#Truly episode tailored on me specifically

[sskk-manifesto]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[utilitycaster]

this is fully hitting the wasp's nest so if you don't post it, i get it but like...i wish more of fandom was open to interacting with the material as presented than forcing into their preferred narratives. I like imodna as a concept. I've been interested in it since c3e1 and I'm intrigued to see where it may or may not go. But I would absolutely rather read your takes after an episode than the imodna fans because you're not trying to force every character action so its fit a specific narrative

Hey anon!

I really appreciate this! I hope you don’t mind me using it as a jumping off point to talk about a lot of general fandom response thoughts that have been percolating for a while, but I do want to answer you specifically which is that I’m incredibly grateful you told me. I do this too! I like to follow people who have different favorite characters or ships but who are engaging thoughtfully with canon. I genuinely have a much, much better understanding of Veth, whom I always liked but often struggled to get, because over time I've followed a number of people for whom she was one of their favorites and who write good meta about her.

With that said, people can engage how they want! It’s entirely valid to interpret things through shipping goggles/only watch because you want two characters to kiss (and you can want them to kiss for no reason other than "it would be gay”), or to like or dislike characters based on surface details. It’s just that like…to me, meta based on canon, or talking about the narrative and themes is saying “this is what I see, and I’m explaining it to you in the hopes that you can understand what I see, even if you don’t see it the same way” and shipping goggle interpretations are, ultimately, preaching to the choir. Like, honestly, I was never terribly into it, but I gave Imodna a shot! It hasn’t delivered on anything that specifically interests me and I’m more invested in other relationships for them right now. I'm also still open to things happening in canon in the future that would change my mind. But I'm not personally interested in forcing them to be together at all costs. Honestly, even for things I really, really ship, I never feel that way, because in the end I'm more interested in watching a story.

This could be a whole treatise - honestly the starting point for a lot of these thoughts is that masters’ thesis on toxic fandom behaviors w/r/t shipping that went around - but I’ll keep it relatively short here and if anyone wants me to elaborate on anything here, they can ask.

Basically, as I said above, there are lots of different ways to engage with the text, and the vast majority are valid, but looking at the canon and writing about conclusions drawn from it, or even writing fic that is deeply based in canon and makes smart extrapolations from it, are a way to make your own feelings about the text accessible to others. Saying “I think Blorbo 1 and Blorbo 2 should kiss with tongue” is not. It’s just as genuine and valid to say! I take it in good faith that the speaker truly wants Blorbos 1 and 2 to kiss with tongue! But If I don’t already agree, it’s not going to convince me because it’s not an argument. And, to be honest, if that’s a really common fandom feeling, and I don’t particularly care for Blorbo 1 and Blorbo 2’s dynamic, I might write about the limitations I see in it from canon (on my own blog, to be clear, not as a reblog or anything obnoxious like that). And, if I do that, I don’t mind if someone looks at what I wrote, and says “anyway, I think Blorbo 1 and Blorbo 2 should kiss with tongue”, and continues along their way, and ignores or blocks me and finds like-minded people! I only mind if they start directly engaging with me with the intent of convincing me, without putting in the effort to provide arguments tailored specifically to me. And even then…does it matter if I don’t want Blorbo 1 and Blorbo 2 to kiss with tongue? I don’t have any more control over this happening or not happening in canon than you do.

I think there are two big reasons why discourse can get so fraught and vicious. The first is that  I think a lot of people who aren’t writing in terms of narrative, canon, and argument have very personal feelings about characters, which is good and valid! But they then see a dislike of that character as a dislike of them, which isn’t actually true, both because what makes a good character or interesting ship is not the same as what makes a good real-world person or healthy relationship (insert Anna Karenina line here); and because one person’s dislike of a character can be for different reasons than why someone else relates to the character (eg: the reasons I didn’t vibe with Molly were because he was often flaky and manipulative. If you relate to Molly but it’s because you’re genderfluid and do circus acrobatics and tarot readings, then our feelings are not in contradiction; we’re just responding to different things about him). I also think some people see a preference for one character over another, even if the person expressing the preference likes both characters, as an attack on their favorite. That, to be honest, is just really stupid and they should work through that.

The second, and this is where this does get more judgmental, is that I think that sometimes, people who are responding to surface things or relatability attempt to make arguments that inappropriately co-opt the language of social justice (not that it’s inappropriate to use social justice language when apt in fandom, but like…keep it systemic and about patterns), or which are inconsistent. To use an example, during Campaign 2, I remember receiving two different anons, one in which someone basically said “funny how Essek is granted the grace that Astrid never is; fandoms hate women”; and one in which someone said “funny how Astrid is granted the grace that Essek never is; fandoms hate characters of color”, and the real answer is that Astrid and Essek are very similar but do have key differences and if the criticisms of Astrid or Essek are rooted in misogyny or racism, respectively, then that’s worth pointing out, but I think it’s really unhealthy and unkind to assume people don’t like something because they’re bigoted (and indeed, this demonstrates a no-win situation with two characters each of whom is a member of an oppressed group, so that no matter whom people prefer you can always make this accusation, which means it’s meaningless without evidence.) And, if someone says in your inbox “well I don’t like Essek because he’s a wizard who is interested in power”, then it is valid to say “ok, well, then why are you arguing that I should like Astrid, a wizard who is interested in power?” because you’re pointing out the flaws in their argument. (sidebar: I, personally, like both Essek and Astrid. This is purely for illustrative purposes.)

Anyway I think the conclusion to be made is like, everyone may like what they like, but if it’s important to you that other people like what you like, you need to put in the work, and also, it’s worth examining why this is important to you...but it's that kind of thinking that makes people insist on certain narratives rather than just watching the show, because they are trying to prove themselves right rather than providing predictions and opinions, sitting back, and seeing if they come to pass.

[variousqueerthings]

I'm currently watching Nightmare Time, which is a very interesting way of trying to tailor their structure to zoom, and gives a lot of depth to various characters from the musicals, while having a bit less musical, due to being a zoom read

so having seen the first two episodes and enjoyed that, I can go back and think about the guy who didn't like musicals, black friday, and nerdy prudes must die

obviously the guy who didn't like musicals was going to appeal to me, because I think the concept is great (and we all know The Guy who doesn't like musicals) and the way they executed it/the way the singing manifested was pretty great -- I'd want to watch it all again anyway, but also with this one specifically to pinpoint the musical references in the music. the ending when the audience is clapping and emma is screaming for help is my favourite of the three, simply because... well it's so fucked up

I think out of the three that black friday felt a tad messier in story structure, but wiggly was so good as a villain and I liked the mains so much that it didn't matter (+ it gave one of the creepiest songs of the three musicals). the final song was very beautiful, and I feel like you really get that big hint at a deeper Lore that's lurking beneath the individual stories (there's a bit of that with tgwdlm but here it shines through stronger). uncle wiley is amazing/my favourite of the three musical villains

and then nerdy prudes must die, which holy moly, took the best things from the first two and amplified them, and in which I think every song is a banger! the characters are amazing, grace chastity's arc! and a perfectly executed romantic arc, and the inherent tragedy of ruth and ritchie, and then. the Lords In Black. truly feels like one has earned something spectacular by the time they come along and wow are they amazing. i almost wish the editing had given us more wide shots during the summoning scene, so one could see them all on stage simultaneously (i believe there was only a brief glimpse of that), but fuck. you want to see a million more things centered around them -- appreciate how the ending is more open than first suggested, I have no idea if they're continuing to make work in this verse, but there's plenty more to explore, I'm sure

and I'm sure a lot will be explored in nightmare time too

[true-blue-sonic]

Hello Blue, Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening!!

For the Ask Game: Your top 5 most hated characters.

Good afternoon! ^-^

Oof, this is a tough one, haha! I really can't think of any characters I truly hate... But there's certainly characters I dislike or don't think too fondly of, if I think of them at all. I really wrecked my brain as best I could, but there's only three (groups of) characters I can think of that I just don't particularly care about, namely these. Unpopular opinions incoming!

3. Cream the Rabbit: I don't do well with extremely high-pitched voices, and her whole shtick of Cute Polite Little Girl just doesn't do it for me either. I like her in Rush... because she has only a handful of voice clips, and got some sass to her, plus her friendship with Blaze is quite sweet. But otherwise, she doesn't engage me much.

2. Chris Thorndyke: I haven't watched Sonic X in years, but I do recall that the first episode of Sonic X was my favourite for a long time, because he only appeared there at the very end. The issue is that he seems to take away from game characters without contributing anything interesting in return for me. Plus, the way the narrative presents him does not check out to me: it states him to be a lonely child, but his parents do seem to be quite engaged in his life (such as him being allowed to go to the castle where his mom is shooting a movie, both of them coming home when he is ill and stuff), especially as time goes on in the anime and adjacent comics. Therefore, I dislike how he's willing to force Sonic to stay with him and throw two worlds in turmoil, and then in season 3 abandoning his friends and family to go meet Sonic again despite it being highly uncertain if he can ever return, if I remember correctly.

1. The Freedom Fighters (I'll just take them as a collective): I didn't grow up with them, and thus they never really endeared themselves to me. As it stands, they just don't interest me; also here, for me they seem to take away from the game characters, without contributing anything interesting in turn. I don't want them to return to any Sonic media: for me, their story is over, and I think it is place for both old and new characters to get a chance to shine. It doesn't help that their stories are highly specifically tailored to the world of SatAM and Archie, and thus introducing them in official media in a way that makes them even remotely keep their backstories is likely going to be more trouble than it is worth.

[wellnessplus]

Launching My Podcast Dreams: A Review of "Modern Podcasting Digital - Ebooks"

I've always dreamt of starting my own podcast. I have a passion for [your niche topic] and I wanted to share it with the world. However, the technical aspects and the sheer unknown of navigating the podcasting landscape felt daunting. Enter "Modern Podcasting Digital - Ebooks," a resource that became my guiding light on this exciting new venture.

From Concept to Creation: A Beginner's Roadmap

The very first section of the ebook brilliantly tackles the initial hurdles aspiring podcasters face. It doesn't throw technical jargon at you; instead, it offers a step-by-step approach to brainstorming ideas. The importance of defining your niche is clearly explained, helping you focus on a specific audience and tailor your content accordingly. What truly impressed me was the practical guidance on choosing the right equipment and setting up a recording space. Even if you're on a budget, the ebook offers resourceful suggestions to ensure decent audio quality without breaking the bank.

Captivating Content: The Art of Engaging Listeners

"Modern Podcasting Digital - Ebooks" delves deeper than just the technical aspects. It delves into the heart of what makes a podcast successful: compelling content. The section on content creation strategies was an absolute goldmine. I learned how to structure captivating episodes, craft effective storytelling techniques, and even incorporate interviews for a more dynamic format. The ebook's emphasis on audience engagement resonated deeply. It provided actionable tips on keeping listeners hooked, ensuring they eagerly await your next episode.

Building Your Audience: Spreading Your Voice

The world of podcasting is vast, and getting your voice heard can feel like a challenge. Thankfully, "Modern Podcasting Digital - Ebooks" dedicates a section entirely to promotion strategies. It explores the power of social media platforms like [mention relevant platforms] to connect with potential listeners. The ebook goes beyond the obvious, suggesting creative ways to leverage online directories and even collaborate with other podcasters to expand your reach.

Monetization Magic: Turning Your Passion into Profit

Perhaps the most intriguing section for aspiring podcasters with long-term goals is the one on monetization. The ebook explores various strategies to turn your podcast into a sustainable venture. From attracting sponsorships to offering premium content for dedicated listeners, it offers practical advice on building a revenue stream without compromising the quality of your content.

A Well-Rounded Guide for Budding Podcasters

"Modern Podcasting Digital - Ebooks" is more than just an ebook; it's a comprehensive guide that empowers aspiring podcasters like myself. It takes you from the initial spark of an idea to the launch of a successful podcast. The clear structure, actionable advice, and supportive approach make it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to embark on their podcasting journey. With the knowledge I gained from this ebook, I feel confident and equipped to turn my podcasting dreams into a reality. If you're harbouring a similar dream, I highly recommend this fantastic resource. tunesharemore_vert

[financead]

Targeting the Right Audience: A Key to Effective Financial Advertising

Have you ever asked yourself, "Who's the audience?" when trying to market a product? is typically the first question you ask yourself. If you're a small financial business owner or in charge of PPC for financial business, the answer to that question can make a world of a difference.

But how do you make sure your financial ads are reaching the right people, and more importantly, enticing them to buy in? Well, let me tell ya—all it takes is a sprinkle of strategy, a handful of creativity, and a healthy dose of perseverance. And a little bit of help from yours truly. Let's dive in, shall we?

The Art of Defining Your Audience

First things first, who's Jerry to your Tom? The peanut butter to your jelly? Essentially, who is your financial advertisement trying to engage with? Defining your audience involves a wee bit of detective work—researching demographics, studying market trends, understanding consumer behavior. It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, but the end picture is the ideal customer for your financial business.

Here's a wee tip for you: don’t fall into the trap of thinking your service is for everyone. Focus on a niche audience who truly benefits from what you offer, rather than casting a net that is too broad.

Crafting the Perfect Message

Once you’ve identified your target audience, it's time to set the stage. Think about what makes your financial business unique. What sets you apart from the competition? These are your unique selling points (USPs) and they should be the heart of your financial advertising strategy.

Speak directly to your audience's needs, fears, and desires. The more specific and tailored the message, the more likely it is to resonate. Financial subjects can be a bit boring for some folks (not me and you, of course!), so use relatable language and tie in real-world examples.

Psst, here’s a cheeky lil secret: People love stories, and they love to feel understood. Bridge these two points, and voila—you’ve got yourself one compelling financial ad!

Strategic Use of 7SearchPPC

Ah, we've reached the part where I spew some wisdom about PPC for financial businesses. So, grab your popcorn, cause we’re delving into the world of Pay-Per-Click advertising making good use of the fantastic platform that is 7SearchPPC.

7SearchPPC offers oodles of targeting options, ensuring your financial ads reach the right audience at the right time in the right place. With this platform, you can target your ads based on the potential customer's location, browser type, and even the time of day. Quite cool, huh?

And you just have to pay when someone clicks on your advertisement. So you’re not just throwing money around like confetti at a wedding—you’re investing in high potential leads. Now, that's what I call smart financial advertising!

Cracking the Code of Advertising Analytics

Lastly but by no means the least, you need to keep track of the performance of your financial ads. And guess what? It's not as dreary as it sounds! Treat it as a thrilling episode of Sherlock Holmes, with you in the lead role, deciphering hidden meanings in data.

Pay close attention to metrics like click-through rates and engagement levels. These can provide insights into what's working and what's going the way of the dodo. Many platforms, such as 7SearchPPC, even offer real-time analytics, making it easier to adapt your strategies on the fly. If that isn’t exciting, I don't know what is!

Can’t make heads or tails of some data? Don’t be afraid to experiment—A/B test different approaches, play around with your target audience, vary your messaging. After all, advertising is part science, part art.

There you have it! A roadmap to effective financial advertising. Now go forth, armed with your newfound knowledge, and may the conversions be ever in your favor!

FAQ

How do you target the right audience?

Targeting the right audience involves several steps. Start by defining your ideal customer based on demographics, interests, and behaviors. Utilize data and analytics to identify potential customers who align with this profile. Tailor your advertising content and channels to appeal specifically to this group, ensuring that your messaging speaks directly to their needs and preferences. Regularly monitor and adjust your targeting strategies based on the performance data to refine your approach continually.

Why is the target audience important in advertising?

The target audience is crucial in advertising because it determines the effectiveness and efficiency of your campaigns. By focusing your efforts on individuals who are more likely to be interested in your products or services, you can maximize the return on your advertising investment. Understanding your target audience allows you to create content that resonates with them, resulting in higher engagement, conversions, and customer loyalty.

What is a target audience in advertising?

A target audience in advertising is a specific group of individuals who are the intended recipients of a particular marketing message or campaign. This group is selected based on various factors, including demographics, psychographics, location, and behavior, to represent the ideal customers for a business. Identifying and understanding the target audience is essential for crafting tailored advertising content and effectively reaching the individuals most likely to become customers.

Conclusion

Financial ads must be both persuasive and reach the people who are most likely to use your services. By honing your approach and focusing on the specific needs and interests of your audience, you can maximize your advertising budget and achieve meaningful results.

The world of finance is complex, and the key to unlocking its potential is to reach the right customers. With the power of precision, you can elevate your financial advertising efforts and steer your business towards success.

[mostgeckcellent]

I posted 2,675 times in 2022

80 posts created (3%)

2,595 posts reblogged (97%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@sparring-spirals

@gemsofthegalaxy

@questbedhead

@nothingwithdignity

@arsenicandnewlace

I tagged 477 of my posts in 2022

#cr spoilers - 210 posts

#critical role - 84 posts

#tlovm - 84 posts

#critrole - 77 posts

#cr3 - 76 posts

#critical role spoilers - 76 posts

#cr3 spoilers - 69 posts

#tlovm spoilers - 25 posts

#acofaf - 10 posts

#a court of fey and flowers - 10 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#i started with roving and when i started making at least the base shape with base wool and the fine details with roving it changed everythi

I sent 1 gift in 2022

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

One more thing!

Rue knew Hob was at the bloom specifically to find out who called off the wedding.

They were fine with letting Hob assume it was Apollo, and him going to duel Apollo about it. Hob told everyone he was going to do it in the tailor shop.

But.. Rue didn't want to start a relationship with Hob without being their true self. What did they think would happen here?? they'd just lie about it forever??

I feel like that, more than the deed itself, is going to be the conflict that sticks. Like, Hob will have a real hard time forgiving Rue for the slight to his court.

I think he will also have a hard time forgiving them for lying to him for the entirety of their acquaintanceship.

269 notes - Posted September 28, 2022

#4

The revelation that Rue called off the marriage and the subsequent argument/confession is so.. something.

There's so much being said about it and it's got me wanting to sort it out for myself instead of just reblogging other people's thoughts.

I don't think this is a rue vs hob, who was right, situation.

I think that Rue's actions in calling off the wedding were selfish and nearsighted; it had no effect on the court of wonder, but had a huge effect on the goblin court, and truly it was none of Rue's business. People marry for reasons other than love and that's okay!

HOWEVER

you also can't argue with their desire to tear down the courts because like. the goblin court does objectively treat Hob badly. The court of wonder does treat Rue badly. The unseelie treats Andhera badly. The courts have been shown to be petty and power-obsessed at the cost of their own people and of course they are.

I've seen Rue's choice compared to Wuvvy, both making decisions on what they think is best for others and taking their choices away. I think that's.. fair. I think they both have a blindspot.

Rue has had a very bad no good day, they're under a lot of pressure, they're experiencing A Lot, and there's miscommunications everywhere. I think they made a bad choice before they met Hob, before they really let themselves be known and to know others, and I think they might make a different choice, now, with the context.

I also think Hob has a right to be angry! Rue's actions undid something that came from his successes. It hurt him, even if the goblin court has also hurt him, even if that's complicated. He seems to genuinely care about Grabalba!

And he's been treated this way for so long, of course it's hard, nigh impossible, to unsee it. Of course it feels like Rue must have been using him too. Of course he can't fathom choosing himself, as Rue has been begging him to do - he doesn't know that choosing himself could mean choosing Rue, but he doesn't know how to exist outside of service, and I think this episode makes that especially clear.

Hob will go to unhealthy lengths for those he feels loyalty or duty to. He hurts himself to get evidence, he hurts himself to carry someone's bags when he's bleeding, who's to say he wouldn't wind up scarily similar to Wuvvy, existing only to be of service to Rue? Who we know for a fact doesn't want that?

I think most of all, this episode shows, explicitly, how they've been talking around each other for so long.

Hob loves in acts of service - sometimes to an unhealthy degree, but his love language isn't the problem, it's the depths to which he feels he has to go due to his own low self-worth.

Rue is learning self-worth and is currently valuing that above all else.

Of course that causes conflict! I think they can both learn from each other and temper each other, but right now, neither of them understands where the other is coming from - Hob interpreted Rue's motivation as service where it was love. Rue is interpreting all service as Bad now, which again, fair, given their circumstances, but not fair to Hob.

They're having a bunch of separate conversations and none of them are overlapping the way they think it is, and it's hurting them both. And there's only one episode left, so there's no way to fully, totally resolve these massive divides, but I do think they can start on the path. I think we can see them have a happy ending, in which it's clear they're Working On It - both of them.

339 notes - Posted September 28, 2022

#3

Hob and Andhera need to bond over both being horse boys, actually

346 notes - Posted September 21, 2022

#2

Andhera is sitting in this meeting just absorbing from both ends how they're pining and not doing anything and I just

I would love so much if he decides the best thing he should do for his friends (he has friends!!) is to set them up, since they both clearly are into each other and not talking to each other about it.

Andhera clumsily trying to matchmake Rue and Hob (maybe Binx getting in on it for Rue's sake?) would be the funniest and cutest thing and would probably cause so many more problems than it would solve and I want it soooooo bad

471 notes - Posted September 7, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I'm pretty sure A Court of Fey and Flowers was filmed before Calamity. which means that Brennan making Sam roll insight against his own deception was ACTUALLY inspired by Aabria doing the same to him first. which I love.

1,577 notes - Posted August 31, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[avaliveradio]

New Indie Pop Songwriters for November 2022 with Jacqueline Jax

Today’s episode of the New Music Release Radar Spotify Podcast with Jacqueline Jax.

Listen on Podcast <here>

On this episode of new Music release radar, Jacqueline Jax explores the new pop songwriters music trends of November 2022 with new discoveries from indie artist. You’ll hear the latest in fresh indie folk melodies, dance electro pop tracks with nostalgic vibes and melancholic sweet memories with heartfelt haunting imagery.

e src="https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/episode/6JzwPuumlIazvkCqb0UFZT" width="100%" height="232" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media">

Enjoy these singles and more on our featured playlist:

New Indie Pop Music Picks

Listen on Spotify

The indie music scene is overflowing with fresh new music, follow our daily updates to discover what's happening on the Indie Music Scene. Curated by Jacqueline Jax . 

Featured Artists on Todays Show…

Savannah Jaine - Someday Come Soon

Music Genre: Indie Folk, Americana, Pop Vibe: Dreamy, Wistful, Romantic, Relaxing Located in: Manchester, UK and NYC, NY Sounds like: The Civil Wars, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd,

Savannah Jaine Opens up about Struggle on New Single 'Someday Come Soon'

Someday Come Soon is a fabulous intimate indie folk song sung by Singer - songwriters Savannah Jaine. The song is warm and inspiring expressing that moment of longing for a dream that is ahead of you. The song comes with a special story.

https://www.avaliveradio.info/featured/savannah-jaine-someday-come-soon

The Song Tailors- Best in Me

Music Genre: Pop, Love Ballad, Duet

Vibe: Chill, romantic dance, soft ballad

Located in:  Melbourne, Australia (songwriter - Ruth Picker), Toronto, Canada (singer - Liam Isaac), Dublin, Ireland (singer - Muireann McDonnell), recorded at Abbey Road studios London, UK.

Sounds like:  Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Pink, Charlie Puth

This is our first duet and the first single released from our Abbey Road Studios recordings. Ruth Picker - the songwriter - recorded Liam Isaac (from Toronto in Canada) and Muireann McDonnell (from Dublin in Ireland) at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London. Ruth wrote the song specifically for the two singers, knowing everyone would finally get together in person at Abbey Road. The song is about how we can bring out the best in each other, raise each other up and inspire positive relationships. Key lyrics from the chorus include "You lifted my arms when I couldn't reach, you raised my voice when I couldn't speak, you showed me what my eyes couldn't see... you bring out the best in me". Imagine a romantic dance to this soft love ballad or just listening to the chill vibe that will make you feel relaxed, inspired and positive about humanity. The Song Tailors is a creative project created by Ruth Picker - who writes both the music and lyrics. This is her 39th release under The Song Tailors brand.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3iKdG6xMiT6MOYnoICXxbO?si=1ce5901b4a44438b

Shradan - Limits

Release date: November 18 Music Genre: Bass House Vibe: Dark, energetic Located in: Los Angeles

The music is interesting and active with good consistent energy which fits perfectly in the Miami club scene. You’ve got the essentials taken care of on this track between beat, mix and eq.. the question is which way will this artists take it. How is he going to make his mark and what groundbreaking element will he gravitate towards that will make his music truly stand out.

Shradan, previously known as DJ Darsh, is an electronic dance music DJ and music producer based in Los Angeles.  A graduate in music production from Los Angeles Recording School, Shradan has been inspired by Tiesto, Calvin Harris, Jonas Blue, R3hab, and Alok.  Most recently his remix of Vassy & Vinny Vibe’s Don’t Wanna Be Right was selected from a remix competition as a runner up.

Azul Kechi - Highs & Lows

Release date: Nov 20, 2022 Genre:  Retro SoulFunkAdult Contemporary Moods: Happy, Energetic, Sexy Similar artists: Lauryn Hill, Pharrell, Janelle Monae, LION BABE, Erykah Badu, Ari Lennox, Angie Stone

"This is my second song, 'Highs & Lows' a funky neo-soul/rnb influenced pop jam that's sassy and will get you in your feels! A celestial rnb/soul/pop singer from outer space. Check out my debut single 'Azul' on all streaming platforms This is a funky, upbeat song with sassy, strong lyrics. It's the follow up from my debut single 'Azul', giving a dancier flavour of soul pop, pop funk & RnB.

https://open.spotify.com/track/68B4A1v1ii9t2GybwhEUOP?si=f95b8cde3cce4b31

Matthew Thomas - All I Need to Hear

Release date: (Nov 24, 2022) Genre: Singer SongwriterFolkAcoustic Moods: Romantic, Chill Similar artists: The 1975

Imagine if the 1975 wrote their new song "All I Need To Hear" with Morgen Wallen. Obviously that would never happen, but that's the vibe that my cover of it emulates! Cheers. All I Need To Hear" is the second song of my new EP "Covered." I picked four of my favorite songwriters (Harry Styles, The 1975, John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves) and reimagined their songs in my own folk-pop style while preserving the spirit. I hope you enjoy and look forward to your feedback!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2FzBKamUqcwsQLXHRgntXt?si=d9d390403b3c4f8c

Meadowhip-  Over

Release date: Nov 16, 2022

This is the latest single from my upcoming debut EP. It offers a gentle champagne fizz and commentary on personal growth and transformation. I love this singers vocal. “Over” is like a bubble bath. It’s sweeps over you like a fragrant candle and warm soapy water.

‘Over’ sees Wollongong’s meadowhip emerging from a chrysalis of self-doubt, her cool facade cracking to reveal a gentler, more intimate side of an artist more in tune with herself and her music than ever before.

Specific Coast - Everybody Calls Me Son

Release date: Nov 18, 2022 Released by: Cactus Coast Records Genre: Singer songwriter, Folk, Indie

Everybody Calls Me Son is the 3rd single this year from Los Angeles based singer-songwriter, Specific Coast. ECMS is his most personal song yet with themes of abandonment and feeling like you aren't worth someone else's love. SC leans into a melancholy indie folk vibe with plenty of fingerpicking and layered guitars.

Specific Coast has amassed over 1 Million streams in the last year. Inspired by Bon Iver, The Lumineers, Damien Rice, and The Head and the Heart, Specific Coast writes music for fall. Enjoy with a pumplin spice latte and your therapist. Specific Coast is singer-songwriter, Matt Dunne.

nxtime - Debra

Release date: Nov 11, 2022 Released by: Camel Genre: Acoustic Alt Pop Moods: Sad, Chill, Moody

Debra is a moving song about an elderly homeless woman that the writer saw on his way to work seemingly living in a subway car in NYC. We are providing a link in our song promotions to a NYC charity (https://midtownsouthcc.org/) that creates urbangardens in NYC that helps feed the homeless.

Steven Taetz - Late Bloom

Release date: Nov 22, 202 Released by: S.TTZ Music Genre: Adult ContemporarySinger SongwriterAmericana Similar artists: Chris Isaak

STEVEN TAETZ is a singer, songwriter, and bandleader based in Toronto who continues to carve out a unique space in Canadian music. As a songwriter, in the last decade Steven Taetz has written for many internationally renowned artists published on Sony/ATV, Nettwerk, Warner, Shapiro Bernstein, and Universal.

His earliest recordings were collaborations with leading DJ/producers across Europe, released on top EDM/dance labels Armada Music, Perfecto, etc. For 2013’s debut solo album Steven Taetz, he created a cross-Canadian collaborative collection of songs with JUNO-award-winning singer-songwriters from each province of Canada. His 2018 Drink You In album debuted at #3 on iTunes jazz charts, and received rave reviews from JazzTimes and other leading media. His upcoming Spring 2022 album Making Room includes collaborations with Jill Barber, Caroline Brooks of Good Lovelies, Jenn Grant, and many other world-class artists.

Kill K3nny - ctrl alt delete

Release date: Nov 18, 2022 Genre: Pop Rock, Indie Pop

It seems like everyone is walking on eggshells, afraid to offend or be accused etc. As long as we come from a place of goodness, I think we should all strive to say what we mean and mean what we say regardless of how it will be received. CTRL ALT DELETE is my commentary .. This is my tongue and cheek commentary on cancel culture. if we come from a place of goodness, we should all speak our minds and be our most authentic selves regardless of what others think xoxo.

https://open.spotify.com/track/25B68h0u1yxTJYCv7gMkMQ?si=e4caea1d033242e8

Frantic - Confidence & Sparks

Release date: Nov 17, 2022 Released by: van GARDEN music Genre:  Singer SongwriterIndie FolkAcoustic Similar artists: Coldplay, Bon Iver, Travis, Oasis, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, Ray LaMontagne, Iron & Wine, Passenger

Especially the dark moments in life capture us, unsettle us, make us fragile. We lose ourselves in the search, try to stick to the tried and tested, but still dare to break new ground. It'll get better, we know that. That was the case last time too. At some point hope will come back and with it «Confidence & Sparks». The trust in yourself and the sparks bring some light into the darkness again.

Music Video: https://youtu.be/rlorP7Y8ir4

Carly Reirson - Aurora

Release date: Nov 18, 2022 Genre: Folk Acoustic

Born and raised in Leduc, AB, singer-songwriter Carly Reirson captivates audiences with her soaring melodies and honest lyrics. Whether it is love or heartache, Reirson’s “sad-folk” songs take you on a journey through the world of human emotion. Inspired by artists such as Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, and Rose Cousins, her smooth, yet edgy voice brings you face to face with your own feelings as she shares her stories of love, loss and loneliness.

Reirson has spent the last six years immersed in songwriting, penning the tracks for her upcoming album, Diary of a Beating Heart. The first single from the new album, “Aurora,” is a soothing, atmospheric folk song about one of nature’s beauties - the Northern Lights. Written by Reirson and produced by multiple award-winning producer, Murray Pulver (CCMA, WCMA, Canadian Folk, and JUNO), the track features rolling guitar and poetic lyrics that invite listeners to wrap themselves up in the warm tones and smooth melodies of the song.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0dIanrltEGspvPOC902O8P?si=c5aeadbebc9644a5

The Woolverstones -Three Smiles in the Mirror

Release date: 23 days ago Genre: Singer Songwriter - Folk Moods: Romantic

This track is off The Woolverstones recently released debut album "Grey Eyed Dandy" produced by John Wood (who produced Nick Drake's "Pink Moon”. “Three Smiles in the Mirror" is a stripped down, autumnal folk ballad which aims to convey to the listener a sense of honesty which is void of musical artifice, betrayal and affectation. It is a cautionary tale for troubled times. 

The Woolverstones are an alternative folk duo based in the UK and include Chris S. (lead vocals, guitar) and Lou H. (backing vocals, flute)

https://open.spotify.com/track/7te3WrZh3nvgqs3zLJsRvA?si=40c642e4a6b246d4

[stay-corner]

[all yours, forever - hyunjin]

minors do not interact!! or else i block you >:(

warnings: nsfw, softie hyunjin :(, hyunjin is pussy-whipped, protected sex, he talks about wanting to have kids once, smut only starts 2k words in, the rest is fluff because i'm SOFT and someone requested they be comforted by hyunjin so i must give the people what they want. it's like really mushy

words: 5.4k (kill me 💀)

the sunshine breaking through the window feels more like a slap in the face than a gentle wake-up call, but what really makes you groggy is the absence of your boyfriend's body when you extend your arm to the side. you're only met with the cold sheets, which pulls a sigh out of you, eyes still closed. you can feel the beginning of another bad, stressful day, if he's already left you like this without even saying anything. you catch a glimpse of the hour - 8:33 - and another tired exhale leaves you. it's far too early to get up on your free day, but you can't really fall asleep again either.

it takes you a few minutes to peel the covers off of your form, clad only in his baggy t-shirt and a pair of comfortable pyjama bottoms. he bought them for you on your anniversary, admitting that he got a pair for himself as well: tailor-made specifically for you both. the memory of it makes the cold air in the room that hits your skin more bearable, a small smile shaping itself on your lips.

you shuffle towards the bathroom, but come to a halt a few steps away from your bed, eyes focused on your desk. he left his sketchbook here; opened, too. curiosity gets the best of you, and you find yourself sitting on the chair, hugging one of your knees close to you, as your gaze starts scanning the pages.

hyunjin showed up last night uninvited, shyly admitting that he missed you as his gaze avoided your own. you had just returned home after another long and tiring day, but he was right: you haven't spent much time together lately, because you just had so much to do, even more on your mind. so, although you were stressed, you welcomed him with a small smile, and he quickly made himself at home. he even brought with him some food, which made a gleeful laugh bubble out of your throat, since you really didn't feel like cooking at all. you spent a pleasant evening together, just talking and basking in each other's presence, him holding you softly in his arms as you watched a few episodes from the latest k-drama he got into.

it was nice, just having him around, and you soon found yourself relaxing completely in his arms, until your sleepy sighs met his ears. all hyunjin did was smile to himself, caressing you gently, lulling you to sleep. in just a few minutes, you were completely limp against him, and he forgot all about the actors on the screen, eyes focused on drinking in every detail of your face. when you opened your door for him, he was completely taken aback. he knew you've been going through a lot, even gave you your space, but he didn't expect to see you so... exhausted. your forehead was creased with worry, and he couldn't miss the deep, dark circles underneath your eyes. still, he kept himself cheerful, knowing that if he showed you his worries you would feel guilty. he made sure to make this evening as comforting as possible for you, so seeing you finally get some well-deserved rest put him at ease as well.

he quietly turned off the tv, and gingerly carried you to your bed, all the while smiling down at you. he wasn't sure how many hours he slept, because he spent a long time admiring your features, grazing his fingers delicately over them. you were such a blessing to him. it truly felt like such an honor to be next to you, in your bed, like that. knowing that you trust him enough to fall asleep like that on him, knowing that you put on a cheerful smile just for him, in spite of your anxieties, hyunjin felt so thankful, his heart swelling with love and adoration. it was these thoughts and eventually put him to sleep, and these same thoughts plagued his mind as he woke up, catching a glimpse of your still snoring form peaking from the blanket next to him. he felt oddly refreshed, although the clock was barely scraping 7:15, as he quietly slipped away from the cushions, patting your head softly and pulling open the curtains just a little. the morning light inspired him, and before he knew it, he started doodling away in his sketchbook, gazing back at you every once in a while.

it is these sketches that grace your eyes now. hyunjin grabbed a random pencil of yours, now discarded on the desk, and started doodling your face from different angles, with different expressions. there must be at least 10 different sketches occupying half of the page - they're not very detailed, but they very clearly represent you: hyunjin has burned to memory every single one of your angles, every curve and line; by now he could probably draw you with his eyes closed if he really tried. in one of them you're smiling, eyes wrinkling cutely, in another you're pouting dramatically, in another you're sleeping peacefully; you feel your cheeks burn as your eyes take in all of them. it's hardly the first time he draws you, but still, it makes you feel so shy and embarrassed...

what truly surprises you, though, is the bottom half of the page, which is entirely covered in words. if one flipped through hyunjin's sketchbook, they would only be met by beautiful drawings, studies and sketches, but never by words. as you focus on his writing, you're even more shocked - hyunjin's handwriting is messy, irregular, unlike his meticulous art, but the words on this page are neat and pretty, as if he thought carefully before laying each one of them on the page. as you actually start reading, you feel a smile pull painfully at your cheeks.

"y/n, don't overwork yourself. overthinking is rarely good for you, you know? i love the soft wrinkles on your face, but i really don't like the ones you had on your forehead last night. these past few days have been really hard on you, i can tell that. i thought it would be good to let you be for a bit, but now i feel like i failed you. i should have been here to take care of you. i know you tend to take everything on your own, and you're a very strong person, but sometimes it's alright to lean on others too. i want to be here for you and support you when times are tough. please, next time just call me or send me a message, alright? i promise i won't let you worry on your own again. you deserve to be happy and taken care of. actually, you deserve the world, everything. i wish i could give it all to you. for now all i have is myself and this pencil, but i'll make sure to never leave your side as long as i'm here. we'll handle things together from now on."

you feel your eyes sting at his thoughtful words, but before you can re-read them, a shuffle makes you straighten up and look behind you. hyunjin's silly smile greets you, a sheepish laugh escaping through his lips, as he struggles to fit a tray full of food through the doorstep. his hair is tied messily with one of your hairties, but strands of it still fall over his forehead and eyes. nonetheless, he looks entirely ethereal as he finally makes it into the room, sparkling eyes never leaving yours. all you can do is gape up at him as he sets the tray on the desk, next to you. he simply grins, though his gaze settles on the food for now.

"good morning! ah, i prepared all this for you... i wasn't sure what you'd like to eat now, and i'm not really the best cook ever, but... i fried some eggs and bacon, and i made you a small salad, and some toast-- i didn't know if you wanted jam or butter or something else, so i just made one of each, and there's a bowl of cereal and i cut up some fruit as well, in case you wanted something sweeter, and... ah..." he rambles on and on, eyes avoiding yours, but the pink on his ears tells you all you need to know. he giggles shyly as he realizes he talks too much, so he just looks back at you with his lips pressed together in that adorable embarrassed smile you know far too well.

"... i thought you left," you reply dumbly, still staring up at him, starstruck, as if he's some kind of spirit or angel. this time, he lets out a cackle, bending over a bit as his eyes turn into crescents.

"how silly of you! leaving my girlfriend when i can have her to myself for an entire day? what, you think i'm crazy or something?" he replies, and this time you find yourself giggling along with him, more so out of relief. perhaps you were wrong about today after all. his eyes slowly trail from your face down to the desk, and to the open sketchbook, and suddenly he lets out a small gasp, a look of recognition dawning on him.

"ah... you... you saw it. i-" he clears his throat, hand coming up to twirl at his hair absentmindedly. "um, i woke up a bit earlier, and you looked so pretty, i just had to draw you! and then... well, i thought that 'hm, y/n looked very stressed yesterday, she's been working hard', so i... i started writing that. you know i'm not the best at putting my feelings into words, but i still wanted to tell you those things... it took me quite a while," he giggles bashfully, "i wanted to show it to you later, but you beat me to it... haha."

speechless at his explanation, all you can do is grasp at his shirt and pull him down for a kiss. hyunjin reciprocates immediately, and his plush lips move gently on top of yours, hands coming up to caress your jaw. he sighs quietly, feeling his whole face relax, as all he can think about is how exhilarating it is to have your mouth perfectly fit against his. hyunjin's thumbs move to smooth over your cheeks as he parts from you, but his forehead rests against yours, keeping you still close to him.

"i love you so much. i kept thinking about it over and over again, but i didn't want to write it down. i wanted to tell you myself. i love you. you're so special to me," his tone is soft, hushed, as he speaks to you, afraid that if he talked any louder you would disappear somehow. as if you were a figment of his imagination, some sort of fantastical entity, ready to evaporate if he made any harsh movement. he gazes deep into your eyes, nose bumping into yours, before he lets out a small smile and leans in again, this time kissing you deeper, longer.

all you can do is claw at his shoulders, taken aback by his newfound passion, your chair turning so that you're completely facing him now. his large hands cup your face securely, as if he doesn't want to let you go - not now, not ever. when he feels your tongue prob at his lip, he quickly breaks the kiss, swallowing heavily and panting a few times. his warm breath fans over your cheeks, and his fingers pat you slowly, as if to memorize your features. when he opens his eyes, there's a different look in them, his chocolate-like orbs staring hard into yours.

"let me take care of you, please." he whispers, and you don't have it in you to deny him. you nod wordlessly, and before you can wrap your head around it, hyunjin hoists you up in his arms, muscles bulging, in order to carry you over to the bed. he stumbles a bit over his feet, which makes both of you giggle, keeping the atmosphere lighthearted and serene. as soon as hyunjin lays you down, he sits back on his knees and admires you for a few seconds, thinking about how perfectly the light from the window hits your form. ah, he really wants to paint this moment, have it immortalized forever, for when you finally move in together, when he asks you to be his, when you build a family of your own- your boyfriend shakes his head endearingly at this, making you smile, though you have no clue what's going on in his head right now.

no, hyunjin can't think about the future right now - he doesn't want to. he has to focus on the present, on you. it's all about you now; and it always has been. his hands tenderly reach forward, one holding the side of your waist as the other pushes your hair away from your face, leaning over your frame, eyes full of warmth and affection. even now, he smiles down at you, gentle and soft, before your lips lock again. you expect him to be burning with passion, but instead you feel yourself floating on the sheets as his mouth moves impossibly sweet on top of yours. his hand caresses your waist, slipping under your shirt, though it doesn't travel any further. he simply holds it there, basking in your warmth and smoothness.

"you're so soft," he sighs, thumb drawing circles on your skin. "i love you. i love feeling you, your skin, your touch," hyunjin mutters, mouth moving down your neck, leaving fleeting pecks in its way. his lips are plump and velvety, leaving goosebumps in their way. he takes his sweet time, moving from one clavicle to another, gingerly pushing the collar of the shirt further, so he could expose one of your shoulders to his nimble mouth. "you're perfect to me, everything about you, it drives me crazy. i wish i could always sit with you like this, holding you, kissing you."

his praises make you squirm, your eyes closing as your cheeks burn a rosy shade, but his arm keeps you put - he does not want to rush this. hyunjin's lips flutter over your skin for what feels like an eternity, moving from your shoulder to your ear, and back around, mouthing slowly at your earlobe, at the point where your neck and jaw meet, at your pretty cheeks, up to your forehead and between your eyebrows. when he moves down your nose, you expect him to kiss you again, but he merely shoots you a cheeky smile when he sees you chase after his lips.

"patience, baby," he tells you, and you simply huff back at him, pouting. he bites his lip at this, but doesn't give in, instead bending down as he slightly lifts up your shirt, starting to kiss your tummy. you gasp at the feeling, hand quickly moving to rest on the back of his head, tangling softly in his locks. he makes no move to stop you, too busy nipping lightly around your belly button. his graceful fingers run up and down the sides of your torso, faint and dainty, butterfly-like. his touches are gentle, but you feel them everywhere, soon becoming overwhelming. this contrast in sensations makes you feel lighthearted, and soon you just lie your head on the pillow, eyes closing, taking everything hyunjin gives you in.

"that's right, sweetheart, just relax. let me do everything, yeah?" your boyfriend says, his voice dripping into your ears like honey, and you merely nod, a whimper stuck in your throat as you feel him push the shirt upwards, revealing your breasts to him. he doesn't do anything for a few seconds - you don't even hear him breathe - and only when you feel the need to open your eyes does he lean down again, grazing your nipple with his lips before he wraps them around it, tongue swiping lightly. your sharp intake of air makes him chuckle, but he doesn't want to be mean today; he focuses on pleasuring you, gauging reactions out of you.

you become fidgety, fingers pressing harder against his scalp, and hyunjin wouldn't have it any other way. his lips feel heavenly on your mound, and when his pretty fingers creep over your chest on the other side, and he starts kneading the flesh, you let out a small moan. it sounds so sweet to him, so musical in its nature, so flawless and tranquil, hyunjin wishes you would always sound like this - happy, at peace. he wants to make you feel like this, forever.

when your hand shyly wraps around his free one and drags it over to your crotch, hyunjin's heart melts, chest feeling warm and aching with adoration. yes, he wants to make you feel good. he wants you to want him, only him, he wants to have you only to himself. his lips leave your chest with a small pop, and his fingers slip past the waistband of your pants and panties in one fell swoop. his face leans close to yours, breath once again hitting your burning cheeks, eyes piercing into yours, taking in your every reaction as his hand finally meets your core. hyunjin lets out a pleased hum at the warmth of it, the pads of his fingers avoiding your clit completely as he instead chooses to focus on circling your entrance, gathering the wetness pooling there.

you're ready to whine at him, ask him to stop teasing, but all of your words get stuck in your throat, a loud gasp emitting from your parted lips, head thrown back at the unexpected pressure on your bundle of nerves. hyunjin chuckles, lips grazing the shell of your ear, and he bites it gently, only to titillate you further.

"you're so sensitive and responsive for me, darling. does it feel good?" you nod helplessly before he even finishes the question, and that pulls another laugh out of him; hyunjin's voice is lower, darker now, it wraps around your mind and messes with it, and you certainly don't hate it. biting your lip, your arms circle around his neck, resting on his broad shoulders, and you peer up at him, eyes big and pleading.

"wan' more... keep talking," you whisper shyly, a blush dusting your cheeks, extending down to your neck. hyunjin smiles brightly at this, no hint of mockery on his face as his eyes wrinkle at the sides.

"mmm... my baby likes it when i talk like this? alright~" he answers in a sing-song tone, lifting himself to his knees, hand wiggling out of your pants - and you almost protest, before you feel his fingers hooking around the waistband of both your bottoms and panties. he slips them off quickly, discarding his own shirt as well. hyunjin doesn't want you to feel self-conscious - definitely not now - so he makes sure to keep the mood playful and intimate, which includes not being fully clothed when you're basically naked. your eyes quickly scan over his naked torso, and he feels his chest swell with pride, but he decides not to let it get to his head; he's supposed to be taking care of you and make you feel good, which is exactly what he's going to do!

his delicate fingers ghost over your thighs, parting them enough for his head to fit between them. he kisses down the expanse of them, voice rumbling deep as he murmurs praises, as if he won't ever run out of them.

"you're so pretty, angel. your legs are so soft... my favorite pillow... i love grabbing them, feeling them under my palms... squeezing them... you like that too, don't you? like it when i kiss them? when i bite them?" he chuckles, doing exactly as he speaks, gaze never leaving yours, though you timidly look away, focusing on the ceiling of your room. he seems to disapprove of this, pouting dramatically up at you, letting out a cute 'heung~'

"come on, darling, look at me while i make you feel good. you look beautiful all high off my tongue, you know?" while speaking, hyunjin softly grabs one of your hands, placing it on top of his head, and when he finishes his inquiry, his head dips down quickly, tongue already hanging out to taste your folds. another surprised gasp escapes you, followed immediately by a shaky moan, your hand clenching around his strands of hair.

hyunjin loves being like this, the cushion of your thighs pushing against the sides of his head, your hand tugging meekly at his hair, enough for him to feel it, but never enough to hurt too bad - just like he likes it. his lips masterfully press against your clit in a sweet kiss, before wrapping around it, tongue probing at the small bud; at this point, hyunjin knows exactly how to stimulate it, how harsh to be with it, how quick you want him to go - he's done it so many times, lost himself in the juncture of your legs for hours, head getting dizzy from your scent, from your taste on his tongue, from your juices running down his cheeks and chin.

your cries, muffled by your legs on each side of him, sound heavenly to him. he eventually closes his eyes, letting his tongue slip further down your slit, meeting your entrance with a low groan, desperately slurping up the moisture. his spit mixes with your essence, dripping down his face and your ass, towards the sheets, and his hands sneak underneath your thighs, pushing your hips up, seeking more access. he's ravenous in the way he devours you, eyes closed in pleasure as all he wants to focus on is your taste, how your folds feel against his plush lips, red and raw from the way he's been rubbing them against you. his nose pokes at your clit, just how you like it, and your moans increase in pitch once he wiggles his tongue inside of you, letting out rough groans of his own.

letting out a frustrated huff, hyunjin lets your core go for a moment, taking the opportunity to insert two of his fingers inside of you. you're wet enough for them already, but you can still feel the stretch, hissing in response. "c'mon, honey, want you to cum for me, hm?" he tries to sound kind and soft, but his voice is low, and the request comes out as a growl ripping from his throat, due to how he's been eating you out. his lips deliciously reattach themselves to your clit, and this time he sucks harsher, fingers curving carefully inside of you. he only moves them in and out an inch or two, focusing more on caressing the right spots, which isn't complicated to him at all - he has your insides mapped out already.

peering up at you, mouth latched to your bud, fingers devilishly drawing out your climax, all hyunjin can think about is how breathtaking you are. he knows you so well, everything about you, everything, and yet he still wants more. some years ago, he was frightened at the prospect of knowing someone so well - won't he get bored then? but no. hyunjin never gets bored, basking in your presence silently or going out with you on silly adventures... hyunjin knows you like the back of his hand, and yet he looks forward excitedly to a lifetime by your side, or maybe even more. his mouth works feverishly on you as he thinks of these things, cock straining painfully against his sweats, and when your fingers finally pull at his hair, thighs stiff next to his ears, cunt clenching tightly around his fingers, a trembling whine on your tongue, hyunjin can't help but thrust up pathetically, seeking some relief. his mouth lets your clit go, mindful not to overstimulate you, but his fingers remain plunged deep, movements smaller and softer as he helps you ride out your orgasm.

his other hand lets your thigh go, instead coming down to palm at himself. he curses under his breath, hoping you don't notice; he wants to make it all about you, but he just can't help it. you're so cute, so tasty, your scent and your skin, how your calves rub against his forearms, how your hand adorably tugs at his wrist, small pout on your face as you gaze up at him. you don't even know what you do to him, you don't even know...

hyunjin climbs on top of you, hand behind your neck as he presses a kiss so rough against your mouth that you almost see stars, becoming dizzy. your wetness on his lips is so intense and apparent, but he doesn't seem to care at all, and suddenly your fingers claw at his pants, wanting them off.

well, who is hyunjin to refuse?

your boyfriend lets out a quick laugh, and it comes out as a wheeze, but it leaves you speechless. one corner of his mouth turns up as his hair sticks in weird directions, his adam's apple bobs up with the sound, and he leans back swiftly, pulling off his pants and underwear in one smooth move. he winks at you before he bends over to the nightstand, pulling out the box of condoms, and you don't even realize your jaw is hanging until he pushes it back up, to close your mouth.

"take a picture, it'll last longer," he jokes, but to you it's not a joke at all - hyunjin is stunning as he slowly drapes over you, one hand holding his weight up, while the other guides his erect member to your entrance. he glances down, to make sure he gets it right, so when he looks back up at you he is completely taken aback by the intensity in your eyes. in one split second, your arms lock around his neck and your legs wrap around his waist, your gaze unwavering as you speak up to him.

"hyunjin, i love you so much."

and all your boyfriend can do is blink cutely, eyebrows raising as his head shakes a little, as if he thinks he's dreaming and attempts to wake up. still, you stand your ground, heels digging into his lower back, an impatient sound bubbling out of your throat.

"come on, hurry up!"

that seems to do it, because hyunjin quickly gathers his bearings and pushes into you swiftly, pelvis flush against yours. you bite your lip at the sudden intrusion, the pressure of it feeling so right.

when he's feeling particularly poetic, hyunjin keeps running his mouth about how you're perfect for him, as if you were made for each other, because he fits so well inside of you, you take him so well, clench so deliciously around him; so good, he can cum just thinking about it, imagining it.

now, though, his mind runs completely blank, head dropping, his forehead meeting yours and his eyes closing tightly, low groan residing in the back of his throat.

"you feel so good, beautiful. so good for me, god, i love you too. i love you too, y/n. i want you all for me, forever," he mutters, stumbling over his words a little, and you can tell he's not really thinking straight now, mouth running aimlessly, cock twitching inside of you before he starts thrusting. that first thrust knocks the air out of your lungs, and your hands grab at the nape of his neck as you whine shamelessly, even though you're biting your lip harshly.

"my pretty angel, you're taking it so well, there you go," hyunjin continues, hand coming up to cup your cheek, thumb tracing your bottom lip, eyes following the movement. his thrusts fall into a steady rhythm that suits the both of you - he doesn't want to be rough today, hips meeting yours in a fluid movement that reminds you your boyfriend is a professional dancer, and suddenly you're very thankful for that. a small grin forms on your lips, but he's hitting you so well, you can't stop moaning.

"yeah?" he responds, smiling down at you as well, though he's breathless too. "feels good, baby?" you nod up at him, bottom lip between your teeth, smile ever present. hyunjin bends down to mouth at your neck, but even through his kisses, you can tell he's still grinning. your arms pull him impossibly closer, chest to chest, and he moans next to your ear, pretty and unrestricted.

"i'm made for you, darling. i'm all yours, i promise," he huffs out, head raising as much as you'll let him, just to look into your eyes. his nose touches yours, and he rubs them together playfully, hips picking up speed, and although his eyes threaten to close from the overwhelming pleasure, he fights it in order to keep peering down at you, gaze full of love.

you moan helplessly, muttering a soft "touch me," which hyunjin naturally understands, although the words are muffled by all your mewls. the hand on your cheek slowly, tenderly traces down your body, from your neck, to your shoulder, around your breast, where he gives your nipple a small flick, down the side of your waist, where he grasps rougher, in order to feel the flesh dip underneath his touch, and finally, finally, it meets your hip, thumb extending softly as it encloses over your clit, rubbing small and gentle circles - putting enough pressure for you to feel it, but mindful not to be overwhelming.

that's how hyunjin always is: thoughtful, careful, putting you first without even thinking about it. his mind is coded this way, to take care of you, to make you happy. your smile makes his day brighter. when all goes wrong during dance practice and he has a petty fight with the boys, when he just can't hit that note and his rapping comes out jumbled, when he forgets his umbrella and has to run back home and jisung complains about him getting the floor wet and he just wants everyone to disappear and leave him alone for a second - when all this happens, all hyunjin has to do is see your silly little smile, and it all washes away, away... and he's alright, when he's with you.

when his thumb presses down on your clit, your cunt immediately clenches around him, and he whines, thrusts stuttering for a moment. letting out a pleased hum, he kisses your cheek, lips ghosting over your own.

"you're so pretty like this," he whispers, "underneath me," he breathes heavily, movements stopping momentarily in order to readjust himself, feeling the strain in his thighs. still, he continues, just as steady as before, if not a bit faster, frenzied. "god, i want to have kids with you," he mumbles, and you laugh from the randomness of it, and he feels you clench around him again, and his head drops to your shoulder with a loud groan.

"fuck, the things you do to me-"

in spite of what he told himself earlier, hyunjin picks up the pace, hips snapping into yours harshly, so harsh even your moans come out crumbled, a jumbled mess of cries and whines. his mouth clamps on your shoulder, teeth biting into it, and you tense up, so close to your release you can almost feel it. hyunjin recognizes your reactions, walls clenching perpetually tighter around his shaft, and his finger starts flicking quickly at your bud, finally pushing you over the edge for a second time. he pushes himself up on his knees in order to admire you, hands splaying themselves over your waist, feeling you tense up and squirm underneath him. his eyes close, and it only takes a few more thrusts into your heat before he cums as well, filling up the condom. his hips keep bucking into you long after he cums, in short, small thrusts, and you bite your lip up at him as you watch his face relax.

he looks so handsome right now, with sweat dripping down the side of his face, down his chin, spit and... you, all dried up on his cheeks. his eyebrows relax from their deep frown and his hands tremble slightly, much like his thighs. when he opens his eyes, he looks positively fucked out, so you giggle up at him, lip still clenched between your teeth, as his thumb comes up to tug at it.

"stop doing that or i'll have to fuck you again, got it?"

• • •

"awh, the food is all cold now," hyunjin pouts, slouching in the desk chair, but before you can lay a hand on his shoulder in order to offer him some comfort, he raises his head, smiling devilishly up at you and hugging your waist, before he continues. "but my girlfriend is hot, so it's alright~"

you just sigh, though the smile on your face is enough to expose your true feelings. yes, perhaps today will be quite alright after all.

omg!!! >u< i'm actually quite happy with how this turned out!! i hope i managed to offer everyone a bit of comfort with this little fic. hyunjin is a sweetheart QvQ if you have any requests or feedback, feel free to drop by my ask box!! this fic was also a request made by a very lovely person :3 my guidelines are here, and my masterlist is here, if you want to read more of my works!! reblogs are always appreciated :] hope you have a great day!! ^^

- lunar

[ladyofthenoodle]

people pleasers in miraculous ladybug

okay so. i have been thinking about this for some time and then guiltrip came out and gave us the perfect adrien & marinette comparison so i figured it's time to talk about it

credit to everyone on @fearlessinger's adrien the liar post, especially the tags on this reblog, and also @coccinelle-et-chaton's post comparing adrien & marinette's crisis management strategies for giving me food to think about and also just generally making very good points about these characters

so, if you've read these posts, you've probably already accepted that adrien is not only very good at playing different roles, but that he tailors those roles to what he believes people want to see. he's a people pleaser. and he's very, very good at it.

but adrien isn't the only people pleaser on the show. he's just the only one with this specific approach - the only one whose people pleasing is entirely centered on what he perceives the people around him to need. there are two other chronic people pleasers in this show and it's remarkable just how different they are from adrien and from each other, even when just looking at this one trait: marinette and luka.

rambling under the cut, i'm sorry my thoughts are so disjointed

here, in one screencap, we have a perfect summary of the difference between adrien and marinette's approaches. both adrien and marinette have the same ultimate goal here: they want to make sure their friend juleka is happy and okay. sure, marinette has the additional motive of clearing up any potential misunderstandings from the cafeteria, but ultimately, she's worried about juleka and doesn't want her to be sad.

despite their similar intentions, their actions are entirely different. we see here the strength of adrien's approach: he empathizes with juleka, makes an effort to understand what she wants and needs, and generally does his very best to provide exactly that.

meanwhile, marinette, in the background, is in fix-it mode: she's not stopping to check the details. she knows everything she needs to: juleka is sad and alone, and marinette is going to fix it by making sure she's not alone.

ultimately, these two approaches together actually work out pretty well. marinette followed adrien's lead at the beginning, letting him approach juleka first and do his thing, but she also brought in everyone to provide a more general network of support. juleka ends the scene feeling validated and understood by adrien as well as supported by all her friends.

it is only later in the episode, when marinette is acting more independently of adrien, that we see the flaws of her "help first, ask questions later" approach. now, i don't want to knock this approach - i think marinette's approach has its time and place, as does adrien's, and neither one is better or worse, only suited for certain situations.

however, it does say a lot about how marinette tries to make people happy vs. how adrien pleases people.

marinette is simultaneously more self-absorbed but also more selfless in her approach than adrien (and also luka, who i haven't touched on yet and probably won't in depth, but who has a similar approach to adrien in that he makes himself likeable, but unlike adrien, he doesn't target his approach to the individual but instead carves himself out into something inoffensive enough that he can fit almost anyone's needs without knowing what those needs are).

while adrien is a genuinely good-hearted person who wants the best for everyone and is truly empathetic, he is also very motivated to please people because he wants them to like him. he reads them and does his best to transform himself into what they need; an approach that is arguably more considerate of others than marinette but simultaneously more self-serving. to reiterate, i do think adrien genuinely does want to help people and make them happy, he's not faking that, but part of him really believes that he needs to do that to be loved.

marinette, on the other hand, is a very active character who, while sometimes insecure and anxious, generally has a pretty high sense of self-worth and knows that other people's affection is not contigent on her meeting certain requirements. she stresses about meeting her own high standards and being a good hero and even about letting others down, but marinette also knows that at the end of the day, know matter how much she screws up, her parents will still love her.

she doesn't have any compulsion to be likeable. marinette will not - and perhaps would not even be able to - change herself to please others. marinette will sacrifice her time, her energy, her feelings, to make others happy, but she never stops being marinette.

but as a result, marinette also never stops thinking like marinette. she's quick to jump into problem-solving mode without stopping to empathize because marinette, like many 14 year olds, hasn't yet mastered perspective taking. she assumes, in general, that the solution that will work for her will work for everyone.

this trend can and has caused problems in the past

here, in dark cupid, marinette is giving kim almost the exact same advice tikki had just given marinette in an earlier scene. now, tikki's questionable advice aside (tikki you don't know the valentine was for marinette, what are you doing—), this is a prime example of marinette learning about kim's problem, immediately assuming it's the same as her problem, and giving advice based on that (which, okay, kim didn't exactly come forward with who he was crushing on, which isn't marinette's fault, and she definitely would not had said that if she'd known it was chloe). there's a fair bit of self-projection here, too.

marinette: see problem, fix problem with solution i already have. great for using a lucky charm as ladybug, not always great for interpersonal issues.

the situation with rose and juleka is a bit different. marinette can't quite project her own dilemmas onto them (or can she? a moment of silence for the episodes of context we are missing). but still, she can help, right?

was this what rose or juleka needed? nope, not at all. but marinette wants to help! and she remembered rose saying she wanted comfortable pink chairs - that's something marinette can do! she can give her a cushion! marinette helped!

oh, rose says she doesn't want a cushion or special treatment? okay, marinette can do that too! after all, marinette might act before thinking, but she does listen to feedback (which is why her and adrien are such a great team, please please i just want more adrinette with ladynoir dynamic they'd be so strong)

does marinette really understand the heart of what rose is upset about here? no, probably not. but she knows she made rose upset, and it has something to do with special treatment, so she has an action plan: no more embroidered pillows! yay!

but of course, without the true understanding of what rose's issue is, the plan is all surface-level.

she just can't stop herself, she wants to help 🥺 and look, if rose really had been sick, marinette would be invaluable. and as annoyed as rose was, i'm sure on some level it's comforting to know that in a real emergency, marinette has got you covered.

but this isn't an emergency, and marinette has read the situation wrong and made a mistake (meanwhile, adrien, in the background, clearly thinks this is a bad idea, but hasn't spoken up to share his thoughts on the matter since that initial scene, which is a shame because, had he the courage to do it, marinette would've listened).

ultimately, though, marinette is a fixer, not a comforter, and often she can get away with skipping that step of reading the other person. and i think i've lost focus on this meta, oops.

back to the focus:

she's not ever worried, at any point this episode, that rose or juleka won't like her anymore. she's secure about that. she worries about whether they're okay or whether she's unintentionally hurt them, but she's not worried about them liking her.

anyways this was definitely meant to be more structured and less stream of consciousness and include more compare and contrast to adrien and luka, but my brain just decided to ramble about marinette today, probably because she's so cute in these screencaps that she turned me into this image of adrien

thanks for reading, anyone who made it through this

[whispsofwind]

Ok ok I watched "The Wire" from Ds9, and it's truly just as good as I was led to believe. It's such a fascinating piece of character study for Garak, especially in the light of all the ground work the show already made with Cardassians.

Now obviously I am only on S2 and I am trying not to spoil myself too much, so half of this is probably going to be disproved later on but eh.

The most obvious side of it is, naturally, the lies. So far we have seen that Cardassians, especially when in the military, rarely tell the truth out loud, preferring to obfuscate it or outright lie. In "Duet", Marritza presents the lie as a truth to uncover, and the truth as a lie to refuse. And obviously Dukat rarely tells the truth (see his faux concern for the orphans he himself abandoned as a political move in "Cardassians").

So it's rather obvious that "just a plain simple tailor" Garak would tell his truths through lies. He tells three lies, three stories that reach the same conclusion. In this, he both mirrors and subverts the structure of the repetitive epic he and Bashir talk about at the beginning of the episode: the story repeats, but rather than ending with serving the State and dying happily, surrounded by family, each story ends with banishment, loneliness, and constant pain.

And I actually believe that the stories were true, as much as Garak is capable of being truthful. The three stories themselves are fake, but the details are true. Garak was a high ranking member of the Obsidian Order; he committed multiple atrocities, including killing and torturing civilians; he was still capable of remorse, and perhaps even acts of compassion; he is Tain's son (yes I spoiled myself that one); and there was a betrayal involved.

And obviously the most blatant fact, the separation of Garak and Elim - one ruthless, one compassionate, the betrayed and the betrayer. Does Garak deserve to live among people who hate him, where "it's always too cold and the lights are always too bright?". Part of Garak seems to think that yes, he does deserve to be in so much pain that he would activate an anti torture device just to make it stop.

Another part yearns for forgiveness - and even asks for it, in an example of vulnerability that I think indicates Garak truly expected to die. Forgiveness for many things at once, I am guessing: for being a murderer and a spy, for being cruel, for betraying Cardassia (through compassion?), for betraying himself, for telling Bashir that he hated him.

(And obviously the fact that Bashir grants that forgiveness is an amazing scene in itself. What's with Star Trek and grasping hands as a visual representation of intense homo-erotic feelings).

Another part that fascinates me about Cardassians in general, not just this episode, is the double thinking surrounding the concepts of family, State, and the military.

Family is, we are told, everything for a Cardassian. Specifically, biological family is, as a child with no family is of little to no value. Dukat swears to Sisko on his children in "the Maquis", and Rugal's father in "Cardassians" would lose his career and social status if it came out that he had abandoned his son on Bajor.

However, we are also repeatedly told that State is everything for a Cardassian. Garak considers betraying family for the State not only the best option, but the only option, and even compares his love for the concept of Cardassia to the feelings of a lover in "Profit and Loss".

Family is everything and the State is everything, and these two concepts seem to remain separate and equally true.

On top of this, the military pushes the idea that they are the State, like any fascist regime ever.

And if they are the State, and State is everything, then they are everything - which means every atrocity they committed, from the occupation of Bajor to concentration camps to torturing the enemies, it's all entirely justified, because it was all for Cardassia. And if the military is Cardassia, the military cannot be criticized without it being treason of the highest order - in fact, one could argue that betraying the military, which also means betraying Cardassia, is as close as betraying your own identity as a Cardassian as you can get.

Obviously not everyone seems to agree with this particular equivalency. The excellent "Duet" shows this through Marritza, a man who was willing to die in an attempt to purge the military and the atrocities they committed from Cardassia. If he could expose Cardassians atrocities, those atrocities could be atoned, and the planet would begin healing. And in "Profit and Loss", as poorly written as I found it, we find out that there is at least one political movement that wants the military out of Cardassia's government, which marks them as traitors of the State.

And all of this brings me back to Garak. Garak, who was a member of the Obsidian Order, who was the military, and whose biological father was the head of the Order.

(I didn't spoil it for myself, but I am guessing from the lack of family names that Garak was illegitimate).

For young Garak, there would have been no distinction between family, State and military, no divided loyalties, because for him they would've been one and the same. Tain says Garak never needed to be ordered to do anything- and why there would have been the need to give orders? With the three great loves of any self-respecting Cardassian in one neat package, I bet Garak would have done, and has done, everything he needed to do. Be it murder, spy, torture, or go under invasive medical procedures.

Which makes particularly fascinating that, as indicated in "Profit and Loss", the Garak we meet on Ds9 doesn't believe that the military has the best interests of Cardassia in mind (but will still act as if he believes it if it means he could get home).

And it's particularly interesting in the light of the two last stories he tells Bashir in "the Wire": he went against his orders in one (because he was miserable or because he was compassionate, or perhaps both), and he betrayed (or was betrayed by) someone who was "like family" in the other. I daresay Tain is the closest thing to family Garak would have had, at least with the information I got so far. Tain, who was the Obsidian Order.

And well, if Garak would sacrifice family at the altar of State every time, and if he doesn't believe that State and military are the same, I am going to conclude that something really big and really bad happened between Tain and Garak. And because of how Cardassian's double thinking works, they would both believe that the other has betrayed Cardassia, this beloved ideal of theirs (which to me explains why Garak is both the betrayer and the betrayed in the last story he tells).

Unless, as a last addendum, we consider the possibility that part of Garak does still believe in the military/State dichotomy, and a betrayal of that dichotomy is what earned his "deserved exile" in the first place. Or perhaps he thinks he deserves it for the atrocities he committed, and that guilt is by itself a betrayal of Cardassia.

Especially the lies, indeed.

(Goddammit I told I would not write Ds9 meta but characters who lie are a weakness of mine and the fascist space lizards won. I'll go hide in a corner now).

[nevertheless-moving]

Unnamed Extremely Bad Plan to Defeat Darth Sideous AU - SW AU NO 9

Hopefully writing down this star wars au will help me exorcise the cringe demon that helped midwife it. Time travel au where obi-wan and Anakin come up with an extremely SPECIFIC and UNCOMFORTABLE plan to defeat Palpatine because it unfortunately, would actually work, as it capitalizes on one of Palpatine’s easiest to reach political vulnerabilities. This is not a unique plan- there are other au’s like this, but this one is mine. When searching for ways to explain exactly why this anti-sith strategy inspires such cringe and delight in myself I realized, with sinking dread, I have seen this in an Always Sunny episode...which yeah. I might be over reacting but hey, cringe is a personal phenomenon, everyone’s different.

Anyway! Uh here’s a bunch of plot that will eventually culminate in the plan. 

*Too much plot, aaaah*. **All plot actually.** ***Its 1 am and this is still a draft*** ****It’s 2am**** *****This post will be just be background I guess.*****

*******STAR WARS AU NO 9 LAZILY OUTLINED CHAPTER ONE*********

Force ghosts Darth Vader and Ben Kenobi have had time to yell at one another without need for breath, and have more-or-less come to terms with the trainwreck that was their shared life. I wouldn’t call them well adjusted, but they’re more stable then they were the last decade or so of their living existence. 

In haunting Luke, they end up encountering an artifact in an ancient Willis temple that offers spirits the chance to fix the mistakes they made in life. It doesn’t truly unwrite what’s been done, but it lets you create an alternate timeline. So this galaxy will still be what it is, but some alternate galaxy somewhere could at least have it better. Its almost never been used, because becoming one with the force usually lets you accept the past, but viewed objectively, Vader and Ben’s lives involved an extreme amount of yikes. They say goodbye to Luke and are flung backwards and sideways.

Anakin is holding his mother as she dies. Obi-Wan is landing on Genosis. 

Vader just barely manages to avoid slaughtering the tuskens. To be honest, he doesn’t really get why he shouldn’t- his moral compass is still pretty f-ed up. He’s fairly certain the force is just torturing him, but still he controls himself (for Padme for Luke for Leia).

I’m gonna say well-adjusted!Vader sees murder in general as more of a vice than a sin- on par with having a beer. And really well adjusted Vader is willing to admit to himself that he’s an alcoholic, he seriously cannot regulate, its a problem. He really can’t let himself go, because he’ll just end up spiraling. And so he restrains himself and only seriously maims a few of the adult raiders.

Vader figures he can always come back later and slowly torture them to death if this whole ‘save the future’ thing doesn’t pan out.

Obi-wan leaves his shuttle and hides under a rock for 30 minutes. He calculates thats just enough time for him to pretend he went on an extremely effective and sneaky fact finding mission- just in case anyone checks R4′s records. Gets back in shuttle and gets the fuck out of there, much to Dooku’s chagrin, who lost sight of him after the shuttle landed and is now going to have to switch to one of his alternate start-the-war plans. 

On the flight back he reports everything to the council- fallen Dooku and the separatist leaders, the trade federation and the massive droid army, Jango Fett the clone template of the republic army (?) working for the separatists. He briefly comms Anakin, but anyone hacking into their conversations would hear only a nonsensical, rambling conversation. Later, a hacker might turn over the idea that they were speaking in elaborate code, but why would Jedi invent such a thing during peacetime?

The war still starts; at this point in the timeline it was inevitable; the artifact was only designed to give them the chance to correct their own failings, not the galaxy’s. Palpatine still gets his emergency powers. 

The same day the armies are discovered, separatist war ships take off to engulf Ryloth. The Jedi are instructed by the senate to lead the clone army and provide immediate relief-this will not be a repeat of the republic’s inaction on Naboo. It’s both better and worse than the first Battle of Genosis. So many more civilians are caught in the crossfire. The first titanic battle is not contained to evacuated droid factories, but rages across an entire populated world. The battle lasts for weeks.

The main reason this fight is less deadly is solely due to the fact that General Kenobi manages to maneuver his way into high command of the entire army.

 “I believe assumptions were made since I was the first point of contact with Kamino, Masters,” the Knight explained apologetically to the arriving high council members. “I realize its not quite appropriate, but for right now I am the Jedi most familiar with our forces and the enemies. I would, of course, prefer to cede the role to someone else.” 

The assembled Jedi can feel the truth in that statement.

“For better or for worse, advance troops were directed by the senate to land planetside and have met heavy resistance. I managed to redirect them to a more defensible position, where they can provide surface based cover fire for incoming reinforcements. The battle has already begun.” He received a grim nod of approval from Master Windu.

“I feel the need to say now, that if there’s one thing I learned from my time as a general on Melida/Dann, or in working against Death Watch on Mandalore, its that having a clear chain of command is vital for a military to succeed. I don’t need to remind some of you that leadership breakdowns were what ultimately ended both the Stark Hyperspace War and the Yinchorri Crisis,” Masters Koon and Tiin exchanged looks before deliberately sending forth a small force wave of approval, understanding where this briefing was leading. 

“I believe that unnecessarily restructuring command before the battle is won here could do far more harm than good.” The reminder of Obi-wan’s unusually militaristic apprenticeship put some of the assembled knights at ease even as it inspired a twinge of guilt in the older masters. 

“In command you are, General Kenobi,” Master Yoda finally acknowledged. “A Jedi Master you will be, once done this battle is. Have us do, what would you?” 

The battle lasts for weeks, and when its over, the commanding Jedi and Troopers involved will openly acknowledge that had anyone else been in command, it would’ve lasted months, if not years. Facing down logistical, strategic, and tactical problems on a scale unheard of for a thousand years, High General Kenobi does not falter.

Enemy reinforcements seem unending. For all their preparation, every single trooper is new to war, and secretly concerned that should they fall, they will be replaced with cadets who hadn’t even finished their training.

Obi-Wan is putting out fires before they can start. Much to their shock, clone commanders are informed that they will, for the time being, remain in charge of their troops. With a handful of exceptions, Jedi ‘Generals’ were in fact, to be treated as a cross between highly skilled commandoes and advisors with abnormally sourced field intelligence. 

“All of you have spent your lives training to lead your brothers into combat. The Jedi Masters and knights who are being assigned to your divisions have not received such training.” 

General Kenobi addressed the division commanders, some in person, some over holocomm. All focused in rapt attention as their General reordered the shape of their lives using language they could understand.

“The command structure I am issuing is designed to maximize our ability to utilize our respective strategic capabilities, while minimizing potential loss of your life. It will be our great privilege to serve alongside such an army, and while I fully expect a complementary exchange of knowledge in time, for now, focus on survival.”

The Jedi received similar briefings, tailored for their broader array of combat and military experience. Some, including Jedi Master Pong Krell and Grandmaster Yoda, were pulled aside and tasked with the essential mission of infiltrating and destroying the Droid factories on Genosis. If they were to have a chance of winning this war, they they would need to cut off the seemingly unceasing flow of droid reinforcements. 

An elite squadron of Arctroopers and Jedi field operatives were covertly dispatched, Grandmaster Yoda himself in command. Considering Count Dooku had yet to appear anywhere near Ryloth...the grandmaster had the best chance of bringing in the fallen separatist leader alive for questioning.

Shortly after they left, Anakin arrived, having finally turned over Padme’s protection to her regular guard. With the military creation vote past, the assassination risk was considered minimal. The real delay in his arrival came from her repeated attempts to join the Grand Army of the Republic on Ryloth with the intent of coordinating humanitarian assistance. Eventually he managed to convince her that she could do more good in the senate. 

After all, he pointed out, someone would need to followup the military creation act with a bill to grant clones equal citizen rights. Otherwise, the legal grey area that cloning fell under and their non-republic origin would inadvertently make the clones slaves. 

His borrowed Nabooan cruiser entered the warzone with the grace and efficiency as a small neutron bomb.

Those close enough to see its flaming descent watched in horror, realizing that the high generals own padawan would likely be a war casualty before he ever engaged in combat.

The legion nearest to soon-to-be-ground-zero, under the command of Captain Rex of the 501st, were distracted by heated combat, as the temporary barricade they had put up to defend the civilian population gave way to droidika artillery. 

While reloading, several dozen troopers happened to look up to see a speck detach itself from the hull as at spiraled in the lower atmosphere. Hope spread that the Jedi had managed to activate some sort of eject hatch. A skilled shocktrooper could probably control and and survive such a fall with luck, which mean a Jedi almost certainly could. 

A few tactical scouts charged with watching the skies confirmed that the speck was indeed a humanoid. No chute was visible, but even 8 days into the war, rumors had already spread about how Master Windu had passed off his chute mid-air to a troopers who had been damaged by suppressing fire, cushioning his free fall solely with the tank he crushed upon landing. 

Only one trooper, stationed in the town clock tower specifically to track the Padawan’s arrival and issued with a high-resolution farscope, saw the whole thing. Fortunately for his credibility later, in its current setting, the scope automatically logged photos every 5 seconds, ensuring that for years to come Obi-Wan would have a flipbook as evidence that he was not the crazy one.

CT-3609 or Blink (as he was named after winning the division wide staring contest on Kamino two year prior) forwarded the trajectory of the vehicle to command, who confirmed his analysis that it would impact two clicks out from their makeshift fort and not present a risk to civilian or trooper lives. 

As it traversed the stratosphere a figure (desperate repair droid, Blink assumed) emerged from the cockpit to perch on the nose of the ship. As it entered the troposphere, it became painfully obvious that the figure jutting out from the hull of the ship was in fact not a humanoid droid, but an unarmored human. The Jedi stood on the prow of the ship, seemingly impervious to and oblivious of:

air resistance 

centrifugal force

normal space gravity 

Blink’s slack-jawed bewilderment

the flames engulfing the ship below him

At this range, the smirk on the man’s face was visible (man? boy? kriff is he even through puberty?). Several miles above the surface he leaped, diving towards the ground like a bird of prey. 

To the west, the ship made impact with the ground, sending a shockwave that shook the tower just enough for Blink to lose visual in the final moments of descent. Cursing, as while he was confident the Jedi would inexplicably survive, he really wanted to see how. The trooper scanned the droid-engulfed farmland to the north for a crash site, to no avail. Lingering smoke from the burnt countryside negatively impacted visibility low to the ground.

Rather than trying to articulate his report into words, he sent the 50-odd frames the farscope had saved, as well as the coordinates for the jedi’s projected radius of touchdown. A quick radio over to long range electro-ballistics ensured that his landing wouldn’t be marred by friendly fire.

He awaited follow-up questions on the absurd entry method, which, when they came, mostly consisted of variations on “...Is this for real?” and eventually “Can you set the scope to video for a little while?” and finally “Do you think that’s how he got the name Skywalker?”

There was a temporarily lull in fire from the west, likely a ripple effect from the ship’s explosion. From his vantage point Blink could see his batchmates using the opportunity to try and plug the holes in their barricade with broken droid pieces. Regardless of the itch to join them, he knew he couldn’t leave his post until the Jedi actually arrived in camp. Finally, a distant explosion and thick pillar of smoke gave the Jedi’s position away.

He tried to make out details, but the scope had a difficult time focusing through the haze. Manually trying to fine tune the scope’s settings, Blink caught a glimpse of what looked like half a hover tank sailing through the air to impact with a trade federation troop carrier in a fiery explosion. Several more explosions, flying droid artillery, and plumes of smoke were caught on record before visual contact with the source was established. He was mostly visible as a blue blur, lightsaber mowing a meandering path towards their location. 

It wasn’t until Skywalker braced himself in place to punch a droidaka into pieces that Blink caught actual sight of the man. Only his eyes were visible, nose and mouth covered by layers of cloth. He blurred, then reappeared on top a massive missile launcher attached to an absurdly heavily armored vehicle. A minute or so of rapid blue flashes passed, the longest he had seen concentrated in one area. Then Skywalker was gone, movement clearly visible as he for once he moved in a straight line, plowing a rapid path away from the launcher. 

Less than 30 seconds later, Blink had to wince away from the scope, as a burning white explosion temporarily overwhelmed the direct light filter. The trooper panicked for a moment, thinking he had gone both deaf and blind, but the abrupt, sucking silence ended after a moment with a deafening sonic boom. The shockwave rattled the farscope, nearly knocking it over, but Blink managed to steady it and himself in time. 

A cheer emerged from pleasantly surprised vod below. The entire droid legion that had been guarding the missile launcher and apparent ordinance bay was flattened. 

It took a moment for the realization to set in that the background noise of missile and and anti-missile collisions directly overhead had slowed pace. With the northern flank gone, artillery were able to redouble efforts to the east, and a second white hot shockwave ensued, signaling that the tide of battle had shifted. It was almost too easy for the republics electro-ballistics to tactically devastate the surrounding forces. 

Eventually some sort of win/loss programming must have set in and all forces outside of a certain radius began retreating southward, conceding the scorched land to the republic army. It was cadets work to clean up the final suicidal droid charge. 

A commotion ensued as Skywalker leapt the barricade with a mid-air flip. The vod greeted him with cheers, as they correctly assumed his appearance had something to do with the skirmish’s decisive victory.

Blink sent the video of the battle to command and quickly packed up his scope and assorted equipment. Hurrying down the battered tower, Blink thought to himself that this Anakin Skywalker was the best sort of Jedi a trooper could ask for.

uh sorry i got really sidetracked there moving on

Kenobi and Skywalker quickly become the face of the war once again

they grit their teeth a bit, but when they finally have a moment to really plan they eventually agree that to take down Sideous they have to cut off his political power in addition to everything else, and taking advantage of their public personas was the most accessible way to do so (*evil laughter*)

While Dooku wasn’t captured, Yoda heard the truth in his old student’s cryptic warnings about a Sith in the Senate, and the council begins carefully editing their release of tactical plans to the Chancellor’s office in the hopes of ferreting out the spy in their midst.

Pong Krell looses two arms in his duel with Dooku. Obi-Wan successfully hides his smug pleasure at the news. Anakin enjoys makeing comparisons between him and Grievous. 

Kenobi doesn’t allow the origin of the clones to go unexamined, although he agrees that if the public were informed that they don’t actually know who ordered them it would probably cause panic.

The ‘inhibitor chips’ are ‘discovered’ early on and Anakin leads the effort to ensure that they are phased out and removed immediately. This consists of reminding every Jedi who even hesitates about how how he as a child slave had some experience with control chips and unless you want to take a leaf out of the hutts books lets start doing brain surgery chop chop mmmkay?

(This isn’t to say that Vader doesn’t still a twinge of shame at acknowledging his slave roots. But it is eclipsed by the burning guilt that he knowingly acted as slave master to his troops for decades after Sideous wiped their minds. He tried to rationalize it to himself, after all he didn’t immediately understand what Order 66 had done to the troopers. But while the morality of murder was more of an intellectual concern than a personal one, treating people as things...)

The Kamonions are a little harder to budge, referencing contracts that they refuse to allow the Jedi to see

Finally Vader snuck into the Chief Medical Scientist’s home while she was sleeping and straight-up threatened to murder her and burn down her lab. At the risk of losing her life’s work, Nala Se complied.

Vader left with the final threat that in the event that Darth Tyranus caught wind and activated Order 66 prematurely, he would kill 100 Kamonians for every Jedi felled by troopers. Shaak Ti was pleased by the cloners sudden change of heart. Tyrannus, and by extension, Sideous, are in the dark. 

Obi-Wan frequently publicly confronts Palpatine about the troops citizen status, urging him make use of his emergency powers to grant them citizenship and full pay, with the option to leave the army should they so wish. 

Anakin manages to play off his avoidance of the Chancellor as disappointment in his perceived lack of dedication to anti-slavery efforts

Finally Palpatine gives in- regardless of what happens next, the troops will be looked after.

With 2/3rds of the troopers dechipped, Vaderkin is eager to kill Sideous again, but after several intense screaming matches and sparring sessions, the time travelers come to the agreement that even if they succeed in their duel, with things as they were, the perception of the Jedi military coop would cause mass civil unrest. The scattered sith apprentices, while individually weak, were more than capable of magnifying that fear and anger until the galaxy breaks. Darth Sideous wanted to ensure that if he couldn’t have the galaxy, no one would. 

(Vader knows this. Sideous enjoyed monologuing, and much of his plotting couldn’t be safely bragged about until after he had decisively won, leaving Vader as the unwilling receptacle for years of pent-up rants and self-satisfied gloats about the inevitability of his victory)

Continued Here

[katsidhe]

Top five dropped plot threads please?

6. Dean wants Jack dead.

Except not really. I hesitate to include this on the list because, honestly, not sure “dropped” is the right word! It gets tons and tons of exposure: it’s Dean’s first reaction to Jack, in 13.01, and it’s nearly his last, in 15.17. Dean grapples constantly with reclassifying his urge to kill Jack into an urge to protect Jack and vice versa. But both times Dean was truly on the verge of executing Jack and reaping the climax of this arc, divine intervention stepped in. Chuck’s redirection in 14.20 and Sam’s redirection in 15.17 are damn fascinating in their own right, and I’ve spent lots of breath on the implications thereof, but I’m still deeply, deeply disappointed that we never reached the darkest logical nadir here. 

5. What does Amara want?

Amara is one of the few parts of late-series new mythos that I enjoy: her relationship with Chuck has some of those same strange, queasy buttons as Sam and Dean’s relationship, with an added element of spooky cosmic scale. 

She’s subordinate to her brother--and who made it that way? he did. She wants to talk to him; he avoids her. He wants to make new worlds and she tears them apart; he cages her. She wants to experience the new worlds; he tears them apart. I think there is so much potential to be plumbed here in the  sense of her understanding of her relationship to Chuck: an unwinding that began to take place in s15, but was quickly undone and set aside in 15.17. I actually think of it as a similar unwinding to what happens with Sam and Dean in the same episode: an unforgivable offense that is brushed aside in favor of, title drop, unity. There are more interesting directions to take her, imo. I could talk a lot more about this. 

4. Gadreel sure is a thing that happened.

Similar to #6 in that the ramifications of the aftermath of Gadreel absolutely do echo, loudly, in ways that indelibly shape the post-s9 landscape. Moreover, I’m not sure I would want an explicit redressing of this issue in s11+, simply because I know exactly how that would go: Dean would offer an apology, and a la 15.18, Sam would say, you don’t need to apologize, I understand you did it for the right reasons, etc. Almost all of the landscape of how Sam coped with this betrayal was entirely internal, and it’s all heavily weighed by the interlocked traumas of losing Dean/Dean-as-aggressor in s10. Sam has ~forgiven~ Dean for this crime precisely inasmuch as he has completely set it aside; I doubt that eg s14 Sam wants or needs to bring it up again. 

But in this case it’s much easier to argue that the ramifications of Dean overriding Sam’s lack of consent to possession were actually “dropped” in an intentional narrative way that the whole Jack murder thing wasn’t. The circumstances of s10 were kinda tailor-made to displace blame and emphasis from the crime of Gadreel in favor of muddying the waters of Dean’s moral agency. In future seasons, most notably s14, Gadreel’s name is a conspicuous absence when possession is brought up. Poughkeepsie is meant to remind us not of a horrifying betrayal but of a brotherly watchword. 

If there was more untangling to be done, it needed to happen in season 10, and I wish it had.  

3. Nick and Sam are Best Friends TM.

OBVIOUSLY. Where went all the Sam and Nick bonding scenes that 14.01 promised? Why was Nick around, if not to force Sam to look at him??? The people (me!) demand additional Sam’n’Nick Content!! LITERALLY EVERYONE I AsKED (I asked Me!! many times for a good sample size!) wanted more Nick! What do you MEAN, Sam and Nick weren’t the main characters of s14?? Begone with you! Sam and Nick a thousand years! Sam and Nick spinoff WHEN. 

2. Sam shot God.

The magic visions bullet wound was SO COOL you guys. Not specifically or even chiefly for the visions, but rather because it established a direct narrative link between Sam and God. How cool is that?? How many awesome things are there to do with that, to directly channel pain and thought between a character and his creator? And what better way to establish a weakness or a blind spot for an otherwise functionally omnipotent and omniscient being? I was utterly convinced that this wound would be the way Sam and Dean would take down Chuck. I mean, it just makes sense--it’s the only thing that distinguishes them from the rest of his creations, it’s a direct way to influence and impact him, it’s in the goddamn credits sequence ffs. Would it somehow protect Sam from his sight? Would Sam be able to send images or impressions back? Would he use it to trick or trap or overpower him? So many possibilities. And then, uh, I guess Sam “lost hope” or something and it vanished. Nice going, s15. 

1. Lucifer is awake in the Empty.

And presumably has Opinions about the events of s14-15!! 

The one thing that s15 suffered most keenly from was a lack of clear emotional, relationship-based motivation for Chuck. This was such a blindingly foreshadowed part of the mythos of s15 that I was stunned when it never materialized as a key aspect of the power dynamics. Go home, season 15, you’re drunk. 

Lucifer post-death, in a world where his father has returned and decided to tear the whole place down, is going to have WILDLY different motivations than he does in s13. What is that journey like for him, from hating his father’s guts to seeing that Dad’s come round to his perspective on the whole misanthropy thing? In 15.19, we see him do a half-offscreen speedrun of this arc, where he expresses a pretense at wanting to help bring Chuck down, which is quickly dropped in favor of sincere delight in the chance to rejoin his father on the winning team, and vicious satisfaction in Michael’s fall from grace. Imagine what that could look like if it was given a few episodes to breathe, like Michael and Adam were given (a little) with 15.08! 

Lucifer and Michael and Sam and Adam, free and no longer beholden to any of the old rules of engagement: just imagine. There is no Cage, no Apocalypse, no Heaven. The old grudges and hurts are still there, but they dwindle to insignificance in the face of this brave, empty new world. Chuck has chosen the path that Lucifer begged him to so long ago: he’s tearing it all down in a fit of nihilistic pique. How did Lucifer react in the Empty when Chuck told him he was bringing him back, and sending him to whom, and for what purpose? What’s it all meant, what’s it amounted to?? What’s all Lucifer’s suffering, his isolation and his futile attempts to get attention and love, all been for? What the hell does it mean that it’s only when Sam fucking Winchester defies God that He’ll finally sit up and take notice and start taking down the stupid set dressing? How’s that combination of relief and murderous hurt going to manifest? I have a LOT of opinions about s15 Lucifer, and I could write a lot more. 

Lucifer, like Amara, is SO SO intertwined in Chuck’s decision to both micromanage and to step back from his stories. He should be fucking involved in the disentanglement of them, in their denouement and their implosion!

And most importantly, Lucifer, unlike Chuck, is a personal antagonist. Lucifer is, in fact, THE chief personal antagonist of the entire series. Nearly everything wrong with the Winchesters’ lives, practically every single conflict, is of his design or a consequence of things he did. He’s Sam’s tormentor, Dean’s foe, Jack’s father, Cas’s foil. I want them to taaaaaaalk to each other. 

[maxwell-grant]

'This DC comics Character' 'That Pulp Fighter' How would The Shadow fair against Mrs. Frizzle?

(God yes please pitch me weird crossovers outside of superheroes and pulp, I'll cross over The Shadow with literally anything).

AGAINST Mrs Frizzle? That's not a fight he, or anyone else for that matter, is winning. There's not really anything they would have to fight over to begin with, at most there'd be some initial discomfort on The Shadow's end over child endangerment but Frizzle clearly has everything under control with her godlike expertise on everything and magic. Frizzle works on Genie/Mary Poppins rules, and I guess ultimately there's not much place for her in a typical Shadow story because chances are those would either be ignored or she would just solve everything in a flash. But I absolutely would love for these two to be in a story together, I definitely can imagine them as allies, even friends, rare as they may be for The Shadow.

The main thing they have in common, besides the aquiline schnozz and fondness for dressing up, is that they are both the extraordinary figures at the center of narratives usually starred by other people, the extremely resourceful and clever and theatrical weirdos who have everything figured out and whom you never know too much about, but you do know they are on the side of good. They may be in vastly different settings and with some very different areas of expertise, but that's always what makes for the best teaching partnerships.

I'm extremely fond of narratives where The Shadow takes on a teaching role, and now more than ever I'm convinced that I find the idea of him aging and retiring into a supporting/secondary role much more preferable than him just staying a grim avenger of the night forever (not that he ever truly stops being The Shadow, he may have a thousand faces but The Shadow is forever the only true identity he has and always had). He'd consider Frizzle an indispensable, if highly unorthodox, force of good to have on his side for any circumstance, and Frizzle would encourage this mythical being of mystery settling down to just pass on knowledge to the next generations (it's what she did, after all). And if the kids are going to be in danger sometimes, it's only sensible to have more than one mystical protector looking after them.

I'm imagining a lot of scenarios where The Shadow shows up in one guise or another as a character in the typical Magic School Bus adventures. Not as The Shadow specifically, no, I imagine neither him nor Frizz would want to bring that particular bit of darkness to the kids until it was necessary, but in any hundred other faces he may use, and you could actually tailor them depending on the episode. Like you have one episode starting off with the bus on it's way somewhere, and in the front of it Ms Frizzle is talking to a mustachioed janitor with dual slingshots in his pockets (because of course he's not gonna be carrying guns around schoolchildren in a kid's show) and Arnold asks one of his classmates who is this guy, and they reply: "Why, that's Old Man Fritz! He's a janitor at our school, haven't you seen him before?" to which he replies no, he hasn't, none of them have, and they all agree and note that's weird, but promptly ignore him.

Frizzle wants to teach the kids a bit of Russian history so she invites a friend of hers named Kentov Allardvitch who speaks Russian to help them out on field, whether that's a tour through a museum or a travel through time. She walks up to class one day and tells them that, as a safety precaution in an emergency and there's no adult to count on, she's calling in Fritz to teach them some lockpicking basics. "I loze my hause keyz all ze time, ja?" and Arnold could swear that he didn't have this thick of an accent the last time he heard the two talking, but all the other kids find it really funny and it never gets brought up. None of the kids notices when he shows up in other guises.

And considering all the kids on Magic School Bus have different talents and strengths and so on, I imagine The Shadow would most like to encourage that they see said talents and strengths be developed to the best of their ability, seeing as that's what he did with the agents. The agents could all play roles too. Maybe Frizz wants to take the kids on a tour through Chinatown, and when they get there, they meet up with Dr Roy Tam who's all too happy to share the history of the community with them. Jericho Druke helps them on a trip through Harlem and a tour through Black History Month, and when the bus gets stuck somewhere, he uses his bordering on superhuman strength to lift it along with the kids helping out, and thus was learned today's lesson about teamwork. The kids all love Shrevy because he always has really funny stories to tell and likes to race Frizz sometimes, and despite being an old cabbie he somehow manages to keep up with the magic bus. "Aw it's nothin kids, it's all in the peripherals that's all".

Frankly I imagine these crossovers could be a very positive experience for both parties, and particularly for The Shadow who gets to help people out on adventures and mentor them without the risk of loss of life and darkness permeating them. I imagine he'd have some suggestions of classes that Frizz might have to turn down, and others that, sure, are a little darker than what she usually does, but she's not one to turn down an important learning experience just because it might be a little messier or riskier than normal.

"You wish to teach the children about bats by pretending to be a vampire?....Ha Ha HaHaHa... I have a spare cape and a castle I can borrow you."

[askjeffersonhatter]

Drabble: The Green Fairy’s Visit

Takes place during OUAT Episode 03x19: A Curious Thing

During the missing year in the Enchanted Forest, Tinker Bell visits the Hatter and his family.

Word Count: 1615

Rated: K

The sun had just risen and the only one that was already up was Grace. It was one of those mornings where she truly missed being back in Storybrooke. Though she was happy to have her Papa and Miri home with her as a family again, she could not shake the thought out of her head that there was something else missing. Her sad eyes were gazing out the window and looked up to the sky, whispering a faint wish under her breath.

Jefferson and Mirana stirred in their beds as they heard Grace’s whispering, though it was Mirana who decided to be the one to get up. Jefferson groaned as he proceeded to place his pillow on his head, hoping to get back to sleep.

“You’re up early, Sweetie.” Mirana put on a robe and walked over to her goddaughter, smoothing her hair. “Are you alright?”

“Good morning, Miri.” Grace glanced at her and stared back at the sky. “I made a wish.”

Mirana grinned. “What kind of wish?”

“I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.” The girl blushed a bit. “I’d like some toast for breakfast, please, Miri?”

Letting out a soft chuckle, Mirana kissed the top of the girl’s head. “You got it…” She paused as she stared out the window and could have sworn she saw a green glow in the sky. Squinting her eyes to get a better look at it, it seems as if the green glow was getting closer and closer.

“Grace…” She pointed up at the sky. “Jefferson, get up!” She called out a bit alarmed at the sight. 

Jefferson shot up awake again and rubbed his eyes. He stood up and walked over the girls to look up at the sky. “What the hell are you guys staring at… what’s that?” He saw the green glow too, getting even closer. 

Grace’s face lit up when she saw the green light land in front of their cottage and materialized into the human sized Green Fairy herself, Tinker Bell. Her wings were outstretched until she gave a small shake and they disappeared.

“A fairy! Papa! It’s a fairy! She came to grant my wish!” Grace was practically bouncing with glee as Jefferson held on to her, confusion all over his face. 

What wish could his daughter possibly make? They were doing great living together again in the Enchanted Forest. He was back to hat making and tailoring. Mirana was back to her potions… with serving some new drinks that were a hit at the local tavern. And most of all, Grace was having a grand time being with her friends again in the village as if they were still back in school in Storybrooke. Why on Earth did she need a fairy?

Jefferson opened the door for Tinker Bell and forced a grin. “A fairy… just what we need.”

Mirana rolled her eyes as she shoved him aside and smiled at her and welcomed her in “Tinker Bell? Wow! So this is the real you!”

“I guess it is!” Tink smiled at the former Rabbit Hole bartender as she stepped inside the cottage. “Mirana, right? It’s good to see you again!”

“So good to see you again too! This is Grace and her father, Jefferson. Don’t mind him, he’s a sour puss in the morning.”

Jefferson gave Mirana a mock glare before heading over to the kitchen and started making the tea. 

“I’m Tinker Bell.” Tink grinned at the little girl, glancing at both Jefferson and Mirana. “I’m sorry it’s a little early. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“No way!” Grace beamed at the fairy. “Are you here for me? I was the one that made the wish!”

“As a matter of fact, I heard it. I’ll get to your wish in a minute but I was hoping to talk for a little bit if you don’t mind. I won’t be long.”

“We don’t mind at all. I was hoping for some updates on what’s happening.” Mirana set the breakfast table for all of them and pulled up a chair for Tink to sit next to Grace. “Is this about the Wicked Witch?”

“I’m afraid it is.” Tink let out a small sigh. “I was appointed by the fairies to fly around to see if anyone has any information to help defeat her and specifically to seek out the hatter and the healer and when I heard Grace’s wish, I knew I was in the right place.”

Jefferson brought the tea tray over, pouring them all a cup of tea before sitting down across his daughter and the fairy. He glanced at the fairy in suspicion, stuffing his face with toast and jam. He wasn’t sure if he wanted his family to get involved with the whole Wicked Witch calamity but knowing Mirana, she was willing to jump in to help out as much as she could. That’s just who she was. He decided to keep quiet before he offended the poor fairy. She was just doing her job, after all.

Mirana joined him, bringing over the rest of the toast and biscuits and setting them down. She sat next to him and replied to the fairy. “So, how can we help?”

Tink glanced at the two of them and began. “I understand how busy you and your husband…”

“Husband?” Mirana interrupted the fairy before snickering. “Oh no, no, no, no, no…no.”

Jefferson raised his brow at her. “Really, Miri? Six no’s?”

“Six impossible things before breakfast.” She side eyed him before taking a sip of her tea.

Grace let out a soft chuckle and added. “Miri’s like my mama but her and Papa are just friends.”

“Friends, right.” Tink glanced at the two with a smirk as she knew better. The pair would just have to figure things out on their own. However, she cleared her throat to continue. “Anyway, do you happen to know any magic or potions that could help defeat her?”

“I’m afraid my magic is no match for a witch like her.” Mirana let out a deep sigh. “I was just getting used to my magic in Storybrooke and relearning some things and when we were brought here, it felt like I had to start over again. I’m just not powerful enough. Unless you want me to cure her green skin, I’m afraid I’m not gonna be much help for anything else. I’m sorry.”

“I understand. None of our magic is powerful enough to defeat her either, that's why we’re looking for all the help we can get.” She took a sip of her tea. “How about your magic Looking Glass?”

Mirana shook her head. “It’s not here. Even if it was, it was only a portal to Wonderland. My magic’s really rusty but even if I did have it, that would definitely be no help.”

“Hell no to Wonderland.” Jefferson interjected.

“Out of the question…” Mirana agreed.

Jefferson nodded. “I hate Wonderland.”

“Yes, Jeff, we’ve heard that all before. So do I…”

“It’s the worst realm…”

“The absolute worst!”

Grace held in a chuckle as she took a bite of her toast as she watched Tink glance at the two. 

The fairy’s green eyes were wide for a moment before she interrupted, facing the hatter. “Okay… how about Oz? You must have traveled there, what do you know about it?”

Jefferson took a sip of his tea. He hasn’t heard of that place in ages. “The last time I went there, I was supposed to bring back these slippers that could transport one into any world but unfortunately, they were nowhere to be found. Sorry, I can’t be much help since my Hat’s been destroyed.”

“It’s alright.” Tink let out a deep sigh before taking a bite of her biscuit. “These tea and biscuits are delicious by the way. Mind if I took some with me?”

Mirana grinned as she wrapped a few for her. “Oh please, take some!”

“How about my wish?” Grace asked Tinker Bell.

Jefferson rolled his eyes. “Grace…”

“No, that’s okay! I promised.” Tink chuckled. “Okay, kid. I’ll see what I can do alright? Just to thank you for welcoming me here I’ll make this spell extra special. Follow me outside.”

The fairy stepped outside in front of the door and Grace, Jefferson, and Mirana followed her. Tink reached into her pouch and took a handful of pixie dust, shutting her eyes to concentrate on the spell before releasing it in the air. The green, sparkly dust formed into a small cloud that hovered over Grace, her father, and Mirana for a moment until it faded. 

“What happened?” Grace frowned. “Did it work?”

Tink nodded. “Yeah but I’m afraid what you wished for isn’t even in this realm.”

Jefferson furrowed his brows at his daughter. “What did you wish for, Grace?”

“To find my True Love.” She grinned. “So, he’s not in the Enchanted Forest?”

Mirana gave the girl a small smirk as she knew very well who it may be. It was quite obvious. 

Grace had been friends with Henry for a while and had always had a massive crush on the boy. “Aw, Grace, honey. He’s still in the Land Without Magic. I’m sorry.”

“Hold on, hold on...” Jefferson shook his head. “It’s not Henry. If Grace had a True Love, he would be some really rich Prince in another realm…”

“Oh, here we go…” Mirana rolled her eyes. 

“My baby girl deserves to be a Princess and a Prince would be so lucky to have her.”

“Technically, Henry is a Prince…”

“Shut up, Miri…”

“It shouldn’t matter if he were a Prince, or Princess, or not, she’s going to marry for love.” Mirana insisted.

“Did I say marry? I mean maybe courted…”

“Who even says ‘courting’ anymore?”

“I do and I’m bringing that word back.”

Mirana chuckled. “Okay, grandpa.”

Tink raised her brow, obviously amused at the banter as she teased. “Are you sure you’re not an old married couple?”

Grace giggled. “They do this all the time.”

[wangxiandecoded]

Episode 3

Previous Episode | Next Episode

(Spoilers for the whole show ahead!)

Seeing Lan Zhan For The First Time

Ever since I saw the fanmade romcom trailer of the show, I can’t get the image of bridegroom Lan Wangji out of my head. His entry is so elegant and his presence throughout the show truly ethereal. (Wei Ying, you’re not even trying to hide those heart eyes. We get it! You’re impressed.)

Lan Zhan’s Character Growth

We only remember Lan Zhan as the guy who reserved all his emotions and smiles for Wei Ying, so rewatching the rigid, inflexible person he used to be kind of drives me crazy. Lan Zhan before he met Wei Ying started his journey as a lone, icy, untouchable snow-capped peak and by letting himself love and be loved by Wei Ying in return, the person he becomes in the end is like a warm, summery mountain shining with life and no trace of the glaciers that thawed over. His character evolution is no joke and it is only because Wei Ying’s companionship makes him more human and allows him to be the best version of himself. Lan Zhan’s arc is one of the best things in the show and the most rewarding reason to watch it.

Did I Just Meet The LOML

Lan Zhan taking note of his future soulmate showing off his intelligence right from the start. But shhh, he’s too much of a tsundere to admit that right now.

But Lan Zhan, What About The 9pm Curfew? 

Notice how Lan Zhan is up late at night waiting for Wei Ying, like a Good Obedient Boy from the Lan clan ready to catch a lawbreaker red-handed. Are we sure he has not simply mistaken his positive feelings for annoyance and found a way to spend more time with Wei Ying?

Wei Ying, my bro, I think you might be the moon in this case.

Flirting With The Law Enforcer? That’s One More Violation! 

It’s cute to watch their dynamics in the beginning, Wei Ying is already so familiar with Lan Zhan, tries to share his drink with him, teases him for the first of many times. And Lan Zhan just looks like “?????? Are you flirting with the law enforcer?! That is yet another violation of the Lan clan rules!”

Wei Ying coquettishly pushes Lan Zhan's sword into its sheath and the chase that comes next is the beginning of something monumental and exciting. 

(I understand preserving the original meaning is difficult in English translation but they really had Wei Ying call Lan Zhan inflexible only to follow it up with a beautifully choreographed fight sequence? Really?)

Wangxian’s First Meeting Is Romantic Cinematography At Its Finest

This scene right here is in my opinion, the most romantic scene to ever exist in all of fiction. If anyone tries to argue that Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are best bros, show them this scene. There is no hetero explanation for why it is so romantically shot. We have seen it countless times in fairytales. This is unmistakably the meeting of two people destined to be in love forever. It stole my breath the first time I saw it, and has done every time since. Like legit, it needs to be on top of those lists that boast the most iconic meetings in romantic history and taught in academic institutions worldwide.

First of all, a moonlit first meeting is enough to immortalize a story in our memory as being inherently romantic. But Wangxian are so effortlessly and picturesquely sword fighting (or should I say dancing?) on the rooftops, hair and clothes gently swaying to the tune of WuJi and thanks to the slow-motion closeups that make them glow like a live painting under the moonlight. 

(And surely I was not the only one who heard this random bell ringing at night and got reminded of wedding bells or the film ‘Your Name’? Lol!)  

We see that neither of them has the upper hand in the fight. This is important because it establishes they were born to be each other’s equals on the battlefield, something Zewu Jun points out later. (Just one of the many soulmate things Wangxian share.) I have no doubt Lan Zhan is freaking out wondering, who the fuck is this guy? How can he match my every strike and step without even uncapping his sword? 

In these above shots, there is a beautiful, unmissable symmetry in the way they are framed that drives it home that they are two halves of the same whole; their paths will be bound together, their perspectives will come to reflect each other. They are one and the same. The way they fight is also kind of intimate and very poetic. The super romantic backdrop and their placement shows that they are in perfect tandem and their chemistry is loud and luminous from the first time they meet. 

There is nothing straight about this scene. Not even the shot angle. Look! 

There is also something quite god-like and celestial about their meeting, like we are witnessing two prophesied immortal beings whose encounter is going to change the fate of the universe. And does it not, indeed?

I think I heard the moon longingly sigh in this scene because she felt so single. Honestly, understandable. It’s so maddening how two soulmates meeting for the first time can turn out to be this iconic, beautiful, brilliant, breathtaking and every other word you can think of. (We’re lucky Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan are used to dancing, the fight sequences are all so graceful. *chef’s kiss*)

I feel like this one scene reduced every straight romance I’ve ever seen to ashes. I’m honestly curious, can anyone outdo this in the future, gay or not? It has become The Standard for first meetings. I envy the talented, creative minds that envisioned and executed it.

TL;DR : The whole scene is drenched with a romantic field of vision meant specifically for the audience to swoon over.

“Lan Zhan!”

Wei Ying drops one of his two precious pots of Emperor’s Smile because Lan Zhan attacked them. Most people would just be mad in this situation but it's the first time Wei Ying calls him "Lan Zhan”. I wonder what led Wei Ying to have such an informality with Lan Zhan, who didn't consider him his friend until much later. It could be that it’s just who they are, two people with opposite personalities. But we don't see Wei Ying exhibit this closeness with strangers and yet he's whining Lan Zhan's name in that classic style of his, right from the first night they meet. Adorable! (Lan Zhan who owes him two bottles of Emperor’s Smile for breaking them spends the rest of his life buying them for Wei Ying.. In case you needed a reason to cry.)

Breaking The Rules & Breaking The Barriers To Lan Zhan’s Heart

Wei Ying actively criticizes the Lan clan’s rules and finds their teaching unreasonable. He thinks drinking Emperor’s Smile when he’s sitting on the roof technically doesn’t count as being “inside” the Cloud Recesses where alcohol is banned. A small detail but it shows Wei Ying’s gift of seeing through the grey areas in morality. It is a trait that ultimately influences Lan Zhan to shed the hard and fast ideas of orthodoxy he was raised on and share Wei Ying’s quest for justice. This makes both of them the only people inside the world of The Untamed who are able to see the deep-seated problems in the existing system and question them. Their love story is inextricably tied with rewriting the laws of their world and if that does not make The Untamed the most revolutionary romance to ever exist, I don’t know what does. 

Lan Zhan Really Just Cares A Lot

Turns out Lan Zhan didn’t let the Yunmeng Jiang clan stay out in the dark after all. Love how he’s Gay Gripping his sword in panic and backing away from Wei Ying because he doesn't want him to know he's a good person whose heart is in the right place. You know, because that's a horrible reputation for his tsundere persona to have. Zewu Jun takes one for the team and blows his cover, which becomes a common occurrence in the show. Wei Ying is also quick to apologize to him like, “I had a good feeling about you!” when we’ve seen he rarely does that with disciples from other clans. 

President In Action

The conversation between Lan Zhan and Zewu Jun needs no analysis and the latter’s triumphant smirk in the end when Lan Zhan walks off is all the evidence you need that He Knows What’s Up. I love how Zewu Jun probably sits around like, "I have to personally do something or my dumbass brother is going to spend his whole life alone, when he's clearly met his soulmate and is too blind to admit it." Thank you, President of the Wangxian club. We do not deserve you.

What Did Wei Ying Mean?

Wei Ying says all the female suitors from all the clans admire Lan Zhan without knowing how cold and rigid he really is, and he doesn’t complete his sentence because Lan Zhan uses the silencing charm on him. What did he mean by this? What were you going to do, Wei Ying?! 

Episode 3 gives us insight into the inception of their romance and we see every moment since the beginning has been tailor-made to tell the audience this is going to be a love story set against fantasy-driven, action-packed odds in ancient China.