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eshoeteric · 1 year

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🍓 style analysis: nana komatsu / hachi (NANA)

welcome to the first entry in my style analysis series- where i take a different fictional character for each entry and take a look at their fashion sense, as an exploration on how fashion plays a role in forming a character's personality & overall identity. in other words, it's a deep dive into the intersection of story & style. today we're starting off with nana komatsu (who we'll be affectionately referring to as hachi from here on out) from NANA, my favourite character from my favourite manga of all time.

NANA is a manga very near and dear to my heart. i could spend all day talking about why, but i'd say one of the biggest reasons is for how ai yazawa (the creator of NANA) uses fashion as a means of storytelling. in NANA, clothes are not just a typical character design element, but are instead a visual narrative tool used to convey a characters' personality, as well as to express their traits and feelings. today i've chosen hachi for the style analysis because i'm fascinated by the subtle changes to her style syncing with her character development over the course of the story. also, i think her style is just super cute. so let's get into it! (⚠ anime & manga spoilers ahead)

🍓

overview

if i only had one word to describe hachi's style, i'd say feminine- think frills and lace details. she's all about babydoll silhouettes, pleated skirts, knit cardigans, ballet flats, and generally embodying shoujo fashion from the early 2000s with a good balance of cute and classy. hachi's fashion sensibilities lean more towards the modest side, as her dresses and skirts are usually around midi-length, and mini skirts are often paired with extra layers like tights or leggings underneath. it's a very good girl chic look, which fittingly leans in to her innocent personality. hachi is very stylish and clearly puts a lot of thought into picking her outfits everyday, as she's not afraid to occasionally experiment with different styles every & to use fashion as a key means of expressing herself.

in terms of colour palettes, hachi's wardrobe has a bit of everything- warm hues, earth tones, soft pastels, which all work together to capture the warmth and sweetness of her character. she's definitely more attuned to light colours than dark. this suits her personality better too, as light coloured clothing is said to convey feelings of friendship, fun, compassion, and approachability. fabric-wise, hachi likes to keep it light and airy with materials like chiffon and tulle; switching to warmer fabrics like cashmere and wool for cold weather, giving her outfits a vintage feel.

we can see that hachi pulls fashion inspiration from various aesthetics and fashion trends across different decades. she definitely incorporates her love for vintage fashion in her style, particularly with elements we've seen her wear before like mod dresses, neckerchiefs, pearl necklaces, long fleece trim coats, and brown platform boots. you can also see it in how some of the pieces she wears feels so unique, like a surprise gem you would find in a vintage boutique while thrifting. in dressier looks, hachi's girlish charm and allure is slightly reminiscient of 1960s it girls, like twiggy and sharon tate. she draws from a lot of 60s-inspired elements- the romantic parisienne style, and a bit of vintage preppy chic.

scarves and bandanas are a vintage essential as well as one of hachi's signature accessories. they have tons of versatile styling options, plus the potential to be dressed up or down. we've seen her wearing one scarf (exhibit A) multiple times over the series. the babushka scarf version has to be my favourite, it's very hepburn-esque, who i 100% i could picture hachi having a poster of in her childhood bedroom. i also think that having characters re-wear pieces we've seen before is generally just a cool subtle styling detail, which adds to the realism of NANA's 10/10 worldbuilding. the scarf's many appearances styled in different ways also goes to show how hachi enjoys being creative with her outfits, loves the pieces she owns and wants to get as much use out of them as possible.

hachi's style also incorporates a touch of influence from the kawaii lolita subculture, particularly modern offshoots like larme-kei. lolita is french rococco-inspired with a focus on cuteness, and has its origins in early 2000s harajuku street style- which is also where mori/kogyaru fashion originates from; hachi's go-to style during her high school years (see: her modified school uniform, miniskirts, fuzzy legwarmers). both of these movements were heavily pioneered by j-fashion magazines of the time like FRUITS, Olive, Larme & CUTiE, which were mainly popular with teenage girls and young women, and hachi is no exception. her fashion sense is also heavily inspired by famous japanese celebrities and style icons like risa nakamura.

if we had to really narrow it down, i think hachi's style can be best described by otome (lit: maiden) fashion. known as one of the predecessors of lolita fashion, this style was very popular among young girls in the 70s-80s and is heavily centered around embodying all things traditionally feminine. sweet, cute, girly, and romantic are all common descriptors of the style, which pulls influence from 60s mod fashion (which, as we've seen, has prevalent elements in hachi's style). think tons of layering, pattern mixing, longer hemlines, and mary janes/flats, all of which we frequently see in hachi's outfits. we also see that she takes elements from modern lolita fashion like frills, bows, ribbons, lace, tights & stockings, and incorporates them into her own personal style as more understated outfit details; making it more wearable on a daily basis while still being a tribute to one of her sources of style inspiration.

now that we've explored what makes hachi's personal style unique to her character, let's dig into how her style is influenced in relation to how the story progresses and how her character develops. and just for funsies, i'll also be styling a casual everyday outfit that i could picture hachi wearing for each story arc. let's go!

🍓

i. art school

i'd describe hachi's style here as the most youthful, which makes sense considering she's freshly moved to tokyo to study at an art school. we see her sporting a face-framing pixie cut, which gives her look a bit of edge, but not too much as she still retains her signature soft girl style to balance it out. also, can i just say: super farmer's daughter vibes when paired with a bandana! jeans were having a moment too- during this era, hachi was often seen wearing a pair of bellbottom flares or baggy jeans, creating a casual and easygoing look which really leaned into the artsy college student fashion. this would also mesh well with her then-best friend junko's more bohemian/indie, woodstock-inspired hippie style. the short hair paired with her experimentation on androgynous silhouettes definitely accentuates her gamine facial features, lending to a cute boyish look.

all these style elements are in direct contrast with the hyperfeminine looks of her high school years, back when she'd opt for skirts over jeans and long, styled hair; showing how hachi underwent a pretty drastic style change whilst adapting to the new environment in tokyo. at the same time, it could also hint at hachi's approach to self-expression & using fashion as a coping mechanism to deal with major life changes. dressing more casually to blend in with the college crowd is one of many indicators on how easily influenced hachi can get, which is pretty on-brand behaviour for someone with a tendency to seek validation from others instead of oneself.

so let's get into the first look i've picked out for her: layers on layers on layers baby! for this outfit, i took a lot of inspiration from hachi's first day of class outfit. i tried to be consistent with her theme of 70s-inspired prints and silhouettes during this phase, but also wanted to incorporate a modern y2k touch since we know that younger hachi (before fully developing her unique & personal sense of style) is more of a trend chaser, and what could be more early 2000s than a blouse + dress + jeans combo? accessories-wise, i wanted to pick out unique-looking pieces that had a lot of charm, as i was really going for that 'flea market finds' vibe since she obviously wouldn't have been able to afford any designer yet on a college student budget. also please notice the gorgeous vintage floral print ballet flats- i was so excited when i found it, i thought it screamed hachi!! they look so comfortable to walk in on top of being cute, it's the perfect shoe to slip on for a long day of classes without sacrificing style.

🍓

ii. apartment 707

during this time, we see hachi start to embrace feminine styles again. she lets her hair grow out and we see her back in skirts, dresses, and all things girly, which is why her otome fashion influences shine through most here. she wears tons of pieces in floral and polkadot print, as well as flowy babydoll tops which are very y2k-girl-next-door-reminiscient. we also see her starting to wear vivienne jewelry (the pearl choker, the dainty silver orb earrings), likely as a result of nana's influence (who she heavily admires and looks up to) & wanting to emulate her style. hachi's outfits here seem to have more colour and print, which i believe is reflective of her mental state here; happy, confident, and surrounded by support. good vibes all around, her environment at this time encourages her to take more risks in not just decision-making but also in her fashion choices.

in general, this era is where hachi seems to be getting a better hold on growing into her own personal style. she's still open to trying out different styles every now and then, but we can see there are some style elements that really stick and appear most often in her outfits. she's also seen here experimenting with all kinds of different hairstyles- french braids, pigtails, twin buns, the half-updo. to me, i think all of this signifies how hachi's style development runs parallel to her identity formation and how she grows as a person. at this point of the story, hachi believes she's finally found a place where she fits- within this ragtag but loving cast of unique characters.

so the second look was a little more of a challenge to work with- that's because hachi's style during this era doesn't subscribe to any one specific aesthetic or subculture, but more like a bit of everything, and her outfits can differ a lot between episodes. the goal here was to go for a casual daytime outfit, and i ended up super proud of the colour coordination in this one! i've styled hachi in a frilly vintage floral print chiffon slip dress that's almost reminiscent of the strawberry dress of 2020, but with unique details that give it much more character. i gave hachi a cream-toned vivienne crossbody purse, a scarf to balance out the salmon pink of the dress accents, styled as a neckerchief, some strawberry hair clips to match, and of course i had to include her much-spotted pearl orb necklace too. the highlight of this look are definitely the shoes, which are maison margiela tabi ballet flats- something i could 100% picture hachi wearing if NANA were set in the context of modern day fashion trends.

🍓

iii. motherhood

as time passes, we also see how hachi's fashion sense has slightly evolved into a classier, more refined version. more adult, if you will. this occurs when hachi decides to move out from apartment 707 and starts getting serious with takumi. not only did her living situation change, but as did her lifestyle, and with that, her fashion sense too. her style here simplified and took on a more mature look. she started prioritizing function over form as she cut down on layering and accessorizing. she would also opt for longer, flowier silhouettes and comfortable styles, often wearing simple dresses or aprons over a basic shirt-skirt combo. i really like how the change in style here - which pulls a lot from the 50s-suburbia housewife trope (think frilly aprons, puffy dresses, flared skirts, modest hemlines) - feels like a sublte detail to show how hachi settles into her new role of motherhood, expressed via clothing choices.

as a whole, this period of her life signifies the drastic 180° change from spending carefree days of young adulthood, to taking on the role of mother/wife in a nuclear family unit. it's the most major life change she's ever had to experience at this point, and it's expected that her style evolves alongside this. she's seen wearing noticeably less patterns or colour during this time, which could hint at possibly representing her inner feelings- the bleakness of spending her days in a mostly-empty home, and the isolation of being separated from the friendships she once surrounded herself with daily. thankfully, we do eventually see her return to dressing fashionably again after the timeskip. however, it's extremely important not to gloss over this period of her life as it portrays how she must have felt having most of her agency taken away overnight, with her style being all she had left as a form of control.

so last but not least is the final outfit, which was tough styling as there was comparably less material to go off, but i based it on the few going-out looks we get to see hachi wear post-takumi. rolling with the 50s-inspired looks, i've styled her in a coral short-sleeve button down dress. for the outerwear i picked a long checkered overcoat, which nicely complements the dress in addition to being a going-out staple for classy ladies everywhere. since the outfit is mostly harsher silhouettes, i decided to keep the colour scheme light to balance it out. while i was going for 'stylish mature woman', i still wanted some youthful elements in there to maintain hachi's signature girlish look. i balanced it out by accessorizing with a headband (a prep chic essential) and dior saddle bag, both lime green for a pop of colour and contrast. and of course, i had to incorporate the iconic neckerchief too as it doesn't get any more vintage-looking than this. the final piece to tie it all together are a pair of classic miu miu ballet flats- chic and comfortable!

🍓

final thoughts

all in all, hachi's fashion sense is super girly and sweet, which i'd say directly reflects on her character's personality. hachi is an outgoing girl who wears her heart on her sleeve and has a lot of love to give. she's warm and approachable, which she expresses through her clothing choices by embodying the cheerful, down-to-earth girl next door look. her bubbly style is youthful and fresh, which personality-wise is in character with hachi's innocence and willingness to trust others. this is shown through how much hachi cares deeply about her loved ones & often (unhealthily) prioritizes their feelings over her own. however, this naïveté unfortunately leaves her a lot more vulnerable to others seeking to exploit her emotional attention.

hachi's fashion evolution over the series shows how she uses fashion as a coping tool to help adjust to life changes, capturing her emotional growth and how she matures over the course of the story. the way that hachi's sense of style develops alongside her character is so realistic. her style development tells the story of a girl who finds herself and loses herself over and over again, frequently changing jobs and wardrobes in a constant struggle to find an identity to latch onto- until she does. hachi's style story is one of self-expression & identity formation; a story that speaks to all the young, unsure girls out there who see a bit of themselves in her, trying to figure out their place in a world in a world that often decides for them.

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vanwritesfan-fiction · 9 months

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A Little Bit Older, A Little Bit Wiser

Requested by @harlowcomehome 🥰

"Jack, what happened?" You rushed to the door when you saw Jack and Brooklyn walking in, your husband hobbled over in pain, wincing as he held his back. Brooklyn was going to start playing for the local soccer team, and they had gone out for the afternoon to practice some drills at Mockingbird. You were surprised to see them back so soon, hoping you'd have the afternoon to yourself with Aaliyah spending the day with Clay.

You helped him over to the couch, slowly lowering him down until he was seated. He groaned out in pain as he laid back. "Daddy fell." Brooklyn plopped down on the couch, balancing the soccer ball in her hands.

"I was just running down the field and slipped, and I landed on my back." He edged out, visibly uncomfortable. "Oh, my poor baby", you rubbed his thigh sympathetically as you sat next to him, pushing the curls out of his face that were plastered there with sweat.

"I'll see if I can get you an appointment at the doctor so they can check you out." You pulled out your phone, searching for the number to your family physician when Jack took your phone out of your hand. "I don't need a doctor. I'm fine. Can you just help me to the bedroom?" You stood, holding a hand out to him, but he was frozen in place, even the thought of moving too painful. "You know what? This couch looks real comfortable. I'll just stay here."

You rolled your eyes, taking your phone back from him. "Jack, you can't even move. You need to go to the doctor." Just as Jack was about to protest again, Aaliyah busted through the front door, Clay following closely behind her carrying her backpack.

"Daddy!" Aaliyah shrieked, running over to Jack. "Baby, careful, please." You held her back before she jumped in Jack's lap, potentially injuring him further. "Hey, baby. How was nana and papa's house?" Aaliyah climbed onto the couch, wrapping her arms around Jack's neck, placing a gentle kiss on his nose. "It was so fun! Uncle Clay let me stay up until midnight!" You and Jack both shot Clay a look as he chuckled uncomfortably.

"Ya know kids, they like to exaggerate. Anyway, what happened to you, bro?" He rocked back and forth on his heels uncomfortably, hoping to quickly change the subject.

"Jack hurt his back. Can you help me get him to the bedroom? He's refusing medical help, but this couch is not comfortable enough for him to rest on." Clay held out an arm for Jack to use as leverage. He grabbed it, digging his nails into Clay's skin. "Ow!"

"If I find out you let my baby girl stay up all night, I'm gonna hurt you." He growled out, completely forgetting his anger as pain radiated through his body when he made it to his feet.

"Yeah, yeah. I'd like to see you try old man. Let's get you to your death bed, your time is limited." Clay teased, relishing in the fact that his older brother was starting to show his age. Jack may have been in pain, but he managed to lift his leg high enough to kick Clay in the shin.

"Do you want my help or not?" Clay whined out, as the two of them shuffled to the bedroom.

****

Once Jack was settled on the bed, he sat for a second, contemplating if he could sleep sitting up. "Help me take this off." He held out his hoodie sleeve to Clay. "I love you brother, but I draw the line at taking your clothes off." You walked into the room with a bottle of water in one hand, some pain pills in the other. "I've got it from here Clay, thanks so much."

"Of course, sis." He gave you a quick side hug, waving at Jack. "Have a good night, Old Man Jackman." Jack tried to hurl a pillow at Clay, but he easily dodged it, jogging out of the room. "Oof, you are off your game", Clay chuckled.

You handed the medication to Jack, watching him take a big gulp of water before helping him get his sweatshirt off and hoist his legs onto the bed. He stopped you as you tried to walk away, grabbing your hand. "Where are you going? I need someone to take care of me." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, pulling you into him. You accidently landed your knee in his side, making him cry out.

"Sorry baby, but you are in no condition to accept the services I offer." You whispered in his ear, making him shiver. "Close your eyes for a bit, and I'll check on you later." He watched you walk away, a defeated look on his face. "Baby, I think we can make it work if I just lay really still." You giggled, shaking your butt at him as you left the room.

****

Jack could hear small whispers as he came out of his sleep. He grumbled, eyes still shut, as he felt a weight on his chest.

"Lay Lay, don't bother him, he's sleeping!" Brooklyn whispered.

"I just want to make sure he's okay." Jack had to hide the small smile on his face as he listened to his girls worry over him. Aaliyah laid her ear against his chest, listening to his heart and lungs.

"He's still bweathing." She lisped out; her front tooth had fallen out about a week ago.

"What are you doing!" Jack playfully scared both girls, Aaliyah letting out a scream as he tickled her. "Daddy, we were just making sure you were okay." Brooklyn climbed over to Jack on the bed, laying on her belly next to him.

"I'm good, baby. Just a little injury. I'll be better in a couple of days." He stroked her hair, poking her in her side to make her laugh. Aaliyah was still by his chest, her hands stroking his beard. "Did you hurt yourself because you're getting old?" Brooklyn asked so nonchalantly, as if she wondered what they were having for dinner.

Jack chuckled, sitting up a little in the bed. "Hey, I am not old!" He felt a tinge of hurt in his heart at Brooklyn's words, but quickly brushed it off.

"But you have all of these gray hairs in your beard. I thought only old people had gray hair. Papa has a gray beard, and he's really old." Brooklyn countered.

"Yes, old people can get gray hair, but you can also get it when you have two daughters who stress you out all the time. These are stress grays, not old man grays." Jack ran his fingers along his jawline, taking a mental note to look into some hair dye.

Both girls burst into tears, the stress of today's events too much for them. "Hey, what's going on? Why are you crying, what's wrong?" Brooklyn threw herself onto Jack's chest, her small arms barely making it around his torso. "I'm sorry that we stressed you out daddy, and made you have gray hair", she choked out between sobs. Aaliyah followed suit, her nose stuffed up. "We don't want you to go."

"Baby, what? I'm not going anywhere." He pulled her into his side, trying his best to console her in his condition.

"Brooklyn finally looked up, her eyes puffy and red. "Uncle Clay said you were an old man."

"Yeah, he said you were on your debt bed." Aaliyah chimed him, wiping her eyes.

"Ok, Uncle Clay is no longer allowed to babysit. Listen, my sweet girls, sometimes people just hurt themselves, it doesn't mean they're getting old, Uncle Clay was just kidding around, ok?"

You caught the tail end of their conversation as you stood in the doorway, a smile on your face as you listen to Jack reassure your daughters. "Alright girls, time for bed."

"Can't we sleep in here tonight?" Brooklyn looked at you with pitiful eyes from the bed, still cuddling against Jack.

"Daddy needs his rest, and he won't be able to get any sleep with the two of you rolling around all night. Say goodnight." The both gave Jack a quick kiss before leaving, and you trailed behind them. You were stopped in your tracks as Aaliyah ran back in, Jack leaning over so she could give him another kiss, this time on the nose. "Two kisses so you can get better even faster!" She giggled, running out of the room.

****

You sat down on your side of the bed, pulling back the cover as you finished your skincare routine with a bit of lotion on your legs.

"We need to find another babysitter for the girls." Jack grumbled out, watching you crawl into bed. "No we don't, Jack. The girls love Clay, and he loves the time he gets to spend with them. Are you still upset that he called you old today?"

"I am not old! I have like two gray hairs, since when does that make me old?" You held up your hands in surrender, settling down next to him, leaning against the headboard. "I like older men. I think they're sexy."

You scratched at his beard, Jack closing his eyes as he enjoyed you cooing over him. "Ow!" You examined one of the gray hairs you had just plucked from his beard in the light of the side lamp. "Now you only have one." You giggled, but Jack didn't find it funny one bit, holding his face.

"You know you have some gray hairs "down there" right?" Jack eyed your crotch, his eyes traveling up your body. You hurried off the bed, running over to the bathroom mirror, examining your pubic area. "OH MY GOD!" Jack chuckled as he heard you freak out from the bathroom. "How long have those been there, and-why-didn't-you-tell-me?" You edged out between slaps to his chest, Jack groaning. "You spend plenty of time down there."

"I like older women, baby. I think they're sexy." Jack mocked your earlier words.

"If you weren't injured right now..." you warned, laying back down on the bed. You curled up against Jack's side, as he wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pressing a kiss into your hair.

"Good night old man Jackman." You stifled your laugh as you closed your eyes. You couldn't resist getting in one last jab. Jack rolled his eyes as he removed his arm that was around you. "Jack, baby. I was just kidding. I'm sorry." He held up a hand to your puckered lips, rejecting your kiss.

"Good luck finding someone who will go down on you with that grandma wig you have down there." Jack pulled you back in tighter, both of you bursting into laughter.

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#jack harlow #jackman thomas harlow #jackharlow #jack harlow x reader #jack harlow concepts #jackman harlow #jack harlow imagine #jack harlow fluff #jack harlow fanfic

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thethirdromana · 1 year

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Kira's hairstyles throughout Deep Space Nine, rated

All screengrabs from Trekcore, all opinions from me.

As seen in season 1, episode 1: The Emissary.

A poor start with what I think might be the worst haircut on the list? Nana Visitor is all of 36 years old in this photo and she has the haircut of a granny. It also makes her face look very square, which it is not. 0/10.

As seen in season 2, episode 2: The Circle.

This is the first of the definitive Kira hairstyles and it definitely gets points for that, and many more for its butch energy. This is practical, this is kickass, this is a woman who can fight off a Cardassian invasion then put up some shelves without breaking a sweat. 7/10.

Also as seen in season 2, episode 2: The Circle.

I know this is basic of me but I really love the pixie cut. And I love the way that Kira is relaxing in a monastery at this point, in beautiful surroundings, and her whole look from her hair to her clothes has softened in response. 10/10.

As seen in season 2, episode 8: Necessary Evil.

I'm so conflicted about this one. On the one hand, I really like how it's been styled, especially in comparison to Dax's version of the same hairstyle, which looks uncomfortably stiff. On the other hand, Kira with long hair just doesn't seem right. 5/10.

As seen in season 3, episode 15: Destiny.

Another definitive Kira hairstyle, and probably the one that's most overtly masculine; this is a classic 1950s man's hairstyle, though somehow the overall effect is more femme than the brushed-back version. Mostly this is a hairstyle that doesn't take attention away from her face. 8/10.

As seen in season 4, episode 4: Indiscretion.

I'm not sure this is Kira's most flattering haircut, but I like the way that as she gradually becomes less angry and abrasive, and I suppose starts to work through some of her trauma from the Occupation, her hairstyles also become softer to match. 7/10 for character development.

As seen in season 7, episode 4: Take Me Out to the Holosuite.

This is my FAVOURITE of the longer-term Kira haircuts. Not just because it's pretty, but because the asymmetrical shape means that the whole effect is to draw your attention to her Bajoran earring. Her confidence and her pride shine through. 9/10.

As seen in season 7, episode 25: What You Leave Behind.

A serious hairstyle for a serious time. We've lost the fun full asymmetry of season 6 and early season 7 (which were also quite serious times, but never mind that). This is a surprisingly shapeless hairstyle for Kira. 4/10.

Because I was sad to end on a disappointing hairstyle, here's a bonus Nana Visitor:

This is the very cool hairstyle Kira went for post-canon, and you can't persuade me otherwise.

#star trek #deep space nine #ds9 #kira nerys #long post #this took ages so if you disagree please be nice about it

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nikodart · 12 days

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I love love lvoe your art!! Is there something about art that makes you super happy to draw it? Like specific color palletes, subjects to draw, etc?

AHH TYSM!! i think my key favorite things are clothes, hair and warm palettes

🍊i love saturated, warm palettes that feel very summery they just make me happy (specially anything with orange, purple and teal)

i grew up playing with dress up dolls like monster high and bratz or reading mangas like Nana so clothes and hair have always been really important and fun for me in art 🥹for hair i specially love drawing curly and textured hair like mine in diff styles, i didn't see it in art that much growing up so it's fun to get to do it myself now, likewise with drawing diverse body types in all sorts of clothes

OH i also REALLY REALLY love drawing environments, specially interiors!! i really like decorating spaces and making them feel lived in, probably compensating that i live in a rental and i don't have the freedom or budget to do all the things i'd like with my own space 🤫

#nikotalks #ask #TY SO MUCH FOR ASKING!#SORRY FOR RAMBLING I LOVE ART!!#artists on tumblr #art #furry artist #furry art

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hyukabean · 2 years

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hwang hyunjin as your bf (headcanons)

req – for my youth pastor simp <3 @yejiimg

nana's notes – speed wrote this cause inspo <3 all my other wips are… eh not happy with them yet

warning(s) – does jealousy count??

unedited.

how you met .｡.:*☆

i feel like you’d meet through lily, hear me out

nmixx is still a rookie group, and the budget is definitely a lot lower than some of the big names under jype

they can’t really afford to always pay staff full time, so they decided to hire a bunch of interns, for much less pay ofc

being a college student though, you don’t mind, and decide to take the job!

being able to speak english with lily would definitely make her feel more at ease when she’s stressed and so on

with time, y’all become besties~

you’ll wait for her after she’s done working, and sooner rather than later, you become a known face

felix invites her out for boba one day, and she takes you with her cause why not?

a few months in, i can also see you getting close to the skz aussie line, even if you don’t constantly hang out (cause jypapi’s got chan in his dungeon-)

hyunjin needed inspo for his new painting, and so felix is, “hey, meet my friend, they’re kinda cool”

and hyunjin’s like?????? no???????????

but ofc he end up saying yes anyways

ngl bby would be hella awkward and shy. but not like the stuttering mess, more like the o-o, i’m watching you

lily would just laugh awkwardly, and continue speaking to you

trying to “ignore” him, you do the same

but then he’s like !! woah. they’re kinda pretty… and look at their shiny eyes… oh and the lines when they smile

jinnie would def start drawing without even noticing.

by the end of it, you all just kind of part ways, not having gotten much closer

he’d ask felix for your number though, and send you the sketch with a lil, ‘sry about last time… but, can i draw u again?’

ofc you’re super flattered and agree *cue felix and lily evil chuckling*

it would take a long time for him to trust, and get close to you, but after your there, you’re in

it would genuinely just be friendship at first, but when your birthday rolls around and he sticks a letter and a painting of you in your hands before leaving?

yeah, you’re definitely in-in now. (that’s what she said-)

pros .｡.:*☆

okay, 100% the pet name privileges

he’s not suuuper affectionate with the other members, save for felix, so when he starts doing little things like: calling you princess, feeding you, actually texting you back, no one knows how to respond

hyunjin is definitely a secret hopeless romantic, and so it’s no surprise that he draws inspiration from romantic things, aka, you <3

def has lil sketches of you laying around

constantly takes secret candid pictures of you, and re-drawing them, knowing full well he’ll never be able to encapsulate all of your beauty

free dance lessons. he would offer to teach you anything.

loves seeing you have fun <3 loves seeing you (full stop)

tbh he’d cringe a bit if you’re awkward, but would also lovingly guide you, recounting all the steps for you~

by far the #1 hyunjin bf privilege is getting to back hug him and getting forehead kisses as a thank you

no matter who’s around, how tall you are, how much you weigh, if you’ve got acne or not, none of it matters.

tldr. bby’s a major simp for you <3

last but not least, you get all of his hoodies. it gets to a point where, if you’re not wearing something matching, he straight up just makes you wear his clothes, no questions asked

but don’t you dare tease him about it, he’ll ignore you for a solid 3 hours straight

affection gets it’s own section muahahah

cons .｡.:*☆

jealousy. though it’s not allllways a bad thing. it can get pretty rough. essentially, there’s two types:

1) the ‘cute’ jealous

hyunjin’s english is pretty good, but his confidence isn’t always the highest (which it definitely should be wtf-)

so he does get a bit :< seeing you and felix, or lily talk so freely with each other

and though, again, he understands, he can’t always respond

so, whenever he’s put in that situation, he sulks and goes to his room

which in itself isn’t reeeaally an issue, but communication definitely something he needs to work on in a relationship

anyways, you sneak after him one day, and find him studying english using text books:(

ofc you confront him and you’re like ??? why didn’t you ask me:(( and he’s like :(((((( sry bby

2) the ‘not so cute’ jealous

as mature as i think hyunjin is, he’s not always open to talking about what bothers him

this would often lead to petty arguments, empty but hurtful words, or just radio silence.

often the members would try and help, but controlling his jealousy when he sees you with someone else, or doing something, whatever it may be, is something he should fix

and he’s well aware of it.

this wouldn’t be a problem too too often

but once it’s there, it’s there

once you reassure him over and over and over again, and he realizes it’s really his insecurities that fuel this arguments, he’d better himself

getting there takes a while though

affection .｡.:*☆

as for affection..:

i think it’s goes one of two ways

either his s/o is also a ‘tsundere’, or they’re super affectionate

if they’re the former, he’d would 100% get along with them

they’d get the feeling of not wanting to be touched 24/7 but not minding it from time to time

though if they’re equally as prideful as his is, you’ll need to compromise on who asks first

overall though 10/10 would love someone similar to him

if they’re suuuper affectionate… they’ll need to tread on eggshells for a while

not because he doesn’t love them, but just because he’s someone who doesn’t feel the need to be touchy all the time

when he’s in that mood, he’s 1000000% going at it, kisses hugs everything

but when he’s not, he needs space (back it up bestie)

again, you’ll need to compromise

either way, you’ve seen him around felix, he wouldn’t ever leave you touch starved;)

habits / miscellaneous .｡.:*☆

playing w/ your fingers cause they’re pretty

giving you head pats cause he likes telling you you’ve done well without actually having to say it

would give you a promise ring <3

hyunjin would love having you sleep over

it’s here the affection side of him would come out the most

he’d leech on to you, and just mwahmwahmwah in his sleep

also would watch you sleep if he woke up first (…that sounded a lot less weird in my head-)

over all, 10/10 would recommend to a friend;)

#[📁] – nana’s files #skz headcanons #stray kids headcanons #hyunjin x reader #hwang hyunjin #Hyunjin headcanons #stray kids x reader #bf headcanons #skz x reader #headcanons #kpop headcanons #lee felix #lily #nmixx #fluff #angst #stray kids fluff #stray kids angst

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fifteenleads · 10 months

Text

Happier Ever After

"I think Dion and Terence would make wonderful fathers and in an ideal world they’d be incredibly lucky to have someone as endlessly kind and resourceful as Medicine Girl (Kihel) as their daughter!" —Stewart Clarke (GameRant Interview)

Summary: Five of Kihel Lesage’s fondest memories of her parents, and one more she wasn’t awake for.

Final Fantasy XVI | 4.5k words | Modern AU, Family | Complete Characters: Kihel (Medicine Girl), Dion Lesage, Terence Pairing: Dion/Terence (FlareKnight, TeDi, Teredio)

Kihel remembered picking a scab on her elbow after her grandmother’s death.

She got the wound while playing in the park, then hid it from everyone until the blood dried. It was pretty fun; it gave her something to do while the grown-ups were busy, and Nana wasn’t there to scold her.

But playtime ended and dinnertime passed, and Nana never came. Worried that maybe she was still doing house chores late at night, she asked Dion where her Nana was.

“Nana’s not coming back?”

“... No, Kihel. She’s not coming back.”

“Not even to get angry at my booboo?” She showed him the injury on her elbow, smudged with dried blood and dirt.

A tight hug and something wet dripping onto her shoulder. “No… I’m sorry.”

She was still picking the scab by the third day, when the three of them went out to church. There, Nana was sleeping inside a box while everyone prayed and sang. “Why is everyone wearing black today, Uncle Terence?”

Terence merely held her hand quietly. He had dark circles under his eyes like Dion. “They are saying goodbye to Nana… to Aunt Ethel today.”

They went back home after the church people took Nana away, and she started picking at her scab again. The wound bled after a few minutes and her elbow started to hurt. Dion and Terence immediately came to her room when they heard her cry.

“Nanaaa! It hurts!”

In hindsight, Kihel probably already realized it deep down in her heart, but just didn’t know it yet. Such was the mind of a child.

Dion and Terence both embraced her; it was the first time she saw grown-ups cry. Then Terence stood up and got medicine and a kitty band-aid from her dresser. “Can you bring up your arm like this?”

Terence quietly cleaned her wound and put the kitty band-aid over it. Then Dion asked her a question. “Kihel, I… Do you… want to stay here?… With us?”

He sounded strange when he said that. Stay with them? She never lived with anyone but Nana before, but they said Nana wasn’t coming back. She didn’t know anyone else. “I will live... with Uncle Dion and Uncle Terence?”

Dion’s eyes were shiny and sad when she asked him that, but he was trying his best to smile. “Yes, Kihel.” He sounded braver now. “With us. Do you want to?”

Nana wasn’t coming back. And Kihel didn’t know anyone else. “... I want to.”

Dion hugged her again, Terence did the same. And she felt happy.

After that, Kihel stayed with a lady called Tarja for a few days while Dion and Terence went out to do important stuff. “We will come back, we promise.”

“Okay, Uncle Dion, Uncle Terence.”

Those three days couldn’t have passed quickly enough. Tarja was very nice and cooked delicious food, but Kihel missed Dion and Terence. All she could remember was not letting Tarja remove her kitty band-aid from her elbow.

When the three of them went home again, Kihel saw her new room: it was light pink and blue and green, with a soft bed and toys and books. Her clothes from her and Nana’s old home were in the closet, and there were new dresses, too. “Do you like it?” Terence asked.

Kihel looked up to Terence’s face; there were smudges of pink and green paint on his cheek. There were also small paint marks on Dion’s fingers. She giggled. “Yes, I like it!”

They hugged her again, one after the other. “We’re so happy! Welcome home, Kihel.”

She let go of her elbow with the kitty band-aid and hugged them back. “I’m home!”

Art classes started as early as first grade, and their teacher asked them to draw their families for their first project.

Kihel wasn’t an exceptional artist—even now, she never held such delusions, but she liked to believe she’d become better since then. But she wasn’t thinking of such things at that time, and only wanted to talk about her family.

She was still working on her drawing after dinnertime, scribbling away in the living room while Dion washed the dishes. Terence will be back home from work soon, and she hoped to show them her finished project before they went to bed.

In the end, Terence came home later than expected, so Dion had to tuck her to bed so she wouldn’t wake up late for school the next morning. Her drawing remained on her desk so they’d see it in the morning when they came to wake her up.

Terence drove Kihel to school the next morning. He was smiling the whole time. “Have fun today, Kihel,” he sent her off with a gentle pat on the head. Kihel dodged it, giggling at how his fingers tickled her scalp.

She couldn’t wait to show her uncles her drawing at dinner tonight. It’s okay even if it’s late.

In art class, each student came to the front to present their drawing. When it was her turn, Kihel proudly stood up and showed hers to everyone. “This is my family. I’m in the middle. On the left is Uncle Dion, and on the right is Uncle Terence. They are very, very kind.

“My uncles always came to play whenever Nana had to go to work. I also stayed at their house whenever Nana went to the doctor. Then Nana died last year, and I now live with my uncles. This is our happy family picture. Thank you.”

Kihel was beaming when she finished, but no one clapped for her.

Marcus stood up and pointed at her picture. “Where’s your mommy and daddy?”

She didn’t know the answer to that. Was Nana mommy? What about daddy - was it Uncle Dion or Uncle Terence? Kihel was very confused, and her cheeks were red and puffy. “I… I…”

Then suddenly, Mr. Rosfield clapped his hands. Was he crying? Her other classmates started clapping, too. It was only then that Kihel began to cry for real.

At the end of art class, Mr. Rosfield said something that would stay with her for many years: “Remember, class: there are many kinds of families. Not everyone has a mommy or daddy or Nana or aunt or uncle, but everyone has someone who loves them.”

Kihel was the last to leave school that day. Mr. Rosfield sat quietly with her at the steps of the building. She was still holding onto her drawing.

Terence’s car pulled into the driveway a few minutes later, and both her uncles quickly came out of the car. “Kihel! Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Yes, Uncle Dion, Uncle Terence.”

Mr. Rosfield immediately stood up and greeted her uncles. “Flare, Knight. Good to see you both again.” They hugged each other briefly before Mr. Rosfield beckoned Kihel to come closer. “It’s time to go home?” she asked.

“Yes, it’s time to go home.” Kihel held Terence’s outstretched hand as they walked back to the car. Dion stayed a little longer to talk to Mr. Rosfield. “Thank you, Phoenix. I… We owe you one.”

“It’s nothing. Kihel is my student; I only did what any teacher would do.” Mr. Rosfield firmly pat Dion’s shoulder. “Go on, they’re waiting for you.”

The drive home was quiet even though the three of them were in the car. Maybe her uncles were tired from work, but Dion definitely didn’t show it. He sat in the back with her instead of the seat beside Uncle Terence, and held her hand while looking out the window.

Why were they sad, Kihel wondered. Would her drawing make them smile again?

Terence and Dion were still preparing dinner when Kihel finished her bath. She swallowed the ball of air in her mouth, holding her drawing in her hands.

She will show it to them, Kihel decided. She will make them smile.

Dion stopped setting the plates when he heard Kihel’s footsteps approach. Terence was also watching her closely. It felt like art class again, except Mr. Rosfield wasn’t there to clap for her.

She breathed in deeply. “Um, can I show you my drawing?”

Dion’s face softened as he knelt before her. Terence did the same. “Yes, my dear. Can we see it?”

Kihel brightened at once, bringing up her family picture. She repeated the same speech she made during art class, growing more and more confident with each statement. She remembered Mr. Rosfield’s words, and the pat he gave Dion before they went home.

‘Everyone has someone who loves them.’ Kihel stopped short before the last part. “Then… Then Nana died, and…”

Terence looked alarmed and reached out to her, but Dion held his hand to stop him. He became quiet once more. Kihel found her voice again.

“And… I now live with my new dads. This is our happy family picture.” She smiled at the end. This time she knew she was crying properly.

Dion reached out to hug her first. He was crying, too. Terence embraced both of them at once. They stayed like that for a very long time.

“Thank you for your picture,” Dion said softly. “We love you, always.”

Kihel sniffled happily. “I love you both, too.”

They ate dinner late that night, and she had ice cream before bedtime. For the first time, Kihel knew for sure that she was home, and she was loved.

Growing up, Kihel wouldn’t really describe herself as a problem child. Her parents pretty much agreed with her on that in general, having never been called in for low grades or not behaving in school. She was generally a good student for the most part all throughout grade school and middle school.

It wasn’t to say she and her dads never had any disagreements through the years. Kihel was growing and learning, so she was bound to develop her own opinions and ideas that may or may not clash with those around her. It was a normal part of life.

Of all the times Kihel had fought with her parents, prom night during senior year of high school was probably the worst one to date, to her at least.

Someone—Marcus, if she recalled correctly—sneaked alcohol into the school gymnasium. How he easily got past security with that unusually heavy bag was a puzzlement, but it made everyone excited nonetheless. There was a happy sort of buzzing energy all around, as the bottles were secretly passed around among the students, each one taking a curious sip then giggling to their friends after. For some, it was probably their first taste of alcohol, and thus a celebration of small wins that seemed big to them at that time.

Kihel blanched when a half-empty bottle was suddenly shoved into her hands. “Your turn, Lesage.”

She quickly glanced around, looking for some form of protest or escape. “Be careful, Kihel,” Terence had warned her earlier before dropping her off at school, and she had dismissed it easily, self assured that her parents were being worrywarts, as usual.

As it turned out, they had legitimate cause to be concerned, after all, and Kihel was this close to making it real as her hand trembled around the bottle she held, and her classmates cheered her name louder and louder. It was like a repeat of art class in first grade again, but worse.

No, Kihel thought defiantly. She was better than that. Her dads raised her well, and she was going to make them proud of her.

“I’m not drinking,” she firmly refused, handing back the bottle to the one standing next to her. “We shouldn’t be. It was in the rules.”

“Don’t be a spoilsport, Lesage,” Marcus’ friend jeered at her, the condescending tone he used making her want to claw at something in irritation. “Whose rules, the teachers’? They’re not even here!” Everyone laughed.

They actually were, Kihel thought darkly, but probably were too afraid to break up the growing disturbance like the old cowards they were. Her grade school teachers were better. Her dads—

“Or was it your dads who told you ‘no’?” Marcus chimed in. “You poor goody-two-shoes, acting all that just to make up for not having real pare—”

Kihel didn’t let him finish that sentence.

Everything else after was a blur, but she remembered her arms hurting all over, and her knuckles and fingernails burning. By the time she regained her senses, she felt weak and limp in the arms of a couple of friends who seemed to have been holding her back the whole time.

In the end, both she and Marcus were punished with a week-long suspension each. As much as her homeroom teacher fervently took her side, she couldn’t defend a student’s blatant display of violence in campus before the disciplinary committee, no matter what the circumstances that led to it. That said, the committee at least gave Kihel credit for speaking out against the rulebreakers, as well as for standing up to the slander against her parents.

“She’s a brave child, but she’s still young,” one teacher told her parents when they came to pick her up after the punishment was decided. “I believe that with time and enough guidance, she’ll be able to temper that energy and channel it to where it’s needed the most.”

The ride home was eerily quiet. Kihel was still sullen when they finally pulled into their driveway, refusing to get out of the car even after Dion had left. “I’m not sorry.”

Terence said nothing, his glance lingering briefly at her through the rearview mirror before following Dion into the house. It was a whole different kind of fight, one she was very unfamiliar and uncomfortable with. She couldn’t reason or argue or scream her way out, lest she drowns in the ringing silence and the pain that spread from her gut down to the very ends of her fingers and toes.

She didn’t know how she ended up in her room after that, but Dion was asleep at her bedside when she woke up. Terence was just opening the door with a tray of food in his hands when he yelped in joy in her direction. He immediately set the tray down on her desk and crushed her in a tight hug.

“Don’t make us worry like that again,” he voice broke as he scolded her, warm hands balling into fists as he shuddered. Oh, it’s like when Nana died all over again.

The commotion had awoken Dion, and he cleared his throat to get their attention. “Terence couldn’t sleep for the past two nights, you know,” he said to her nonchalantly, but couldn’t betray the similar emotion that filled his voice. Her dads would probably be fighting over who was more worried in more lighthearted times, but such thoughts were not suited at all for tonight.

It was the first time in a while since Kihel properly observed her parents’ faces up close, and she could see how much raising a family had aged them so. They were actually still young, having only been in their mid-twenties when they adopted her. They were still growing, too, Kihel realized, but they couldn’t show her their weaknesses—simply because they were her parents.

But they were also people, weren’t they? Everyone made mistakes. What was so strange about that?

Kihel shuddered in Terence’s arms, releasing the breath she didn’t know she held in until now. Why did their most important memories make them cry every time?

“This is so stupid,” Kihel whined after telling them as much, and the three of them laughed softly, having reached an unspoken understanding of sorts. They’ll weather through it somehow, together.

“I can’t do this.”

“You can, love. This is the last one.”

Kihel merely laughed from the sidelines as she watched Terence coax Dion into rehearsing his speech one more time. It had become like a comedy routine of theirs for the past month now, amid the rest of the wedding preparations they had to take care of. The great Dion Lesage getting stage fright was simply unthinkable.

The invitation from the Lesage family had been an unexpected but nonetheless welcome surprise. Dion had merely dropped the envelope in shock as he and Terence exchanged confused looks. “I thought you’ve been disowned?”

“Apparently not,” Dion muttered. Kihel picked up the fallen paper to read its contents. “... requesting the honor of your presence at the wedding of Anne-Marie Dubois and Olivier Lesage… Your brother wants you as his best man, Dad?”

“No one else probably wanted to do it,” Terence sighed, waving his hand. The Lesages were probably getting desperate, if they were going so far as to contact a family member they’d previously cut off, so they could keep up appearances. “What will you do, Dion?”

Kihel could tell how much of a tight spot this had put Dion in, if the way his eyebrows deeply furrowed was of any indication. If she could have her way, she’d summarily decline the invitation and any future attempts of the Lesage family to contact her dad, but she’d learned to control herself and pick her battles ever since high school. It was still hard, though, especially when family was concerned.

In the end, familial ties had won out and Dion responded ‘yes’ to the invitation. He believed this a good opportunity to reconnect at the very least, despite having nonexistent fraternal feelings for the groom. He and Olivier’s mother, Annabella, have always had a frosty relationship at best, with frequent bouts of aggression from his stepmother’s end. How Dion could even think of being cordial with her confounded both Terence and Kihel, but they respected his wishes all the same.

Another thing that probably helped the situation was the same Annabella apparently being the biological mother of Mr. Rosfield, her art teacher from grade school. Kihel had been genuinely surprised upon finding out that Dion and Mr. Rosfield were even related at all, but in hindsight, that probably explained why they were such good friends since she was a child.

Mr. Rosfield had called earlier to say that he and his brother were also attending the wedding, as a sign of goodwill towards their estranged mother. At least Dion will have someone he trusts with him there, since she and Terence weren’t invited. A shame, though, since she’d only gotten to meet Mr. Rosfield a handful of times since graduating from grade school.

Terence was still coaching Dion when Kihel broke out of her reverie. Looking at the way they lightly teased each other like this, it seemed like the two of them were practicing their vows for their own wedding instead. They never got to officially tie the knot, however, because raising Kihel had taken priority at that time, until all notions of holding a wedding had fallen to the wayside over time.

Yet they still endured together all the same, through all those years. Seeing her dads wear their engagement rings as she grew up left a deep impression on her, kindling in her so much warmth and a desire to someday find the one she would spend the rest of her life with.

What a sorry bunch of romantics they were, but Kihel wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Did you say something, Kihel?”

Whoops. “Just talking to myself.” Kihel smiled. “I’ll go back to studying now. Good night, dads.”

“Good night,” her parents said in unison. They’ll probably bring out the wine now that she’s gone and end up sleeping together on the couch until the next morning, but no matter. It was her turn to make breakfast tomorrow anyway.

“Cheers! ”

The shuttering of multiple cameras accompanied the clinking of champagne flutes as the group toasted to Kihel, who was grinning as she downed her own glass. It wasn’t everyday that she graduated from college, and she was going to savor every bit of triumph after years of hard work.

Kihel had initially wanted to pursue a business-related degree to follow in Dion’s footsteps, but something had been pulling her to go into Pharmacy instead. Meeting Tarja again after many years at a volunteering activity had sealed the deal, when her heart was moved by all the people who needed help. It vaguely reminded her of a far-away memory she couldn’t quite place, but she decided not to think deeply into it.

“So, what’s next for you, Kihel?” Mr. Rosfield—Joshua—asked her. It felt strange to be calling her former teacher by his first name after all this time, but Joshua’s older brother Clive and his wife Jill were also present tonight, and it would definitely be confusing to tell who she was referring to at any given moment.

“Probably a community-based clinic for now? It’s where all the patients are,” Kihel mused. “I don’t think I’ll do med school. My parents are not getting any younger, and I’d like to spend as much time as I can at home.”

Dion’s outraged “We’re not that old yet!” and Terence’s protesting “Couldn’t you just say you missed us?!” both came out at the same time, which had the whole table laughing again. Kihel’s laugh was the loudest of them all, even as her ears were a vivid shade of red, and not just from the alcohol. She did miss her parents a lot; college was the first time she’d been away for so long. But she wasn’t going to say that outright until all their guests left.

As the small party finally wound down, Joshua discreetly called Kihel’s attention. “It’s happening tonight,” he told her knowingly, looking fondly towards the kitchen, where her parents were busy cleaning up.

Kihel smothered a squeak with her palm. “Oh! Finally! Dad Dion told you?”

“Yesterday, through text. But I imagine you’ve also noticed some things here and there over the past weeks, haven’t you?”

She actually had, a little, but didn’t want to presume. Maybe they’d just been waiting for her to finish with school before pushing through with their wedding plans. Terence had even hinted at it during one of their regular calls in her last semester. Still, Kihel was quite excited at the prospect of her parents finally officially getting married after more than twenty years.

Back in the kitchen, Terence passed a cleaned dish to Dion, who dried it with a worn dishcloth. Their fingers briefly touched and lingered for the longest few seconds only two people who loved each other would know, and shared the most beautiful, intimate smiles they reserved only for when they were alone together. Kihel put a hand over her heart at this sight, trying not to cry, lest she give away the fact that she already knew.

Joshua patted her shoulder encouragingly. “Everyone’s happy and excited for them. Those two more than deserve it, really.” And maybe there was something in Joshua’s voice that made her think he knew more than he let on, but she was probably just imagining it. “Thank you for being with them, Kihel.”

Oh, no. Why did she have to cry now? Every. Single. Time!

“Phoenix! ” Her dads hollered in unison at Joshua, who was soothingly rubbing her back as she sniffled back her tears. “How dare you make our daughter cry!”

Joshua merely shrugged, not even defending himself. Clive and Jill were both watching with amusement. And just like that, Kihel began to laugh again, albeit in small hiccups this time. “I’m alright, dads. Joshua and I were just catching up.”

“Hmm, if you say so.” Dion looked over Kihel one more time, then briefly sent Joshua a threatening glare before returning to the kitchen. Terence gently smoothed over her hair before kissing the top of her head, to which she looked up and beamed.

Everyone had someone who loved them and whom they loved with all their heart. This, Kihel realized over time, was what family meant. There were many kinds of families out there, and this was hers, where she was home and she was loved.

(+1)

By the time their guests left, Kihel had already fallen asleep, curled up on the couch. It had been a long, busy day, from the graduation ceremony in the morning to their small dinner party that lasted until shortly before midnight. No wonder the lady of the hour was beyond exhausted at the end of it all.

Dion spread a blanket over his daughter, remembering the many times he’d done so over the years: first as her babysitter when Ethel was still alive, then later as her father. At the same time, he was probably the stricter parent between him and Terence, who was overall gentler and indulged her more as she grew up.

He felt a pair of arms snake around his waist, pulling him back to rest on a broad chest. Dion relaxed into Terence’s embrace, turning his head slightly to meet his lover’s lips in a slow kiss. Moments like these were always precious to them even after all these years, when they could just enjoy the peace and quiet and each other.

The past twenty years since Kihel came into their lives have been a whirlwind in more ways than one. Suddenly becoming parents at a young age certainly wasn’t in their plans when they were first building their lives together, but Dion could not be more grateful that it all ended up the way it did, and he was sure Terence felt the same way. “It all went by so fast, didn’t it?”

“I wish it didn’t, actually. It feels like such a waste when you say it that way.” Terence rested his head into the crook of Dion’s neck, the arms around his waist tightening as they gently swayed to the chirping of cicadas outside. “So many things happened. I want to cherish them all, savor each moment to the fullest.

“We’ve changed so much since then. When I look back, I’m surprised at how far we’ve come. But we’ve done it, haven’t we?”

Even as Terence voiced his question, he carried himself with so much more conviction now. It wasn’t to say that they had no moments of weakness or doubt, but time and experience have made them into who they’ve become today—hopefully better people than before, and better fathers to Kihel.

“We have, indeed.” They looked upon their sleeping daughter once more with so much love, more than their hearts combined could ever contain. “And I love the people we’ve become, more than anything.”

Dion knelt beside the couch, Terence beside him. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind Kihel’s ear, tears filling his eyes. “With each passing day, I could only love more and more. How lucky I am to have been born in this life. To have a family. A daughter to cherish.” He turned to face Terence. “A husband to spend forever with.”

Terence chuckled at that, gently bumping his forehead against Dion’s while threading their fingers together. “You’ve been saying that for twenty years now, love. I bet Aunt Ethel’s already rolling in her grave in frustration because of how slow you are.”

“Oh, she’d understand. Would you rather she haunted us instead if something had happened to Kihel?”

“Point taken.” Terence relaxed once more before catching Dion’s lips in another kiss. “When do we start planning our wedding?”

“Tomorrow.” Dion answered, certain. “After we tell Kihel.”

#final fantasy xvi #kihel #dion lesage #sir terence #modern AU #family feels #flareknight #tedi #teredio #dion x terence

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pocketramblr · 8 days

Note

An AU where All Might is getting close to finding where AFO is and as a last resort AFO convinces Kotaro to let him stay over in the guest room for a while. As he waits for All Might to lose his trail.

Every day my nonnies say put poor Nao in a pressure cooker...

1- AfO has his fake address blown up while he's at work. When the news reaches them on their lunch break, Kotaro immediately invites him to dinner, texting Nao. He stays the night, and the next morning Kotaro goes with him to see if there's anything left. There isn't. He gives AfO the day off to go buy some clothes, anything else he needs. He stays another night. Then five more nights.

2- Nao asks after a week how long Kotaro thinks he'll need to stay with them. She isn't trying to push him out faster, just figure out how many groceries are needed. Kotaro is sure it'll be less than a month. Hana says that's fine, because she's been drawing all of them and he is another person she can practice. Kotaro and Nao smile, as her crayon drawings sorta all look the same, but encourage her anyway.

3- after a month, Nao is getting fed up. Kotaro's friend monopolizes his attention and every conversation. Apparently, he agrees with Kotaro about disliking heroes, and made Hana cry about it. Her parents aren't saying anything but they keep given her looks. She hasn't let her husband touch her in a month because no, she doesn't care if he says his friend sleeps like the dead (and how does Kotaro even know that anyway??) she still feels like she's being watched, listened in on.

4- Nao is patient. She holds on longer than she should, snaps too late. It's over two months in when she tells Kotaro that either his friend gets a hotel room, or she does. They've barely had one three minute conversation that week, he and his friend have stayed up late getting so wine drunk and loud that her parents and Hana all complained about getting woken up two separate times, and the weird comments from him about her weight plus the remarks about having another child is over the line, especially when it seems neither man is helping much out with the child already under the roof. Kotaro, sufficiently chastened, apologizes, and sets Nao and Hana up in a hotel for night, promising to talk with his friend about it, it'll just be easier without an audience.

5- listening in to this conversation, AfO finishes hiding the fake positive pregnancy test in the trashcan, and the box with one other test in the back of a cabinet. He plans to be a perfect understanding friend during the conversation, even begin to pack his things that night, then ask Kotaro if he's seen his razor. Anything his "friend" finds or doesn't find, anyway he reacts or doesn't, should be amusing. But as fun as his time with the Shimuras has been, he's decently sure All Might's lost his scent now, and it's time to move on to the next step of his plans for Nana's family if there's nothing else he can get out of them.

#pocket talks to people #anon #ask game

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sincerleyren · 1 year

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Looking for a Pen Pal

Hi fellow pen pal seekers! My name is Ren and I used to have a couple Tumblr pen pals in University who I lost touch with. I really miss the snail mail experience and getting to know people in that unique way, so I wanted to see if there’s anyone who might be interested in exchanging letters. More about me if your interested: I’m 25 years old, an AFAB Nonbinary bisexual + Poly person and I’m from Turtle Island, or Canada, specifically Toronto/Tkaranto. I am into cartoons and anime (Nana, Fruits Basket, Studio Ghibli, Arcane, Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, OTGW, Bee + Puppycat, Bojack Horseman are some of my faves). I love to read and my embarrassing weakness is fae fantasy romance (ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince series). I am slowing building a Kawaii fashion wardrobe and I love analyzing different facets of the style and pros and cons of it’s impact on society. I am an amateur sewer who is getting into making their own clothes and cosplay. A hobby I am tryin to resume at the moment is working out and pole dancing classes. I also love to draw and to write, both my own original writing as well as fanfiction. I am also a pagan who follows a reconstructionist Celtic polytheism path. If any of these interests seem to vibe with you as someone you would like to exchange letters with please feel free to message me! I would love to find someone who likes to make their letters a bit EXTRA. I’d love to send each other stickers, pictures, drawings, cute inexpensive trinkets that would fit in a letter. Just making them pretty and fun for each other when we have the time.

#pen pal #pen pal finder #snail mail #letter exchange #pen pals #cartoons #kawaii fashion #anime #fantasy books

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klonoadreams · 2 years

Photo

alright, finalized Nana’s design in a VERY messy sketch. Decided to go with brown skin, since it goes nicely with the black and white hair, plus the yellow eyes. :V

Basically, like Yuu (ewe), except a bit more on the creepy side instead of floofy calmness due to her eye. Somehow, my messy lines actually make it easier to convey what I want.

Not shown are her shark teeth, which are EXTRA SHARP. And normally, I don’t go beyond the standard ear piercing (earlobe only), but decided to go nuts on this one due to the inspiration involving Yako from Jibaku Shounen Hanako-Kun.

oh yeah, they’re meant to be bells, so...jingle jingle bitch. :V

yeeted her in the typical sailor fuku uniform, mostly to get this particular vibe

minus the ginormous tits (we don’t talk about Raita’s inability to draw giant tits normally)

besides, Nana’s flat as a board

Anyways, this is effectively Nana during her high school days. When she’s older, she...doesn’t look that much different, just has longer and messier hair I would say??

Maybe better clothes, too. :V (I doubt Nobara would allow her to look like a mess lmao)

have fun with this info.

#jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen oc #jjk oc #jjk #nana (oc)#nanafushigi (fanfic)#i told you she's kinda skrunkly lmao #just a little fucked up #klonoa does a thing

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sushideception · 3 months

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Scent Memories: The Rubin Museum

A few months ago, I visited the Rubin Museum, a beautiful little gem of a place exhibiting Himalayan Buddhist art. One floor of the museum is dedicated to interactive exhibits; when I went, there was a row of monitors and a table at the back with books.

Each monitor had a little aperture at the top that sprayed a scented mist, and a screen that played a brief video presentation about the smell and what it meant to the artist who designed it (who knew there were scent artists?). One was the smell of earth after rain, one was the smell of a waterfall, I don't remember the others. The exhibit was about the link between smell and memory. The multimedia presentations were nice, but my favourite part was the back of the room, where there was a red table strewn with books and pencils.

They were blank white paperbacks, square, and each page was the same template: WHEN I SMELL ________, I REMEMBER _________

I couldn't stop reading the entries that visitors had filled out. They were funny, heartfelt, nostalgic, sweet, sad, homesick, beautiful. I wanted to steal one of the books but I knew it wouldn't be right--instead I scrawled my own entry and took photos of as many as I could before moving on. I've included all the photos I took, as well as transcriptions below.

WHEN I SMELL Patchouli, I REMEMBER My mother

She was always wearing something that smelled this even if it was a cologne. I didn't like it. It embarrassed me because it was so strong. Now I miss it and think of her anytime I smell it

WHEN I SMELL My grandmother's perfume, I REMEMBER the fun and special times we had together. I remember us doing movie night and making sandwiches + all sorts of fun.

I wish I knew what it was called.

WHEN I SMELL wood/paint, I REMEMBER... [drawing of a hardware store]

WHEN I SMELL Lilac, I REMEMBER the Lilac Bush in the driveway by the side of our house-- it was my moms favorite--

WHEN I SMELL a smoke, I REMEMBER... home (Delhi), the smell of agarbhati always brings me back

WHEN I SMELL Bushell's leaf tea, I REMEMBER My Nana's clothes and gifts she brought us when she visited. She would pack cardboard boxes of Bushell's leaf tea in between her clothes in her suitcase so we would have plenty of Australian tea in the US. We would gather round in our dressing gowns as soon as we got up and sip tea together. I still take Bushell's wherever I go in the world, and its scent and taste are calming and centering as I start my day.

WHEN I SMELL Rose, I REMEMBER My grandmother who always wears Rose scented lotion. She is my inspiration and one of my favorite People.

WHEN I SMELL chicken + rice, I REMEMBER my mom making her African chicken and rice on days when she didn't plan out dinner. My older sister and I hated when we could smell it cause we wanted to eat out at Chipotle or Chick-fil-a. Now I crave that meal and ask my mom to make it everytime I'm home from college

WHEN I SMELL bleau (?) by Chanel*, I REMEMBER my old friend/prom date

*This is not an ad!

I moved to a new school for my senior year of high school & became good friends with this one boy. He liked to wear Bleau by Chanel and I'd steal his jacket from his locker - which we shared - and wear it for the rest of the day. He was also my date for prom - it was one of the best nights I've ever had.

WHEN I SMELL corn chip, I REMEMBER my dog Jade and taking a nap with her. Very peaceful she always smells like corn chips :)

WHEN I SMELL GOJO, I REMEMBER... DAD WASHING HIS HANDS AT THE LEE MYLES IN OAKDALE

WHEN I SMELL ~20°F cold winter air, I REMEMBER walking home from the bus stop in the suburbs of Illinois. I like winter but also one of my most vivid memories walking home is slipping on black ice + falling on my ass. [my mind creature]

WHEN I SMELL Diptyque OLENE, I REMEMBER... Oo. I think of you, and that summer that seemed endless. I remember the sunshine and the green grapevines

I remember you smoking in front of me, speaking out your feelings about me. I remember me knowing nothing about our path but still feel infinite happiness. Sometimes I hope I could stay there and never wake up from that sweet dream. I'll just keep this a secret.

WHEN I SMELL apples, I REMEMBER San Francisco

I spent a summer working in SF. Nothing glamorous, but I was in love. With a new city, my newfound individuality, with possiblity. That summer I developed an allergy to apples, which made me more sad than I'd like to admit. I also got my heart broken. I always remember SF fondly, though.

WHEN I SMELL stinky tofu, I REMEMBER summers in my childhood spent running around Beijing with friends I had made off of the street without a care in the world

WHEN I SMELL mitsubishi wall AC, I REMEMBER...

[Chai! Chai! Chai!

The motherland right after power comes back on]

WHEN I SMELL Jazz Club, I REMEMBER... Christmastime datenight in a rooftop glass cabin in the South Seaport. Red wine flowing, fake fire burning, grad school fatigue and covid anxiety, brussel sprouts and mac n cheese.

WHEN I SMELL Contradiction, I REMEMBER The bottle of Calvin Klein perfume I received from a lover during a getaway in Venice in 2000. The perfume has since been discontinued but I keep the 23-year old bottle in a drawer in my old bedroom in Brooklyn to savor at random times when I want to think of that life-altering trip. I recall the mist over the lagoon at dawn as my vaporetto brought me close to shore. Then my mind drifts to the bedroom in the Hotel Campanello where I received the bottle...

I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did. I didn't take a photo of what I added to the book; but when I smell basil, I remember going out to the backyard to pick basil in the summer so my mom could make pesto. I would fill up a big metal bowl with the shiny leaves. My hands always smelled fragrant and floral afterwards.

#in the world

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shih-coulda-had-it · 2 years

Note

Series/film ask, BHNA, and I want your opinion on everyone's fashion sense. ✨

the ask game in question

because i have the fashion sense of a shut-in, i'm actually 80% affectionate of horikoshi's design choices. my least favorite include mineta and a lot of the female pro-heroes outfits (creati, midnight, bubble girl, mirko) because... i can't stop myself from thinking about tiddy physics.

let's see if i can structure this around my favorite characters

casual wear/civilian clothes

nana: LOVE THEM. i can see myself wearing them, and also her half up-do is iconic. the overcoat? the scarf? mom jeans? yes yes yes.

torino: prime torino's black turtleneck short sleeve shirt is very sexy. i know in my heart he's a leather jacket with fleece collar guy, because he's cool. as old torino, i'm a big fan of his button-up, jeans, and cowboy boots with the flames, and i love his belt buckle because it's easy to make fun of it.

all might: his fashion sense is impeccable. leave his banana-yellow pinstripe suit alone!!! his cargo pants have many pockets and are thus useful!!! my current favorite items of his include the aviators of Cool Might, the letterman jacket of Young Might, and his winter overcoat.

hero gear

nana: 8/10. jumpsuit shows off her arms, which is very sexy. billowing white cape with the red skirt-thing to contrast, also sexy. yellow gloves like torino? yes. -1 for continuing to confuse me about the jumpsuit palette, and another -1 for the continuity error in vestigeland, when horikoshi inked in sleeves.

torino: 10/10. iconic. easy to draw from memory. tubby gloves and tubby boots are adorable. he has a G for belt buckle like fashion designer Hermes has an H. there are green buttons for some reason? canonically his jumpsuit's neckline is probably below the cape collar, but i like to hike it up for repressed reasons. i'd like to add that him wearing a domino mask that may or may not have opaque lenses makes him a classic comic book hero.

all might: ??/10. he has so many iterations! and all of them are so fiddly with design that i both love and hate. why doesn't he wear gloves? why are all his jumpsuits vacuum-sealed to his muscles? his belt buckle is designed to have his eyebrows/bangs + the eye shadows, and i think that's lovely.

special shout-outs

en's high collar jacket that makes me think his hero name was smokestack

afo's popped collar overcoat that is so dramatic but indicative that he's a Bad Guy

izuku's shirts that keep having silly names written on the front

hawks' wristwatch fashion ad

lady nagant's "bitch i bet you thought you'd seen the last of me" dress during her fight with izuku

#bnha #shih.txt #asks #thisauthorisscreaming #BESTIE BLESS U FOR SENDING IN AN ASK

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free-pancakes · 3 years

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Hello Pancakes! I love your Hogwarts AU... Would you draw or write some LH in fancy clothes at the yule ball? With a gorgeous Hange and a Levi who can't keep his eyes off her? If you do this..you'll get a lifetime suply of syrup and butter...your pancake will never be alone. Btw, will you update Dreams and Nightmares soon? *manifesting*

wahh sorry for the late response, anon! this was fun, i hope you like!! (and for Dreams and Nightmares... SORRY lol don't worry I'll finish it, I just havent been in the mood for it in awhile! hopefully soon)

--------

Levi and Nanaba walk into the Great Hall, enchanted to be twice the size it usually is, the room practically shimmering gold and silver decor.

“Wow...” Nanaba breathed out, turning to smile at Levi, his eyes wide and sparkling with light. He had never seen anything like it, and for whatever reason, it made his heart do leaps in his chest. As Nanaba walked around saying hello to their fellow Hufflepuffs, Levi shoved his hands into the pockets of his traditional suit, a hand-me-down from Kenny, so naturally, it was much too big on him. Luckily Nanaba had figured out a spell to help tuck in the ends of his pants so they would drag on the floor, but he still felt like he looked ridiculous. He normally couldn’t care less about what he looked like, but tonight, well… he wanted to look nice.

“Why do you suddenly care that this suit fit you well, Levi?” Nana had asked with a teasing look in her eye.

“You know, just in case a certain someone wanted to dance with him… or something like that,” Levi had replied without making eye contact.

As the initial wonder of the room faded and kids from other schools flooded in, he tailed Nanaba closely, suspicious of some of the other schools kids. His ice-cold glare laid upon three young students from Beauxbatons who were doing the same as their friends were for Hange, helping prepare for the Triwizard Tournament tasks. Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie hurried off, uncomfortable with Levi shooting daggers into them with just his gaze. Before Levi could sneak off to follow them to make sure they weren’t still trying to help Zeke cheat to win the tournament for Beauxbatons, the candlelight suddenly dimmed.

The orchestra began to play as bright lights fell upon the top of the staircase. Out from behind the curtain, Erwin stepped forth, looking sharp as ever. He reached out to grab a hand, and then revealed a bright, shimmering traditional gown. Locking arms, Erwin grabs a hold of Hange, her expression showing that she was clearly uncomfortable in the traditional dress she was forced to wear, but she smiled as Erwin reassured her.

Nanaba looked over to Levi, and it took all her energy to keep herself from bursting out in laughter. She pushed her hand up against his chin to close Levi’s jaw. “Pull yourself together, man!” she hissed. But Levi didn’t care—he could not take his eyes of Hange. His eyes shimmered in the low light, tearing up, not because he was crying, but because he forgot to even blink.

Across the room, Mike made eye contact with Nanaba signaling a questionable thumbs up, and could do nothing but facepalm. “No, Levi is gonna need some help,” she mouthed, and Mike ran off.

Levi continue to stand frozen, not even reacting to people bumping into him trying to walk onto the dance floor, and he stared as Hange and Erwin danced.

“Are you going to be okay?” Nanaba asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m alright,” Levi muttered, his eyes still fixated. She squeezed his shoulder with a smile, and left him to his thoughts.

Hours passed, but to Levi, time only stood still as he observed Hange talking to everyone all night. He didn’t want to bother her—he knew she was busy, and left her to it.

“Come on Levi,” a voice sounded from behind him. Spinning around, Levi shook his head at Erwin. “No Erwin, I don’t want to ruin her fun. We’ve been spending so much time together prepping for each task, she needs to just—“

“Let’s go,” Erwin insisted, dragging a reluctant Levi by the elbow. And suddenly, Mike was in front of him, dancing with Hange, her smile and laugh mesmerizing to Levi. And before he knew it, Mike handed her off to him and now… Hange was in his arms, his fingers interlocked with hers on one hand, his other hand gingerly holding her waist.

He just about shit his pants before Hange finally got a hold of him.

“Leviiiiii, hellloooooo??? Anyone home??” She called, her face inches from his. He yelled “Ow!” as he felt her knuckles knocking on his forehead.

“Four-Eyes, what the hell!” Levi said, finally snapping out of it.

“Are you okay? Are you running a fever?” Hange asked frantically, the back of her hand now laying on his forehead.

Levi felt heat rush to his cheeks, and felt his stomach rumble with the nerves. He grabbed her hand, and placed it back on his shoulder, and danced.

The two of them eventually began to talk comfortably with each other, laughing as they made fun of Zeke and talked about all the crazy behind-the-scenes drama Hange filled Levi in on. They continued to dance, happy as ever.

“Levi, you look so good in your suit!” Hange exclaimed, and Levi embarrassingly looked away. “You don’t look half bad yourself, Hange,” he said under his breath.

“Oh this fancy dress is gross isn’t it? So itchy—“ she said with a laugh. But her smile quickly faded when her eyes locked again with Levi’s, his eyes soft under the candle light. She had never felt her heart skip a beat before—and for a second she thought she was dying or something. But maybe this is what it felt like to…

Hange smiled to herself, and leaned in, resting her forehead onto Levi’s, and it felt like everything around them had melted away, just the two of them. Before their lips could touch, Levi yelled.

Startled, Hange leaned back to see frosting all over the sides of Levi’s hair.

“Food fight!” Echoed in the hall, Hange seeing two little first years she knew were Sasha and Connie pitching cake all over. Hange stared at Levi’s flabbergasted expression, and threw her head back in laughter. She turned towards a table and grabbed some cake, squishing some into Levi’s hand. He smirked at her, and the two ran to join the fight as food flew through the air all throughout the hall, laughing as they threw their slices right at Mike and Erwin’s faces and sprinted away together without a care in the world.

#levihan #levihan fanfiction #drabble #hange zoe #levi ackerman #nanaba #hogwarts au #hp au

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