#anyway they so rpetty....

[gab-has-adhd]

So I received the Illumi noodle stopper I ordered....

[yael-things]

i have conflicted feelings about having a diary because i dont say many things here since i write them instead so i always remain cool and mysterious but also i like ranting to my friends

[chuurroez]

the day 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 me

ღ pairing: Sung Hanbin x gn!reader, set in non-idol verse ^^

ღ genre: angst, really bad angst.

ღ warnings: i'm not sure if there is any, if there is, please tell me!

ღ summary: you wondered where it went wrong, was it you? or was it him that went wrong? you wanted to know answers to your questions that you knew wouldn't be answered.

ღ notes: hi! this fic is inspired by laufey's latst release 'california and me', i suggest listening to the song before continuing to read this fic! tysm to the people who voted on my poll. this isnt in order of the actual song and i skipped a few lines for the fic to make more sense. do you guys want a part 2 of this btw? im sorry if this is rpetty short, the lyrics weren't as long as i thought. :(

ღ word count: 970

''Should've figured that you'd go back to New York Don't consider me when you run back to her"

Sung Hanbin was the perfect boyfriend for you, he was everything you'd want for a partner. He was caring, loving, respectful, kind, affectionate, he was perfect. almost. He became distant from you the past few weeks, you always wondered why. You tried to ask him why he was becoming more and more distant from you but he always said he was just stressed and busy. You knew he was lying, whenever he and problems, he would always open up to you about it. On the earlier stages of your relationship with him, he told you about his ex in New York, the same place he'd be going back to for her. You should've figured that he'd go back there anyways, your relationship has been going downhill ever since he became more and more distant from you. You knew you were just a distraction from her when Hanbin broke up with his ex, a distraction from all the pain he felt when she left him.

"You don't have to hide it, I know why you went Said you needed space, I know better than that"

He tried his best to hide the real reason he went back to New York, for her. He reasoned that he needed space for a while for his departure but you both knew it was a lie. You knew the actual reason of his leaving, he was like an open book that you read very well. He thought you were oblivious to his actions, but of course you knew better than that. You knew he lost his feelings for you, you knew he never truly loved you in the first place. His heart still belonged to her, the woman he first loved and still loved. He didn't care that you were a distraction for his aching heart, he waited and waited for her to come back. I guess she did so after all, huh.

"Could've fought for you but I just let you leave Hurt too much to consider you didn't love me''

You had a choice of trying to let him stay, but you just let him go. It would've been a failed attempt anyways, he never actually loved you. It broke your heart to think that he maybe never for once thought about you for you. He just thought about you as her. You wonder if you looked or acted the same way as she did, you would've been correct after all, right? You stayed speechless the time he waved goodbye at you, it gave you a glimpse of hope that he would come back, but deep in your heart you knew it would never happen. You wanted you to say something, but you stayed with your gut that said to just be quiet for the sake of it. You didn't want to ruin this moment for him just for you.

''I imagine you holding her in your arms Laughing 'bout how I thought that you were the one"

You tried your best to think positive and stay happy without Hanbin, but your mind said no. You imagined him holding her in his arms, laughing about how oblivious you were to Hanbin's plans. You thought how crazy it was for you to fall for his tricks. I mean, who wouldn't? He was charming in every single way possible, who wouldn't be able to resist his charms? Your mind clouded with all the thoughts of Hanbin and his ex living their best lives, especially Hanbin, he got to live his life without you, you were like an old t-shirt that was thrown away because it didn't fit the its owner anymore. You didn't blame him for that, you always thought she was better even if you didn't know what she was like. She should've been better than you for Hanbin to go back to her, right?

''Left me and the ocean for your old flame Holding back my tears, I couldn't make you stay''

Beach dates were Hanbin's favorites, or were it her favorites? Did he force himself to go on beach dates with you because they reminded them of her? You loved going on those beach dates as well, it made you feel as if you and Hanbin were the only people there, it made you feel...free. You tried your best to hold back your tears that were already on the verge of escaping as Hanbin went on the plane. You saw a glimpse of his face that somewhat looked...sad? You didn't care much though, all that was on your mind was the person you loved most in life just left, but he needed space from you, didn't he? You couldn't make him stay, you wanted to but you didn't have the courage to do so. Maybe it was the fact that maybe your were the problem in the relationship? Maybe it was actually you?

"Can't quit this, so damn wicked to leave California and Me"

It was so cruel, so damn wicked for him to leave you behind. He didn't even explain why he was so distant from you, but you didn't need it though, right? He left for her. The person he loved most with you being the next. You met Hanbin in California, in which your relationship with him bloomed more and more, but all flowers have to wilt in the end, California was the same place he left you. Who knew that your relationship with him would start and end at the same place? A part of you despised him for his cruelness, the other part knew he needed this and stayed hopeful that the negative things you thought about would never happen. I guess you were right after all, weren't you?

likes, comments, reblogs, and feedbacks are greatly appreciated!

[goodburger1997]

JIMMY'S ART SUMMARY OF 2023

2023 absolutely was the year of the Jimmy. We had an art renaissance, start of TCBA, freakification, and i think i found inner peace! Wowie! Anyways you dont care about that you're here for the ART SUMMARY!!!!!!

JANUARY:

Yeah this was all I could find XDDDD January was a slow month, and my Papa Louie hyperfixation was eating me alive XDDD

FEBURARY:

another rpetty slow month, but also during ym PVZ hyperfixation XD who remembers that?

MARCH:

A lot happened in March, namely my 17th birthday, the strat of my freak transformation, and of course I got kicked out of my dad's house and was homeless for a while until i moved to New York on April 2nd. But most importantly, its when I finally decided to get up and make TCBA a real webcomic. Wow!

APRIL:

This is when most of TCBA production started! Unfortunately it means I dont have many drawings from this era except for ref sheets and this! This was also when I developed my Weezer autism :3

MAY:

Ah, May. This was the month that I realized I was a babyfur, and furthermore got my 4Lung spinterest! this was also the release date of the first act of the first chapter of TCBA, May 17th!

JUNE:

A pretty slow month, I forgot what happened in June to be honest XD other than being at my cousins for a while.

JULY:

This was literally all I drew in July that I can find. Huh.

AUGUST:

This is when I REALLY started to experiment with my art! And also when my Andrew WK spinterest began! And also when school started. So. This was when the JUnkies became more of a family, and when Act 2 released and when act 3 started development!

SEPTEMBER:

Oh boy was this a month! I developed spinterests in Sparklecare, Preeny Has To Repeat 6th Grade, AND Molly's Future Mishaps! Hot damn!!!!! This is when i really REALLY started to experitment wiht my art, with pieces taking inspiration from some artists, and some where I just got silly with it!!!

OCTOBER:

Man, what even happened in October? I came out as transage, but unfortunately on Halloween an event happened [that I don't want to talk about] affected how i made my art for the rest of the year. I don't want to talk about it much more

NOVEMBER:

November was the month of general not-fun-stuff. I don't like November.

DECEMBER:

AND FINALLY WE REACHED DECEMBER!!!!!!! GOOOOOODBYE 2023 I WILL NOT MISS YOU ONE SINGLE BIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok maybe i'll miss you a little bit, but honestly i have hopes for the new year!!!! I think things will be better then :3 Thank you to all my friends, and my quippies, and especially the junkies who all stuck with me through thick and thin throughout the year, my highs, lows, and even my extreme lows [Weird Al thirst era]. I love you all no matter what. Here's to better days and sweeter nights in the new year!

and remember,

In case anything happens I love you

[kidfoundonstreets]

mayhaps...... Noel?!??!?!!?

(or Claire feel free to choose either 👍)

ill do./ um. bothj

NOEL NOELELEENEOEOLE First Impression: upon seeing this guy it just. man i was like well hes alreayd my favorite because i loved his smile so muc h itsso rpetty and his entire intorudcitonamde me laugh cuz it reminded me of a silly dating anime boy anmd i still think that..wh worst dating sim but i knew there was something fucked up with hima ctually i could feel it in my heart and that was the main thing drawing me to him . idiot sandiwich Impression now: OHHH BELVOOEODDD hesstill my faovcrtire i think!! whenevr hes on screen i jsut absolutely die, most of the owrst nosies ive made was because of his sake he was an instant and goshskdh i really did not expec tall of that but yk. no regrets,, anyway im constantly stuck on throwing him in the deepest ocean or tucking him intoi the softest bed (ive become a lot more neutral on the characters noise but just oh noel Favorite moment: KILL MEEE THIS IS WITH ASHE. I JUST REALLY LOVED ALL OF THE MOMENTS WITH THOSE TWO JUST.. SO INTMERESINT ESP BC I WANTED TO MKNOW MORE ABT ASHE ESPEICLALY AND JSUT THE WAY ASHE FOUND HISMELF BIEING MORE HOENST WITH NOEL AND NOEL BEING SUCH A BEAM OF LIGHT IN A WAY THAT IT FEELS SO TIANETD AND JKHFEKHDFKHDEDHEJEHHAHAHHA "thank you asdhe" goodbye. i alos relaly enjoyed him pureheartedly enjoying listening to claire . made me space off a lil do these count as noel moments...ohwell Idea for a story: I just want to see how fucked up he'd be without claire or if he ever did kill her. but i guess that wouldnt be noel. frustrating Unpopular opinion: what arehte popular opinions anyway?????? Favorite relationship: im not sure now. but noelalshe is very interesting to me when done right and not exactly romantic a secret third thing .i want those fuckers spiraling tlaking to eahc other

Favorite Headcannon: do you think he wears a miku binder

[ultramantr1gger]

LYCHEEEEEE IM GOING TO TACKLE HUG YOU AND THEN FORGET IM SUPOOSED TO BE HUGGING YOU AND START LAUNCHING MYSELF AT YOU !!!! Also how was ur day did u have fun ^_^

IF YOU TACKLE ME I WILL CRINKLE LIKE A SODA CAN anyways my day is rpetty good so far i dont remember much actually but since its the last week till my fall break theres not much we r doing. i got mad during 4th hour because i dont like writing on paper and then in 6th i listened to my friend talk shit about someone for like 10 minutes then we watched sonic animations

[hope-mikaelson]

MONICA RAYMUND as JACKIE QUINONES in HIGHTOWN

[salamispots]

Ey I have a ko-fi page : > and for $3 you can suggest something for me to mermify! And help fuel my boba runs when I work on stuff haha. I’m still doing the official Mermay this year but this is kinda like a side project of inky merms to help support me a little when I do because Mermay takes up a big chunk of time. And also because there’s no such thing as too many mermaids.

[jinnielovebot]

.

[0opalita]

Tag ur fave era of each bts member hair it for science

[gumheel]

ranking the infection at outpost #31 board game’s portraits by how similar to the character from the film they’re meant to represent they look

1. blair. no qualms here i'm rpetty sure you can tell which scene they used as a reference here and it looks pretty spot on

2. nauls. there's some issues here but generally the lack of facial hair makes this not that bad also his expression is pretty neutral which is better than some others

3. macready the usage of shading here makes it not so bad. the beard starts a little low compared to what iremember but that's fine it still looks like kurt russell enough. more than any of the thing from another world comics anyway

4. fuchs. generally not so bad the face shape is right the beard is weirdly pfufy but that's jsut like..  a thing for this artist i guess so whatever ultimately this is fine

5. clark. i mean. it's fine. i just. well. i will be honest i'm not a huge fan of the facial hair here. you understnad.

6. windows not bad i don't have many feelings one way or another here

7. childs. the face shape is off iirc but ultimately this still looks like keith david in the thing (1982) (MORE THAN WHAT THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD COMICS CAN SAY!!!) so i'll take what ican get

8. palmer you could play tic tac toe on that bad boy. he looks liike the main character from eraserhead but that's also just like how he looked. i have to say i'm not fond of the expression he looks like a mischevious young man stealing alollipop there's not enough smug or My Brain Is Fucking Corroded to it

9. norris. it doesn't look bad but there's something disarming about it. it might be the hair or the way he's frowning off screen. it doesn't feel like norris that much somehow

10. copper. i wish he didn't have the dreamworks face

11. garry. i. well. i don't even have the words for this one. he looks lke. really shiny. and i don't like the expression. this doens't look like him

12. bennings. who the fuck is this?

[wooyoung-a]

hi love! this is a check in mail to see if you're doing okay!! 🎀 ily dearly 💞 you make me a happy little human ❤

ily heather :(( thank you for asking and since i can't keep it to muself here's a full on rant on literally how im doing <33

tw; vomiting, attacks (u dont have to read it!!! if you're uncomfy and still would like to read tell me and i'll filter it out 😙)

this gon be so messy i apologize in advance

but really thank you for askinh

these days ive been feeling rpetty shitty

just about everything

first that comes to mind r my irl friends

i know i shouldnt be too demanding of their time. i mean, we're all busy

but you know how im always there for ppl right

whenever they're havinhg a hard time

i'll alwayd make time for them

bc the only thing we can do now is rely on each other bc we're still on lockdown and having online classes,, we cant make friends with classmates that easily online

anyway

even just a question of 'how are we going' for me would suffice

but nothing

and i just,,,,,, feel shitty for wanting to have a friend to ask

they're busy,, im busy,, iDK

NEXT

ive been shitting my prelims exams

ive had three exams as of now

and the scores are barely hanging

so i just feel shitty bout that too,, i knOW its just prelims and not even halfway thru the sem but its still grades ://

bc of that ive been having silent anxiety attacks and just,,, wanting to vomit all the timd

insomnia isnt helping too

so i overthink

like is this the right path for me?

ive never wanted to take this course, i took it bc i had no choice

LOOK i've always wondered what if i was doing something i really like and love

that's acting btw

and its just :// NO OFFENSE not practical at all

i cant guarantee my success in that

and just

its my safe place and i have fun doing it

covid just makes it harder for me to reach out to opportunities without having to tell my fanily about it

idk i just think that what if i was doing that rn rather than wasting my time memorizing some medical things i probably wouldnt remember unless im really up for the challenge

+ my grades really do make me question abt my enthusiasm abt it

and just,, life sucks

IF YOU READ UP TO HERE THANK YOU SO MUCH ily :(( u dont know how much i appreciate this :(((

tumblr moots + kpop are the only ones making my life worth living rn im not even kidding

twitter too toxic

AH this just added up to my anxiety i just remembered

so the show was awhile go right

AND ateez and woodz were nominayed,, basically my ults

and there's just a lot going on and i feel sorry

ateez didnt win but woodz did

and stans r like woodz fans asked for five other fandoms' help

it feels like im not obligated to feel something for both

i cant feel happy for woodz bc i'll feel bad for teezers while i can't just ignore woodz win bc he deserves that

I THINK ITS JUST THE FANS making me think like this so i just ran here on tumblr

ANYWAY THANK U AGAIN HEATHER ILYSM :(( giving u the tightest hugs there is and hope ur break is going well <3

[presunday]

alright so here s' the pla,n

current sleep schedule (very fucked up) is like, go to bed at 2 am wake up between 8-10am? kinda gotta random effect governng that one, moving on I schedule work from .. 8 am to 2 am, yeah so that part works rpetty wel Oh except where I just Get Up and FUcking Leave for FIVE HORUS ON END for a bike ride + walk through half the city + buying presents for The Bureaucracy (my parents( anyway so for the sleep the plan is i fix that by actually not fixing it but progressively worsening it until studio day and then Realigning it by the jetlag + massive disaster that will be sleeping in Heathrow's int'l terminal on the night of the 15th -> 16th of december, and the nthe jetlag oh yes thejetalg the sweet release of getting on the airplane and just dying until I 'm in Dlalas wfort worth ,my home my sweet savoir allen teasxas my cradle my hearth how I long to sit at the greenville exchange intersection how I long to be far and close and distant and enar and all that................

[maya-net]

Documentation on a Silver Exorcist, a Small Medium, a Smiling Siren, et al. - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - Stars Align: Emma Xing Qixin, Tech Support and Professional Administrator of the Unofficial Zheng Ge’s Fanclub

The rustling of the seven large plastic packages of heavily discounted ramen complements the unforgivably nasty squeak of the styrofoam that protects the equally heavily discounted century eggs that Emma had spent the last of her weekly budget on. Squashed together in a trusty, faded blue shopping bag, they are placed very carefully on the chair. Her backpack is dropped just slightly less carefully onto another chair, and she rolls her shoulders, breathing in the various blends of caffeine and sugar wafting around the SunDollarsTM store that she had desperately scouted for.  

Xiqiang glides into the chair opposite, and with an elegant slide of an arm, slips Emma’s other equally faded blue shopping bag on to the seat beside her. Emma doesn’t understand how a human being can be that graceful, and sends a silent apology to her mom for being a failure of a daughter.

“I will order some refreshments,” Xiqiang’s voice washes over the background noise of the other patrons in the café. “What would you like? It will be my treat.”

“Oh no no no, no need! I have -” Emma grunts as she bends over her backpack and pulls down the zipper ornamented with the keychain of a blond cyborg, “a gazillion SundollarsTM gift cards! My college orientation and faculty events have the occasional lucky draws or mini contests, and I’d always get something out of them. It’s great, really. I regift them to my friends for birthdays. Saves me time and money from having to buy actual birthday presents. I keep my money, they get their coffee. But. Um. You didn’t hear that.” With some difficulty, she wrestles out a bright red gift card from the stack that is threatening to burst out of the seams of the pouch sewn into her backpack. “Ah, I’ll save this table. Could you help me order a large caramel frappe? And maybe one of their giant cookies. Any flavour is fine. Please and thank you!”

A pause. “Very well,” Xiqiang graciously replies as she accepts the gift card.

Seven minutes later, Emma is happily slurping down her frappe as a countdown timer to the livestream event pops up on her laptop screen. 47 minutes to go. Her ears are now plugged with a pair of earphones. Opposite her, Xiqiang is steadily typing away on her laptop with unnaturally impeccable posture.

It is at this very moment. That the universe decides to be an utter demon and opens the gates of chaos on what was supposed to have been a peaceful night with Emma Xing and the livestream of her Zheng ge, actor-singer and golden-hearted, multi-talented John Zheng.

Incoming Video Call: Estelle Xing

Emma accepts the call on her phone, and props it up on the table with the camera angled at her. She connects her second pair of earphones (won from a secondary school Poetry-in-Motion Competition with her epic poem Blood is a Vein Work of Art-eries) and stuffs the side with the microphone into her right ear. “Mom.”

“Emma. The house has no WiFi. My phone has not enough data to stream Gege’s event.”

“What. Why? Is it the router again? Did you turn it off for thirty seconds and turn it back on again?”

"Yes. Actually, I called Cellularity and they said that they were having a city-wide network issue.”

“Tch. D*mn company. I keep telling you to switch service providers!” Emma pinches the bridge of her nose. “Wait, where’s Gramma? We all know she's the tech-savvy one, shame on you.”

“... She’s with her tai chi group today.”

“What?! I thought that was next week! And how could she miss Gege’s stream?!”

“... They rescheduled because one of their grandsons is getting married next week...”

“... Just... Go to a café or somewhere with WiFi and stream it there. Do you have leftover SundollarsTM gift cards from my last visit?”

Emma’s mom grimaces. “Yes. See, I actually thought of that. I’m at the nearest one.” The camera angle wobbles, and the queue of chattering teenagers at the cashier behind Emma’s mom blips into view for a hot second.  

Emma feels a strange sense of pride well up in her chest. “Mommy! So smart!”

Mommy laughs weakly. “Haha. Ah. Yah. I bought a strawberry shake. And then they told me that SunDollarsTM’s WiFi is actually with Cellularity. All the branches. In the whole city.”

… “Mom. Why is your luck so bad. Also. Why! Are! You! Drinking a strawberry shake! You are diabetic!”

“Almost diabetic! And this is low sugar! And! All my good luck was used up to give birth to you. Emmiee~”

“Don’t Emmie me! Aiyah, hang up hang up, don’t waste your data. I’ll message Danny. He’s with DiGiTellTM, not that bloodsucking Cellularity. You can go leech off his Wifi.”

“Aiyoh, your Danny, how can you do this to him - “

“ByeMomloveyou.” Emma ends the call, and snatches her phone off the table to begin typing at the lightspeed typical of her generation. The baby blue smiley starfish phone charm attached to it smacks her knuckles.

“Um. Pardon me,” Xiqiang coughs politely. Emma’s eyes dart up. “Your earphones weren’t connected properly.”

Oh.  

“Oh. Aaaaaaahahahahahahaha! Ha! Sorry about that! I’ll just...” Emma mumbles and screws in the earphone jack infinitesimally. “... tighten... this. I don’t use this pair very much. I forgot it does that. Sorry.”  

“It is fine.” Xiqiang blinks at her curiously. “Your mother is in WalaysiaTM?”

Emma’s fingers pause in their assault on her phone’s keyboard, brown eyes wide. “How did you know? Oh. Oh of course.” She slaps her forehead. “Our SundollarsTM WiFi here is obviously fine. We obviously don’t have Cellularity here in CanataTM. And yeah, I kind of revert to my accent when I’m with my family. You can tell?”

Xiqiang nods politely. “I see. Well, I do hope that this works out for you and your mother. You seem to be... close?”

Emma beams. “Thanks!” She returns to her phone.

LuckyStar: Danny.

LuckyStar: Danny.

LuckyStar: Danny.

No reply. She frowns.

LuckyStar: Danny DanyDanny. Dannyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Seen by BetterDanU 7.08PM

Emma’s nostrils flare.

LuckyStar: DANNY YOU DIPSTICK WAKE UP WAKEUP I KNOW UR AWAKE EMERGENCY

LuckyStar: DANIEL NG! U WAKE UP OR ILL POST THAT NEW YEARS VIDEO OF U. U KNOW WHICH ONE

BetterDanU: …

BetterDanU: I actually WAS SLEeping because some ppl actually have to WORK friday nite and want to zzz sat morning. 

BetterDanU: Have u not headr of timezones. WHAT DO U WANT  

LuckyStar: Liar, i know ur schedule, u were def not sleeping.

LuckyStar: Gege’s livestream is today!

BetterDanU: … I know. U wouldnt shut up abt it. wat do u want

LuckyStar: Cellularity’s wifi is down all city and mom cant stream it  

BetterDanU: tell her to go to sundollars

LuckyStar: sundollars is w cellularity! 😡

BetterDanU: … bloodsuckers.

LuckyStar: I KNOW. Anyway, mom is at the sundollars near our house. U know which one. Go pick her up n let her use ur wifi pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaz  

BetterDanU: …......… fine.  

LuckyStar: tnx ur the best!

BetterDanU: go away

With that situation handled, Emma neatly bites off one point of her star-shaped cookie, and turns her eyes back to her laptop screen. 36 minutes to go.  

Score: Emma – 1; Universe – 0.

The Universe decides to try again.

Incoming Video Call: Emily Xing

Emma slowly swipes across her phone screen after triple-checking that her earphones are 100% plugged in.  

“... Hi Gramma.”

“Emma!” Several ladies’ heads of various artificial shades of red, brown and black bob into view behind Emma’s grandmother’s face on Emma’s phone. “Why can’t we log in to your VooDooTM account on Mimi’s computer?”  

“... Gramma, did you all reschedule your tai chi group to watch Gege’s stream together using my VIP account which you definitely bragged about to them?”

“Emily, we kowtow! Your Emma is the best!” hollers one of the ladies. Emma’s grandmother preens.

Gramma, Emma despairs, why are you so Asian?

“Emmie~”

Emma closes her eyes and mutters, “Don’t Emmie me...”

“We have VooDooTM open on my laptop, but there is seven of us and one laptop is not enough! Mimi’s computer cannot access the page! It says – it says – what does it say?!” Emma’s grandmother yells.  

“This content is not available in your country!” Aunty Mimi yells back from somewhere behind.

Emma sighs in exasperation, “Gramma, they’ll need to install a VPN. Do you remember how we did it on your computer?”

Emma’s grandmother is stunningly silent for a solid three seconds, and shakes her head. Emma sighs again. “What’s the address?”

One minute later:

LuckyStar: Danny danny danny

LuckyStar: is everytng ok w mom?

BetterDanU: yeah, shes taken over my living room and tv I hooked up to the comp.  

BetterDanU: Shes drinkin a poisonous lppking pink drink and eating those giant star cookies they hv. Theyre not going to last until the end of the dtream.

LuckyStar: … wait.

LuckyStar: wHAT COOKIES. Get them away frm her, shes almost diabetic!

BetterDanU: how can someone be slmost diabetic???

BetterDanU: … she says its low sugar. theyre actually rpetty good.

BetterDanU: *pretty  

LuckyStar: u traitor! and of all the typos to correct!

BetterDanU: ….......

LuckyStar: anyway, DANNY I NEED UR HELP ITS ANOTHER EMERGENCY

BetterDanU: what now

LuckyStar: dont tell mom this,  

BetterDanU: oh? gossip?

LuckyStar: but gramma is with her taichi grp now and theyre trying to stream Gege’s event on two computers but the second one wont work becz they need vpn on that one  

BetterDanU: Wow. brutal gramma.

LuckyStar: danny pleeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaase can u go help them install the vpn  

LuckyStar: pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase 🥺🥺🥺

BetterDanU: ….............  

BetterDanU: where r they

Twenty-ish minutes and one VPN install and seven impressed old ladies and one harrassed Daniel Ng later, Emma daintily bites off the second point of her star cookie.  

Emma – 2; Universe – 0.

Xiqiang sips her tea quietly as Emma narrates this second victory to her, and then digresses into hero-worshipping multi-talented, golden-hearted John Zheng.  

Emma swoons. “We all stan him so much across multiple generations! Sure, he’s eye candy, but you know what, even I can admit that, objectively, he’s not the best looking. No but!” She sucks in some of her frappe to quickly rehydrate, “Even though his eyes are not 100% symmetrical, you know they’re 100% real! Can’t say the same about everyone else! Not that there’s anything wrong with that. And! Even though his teeth aren’t 100% perfect... You should see his smile! Oh! My! Heart!” She clutches said heart. “So genuine! Like a bunny! And most of all, that VOICE! That BRAIN! And that HEART!”

Xiqiang tilts her head slightly in what is definitely interest.

“You should watch his songs and dramas and his interviews! He’s really mature, has a charming sort of wisdom, and he really understands his characters. He works so, so hard, and he’s super nice to everyone, even his janitors! And even his haters! Like, what the heck!” A deep sigh. “He is. The Best Guy. In the Universe.”

And thus, the Universe’s third Attempt at utter buffoonery manifests itself in the yet another round of buzzing of Emma’s Very Tired phone. Emma slowly slumps in her seat. Xiqiang’s almond eyes flick to the poor phone, and she excuses herself as she returns to her own laptop for business-y exorcist stuff.

Emma breathes in. Very Deeply. And returns to her Very Tired phone.

Alicia: Hi Emma!

Alicia: Its been a while. I hope you are well!

Emma scrolls up to check the last conversation she had with Alicia. Eight months ago, when they had exchanged the obligatory birthday wishes, and then slinked back to their respective lives until the next birthday.

It’s a bit sad, actually. Emma and a handful of secondary school friends had once been pretty tight, having gone through the horrors of academia and adolescence together. But ever since graduation, everyone had sort of just... drifted apart. With the exception of Danny, practically everyone she knew and was close to had gone on to different cities and even countries to pursue tertiary education in fields so varied you would wonder how everyone had even managed to grow up together in the same academic cohort forced to take up certain courses due to the way their country’s totally not flawed educational system had been structured because of course everyone absolutely agrees on the complete relevance to real life that is inherent in subjects such as Physics and Geography and Moral Studies (which, in all fairness, would be considered a fairly necessary subject especially in today’s society, had it not been based on pure rote memorisation of the regimented definitions of pre-determined moral values instead of critically applying said moral values in the written scenarios thrown to them every exam) and flippin’ dipsticky CALCULUS and and and -  

And we digress.

Emma: Alicia! It’s been a while!  

Emma: How may I help u?  

Alicia: Heehee. 😇

Alicia: iirc, I think u mentioned that u got a VIP VooDooTM account?

Emma: … Alicia you leech! Go buy ur own account!  

Alicia: im poor and u know it!

Emma: We’re millennials! We're all poor!

Emma: go upgrade with a 30 day free trial. Then just unsubscribe after.

Alicia: I can’t. 😭 I did it before and ti remembers my email add and wont let me do it again.  

Alicia: *it  *won’t

Emma: Then use another email add! We’re millennials! Who doesn’t have a back up email account?  

Alicia: I did! I used up my JmailTM, insightTM, innet, etc etc accounts last year  

Emma: Use ur parents’!  

Alicia: I did! They were  

Alicia: Confused when they got the notifs but thank goodness they thought it was Junk 😊  

Emma: … Girl, how much drama do you watch on there.

Alicia: Too much. Im in too many fandoms.  

Alicia: EMMA PLEASE! It's just to watch John Zhengs promo livestream for The Fox today! I swear I will not misuse ur account!  

Alicia: One day when I have money, I swear I will buy my own account.  

Emma: That is a lie and we both know it.

Alicia: 🤐

Emma remembers their shared afternoons of literal tears after every Calculus test they barely passed, and curses her soft heart as she gives Alicia her user name and password in an act of benevolence which she somehow has a feeling she will come to regret.

Alicia: Thank you sm. U rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Emma: Its so u don’t get desperate enough to do anytng illegal.

Alicia: We both know im not that smart lol  

Emma: We are legal! And scrupulous!

Emma: For Zheng ge!

Alicia: For Zheng ge!  

“John Zheng seems to have an unusually loyal fanbase,” Xiqiang comments from behind her laptop. Emma nods absent-mindedly. She has barely bitten off the third point of her star cookie when her Very Very Tired phone begins buzzing again.  

Incoming Video Call: BetterDanU 

No longer keeping track of her score with the Universe, Emma sinks lower into her chair under Xiqiang’s intrigued gaze, and weakly answers her phone, “Hello?”

She does not expect her grandmother’s distraught face under the profile name of BetterDanU: “Emmie! Why can’t we log into your account with another computer? It says that – that – Danny ah, what does it say?”

Emma nearly spits out blood. “How many devices are you trying to log into?!” Her hard-earned, greatly coveted VIP account that no one else seemed to want to buy for themselves allowed simultaneous sign-ins to a maximum of ten different devices, a feature that was absolutely necessary for the three generations of the Xing family.  

“Mimi’s daughters and granddaughters came downstairs and heard about Zheng ge’s livestream. Two laptops are not enough for all of us, so of course we had to get more!”

Emma sends a silent thank you to Danny who by now must be an expert on VPN installations. Speaking of which. 

“Danny, you there? Just sign up for a free 30-day trial account. And don’t forget to unsubscribe later.”

“I did.” Danny’s muffled voice sounds admirably calm, but there is definitely the subtlest note of misery in it. “Aunty Mimi’s granddaughter invited her neighbourhood friends to watch the stream, and we are out of accounts.”

“How! Many! Computers?!”  

Emma thinks she hears a suspicious clearing of the throat from Xiqiang that may or may not have been a laugh. Emma locks eyes with her in despair.

There is a tiny, tiny curl of Xiqiang’s lips as she casually remarks, “I am done with my e-mails for the day, and would like to relax with some form of entertainment. VooDooTM seems to have quite the selection of highly rated dramas like you advertised so eagerly to me earlier, and I have been told that there will be a promotional livestream this evening for the much-anticipated... The Fox?” There is definitely a sparkle in those almond eyes. “I thought it might interest you to know that I have decided to watch this livestream, and will do so on my newly purchased VIP account, the user details of which -” she slides over a SundollarsTM napkin covered in the prettiest handwriting Emma has ever had the good fortune to lay her bloodshot eyes on, “ - are written here.”

Emma stares at her with now goo-goo eyes. “Xiqiang! You are a literal angel!”  

“Xi-what? Who are you with?” Danny’s head pops into view next to Gramma’s gleeful face.  

“Danny! I’m hanging up! I’ll send you a new user account info you guys can use!” 

“What -” his calm façade is definitely slipping.

Emma does not hear the curious titters of “Xiqiang? Wah! What an intimidating name!” “Who would dare to name their son Xiqiang?”  “Must be very strong!” “Must be very shuai!” as she chirps in reply, “A professional exorcist, your saviour, and my new bf!”

A delicate clink of a white plate ladened with fresh chocolate chip muffins jerks Emma’s eyes up from her phone. “Oh, a snack for the stream? Xiqiang, did you order this? You shouldn’t have!”

Xiqiang leans forward to divide the muffins evenly. “It is fine.”

Danny chokes on the other line, “What what what -”

“Now don’t bother me anymore, Zheng ge’s livestream is going to start. Check your message! I’ll send you the info! See you later! Bye, Gramma! Bye, Aunties! Enjoy the stream! Zheng ge fighting!”

LuckyStar: [photo attached]

LuckyStar: Isn’t that THE prettiest handwriting you have ever seen?

LuckyStar: Oh, but if you can’t read it, the login name is YXQ_Gege  

LuckyStar: and password is LuckyStar123

LuckyStar: wow. what a sense of humour.

LuckyStar: Anyway! U seriously rock! Thanks Danny! I owe u my life!

LuckyStar: Aunty mimi makes seriously good cakes, so u might as well stay.  

LuckyStar: And remember, don’t tell mom!!!

BetterDanU: WHO IS XIQIANG AND WHY IS HIS PASSWORD UR USERNAME

The star cookie is decimated as Emma congratulates herself on a job well done against the schemes of the Universe. Her laptop screen is flooded with comments when John Zheng’s shy smile fades into view as the livestream finally, finally begins.  

“Gege!” Emma whisper-squeals. “You can’t hear me and you don’t know I exist! But! You will not believe the night I’ve just had! Your face heals my eyes and your heart heals my soul!” She silences her desperately buzzing phone.

Xiqiang breathes in deeply, and lets herself smile for the first time in a very long time. After an unusual evening of using the Skytrain for the first time, encountering a low-levelled spirit which the Council had not thought to Cleanse, meeting the most interesting Class Three medium who was currently hugging her backpack as she immersed herself in a long-awaited livestream of a clearly beloved celebrity who she had taken great pains to introduce Xiqiang to, and putting the tiniest dent in her bank account to sign up for a VooDooTM account for various reasons, Xiqiang relaxes in her chair, and does not let herself think about tomorrow.

Character Profiles

1. Emma Xing Qixin

Emma is derived from the Germanic word ermen meaning "whole" or "universal". Emma is also used as a diminutive of Emmeline, Amelia or any other name beginning with "em".

  星 (Xīng): star

运气 (Yùnqì): luck

欣 (Xīn): happy

Height: 154 cm; 5.05 ft | 159 cm (error; there is a story behind this)

Tools: Several reuseable shopping bags, backpack, blond cyborg keychain, laptop, secondhand phone, baby blue smiley starfish charm bought by her mom Estelle and customised further by her grandmother Emily

2. Xiqiang

希望 (Xīwàng): hope

强度 (Qiángdù): strength

For the sake of this story, “Xiqiang” is considered a very masculine name.

Height: 179 cm; 5.87 ft

Tools: Laptop, traditional calligraphy brush set, angled-tip pen set, normal ballpoint pen set

3. Estelle Xing  

Estelle is a female given name of Latin origin, and means star.

星 (Xīng): star

Yes, her name literally means Star Star.

Emma Xing’s mother. Has rather bad luck. She admits that, although her daughter can drive her up the wall, she is her greatest blessing and happiness.

4. Daniel Ng

Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge".

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ng (pronounced [ŋ̍]; English approximation often /ɪŋ/ or /ɛŋ/) is a Cantonese transliteration of the Chinese surnames 吳/吴 (Mandarin Wú) and 伍 (Mandarin Wǔ). Alternately, it is a common Hokkien transcription of the name 黃/黄 (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: N̂ɡ, Mandarin Huáng).

Emma Xing’s errand boy. And former classmate. The real MVP.

5. Emily Xing

Emily: "rival" or industrious and hardworking, comes from the Latin name Aemilia.

星 (Xīng): star

Emma Xing’s grandmother. Is more techno-savvy than her daughter/Emma’s mother Estelle Xing. Story behind that TBA.

6. Alicia  

Alicia means “of noble kind/sort/type” (from Germanic “adal” = noble + “heit” = kind/sort/type).

Emma Xing’s friend from secondary school. They have both narrowly passed Calculus exams together, which cannot be said for all their classmates.

7. John Zheng

The name John is a theophoric name originating from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן‎ (Yôḥānān), or in its longer form יְהוֹחָנָן‎ (Yəhôḥānān), meaning "YHWH has been gracious".

战争 (Zhànzhēng): war

Author is now too lazy to come up with a Chinese name, thank you very much.

Author’s Notes

Character profiles will not be written for every single character because ain’t nobody got time for that. They will be updated as the story progresses. If I have the discipline to actually write this dang story. \o/

This is just a test run. I have not truly touched creative writing in a very, very long time, and have sadly lost many different characters and plot bunnies over the years as I never had the will to just put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard. And neither have I ever tried tackling anything this ambitious, if you can call this ambitious. (Well, actually, I did make a pathetic attempt at a novel ten or so years ago, and reading THAT draft just made me cringe and shrivel up and die on the inside. Which will probably happen to this fic in ten years’ time? \o/ )  

Oh my gosh, I’m so tired of formatting this now. Please excuse any typos because I just. Cannot. 

If you somehow stumbled across this fic and read until the end, bless your heart, bless your eyes, and thank you for reading!

[misterbitches]

WHO IS THIS GIRL? SHE IS SO PRETTY 

idk what she IDs as or anything or what her place in the story is, i need to learn more about the diff ways of presentation in thailand bc...i know nothing...but her voice is deeper anyways idk im obsessed with this look wtf 

also idk the actresses’ name, the rly tall one who was in the video, she’s broad whatever. her wig was mostly good but the point is i think she is very rpetty lmaooooo her and her friend were too cute

idk how to word this i should google b4hand, but i only know a small handful of trans actors and usually the groups of people they present in the dramas so sorry if i fuck up the language. anyway all the girls here are really cute and pretty. zon’s sister like...my CHILD

ALSO I WANNA LEARN SO BAD ABOUT DIFF RACES AND MIXES. one thing dramas have taught me is how eclectic thailand is. i wish there wasnt so much lik epolitical strife and opression in the world cos human beings are so multi faceted and interesting then fascists wanna fuck it up for all of us :) 

[dreamboydongmyeong]

CAMI NONE OF MY FRIENDS ARE AWAKE TO SCREAM TO SO IM HERE renjun did a cover of fools by troye sivan and it was released on youtube like half an hour ago and i woke up to it and i’m ahskdbskdjsldjlsjd his voice is so angelic it brought me to genuine tears bc i just love him so much maybe i’m the fool who fell for huang renjun and maybe that’s ok anyways i’m gonna make some congee now bc im sad

WAIT THAT SOUNDS SO RPETTY I NEED TO GO LISTNE FHJDHFG and if youre a fool thats OKAy its for HIM