#I started making this on March 12 2025

[thiscityneedslessfog]

Isn’t it better to hide— (INCORRECT BUZZER)

Persona 4 has a theme of convenience and basically choosing when to actually pursue things harder or just stick to what’s convenient.

The idea of convenience and how it can be destructive begins at the very start of the game with the negative effects of Junes on the town—people flock away from what gives the town identity for goods that are cheaper and easier to find. And you notice that people keep talking about Junes, but for the most part the same people keep buying from there—though, there are a lot of reused models, Persona 4 likes to use details like Namatame’s truck to its advantage. You see the woman at Junes who wants cabbages is the same woman who talks about Yosuke in Rank 2 of his social link.

Rather similar to the lyrics of the original opening of Persona 4:

Loading, loading, loading, quickly reaching maximum capacity

Warning, warning, warning, gonna short-circuit my identity

That second lyric has a double meaning—it’s not just about the fear of Inaba losing its integrity, but about the kids. Another thing about Persona 4 is how is shows the desperation of teenagers to be accepted by those around them, and how terrified they can be of living as themselves. See Yukiko and how Konohana Sakuya calls her out on not changing her situation because it’s easier.

The Midnight Channel Killings and the true Midnight Channel Killer

Furthermore, the game gives out numerous red herrings as to the Midnight Channel Killer’s identity simply because they’re easier to accept than the truth.

Kubo just comes out and lies that he’s the Midnight Channel Killer. But it’s so obvious he isn’t, if you’re paying attention. He’s not on anything TV related when he’s found dead. Even if you’re not a Persona user you can suspect something’s fishy. I mean hell, the police are pissed off with Naoto because she realized something was wrong about Mitsuo Kubo being convicted as the Midnight Channel Killer—the cause of death was known. Saki and Yamano just died out of nowhere.

Speaking of Naoto, she’s definitely a part of this because she thought staying in the closet and acting as a guy was easier than actually living as herself—a girl.

Namatame gets mistaken for the Midnight Channel Killer because he was intentionally framed by the true Midnight Channel Killer—he was manipulated by him into thinking the TV world could be safe, and the kids are so enraged by Nanako’s death that half of them try to kill the wrong guy. He’s not anyone the group is attached to or anyone who holds power.

Not to mention Namatame’s role—how he averted his eyes and didn’t want to believe that what he was doing was dangerous, a move he later admits was cowardly.

And the real Midnight Channel Killer? He’s none other than Tohru Adachi, the dearest friend of your character’s father figure, Ryotaro Dojima. You’ve seen him genuinely playing with Nanako. And he’s a police detective, one of the people meant to be working on the case, which is why he flies under the kids’ radar for so long.

Speaking of him, this isn’t the only way Adachi represents the theme of convenience vs truth and identity. Adachi heavily implies he believes in fate, and that it’s the primary reason why he isn’t successful in life, ignoring his own self-destructive nature that burns every bridge people make to him.

Furthermore, I see a lot of people saying he accepted Magatsu-Izanagi as himself without fighting him and that’s why his eyes turned gold during his fight. I don’t believe this is true at all thanks to Izanami’s words about Adachi. She describes him as someone who chose to "avert his eyes from the truth." To just fully accept it is entirely against what we know of his character—he doesn’t want to believe he’s at fault for his bullshit. He wouldn’t ever accept that, he's too proud. That’s why he blows up when the kids confront him!

And Adachi’s tendency to blame everyone around him is him running from himself and his own self-destruction. What I’m saying is, Adachi never could have accepted Magatsu-Izanagi as a Shadow, especially since thanks to Izanami kickstarting Magatsu-Izanagi as a Persona early, he never had the chance! And he needed to accept him because of how much baggage he has!

Also… remember how Adachi’s eyes turned gold. That was Magatsu-Izanagi bugging out and overtaking him. And remember what Chie’s Shadow, Tomoe, said when Chie rejected her? And the fact that the Shadows overtake and kill the victims when the fog clears?

Adachi took the easy way out—got a Persona without confronting it as a Shadow, and he paid the price. And he used a way of thinking that made him take the easy way out. The idea that everything was out of his control, when it wasn't at all.

It also gets covered in some characters’ individual character arcs, like Kanji, Marie and Naoto’s links.

Like Kanji, who ends up learning about how clearing the air would make life one hell of a lot easier for him if he just put in the work to clear the air in the first place.

Marie is afraid of the truth awaiting her in her memories, as she pleads Yu to stop during her rank 2 because “there’s no such thing.”

It’s not really a wonder Izanami discusses it and seems so fixated on it, especially since she’s incomplete and only the wish-granting side of herself. She described throughout her dungeon the choices she made as only being for the sake of mankind. She even mentions it in her dialogue as a normal gas station attendant.

And she’s not exactly wrong about how people work, we do try to pursue what’s convenient in a desperate bid to make our lives easier, everyone wants to make their life easier and better.

But the game proves how the truth is better for you in the end. First of all, Google human achievements now—see how literally pursuing the truth has made our lives better. Medicine alone is a perfect example. We learned about various diseases that menaced humanity, researched them, learned the truth about how they worked, and created vaccines and medication against them so we could survive. But second of all, see how things and people change for the better.

First of all, there’s the obvious not taking Adachi and the Midnight Channel’s bait and killing Namatame. By not killing him, you get to actually take down Adachi—the true Midnight Channel Killer. Because Yu gets everyone to back off by explaining that he suspects Namatame isn’t the real MCK. Because he isn’t!!

Second of all, in the epilogue, Junes begins cooperating with the local businesses to preserve the integrity of the district and to not close its competition.

This actually makes the Shopping District come alive, and helps Inaba begin to prosper instead of being a stagnant, dying town that also got almost collectively thrown into the apocalypse.

And in the social links, pretty much everyone who decides to go the hard way and live as their true selves are happier. Naoto living as a woman instead of remaining closeted, and realizing that "the misogynists and those who look down on those younger than them will never be happy, so don't try to prove yourself to them--you're still a detective and what matters is you're doing something you love. And no matter what they say, you're absolutely great at it."

Kanji succeeding to help his family business after helping clear his reputation after the little boy empowers him to do so…

And how could I forget Teddie finally choosing to not hide who he is as a Shadow after so much turmoil about it because he thought hiding it would make the Investigation Team like him? And it literally awakening his Persona from Kintoki-Douji to Kamuy?

The story and the social links alike support this: The truth is what pushes people forward. Not hiding it. The discovery and acceptance of truth is the key to human progress and prosperity, and Persona 4 understands this at a fundamental level. It’s one of the key themes of Persona 4, alongside the power of trust and love. but those two are for different posts.

[sturionic]

Donald Trump Is Not Joking About Annexing Canada: A Fucking Timeline

December 3, 2024: Trump's quip about Canada becoming 51st state was a joke, says minister who was there (CBC News 🇨🇦) <- This is when it could have feasibly been a joke

January 7, 2025: Donald Trump is quoted in a press conference directly stating his intentions to annex Canada (New York Times, timestamp 0:45 🇺🇸) <- This is where Americans should have stopped telling Canadians it's just a joke

REPORTER 1: Are you also considering military force to annex and acquire Canada? DONALD TRUMP: No. Economic force.

February 7, 2025: Trudeau says Trump threat to annex Canada 'is a real thing' (BBC 🇬🇧) <- This is where the Commonwealth starts to take it seriously

Trudeau suggested Trump has floated the idea of taking over Canada and making it the "51st state" because he wants to access the country's critical minerals. "Mr Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing," the prime minister said.

February 9, 2025: "Trump's national security adviser: 'I don't think there's any plans to invade Canada'" (NBC News 🇺🇸) <- CANADIANS NOTICE THAT THIS IS NOT A VERY STRONG DENIAL OF POSSIBLE MILITARY FORCE

February 10, 2025: Trump Confirms He’s Serious About Wanting Canada As 51st State (Forbes 🇺🇸)

Fox News host Bret Baier asked Trump whether Trudeau was right in telling business leaders the U.S. president’s threat to absorb Canada is a “real thing,” to which Trump agreed with Trudeau and responded, “Yes it is.”

February 12, 2025: ‘Trump effect’: How US tariffs, ’51st state’ threats are shaking up Canada (Al Jazeera 🇶🇦) <- This is where the rest of the fucking world outside America starts to take it seriously

February 18 2025: CBC releases podcast episode: "What if the U.S. invaded Canada?" (CBC's Front Burner 🇨🇦)

March 4, 2025: Canada Eyeing NATO Ally's Nukes To Deter Trump 'Threat': Candidate (Newsweek 🇺🇸), British nuclear weapons can protect Canada against Trump, says Trudeau party candidate (The Telegraph 🇬🇧)

“I would be working urgently with [European Nato allies] to build a closer security relationship… in a time when the United States can be a threat,” said [Canada's] ex-foreign minister and finance minister at the final Liberal leadership debate last week.

March 4, 2025: Prime Minister Trudeau: "What he wants is to see a total collapse of the Canadian economy, because that’ll make it easier to annex us” (CTV News 🇨🇦)

March 7, 2025: BC Premier David Eby: “We know the president in back rooms with Canadian officials has said he wants to redraw the border" (Global News 🇨🇦)

Eby: "If this president wants to annex Canada, he should save his breath to cool his soup, it is never going to happen.”

March 7, 2025: How Trump’s ‘51st State’ Canada Talk Came to Be Seen as Deadly Serious (New York Times 🇺🇸) <- This is where American news media starts to treat this as maybe possibly not a joke

March 9, 2025: U.S. Congress bill aims to prevent funding of invasion of Canada (CTV News 🇨🇦) <- This is where you should understand that military force is ON THE TABLE

March 11, 2025: Canadian opinion of U.S. falls sharply; 63% take Trump's threats 'very seriously' (National Post 🇨🇦)

March 13, 2025 (TODAY): Trump threatens to acquire Canada, Greenland while next to NATO chief (Global News 🇨🇦)

“To be honest with you, Canada only works as a state...This would be the most incredible country visually,” [Trump] said. “If you look at a map, they drew an artificial line right through it, between Canada and the U.S., just a straight artificial line. Somebody did it a long time ago, many many decades ago, and it makes no sense.” -Donald Trump

And hey, just for fun, let's contrast that with another quote:

First of all, I would like to emphasize that the wall that has emerged in recent years between Russia and Ukraine, between the parts of what is essentially the same historical and spiritual space, to my mind is our great common misfortune and tragedy...I am confident that true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia. -Vladimir Fucking Putin, the year before launching an attack on Ukraine, which everyone also said he was joking about and definitely wouldn't do (2021 essay, Kremlin official website 🇷🇺)

I know you're overwhelmed, Americans, but please stop saying this is a joke. Canadians are anticipating an invasion, possibly within the year. This is not a fucking drill.

[yearoftheotpevent]

hello fan creators!

Year of the OTP is officially back for 2025 with a new set of prompts!

we've switched some of the prompt categories around in an effort to make the event more inclusive of all kinds of fanworks. we've also included song prompts this year! the playlist is on spotify here.

we want to give a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the last event - it grew so much larger than we ever expected and it's truly amazing how you all took our last set of prompts and made so many wonderful things. keep it up!

a couple housekeeping notes: we will not be reblogging every entry this year. mods will keep an eye on the blog if you have any questions, but the reblogs were too much last time. thank you for your understanding!

we will be closing the 2023 collection on December 31. thank you for your continued participation, but it's time to look forward!

the link for the new collection will be posted here January 1.

we're looking forward to seeing what you create this year!

alt text below the cut.

Year of the OTP 2025

The Rules: the Ao3 collection accepts any /-ship works inspired by a prompt from this sheet The Challenge: make 12 works for one ship in one year, using prompts from each month

*you do not need to do the challenge to post to the AO3 collection, as long as you follow the rules*

January first kiss ♦ “may I have this dance” ♦ sharing clothes ♦ BDSM AU ♦ stockholm syndrome ♦ Strong – One Direction

February Valentine’s Day ♦ “it made me think of you” ♦ bed sharing ♦ multiple penetration ♦ mind control/mind break ♦ Like Real People Do – Hozier

March fresh starts ♦ “what are you doing with that”♦ florist/tattoo artist ♦ phone sex ♦ major character death ♦ Take Care – Drake

April pranks ♦ “right in front of my salad” ♦ running away together ♦ dom bottom/sub top ♦ raised to be a killer ♦ Drops of Jupiter – Train

May hanahaki ♦ “we’re dating? since when?” ♦ body swap ♦ magical sex toys ♦ stalking ♦ Paper Rings – Taylor Swift

June pride ♦ “I can’t get you out of my mind” ♦ relationship reveal ♦ unconventional sex positions ♦ paying a debt with your body ♦ Good Looking – Dixon Dallas

July vacation together ♦ “I like my _ how I like my coffee” ♦ kidfic ♦ mutual masturbation ♦ dehumanization ♦ You May Be Right – Billy Joel

August Sports AU ♦ “you’re thinking too much”♦ cooking together ♦ object insertion/ penetration ♦ becoming a monster ♦ You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC

September high school/college sweethearts ♦ “come here” ♦ date night gone wrong ♦ semi-public sex ♦ abduction ♦ Thinking Bout You – Frank Ocean

October costumes ♦ “boo” ♦ online dating ♦ shibari ♦ mutual non-con ♦ Mr. Brightside – The Killers

November camping ♦ “are you sure” ♦ touch-starved ♦ cockwarming ♦ abusive relationship ♦ A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

December holiday traditions ♦ “where are you taking me” ♦ bathing together ♦ food play ♦ tortured for information ♦ Everything Is Alright – Laura Shigihara

[whatdoyouwanttocallmefor]

More Than Enough: How They Loved Her (Stray Kids) (COMPLETE)

Hello, I'm planning to do this small cute series about richboy! skz ft. cutenormal! reader. It's just a short story part for each member but I really want to make it in a different post bcz.. hehe..

Niweys, I'll probably start posting tomorrow and it won't take a long time before I finish all the members since it's not that long.

Enjoy!

The Persistence Prince- Bang Chan

The Cold Prince Who Stayed- Lee Know

The Sunshine Billionaire- Changbin

The Artist Who Painted You- Hyunjin

The Clumsy Heir- Han

The Golden Boy with Freckles- Felix

The Quiet CEO- Seungmin

The Sweetest Pursuit- Jeongin

________

Date start: 7 March 2025

Date end: 12 March 2025

Thank you so much for the support and please tell me if there's anything wrong with the story <3

[bloomzone]

2025 #8 The Power of 3: Divide Your Year, Reclaim Your Time

Happy New Year—it’s 1st January, and 2025 is finally here woooooaaaaah. A blank slate, full of possibility. But this isn’t about resolutions. This is about creating a system—a life strategy that works every single day, not just for a few weeks in January. (This is my mindset rn !)

✒️..That’s why today, we’re talking about the 3-3-3-3 Method. Your year isn’t one overwhelming block of time. It’s not a marathon you burn out on halfway through(trust me). It’s a cycle of seasons—each three months long—designed for you to grow, adjust, and conquer in stages.

[You don’t need to control 12 months at once. You need to master each quarter.]

Why 3-3-3-3 Works

The biggest mistake people make is thinking success is linear. It’s not . Life happens in phases. When you divide your year into 3-month blocks, you give yourself permission to focus, recalibrate, and restart four times a year.

[Three months is long enough to see results but short enough to stay motivated.]

Four separate quarters means you have four fresh starts. No wasted time, no excuses.This structure keeps you accountable, productive, and adaptable.

Breaking Down the Year

Let’s go quarter by quarter !!

Q1: The Groundwork (January-March)

This is your foundation. These three months are about clarity and direction. You’re building the systems and habits that will carry you through the rest of the year.

Set specific, actionable goals for Q1—just three.

Focus on discipline, not motivation. Build habits that align with your goals.

Start small, but be consistent. Every day you show up, you’re stacking bricks.

Your mantra for Q1? “Brick by brick, I’m building my future.”

Q2: Growth Season (April-June)

This is where the seeds you planted in Q1 start to sprout. Now it’s time to double down.

Push yourself harder. Challenge the systems you built.

Evaluate: Are your habits working? If not, adjust them.

Stay consistent—this is the quarter where most people quit.

Your mantra for Q2? “I don’t stop when I’m tired; I stop when I’m done.”

Q3: The Grind (July-September)

This is the toughest quarter—it’s hot, it’s long, and the novelty of the year has worn off. But this is also where champions are made.

Stay focused on execution. Don’t lose sight of your goals pleaaaase I know u can do it

Keep your pace steady. This isn’t about speed; it’s about endurance.

Reflect: What’s worked so far this year? What hasn’t? Cuz we are not perfect!!!

Your mantra for Q3? “I thrive in the grind. I grow in the struggle.”

Q4: The Finish Line (October-December)

This isn’t the time to coast. These last three months are your chance to finish strong.

Tie up loose ends. Complete what you started.

Celebrate your wins, but don’t get complacent.

Plan for the next year. Use what you’ve learned to set bigger goals for 2026.

Your mantra for Q4? “I finish what I start. I don’t quit—ever.”

Tasks (ideas) for Each Quarter

1. Q1: Build Your Base

Identify three goals.

Break them into daily and weekly tasks.

Track your progress daily.

2. Q2: Expand Your Reach

Push your comfort zone.

Evaluate and adjust your systems.

Focus on consistency, not perfection.

3. Q3: Commit to the Grind

Keep going, even when it feels tough.

Reflect monthly: What’s working? What isn’t?

Stay disciplined, no matter what.

4. Q4: Reflect and Rebuild

Finish strong—don’t leave anything undone.

Celebrate, but use failures as lessons. FAILURES ARE TEACHERS !

Set the stage for a powerful 2026.

1st January: it's a Now or Never

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new year. But here’s the truth: excitement fades. Discipline doesn’t. If you want this year to be different, you have to act differently.Today isn’t about January 1st being special. It’s about what you do with every day after this. Divide your year. Build your plan. And most importantly—execute.Because when December 31st comes around, and the world is reflecting on what they’ve lost or didn’t achieve, you’ll stand tall knowing you didn’t waste a single season. You didn’t just live through 2025—you mastered it.

one quarter at the tiiiiiime!!

@bloomzone 📇

[fishnapple]

12 months forecast for your 2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is a general reading meant for multiple people. Take only what resonates and leave out the rest.

Your feedback is much appreciated. If you find the reading resonated with you, leave a comment, I’d love to know 🎐

About me | Masterpost Book a reading with me - KO-FI (→ personal reading)

WILLOW

January: You will start the year with planning and preparation for the months ahead. You have the resources and opportunities to make whatever plan you're having into a reality. The year starts bountifully, you might receive some money or see your financial situation getting better.

February: Lots of gatherings, family, friends, colleagues. This will be a social month for you. You will meet, work with, and care for many people. Family responsibilities could be the focus of this month. Home decoration or cleaning will be the idea you entertain.

March: Continuing from February, you will need to take steady steps this month. Things might move slowly for you. Consider things carefully before making a decision, especially one involving finance, health, family or your living space. You will want to work hard, to get over the grind, steady wins the race.

April: It seems your effort of the previous months will finally reach a conclusion. Maybe a project will end and now you can celebrate and relax more. This month will also be about socialising, but of the celebratory kind, you might go to a fair, a concert or somewhere with lots of people to have fun.

May: As you relax more into May, your emotional space will also expand and be more open. Leaving the door open to let more opportunities for connecting come in. A new bud of attraction will be there. You feel that you're ready to give and receive love and affection.

June: The bud of attraction will bloom in this month, you will meet a person that you find very compatible with you, or you will have the opportunity to get to know someone on a deeper level and feel a new attraction towards them. For some of you, a connection will take the next step, commitment will be offered.

July: Summer will be a joyful period for you. You will feel very inspired this month and begin to envision more plans for the future. You're excited to start, but this month should be spent for building a picture in your mind about the things you want to do with careful details rather than jumping straight into action.

August: This is when you need to start putting your plan into action. This will be a prime time for you to build more structure in your life, take more control and be more responsible, you might also be put in the position of authority or be the one who makes major decisions. You will need to be firm and stay clear headed, because someone or something will create a distraction for you.

September: The result of your actions in the previous month will show itself in this month. It will feel like a reward. You will feel emboldened to do many things that you've been shy to do. Life seems much more lively and colourful for you. You could hear some joyful news or you just feel generally in good spirit.

October: As the months get colder, your spirit will also cool down a little bit. Maybe the good news of September will now make you feel doubtful, you need to reconsider some choices. You could have a tense situation with someone and you don't know how to solve it successfully, it seems whatever you do, the outcome would be the same, so you will hold off making a move in this period.

November: You will become much clearer headed in decisive. You might lean on your rational side more when it comes to approaching situations. You will think you need to cut something out of your life. It might not feel good, but it's necessary. Someone will act a little cold or less emotional, they will judge the actions of other people. This person could be you, but I feel it's likely someone else, they might be older than you.

December: The way you act in November will help make this month more light for you. You will be in good spirit again, ready for a new year, with many things you want to execute. I see many hangouts with friends. You will have the opportunity to freely share your feelings and what you've been looking forward to. I also see a concert, lots of singing and talking.

ROSE

January: New year will mark a new transition for you. The cold weather will leave you feeling a little chilly inside. You might have to give up or change something that you've been familiar with for so long. But you realise that it no longer serves your growth, so you want to change. Travel could be possible for some of you, to go on a trip to heal or to get away from the stress you've been feeling.

February: You will feel a little uncertain about the change you made in January, you feel like you're going blind into an unknown future. But the freedom of endless possibilities entice you to keep going. You might find yourself suddenly being interested in a new project, a new hobby, or anything new, really. Some people will be there to welcome you to the new stage of your life.

March: The feeling of uncertainty still lingers, if not even more heavy than before. You keep being distracted by all the things going around you, your mind is unclear in this month, being too occupied by mundane tasks and respite. You will feel like there's not a moment of rest for you, that you're stuck in this endless cycle.

April: You will have more time to clear your mind and think things through carefully. You're unstuck and will now put on your thinking cap to strategise. A new information will arrive to help you. Every puzzle piece will fall into place, you will know what you need to do. This is the best time to make a decision or to start learning something.

May: You will make slow progress this month, but the faith has been restored, you now have solid goals that you will be working towards, no matter how slow it it. Avoid the urge to compare, just focus on your current work.

June: Help and support will come to you. You're not alone in your journey. A woman or someone with motherly qualities will help you. Children might be around. Also, you need to take care of your stomach and be mindful of what you take into your body.

July: I wonder if the person who appears in June will be someone whom you feel attracted to. You're a lot more inspired and joyful this month, like a new creative energy is blooming. Making yourself appear attractive to that person or just people in general.

August: There are several possibilities here. One is that you will get to see the results of your hard work and actions of the previous months. The other is that you will want to consider returning the favour. If there is something unresolved between you and another person, you will likely want to solve that unfinished business this month. The thought about commitment will also be heavy on your mind.

September: Whatever action you choose to take in August, it will have a positive effect on this month. You will feel fulfilled and happy. Maybe you will establish a more solid connection with the person you're attracted to. There could be a trip to somewhere with lots of water.

October: If you decide to commit to someone, this will be the topic of gossip for some people. Also, your work and what you're doing will be scrutinised. Don't let people's words get to you.

November: There could be a conflict this month. Either with the people who don't have great opinions about your life or an inner conflict. You want to do many things, but they all require your time and effort, so you will need to prioritise more.

December: A surprise or a secret awaits you this month. You could be aware of it through your own detective work or through divination. If an elderly woman gives you some guidance and advice, you should listen to her.

DOLPHIN

January: You might not start the new year with much of a celebratory mood. Someone might do you wrong, and you feel really stuck in the feeling of hurt and fear. You feel like you have the worst luck and need to be wary of the people around you.

February: But you will recover from this month, a new day has arrived. You no longer feel stuck anymore, you will slowly gain back your confidence. You will snap out of the blaming mode and start to take care of yourself more.

March: In an effort to turn the wheel, you might bite more than you can chew in this month. Avoid taking on many things at once. If you feel it's too much, best to ask for help. Don't be in a hurry and running when you're holding something.

April: The busy mood of the previous month will prompt you to take up learning management skills or skills that help you be more efficient.

May: Beware that someone might go behind your back, or try to trick you when you leave the door open. Selfish motives are there. You will want to be more discreet and not disclose your plans to people too openly. Some actions are best taken silently. Also, there can be a bad influence from someone, even if they are not intentional, you need to examine what you're doing with them is truly good for you or not.

June: A success or happy story will inspire you to make changes. You want to learn from examples, but you feel like you still have a long way to go. Be in nature will inspire you more.

July: You will be more relaxed and do things at a more leisurely pace this month. Though generally feeling good, you might be putting off making some major decisions, wanting to just enjoy the present moment.

August: Now the decisions can't be put off any longer. You will have to make a choice. The choice might be related to an emotional matter. It's not a heavy choice, and you're calm. You can listen to other's takes but don't take them to heart too deeply. It's important that you make this choice yourself.

September: You will decide to be bold in this month. Ready to offer your affection. You could start a new friendship or enjoy talking to someone more this month. Companionship is the highlight.

October: Festive feeling. You will feel more connected to people in general and want to go out more. Picnics, camping, and parties are around the corner. You will also feel the urge to join a community, a different world from your usual interactions. The community could be about shared interest, you will feel that you really belong there.

November: A new opportunity for financial gain or career achievement is there. It may be something you've been eyeing for a while but feel too unprepared for. But in this month, you will feel just right, that you're capable of more. Cooking and eating will bring a lot of joy to you.

December: You are finally able to grasp what you wished for and more. This chance is fleeting and doesn't come often, so be sure to keep your eyes open and catch it. You will also feel more playful and adventurous, so take good care of your health to enjoy this moment.

CORAL

January: Someone will be there to support you, they're generous and very warm. When you feel uncertain and frail, they will give you the right dose of affection that will get your strength back. In turn, when you see people who are in the same difficult situation as yours, you will want to act similar to that supportive person.

February: You will get inspired by the person from January and want to emulate their way of living. You look up to this person and want to chart your life in the same direction as theirs. This month will be a crucial step that can determine the course of the following months for you.

March: You will look around to see what you're lacking, what needs to be improved, what you have, what you can offer. Though you feel that you're not yet at a comfortable level, you're hopeful. You might embark on a new journey in this month with a mentality of a student, still have many things to learn.

April: Whatever you're doing, some people will not react kindly to that. You might face ridicule or outright bullying behaviour. Being timid and silent won't help you in this case, you're asked to stand up for yourself more.

May: Either you're fed up and start to come to your power, or someone with more power will intervene and protect you. Their energy is very soft yet protective. You're safe with them. Similarly, you will want to nurture a softer side of yours, let your ideas feel safe enough to run freely.

June: This will be a busy month for you. You have so many things you want to do and are asked of. Proper planning is needed if you don't want to see everything stays in WIP status. Also, be mindful and focused when you're driving and travelling to avoid any accidents. Don't put yourself in a hurry mode.

July: It seems the effort you spent in the previous month won't be paid off well in this month, you feel like you've wasted a lot of time and effort only to see things crumble. Which begs the question, is your foundation solid? Think carefully about what you invest in. Also, pay attention to your living space to avoid leaks, floods, or appliances malfunctioning.

August: Another busy month, this time, you will start to learn to balance things more, you will still do many things at once but you're getting the hang of it and be more skilful, make sure to surround yourself with supportive people. You still need to be careful when travelling, though.

September: You seem to have mastered the art of balancing. You're extra patient this month and willing to take a slower and more sustainable approach. You will also care more about your overall health and want to cut out unhealthy habits. Green juice and nature will do wonders for you in this period. Avoid any excessive behaviour, whether it's in the name of health, betterment, or work.

October: I see a potential lover on the horizon, or someone who can work with you effortlessly, a match for you, whether it's a romantic, platonic, or professional connection. You will want to adorn yourself more beautifully, pay attention to the beauty surrounding you. Rose and butterfly might be symbolic.

November: If the person you meet in October is a romantic potential, you might have some competition there. Also, you will feel a little conflicted about them, like you're not sure what exactly your intention is, or you have so many things you want to do that it's hard to organise the schedule.

December: I see that you will stay home a lot in this month, or prefer to be in solitude, which is probably what you need. To gather your thoughts and do some soul searching. You might want to search for new reading materials. Don't stay up late too much.

[evertidings]

— MARCH 2025.

Accomplishments.

What a month, huh? I glanced back at my update for February and wow, I really did not accomplish much in that month. In all fairness, I had a lot going on, but hey! That means my March update in comparison looks really good lol.

We’re already a third of the way through April by the time I’m writing this, so I’m a little late (when am I not, really?) but because of that, I can confidently say that the writing portion of Chapter 12 is nearly done! I was powering through it for most of March and now I’m slowly pushing through to the end; it’ll probably be done sometime this week, if everything goes well. After that comes editing, which is always the most frustrating part of doing this for me.

Because I’ve been working on this for so long, some of the chapter was written as early as October 2024, which, when you have my short-term memory, can be pretty bad. It’s kind of amusing when I stumble upon information that I already wrote at the beginning of the chapter, repeated again at the end because I forgot I mentioned it. That usually means more work for me though, since I have to cut it out and fill the empty space leftover, so you can imagine that I’m not very excited to start proofreading.

But, onto happier things. In terms of chapter content, I think this is the most RO-centric chapter I’ve ever written. I might have gone overboard, but there are three separate scenes with the RO of your choice. Some scenes are shorter than others, of course, but I’ve never fit so many in a chapter—it’s kind of exciting. It also makes sense since the romance lock is very soon (I may or may not have a chapter planned for it and am just keeping my lips locked), so I want you to have as much time possible with your potential choices. All of them are unique in their own way, though admittedly similar. Even so, I feel like they all make sense considering the content of the chapter and honestly, I doubt any of you will complain haha. They’re nice to have.

It’s a nice reprieve to the heaviness that Eliana brings to the chapter. I know she’s my character, but she’s honestly taken on a mind of her own and evolved so much throughout the writing process. My goal was to make her difficult to understand and, well, it seems like I successfully accomplished that. Aside from Sebastian, she’s probably been my favourite figurehead-like character to write. Her intrigue makes her so interesting, especially since she doesn’t like showing all her cards from the beginning. It’ll be a while until you’re able to put a finger on her character.

But, you’ll find that out soon! I know I said I wanted to put Chapter 12 out this month, and I could if I worked myself to the bone, but I think pushing it to Early May (first week or so) is best. In the past, I’ve given myself very little time to edit and code the chapter once it’s written out and it’s stressed me out a lot. For something that is supposed to be a hobby, I’m very harsh on myself with deadlines and I don’t think it’s fair for me to lose sleep over this, so, hopefully, you all understand. I’ll keep you all updated if I do manage to push the date up though and, of course, there’ll be an announcement once a date is official.

With that said, I hope you’re all taking care of yourselves and have a wonderful April!

Stats.

Chapter Total: 55,738 words (+14,113)

Game Total: ~567,170

[zosin-ya]

Topic 8 - [ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ɪɴᴅᴇx]

Summary: Surviving on instant noodles, you order takeout in the middle of exam prep—what you didn’t expect was your delivery guy to be a ridiculously hot, tattooed biker. Even more surprising? He’s a fellow med student at your university. As good as it sounded, he had a complicated past with an obsessive Ex who starts to target you.

tags.: One Piece, Law x Reader, SFW & NSFW, slow burn romance, Modern AU, Penguin and Shachi as flatmates, fashion-designer uncle Corazon, Laws parents, Laws crazy Ex, Strawhats as your friends (+ Bonney), protective Law, mentioned of his dead sister, also mentions of Laws trauma

a.n.: I pulled this story out of my ass and it’s rather spontaneous how I write the story. If you have ideas, I’m open to them 🖤

status: [ongoing] last updated March 14th 2025

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 1 - ʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ

An awkward encounter with the handsome delivery guy, who hardly speaks to you, yet somehow makes your heart skip a beat with his pretty face.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 2 - ɪᴄᴇ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴇʀ

Law was at your door once again, this time out of breath and visibly stressed. You offer him something to drink, which sparks a conversation that eventually leads to an exchange of numbers.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 3 - ꜱᴛᴜᴅʏ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ

At the café, you met up for a study date and saw a more relaxed, yet still exhausted, side of Law. Penguin showed up, clearly curious as to why Law was hanging out with someone from his university—especially since he rarely spent time with those people.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 4 - ʙᴏʏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ

Penguin couldn't keep his mouth shut about Law meeting you, which led him and Shachi to bombard him with questions. It was just a study date, right? No big deal. His flatmates quickly realized how oblivious he was. Or was he just denying any meaning, trying to protect himself from another crazy relationship.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 5 - ʟᴀᴛᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ꜰᴜɴ

Law invites you to a party, and after a few drinks, the two of you start to loosen up around each other. So much that the bathroom becomes a short lived make out spot.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 6 - ʟᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʟᴏᴏꜱᴇ (n.sfw)

After you forgot your keys at home and had no where to stay, Law casually offers his apartment for the night without any second intentions. Though the heat from the make out session still lingering in the air.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 7 - ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ɪᴛ (n.sfw)

You meet Laws kind-hearted uncle, Rosinante, and learn more about his complex family history. What was supposed to be a casual, cozy game night with Law quickly takes an unexpected and more intimate turn.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 8 - ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜ�� ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀᴍᴇɴᴛ

A girl you've never met before, starts a chit chat with you during an uni event, you being immediately drawn in by her friendly, outgoing nature. Before you knew it, she invited you to a small party where she hinted you could make some valuable connections. Little did you realize, networking with a biker gang wasn’t exactly what you had in mind for boosting your CV.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 9 - ᴄʜᴀᴏᴛɪᴄ ɢᴀɴɢ

You dearly needed a girl's night with your friends after all what had happened. Law came to pick you up, yet got dragged into the chaos of a spontaneous party with your friends. Someone save this guy.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 10 - ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴇ? n.sfw)

This day should have been special, with you and Law celebrating your academic milestone together with friends and family. Yet, Laws private and closed off personality shots back at him, causing you to break down.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 11 - ʙᴜʀᴅᴇɴ

It had been weeks since you had talked to Law, feeling drained from the past events. You needed time to figure the relationship out, which caused you to run away from talking completely and be confronted with a storm, none of you were ready to face.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 12 - ɴᴇᴡ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴꜱ (n.sfw)

Trying to mend the damage he had caused, Law makes an effort to open up to you this time. He shared pieces of his past, including hobbies he’d long buried. He never anticipated that attending Zoro’s Kendo tournament with you would reignite an old spark within him—or that it would stir a newfound desire to impress you.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 13 - ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇꜱ ᴏʀ ᴀʟʟɪᴇꜱ

Two unexpected intruders—familiar faces no less—show up at your door, shocked to find you inside. Hired to break into what turned out to be the wrong apartment, Kid and Killer aren’t prepared for your defiance. Mustering all the courage you have, you scare them off and waste no time alerting Law, who doesn’t take kindly to their mistake and pays them a visit.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 14 - ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ (n.sfw)

You call an emergency meeting with your friends to figure out how to deal with Law’s unhinged ex—who crossed the line by sending two punks to break into your home. The discussion quickly turns chaotic, with no real solution in sight. But amidst the frustration and tension, something shifts. The situation brings out a side of you that no one, not even you, had fully realized before.

[tavyliasin]

BG3 2025 Creative Challenge!

Baldur's Gate 3 Fandom Artists, Writers, and Creatives!

I would like to invite you to a year of prompts to create whatever you would like! SFW, NSFW, whatever medium you would like to create in, the choice is yours! The idea is that we have on prompt per month so it should be easier to follow along without becoming overloaded. You don't have to create something specifically for the event either - if you have a WIP or other work you're publishing that month that fits the description you are more than welcome to add that in! I'll make a new post at the start of each month with the details of that month's challenge prompt, but this will be our masterpost to start the year off with a bang. Details below the cut!

The Year Of Prompts

January - New Year New You Pick a new character, trope, or pairing. Something you haven’t tried before. Make it a challenge to do something new and different! February - Romance Novels Go for something romantic, or if romance isn’t your cup of tea try something around the Necromancy of Thay instead! March - Marching Forwards March to your goal to finish a WIP or LongFic, or March into a new world by making something in an AU! April - Fools Rush In Make something humorous, something fun, whether it’s based on a meme or a joke pairing or just something with a bit more whimsy and some laughs~ May - Maybe? What If? Reverse a trope or reimagine a part of the canon - what if things were different? 

June - June Bugs Create something centred around a game glitch or exploit, past or present! July - Why Would July To Me? A piece around lies, deceptions, and other ways the truth can be twisted or obscured. August - When In Rome… A piece themed around the customs of specific races, backgrounds, regions, or Guilds. Are they followed or broken? That’s up to you! September - Seven Deadly Sins Pick one, or more, of the classic “seven deadly sins” and see how that can relate to one or more characters or tropes. October - Days of the Dead Create something around a character death, a memorial, a lingering ghost, or find a way a character might cheat their death or be brought back from it~ 

November - Gnomevember Either create something centred on Gnome characters from the game, or the other story points around them (Steel Watch, Iron Throne, Runepowder, etc) December - Season of Giving Create a surprise gift for someone in fandom, or write a piece around a gift being given by or to a character or characters!

Rules

The rules are very simple!

Create your piece in 2025, preferably within the prompt month but if you post a little early or late that's fine too!

All pieces must be your creations or a collaboration - No AI or chatbot content

You are free to work in whatever medium you like for each and every prompt!

Set your own goal - you can do a short 100-500 word minific, some simple sketches, or write a whole 10k word one shot epic, or draw a full page comic. What matters is that it's a goal YOU want to achieve!

There will be options to submit prompts and fill prompts in the AO3 collections - this is entirely your choice! You can take a prompt if you like, work on something you had already started, or create something entirely new!

Have fun!

The Goal

The aim really is simple - to set some targets, and work on at least 12 things this year so at this time next year you can look back on your progress and celebrate your achievements. If you miss a month or turn in late, that's fine! Do what works for you!

AO3 Collections

For those of you that would like to, there will be a parent collection for the year event as a whole and some sub-collections for each month to allow us to keep everything nice and organised. It's completely optional if you would like to put your work on AO3 or not - you're more than welcome to just keep it on Tumblr or wherever you usually share your works!

This event is for you to use however you feel best, to inspire creativity, working towards manageable goals, and trying something different.

Social Media Tags

Use the tag #BG32025 if you would like to! I don't know if anyone else is using this one but I'll cross my fingers that we're the only ones~ Feel free to share the event and please do support each other through our creativity! A character or pairing or kink or trope might not be your cup of tea, but let's celebrate how it is there for someone else who might really enjoy it, and keep a positive and passionate view whilst respecting boundaries by tagging works appropriately as always <3

Thank you for reading this far and I hope to see you all through they year adding your works and creativity to our fandom <3 we have so much amazing talent here, I'm delighted to have the privilege of seeing it all~

[aethon-recs]

This Week (x2) in Tomarrymort (16 – 31 March 2025)

We are so close to 16,000 fics in the ship tag, up from 15,000 in just December 2024!

Also, I’ve been loving this recent spate of same-age F/F Tomarry fics popping up, particularly all the AUs of other beloved media, with a lesbian twist! They’ve all been so fun to read! I started making a list for myself to keep track of all the different AUs, and figured I should share them here too:

⭐ Want some Mean Girls-inspired Tomarry? I urge you to read apex predator by @houndsofheaven (E, 7k, WIP) ⭐ What about Heathers-inspired Tomarry? Please check out an asteroid that's overdue by @cealesti (M, 4k, WIP) ⭐ Timeline mashup AU? Yes please! The Good Knight by @mosiva (E, 49k, WIP) ⭐ As for a college AU, what could be more terrifying than Tom as a Delta Ep in the devil wears sorority letters by @aitafrog (T, 8k, WIP) ⭐ Medieval lesbian Tomarry based off an 18th century poem? A beautiful offering in a star hath set by @curioushabitforarivergod (E, 3k, complete)

*

Tomarrymort Completed Fics

Anytime, Anywhere, Always by @moontearpensfic (E, 60k, complete)

"I—I like you. For some reason. I dunno. It sounds… I know how it sounds. But—I do. I like you, Tom. And I was hoping you'd let me come see you over the summer, or—y'know, write to you." Tom expects to feel victorious at his greatest enemy's confession. Instead, he develops a crush on him.

you try so loud to love me, I cannot seem to hear by @boyneptunee (M, 7k, complete)

Tom thinks his husband is only in it for the money. Harry, on the other hand, tries to build a Home. Or: Modern!Au where they get married out of convenience. It backfires, obviously. OR: They collide like two burning stars and destroy everything in their path. Then they try to build a life on the dust that settles.

penance by @cindle-writes (E, 11k, complete) 

Tom Riddle suffers from constant intrusive thoughts about killing people. His priest, Father Harry, wonders when is the day he’ll snap and go too far.

*

Tomarrymort One-Shot Must Reads 

One Shot | a star hath set by @curioushabitforarivergod

One Shot | To Live is to Change by @mosiva

One Shot | Pom-Poms & Perverts by @known-concepts

One Shot | disturbing the peace by @duplicitywrites

One Shot | soft edges, burning wild by @cindle-writes

*

Tomarrymort Ongoing Must Reads

Chapter 39 of With a resolute heart by Act_Naturally

Chapter 21 of Ills of Murder by @shadow-of-the-eclipse

Chapters 23 through 28 of the whole wideness of the night is for you by The_Side

Chapters 17 through 19 of thimble of the banshee by @houndsofheaven

Chapters 23 and 24 of the stars, my destination by @milkandmoon-ao3

Chapter 3 of for i am with you by @solelyseeking

Chapter 27 of What In Me Is Dark, Illumine by @telelli-writes

Chapter 1 of Indecent Harvest by @duplicitywrites @moontearpensfic

Chapters 7 through 9 of Follow where she goes by @mosiva

Chapters 6 and 7 of exitium by @leafsandstarlight

Chapter 1 of i put a spell on you by @ohyondermemphis

Chapters 23 through 25 of you speak of the devil (like he's not your friend) by @amuria

Chapters 5 through 8 of Hold me as I drown by @smolangryslytherin

Chapter 3 of Under the Dreaming Dark by @aglassroseneverfades

Chapter 2 of the devil wears sorority letters by @aitafrog

Chapters 1 and 2 of angel on a satellite by @houndsofheaven

Chapter 11 of the night is cold in the kingdom by @girl-with-goats

Chapter 12 of Fool me once by @holaolla1

Chapter 148 of Liquida Tenebris (Remastered) by @dymis

Chapter 1 of Augurey's Glass by anonymous

Chapter 1 of let the world come at you love by @boyneptunee

Chapter 26 of Date Ideas for the Linguistically Inclined by Antique_Mango

Chapters 15 and 16 of Part Two - To Grow a Heart by @iseliljathedreamer

Chapter 2 of Ouroboros by @allthesmilesxo

Chapter 76 of I Can't Carry This Anymore by lemonchase

Chapters 16 of Venom or Valor by @lightningant

Chapter 1 of an asteroid that's overdue by @cealesti

Chapter 12 of Dreams Beyond Blood by @hikarimeroperiddle

Chapter 1 of Take Any Form by @rowena-rain

*

[lilithlounge]

Venus Retrograde 2025 – Love on Rewind, Chaos on the Horizon

Mark your calendars, lovers and ex-lurkers! From March 1 to April 12, 2025, Venus...the planet of love, beauty, money, and self-worth is going retrograde, meaning all things romance, relationships, and finances are about to get a cosmic reality check.

And this isn’t just any Venus retrograde. Oh no. This one starts in Aries (March 1 - March 27)—the bold, impulsive, burn-it-all-down-to-build-it-up sign—before diving headfirst into the watery, mystical mess of Pisces (March 27 - April 12). Translation? We’re going from “I don’t need you, I’ll set your car on fire” energy to “I still love you, let’s soul merge” energy real quick.

March 1 - March 27: Venus Retrograde in Aries – The Bold Bitch Era™

This is not your soft, poetic love story. This is love on steroids, then withdrawal. Aries is ruled by Mars, so Venus here is already aggressive, impulsive, and unapologetic. But when she starts moonwalking backward? Expect:

- Exes reappearing like they’ve got unfinished business (Spoiler: they do, and it’s messy)

-Sudden urges to end relationships dramatically (Blocking, deleting, "accidentally" sending that risky text? Yep.)

-Impulse spending that will haunt your bank account in April (No, you don’t need that $500 leather jacket.)

-Dramatic makeovers that may or may not be a regret later (Shaving your head? Piercing something? Think it through, babe.)

-Toxic relationship patterns coming back to test you (Did you really heal, or are you just ignoring the red flags?)

Best Advice? Pause before you act. Aries energy wants it NOW, but retrograde means it needs RECONSIDERATION. Don’t throw away something (or someone) just because you’re in your feelings.

March 27 - April 12: Venus Retrograde in Pisces – The Delusional Romance Era™

After all that chaotic, burn-it-down energy, Venus slips into Pisces, where she romanticizes the pain, writes a poem about it, and forgives everyone, sometimes too quickly.

-Dreamy nostalgia, missing people you swore you were over (Why does their name keep showing up in songs?)

-Old flames reappearing with “I’ve changed” speeches (Have they? Or is it just Neptune clouding your judgment?)

-Crying over movies, songs, and that one text from 2017 (If you suddenly feel like a poet, blame Venus.)

-Spiritual connections intensifying, twin flame chasers, this is your moment (Or your downfall. Choose wisely.)

-Illusions in love, seeing people as you want them to be, not as they are (Don’t settle for potential. Look at the reality.)

Best Advice? Don’t let the rose-colored glasses fool you. Love should feel magical, but not at the cost of your boundaries or self-respect.

So..... what should you do?

-Reflect, don’t react. Venus retrograde is about reassessing love, money, and self-worth, not making impulsive decisions.

-Avoid major beauty or financial changes. The haircut can wait. The new relationship can too.

-If an ex pops up, ask yourself: Why now? Not every “second chance” is meant to be taken.

-Focus on healing, not reattaching. If you’re missing someone, is it them or the idea of them?

-Don’t start a new relationship until Venus goes direct. Love formed in a retrograde often comes with karmic lessons (aka drama).

Final Thoughts – Buckle Up, It's a Ride

This Venus retrograde will test your patience, your heart, and your ability to avoid chaos. Some connections will burn, some will deepen, and some will make a dramatic return just to mess with your head.

By April 12, you’ll know what (and who) is worth your time and what you need to leave behind for good.

Feeling lost in love? Need clarity on an ex or a fated connection? I offer detailed astrology readings to help you navigate this retrograde without losing your mind. DM me or check my Ko-Fi, Buy Me A Coffee for a personal reading!

[batfamhastwitter]

Batfam Twitter AU Masterlist

Started:

July 18th, 2024

Last Updated:

April 20th, 2025

App I use:

TwiNote

Special tags:

Twitter AU - Where you can find all the posts

Not Twitter AU - Where you can find everything that isn't an update

(Update List Under Cut)

Updates:

Part 1 - Bruce joins Twitter

Part 2 - Jason was kidnapped by Batman

Part 3 - Damian runs away to Tim's apartment

Part 4 - Tim's a rich kid

Part 5 - The Riddler and Two-Face escaped Arkham

Part 6 - Tim gets road rage? It's more likely than you'd think

Part 7 - Bruce and Oliver had a Vegas Wedding

Part 7.5 - Jason and Bruce texts

Part 8 - Bruce and Oliver divorce

Part 8.5 - Q&A question

Part 9 - Q&A Part 1

Part 10 - Dick went to the Olympics

Part 11 - Damian's birthday

Part 12 - Q&A Part 2

Part 13 - Jason & Alfred's birthday

Part 14 - Lian's birthday

Part 15 - Jason's homophobic???

Part 16 - Tim's missing?

Part 17 - Damian and Jon make a plan

Part 18 - They're so oblivious!

Part 19 - Tim and Kon try out babysitting

Part 20 - Everything's finally wrapped up

Part 21 - Keeping up with the vigilantes

Part 22 - Duke has a horrible teacher

Part 23 - Clark destroys Lex

Part 24 - Gotham's favorite sweethearts call it quits???

Part 25 - Rebound or true love?

Part 26 - Young Justice road trip

Part 27 - Damian's conspiracy

Part 28 - Ice cream fixes everything

Part 28.5 - New Q&A

Part 29 - Tim was such an... interesting... kid

Part 30 - Wtf's up with gen alpha

Part 31 - What's your superpower?

Part 32 - Who knows how to change a tire?

Part 33 - Don't mess with book club

Part 34 - Damian hires the Red Hood

Part 35 - Batman's afraid of bats?

Part 36 - Apple picking

Part 37 - Roy's birthday

Part 38 - Tim's ao3 account

Part 39 - Political plea

Part 40 - Red Robin is suing Red Robin

Part 41 - Cat or raccoon? Who can tell the difference?

Part 42 - Which Robin are you?

Part 43 - Jerry the turkey had better watch himself

Part 44 - Since when is Jason ginger?

Part 45 - Happy holidays!

Part 46 - Support the Goonion!

Part 46.5 - Shrimp attack!

Part 47 - Cass's birthday

Part 48 - What's the Super Bowl again?

Part 49 - Batman's a cave diver

Part 50 - The Ides of March are upon us

Part 50.5 - New Q&A!

Part 51 - Batman did what with who now?!

Part 52 - April Fools!

Part 53 - Favorite rogues!

Part 54 - Knockoff Bug's Life

Part 55 - Happy Easter!

Headcanons:

Headcanons #1

Fan Content:

Can't Get Enough by malfiora

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Thailand Stuck the Landing! Thailand!

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

March 2025 Week 1

Ongoing Series - Thai

ThamePo (Fri YT) ep 13 end - A truly great final episode. The best that Thailand could do. Good rapping too. (I do enjoy a tonal language rapping) Could have done without the goddamn auto tune on the singing tho.

Still that Notting Hill moment with Po and his friends, “this is Thame, my boyfriend” will likely go down in history as one of my favorite claimings in all BL. And it’s one of my favorite BL tropes. I have already rewatched it multiple times. Genius.

Review 

The boyband idol romance I've been waiting for from Korea, only Thailand did it instead. Quintessentially Thai and very GMMTV with good production values, great chemistry, and a solid support cast. It also was a hung romance mostly driven by external conflict and a found family reunion trope so I didn’t mind (too much) that the romance thread felt secondary. I loved it (except, of course, the singing). 9/10 

Perfect 10 Liners (Sun YT) ep 19 of 24 - I love that GMMTV prop masters are just putting random American 80s bodice rippers lying around Thai men's dorm rooms. I don’t know why I find it so amusing but I do. I’m not happy about the friend snooping in his friend's box (kinky), but I’m pleased with the friendship itself after all is said and done.

“Heaven was fast” made me hoot. So damn funny. And now we have a Cyrano de Bergerac plot? Faifa = the eternal self sacrificer. And that was definitely the best kiss of the series so far. It has gone into consideration for best kiss of the year.

The Boy Next World (Sun IQIYI) ep 9 of 10 - Oh dear, I’m having one of those “please don’t make them actually act” moments. But I'm still enjoying this show. Miracles may never cease. I’ll just skip this front bit of ep 9 in the future. I’m not really feeling the side couple either. But the damn premise is so strong and the leads are good (when they’re not overacting). Mame sure loves her tired old BL tropes like faen fatalle but she has (so far) managed to avoid her worst inclinations with this one. Will she stick the landing?

Meanwhile, the single most unrealistic thing in this whole show is that there are actual physical photos in that yearbook.

Flirt Milk (Sat YT) ep 7 or 10 - Well at least stuff is actually happening in all the relationships. The question is, do we care? Also, I have a terrible case of second lead syndrome, and I have from the very start. I just love that actor. (Oppa!) 

Ossan‘s Love Thailand (Mon YouTube) ep 9 of 12 - I see it’s the Thai tourist board mandated “get them out of Bangkok occasionally” episode.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Secret Relationships (Korea iQIYI) ep 2 of 8 - Ooo, the bloody nose trope! Haven’t seen that in ages. Ooo x2, toxic exes! But Korea flavored toxic rather than Thai toxic. Interesting. It’s more reserved and mean-spirited and stylishly cruel. I’m certainly intrigued. I quite like the main couple too, they’re awkwardly adorable. I love the way they keep swapping the care trope back and forth. The workplace gossip and family abuse was really hard to watch though. This show is packed full of stuff, all the relationships are complicated and slightly dysfunctional and codependent.

I like it a lot. 

Eternal Butler (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 12 end - This was basically a wrap-up ep, it didn’t advance the plot much. Still it was nice to see a show tackle the eternal youth situation head on. The voice over at the end from our robot who will not age talking about the way the world will perceive them as his lover does age, THAT made me tear up.

Last Downlaod

The story of a boy and his bodyguard/butler/robot falling in love. The robot is very queer and kind of kinky and mostly in charge. This dynamic feels a little healthier and less like indentured servitude than the previous installment in this series, but it’s still somewhat troubling in base concept. Nevertheless, casting a pro bodybuilder as the robot certainly help me to rise above my scruples. BL made me do it. I'm a terribly shallow human. Ultimately, I pronounce this show oddly charming - if you can overlook the implications of "just a robot who can't say no." 8/10 

FC Soldout (Korea Thurs iQIYI) ep 8 end - cute scaredy-cat kiss. Cute soft proper kisses too. I love these boys. Adorable confession. I cackled over the resulting dynamic. But the football captain and the idol are still my favorites. Gutted we got no smooches from them. This time, when our captain uses the word "exercise" baby boy, I don’t think he means the football form of exercise.

Final Score 

An oddly cute sports reunion romance, about an actor and a football player who meet again for convoluted reasons. Essentially one of them is an obsessed fan, and the other one has been pining since high school. So they're kinda stalking each other. They get together after some shenanigans. With a solid side couple it was only the parasocial relationship thing that wigged me out, but it really bothers me. Especially since, had it not been there, this might’ve been the sports BL of my dreams. 8/10

Fight for Love (Vietnam YT) ep 5 - Full of exes and faen fatales. 

Impression of Youth (Taiwan Weds Viki) ep 9 end - Frankly, if you date a kid you shouldn’t be surprised when he behaves like a kid.

PAUSE.

Is that?! OMG yes. That is Marcus Chang playing the role of the professor! I wonder if this means we might get him in a BL? I might just lose my tiny mind.

Summary  

An artist seeking inspiration goes to a beach town to teach where he falls in love with one of his students. An odd disjointed little show that managed to somehow overcomplicate a simple premise. What could’ve been elegant was instead fussy. Despite some expectedly good sex scenes, there wasn’t much chemistry between either pair. Chemistry might have carried this show but without those naked shoulders to ride on, there was no structure and less hope. 7/10

Checkered Shirt (Korea YT) ep 5 of 8 - Ouch. Denial is apparently a river in Korea. This is a bit realistic for my BL. OH WAIT. The story about a man in the closet is called The Checkered Shirt?! I see what you're doing there. Clever, little KBL. Clever.

Exclusive Love (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 5 of 12 - What tf is going on with this show? It’s wild but not in an appealing way, in a weird wet dish towel away. I get why @heretherebedork finds the crazy pining side couple appealing, but they’re too frustrating for me. I now mostly just love the sweetly unhinged little assistant.

It's airing but......

Gelboys (Thai Weds iQIYI) ep 1 of 7 - I’m giving this show a pass. It’s just too far out of my wheelhouse. I don’t have patience right now.

Sashes and Hearts (Pinoy YT) - Philippines is doing Drop Dead Gorgeous only all gay boys queening their asses off. Doesn't interst me, not sure if it's BL.

The Last Time (Thai WeTV) 8 eps - Looks dark so I'm giving it a pass until I know about the ending.

Last Meal Universe (Thailand Sun ????) 10 eps - An alien who has come to destroy earth instead falls in love with Thai food and then the Thai boy who cooks it - realistic, actually. I got a link to watch but it still wouldn't work for me, so I guess I'm waiting to see what happens.

In case you missed it...

Wattpad author talks about trying to make a Thai BL out of her KP fanfic (Allure of the Siren). Trailer here.

A Perfect Match (Taiwan iQIYI) - A not very well regarded Taiwanese sports BL from earlier this year picked up for rerelease. Reports from spies (hi twig!) are that this is a "sports BL that did everything it could to show no sport at all" and NOT good. So it's getting a pass from me.

Next Week Looks Like This:

3/12 My Golden Blood (Thailand Weds YouTube) 12 eps - Trailer. GMMTV taking on Weds nights and midweek discourse (they hope) with this hotly anticipated vampire series. I happen to find Joss watchable but this looks very bad and also very Kissable Lips. But at least Thailand is finally giving us the trashy gay vampires we richly deserve? Just realize we don't deserve much.

3/12 Lost in the Woods (Thailand Weds Gaga) 7 eps - Announced for 2023, adapted from a novel of the same name. Fifa just graduated high school and travels to a remote province to take care of his grandma, before starting uni. There he meets Chief Hem, a forest ranger.

Bah, how annoying. We don't usually have a slump this bad in the spring. What am I gonna do with myself?

Upcoming March 2025

3/20 Top Form (Thailand Thurs WeTV) 10 eps - Trailer. Adaptation of a Japanese manga starring Boom (Chains of Heart) opposite Smart (Don't Say No). Actor recognized as the "The Sexiest Man of the Year" has his first-place position usurped by newcomer. But while he sees them as rivals, turns out the new kid has other ideas. I'm super excited for this but hate watching on WeTV so gonna be a challenge.

3/28 Heesu in Class 2 (Korea Fri ????) 10 eps - Trailer. Adaption of the comic by Lily, about a shy unpopular boy with a secret crush on best friend who somehow also ends up his school's relationship counselor. Supposed to have completed filming in 2022, the fact this has been in dev hell since then somewhat mitigates this being my most anticipated BL of it's original year.

2025 Line Up

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 1

BL Announced for 2025 - PART 2

20 BLs Announced for 2025 That I'm Really Excited About

GMMTV 2025 Line Up - My Totally Biased and Wildly Flawed Feels

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Aside from that idol boyfriend claiming?!

Yeah ThamePo ate this week. No room in brain or heart for others.

Not that it matter right now. Things are lackluster and dire.

(last week)

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @sunflower-positiiivity @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious @saezurumurmurs

[mirai-e-jump]

TV Life, 3/28/2025 Issue ft. No.1 Sentai Gozyuger Cast Members (translation below)

Publication: March 12, 2025

Fuyuno Mio x Suzuki Hideharu x Kanda Masakazu Matsumoto Jin x Imamori Maya

"How did you feel when you were chosen for the role?"

Fuyuno: I've been watching tokusatsu shows since I was a child, so I have a strong admiration for heroes. I was really happy, but at the same time, I felt anxious and pressured.

Suzuki: I too have admired the existence of heroes since I was a child, so I was incredibly shocked when I found out that I would actually become one.

Kanda: I felt as if I had been given a license to officially call myself a hero, which was all the more reason for me to get my act together.

Matsumoto: I was incredibly anxious, but after meeting the members, I realized that it wasn't something I'd be doing alone, but something we would create together. It got me fired up all over again.

Imamori: I had asked for manager A-san to call me if I passed, and B-san to call me if I was rejected. When I received the call from B-san, I thought I had failed, but they told me I had "been chosen." I was so shocked and happy that I cried.

"Do you see any similarities or things you have in common between yourself and the respective roles you play?"

Fuyuno: Tono Hoeru is an interesting character who's unsociable, has a foul mouth, and gives off the impression of being unapproachable, but he also has a surprisingly kind and cute side to him.

Suzuki: Mio and Hoeru have alot in common.

Kanda: It's more like he's Hoeru himself.

Fuyuno: I think so too (laughs).

Suzuki: Byakuya Rikuo is a former super idol. He's a character with good hearing, and I myself can wiggle my ears, so it's useful for my role.

Kanda: His soft vibes is something they have in common.

Fuyuno: In any case, he's kind and approachable.

Matsumoto: He's handsome on the inside and out, and is an extraordinary and flawless person.

Suzuki: No, no, that's too high of a hurdle to clear! (laughs).

Kanda: I play the role of Bakugami Ryugi, a weirdo follower of Tega Sword-sama. When I become addicted to something, it's all I want to do, and I previously got my certification as a professional darts player.

Matsumoto: Normally he's like our big brother.

Suzuki: He was very reliable from the day we started filming, and it made me want to follow him for the rest of my life.

Matsumoto: Takehara Kinjiro is a serious person at his core, and the youngest who's a "party person" high schooler. I guess what we have in common is that we laugh often. I'm someone who laughs pretty easily.

Kanda: Also, his ears turn red when he laughs.

Matsumoto: That's right! It was bad enough that I was given the OK with my red ears in episode 4 (laughs).

Imamori: Ichikawa Sumino is a high class detective who's able to properly use her coolness with her charm. I myself am the youngest child of my family, and I don't have big sister vibes like Sumino, so I'm still learning.

Suzuki: Maya-chan's presence brightens up the mood, which helps us out alot.

Fuyuno: Everyone's character in Gozyuger has depth, with each and every one of them having their own human drama. It's a production where every single episode will leave an impact, so I hope you'll check it out.

"We know that filming will continue, but is there anything you'd like to do together during this period?"

Imamori: I want us to have a barbecue.

The other four: Sounds good! That should be fun.

Imamori: I want us to take pictures in photo booths, and to go to an amusement park and ride the roller coaster.

Fuyuno: Ah……yeah. That'll be fine.

Suzuki: Why are you nervously shifting your eyes around then? (laughs).

Fuyuno: I can at the very least handle the haunted house! _

Just Between You and Me Q: What's your Number One Point?

Fuyuno: Even on the location bus, I'll always be talking with someone, and after filming, I invite them to "go out somewhere." I have a strong desire to live each day to the fullest and make it more enjoyable.

Suzuki: I think I get the most sleep out of the five of us. On our days off, I sometimes sleep for more than 12 hours. The day before I have to get up early for a shoot, I go to bed at around 8 p.m., which makes it feel like I'm living the life of an elementary school student (laughs).

Kanda: One thing I've yet to show off is my jumping ability. I took pride in my standing long jumps during my time in high school, so I'm probably the best jumper out of everyone here. Another thing is the rubik's cube. I can solve it in less than a minute!

Matsumoto: My appetite. There's a corner on set where tea and sweets are served, and I often find myself over there (laughs). I especially love desserts and cream puffs, so I eat as many as I want.

Imamori: The ability to continue eating the same foods. For the past month, I've been following a diet of supermarket sashimi and a whole pack of strawberries (laughs). I never get sick of it, and will eat it every night before going to bed.

[endcant]

Crossposted from my Tumblr Community: The Trans South

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The Trans South Monthly Bulletin Board

. * ❄ . ❅ * { Our pinned post for January 2025. } * ❅ . ❄ * .

in this issue: direct mutual aid opportunities, LGBTQ+ good news, southern events, job board, fun links, resources

comment anything you want to add, and i'll add what fits in this month's post. i'll be making a new post each month, so you may need to resubmit any links that are applicable for multiple months. i'll update this if i get new info in a timely way, but still check the comments for anything i missed!

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[UPDATED 1/24!] Direct Mutual Aid Opportunities:

Actually help a trans southerner today!

Requests in this section are submitted by TTS members.

Cecilpedia needs to eat!

Catgirl-smash needs help getting somewhere safe!

Turing-tested needs help with his grandmother's funerary expenses!

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the bright side:

the fact that you're alive is good news to me!

Good-enough news for LGBTQ+ Southerners.

The First Trans Community Center Opens in Arkansas | "'We declare that Arkansas Can’t Erase Trans People!' said Rumba Yambú, founder and director of Intransitive. 'We are here to stay, and we will keep fighting for our rights to ensure Trans people can build a future in Arkansas'."

Nashville Notary Battles Marriage Discrimination by Marrying Queer Couples | "Huff says... 'If you don’t have a family that’s gonna support you, there are so many other people that will. It’s really inspired me to keep the love going.'"

"Zebra Youth is expanding its short-term housing for LGBTQ+ youth" | "ORLANDO | Zebra Youth, a local nonprofit focused on providing services to LGBTQ+ youth, is expanding its short-term housing for queer youth this month thanks to a grant from the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida through its Brighter Days initiative."

"An Alabama city banned an LGBTQ+ Pride float from its Christmas parade. It marched anyways " | "Prattville Pride was able to march in the city's Christmas parade despite being banned the day prior after swift action from a federal judge."

[Bitter-sweet] Plans for Pulse Nightclub Memorial Move Forward | "ORLANDO | The Pulse nightclub building will be torn down as part of the future memorial design, the Pulse Memorial advisory committee said during its meeting Dec. 12."

More News

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[UPDATED 1/24!] southern events:

no affiliation, just interesting finds

Virtual/Twitch. Mon, Jan 27th. Nashville-based streamer Joe Hills welcomes special guest: trans activist Allison Chapman | "There's a lot of work to do, so let's chat about how each of us can help." Allison will talk about her work, and we can learn more about doing activist work in our own communities. 8:30 PM US Central Time.

Virtual/Zoom. Thurs, Jan 30th. Pre-register. Autistic Self-Advocacy Network Policy Seminar | "Are you interested in public policy and how it affects your community? Do you want to get involved in policy advocacy, but are unsure where to start? Join us for Policy Advocacy: What we do and how we do it on January 30 at 4-5:30pm ET!"

[event complete]Virtual.January 9.Beyond the Ballot: LGBTQ+ Equality and Legislative Trends for 2025 | A public event by Funders for LGBTQ issues: Attend for an overview on policy expectations for 2025.

Are you a member of The Trans South and you want me to find events in your area? DM me and tell me what you need me to know, so I can focus on the neighborhoods and budget ranges of people within our community <3

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[NEW SECTION!] opportunities:

Work, Volunteer, and Make Change in the South!

[closed] Disabled Artists, Tennessee. due [unknown time next week], unpaid. Submit Your Work for Breaking Ground Arts Issue

Black & Latino Gay & Bisexual Men Age 18-35, Middle Tennessee. due ASAP, earn $375 Southern TENNacity | "We are a team of Yale-affiliated LGBTQ+ scholars of color... We are now currently recruiting for the TENNacity trial, a 11-week group therapy treatment created by and for Black and Latino/x gay, bisexual, and queer men (inclusive of cisgender men, trans men, and nonbinary individuals assigned male at birth)."

Community Organizers, 1-2 Years Experience, Alabama. due date unknown, $23-$26/hr. Hometown Organizing Project/Hometown Action is hiring Lead Community Organizer for Gender Justice | "Hometown Action is an affiliated 501c4 nonprofit advocacy organization building a multiracial, working class, trans/queer-affirming movement for racial, gender, economic, and climate justice in rural and small town communities across Alabama."

Experienced Marketers, Texas and Georgia. due date unknown. Lambda Legal is Hiring Remotely for Director of Integrated Marketing Position | "Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work."

[closed] Regularatory Activism, Nationaldue Jan 17Comment on Fair Standards Labor Act Changes

[closed] Subject Matter Experts, Nationaldue Jan 11You Can Make a Difference by Serving on an HHS National Advisory Board/Committees

Are you a member of The Trans South and you want me to find opportunities in your area? DM me and tell me what you need me to know, so I can focus on the neighborhoods and goals of people within our community <3

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fun links:

media, literature, and games keeping me going this month

Read "Love Letter From A Poet Under Empire" by Mónica Teresa Ortiz | "The South isn't just a site of burials... but also of refusals: a list of those speaking out against the brutality that the state imposes."

Watch Black in Appalachia on PBS.org | Black in Appalachia explores the roots of African-American influence on the history and culture of Appalachia through documentaries, research, local narratives, public engagement and exhibition.

CSS Diner | Learn about CSS with this diner-themed game. Knowing CSS can help you learn to publish indie websites outside of social media!

More Fun

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useful links:

interesting resources and organizations you should know about

Repro Legal Defense Fund | The Repro Legal Defense Fund provides financial support for people investigated or fighting charges related to their pregnancy or abortion.

Trans in the South: A Directory of Trans-Affirming Health & Legal Service Providers | "Trans in the South is dedicated to every trans Southerner who persists in growing in this rocky clay soil."

More Resources

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If you're an adult trans person in the U.S. South, join my Tumblr Community: The Trans South.

If you're a teen trans person in the U.S. South and you create a youth community for trans southerners, let me know and I'll link to it in The Trans South.

[nikonladyz4]

Rollingstone Article about Jimin - Well Written.

Jimin, the birth of a muse 

New

13 hours ago

BY. Isak Choi

Only those with their own stories can become the main characters of the stage. Jimin's story becomes even more ecstatic in his second solo album [MUSE] (2024). The title song <Who> entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 31 weeks (as of March 4, 2025). Jimin is writing a new history for K-pop by repeatedly making reverse runs on the Billboard main chart, which is the dream and symbol of success for all musicians around the world. The 31-week entry is the longest entry record for a K-pop soloist, tied with PSY's <Gangnam Style> 12 years ago. Even though it was released during his military service and there was no full-scale promotion, Jimin left his own mark with his sweet and commanding vocals and performance.

The title track of his first solo album, [FACE](2023), <Like Crazy>, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart as soon as he debuted. Following Kyu Sakamoto's <Sukiyaki>, which became the first song by an Asian musician to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963, Jimin has renewed the top spot for the first time in 60 years as an Asian soloist. With two solo albums that he personally led from composition to performance and visual creation, he proved his clear presence as an artist and his outstanding intuition to continue to survive as a superstar in the competitive global music market.

But the real reason [MUSE] is special is not just because of its high score. In this album, Jimin shows courage to face, determination to confront, and strength to overcome. In an era overflowing with stimulating and temporary topics, Jimin has returned to the basics and solidified his own world by burning with a pure and pure passion for music and the stage. Poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote in <On Music>, "(Music) is something that is in our deepest self and goes beyond us and breaks through." Jimin, who has started a new chapter as a soloist, has been playing music that powerfully goes beyond himself throughout. That is why his presence flows into the deepest self and creates an unforgettable resonance. This infinitely human narrative makes Jimin's stage even more splendid.

​​

The birth of Jimin

If you ask, 'What kind of musician is Jimin?' I would like to introduce this anecdote. After he finished preparing to release [MUSE], he practiced on stage every day with a microphone, even though he could not perform for at least two years before enlisting. He probably would have to start over from the beginning to wake up his muscles in order to precisely implement the performance of <Who>, which he meticulously perfected by watching the rehearsal video over a thousand times, after his discharge. Nevertheless, Jimin persistently focused on the essence until the very last moment. The reason he was able to quietly head towards the fundamentals without being distracted by the fluctuating reality is probably because Jimin is a person who sees far ahead. A person who knows what to do and where he is going is never trapped in the present.

Jimin once said about his first album activities that it felt like "peeling off my skin." This raw expression lets us guess how unfamiliar and intense the atmosphere must have been for him as a veteran singer and a rookie soloist standing on a new stage. For over 10 years, he must have experienced his life completely changing as a singer and as a person before he became 'Jimin'.

Jimin is a gambler. His life has been a series of battles with the reality before his eyes and with himself, and most of them seem to have been successful. However, Jimin's way of winning, as seen in [MUSE], is clearly different. Until now, he had accepted reality as an opponent to compete with, and had achieved extraordinary victories in a world of fierce competition and proof. He expanded this fierce journey and determination into music and included it in his debut album [FACE]. He created the world of soloist Jimin through a narrative of overcoming the emptiness and irritation of reality that makes him shaken by alcohol and winning freedom and purification. However, in [MUSE], harmony stands out more than confrontation. He absorbed and embodied the vivid reality he experienced while producing and promoting his first album and used it as a driving force to break out of the shell. This may be the reason why the intro title of [MUSE], which took a whole year and four months to complete carefully and purely, is 'Rebirth'. The fact that he started producing his second album during the latter half of the recording of his first album and ended up creating an album with such a different approach proves how rigorous he was in the process of reinterpreting his music and life, and how quickly he is growing as a musician.

The rebirth is proven on stage. Performing the title song <Who>, he shows his transformation from BTS Jimin, who has the power to "eat up the stage," to a conductor and protagonist. In a performance centered on theatrical movements designed with live performance in mind, he intersects with numerous characters and creates sparks of relationships and emotions. His role as the protagonist and leading the breathing of the stage is so precise that it brings about catharsis. Jimin's vocals, which have a special tone and texture that sticks in your ears, have long been likened to 'stardust', but in [MUSE], they go further and show explosions and orbits. The rebirth of soloist Jimin shows how much effort and attempt he made to be honest with the belief that 'singers speak through the stage' in a new reality where he has to reset the expressions and movements he has become accustomed to for 10 years.

The official activities of the title <Who> can be said to be all about the stage of 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' in the US, which was filmed in advance before enlistment. The performance time is 3 minutes and 12 seconds. It is a short time to watch a couple of short videos that you can't remember anything about when you turn around. However, Jimin's stage leaves an impression and aftermath that will never evaporate. This is because it contains all the time he went through like a war to complete [MUSE]. Including this stage, the music video, and the dance practice video, Jimin watched the rehearsal video over 1,000 times for just three shots to complete the elaborate performance. He spent a long time of 1 year and 4 months creating an album whose promotion is uncertain before enlistment. This is probably because he knows that the 'class' of music is only the challenge to surpass oneself and the 'layering' of absolute time. Art is history contained in a moment. [MUSE] contains Jimin's determination to capture the infinite without being confined to the reality of limited time and unfamiliar crossroads.

The Birth of a Muse

If you can see the direction of soloist Jimin in the production process, you can see the world in music. [MUSE] is made up of scenes of colorful emotions that only Jimin can describe. Like an omnibus film, this album, with each story and point of view different, tells the story of absolute joy like a carnival, a sad emptiness like the shadow of a big city, and persistent love that spreads through the whole body like awe, with Jimin's expressiveness. If the first album [FACE] was black and white music that swept from the abyss of Jimin, not as an idol, but as a human being, [MUSE] contains a feast of love and inspiration that he explores and expands as an artist. The ecstasy and confusion, passion and drama that these vivid colors and contrasts create is Jimin's world.

The biggest reason Jimin's music feels so colorful is probably because of the tempo. Before his solo activities, he expanded the sophisticated and bold rhythm and expressiveness that he showed through his performances to the entire album. Just as Adagio (very slow) brings sadness and Fortissimo (very loud) brings excitement, tempo in music leads to emotions and narratives. Jimin's solo album has unique emotions that ripple from his own speed, gliding, jumping, and exploding across the stage. In contrast to [FACE], which focused on establishing his identity with music with a unified mood, [MUSE] changes the musical and narrative genres of each track as if he were going on a fun adventure. This time, Jimin shows his competitive spirit, completing the emotions of each track with careful interpretation and expression, and proving his wide spectrum as a musician. In the music that started from the resonance of his origins, you can feel not only the emotions of Jimin as a being, but also his muscles and temperature.

The first track, <Rebirth (Intro)>, which sings of the joy of love with a fairytale-like sensibility, encapsulates Jimin's world. The first album [FACE] showed Jimin's Birth as a soloist. In the second album, he moves on to 'Re'birth. This song captures the moment Jimin opens the door to a new dimension called [MUSE] and takes his first step. The sharp gaze that faced the abyss of the self in [FACE] changes into a light of wonder and optimism, like an innocent being that just hatched from an egg and looks around the world with curious eyes. The black and white world where ash and fire burned becomes a fresh garden full of spring flowers. <Rebirth (Intro)> captures the peak of seasonal changes from [FACE] to [MUSE], and lets Jimin immerse himself in the mystery of life called music. The Muse in Greek mythology is interpreted as a being that gives creative inspiration. The 'muse' in [MUSE] refers to the mysterious world of creative inspiration that Jimin swims in.

<Rebirth (Intro)> is similar in form to the first track <Face-off> from the first album in that it encapsulates the theme of the album, but in essence, it is connected to the double title <Set Me Free Pt. 2>. This song contains a narrative of liberating the self suppressed by fate and being reborn as a new self. In the music video, Jimin, who was locked in a circular prison and danced a primitive dance and yearned for salvation, finally achieves freedom and enters the world of light. <Rebirth (Intro)> is the story of Jimin being liberated from that circular prison. The "pitch-black me" expressed in the lyrics enters the world of [MUSE] for "true love" in order to be reborn and "sing while making eye contact with you." The main character of [FACE] was the 'past me'. In [MUSE], it evolves into 'the present of you and me'. Through the connection of these two seemingly disparate dimensions, Jimin's true world as a musician is born. As a side note, the development where you and I emerge from the pitch-black past and find ourselves shining is quite romantic.

The pre-released song <Smeraldo Garden Marching Band> is a serenade dedicated to his fans, his other muse. It may be a bit complicated, but [MUSE] has two axes of 'muses'. The muse as creative inspiration explained above, and M'US'E, which embodies the 'fans (US)' within 'Jimin (ME)'. This song was inspired by the Beatles' <Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band>. You can see the influence in the long title that ends with 'Band', the track video that was filmed live with live sound, and Jimin wearing a black suit, which is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Beatles fashion.

However, what is essentially connected to <Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band> is the 'Lonely Hearts Club'. The Lonely Hearts Club refers to an advertisement posted on a bar bulletin board in search of a special someone to fill the loneliness. <Smeraldo Garden Marching Band> is a song about someone sitting alone at a bar table in a big city on a dark night, drinking beer and looking around, and leading them by the hand to 'Smeraldo Garden'. The background of the track video is reminiscent of the Alpine meadows in the movie <The Sound of Music> (1965). In a fairytale-like world where children sing and dance, pollen flies during the day and fireflies light up at night, Jimin sings with love and blessings like a wedding singer. The featuring of Loco, who expressed honest love, is added to convey Jimin's heart of wanting to gift perfect happiness to his fans through music.

In fact, the real pre-released song on this album is the last track, the fan song <Closer Than This>. Released right after Jimin's enlistment, this song conveys a warm message that he will always be by his fans' side, like the moon, his symbol, even at night and during the day when the moon is not visible.

<Slow Dance> sung with Sofia Carson is the only duet song that has been included in Jimin’s solo album to date. “What if Jimin, who has a high and soft vocal range, sang a love ballad between a man and a woman?” If you’ve been keeping an eye on his journey, you’ve probably asked yourself this question at least once, but Jimin has come up with some very interesting results. <Slow Dance> is a romantic band-sound R&B song about a man and a woman in love holding hands and dancing together, vowing to be together forever. When you listen to the song, you imagine a young couple dancing leisurely, looking into each other’s eyes in a warmly lit dance hall among many people, as if they are the only two people in the world. As the main character of this classic scene where the man leads and the woman gives in and dances in pairs, it was inevitable that Jimin would have to think about the role he should play as a male vocalist. The answer he, a romantic Busan man, found was perhaps to be the one who loves more. Jimin savors the lyrics more gently and delicately, conveying the fullness of love. With the sweet harmony of Sofia Carson's soulful vocals, the song creates a very modern and sophisticated mood despite being a classic story.

Sofia Carson's dreamy voice reminds me of the lover's cruel whisper in <Like Crazy>, "I think we could last forever. Trust me." <Slow Dance> is like a happy lucid dream that Jimin in the <Like Crazy> world struggles in the vast loneliness and doesn't want to wake up from.

<Be Mine> follows the lineage of Jimin's 'know-what' songs. It is an Afrobeats song with a lyrical Latin melody that contains a faithful courtship to share love from sun to sun on a tropical island with a hot temperature. It was as popular among fans as the title song <Who>. This is probably because it accurately captured the wish of 'I wish he would do a song like this once'. <Be Mine> is reminiscent of BTS's solo song <Filter> included in [MAP OF THE SOUL: 7] (2020), which is the ancestor of the 'know-what' lineage. It is a seductive and sophisticated Latin pop song, and it received an explosive response that literally turned the fandom upside down when it was performed at a concert. The passionate climax unique to Latin melodies, the exotic percussion sounds that hit deep into the heart, and the unpredictable development are a perfect fit for Jimin, who has a special sense of rhythm. But while <Filter> focused on expressing a seductive atmosphere, <Be Mine> is dedicated to expanding Jimin’s strengths as a vocalist into the genre. Jimin’s solid voice, which adheres to a tight and realistic sound, creates a groove and gives a refreshing and cool feeling.

Sexiness is probably the charm that Jimin can express most easily and overwhelmingly. That is why Jimin is wary of a seductive mood in his solo album. Although <Like Crazy> contains seductive lyrics, it feels like a means of self-defense to hide an intense lack. <Be Mine> is the song that Jimin finds easiest, and therefore requires the most complicated thinking. Fortunately, Jimin seems to have found the answer to how to handle his special weapon.

The title <Who> is a song about emptiness. Emptiness is a longing for something that cannot be reached, a longing for something that has already been lost before it can be had, and yet a completely contradictory emotion that remains absent. Jimin is good at expressing complex emotions. This is because he has an outstanding talent for separating and embodying even the smallest beats. Also, his delicate and unique vocals create unique resonances depending on the composition and harmony, just like an instrument. The spectrum of emotions that he can convey is wide. However, the reason why <Who> has ranked in the upper ranks of the Billboard Hot 100 chart even after 7 months of its release and has broken countless first and best records is not because he has the exemplary conditions to express emptiness. It is because he deeply understands that emotion. <Who> is filled with the despair and wandering, patience and maturity that he confessed in [FACE]. And true music always captures the hearts of the audience.

The music video is reminiscent of the night streets where the main character time-leaps into the future at the end of the movie <Back to the Future> (1985). In a street full of flashing neon signs, screaming protesters, and gusts of wind that can blow away cars, Jimin dances as if he can't hear anything and acts out his loneliness in the crowd. The reverse performance in <Like Crazy> makes his loneliness even more fateful. In <Like Crazy>, Jimin is trapped in his own darkness and rejects all those who reach out to him, so he becomes alone. In <Who>, he approaches first. The pair choreography, which is the climax of the <Like Crazy> performance, where they dance as if facing mirrors but end up not being able to touch each other, is reversed, and he breaks the barrier and goes inside. However, he is unable to find 'Who' in the end, and is left alone in the night streets, completing the emptiness.

Jimin's vocals are particularly outstanding in this song. As a song about an active journey to find 'Who', he shows off his singing style that is as if he is speaking firmly. Jimin controls the chaos of tension and pleasure where sharp guitar riffs and synthesizer sounds boldly collide with his powerful and unique vocals. At the climax where he exclaims refreshingly, "Who is my heart waiting for (Who is the one my heart is waiting for?)", he explodes with the pain of not being able to find 'Who', adding a sense of realism to the song's narrative. The retro sound of early 2000s pop style combined with Jimin's unconventional vocals also allow one to feel an interesting sense of the times. He even released an acoustic version remix recorded right before his enlistment, breaking all the attempts he had made as a vocalist through <Who>.

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The Birth of a Game Changer

For a solo singer who started out as a group member, the second album is more important than the first. The first album shows identity, and the second shows direction. In less than two years, Jimin has released two albums that are like his alter ego, in which he personally participated in the composition and arrangement of the songs. Not only has he solidified his own identity and direction, he has also achieved unprecedented commercial success. While making ample attempts as a soloist, he has also expanded the group’s narrative by incorporating symbols of the BTS worldview, such as the Smeraldo flower, as the main concept. And despite all this, he is only 29 years old. As a new game changer in the global music market, Jimin’s future is limitless.