’S SO GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU!!

OH MY GOSH, THAT’S AMAZING. IS IT YOUR FIRST TATTOO?? DO YOU LIKE IT?? HOW WAS IT?

I love tattoos. I have four and I want more so badly but they’re so expensive and finding an artist whose style fits what I want is also difficult 😣

And ya know, Physical Paradox!Rinko has a dragon tattoo on her right side along her ribs 👀 (Gojo is gonna lose his shit even more than he did in Summer Nights when he finally sees it. Spoiler: he doesn’t see it until their first time 🤭) and Gokudō!Rinko has an irezumi dragon on her back 🐉

Another Level!Rinko doesn’t have tattoos. I don’t feel like it really fits her vibe in our OG story, ya know? I could possibly see her getting something that’s a tribute to Yuzuki at some point, but idk honestly 🙃

ALSO I JUST WENT DOWN SUCH A RABBIT HOLE THINKING ABOUT TATTOOS AND SYMBOLISM AND FFS I JUST SPENT AN HOUR RESEARCHING STUFF SO I GUESS THATS A GOOD THING. IM PROBABLY GOING TO POST A RANT OF SOME KIND SOON ABOUT SYMBOLISM IN RINKO’S LIFE SO WE’LL SEE

BUT CONGRATS ON YOUR TATTOO. I HOPE YOU LOVE IT!!

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Kiko,

I’m thinking of you. Please know we love you and we can be as patient as you need. We love this little corner of the internet. Please take care of yourself and know that you have friends on the web that want the absolute best for you 💚

Rai,

I appreciate you 💕

Thank you so much for being part of this lil corner. This space has been one of the few things keeping me going throughout all of this and I truly love it here. So thank you, and to everyone else who makes up our wonderful corner of the internet 🥹💕