#Feature friday

[kitandkatcreations]

It's Feature Friday ! 🦊🐱

Another wonderful project we got to bring to life recently: Miya from SK8 the Infinity. 🛹

Features: High quality fleece, poly-fill stuffed ears and tail (with squeaker), zipper, thumb holes, and pockets.~

🧵 Super comfy, warm, and fun to wear. 😻

[fashiondivablog]

#Feature Friday: @rayyyyyygun

This week’s spotlight is on this dreamy, vintage-inspired look that perfectly balances delicate charm with soft elegance. The white dress gives off a romantic, almost ethereal feeling and reminds me of LDR, while the black platform boots add a subtle contrast. The cozy room setting with rich colors and art-filled walls make this mirror selfie even more captivating. Total Tumblr goals!

Feature Friday is your stage! Want to be the next muse? DM me your aesthetic, outfits, and vibe, you could be featured next week!

[lifebyyounews]

MAJOR TIMELINE UPDATE Video

Link to watch the archived video on YouTube

The Early Access launch has been pushed back to March 5, 2024, in order to spend more time working on graphics, gameplay, bug fixes, and more. If you preordered the game through Epic, you will receive a refund and need to it preorder again.

Original YouTube Caption: Hello everyone! We have an important Life by You update brought to you by the GM of Paradox Tectonic, Rod Humble. Life by You’s Early Access date has moved to March 5, 2024. We’re excited to take this time to continue improving Life by You, and can’t wait to continue to update you on our development! We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to Pre-Order, Wishlist, and leave us questions and comments! We’ve added an extra bonus for everyone for the start of Early Access, the Nightclub Vibe pack. If you previously pre-ordered, your pre-order will be automatically refunded by Epic. You will need to pre-order through Epic again to receive your pre-order bonuses

Wayback Machine Link

[cosmiclion]

Always love your metas! I've seen quite a few fanworks where Yuuri and Viktor get together either sooner or later than they actually do or their relationship progresses either faster or slower than it actually does, so I hope more people find this as useful as I do 💙💜

The role of Japanese dating culture in YOI

Disclaimer: This post is based on my research on Japanese culture. If you are Japanese and note that I missed the point, please enlighten me. I’m always happy to learn.

At first glance, Yuuri’s behaviour is rooted in awkwardness, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Whereas all of this is true, his cultural upbringing engenders some of his demeanours as well. It adds nuance to his character and to his relationship with Viktor.

Let’s break this down chronologically.

Inappropriate physical contact

When Viktor shows up at the onsen, his advances weird Yuuri out. Viktor’s courtship behaviour is totally over the top even beyond the borders of Japan, but it definitely isn’t how things work in Japan. Touching, for instance, is quite an intimate thing. It’s rude to touch a stranger in the ways Viktor touches Yuuri. No wonder Yūri has a flight or freeze response and doesn’t seem comfortable with it at all. That having Viktor’s hands on his body causes a visceral reaction doesn’t help the matter at all.

Hugs are uncommon unless they happen between people close to each other, such as friends or family, and they tend to don’t last long. Long hugs usually happen between people who are in love. Thus, it’s a big deal when Yuuri hugs Viktor before his performance at the Onsen on Ice. Yuuri is very anxious and determined to make Viktor stay in Japan. He is desperate and doesn’t know if he can win against the other Yuri. And he’s super awkward, even more so when interacting with Viktor. This hug is a desperate attempt to show that Viktor means something to him.

Kissing in public is widely frowned upon in Japan, although this view is slowly coming out of fashion. Traditionally, kisses were considered a long-term promise—you don’t kiss if you’re not serious about your relationship. When Yuuri and Viktor kiss at the end of episode 7, this is very serious. The shocked expression on the faces of Yuuri’s friends and family reflects the prevailing reaction of Japanese people to such a public display of intimacy.

Yuuri’s kokuhaku

A kokuhaku (���白) is a love confession, usually phrased along the lines of “I like you. Can we start seeing each other?” However, there are no rules on how a kokuhaku should be carried out. Some Japanese get very creative or explicit in voicing their feelings. If you google kokuhaku, you’ll find many examples of successful kokuhakus and such that backfired. People voice a kokuhaku when they want to date someone. If the other person’s response is positive, they start dating and are in a romantic relationship henceforth. Just hanging out with someone you have feelings for doesn’t qualify as dating until you’ve voiced your kokuhaku. I like this custom because it follows a rule set that minimises confusion and defines what both people can expect of each other. According to my research, many Japanese start relationships this way, although more and more prefer the “Western” way.

Until the end of episode 5, Yuuri struggles with the concept of love and identifying his feelings. I believe realisation strikes him when he crashes into the barrier at the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu Regional Championship. This finally enables him to act on his feelings.

Yuuri chooses the press conference in which the skaters of the Japanese team present their season’s themes to voice his kokuhaku, and he is very explicit about it. Luckily, he knows Viktor is in love with him, for otherwise, his confession could have easily resulted in losing face as it was broadcasted nationwide.

This line is the most important part of Yuuri’s kokuhaku:

For the first time in my life, there’s a person I want to hold on to. That person is Viktor. I don’t really have a name for that emotion, but I’ve decided to call it ‘love’.

Note the usage of 自分か 繋ぎとめたい. As pointed out here, a more literal translation would be “Viktor being the first person I want to reach out to and bond with, and with those bonds, bind us together so that we will never part.” It’s a reference to Stammi Vicino (Non Te Ne Andare). If this isn’t a textbook kokuhaku, I don’t know what this is!

After this public kokuhaku, Yuuri and Viktor can finally start dating and get into relationship mode. Although we don’t get to see them dating, their interactions reveal a level of intimacy at the Cup of China, that leaves no doubt that they are boyfriends. It’s obvious to everyone around them, too. It’s mostly Viktor who initiates public displays of intimacy because, due to his own cultural upbringing, he’s less reserved, whereas Yuuri expresses his feelings in subtler ways. This turn in their relationship eventually prompts Viktor to instruct Yuuri to skate Eros as himself.

Like so many things in Japanese culture, love language is subtle. “I love you” (愛してる) is not that commonly used in a committed relationship as people prefer to express their affection less directly, although it is gradually gaining popularity. A key aspect of Japanese storytelling is “show don’t tell, but do it subtly and with nuance”. We see a lot of this in YOI, and those scenes say so much more about the love Yuuri and Viktor share than “I love you” ever could.

The (accidental) marriage proposal

Traditional Japanese marriage proposals are a rather formal matter (e.g. “I like to make miso soup for you every day.”), and this is exactly what makes Viktor assume that Yuuri just proposed to him when they reunite at the airport. The actual phrasing is highly ambiguous (and I believe the creators did this on purpose), so when Yuuri says “Please take care of me”, a marriage proposal is a valid assumption for Japanese people. And apparently, that's also the case for Viktor who has been living in this country for almost eight months and familiarised himself with Yuuri's culture.

By now, the thought that Yuuri might need to let Viktor go very soon is in conflict with Yuuri's heart which wants Viktor to stay by his side forever. He has already decided to retire after the GPF (so that Viktor can return to skating) and has successfully convinced himself that his time with Viktor is borrowed.

While we can't know for sure if proposing was Yuuri's true intention, if he was ambiguous on purpose to test waters, or if he blurted out the line because his desire to be with Viktor formed a subconscious wish to marry him - the moment Viktor takes it for a proposal, Yuuri's features soften.

He neither denies it was a proposal nor panics, he just blushes and smiles fondly, which implies to me that he is perfectly fine with the idea. Viktor keeps his response ambiguous as well and, taking the next three episodes into account, it's not a stretch to assume that he refers to both. (Interestingly, marriage would solve Yuuri's conflict: he can give Viktor back to the ice without needing to let him go as his friend and lover.)

However, the next episode verifies the proposal part when the two get officially engaged.

For a deeper dive into the translation and interpretation of the dialogue, I refer to this post.

Engagement party

Traditionally, an engagement must be finalised in a ceremony that the couple’s families attend. It’s like a dinner party with gifts and a presentation of the rings. Only when the rings are presented, the engagement is official.

When Yuuri and Viktor get officially engaged in Barcelona, they actually break with tradition for the sake of giving the rings an additional spiritual meaning, which is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. They create omamori of their rings to bestow good luck on Yuuri for the Grand Prix Final. Since their love for each other and their love for the ice are tightly intertwined, this makes a lot of sense. This post explores in great depth what Yuuri tries to explain very awkwardly about the multiple meanings of the rings.

Even though Mari is the only family member around Yuuri and Viktor celebrate their engagement in Barcelona with her, Minako, and their skater friends.

Final words

The evolution of Yuuri and Viktor’s relationship is driven by Japanese customs. Awkwardness, anxiety and his aversion to being pushed aside, there is little progress until Yuuri figures out his feelings and voices his kokuhaku. Yuuri values and adheres to the traditions of his culture, and he only breaks them when being heavily inebriated.

Speaking of traditions, I picture Yuuri and Viktor having a traditional Japanese wedding, including a Shinto shrine ceremony and kimonos.

2023/06/14: I've edited the proposal section based on a recent post that translates and discusses the airport reunion.

If you enjoy my meta posts, please consider giving my blog a follow or checking out my works on AO3(link in bio). You will find the results of my meta musings in there!

[aaaaaaafrogs]

Finally finished my most ambitious Hatchetfield project yet. Every box in the border represents a different Nightmare Time, as well as Hey Melissa, Trail to Oregon, Workin’ Boys, the BBQ monologues and Peanuts the Hatchetfield Pocket Squirrel. The three large boxes at the bottom represent the three main musicals. It’s 18x24” and made with sharpie :]

[angurrskurrr]

Summer on Friday the 13th

[cosmiclion]

Holy shit yes I’m so on board with this!!

Ok I’m super nervous because I’m trying a new community art thing called My Item Your Character.

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Why: as many of you can tell, I’m very much an item artist. I also crave art collaborations where there’s a more casual aspect to it and I got this idea. What if I design twelve garden themed witch(or wizard) hats and let other artists go crazy designing the characters around them!

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Who knows, maybe we can create a whole world together. I have no clue how it will work out but I felt it would give a different type of creative freedom than a DTIYS or inktober type thing. I’m very much excited to see what you guys do with it!!!💖😁

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PS: I plan to reblog as many contributions as possible assuming the challenge doesn’t take off like crazy lol.

[lifebyyounews]

Let's Take a Town Tour Video

There are two versions of this video. One version is higher quality without sound, and the other is a lower quality version with sound.

Link to the higher quality version WITHOUT sound on YouTube Link to the lower quality version WITH sound on YouTube

Taking a tour of the town.

Original YouTube Caption: This week we're taking a trip through town! 🚶Join Community Manager Rocio as she takes you through over hills, through rivers 🌊, and shows what is currently in our Town! A reminder that the game is currently in progress and the layout, buildings, and more are all in progress. Thanks so much for joining us on the road to Early Access in March!

Wayback Machine Link

[cosmiclion]

OH MY GOD I completely forgot to reblog this here I'm so sorry!!

To @cosmiclion From AO3 user Beautifu1Mind

[fatehbaz]

fuck work. anyway, watched this same turtle rotate in circles for an hour so that they too could better bask in the sun.

[ice-creamforbreakfast]

It's been a while as various things have been happening, but I'm so happy to bring you another Friday CC Feature! This week's goes to the incredibly talented and stylish @gilded-ghosts ✨

Ghosts creates both CAS and Build/Buy content, but mainly CAS, and their CC is a staple among the historical simmers, royal simmers and basically anyone who appreciates Agnes Crumplebottom for the icon she is.

When it comes to historical accuracy, Ghosts knows what she's doing and ensures that even the tiniest of details are covered. If you're looking for vintage CC or even if you just appreciate beautifully made, timeless fashions, this is the creator for you.

Top Three Favourites:

Del Sol Collection

Patreon - Free

Forties Film Noir Collection

Patreon - Free

Mini Millinery Set

Patreon - Free

Check out @gilded-ghosts here on Tumblr and on Patreon!

[fanlore-wiki]

Fanwork Friday: la petite mort (Barbie/Dracula story)

Described by the author as "a crackship taken VERY seriously", this Fanwork Friday we're reading la petite mort by howlingmoonrise (TheDarkStoryteller).

A Barbie/Dracula crossover fic, la petite mort is praised for keeping Barbie in character, while also making her human, and for having a suave, aristocrat Dracula.

Perhaps because of the unusual paring, or because of how iconic and well known theses characters are, the story has been highly recced, including by a youtuber, a high school English class, and a Reddit tattoo thread!

Have you read this story? Come help us expand its Fanlore page!

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We value every contribution to our shared fandom history. If you’re new to editing Fanlore or wikis in general, visit our New Visitor Portal to get started or ask us questions here!

[cosmiclion]

I knew about this but I finally sat down to properly read it and it has to be one of the sweetest stories I’ve read in a long time, you two are so talented! Every scene had me smiling and the overall story is so comforting, my precious sons 🥹💛💙

New Collab: Starting Over

I’d like to share some information on a little surprise that’s been in the works for a while now. I’m currently collabing with AO3 writer AstraLowelle on a Dadbastian fic entitled Starting Over, in which O!Ciel and Sebas take Alois back to the manor with them instead of leaving him to die, and the trash demon acquires another human foster child.

AO3 link here!

[hipsternumbertwo]

You have no control [Join the community!]

[wasserbombe]

Bill and Babe say GO BIRDS 🦅🦅🦅

[fetchrpg]

Every good RPG needs fishing... I guess.