#and i highly recommend this magazine too

[rising-above-stars]

[wordstome]

how c.ai works and why it's unethical

Okay, since the AI discourse is happening again, I want to make this very clear, because a few weeks ago I had to explain to a (well meaning) person in the community how AI works. I'm going to be addressing people who are maybe younger or aren't familiar with the latest type of "AI", not people who purposely devalue the work of creatives and/or are shills.

The name "Artificial Intelligence" is a bit misleading when it comes to things like AI chatbots. When you think of AI, you think of a robot, and you might think that by making a chatbot you're simply programming a robot to talk about something you want them to talk about, and it's similar to an rp partner. But with current technology, that's not how AI works. For a breakdown on how AI is programmed, CGP grey made a great video about this several years ago (he updated the title and thumbnail recently)

I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend you watch this because CGP Grey is good at explaining, but the tl;dr for this post is this: bots are made with a metric shit-ton of data. In C.AI's case, the data is writing. Stolen writing, usually scraped fanfiction.

How do we know chatbots are stealing from fanfiction writers? It knows what omegaverse is [SOURCE] (it's a Wired article, put it in incognito mode if it won't let you read it), and when a Reddit user asked a chatbot to write a story about "Steve", it automatically wrote about characters named "Bucky" and "Tony" [SOURCE].

I also said this in the tags of a previous reblog, but when you're talking to C.AI bots, it's also taking your writing and using it in its algorithm: which seems fine until you realize 1. They're using your work uncredited 2. It's not staying private, they're using your work to make their service better, a service they're trying to make money off of.

"But Bucca," you might say. "Human writers work like that too. We read books and other fanfictions and that's how we come up with material for roleplay or fanfiction."

Well, what's the difference between plagiarism and original writing? The answer is that plagiarism is taking what someone else has made and simply editing it or mixing it up to look original. You didn't do any thinking yourself. C.AI doesn't "think" because it's not a brain, it takes all the fanfiction it was taught on, mixes it up with whatever topic you've given it, and generates a response like in old-timey mysteries where somebody cuts a bunch of letters out of magazines and pastes them together to write a letter.

(And might I remind you, people can't monetize their fanfiction the way C.AI is trying to monetize itself. Authors are very lax about fanfiction nowadays: we've come a long way since the Anne Rice days of terror. But this issue is cropping back up again with BookTok complaining that they can't pay someone else for bound copies of fanfiction. Don't do that either.)

Bottom line, here are the problems with using things like C.AI:

It is using material it doesn't have permission to use and doesn't credit anybody. Not only is it ethically wrong, but AI is already beginning to contend with copyright issues.

C.AI sucks at its job anyway. It's not good at basic story structure like building tension, and can't even remember things you've told it. I've also seen many instances of bots saying triggering or disgusting things that deeply upset the user. You don't get that with properly trigger tagged fanworks.

Your work and your time put into the app can be taken away from you at any moment and used to make money for someone else. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people who use AI panic about accidentally deleting a bot that they spent hours conversing with. Your time and effort is so much more stable and well-preserved if you wrote a fanfiction or roleplayed with someone and saved the chatlogs. The company that owns and runs C.AI can not only use whatever you've written as they see fit, they can take your shit away on a whim, either on purpose or by accident due to the nature of the Internet.

DON'T USE C.AI, OR AT THE VERY BARE MINIMUM DO NOT DO THE AI'S WORK FOR IT BY STEALING OTHER PEOPLES' WORK TO PUT INTO IT. Writing fanfiction is a communal labor of love. We share it with each other for free for the love of the original work and ideas we share. Not only can AI not replicate this, but it shouldn't.

(also, this goes without saying, but this entire post also applies to ai art)

[sinful-mind-joyful-thoughts]

sᴡᴇᴀᴛʏ

screencaps and gifs: @din-jarring They're truly amazing, the best! Their inspiring presence sparked the creation of this story, bringing characters to life in a remarkable way. I highly recommend checking them out—they're a beacon of talent and inspiration! 💕✨️💕

Pairing: Jaiver Peña x fem!reader

Summary: In hot weather, Javier and you get cozy on his couch. The broken AC doesn't stop the heat between you two in any way, shape or form.

Warnings/tags: MDNI 18+, degradation, praise, male moaning, breeding kink, kissing, oral M and F receiving, face sitting, alcohol consumption, power dynamics, explicit language,Unprotected sex wrap it before you tap it, kids. THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT YOU CONSUME

WC: 2.7K

The midday sun bore down relentlessly upon Javier's apartment, defying any hopes of cool respite. Despite his efforts, the small space offered little relief from the Colombian heat. Javier reclined on the worn tan couch, a cold beer in hand, his brow glistening with sweat. You surrendered to the stifling atmosphere, abandoning any notion of productivity to join Javier on the couch.

With a sigh of relief, Javier popped the top off a cold beer, the droplets of condensation offering a tantalizing promise of refreshment amidst the stifling heat. As you fanned yourself with a magazine, attempting to alleviate the oppressive warmth, a complaint about the temperature slipped from your lips. "It's so hot I can barely breathe," you remarked, turning to face Javier.

Despite the discomfort, Javier remained effortlessly attractive, even with sweat causing his hair to cling to his forehead. You met his gaze before setting the magazine aside and peeling off your sweater, revealing the tank top underneath. The relief of shedding layers was immediate, the cool fabric offering a welcome change from the heat of the sweater.

You sighed deeply, closing your eyes as you leaned back, resting your head against the soft cushion of Javier's couch. Beads of sweat trickled down your forehead, tracing a path down to your chest and seeping into the fabric of your tank top. You were almost certain that your nipples were poking through the fabric of your tank top. Bras felt like torture chambers for your breasts, so you rarely wore them, and today was no exception.

You heard some movement beside you and opened your eyes to find Javi had taken his shirt off. He was fit, but not fit enough to deny cake, that was for sure. A blush crept onto your cheeks at the sight, and Javi, catching your reaction, quipped, "What? Can I not take my shirt off as well?”

Your cheeks flamed even hotter, and you stuttered, "N-no, I mean, yeah, of course you can..." Your words trailed off as you struggled to regain your composure, feeling the heat rise to your face. Javi chuckled at your flustered state, his easy grin melting any lingering tension. "Relax, it's just too damn hot," he said, gesturing towards the sweltering room.

Feeling somewhat relieved by his casual response, you managed to compose yourself enough to ask, "Um, is the AC on?"

Javi nodded, understanding your concern, and got up to check the air conditioning unit. After a moment, he returned, frustration etched on his face.

"It's broken," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Guess we'll have to tough it out until I can get someone to fix it."

You groaned inwardly, feeling a fresh wave of heat wash over you at the news. "Great," you muttered, resigning yourself to the sweltering heat that seemed determined to cling to every corner of the apartment.

Javi began by slipping off his shoes, followed by the removal of his pants. "Well, I'm getting comfortable," he stated casually, his voice echoing in the room. Your cheeks flushed as Javi continued to undress before you, each movement captivating your attention. As he started to take off his pants, you couldn't resist stealing a glance at the prominent outline in his boxers.

Looking up at him from your seated position, you found yourself mesmerized by his presence. Standing before you, Javi exuded an aura of confidence that was almost intoxicating. His demeanor sent a shiver down your spine, stirring a heat within you that had nothing to do with the temperature of the room.

Standing before you in just his boxers, Javi's half-hard dick was unmistakably visible, his smirk betraying his bold intentions. Without a hint of shame, he openly admired your breasts, his gaze filled with desire. "You have no idea how much I want you right now," he confessed, his voice husky with longing.

In response, you met Javi's gaze with a coy expression, your hands gently resting on your thigh. "Javi?" you murmured, seeking clarity or perhaps a moment of hesitation in his eyes.

Meeting your gaze with unbridled lust, Javi's response was unapologetically direct. "Do you know how much I would pay to fuck right now?" he whispered, the intensity of his desire palpable in the air between you.

You brought one of your hands up to his thigh, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath your fingertips. "How much?" you whispered, your voice barely above a breath. With a daring move, your hand traced the line of his boxers, pushing the fabric lower exposing more of his curly little happy trail. Your gaze met his with an intensity that mirrored your desire, those same sweet eyes inviting him closer.

In response, Javi's hand moved to caress the back of your head, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. The air between you crackled with anticipation, each touch igniting a fiery longing that begged to be quenched.

As his soft touch swiftly changed, Javi's demeanor shifted, his grip on your hair becoming firmer, almost commanding. With a forceful tug, he compelled your head to tilt back, exposing the vulnerable curve of your throat. Leaning in closer, his face mere inches from yours, he exuded an intensity that left you breathless.

In the charged silence that followed, Javi's voice was a low, husky whisper against your ear. "How much? Enough to make you forget your own name, baby," he declared, his words a potent blend of desire and possession. And with that declaration hanging in the air, your lips finally crashed with his, igniting a fiery passion that consumed you both.

Lost in the heat of the moment, you melted into each other on the couch, the world outside fading into obscurity as you surrendered to the intoxicating rhythm of desire. Every touch, every kiss was an affirmation of the intense connection between you, each moment building upon the next until you were both consumed by an insatiable hunger for one another.

He lowered you onto your back, his weight pressing deliciously against you as he moved over the top of you, his lips trailing soft kisses along your neck. But as his advances intensified, you pushed him off gently, a mischievous glint dancing in your eyes as you rose to your feet, leaving Javi looking confused.

"If you're paying..." you began, a smirk playing at the corners of your lips as you dropped to your knees before him, your hands caressing his thighs and stomach teasingly. "I should be extra caring towards you," you continued, your voice dripping with playful seduction. "You know, Javi, you're just..."

Before you could finish your sentence, Javi cut you off abruptly, his grip on your hair tight as he pulled you closer. "Suck my dick or I'm not paying you anything," he commanded, his tone firm and demanding. With a silent nod, you complied, reaching to pull Javi's dick out of his boxers.

Javi may have been a cocky asshole, but he had good reason to be. His dick was at least the size of a coke can, a fact that was impossible to ignore. With a small spit into your hand, you began to stroke his impressive length softly, feeling the weight of it in your palm. Drawing closer to him, you licked his shaft a few times before softly sucking on the pinkish tip, humming as you did so.

Javi, eager for more, used his hand to guide your mouth further down his dick. Taking the hint, you accepted the challenge, taking as much of him into your mouth as you could manage, even if it felt like your mouth might split in half. With one hand still working his shaft, you moved the other to his balls, gently fondling them as you continued to please him. A sweet sound escaped Javi's lips in response, spurring you on to suck a little more of him into your mouth.

As your lips enveloped him, Javi's hips instinctively lifted, driving himself deeper into your mouth. The sudden intrusion made you gag slightly, but you fought to maintain your composure, meeting his gaze with glossy eyes filled with a mixture of desire and determination. Sensing your reaction, Javi's movements became more deliberate, his thrusts growing softer and more controlled as he found a rhythm that suited both of you.

With each movement, you adjusted, finding your own pace to match his, the sensation of him filling your mouth and sending shivers of pleasure down your spine. As he continued to thrust, you shifted your focus, using one hand to gently massage and fondle his balls, adding an extra layer of stimulation that drove him wild with desire.

As Javi's hips stilled, he let out a low, guttural moan, the sound sending a thrill coursing through you. "God damn," he muttered, his voice thick with desire. "Get on my dick. If I'm paying, I'm cumming inside of you."

You continued to softly suck on his dick, your lips trailing teasingly along his length as you listened to his words. His moans were like music to your ears, each sound fueling the fire burning between you. With a deliberate pop, you released his dick from your mouth, a mischievous glint dancing in your eyes as you shed your pants and underwear, revealing the extent of your arousal. You were soaked, the evidence of your desire glistening on your skin.

Noticing the hunger in Javi's gaze, you felt a surge of excitement rush through you. He leaned forward, his lips pressing against your stomach in a hungry kiss before his hands gripped your upper thighs, guiding you to straddle his face. Your pussy hovered tantalizingly over his mouth, the anticipation sending shivers down your spine as you felt the tickle of his mustache against your inner thighs.

"Ready to forget your name?" Javi said smugly, his words sending a thrill of anticipation through you. Without waiting for a response, he placed a direct kiss on your clit, his tongue expertly finding the sensitive area with ease.

Javi's tongue worked its magic on your clit, setting off an explosion of pleasure that made you arch your back in ecstasy. Waves of sensation rippled through your entire body, leaving you gasping for air as Javi's precise movements brought you closer to the edge.

With each passing second, you felt yourself unraveling under the intensity of Javi's touch. The world around you faded away as you surrendered to the pleasure he bestowed upon you. His lips and tongue moved with a rhythm that matched the pounding of your heart, pushing you toward the brink of desire-fueled madness.

As the heat between you intensified, a primal need for release consumed your every thought. Your fingers gripped the fabric of the couch as you rode the wave of pleasure, feeling it threaten to overwhelm you completely.

In a final, desperate cry of ecstasy, you shattered into a million pieces, consumed by the overwhelming bliss of climax. Javi's name escaped your lips in a breathless whisper as you succumbed to the ecstasy that washed over you, your body trembling with the force of your release.

With a smirk playing on his now arousal-covered face, Javi gently lowered your legs before positioning you to straddle him. There was a fleeting moment of pure bliss in his gaze as he looked at you, his eyes filled with desire. Your lips met in a passionate kiss as he began to insert his sizable cock into you, eliciting a moan from your lips at the delicious stretch.

You weren't a stranger to intimacy, but the sheer girth of him made you gasp in pleasure. Javi's reputation was well-deserved, and as he filled you, you couldn't help but marvel at the intensity of sensation coursing through your body. Once you were fully seated on his dick, a deep, guttural moan escaped your lips, the sound muffled as Javi pulled you close to his chest.

The scent of sweat and sex hung heavy in the air, the room's humidity rising with each passionate movement shared between you and Javi. It was as if the very atmosphere around you was charged with the heat of your desire, amplifying the intensity of your connection.

You started to move your hips a little faster, grinding against him as your breasts pressed tantalizingly against his chest. Each movement sent waves of pleasure coursing through you, aching to find that perfect spot inside of you that promised pure ecstasy. Javi held you close, his grip firm yet gentle as he guided your movements, his desire evident in the way he met your rhythm.

With a low groan, Javi shifted his legs to rest on the coffee table in front of him, angling himself to better thrust into you. The change in position sent a shiver of anticipation down your spine as you felt him plunge deeper inside you, the sensation overwhelming yet utterly intoxicating. Javi's groan mingled with your moans of pleasure.

Javi released his hold on you, his hands moving to your hips, ensuring you were perfectly settled upright on his dick. A gasp escaped your lips at the sudden change, the sensation of him hitting that sweet spot sending sparks of pleasure shooting through your entire being. Javi could feel your grip tightening around him, a sure sign that he had found the spot that drove you wild.

With a primal intensity, Javi began to pound up into you, each thrust sending shockwaves of pleasure radiating through your body. His hands held you firmly in place as you braced yourself against his chest, your nails digging into his skin as you clung to him for dear life. Your moans grew louder with each passing moment, a symphony of desire that filled the room.

As the coil of pleasure tightened in your stomach, you felt yourself teetering on the edge of ecstasy. With a loud cry, you felt the wave of orgasm crashing over you, your body trembling with the force of it. You buried your face in Javi's shoulder, overcome with the intensity of sensation coursing through you.

Javi, sensing your release, slowed his thrusts, not wanting to overstimulate you. "Awe, giving up so soon?" he teased, his voice husky with desire. "What am I paying you for?" But even as he spoke, the desire in his eyes burned brightly.

As Javi's hips drove upwards with a relentless urgency, the sheer force of his movements sent you spiraling further into ecstasy. Your head fell back, exposing your neck to the heated air as waves of pleasure washed over you, leaving you trembling in their wake. With each thrust, your senses were overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the pleasure coursing through your veins.

His voice, thick with desire, reached your ears like a primal growl, stirring something deep within you. "You like that, huh?" Javi's words were more of a statement than a question, his tone dripping with satisfaction as he watched your reactions with hungry eyes. The way he took you, possessing you with every thrust, ignited a fire within you that burned hotter with each passing moment.

Unable to form coherent words, you could only manage a breathless nod in response, your body responding to his touch with a fervor that bordered on desperation. With each thrust, the coil of pleasure tightened in your stomach, the anticipation of release driving you to the brink of oblivion.

As the intensity of your connection reached its peak, Javi's movements became more frenzied, driving you both toward the edge of ecstasy. With a final, desperate cry, you felt the wave of orgasm crashing over you, your body convulsing with the force of it as you surrender yourself fully to the pleasure.

And then, in that moment of pure bliss, you felt him release inside you, his hot seed spilling deep within your core. The sensation of him pulsing within you sent shockwaves of pleasure rippling through your body, amplifying the intensity of your climax until you were both consumed by the sheer ecstasy of it all.

He slid out of you, his movements slow and deliberate, before pulling you into his arms on the couch. You couldn't help but giggle at the playful exchange as he reached for his wallet. "So, how much?" he asked, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

"100 dollars," you replied with a mischievous grin, teasing him with the modest amount.

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he regarded you fondly. "You're worth more than that," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine affection. With a playful flick of his wrist, he tossed his wallet in your direction before leaning back against the cushions, a smirk playing on his lips.

[bethecliche]

my love mine all mine l vincent renzi x f!original character

summary: after seeing her for the first time, he just fell (deeply) in love word count: 3.7k content: female reader (no description of genitalia), mention of sex, mention of stretch marks, description of hair and eye color (but not texture or skin color), french laws and locations being misinterpreted, use of tv shows and books I didn't watch or read, non canon note: english is not my first langague! I wrote this in portuguese and then translated to english myself, there's a chance you'll find an error or something. I'm sorry sorry! I highly recommend you to listen to the song while reading.

you can check the aesthetic references for this oneshot here but take note that none of the people actual faces on this reflects on the character identity that I wrote, so don't base all of the details on the references for the characters in story.

The first time he noticed her, she was sitting on one of the wooden benches outside the courtrooms. She seemed nervous, shaking her legs and glancing restlessly between the watch on her wrist and the clock on the hallway wall, as if it made much difference. Regardless of her worried expression and furrowed brow, Vincent felt that he had never seen such an attractive woman in his life. From her brown hair to her brown boots, looked like she stepped out of one of those '70s fashion advertisements he'd seen in vintage magazines as a kid. He didn't had time to notice much more than that, as he crossed the hallway and headed to his session. At the end of the day, of course, she was no longer there.

What seemed to have been one of those street crushes that you see when crossing an avenue and never think about again, stayed in Vincent's head for a few days. Every time he passed by the corridor, he waited to see if the brunette would be there. He tried to guess what she was doing there that day and whether there was a possibility of bumping into her again, a question to which the universe answered “yes”.

Two weeks later, this time leaving work, he looked down buttoning his blue coat, distracted in his thoughts when he noticed the same brown boots a few steps in front of him. The stranger held a cigarette between her fingers and had her arms pressed against her body. Although it was snowing lightly, it was extremely cold for an autumn day. Her look was different, probably due to the weather, with a coat with a puffed collar and puffed sleeves, once again looking like she belonged to a previous decade. The wind ruffled her hair a little and the moonlight illuminated her posture, a scene Vincent believed could have come from a movie.

All his past relationships were comfortable. Someone he knew in high school, someone he knew in college, someone who was introduced by friends or someone his friends encouraged him to talk during an outing. He didn't consider himself an introvert, but he never needed to pursue someone who was interested. Things just happened for him. It wasn't his comfort zone just to approach a stranger like that, much less at the door of his work, but something that day said it was the right thing to do.

He took a cigarette out of his pocket and approached the girl asking to borrow a lighter. His sudden plan only went so far.

As soon as she turned to face him, she gave a friendly and inviting smile, taking the object out of her pocket and activating the flame in front of his face. Vincent stood still, staring into her eyes throughout the action, mesmerized by her and her sparkling brown eyes.

“Will I ever meet a lawyer who doesn’t smoke?” She asked as she extinguished the flame, placing the lighter and her free hand back in her pocket. Too cold to let it out.

His response took a few agonizing seconds, as his mind was far away and still lost in her gaze. He composed himself, running a hand through his hair and looking away.

“The day this happens, let me know. I want to be there.” Vincent laughed awkwardly, causing the girl to laugh as well. At that moment, he felt that he wanted to provoke more of this reaction, he wanted to see more of her smile and so the conversation flowed.

His first question was how she guessed he was a lawyer and not a passerby to which she replied, "You stand like a lawyer." He shared how being a lawyer was boring and tedious, but it did have its dramatic moments in court when she asked if the career was challenging like its portrait on TV. He also discovered that she was there to pay a car ticket caused by her younger brother, hence the great nervousness when he first saw her a few weeks ago.

“When my parents told me that my 20th birthday present was a baby brother, I already felt within myself that I would be the best sister in the world. That I would try to make his life as easy as possible. 18 years later, he asks to borrow my car to visit his girlfriend - which I don't hesitate to do, after all I support young love. And the little shit-head makes sure on parking in front of a fire hydrant.” The girl blew smoke to her right side, not taking her eyes off him. “Would you be my lawyer if I try to choke him?”

Vincent could only laugh at her spontaneity, easy way of talking about life and easy way of making conversation.

“Just threaten him, it will be an easier case for me to win.”

They talked about Metz and how her family decided to move to Paris when she was a teenager because they knew the city needed more beautiful people, a fact Vincent agreed with. In order not to dismiss him, in a very charming way, she praised his Parisian accent and said that such a comment did not apply to him and only God knows how Vincent felt inside after that.

The two shared their tastes, such as reading romances and watching Dix pour cent every night before bed. It was as if they knew each other much more than the 1 hour they spent together under the snow. They shared maybe two more cigarettes before realizing it was getting a little too late to chat like that on the street.

He doesn't even know how he got out of that situation alive and managed to get home with her number.

Their first date was at a local cinema on a Friday night for a re-showing of Buffet Froid, a film Anne had never seen.

He didn't remember the last time he felt butterflies in his stomach, although it was guaranteed that nothing could compare to this time. As he got ready and tried to match his best t-shirts with his beige pants (which he eventually changed out of, finding them too tacky), Vincent remained nervous thinking that she might not show up or that this would be the first and last time they would meet in this circumstance.

In the end, all the “first time” flutter went out the window when he saw her smiling and waving on the other side of the street, already with the tickets in her hand. “I'm glad you came.” She said, holding his arm as they walked through the door of the establishment.

“I wouldn't miss it.” he replied.

The two took watching films very seriously, so it was only during the ending credits, after a lot of laughter, small comments and bumping hands on the popcorn bucket, that the two kissed.

He felt the softness of her skin on his hand and her sweet scent of perfume, in addition, of course, to the hot and saccharine kiss. It was slow, serene, just as they both wanted, being able to feel each other in that moment. It was also Anne's desire to slowly run her fingers through his hair and she didn't hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity.

After throwing their trash away, the two walked out of the cinema, now closer to each other, hand in hand. The weather wasn't as cold as when they first met and they were free to enjoy the warmth of their bodies without so many layers covering them.

“For a great 70's mind, you never having watched Buffet Froid is an insult.” He pointed at her with his free hand, wanting to tease her.

Anne rolled her eyes. Even though she liked the film, she didn't want to give a taste. “Obviously you would like action movies like that. It suits you.”

“I’ll make you like it too.” He stated, trying to imply that he wanted them to meet again, to which she responded by kissing his cheek and saying, “Next time, let's watch a romcom.”

Once, twice, three, four and a few more times, all being unusual dates. Sometimes she would call during his workday and say she would pick him up for an adventure. She drove aimlessly, just the two of them talking about their days and observing the city lights. These were Vincent's favorite “dates”, as they all ended with the two of them making out like two teenagers parked in the driveway of his apartment.

The more he got to know about her, the more he wanted to constantly be a part of her life. Anne owned a clothing store downtown, something he never tired of saying was the “most suitable job her”. On the last date they had, she took him to the closed store and put on a fashion montage for him, with improvised note cards on paper left on the counter and all. But she knew that the judge had been bought when he only gave her 10s. She also took the opportunity to get Vincent to do the same, putting him once again out of his comfort zone to find out that bell bottom jeans don't really suit him.

They even got to watch a car race - something that not even Anne had done, she had just decided that it was an experience they needed to have. They both entended up hating it, but the important thing was that the company was great.

That was one of the nights Anne slept at his house.

They ate some junk food from the fridge and watched a silly but captivating show on TV while they chatted more. When she realized she could sleep at any moment, Anne got up to brush her teeth and change her clothes, putting on her uniform for whenever she was there: a Vincent t-shirt.

Vincent found it charming how she captivated his gaze regardless of what she was doing. He loved her unique and sophisticated style, but he also loved seeing her like this, casually wearing his clothes, in his home, as if she were his. And lastly, he loved seeing her with nothing on.

Every detail of her body, her birthmarks on her shoulder and that one next to her beautiful eyes or her stretch marks on her back, everything about her seemed to have been chosen down to the millimeter. When they made love, his hands went everywhere, trying to reach as much of her as he could, to feel the warmth she exuded.

And the best way to love her was by looking into her eyes, admiring her beauty, running his lips up and down her body, being grateful for the privileged position it was to be able to love her.

Mornings were like nights, with him waking up earlier and being able, once again, to admire the woman beside her.

“You are even more beautiful in the morning.”

The two walked through the streets of Paris, both tipsy, looking for an available taxi in the dead of night. With their relationship now more established and their schedules aligned, they made it a challenge to come up with these unusual date only once a month so it wouldn't lose its fun. Today had been the day to go to the opera and due to their lack of sobriety, they didn't seem to have left anywhere other than the shabbiest bar on the corner.

The event was boring as fuck and they left halfway through to drink somewhere more enjoyable. They found an open bar showing a PSG versus Marseille match. Neither of them supported the teams or understood about football rules, but this seemed like a new opportunity for them to have another different experience that day.

One laughter after another, some passionate kisses between drinks and the two were celebrating PSG's victory at the bar with some strangers whom they befriended.

“My mother wants to meet you. My brother too. I said I might have a lawyer for the next time he's up to no good. Do you think it’s too early?”

When drunk, Anne tended to speak fast and slurred, but Vincent understood perfectly. He smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing the tip of her nose. “I will love meeting your family.”

They never actually asked each other to go steady, but it was clear that they already belonged to each other at that point.

Vincent was on his cell phone writing a text to his mother about the shopping list for Christmas dinner and their desire to participate in decorating the tree (Anne's request to spend more time with her mother-in-law) while his girlfriend was lying on his lap reading his copy of Around the World in 80 Days (and she was loving it, for sure).

It was a lazy day for both of them at Vincent's place. A year into their relationship, the two of them loved sharing these moments together doing different activities.

“She said she misses you a lot and looks forward to seeing you on Christmas, but that you're banned from being near the kitchen when it is time to prepare desserts. Everything you touch that’s sweet ends up burning for some reason.”

Her smile, excited by her mother-in-law's affection, turned into a face indignant at the rule she imposed. "What?" She looked up from the book and pulled Vincent's hand to check if the message was real and it was. “This is so unfair!”

“Sorry, Anne, you’re just really bad at this.”

She lightly pushed his arm and pretended to be uncomfortable, although she knew it was true and wasn't really upset. Before she could return to her book, Vincent placed his cell phone on the table and began talking.

“One more thing, huh,” he cleared his throat, “I made one more space on the rack for you. I don't want certain clothes to get wrinkled in the drawer. I’ll make room in one more drawer too.”

Anne put the book aside and knelt on the sofa, facing her boyfriend. “Won’t it bother you? I already have space in my bedroom drawer, bathroom… In fact, there are a lot of my things scattered around the house. I don’t want to impose my space here.”

This was a subject that she had also been waiting to comment on for some time. By working her own hours at the store and having an employee to take her place wherever needed, Anne had a more flexible schedule than Vincent and it was easier to stay at his house, helping to keep everything on track and cooking for both of them. He would arrive just before dinner time and they could enjoy together without rushing to do the chores.

Because of this, the few clothes she wore just to sleep there became a drawer full, her makeup in the bathroom sink and her shoes near the door.

The gray-haired man hugged her around the waist, kissing her forehead and assuring her of his action. “You are not imposing anything, mon chéri. I want you to use this space. I want to have more and more of you here.”

For him, having her scent permeate the rooms was a gift wrapped in the best bow. Knowing that every day he would come home to see her welcoming smile and welcome kiss was the biggest work incentive.

“It feels like my home.” She whined.

“It’s your home. Our home.” He insisted.

In his favorite action, he cupped her face and looked warmly into her eyes, admiring her features trying to associate with what he was trying to say. They both smiled at each other realizing where the topic was going.

“Are you…”

“I want you to move in with me.”

The beautiful smile that filled his heart appeared on her face and Vincent, who was sure of her choice, but a little afraid of her accepting it, smiled too at her positive reaction.

In conclusion, he ended up needing to make more closet space for her countless boots, but he was happy that she could call the space her own (and she looks great in those boots, he would never complain about making room for them).

The snack table was almost empty and that made Anne happy. She might not be good at desserts, but her food was always praised and she almost never had leftovers when she cooked for her friends.

“This sandwich is delicious, aunt Anne!” Daniel stated, taking another one from the table and sitting on the sofa next to her. “Can I take some home?”

“Of course you can! There’s more stored in the kitchen, I’ll put it on the side for you to take.” She continued, now coming closer to whisper. “You can give Snoop a bite, I won’t tell your mom.”

“Hey, I’m watching you two!” Sandra said towards the back of the sofa, pointing at the two jokingly. She was talking to Vincent leaning against the wall in the hallway, looking anxious.

There was approximately 10 people spread throughout the room at this gathering. The couple chose to host a celebration for the launch of Sandra's new book, a dear friend of both, and tried to make room for everyone present. She was very delighted with the honor, although unaccustomed to the positive attention she was receiving.

Even though they weren't glued to each other at the party, Anne and Vincent always stopped for a moment to exchange a kiss and ask if everything was okay. He, even more so, couldn't stop admiring his girlfriend from afar. Parties like this always made him happy to be able to share the love he had for her and also show others that this was his girl.

It was around 6pm that they said their goodbyes and thanked their friends for being there. After closing the door, Anne took a deep breath and leaned against it with Vincent kissing her neck and hugging her waist.

“Had fun today?” He asked against her neck, kissing slowly until he reached her face. Hugging him back, she just nodded yes, pulling him into a longing and passionate kiss.

Vincent pressed his body against hers and tightened his grip, placing his free hand against the wall for support. Everything was going well, until Vincent suddenly stopped, as if he couldn't give in to temptation yet.

He also took a deep breath, with a shy smile as he looked at her.

“Is something wrong?” She asked, still leaning against the door and resting her hands on his shoulder.

"What?" He retorted.

“During the party, you kept looking at me like that, with those heart-eyes, that fool in love face of yours. And now you're doing it again. It seems... different.”

Vincent laughed awkwardly, as if he was unprepared to respond that quickly. “In my defense, I always look like a fool in love when I’m with you.”

Before anything else, Vincent took a red velvet box out of his pocket and opened it, showing a silver ring made especially for her. With the hand that was on her waist, he slipped into her hand and intertwined their fingers.

“Kneeling isn’t your style, nor are long speeches in front of our friends, but I can’t just leave the ring in your hand without saying anything. The day I saw you for the first time, I was intrigued. The second time, that feeling I had of needing to talk to you urgently, of not letting the opportunity pass, I think, somehow, I knew we were going to get to this moment right now. By the third time - I was already in love. Head over heels, worshiping the ground you pass, heart-eyes, whatever you want to call it. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel those butterflies in my stomach before seeing you, that I don't feel the eager to be by your side. If you do me the honor of marrying me, I can promise that you will have a man who wakes up in love with you every day. Forever.”

Anne's eyes were already full of tears as soon as she saw the box and she couldn't help but shed them when she heard the proposal.

The last 4 years of their lives were instinctive, passionate, in a way she never thought she would experience. All her last lovers didn't last long, they couldn't handle her personality or couldn't love her right, so she was left with no hope that it would change. But Vincent's speech was something that she not only believed, she felt. Every day, she felt his love, his affection and his care. Wave of action speaks louder than words and she trusted her man.

There was no other answer than yes.

The same word was repeated by the two of them at the registry office a few months later. The idea was never a big party, it didn't suit either of their personalities, but Anne always wanted a dress and a veil, so they were both there, in their wedding clothes just before lunch time in the registry office next to Vincent's work place.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!”

With that sentence, the two shared a classic wedding kiss, with Vincent holding her around the waist and Anne throwing her leg up. They could live that moment over and over again, but they needed to go out for a little celebration party with their friends before they left for their honeymoon (and Anne was more than eager to have her friends around so she could toss the bouquet).

Outside, in another snowy day, Anne reached through the car window and took a black bag from the glove compartment, handing it to her now husband.

“What is it?” He held on, swinging by the loop to feel the weight so he could find out what it could be.

“It's your wedding gift.” She cheerfully replied.

He stole one more kiss from his wife before opening the bag, already imagining what could be inside.

“It has our initials and today’s date on it,” she pointed to the bottom where the details were, “so no other girl coming out of court will need to offer you the lighter.”

Vincent took a cigarette out of his jacket pocket and lit it with his newest gift, but without inhaling, just lighting it for the sake of it.

“No one will have my love. Only you, mon chéri."

[hotwaterandmilk]

Here are the pages from Hana to Yume's 50th anniversary books (Gold & Silver) that got me the most emotional. Photos only.

Let's start with Silver! Unsurprisingly I always get a tear in my eye when Matsushita Youko contributes anything to Hanayume. She'll never finish Yami no Matsuei (though pics like this make me dream) but I do hope she's having a good time gaming and doing whatever else makes her happy.

Similarly it has been SO long since Saenagi Ryou has drawn anything (I think her ITAN series was over a decade ago now?) it's great to see the Yorozuya boys looking fresh! I think you really had to be reading the magazine in 1999-2001 to really appreciate how popular that series was. Anyway, she's still got it!

Ragawa Marimo doing Akachan to Boku art of the boys a bit older?? MY EYES APPEAR TO BE LEAKING. Love these adorable brothers regardless of age, but wow Ragawa's art is looking polished these days. Love it!

Meanwhile Yuki Kaori kind of still has it with Cain and RIff, but the Mudou siblings definitely look more along the lines of her art in the lacklustre Tenshi Kinryouku: Tokyo Chronos. I do think it's nice seeing her draw both series again though, definitely makes me nostalgic.

Moving onto Gold... I had a huge grin on my face just glimsping a new doodle of the boys from Greenwood by Nasu Yukie. Look at those adorable dorks!

It was so nice seeing Nakamura Yoshiki's two most prominent leading ladies sharing the spotlight together. While Kyouko from Skip Beat! has been a prominent figure in Hanayume over the past two decades, Tsukasa was the Nakamura heroine I first became acquainted with in Tokyo Crazy Paradise so this page made me happy.

An honourary mention goes to Hiwatari Saki for providing an OK Shion and Mokuren. Not a patch on her art from the original Bokutama series, but this is quite cute.

Anyway, lots of great art from past & present Hanayume mangaka and some really heartfelt notes too. I highly recommend getting your own copies of these furoku books as they're quite lovely little keepsakes.

[hotpocketpena]

Nobody Likes A Secret

Pedro Pascal x F! Reader

Summary - Did he really just throw away your whole relationship away like it was nothing, like it was just a bit of fun? 

Warnings - Swearing, Angst, Heartbreak

Word Count - 2.4k

Notes - Highly recommend listening to ‘Nobody Likes A Secret’ By Lizzie McAlpine while reading. Major inspo from this song so enjoyyyy.

--------------

The dust from your guitar swarmed your bedroom like a tornado. It’d really been that long since you played huh? Your love for playing must’ve died out, but now it was time to dive back in.

You just dabbled in writing songs. You’d never gone as far as putting anything out their professionally. Sure when you were younger and first learned to play, you and your friends thought it’d be cool to post some clips on YouTube. The videos did well, but the older you got, the more embarrassing it felt to keep doing it.

So you stopped doing videos and stuck to playing in your bedroom and using your phone to record the songs. 

You didn’t think anything could ever stop your love for playing - you’d always find the time to write quotes in your phone to then later turn them into a melody or even a song. That was your thing. 

Just like his thing was acting. 

Not doing interviews in sleazy magazines about how he’d dated someone a year ago for a few kicks. 

You thought you both ended on good terms, deciding that now wasn’t the best time to make anything official to the word as it was a nasty place. Pedro cared about you too much - or so you thought - to put it out there that you two were a thing. Only for your life to flip upside down and have eyes watching your every move. 

He was used to that, having being in the spotlight for so long. But you?

You’d be snapped by a few paparazzi when you and Pedro when out for lunch, but he’d shut down the rumours and make it clear you were just friends. Which wasn’t all a lie, but you were more than that. Or, he was more than that for you. 

You never expected to get home from work after a long day to read something so vulgar. 

‘So Pedro, how have you found dating since being in the spotlight? I’m sure it’s not easy.’

‘To be honest, I did have something going on, but it was just for fun. It was a mutual agreement between two people who’s lives were to complicated to have anything too serious.’

‘How so?’

‘Well, she was a musician of some sorts and with my busy schedule, it was hard for us to get together. So, we decided for it to be fun, rather than have all of the labels and make this ore difficult than they have to be. We had a lot of fun nights together. But sadly, it just didn't work out.’

‘So, what your saying is that your back on the market?’

‘You could say that, yeah. I’ve been off it for a while actually.’

The flimsy papers from the magazine soared across your living room. They just avoided the pictures hanging on your wall. Your breathing was slow and harsh. 

We decided it to be fun?

It was a mutual agreement?

Yeah fucking right. You and Pedro were far from being anywhere near a mutual agreement. It was special what you had. A deep connection between two people who really cared for each other. He’d be there for you, and you for him. You two had been through your darkest times together and always came out stronger at the other end.

For him to say that it was just a bit of fun? That is the most insulting thing you’d ever heard. 

So you did the only thing you could think of doing when you were angry. Aside from smashing your apartment to pieces, you walked into your bedroom and dug into the back of your closet until you found it. 

“There you are girl.” You whispered to your dusty - and in certain need of a tuning guitar. She’d been sitting in the back of the closet gathering dust for way to long. 

It felt good to hold her again. Your life just got so busy, you’d never have any time on your hands to write or even strum a few strings. But, before you’d never had any reason to be this angry.

When you both called off the ‘mutual agreement’ - as Pedro called it - sure it was upsetting. You’d distanced yourself from loved ones and took some time to yourself, but you didn’t hit rock bottom enough to write a song about him.

You’d thought about it, but it was too cheesy. Writing songs about guys who have broken your heart was such a 2000′s thing to do. Now, songs were about passion and care, not misery and heartbreak. 

This, made your blood boil just enough to make you write a song about him. About how he’s betrayed you and humiliated you. 

You sat cross legged on your bed, your phone set to record in front of you and you threw some ideas around in your head before pressing record. 

I hold my anger in my stomach And I'm starting to have side effects From hating you this much No explanation, just a quote in a magazine Where you said you only dated me for fun

You’d held the anger in for so long, it did start to take a toll. You’d bottled it up for so long, holding your tongue whenever one of your friends mentioned him. They knew of your friendship, but not to a great extent. 

They were jealous, that you were the one that caught the eyes of Pedro Pascal and not them. How the night you met, it should have been one of them standing in the right place at the right time and not you. And right now, you wish it was true, that you’d never met the man that broke you. 

And I'm paraphrasing now But the gist of it was how you never loved me Only in it for the sex And I really don't get how You can say that and be proud of it We both know you were in deeper than that Hmm

He was in deeper than just sex. He’d never admit it to anyone, but he was deeply and madly in love with you. It was hard for him to admit any sort of feelings to anyone, even you at times. Even though you were someone he could put all of his trust in. Someone who he could spill his deepest, darkest secrets too and not have to worry about the press finding out. 

When the time came around where his jobs were getting more and more demanding and the spotlight on him was getting bigger and tighter, he didn’t want you to become one of his flings. He wanted real, but he couldn’t give it to you. 

He didn’t want you to be dragged into his crazy life, he knew that you prefer to live a peaceful life with no drama. He was selfish to keep seeing you for so long, but he didn’t want it to end. At times, he wished that he was never famous. That he was just a regular guy who happened to meet you and fall in love. 

Oh how he wished for that. 

Nobody likes a secret And I was always yours It's almost been a year and even so I still don't know what for Hmm

You were his secret. His best kept one. He’d always tell the press or his agents that you were just a friend. Only his closest knew you were more than that to him. Only they knew about his feelings for you and how he wanted to show you off to the world that you were his, but that wasn’t the life he wanted for you.

He never asked you if that was what you wanted. He just presumed since you were so well kept. He didn’t know that in a heart beat, you would jump into the harsh spotlight that is Hollywood, deal with all of the negative things that would be said about you, just to be called his. 

A tear droplet fell onto the base of your guitar. You shook your head and wiped away the escaping tears from your eyes. You stopped recording and placed your guitar down on the floor and sat back against the headboard. 

Did you want to listen to it? Would it be as painful as writing it to listen to it?

You did it anyway. 

It was only a short song, a mere one minute and forty-nine seconds, but it was the most powerful minute and forty-nine seconds you’d ever written. It had so much pain, yet clarity in the song. Clarification that you were just a secret, but you didn’t have to be. You could have been much, much more than a secret. He just never gave you the chance to be. 

------------

He signed deeply as he sunk into his couch, clutching the glass of whiskey for dear life. 

“Why the fuck did I say that?” He muttered to himself as he reads the article in the magazine. “I’m such an asshole.”

He was indeed. He never wanted to say any of that, he didn’t even mean what he was saying. The interviewer was pressing him about his dating life. She knew something, she had dirt on you that she was going to spill if he didn’t give her something good to write about. 

He wanted to tell the world your name and how much you did and still do mean to him, but that would disrupt your life in more ways than ever. So he opted for the easier and better option in his mind. To play off like you meant nothing to him, and that it was just a good time between two people. 

Pedro threw the magazine across the room, just avoiding the picture sitting on the coffee table. He sunk even further back into the couch and pinched the space in-between his brows and nose. 

A loud knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. He groaned, placing the whiskey down on the coffee table and headed to the door. 

The rain was bouncing down against the concrete as he opened the door. He peered his head around from the door, trying to shield himself from the rain. He swung the door open fully when he saw you standing there, dripping wet from the rain. 

“Hi.” You say quietly, a whisper. 

“Hi.” He said back, with the same volume. 

“I don’t know why I’m here.” You shuffled on your feet, refusing to look anywhere else but at him. 

“Do you want to come in? You look freezing.” You were freezing.

After realising what you wanted, you ran to your door, slipped on your sneakers and ran towards Pedro’s house. Your mind was so set on him that you forgot you were still in your lounge clothes. 

You nodded quickly and stepped into his home. “Take a seat, I’ll go and grab you a towel.” He said sheepishly, walking to the bathroom. 

It’d been a while since you’d been to his house. Not much had changed. A few different pieces of art he’d picked up on his travels and the guitar you had bought for him sitting in the corner of the living room was new. You smiled at it. 

You’d always promised to teach him how to play, and even went out of your way to buy him the best beginner guitar. He put up a fight at first, his fingers too big for the strings. He moaned while trying to play and eventually giving up. But the fact he still kept it after a year, made your heart melt.

Pedro returned with a towel in one hand, and one of his old t-shirts in another. “I got this for you, just in case you wanted to change.” He shuffled on his feet, slowly walking to you and handing you the items.

“Thank you.” You said, drying your hair with the towel. “I uh, came over hear because I-”

“You read the article didn’t you?” He butted in with a nervous look on his face. 

You nodded, looking at him with disappointment in your eyes. “I did. And I-”

“Look I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come across that way, hell I didn’t even mean anything that I said I just-. I know you hate me for how things ended and now I’ve made you hate me anymore. I know your here to scream at me, so go ahead.” Pedro paced the living room, stopping in front of you, preparing himself for your wrath of words. 

You opened your mouth and closed it. “I’m not here to scream at you Pedro.” You said, taking his hands into yours. “I’m here to tell you what I want.”

Shock too over his face and body. “What? Why aren’t you here to scream at me? The things I said were awful!” 

“Yeah, they were. But I get why you said them. You have been protecting me from the spotlight the moment we met. Not wanting to have anyone spread a nasty rumour about me or take my pictures when I’m out doing something. You didn’t want me to have the life that you do. 

But, you never asked me if I wanted that life with you. You thought you knew what was best for me, but what was actually best for me was to be with you, come spotlight or not.” You took both his hands into yours, telling him the words you’ve wanted to tell him for so long but never even realising yourself. 

“I would give up my life to be with you. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care about what people say about me. All I care about is knowing you’ll be by my side through it all.” You smiled up at him, but his face was unreadable.

Did he want this? You’d never thought about what he wanted. A lot can happen in a year. 

Had he found someone else and you were confessing your feelings for him?

Oh god, what had you done. 

You thought about it again and snatched your hands from his. “I’m sorry for coming. I shouldn’t have come.” You quickly said, moving for the front door. 

Pedro grabbed your wrist and spun you around into his chest. He looked down at you, his brown eyes still like you remember them. “I’m so sorry. I messed up. I wanted to protect you from my life, but I never thought about what you wanted. If you’ll still have me, I want you to be apart of my life, forever and always.” He lifted your chin up and studied your face.

“I want to be apart of your life Pedro. I do.” You smiled, standing on your tip-toes and leant in for a kiss. 

[amphibious-thing]

If you don't mind answering, what exactly makes something macaroni?

A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785) defines macaroni as follows:

An Italian paste made of flour and eggs; also a fop, which name arose from a club, called the maccaroni club, instituted by some of the most; dressy travelled gentlemen about town, who led the fashions, whence a man foppishly dressed, was supposed a member of that club, and by contraction stiled a maccaroni.

To put it simply a macaroni was a fop. That is a man who is too interested in fashion. Because interest in fashion was considered a frivolous female trait men who were "foppishly dressed" were often ridiculed for their gender nonconformity. The Natural History of a Macaroni describes the macaroni as follows:

There has within these few years past arrived from France and Italy a very strange animal, of the doubtful gender, in shape somewhat between a man and monkey, which has generated so much within that time, that they form at present no inconsiderable groupe in most of the public circles about town. Its natural height is somewhat inferior to the ordinary size of men, though by the artificial height of their heels, they in general reach that standard; the face is quite effeminate, but sometimes distinguished by a little hair growing on it like a beard; the fore legs, or arms, are disproportionably long, the hind legs of a slender make. Its dress is neither in the habit of a man or woman, but peculiar to itself, and varying with the day; at present it is principally discovered by an Indian flesh-coloured cloth, or silk, clasped all over with broad shining steel, and buttoned at the neck with a large black collar;

~ Walker’s Hibernian Magazine, July 1777, p458

The term macaroni really just means effeminate if someone or something was perceived as effeminate it was macaroni.

However as the term was predominantly used in the 1770s and 1780s it's associated with the fashion from those decades. So while there isn't strict rules dictating what is and isn't macaroni there are certainly some key aspects to the fashion that come up a lot in satire.

The Hair Probably the most iconic aspect of macaroni fashion was the height of the hair. This was mocked in the satirical print What is this my son Tom. However in reality the hair was not worn that tall. Compare the caricature to Richard Cosway's self-portrait in which he is depicted wearing the fashionable style.

[Left: What is this my son Tom, print, c.1774, published by Sayer & Bennett, via The British Museum.

Right: Self-Portrait, Ivory, c.1770–75, by Richard Cosway, via The Met.]

The Suit Menswear of the period consisted of the same basic elements; shirt, stockings, breeches, waistcoat and coat. At a time when English menswear was characterised by plain monochrome broadcloth macaroni fashion was disguised by the fabric, cut, colour and trimmings of the suit. Fashionable were the tightly cut French style suits known as habit à la française. Popular were brocaded and embroidered silks and velvets, sometimes further embellished with metallic sequins, simulated gemstones and raised metallic threads. In contrast to the black suit worn by many Englishmen, macaroni wore pastels, pea-green, pink, purple, red and deep orange.

[Left: The Illiterate Macaroni, print, c.1772, by Matthew Darly, via Lewis Walpole Library.

Middle: The Sleepy Macaroni, print, c.1772, by Matthew Darly, via Lewis Walpole Library.

Right: The Catgut Macaroni, print, c.1772, by Matthew Darly, via Lewis Walpole Library.]

The Accessories But a macaroni's ensemble was not done without accessories. Some examples of popular accessories include red heeled shoes, shoe strings, dress swords, canes, nosegays and muffs.

[Such Things Are, watercolour, c.1787, by Captain Mercer, via Lewis Walpole Library.]

If you want to learn more about macaroni I highly recommend reading Pretty Gentleman by Peter McNeil.

[godsmenusuperbowl]

Shared Love ~ *Felix Lee*

Summary: Now that Felix knows you're his soulmate, he needs to talk to you. But as the opportunity presents himself, he finds speaking to you may actually be a bad idea. Still, he needs to at least see you one more time...

Pairing: Felix Lee X G/N!Reader

Genre: Fluffyish Oneshot

Word Count: 1288

Warning: Soulmate AU

Masterlist

Taglist: @samepoisonsamevine @imagine-a-life-like-this @mxnsxngie @maeleelee @kpop-will-kill-me

A/N: Part 2 to Shared Experiences. I highly recommend reading that one first.

The show was over and Felix was beginning to feel like he was going crazy. Halfway through the performance, he lost sight of you standing in the wings. He'd be lying if he said if he didn't feel a little disappointed, a sting of rejection coursing through him. As soon as he felt that, he felt guilty, knowing you probably felt the same thing he felt. 

For the first time in his life, Felix wished he didn't have this particular soul mark. He wished his emotions weren't so transparent to you. You didn't deserve to feel how conflicted he felt about his feelings for you. But he was sure you could. There was a glimmer of sadness in the back of his mind that he could tell was coming from you. What he wouldn't give to bolt off this stage right now so the two of you could talk through this new revelation together.

Now with the show over, he wanted nothing more than to disappear and never see you again. After all of these years trying to find his soulmate, he wasn't sure he could handle your rejection, not now, not ever. But he asked to speak to you. He asked to see you one more time after the show was all over. And he wasn't going to leave you waiting, even if it means he was bound to get his heartbroken.

After he got off the stage, he asked one of the stage managers if they saw you anywhere. They directed him to one of the many empty rooms backstage. He took a deep breath before knocking on the door. 

"Come in." You sounded so timid, so scared. It made his stomach twist and he almost turned tail and disappeared like he wanted to. But he knew he couldn't. He owed you this conversation, come what may.

He entered the room to see you sitting on the couch and twiddling your fingers. You quickly stood as he came in and for a stretch of time, the two of you stared at each other. So many thoughts and emotions were running through his mind and he was sure you were feeling the same. 

"Hi." His voice was strangled, but someone needed to start the talk.

"Hey." Your voice, on the other hand, was breathless. There was another brief pause before you shook your head. "Damn, okay, we're soulmates. Let's just get that part out in the open."

He quickly nodded, his cheeks burning and the pit in his stomach growing. "Yeah, we are. Is that... is that a good thing?"

You seemed caught off-guard by his question and he instantly wished he could take it all back. But you answered him instead. "I mean, I can't say for sure. We just met. I don't really know anything about you."

"You don't read all of the magazines about Stray Kids." That was not the right thing to say. But the words came tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop himself. 

Instead of looking embarrassed or offended, you let out a breathy laugh. "I mean, yeah, sometimes. But that's not like the real you. It's how you present yourself to the press or to your fans. I don't know all your deepest darkest secrets or desires. Not that I need to know them! That's asking too much of a practical stranger at the moment!"

Felix couldn't help but laugh at how flustered you got. It seemed you both didn't really know how to approach the topic. But your attempts were admirable. He thought you were adorable. What he wouldn't give to know what you were thinking about his response to all of this.

Taking another deep breath to calm his nerves, he said, "Well, we don't have to be practical strangers. What I'm trying to say is you just joined our style team, right? We'll get to see each other more often. I'm sure we'll get closer."

He thought he said the right thing, but when you groaned and buried your face in your hands, he started to second guess himself. 

"Ugh, that makes this even worse!"

"How so?"

You glanced at him through your fingers. "It's a personal rule of mine. I don't date my co-workers or my clients. Work should be kept strictly professional and I am not about to jeopardize such a good paying job just for a soulmate, no offense."

He shook his head. "None taken. But I understand."

"Look, Felix, you seem really sweet and genuine." You began to explain and he already began to brace himself for the sting of rejection. "But I just don't know if I can pursue this whole soulmate thing while we work together. It's just so unprofessional and I am not about to get either of us in trouble. I'm sorry."

Instead of trying to console you to the best of his ability or slipping away to sulk, he instead looked at you thoughtfully. "Let me get this straight, if we weren't working together, you'd be open to the idea of pursuing the whole soulmate thing we have."

A skeptical look crossed your face, but you didn't deny it. "What do you have in mind?"

"What if I had you transferred to a different JYP style team? I know Itzy is looking for another makeup artist."

Instantly your eyes lit up. "Itzy? Oh my- I would love to work with them! They're amazing and I love their music and their stage presence is so cool! It would be an absolute dream to be on their team in any way, shape, or form!"

Felix couldn't help but let out a bark of laughter. "Wow, you sound exactly like Changbin when he's gushing about his favorite girl groups."

"Ah, so that little fact of his is true?"

"Please, it would be harder for him to deny it than to make it an act." He rolled his eyes before smiling at you. "So I take it you'd be open to working with Itzy?"

You enthusiastically. "Absolutely! I would be more than open to work with them! I'll do whatever it takes to make them look like the fabulous queens they are!"

"Well, I'll tell the stylists you're interested. They'll be more than happy to take you on."

The two of you smiled at each other for a long while before you snapped out of it. "Wait a minute. Wait just a minute! Did I just get conned to take another job so that I could also get a boyfriend?"

Felix blushed at your insinuation. "Well, I mean, when you put it like that..."

Your laugh broke him out of his embarrassment and his smile returned. "Wow, this day just gets crazier and crazier! To think I finally met my soulmate after all these years! And I was never really interested in meeting you in the first place!"

He frowned. "What? Why? I've been dying to meet you ever since our first shared experience!"

"Oh, well, I didn't think that just because I had a soulmate meant I needed to drop everything to find them." You explained. "I wanted to focus on myself so that if and when I met my soulmate, I'd be able to give them the best version of myself."

"That's actually really admirable." He blushes. It almost made his desperate attempts to try and find his soulmate seem silly. "I, um, I hope I can give you the best version of myself."

You smiled and gently touched his cheek. Your hands were so soft and so warm. He could feel himself melting into your touch like butter. He could already tell he wanted to keep this feeling for as long as possible.

"Felix, you already have."

[contemplatingoutlander]

Our true feelings about race and identity are revealed in six words

This is a poignant article about a project that Michele Norris started that tapped into people's thoughts about race in a profound way--using only six words. This is a gift🎁link, so anyone can read the full interactive article, even if they don't subscribe to The Washington Post. Below are some excerpts from the article:

I have always cringed when the accusations fly about someone allegedly “playing the race card.” It’s usually a proxy for “You’re making me uncomfortable, so please stop talking.” Or a diversionary tactic used to avoid having to speak about race with any kind of precision or specificity. A shorthand for “Just shut up.” And so, in 2010, I flipped the script, turning that accusatory phrase into a prompt to spark conversation. I printed 200 black postcards at my local FedEx Kinko’s on upper Wisconsin Avenue asking people to condense their thoughts on race or cultural identity into one sentence of six words. The front of the cards simply read:

Race. Your thoughts. 6 words. Please send.

I left the cards everywhere I traveled: in bookstores, in restaurants, at the information kiosks in airports, on the writing desks at all my hotels. Sometimes I snuck them inside airline in-flight magazines or left them at the sugar station at Starbucks. I hoped a few of those postcards would come back, thinking it would be worth the trouble if even a dozen people responded. Much to my surprise, strangers who stumbled on the cards would follow the instructions and use postage stamps to mail their six-word stories back to me in D.C. Since my parents were both postal workers, this gave me an extra thrill. Here I was, doing my part to support the Postal Service. Who says snail mail is dead? Half a dozen cards arrived within a week, then 12, then 20. Over time, that trickle became a tide. I have received more than 500,000 of these stories — and more arrive every day, though the vast majority of submissions now arrive through a website portal online. They have come from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Though limited to six words, the stories are often shocking in their candor and intimacy. They reveal fear, disappointment, regret and resentment. Some are kissed by grace or triumph. A surprising number arrive in the form of a question, which suggests that many people hunger not just for answers but for permission to speak their truths. It was amazing what people could pack into such a small package:

Reason I ended a sweet relationship

Too Black for Black men’s love

Urban living has made me racist

Took 21 years to be Latina

Was considered White until after 9/11

Gay, but at least I’m White

I’m only Asian when it’s convenient

To keep the conversation going, I created a complementary website for the Race Card Project, where people could submit their six-word stories online. Over time we added two words to the submission form: “Anything else?” That changed everything. People sent in poems, essays, memos and historical documents to explain why they chose their six words. The archive came alive. It became an international forum where people could share their own stories but also learn much about life, as if it were lived by someone else.

I highly recommend reading the entire article, using the above gift link. As an olive-skinned Italian American, with curly hair, I have often felt like I am a walking Rorschach test for race. Even though I'm classified as "white" in the U.S., I've had people ask me if I'm a Latina, a Native American, Black, Egyptian, Jewish, and even a South Pacific Islander. Given my history, here are my six words on race.

A book is not it's cover.

I welcome people adding to this post their own 6 words on race.

[pleaseeeimjustagirl]

It Girls Ramadan Guide

Hey babesss I am soooo excited Ramadan officially starts this week and I wanted to post a Ramadan guide for my fellow Muslim girliesss if you aren’t Muslim but are participating in Ramadan this is a good guide for you as well.

Setting Intentions

♡ Before Ramadan starts set your intentions. What do you want to improve on this Ramadan? What charities do you want to donate to? Even if you aren’t able to reach all the goals you set Allah rewards us based on our genuine intentions.

♡ Journaling. I highly recommend journaling your intentions and your experience this Ramadan. Keep track of your mood, as well as your Quran readings, and prayers. I will link a Quran Journal as well as a 30-Day Ramadan Journal  Ramadan Legacy Planner.

♡ Vision Board. I’ve seen some girls online recommend creating a Ramadan vision board and I agree! Create a vision board using Canva and Pinterest, or you can use a poster board and magazine. This will help you see your goals not just read them. Place your vision board where you can see it so you're reminded of your goals daily.

Nutrition 

Suhoor

♡ Eat a balanced suhoor meal. Eat a meal high in protein, protein takes a while to be broken down so it’ll help you at the beginning of the day. Eat carbs and fats you will need as much energy as the average hours we fast during Ramadan are 12 to 18 hours depending on where you are.

♡ Drink water. One of the things I struggle with every Ramadan is my water intake. Try to drink at least two 16oz bottles of water during Suhoor. Hydration is super important you don't want to pass out due to severe dehydration.

♡ Drink electrolytes. Drinking electrolytes is very beneficial before fasting they help your body retain water while you are fasting. Do not overdo your electrolyte intake because too much sodium is bad.

Iftar

♡ Do not overdo it. I know going a long period without food can make you want to eat everything in sight but it is important to eat a well-balanced nutritious meal after fasting. When you overeat this may cause indigestion and other stomach issues.

♡ Avoid eating too much fried, salty, and high-sugar foods. Moderation is key I know during Ramadan my mom makes all of our favorite Ghanaian dishes and they aren't the most healthy options. That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat them or avoid them you can eat them but in moderation. Eating too much of these foods in the moment may feel good because they cause us to release feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin but they can make fasting the next day very difficult.

♡ Eat whole foods. The best food to break your fast with is fruit! Specifically, a date to begin with and then other fruits like pineapple, watermelon, oranges, strawberries, mango, and other fruits you like. I would recommend you eat more water-based fruits to hydrate your body.

♡ Drink water. I mention this twice because it is very important that after you break your fast you drink water make it a goal of yours to have six to eight glasses of water daily.

Movement

♡ Create a Ramadan workout plan. I know a lot of us girliesss are on weight loss journeys and we want to be snatched before the summer but we also don't want to stress out our bodies while fasting and exerting needed energy. Create a workout plan that starts low and goes slow. Limit intense cardio, and train at a lower intensity, if you lift try to lift heavy before suhoor which means you’ll need to wake up earlier. If you prefer to workout after Iftar break your fast with something light so that your stomach won’t feel so heavy when you workout.

♡ Walking. I recommend getting in sedentary movement throughout the day, so instead of taking the bus walk if where you're going isn't that far. Walking is beneficial for so many reasons I’ll link this article.

♡ Yoga and Pilates. I love both of these exercises they are perfect for my girlies who are fasting. Pilates especially is perfect it is very low and slow in movements but still gives you amazing results. Yoga is perfect for relaxing especially if you deal with anxiety, sore muscles, back problems, and trouble sleeping I recommend trying yoga.

Increase Your Iman

♡ Prioritize Prayer. Make sure to pray all five of your daily prayers and do them on time try your best to not delay your prayers unless you have to.

♡ Read Quran. Some of you might be hafiz of the Quran and I know it is common for hafiz to try and finish the Quran from start to finish during Ramadan so maybe you can make that a goal if you are a hafiz. For my girlies who are like me and haven’t finished the Quran but Insha Allah we will! I recommend trying to read at least 10 verses of the Quran daily that's better than not reading it at all.

♡ Watch Islamic Lectures. I recommend spending your time online watching Islamic lectures like Omar Suleiman, Mohammed Hoblos, Mufti Menk, Dr. Sh. Haifa Younis, Akhi Ayman (he is perfect for younger men), and many other amazing lecturers. My favorites are Omar Suleiman and Mufti Menk they explain Islam in such a beautiful way and spread the message perfectly.

♡ Charity. This month is the best month to give to those in need. You can donate to many organizations, and help send aid to Gaza/Congo/Sudan, create a fundraiser for your local masjid in need, feed another fasting person, help prepare Iftar at home, and so much more. Charity not only blesses us with good deeds but there have been studies proving random acts of kindness are good for our mental health we produce dopamine when we donate or help others. 

♡ Pray Tahajjud. I swearrrr if you have anything you desire in this life this is the best prayer you need to pray! Allah is closest to the earth during the last third of the night and he is there to listen to our dua’s and repentance. You can only pray Tahajjuud after you sleep. Tahajjud is hard to catch because it involves having to leave our sleep for the sake of Allah. One Mallam explained Tahajjud so beautifully he said “Tahajjud is like a personal invitation from Allah Not everyone can get in most people are asleep during that time.” If you have anything you want badly pray Tahajjud for it, especially during this holy month.  So try your best to wake up an hour or two before the fajr prayer and pray Tahajjuud I will link a video on the benefits and how to pray Tahajjud for those who don’t know how.

These are a few tips for my girliesss I hope Ramadan is a blessed month for all of us! Thank you for all the support babes! we are getting close to 500 followers!!!

[tragic-vaudeville]

8 BEAT GAG SCAN UPDATE‼️

Hi! I have (finally) finished scanning volume 4 of the series! I know I said in a previous post that i would upload a giant google drive folder with all my volumes (4-6) together at once, due to watermark issue from my app, but I've been able to work around it! So now I will be posting my other two volumes individually when I finish scanning each!!

Here's the link with the giant google drive! Before clicking the link I highly recommend reading the notes underneath for additional information!

Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-4DHAZN44KbSGlEIr_oTjmL-zRTvJi3J

Notes:

For those unfamiliar with the 8 Beat Gag series: it's a Japanese magazine series featuring various 80s new wave, classic rock, post punk, and hair/glam metal musicians from various bands in fictional scenarios. The magazine has multiple storylines drawn from various artists, with the main storyline being drawn by Atsuko Shima!

Since this series was made in Japan, the entire series is in Japanese; which means there are no volumes with english translations (unfortunately). *if interested in translating my scans, reply to this post or message me!

With each volume there will be 2 versions to read in separate folders; one will be a giant pdf version and the other will be individual png files of each page.

As of this moment currently, the only version of volume 4 available to read is the pdf version. Currently my google drive is struggling uploading each of my png files, but I will make a note once it's available!

In each volumes at the beginning have photoshoot pictures of some of the musicians featured in the series. Well, I accidentally forgot to scan the Bon Jovi photo that is after the Spandau Ballet photo. Therefore, the numbering on the pages are off. I'm sorry Bon Jovi fans for accidentally skipping your pookie bear, but I'm too tired to rescan and redownload a new pdf file. (I hope you understand)

Due to the Ink color on certain pages, some of the saturation of the colors might be an eyesore, and I greatly apologize for those with sensitive eyes! Specifically pages with blue ink are a little harder to look at.

You are allowed to download my scans and post them wherever! I would be more than delighted to see them out in the wild!! It would be nice that if you did repost my scans that you credit me (@/pawooonie) or provide a link to the drive folder for those interested to read, but you're not obligated to!! :3 *this applies to my future scans too

I will make another update similar to this one when I upload my other two volumes! Thank you all who saw my updates and have been patient, I appreciate it!! :D

[genericpuff]

Cait comp'd her book to The Locked Tomb. THE LOCKED TOMB COMBINED WITH LORE OLYMPUS. NO. NO NO NO. IN WHAT WORLD ARE THESE TWO IN THE SAME SENTENCE. I NEED TO SCREAM.

Apologies in advance, but these are two polar opposite series and it's a joke Cait thinks she can combine the two without Gideon Nav manifesting in her apartment and throwing hands. Oh my god.

I won't try to do spoilers here because I think you would personally vibe with the series, it's right up your alley and I highly recommend the audiobooks, especially while drawing. It's currently three books and the last one (the fourth book) should be out in Fall 2024. The Locked Tomb is starkly gothic and dark (gruesome death, resurrection, body horror, weird twins, turbo cancer (an actual quote from the books), and so much more), full to the brim with horror, sci-fi, and modern-day political commentary, and is apologetically queer as fuck. I'm talking lesbian enemies to friends to lovers, I'm talking Maori-coded rugby player who loves to talk about her porn magazines while trying to keep her homeless chihuahua of a girlfriend from getting herself killed (said chihuahua controls skeletons), I'm talking using clever ways to sneak in memes, I'm talking loving the side characters as much as you love the leads and the author loves them all too, I'm talking Catholic guilt but make it sexy and gay, I'm talking a literal ghost shows up with a fucking gun. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. It's a series you need to re-read multiple times to try and figure out every little detail and people to this day are still finding out foreshadowing from the first book alone. There is no random lines or dropped ideas, every little detail is planned out and connects. It's great.

To compare a series made by an insanely smart and openly queer woman (who is also from New Zealand, shout out to Tamsyn Muir) to a series that obsesses over a straight couple down to making it a Blue Boy and Pink Girl, a series that acts like putting in queer characters are a chore, a series that treats sexual assault like a minor inconvenience at worst, a series that can't even plan a week ahead much less years, a series that is written by an immature woman-child like Rachel, is so offensive to me.

Well damnnn I'll take this as a glowing recommendation! It def sounds like something I'd enjoy. I've been wanting to get more into audiobooks so maybe I'll make The Locked Tomb my first stop ;3 If/when I do get around to it, I'll definitely let y'all know my thoughts! <3

[sourcetwo]

I am pleading with you so nicely and holding out my hand

Post the combine hierarchy?

BEHOLD. here is my interpretation of the combine hierarchy. top row is the general promotion order. second row is the different soldier variants, which are split into two parts. prison guards are pretty much just normal soldiers, the other three are higher ranked soldiers!

(worth noting, some people consider the hla combine units as being merged or phased out due to them not being in hl2, i personally like to think that they do continue to be used up until then because i like the variety they add to fighting dynamics and their overall coolness)

lengthy info about the features of each subclass below the cut!

welcome to below the cut! you've entered the brainrot zone...

in this section i will outline the role, weapons and uniform as well as battle tactics of each subclass. they each have different insignia on their shoulders but i haven't included the images here but you can check them out on the combine overwiki yay

METROCOP

Voluntary, no major modifications

Law enforcement in the streets, keep citizens in line

Kept in line via threats due to them being unmodified humans

Features:

Stun baton, 9mm pistol, potentially SMG in intense circumstances

Gas mask

Bulletproof vest

Utility belt, includes radio and can hold weapons

Black, grey and white uniform

Tend to work in groups, utilise basic tactics in fights

Communicate with and report to Overwatch. Reports utilise different codes and abbreviations (e.g. 647e means a citizen is loitering around)

(if you want to know more about the different codes the units use, i highly recommend this youtube video that has all the meanings in the description)

COMBINE GRUNT

Promoted from Metrocop

Transhuman, undergo modifications to the body, but retain more humanity than the combine soldier as they are often seen joking around. probably not as brainwashed yet but theyre kept in line by the higher ranked soldiers which are really damn intimidating

Features:

SMG

Gas mask

White uniform

Utility pouch containing health pens and magazine holders

Grunts in the QZ have gas tanks strapped to their backs, grenades, as well as filters on the side of their masks.

Lenses are blue in light and yellow in the dark

Flashlight

Often work in small squads, supported by an Ordinal, Charger (Wallhammer) and maybe a Supressor

COMBINE SOLDIER

Promoted from Metrocop or Grunt

Transhuman, undergo modifications and programming for military purposes

Includes surgery to brain, head and chest, as well as vocal chords (replaced with a voice modulator) and abdomen (likely the stomach and intestines. They probably do not need to eat, more efficient). Genitals are removed too

Also still have punishments for failure - “off-world assignment”, indicates that any sort of human connections or memories to family and friends are removed during brain modification

Features:

SMG, shotguns, pulse rifle, grenades, Overwatch sniper rifle (for snipers)

Much more bulky flak vest

Utility pouch

Black and dark blue camo uniform

Blue lenses

Hardplate-reinforced personal armour

Radio is built-in to mask

Work in squad, different roles for each member, use more complex tactics to support the squad. Can cover, flank and use grenades. Exception is snipers, who generally work solo in designated nests.

NOVA PROSPEKT PRISON GUARD

Variant of the soldier

Two variants, shotgun and pulse rifle

Features:

Shotgun variant has red lenses

Pulse rifle variant has yellow lenses

Blue uniform, with NOVA PROSPEKT emblazoned on the back of their armour and shoulder

Utility pouch

Radio is built-in to mask

COMBINE SHOTGUN SOLDIER

Insignia suggests they are higher ranked elite soldiers?

Features:

Shotgun

Grey red uniform and armour

Red/orange lenses

Radio is built-in to mask

COMBINE CHARGER

Tank variant of the soldier

Also known as Wallhammer in Combine terminology

Features:

Heavy shotgun

Device on shoulder that can generate a shield

Large plates of armour on their chest, shoulder and thighs

Gorget to protect throat/neck

Blue lenses

Radio built-in to mask

Health pens

Specialise in pushing attack by putting pressure on with the shotgun, which once charged dishes large amounts of damage despite slow firing and reloading

Can be depolyed in squads or solo

LARGE AND INTIMIDATING....

COMBINE SUPPRESSOR

Also known as APF or Antibody Protection Force... hooray for combine medical terminology!

Features:

Heavy machine gun

Large armoured vest

Elongated mask

Radio built-in to mask

Health pens

Rarely do close combat, tend to stay ranged, finding elevated positions

Good at ambushing

Can be deployed in squads or solo

Utilise high pressure tactics due to heavy firepower they supply

COMBINE ORDINAL

Promoted from Combine soldier

Captain or officer, leads squads and give directions to squads

Probably undergone more modifications

Features:

Pulse rifle variant?

Dark blue outfit

Blue armour plates on torso and shoulders, striped with yellow

Backpack with radio

If Ordinal is killed in a squad, squad will report the Ordinal being down to Overwatch and continue but more disorganised

Can deploy manhacks

Pretty all-around, have good accuracy, can do long range

COMBINE ELITE

Promoted from Ordinal

Likely undergone massive anatomical modifications due to helmet appearance

Features: 

Pulse rifle with energy ball secondary fire

Helmet has red cyclops lens, perhaps indicates they only have one eye

Sensors at the sides near the back, to enhance senses. probably wired into the brain ooo

White body armour and uniform

Very efficient and accurate. They don't hesitate

i really like the hla additions because theres so much.. variety and also it gives more development to how certain units may be deployed in different environments, like to deal with infestations or rebel activity geheheh. once again gonna say if you're interested more in like. the fight dynamics, theparrygod's s2fms are so damn cool!!! also they cover like. scenarios that fill in the time between hla and hl2 which is awesome !! also its in s2fm so it looks fucking amazing

phew that was a lot of information if you made it down this far i really appreciate it!! hope this was interesting? uh. yeag. my favourite is probably the wallhammer theyre so scary and large and very destructive like imagine this massive guy coming after you and he BLAM oh no theres a massive hole in the wall??? so terrifying

[fervency-if]

Since you've brought up music again, I feel that I have to ask; what music genres would you say you're particularly fond of? Or, uh... what are your favorites, to put it more simply. I always love talking about music 🎶

This is a fun question! A bit difficult, since my preferences are so scattered, but I'll try to answer to my best abilities!

I'm very fond of classical music and opera, with my favourite opera being Monteverdi's L' Orfeo. I mostly like quite quick, energetic, and intense arias and tunes, though. I'm usually not really one for slow music overall, regardless of genre. I'd say this is my main type of music, overall, if I need to pick one type.

I also enjoy punk and new wave a lot. Some bands I'm into are The Clash, Ramones, the Adverts, the Skids, and Magazine.

Folk music, especially celtic, is something I always enjoy, and the combination between that and the former, punk, brings me joy. I love bands such as The Pogues (one of my favourite bands,) as well as Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly.

Power metal and the like is highly nostalgic to me; in my tweens and younger teens I devoured music such as Edguy, Avantasia, Elvenking, and Blind Guardian. I can't stop gleefully headbanging to this, even almost two decades later. It's just too much fun.

I enjoy some movie music, and some game soundtracks; I often find myself listening to soundtracks from various Zelda-games for example, and I love the soundtrack from Kid Icarus Uprising.

Overall, I'm not too picky, though. My 'liked songs' on Youtube is of a wide variety of genres. If you feel like recommending something, feel absolutely free to do so, because I have an open mind!

[ericaportfolio]

Disney's The Gremlins Over the Years

Chapter 1: Gremlins (Part 1)

Due to the recent events with Epic Mickey Rebrushed, I thought of making a series of posts dedicated to Disney's infamous characters from the canceled WWII movie The Gremlins. The character designs of these guys have changed many times during the concept art process and over the years. Today, this is a collection of male Gremlin designs. The female Gremlins were called the Fifinellas, which I will get to them in the next post. For those discovering this, in summary, Disney was making WWII movies and shorts for the war effort. They were going to adapt Roald Dahl's first book about these guys, and several things like people getting tired of war movies and figuring out how to make the movie, which was canceled. I'm making these posts for fun and to help give artists ideas for their OCs and fanart. I would post some sample pictures and a minor breakdown in each post. I might miss some because there is so much, so this is just a handful of pictures and photos I collected over the years. We really need to make a Disney Gremlin's Wiki.

Fun Fact: Bill Justice, a Disney animator and engineer, created many concept art and book illustrations. These posts are dedicated to him. Anyway, let's get started!

Early Concept Art: Bill Justice's early versions of the Gremlins that were later used for the Cosmopolitan version of the story. Shout out for ZOLTAR'S FORTUNE on eBay posting the Photocopies.

Cosmopolitan Magazine (1942): The earliest release of "The Gremlin" story was in the December 1942 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. Someone posted the full article on the site, but I might do another post for each illustration. So stay tuned for that!

Concept Art of the guys we recognize: These would eventually be the final book and promotion designs.

The (Controversial) Life-Saver Ad (1943): AKA the ad Roald Dahl hated, but Walt Disney thought differently.

Dell War Heroes (April 1943): This is a sample from a six page adaptation of the story that was featured in a Dell War Heroes comic book. The writer and artist are unknown.

Disney's The Gremlins Book (June 1943): Here is one of Bill Justice's colored paintings from the book. I highly recommend looking through all the paintings from the book because Bill Justice does justice to these guys!

Walt Disney Comics and Stories #33 (June 1943): In this two page adaptation, a new group of pilots believed the Gremlins were fairytales. Jokes on them since what they said enraged the Gremlins that they mess with the guys.

King Features Syndicate: In this one page story, this comic is a quick introduction to the characters, the Gremlin, and why they're attacking the Royal Air Force setting up the story. (Comic found in chroniquedisney)

Donald Vs. The Gremlins (July 1943): The Crossover we would get years later by Walt Kelly.

Walt Kelly's Comics (July 1943-1944): For a year, Walt Kelly would make 8 comics about Gremlin Gus or both Gremlin Gus and two widgets getting in trouble at the airfield.

Storyboard Short (1943): This is a sample of a 1943 storyboard when the production went from feature film to short film.

Disneyfied Gremlin: This is a Model Drawing showing how far into production they were getting before getting scrapped. Later on, concept art was made of the Gremlins to have more of a Disney style. I even noticed the design in the storyboard, too. I'm glad we didn't get this style of characters. But I do love the poses.

Part 2 Coming Soon...

[yume-fanfare]

Ok I'll bite. What is kageki shoujo about

(I did look it up! It's just that imo those synopses tend to be misleading or incomplete in one way or another... If you wouldn't mind, then asking someone is better)

i'd love to explain!!!

have you heard about takarazuka revue? it is an all-female japanese theater troupe founded in the 1910s that perform extravagant broadway-like musicals, where both female (musume-yaku) and male (otoko-yaku) roles are played by women. it's a counterpart of sorts to kabuki, a classic form of japanese theater where only men are allowed to perform.

most of their productions are adapted from western literature or manga, and their most iconic play is based on the rose of versailles, a manga about the french revolution. our protagonist in kageki shoujo is sarasa, a 15 year old girl whose dream is to be the main character in that play. and to achieve that, she joins the troupe's boarding school to learn theater! though in this anime takarazuka is named kouka for some reason

it is a highly demanding and competitive environment, so the manga treats sensitive themes such as csa, eating disorders or stalking. they're well-handled but quite triggering to watch so im warning you in advance 🫡 (there might be a couple of other things of note in the manga only, but i haven't read that far yet)

and if you've read synopses you might have also heard about sarasa's counterpart and other main character, ai, a girl who was forced to quit her idol group after a scandal and enrolled the school as well. the show focuses on these two, but also their classmates and some seniors. the characters all have really interesting and developed storylines, i really enjoyed that aspect of it

so, to sum it up, kageki shoujo is a slice of life drama manga about a musical theater school! the anime is a really good adaptation too that i definitely recommend checking out. adds build up in just the right places and everyone's singing voices are wonderful, even if it cuts out some things here and there. really really good piece of media as a whole

^ the main girls!!!

extra note: if you look up the manga, you'll notice there is kageki shoujo: the curtain rises and kageki shoujo!!. you have to read curtain rises first, they're separate mangas because there were some magazine publishing problems. the anime is titled kageki shoujo!!