#all about nari

[narilily]

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND... NARI GIM

she knows / meiko 🎧

worries / tom rosenthal 🎧

amen / amber run 🎧

nari is ... a really good waterproof mascara, spools of thread on the floor, soft white kitten fur, a field of yellow wild flowers in the warm summer breeze, a glass of sparkling wine, paper dolls, the sound of deep breathing, her perfectly charming red cottage, a smile brighter than sunshine, a lily.

Nari is one of my characters that I can honestly say has just come together as I've written her. Starting with her face claim and name. I've always adored Jamie Chung, and knew that I wanted to use her, despite not knowing a lot about her, or having seen her in much but The Gifted and a few odd movies here and there. I knew that I wanted a traditionally Korean name, and chose a random last name, and chose to go with a flower inspiration for the first name. Nari means Lily, and that felt right. I decided that Nari would be nicknamed Little Lily by her mother after moving to the States, one of the first phrases that she learned to speak in English. Which was another important part of her development, was staying in touch with her roots, as much as possible.

But! As far as fictional inspiration goes... there really wasn't anyone. I might have been on a bit of a fashion high from watching shows like The Bold Type and seeing Sutton's fashion inspirations made me want to play someone in that world. Katherine, from A Million Little Things, ended up being some inspiration for her, too, in terms of figuring out her sexuality and coming into her own as an individual and a woman as a whole. I also adore Grace Park and absolutely would have used her as a face claim, had she had more resources! Maybe not for Nari, but. You know.

As I mentioned above, I wanted her to stay in touch with her culture, her roots, so her family moved to the States when she was young, but she still celebrates a lot of holidays her parents taught her about, makes the best dumplings around, and tries to visit home when she can. And has incredibly traditional parents who moved back home after she left for college, wanting to live in a place they were most comfortable. It made Nari vulnerable when she returned to Merrock, since she had to sort of be her own support system during a time in her life when she needed people the most.

Because even though I wanted Nari to be the epitome of sunshine, I wanted her to decide to be that way. So I kind of messed up her life. Nari attended college, chased her dreams, was really living a good life before it all fell apart with the loss of her husband (I have no inspiration for that, other than my brain occasionally hurting people, apparently?). To me, it felt more organic to have this woman who had the entire world at her feet -- she was good at her job, on track to become someone, something, a name in the fashion world before losing her husband and losing interest in chasing that on a high-end scale, instead returning to Merrock and realizing that she had two choices: wallow forever, or get back up. And she got back up. Because I think we've all been there at some point in our lives. From there, I wanted Nari to do these things with her life that pushed her in a positive, happy direction: become a pilates instructor, work all day in the sunshine with flowers, design gowns and high fashion looks for her friends and fellow Merrockites who needed a look for prom or a gala, or just for going out.

Which isn't to say that she doesn't have her days of crushing sadness. A lot of people who know me know that I'm a pretty private person when it comes to my own life -- so I guess a part of me was inspired by that. Nari's sad. A lot! But she lets herself be sad when she needs to be sad, she mourns the life she didn't get to have, and then she picks herself up and puts on a smile and fakes it until she makes it. Except she actually does make it.

She's a very open, caring, loving person. Whether it be with her friends and family, or the people she chooses to let in openly. Nari doesn't want kids (that's something she got from me), but she is very nurturing. It's why she does so well in a nursery! Although she mostly openly dated men until getting married, she's always been confident in the fact that she enjoys love more than gender, and as she has gotten older, has only grown more and more comfortable with that, and doesn't bother hiding it. The inspiration behind that is just wanting to see more women who are older and comfortable in who they are, sexually as well as personally.

I'm not going to pretend to be a pilates instructor, I have no idea where the idea for that one came from, other than it being something someone like Nari would be into. Positive thinking, a good way to sweat it out, to get into shape while having fun. The flowers, though! That's me. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a plant gal, so it was fun to put that into Nari. To make her work at a nursery and spend all day watering and caring for plants, making arrangements for events and parties... that's a dream. Nari being into fashion was inspired by me liking fashion, of course, but also has a personal tie to my grandmother, who worked as a seamstress for many, many years (she made my mom and all of her sisters' wedding dresses), and how she was so well respected and loved by her community for the work that she did. Nari will never be gram, but she can still do what my gram did for the people she loves.

... oh, Nari did also take my love of cats. She's my cat girl, along with Livvy. Cosmo is also a nod to a cat that wandered onto our property a few years back that we kept until his passing, giving him a home to spend the rest of his years in. I think Nari was inspired by my soft heart, too. We share that.

[hopeinthebox]

bts + reductress headlines pt.12

[hoofpeet]

"Touch grass" Oh sorry you had to see one post implying that I might have any personal life beyond mindlessly pumping out content for you to enjoy. Forgot my job is to spend all my time making cutesy bullshit to post and then slink back into the shadows lest you have to acknowledge that I ever have personal issues. Eat a dick

[wi11owbird]

made a little comic <3 season of passage appreciation post, the evers

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Im cyring n shaking i cna’t omg Even if they aren’t end game at least confirm Yuna is in love with Nari TT0TT you can’t kieep playing wiht my heart like this TT0TT

[alchemiclee]

I hate that whenever there's a gay ship, people immediately het-ify it. people are so obsessed with making one the "man" and one the "woman" when that's completely unnecessary, because they are both the man or the woman. It's extremely annoying. these people will completely mischaracterize a character to fit into their stupid little het roles they force on them.

for example, you don't need to make one man the "wife" and feminized him to the extreme and fit him in a traditional "woman" role so the other man can be the big strong masculine manly man. they can both be masculine or both be feminine or both be both at the same time! they do NOT need to be gendered opposites to fit het roles. crazy, I know! it's like no one considers it a possibility! or sees how good it can be to have them be equals without gendered nonsense.

when there's a gay relationship, you have the perfect opportunity for the couple to stand on equal ground. they get to be equals who are just as strong and just as soft as each other. there's no faulty power dynamics where one is above the other (because let's face it, society unfortunately deems masculinity > femininity). one doesn't need to protect the other. they can protect themsleves, fight aide by side as equals. one doesn't do all the housework. they share that duty equally. one isn't weak and pretty, while they other strong and manly. they both are strong and pretty, or masculine and weak at the same time.

equal relationships are amazing and need to be explored more and appreciated. there can be more understanding and working together. i'm bad at explaining what I mean, but I prefer these equal relationships over forcing them into opposite roles to mirror het relationships, which are usually extremely unbalanced and unequal. especially because these not het relationships! so why must they look like one? they can and should look different! so why does literally every shipper and writer out there make them so het coded?

I don't understand why people do this. do they actually believe all romantic relationships must mimic het ones to exist and thrive and purposely force that on them? or have they genuinely just not fathamed that they can be different and dont need to follow the expected het standards?

I wonder, it feels like no one actually knows how non-het relationships are meant to be and how they could work, since het ones are always forced down our throats since birth. it becomes The Standard that everyone thinks they must follow. maybe it's all people know since they don't see any other possibilities. their preferred dynamics for their ships are what we are taught and nothing different, because they don't know it can be different. i also think people might be obsessed with that whole "opposites attract" trope. but that opposite doesn't have to be the traditional het-fueld feminine vs masculine or wife vs husband characteristics. it can be other personality things like one is loud and one is quiet, one is dumb and one is overly smart, one is rich and one poor, etc. it doesn't have to be masculine vs feminine!

BREAK OUT OF THE HET NORMS!!!!! TEAR DOWN HETERONORMATIVITY!!!!!!!!! FREE THE GAYS

(disclaimer, not saying masculine vs feminine ships are all bad/shouldn't be done ever. but it doesn't need to be 100% of the time either 😅 can't think of one ship people dont do this with lol)

[tonyglowheart]

Having a big "apartment 'complex'...really? I find it quite simple" moment with Chap 46. Like. This is it. This is Shen Qiao and Yan Wushi and why Chap 45 had to happen but ALSO flat-out addresses & answers the question of "but how/why does yanshen work?" Like. This is it right here:

[leonsliga]

Mentally I’m here

[justarandomlambblog]

Imagine quitting your comfy job as a talent agent/scout to become a barista in a non-Bishop affiliated business just so you can date your former boss

Imagine searching for like three years for your disowned estranged brother who caused you to be blind so both of you can get closure and move on with your lives only to discover later on that he works with your fiancee and has the entire damn time

Imagine befriending your fellow feline barista who seems to dress way too nice for their job (but you don't even notice bc that used to be the norm in your old life) and have way too much money for their wage and talks about how much they love their mysterious fiancee you've never met so often you've learned to tune them out only to find out said mysterious fiancee is the brother you blinded while lashing out in a fit of anger ten years ago

They have captivated me but I only have an hour until work hhhh

This AU will now plague me forever thanks <3 which is super weird bc I am primarily a fantasy/sci-fi fan/author. Hm. This is my first coffeeshop/modern AU...

When I get home from work I might work on Shamura, Heket and Kallamar designs (that little Shamura speech bubble is purely just a symbol to show it was Shamura speaking I don't have a design for them in this AU yet jkfdjk) it'll depend on how tired I am

[wormlette]

ur writing has converted me from a casual chilaios appreciator to a fulltime chilaios truther. i need to see that middle age man fuck his hot blond coworker so baddd

Awwww I’m honored!! Me and the Chilaios mutuals in a circle nodding like Namari and Senshi and Tance about elves and welcoming u in

I have been interested in people writing unhinged shit about Chilchuck since I started reading the manga in like 2017 or some shit and I’m sooooooooo happy others see my vision… he’s my favorite little guy… he’s so repressed… he NEEDS his back blown out out behind the dumpsters of their workplace

[legendary-alliance-stance]

finally posting this after procrastinating for days and at this point i'm just giving up waiting to post this during the day and will just queue reblogs of it for later

A relationship chart / semi-family tree chart for @legendary-assassin-stance's and I's Cantha Crew. (AKA the Rev Family and other characters associated with them + will be part of a plot thing with them at...... some point)

(Canon characters featured on this chart: Shiro, Viktor, Archemorus, Vizu, Nika, Mai, Ihn, Petrov, Danika, Rama, Valeria, and Hao Luen.)

Brief descriptions of Important Folks + rambling under the cut!

Im Hana - One of the Heroes of Cantha. Childhood best friends with Yuuma, and wife of Nika.

Im Min-Seo - Daughter of Hana and Nika.

Im Nari - Present day descendant of Hana and Nika. Serves the Empire as a Willbender, and bodyguard of Princess Jié Yuèlóng.

Chén Yánglóng - An ancient dragon God of Cantha, true ruler of the Celestials, and husband of Lǐ Bǎofèng. Father of Jié Yuèlóng, and Empress Ihn's secret lover.

Lǐ Bǎofèng - An ancient phoenix God of Cantha, true ruler of the Celestials, and husband of Chén Yánglóng.

Jié Yuèlóng - Imperial Princess of Cantha, daughter of Empress Ihn and Chén Yánglóng.

Yuán Zhēnjīng - An ancient fox spirit revered by the Miyajima family.

Shion Miyajima - A Priestess of Grenth born in Kryta who went to Cantha in search of her family's history. Currently trying to restore the abandoned Miyajima estate off the coast of Shing Jea.

Yūma Miyajima - One of the Heroes of Cantha. Childhood best friends with Hana, and - more infamously - the man who bore a ghostly Shiro Tagachi a child.

Yūki Hashimoto - Son of Yūma and Shiro.

Noriaki Hashimoto - Present day descendant of Yūma and Shiro. A revenant that channels the power of Shiro, after accidentally summoning his spirit. Dating Orion.

Orion zu Heltzer - Present day descendant of Saint Viktor and Archemorus. A revenant who channels the power of his famous ancestors, after an incident bound them to him. Dating Noriaki.

[narilily]

MAY 12 - 18, 2024

What is your relationship like with your mother? Do you have any one memory that stands out from your childhood with her?

My relationship with my mom is pretty solid! When I was really, really young, my parents made the decision to move from South Korea to the United States, since they wanted to give me the best life possible and make sure that I had everything I could ever want, that whole deal. I've always appreciated and loved them for that, especially my mom, since she taught me so much. Even though they don't live here in Merrock anymore, we still talk almost every day, even if it's just through messages back and forth.

As for memories with my mom... I remember when she made me a dress for my first day of junior high school. I was just really starting to get into fashion back then, and I had this idea in my head of exactly what I wanted, and we spent hour and hours picking out fabrics and accessories and putting it together. Looking back now, I'm sure it was embarrassingly kitsch, but then... it was the best thing that I've ever owned.

[cirque-dhomosexual]

Teen beach movie enjoyers, how many of y'all are gay now? Just a quick question.

Follow up question: Sapphics were y'all in love with Lela?

[outeremissary]

Tagged by @turbulentpumpkin43. Thank you! Although I know I've got a lot of stuff I haven't finished, I'm doing my best to be prompt with new stuff.

rules: shuffle your 'on repeat' playlist and post the first ten tracks, then tag ten people!

(Emi note: I have come to understand that "on repeat" is a Spotify thing, so tonight the method is that I'm going to do my verrrrry best to remember stuff I've looped a lot recently and we're all going to super duper trust me that it's like, analogous.)

Thunder N' Rain - Hammer No More the Fingers (YouTube | Spotify)

Judgment in the Sixtieth Year ~ Fate of Sixty Years - ZUN (YouTube | Spotify)

To the Last Drop of Blood - Beast in Black (YouTube | Spotify)

Lay Down - Priestess (YouTube | Spotify)

Ride or Die - The Knocks (feat. Foster the People) (YouTube | Spotify)

The Purge March (Amane's Second Trial) - DECO*27, TeddyLoid (YouTube | Spotify)

Yin Yang Relationship - Wadatakeaki (YouTube)

Austerity - Katatonia (YouTube | Spotify)

I Really Want to Stay at Your House (Turbo eurobeat remix) - Rosa Walton (YouTube)

Dancing Samurai - Kanimiso-P (YouTube)

If interested, @camelliagwerm, @bearvanhelsing, and @mountainashfae?

[summertimemusician]

*reading the Four Swords Manga to refresh myself after taking yet another break from the Minish Cap figurine hunt, does a double take and almost drops coffee mug*

So was anyone going to tell me Four is the only Link with at least one alive parent still around who actually did something , or was I just meant to find this out by myself when going on a Zelda binge in preparation for TOTK?

Like, this man is a knight that gets captured and brainwashed by Vaati, duels his son thinking he is Shadow, but manages to snap out of it by throwing a dagger at Vaati while disguised as Zelda. He tries to curb Four's reckless tendencies and to remind him not to rush headlong into situations without his allies and to keep a cool head, it's not much but let that sink in like holy mother of Farore-

He couldn't have know that Link was really himself, he couldn't have know that Vaati wasn't actually the princess, yet he actually takes the gamble because even if he is exasperated by his son and isn't around much he actually cares. Honestly it arguably may not be much and their relationship will likely have some strain due to the brainwashing deal but it's something.

Just, let that sink in. Four is shockingly lucky in that department so good on him, him, Twilight, Time and Legend were arguably the luckiest in the parental figure/role model department (if we count Sir Raven for the time he was around after Link's uncle is gone, which I am doing so by the way, Legend really looked up to him and he's his ancestor and actually very hands on with helping him in the Oracle of Ages manga, a rarity in Zelda in general really and his uncle was also really nice. The only one who was quite as lucky to have a parent/role model actually help a lot in the plot was Twilight, because Time's Deku Tree dies pretty early in during Ocarina of Time after raising him with the Kokiri before the quest and thus can't offer him support and is, ya know a tree, kind of limited in action there). Maybe Wind too if we count Linebeck (this man stabs Bellum for the kid even though he's terrified and is disgusted with himself after the brainwashing for attacking him, honestly props and respect to the sea rat), I think we can also count Spirit if he's around due to Alfonzo? Though I haven't played Spirit Tracks in a bit so I could be wrong. Anyway, he's pretty darn decent and involved in the plot rather than just shoving it onto the Link's shoulders for one reason or another (unlike SOME PEOPLE. *Side eyes Gaepora in Skyward Sword for doing the bare minimum even though his daughter is missing and he's implied to have raised Link/Sky with her, side eyes King of Red Lions, side eyes BOTW's King Rhoam because he really wasn't helpful at all to either Zelda or Link and only did the bare minimum for the later, side eyes OOT's king for not believing is own daughter until Link/Time was already traumatized by the events of the game and coming in to spill the tea, side eyes- actually no, Dot's/Minish Cap and Four Swords' Zelda's father is actually half decent.), They could form a little support group or something.

... Now I want a fic where the Chain actually meets the guy and just, gets a lot of whiplash that "Wait a second one of us is NOT an adopted orphan in some fashion?", That or he just immediately integrates himself as a secondary father figure for some of the Chain members, give Time a bit of a break for a change in wrangling these chaotic green clad menaces (affectionate), someone to bond with Rusl and we can know someone other than Twilight has a decent father figure still around. That or the bigger and arguably more comedic whiplash of meeting Sir Raven, who looks like a young Time with hints of Sky what with the cloak.

[custer-mp3]

shirts by Rock & Rebellion, a very of-the-era Affliction/Dirtbag knockoff. via ebay.