#chou's recs

[sympathyforlady]

[thebellekeys]

Superior Subgenre: Race Satire by WOC

Here are my recommendations for satirical contemporary books by women of colour about racial fetishization and white neoliberals. Highly recommend these three books if you want to laugh, introspect, and marinate on how American society and institutions are being cooked by the culture war.

[itsmattchou]

im so happy that matthew doesn't have a girlfriend boyfriend s/o that forbif him to post this gym picture it changed my life and made me a better person

— ☆ texts with bf!matthew

gn!reader x zb1 matthew

genre: fluff, texts, suggestive // warnings: cursing, flirting, kinda suggestive (s3x jokes LMAO), jealousy? (also the reader is said to be gn but i say OTHER women like once yeah :))

author’s note: been in my matthew feels he's so boyfriend </3 (★ω★)/

[momoliee]

Finished Can Ci Pin, time for a review! [Warning: this review will contain some spoilers!]

Priest…that was brutal. You murdered me in cold blood. That was CRUEL. When was the last time a danmei had me crying this hard?!? I genuinely didn’t think you had it in you to do us all like this😭

To start off the review, I will first talk about the plot. The series spans 7 novels, two of the novels being split into two parts along with the extras, resulting in a total of 10 installments, making it one of the longest danmei novels that i’ve read, along with 2ha by meatbun and tgcf by mxtx. It takes place in a futuristic sci-fi society that exists in space, in a world run by technology and Ai with humanity inhabiting not one planet, but instead 8 whole galaxies (no there are no aliens in this series). I guess the reason why it’s incredibly underrated and overlooked, despite being one of Priest’s best works ever (literally on par with sha po land, mo du and lie huo jiao chou), would be its unique and niche genre, not preferred or sought after or appreciated by the majority of the danmei readers in both the chinese and english fandoms. Nevertheless, if you got some time on your hands, i would definitely recommend you give it a go! Priest makes it super easy and uncomplicated to settle into the world with her incredible world building skills (think of the steam punk universe of sha po lang), and the whole plot literally revolves around politics, war, and the struggles between different parties for power, which is smth that’s already pretty popular within danmei!! and the aesthetics are pretty cool too!!! think spaceships and astronauts!! also there are elements of mystery and comedy and action!! come on yall!!!

Now let’s get into the ACTUAL review. In a world where the Interstellar Union is constantly being tossed around like a tennis ball between the Eden Committee and the Military Council (think of the IU as the king/emperor/ruler, the Eden Committee as the prime minister of the government, and the Military Council as the marshal or commander of the military), the struggle for power led to centuries of underhanded and unethical and inhumane tactics and practices being brewed under the surface by all parties involved. On the surface, there was ‘peace’, peace that came at the expense of others, peace that was no thicker than a hair strand, ready to snap at any given second. Our main characters happened to be born in the century in which this fragile and delicately maintained peace is finally shattered, everything fell apart and no more secrets were kept hidden as all was exposed. The story follows so many threads that priest has managed to weave slowly here and there from very early onwards. The first two novels, priest spends them introducing several different plot lines and several different ‘problems’ and ‘issues’ that she later on ties together into one thick huge interwoven heavy plot in the fourth book. Most readers end up abandoning the story after reading the second novel, feeling that the pace is too slow, everything that’s happening is too random and left up abruptly without a satisfying conclusion, there is no one consistent plot line to follow, and the whole thing feels very overwhelming. However, after reaching the fourth novel, where the plot pace is suddenly picked up dramatically and everything becomes set to motion, it is clear the build up was very necessary or else the whole series wouldve turned into one big jumbled mess. There are time skips within the novel, one in the beginning and one in the middle, the one in the middle sort of splitting the series into a ‘before’ and ‘after’. The last detail i’ll mention regarding the plot, would be that the war doesn’t exist between just two sides, it exists between our main characters, the union, two other parties, and the internal strife between the split factions of the union. so you can….already imagine how complicated and intricate this is.

Now onto the characters. There is Lin Jingheng!!! The Man of The Hour. Aloof and cold on the outside, soft and kind on the inside. Ruthless and Merciless on the outside, a big mother-hen on the inside. A former commander turned mafia leader, his heart dead set on revenge, his body a weapon hes sharpened over the years, his life absolutely disposable to him. Keeping his distance, staying away from everyone, closing himself off to the world, he only ever had one goal in mind and it was to tear apart the union that took away his loved ones. Hes the best at what he does and he knows it, and he will absolutely use himself up to the max. He will not hesitate to make cold and harsh sacrifices, if it means he can logically get to his goal as efficiently as possible. Watching him grow as a character, watching him develop attachments and warm emotions, watching him slowly let out his inner child, was worth it. I absolutely love how the more he developed as a character, the more feelings he started expressing, the more bonds and attachments he started to form with those around him, the more he loved, the stronger he got. Unlike what he initially thought, love and affection and care did not hold him back or make him weaker, it only made him stronger and more invincible, ready to take on anything now that he finally has a purpose, now that he has people he wants to protect and more importantly, return to. An absolute favorite of mine, a true gem. His character is easy to grow fond of, and definitely enjoyable to be around.

Next is Lu Bixing, aka, my absolute favorite. Starting off as the naive, charismatic, funny, hyperactive and handsome little engineer and scientist, neither the series nor priest are kind to him😭😭😭😭 priest, you’ve truly put our sunshine boy through a LOT. i’ve cried several times. tears were shed. Lu Bixing underwent a dramatic character development due to extreme pain and trauma (im still recovering from this) and was stripped off of many of his most endearing character qualities to become a sharp blade ready to take on the world. but despite everything, the seed of kindness in his heart wasnt gone, all it needed was a bit of rekindling and healing and by the end of the series, we had our beloved son back again!!! His character started off well, drifted off the rail due to the harsh circumstances, then came back again, stronger and more mature than ever but still retaining his flirty and bright and active spirit and personality. I absolutely LOVED his healing arc, i love how no one gave up on him even when he gave up on himself, and i love how he came back to us again. Priest truly did his character justice, and didn’t let him off to be this “forever cold and heartless because of my trauma” character, the way many other authors wouldve.

One more thing that i loved, is how priest gave detailed and thorough attention to the side characters in this masterpiece of a work. Priest has managed to make sure that almost every important character in the series had a whole backstory and arc going for them, making you care about all of them and get attached and grow fond, even if some of those characters were already dead years before the novel even started. Priest dedicated several extras to some of those already dead but important characters, and it was the best decision she couldve ever made, making you all nostalgic and sentimental while reading.

Now onto the romance, definitely in my top 5 favorite danmei parings. The commander and his engineer. If Lu Bixing was a crown prince, then Lin Jingheng would be his knight. If Lin Jingheng was a sword, Lu Bixing would be his shield. A relationship that is also a partnership, where theyre both standing on equal ground, where they both need each other’s strengths and talents, where they both trust each other endlessly both on and off the battlefield, whether it be with each other’s lives or with each other’s hearts. It’s like those countless queer quoted shows and movies where two generals or two soldiers go through everything back to back, except this is a danmei so they DO end up together and it doesn’t end up being dismissed as a ‘friendship’. I love their hot and cold dynamic, i love how well they complement each other and how they somehow complete and balance each other. i love how they bring out the worst and best in each other. i love how they always wanna live one more day to come back to each other. Also Lu Bixing’s attempts to win over Lin Jingheng in the beginning were a 10/10 entertainment, definitely had us all, readers and side characters, rooting for him and cheering him on to get that cold commander’s heart!!!

This series will make you laugh, make you cry. There are intense action scenes, complex war and politics scenes, brutal bloodshed scenes and extremely funny and light hearted scenes. Even the romance gets its fair share of attention, the relationship building up at a perfect and reasonable and natural pace, as you grow to love the characters individually then love them together. it was cute, adorable, embarrassing, sexy, angsty (oh the ANGST) all at once!

Would definitely be rereading this, would definitely be giving this a 15/10.

[Here is my favorite scene from book 2 (i hope the humor convinced yall to pick up this incredible series!!!)] :

[dual-domination]

Last Song game! Dear @forerussake tagged me, so thank you!

Lately obsessed with Run, by Rhodes, but my last song was A Little Bit Yours, by JP Saxe & Eric Chou, thanks to Luci who pointed out that I already have one perfect song for the soundtrack of our new fic right there in my playlists (bc it’s Eric Chou, yk.)

I’m just still wondering why I have to sing Eric’s part if Vince is better with Chinese than me... (We took revenge on Arjun by singing a depressing playlist, but I guess nothing can take him out of his Jhoome Jo Pathaan mood...)

Tagging @meluci-fer @victorian-pirate @sagittariusdarkarrow @tazzy-ace @jaimebluesq @hils79 @ohmyitsfaith 

[itsmattchou]

so cUTE ugh

zb1 as random things

a/n ; HI this is my first zb1 post so uhm PLZ go easy on me 💀💀💀 i also dont know jackshit abt writing for real people so 😜😜 also not proofread so might aswell kms if theres any mistakes /j

jiwoong

nighttime

jiwoong reminds me of nighttime. murmured confessions of love while half asleep, talking about whatever comes to mind so he can hear you for just a little longer. his arm is wrapped around your waist as you fall asleep.

hao

flowers

its probably the photoshoot influencing me but hao reminds me of flowers. shyly handing over the bouquet he got for you, watching you examine the beautiful flowers. his cheeks red as you thank him for the gift, he mumbles that it’s no big deal as you invite him into your home.

hanbin

plants

hanbin reminds nina me of plants. you sit on his couch as he brews the both of you some tea, you look at the multiple small pots and can’t help but wonder how he keeps all these plants alive. you ask him about it as he drinks his tea, he simply laughs saying “it’s a secret”

matthew

cats

matthew reminds me of cats. you guys are walking home hand in hand after your date, there isn’t much left to speak about until a cat catches your eye. it’s meowing and hissing at another cat who seems to be running away, you giggle as you point at the feline. “you.” “why am i a cat now?!”

taerae

sun

taerae reminds me of the sun. he watches you as you continue with your daily routine, getting ready for work. you catch glimpses of his face on the mirror as you fix your hair, he looks at you like you hold the sun in your hands and it’s almost overwhelming how much love he has for you. (IM SORRY IDK WHAT TO WRITE FOR HIM 😭)

ricky

moon

ricky reminds me of the moon. it’s midnight when he finds you at the balcony, body leaning on the railings as you look outside. the moonlight provides some sort of lightning as he makes his way next to you. “come to bed.” he says, voice soft and laced with sleep.

gyuvin 

noon

gyuvin reminds me of noon. it’s lunch break and everybody is gone doing whatever as you sit at your desk studying until you’re nudged softly by gyuvin. he places a chocolate bar on your desk, smiling brightly at you. “your favorite, right?” he asks.

gunwook (platonic)

summer

gunwook reminds me of summer. it’s the last day of school and everybody is collecting their report cards. you watch as gunwook approaches with a grin, holding his report card. “straight A’s?” you ask, not surprised in the slightest. “i bet you’ll study during summer too” you say teasingly, he rolls his eyes in response while smiling.

yujin (platonic)

sweets

yujin reminds me of sweets. you’re not sure exactly when this habit of his started, but everytime he sensed you were upset or feeling sad you’d always find your favorite candy on your desk accompanied by small notes. you don’t know when one candy started to make your day ten times better but you’re incredibly thankful.

[lyricsinabottle]

⚘ Unbreakable Love // Eric Chou

[xochipapalol]

Lowkey Ashley Tisdale went off with Guilty Pleasure like, this is an addictive album

[itsmattchou]

this was AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAH bro cannot drive though the only late night drives we're doing are in a taxi after a lil cutie date🥰🥰🥰 I LOVE HIM UGH

matthew things .𖥔 ☁️ ݁ ˖‧₊˚ ⋅🌹

just because seok matthew is AN ACTUAL SWEETHEART oh my gosh i just had to share some hc’s ab him

partially based off my experience attending and performing at kcon LA!

- outwardly he may not enjoy the cute and baby comments made towards him, and he’ll try to dismiss them or change the topic publicly, but he’s totally hiding the fact at how much he loves the attention.

- when he’s alone with you or with close friends he’s the biggesttt softy. you can always tell when he gets blushy because his ears start to turn pink no matter how much he denies it.

- “happy virus” is the perfect dubbed name for him. he’s always looking for a way to make everyone smile. whether it’s through funny jokes, gifts, even embarrassing himself, if he gets a laugh from you he’s done his job.

- on the topic of smiles, his is the most contagious thing. (this may be based off my personal experience 👀) you could be feeling any kind of emotion: anger, stress, nervousness, but one look at his bright smile comforts all of your worries.

- separate note for how his cheeks do that lil squish thing when he’s happy OH MY- you get the point.

- LOVES drives with you. idk something about him getting to showcase his biceps while jammin’ out really gets him going. doesn’t care when or where to, but i feel like the atmosphere of late night drives make him feel at peace.

- he’s gonna be respectful when he drives though, mama raised him right 💪🏼 He’d be nervous to reach over to you, no matter how desperately he wants to. It’ll take him a few months just to work up the courage to hold your hand against the gear shift.

- he soooo wants to rest his hand on your thigh but he reprimands himself bc that’s your personal space 😡

- he shows off so unintentionally… at least, he likes to innocently let it on in that way. yk that thing he does where he comments those heartwarming messages, followed by the most gruesome, whore-looking pic? it’s 10x worse when it’s just to you.

- “good morning sweetheart, i hope you rested well! i miss you love, my mind only thinks of you.” and he’s shirtless curling like 250 lbs. 🥴

- acts like a toddler when your separated from each other. you could be going off to work and he’ll stay jumping at the door waving his arms until you’re down the street and out of his sight

- so later when you approach your doorway after a long days’ work, you better believe he’s running up to the door like a puppy just to give you the biggest welcome home greeting.

- confirmed golden retriever 🦮‼️

- he’s a sucker for romance, rom coms’, etc. anything that remotely reminds him of his relationship with you he’s obsessed with. matching outfits, hugs that sweep you off your feet, and those romantic phrases that leave you a blushing mess every time. 😵‍💫💗

- his pet names can be soo precious. with the way he comments to his fans i have no doubt it isn’t any less special for you. his favorites interchangeably revolve around baby, love, darling- (i can’t write any further i’ll cry).

- pet names with matthew can also be absolutely atrocious though. stink, booger, or some nickname from an embarrassing moment of yours seem very fitting to him. as much as he loves you, making fun of you is one of his top priorities.

that’s all i can write without making it self-indulgent ✌🏼

[pandapool]

-- Panda's Poolverine Recs -- ❤️‍🩹Hurt/Comfort Edition❤️‍🩹

an inconclusive list of Hurt/Comfort Poolverine Fics I've read & enjoyed

💛 You've begun to feel like home by Katirina_caffrey Mature | 15,7K

3 time Wade and Logan hurt each other, +1 time they healed each other.

❤️ i wanna know what it's like to feel your heart beating from the inside by NotesAppWitch Explicit | 15,3K

“Warm like…” Wade hears himself say, and he slurs a little because he’s actually drooling. “Like good warm.” “Good warm,” Logan repeats uncertainly. He says it like Wade is dumb, like he’s a dumb idiot and he’s gonna yell at him and make him feel a little stupid and Wade loves when he does that. Wade can feel Logan’s eyes on him, mean and hot and heavy on the bit of Wade’s exposed face and then lower, down his heaving chest to where Wade is twitching his hips up against nothing, desperate. “Wade,” Logan scolds, and Wade swallows back a little noise at his name being used so harshly and in that tone. “Now is not the fuckin’ time.” “Would you believe me, babygirl, if I said that this time—“ the car hits a tiny bump and Wade makes a little mmh! “—this time it’s not me?” “What are you saying? That the powder in the bullet made you horny?” he laughs wryly. “Sure you don’t just have a thing for guns?” “I have a well established thing for guns,” Wade pants as he grinds a hand against himself through his suit just to relieve some fucking pressure. “As do you, mon petit chou.”

💛 Feel Good, Broken Man by farmhandler Explicit | 11,5K

Logan lifted his head to watch Wade walk into the room like he hadn’t just done the electric slide with a toaster and plop into the chair next to Logan. “Penny for your thoughts, peanut?” “Don’t fucking call me that,” Logan rumbled. “I mean it, Wade.” “You don’t actually hate it, do you? This is just our thing. I call you a cutesy nickname and you react like it’s the worst thing you’ve ever been called. You think about punching me. I think about that passionate kiss we shared, more often than I should or is healthy. Then we move on and do it all over again.” Logan leaned back in his chair and sighed. He really, really, really, really wanted a fucking drink.

❤️ If It Makes You Happy (Living In A House That Doesn't Slam Doors) by anderscones, RingDangDoo Mature | 8,8K

Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day doesn’t pan out for either Wade or Logan. They find that spending it together is better than spending it with the assholes they were meant to. Something hopeful flickers between them, but Wade will have to find an abundance of courage before they can even start to figure it out.

💛 Oh God, I think I'm fallin' by WonderWriter Teen and Up | 8,5K

Slowly Wade peels open his eyes, to find a large hand wrapped around the wrist of the Fucker. “Touch him again”, a voice says behind him, calm, deep, almost a growl, “And you die.” Wade falls in love, gets kidnapped and gets the guy. Exactly in this order. And then he even gets to keep him forever.

❤️ no strings to bind your hands by WhatIsAir Explicit | 5,9K

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Wade snaps, rounding the table to jab a finger into Logan’s chest. “Was I meant to pretend it’s perfectly fine that you’re running around regularly getting the shit beaten out of you for a few grand?” “You followed me!” “You came home last week covered in blood!” “You come back from work covered in blood every day!” In which Logan makes rent through cage fights, and Wade thinks his talents would be much better spent joining the X-men.

💛 Seeing You by RogueFroggo Teen and Up | 3K

Logan’s gaze trailed down Wade’s body, his usual web of scars now overlaid with angry bruises and deep cuts. Blood had seeped through the suit, staining his skin in streaks that made Logan’s stomach twist. “Fucking hell, Wade,” Logan breathed out, his eyes wide with a mixture of horror and disbelief. “It’s worse than it looks,” Wade said with a weak attempt at a grin, but even he winced, knowing how clearly untrue that was. “God Wade,” Logan exhaled sharply, “Why do you do this to yourself? I don’t fucking get it.” Wade looked away, his eyes refusing to meet Logan’s, shame etched into his face. Or; Wade is always throwing himself in danger as he doesn't care what happens to his body because he can heal anyway. But Logan doesn't like seeing Wade hurt and hates that Wade does that to himself.

❤️ life was good by rebslinger Not Rated | 2,3K

Nightmares were not exactly foreign to either of them with one of them being a 200+ year old vet and the other one being literally insane in the head with a tragic backstory. However, that didn’t mean that Wade was prepared to deal with Logan’s. aka Logan gets a nightmare and finally receives the comfort he deserves and they accidently confess their undying love for each other

💛 No Light, No Light by connorcosmics Teen and Up | 1,5K

"Sleeping wasn't hard for Wade. It rarely was a conscious decision, as the life of a merc wasn't the most forgiving. Passing out was the best way to go, especially when it involved a comfy bed and three to four warm blankets on top of him." or Wade has a nightmare and overheats, Logan gets worried and miscommunication ensues.

❤️ Night Vision by PurpleHippo666 Mature | 1K

Logan and Wade always have sex in the dark; Wade hates it because he thinks Logan doesn't want to see him. Logan loves it because he can see Wade best with the lights out.

If you have requests what trope/tag I should do next, feel free to drop them in my Inbox!

[katsona-the-katsequel]

Hiyah! Do you have any Persona fic recs? 👀

Long ago I made a Rec List, but that's lost to the abyss of Tumblr's awful search mechanism, so here's a new one. You didn't specify, so I included a little of every game. Each game is indicated by a specific color: 🟠 for P2 (both of them), 🔵 for P3, 🟡 for P4 and 🔴 for P5. Each one of these fics really stayed with me for a reason, so I heavily recommend you at least give them a chance.

Dust in the Air Suspended by @stealthnoodle 🟠

The dead timeline lives on, and Katsuya Suou stubbornly persists in it. His brother is determined to do better.

Gardenia by LunaDePlata 🟠

Jun can't sleep, and neither can his thoughts. A short vent piece.

heaven by [Orphan :(] 🟠

Lisa didn’t understand how Tatsuya could trust Jun so easily while she still woke from nightmare after nightmare of Joker’s piercing stare and twisted grin. She didn’t understand the pain in her chest when she saw the two of them linger at one another’s side, either.

under the mask by gaytimetraveller 🟠

Joker grants wishes, Joker receives calls (not always pleasant), Joker despairs.

maybe Death wants to be saved, too by @senblades 🔵

In December of 2009, Makoto Yuki slits Death’s throat in his bedroom. --- In January of 2010, Makoto Yuki meets an odd boy in a yellow scarf, haunting the entrance to Gekkoukan like a phantom. (The world is ending, and all Ryoji Mochizuki can do is watch)

No Ghosts, No Mistletoe by @stealthnoodle 🔵

If anyone asks, Junpei is technically spending Christmas Eve with a girl. It's just not anything like a date.

Threnody by @laora-ryn 🔵

In February, Nozomi shares a meal with Minato. [You know,” Minato says suddenly, “I had a twin sister.”]

All That Remains by @laora-ryn 🔵 ft. 🟡🔴

An exploration of the end of Persona 3, its aftermath, and those he left behind.

Equal or Lesser Value by Lisse 🔵 ft. 🟡

The wrong family dies on Moonlight Bridge.

A Barrel in the Sea by signalbeam 🟡

Post-game. Yukiko tells her parents about her relationship with Chie, and after the resulting fight, takes refuge in the Dojima residence.

First Impressions (Seventeen Variations) by jackdawq 🟡

It sucks to be the new transfer kid. Right?

Fusion Inheritance by @rabbitprint 🟡

In your first life, you're an asshole. There's no other way to describe it; even you would call it that.

I Have My Dead by signalbeam 🟡

Eight letters written from the Investigation Team to their families in the event of their deaths.

sentence by @corvus-corvus 🟡

Adachi rises to the balls of his feet for a better view. Yu knows they’re visiting a woman from the case files, but it’s only when Adachi mimes an exaggerated whistle that he knows it’s going to be a problem. "She told us to leave and we have other witnesses.” Yu holds out a light. Adachi breathes smoke until it ghosts over the beating sun. “She doesn’t know that.”

Lost Kingdoms by jackdawq 🟡 ft. 🔵

Every girl in Inaba likes Teddie; Port Island's no different.

A Year To Fill An Empty Home by @lostozian 🔴

The officer who came to explain the terms of the probation had a sad smile on his face the whole way through. He seemed like he was trying to be sympathetic at first, telling them about the mandatory school transfer and the probation terms, but when he got to the part about “removing Akira-kun from bad influences,” Chou couldn’t see the smile as anything less than sadistic. “I know you’re facing a lot of pain right now, Kurusu-san,” the officer had said. “But perhaps better parenting would have helped Akira-kun know that he shouldn’t assault people in the street.” OR, Takeshi and Chou Kurusu aren't bad people. They never stopped loving their son, not for a single second.

Falsities by Raaj 🔴

They keep saying you were sold out by a teammate. You can’t remember which one.

Killing Hope by Raaj 🔴

Akechi stops by Leblanc once after assassinating Amamiya, looking to find the last Phantom Thief.

Stumbling on the Chopping Block by vivvav 🔴

Even after Yaldabaoth leaves, the executions go on.

The Trickster's World by vivvav 🔴

The game has not played out how he imagined it would. Could the Trickster actually prevent humanity's ruin? Is it possible that Ren Amamiya truly poses a threat to his ascension? Only a journey into the boy's Cognition will tell.

marigolds by colbub 🔴 ft. 🔵🟡

Akechi meets a mysterious being chained to a door after death and gains a second chance.

Reflections by @senblades 🔵🟡🔴

In the space between dreams, there's time to think. And so, the attendants reflect; on the tragedies and triumphs their guests have left in their wake. On the saviour, the seeker, and the tricksters, and what facets of humanity they supposedly held in their depths. ___ The Velvet Room is a place of guidance. But what purpose does a guide serve once their role is complete?

Smart Kid by [Orphan :(] 🔵🔴

A troubled kid is brought into Officer Sanada Akihiko's office in the juvenile department, and Akihiko does his best to set him on the right path.

[watermelinoe]

Manga recs????

of course!! so my all time favorites are: kimi ni todoke, kanata kara, koe no katachi, and kamisama hajimemashita (idk why they all start with k lmao??) but then i have more specific recs

hetero manhwa recs: for better or for worse and your eternal lies are my favorite het manhwa. for better or for worse is an isekai that reminds me of jane austen and shakespeare and it's my second favorite isekai after kanata kara. your eternal lies has some heavy subject matter including domestic abuse and trafficking (the female lead is sold to her much older husband as a teen by her orphanage and is arrested for killing him) but it does such a good job with its theme of witches and witch hunts and it's ultimately so cathartic and worth the journey

yuri: if you haven't read her shim cheong please read it, it's so good, misogyny is a major theme, there's twists and court intrigue, it's all done so well. kakeochi girl is also fantastic, the art style is so charming and the characters felt real. sukeban to tenkousei has a retro feel to it and it's so sweet, but i heard it was cancelled and the last chapters haven't been uploaded anywhere that i've found, so i don't know if it was given a satisfying conclusion :( but i quite liked what i read! and then of course there's the guy she was interested in wasn't a guy at all (green yuri!!). great art, great coming of age story, it's getting an anime!

stuff i've been reading lately that isn't finished yet: the apothecary diaries!! mao mao my beloved. if you like mysteries and court intrigue, here you go, and there's also an anime :) megane, tokidoki, yankee-kun is a surprisingly wholesome high school manga that i stumbled upon and enjoyed catching up on with a "reformed" delinquent and a girl who's not book-smart or athletic but she's such a good person you can't not root for her (i have a soft spot for shoujo protagonists like this. total rays of sunshine. always does her best even if she's not good at it. low self-esteem but sees the good in others. i lov it, that's my shit). and finally a bit of a twist on the isekai villainess concept, futsutsuka na akujo de wa gozaimasu ga hinamiya chou nezumi torikae den. in the running for longest manga title but i've seen longer. but it's a super fun body-swapping villainess story and i don't wanna spoil things but it doesn't end where you think it would end, that's just the beginning of the premise.

bonus weebfemmery: colette decides to die has an official english release!!!!! i thought i'd never get to see the ending bc the scanlation team seems to have abandoned it two thirds of the way through and it wasn't licensed in english (shoujo enjoyers know the struggle) but then in 2024 they started releasing paperbacks in english and i can finally die happy once i see the end. it's so good and touching and is everything you want in good shoujo. definitely reminds me of kamisama hajimemashita

i also have a tag for recs i think but i have to find it lol

[itsmattchou]

oh to go to prom with ricky.......... 🤭

Asking you to prom (maknae line)

Shen Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Park Gunwook, Han Yujin

Genre: fluff

Warning: none

Author's note: so here's the second part of it, hope you guys like it :D

And remember that the dresses can be modified to the ones you like or even suits if you are more comfortable with them <3

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How would they ask you to go to prom with them?

Ricky

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

Now this one's a funny one 💀💀💀

Actually he wasn't planning on going at all to prom lol

But hearing his friends say that they were afterwards going to see his favourite band in concert he changed his mind

He didn't need to go tho in order to attend the concert but somehow gyuvin convinced him 💀

However, he needed a partner (totally not forced by gyuvin as well)

So he decided to ask thr first person that entered the classroom

You so coincidentally appeared right by the door

So with all the courage he had in him he approached you slowly

Now why are we talking about courage now?

Well, he knew you were one of the few people that wasn't affected by anyone's rizz

Literally the most indifferent person on the room

So when you accepted to his request with a smile he was pleasantly surprised by it

You were not interested in him per se but you found him really attractive and hot and wouldn't miss the chance to go with him

(Okay maybe you did have a crush on him)

You knew he wasn't interested in you but It wouldn't hurt to just enjoy yourself for a little bit

He picked you up and let's just say you left him standing there blushing furiously 😳

Why did you look so graceful and magnificent?

"Wow you- you look breathtaking"

Did he just say that outloud? Worse, did he stuttered?

Anyways you both were now a blushing mess

Once you got there he immediately wrapped one of his arms around your waist pulling you closer to him and causing the crowd to whistle and be mesmerised by the somehow odd combination

You thought he wanted just to enter with you and maybe be together for a lil time but ricky wasn't planning on letting you go anytime sooner now

So you both enjoyed the night talking and dancing (maybe even kissing outside 👁👄👁)

But one thing for sure was that this wouldn't be for just one night

He was now at your mercy and willing to do anything to have you by his side

"I don't want this night to end"

The concert? We don't know her, we are not interested on her now

He was down bad 😛

Gyuvin

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

You and gyuvin had your history together

You guys were enemies to put it in a way

When you were younger he once kicked you on p.e by accident and since then you've been annoying each other (pretty childish but yeah)

The truth is that you didn't hate him anymore but just pretended to just to keep your feelings to yourself (yeah you were in love with him hehe 😘)

Did he want to ask you to go to prom together?

Absolutely not

Did he had any other option?

Also no

He had been rejected by a couple of people which of course hurted his pride, but he was willing to do anything, even ask out his enemy

Of course you declined at first, but he was in a desperate state so he wasn't gonna give up that easily

So he offered money

You weren't one to be that influenced, but you were short on money that month, so you accepted

You guys picked the park near the place the event would be held as a meeting point because he didn't want to make it that serious

When you tapped his shoulder to make your presence known he had to stop for a while because his mouth was open wide

You looked like a literal princess next to him

He had to blink a couple times later because he just forgot to

"Um, you don't look that bad"

"Thanks, you don't look that bad yourself"

So with that said you headed to together

He even offered his arm to you for support to like keep the act and all that (but it was actually because he wanted you close to him for some reason)

When you entered and was planning to go with your friends (because you thought he wanted that) he held you by your wrist

"Don't go"

"Huh?"

"What? Can't I just want to be with you?"

In that moment you felt like the luckiest person ever

So just as he said you didn't go, you stayed by his side the whole night having fun and smiling like an angel

Gyuvin hadn't ever felt so happy in his life, he didn't think you out of all people would make him feel all fuzzy and warm inside

And specially drawn to you

He had just decided that he didn't hate you anymore 😌

And who knows, maybe this was the the start of your new relationship (not romantic yet) with him ❤️

Gunwook

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

Gunwook was part of the anti bullying club

A literal angel 😇

He wasn't the most popular person on school but he was admired by almost everyone

You had the fattest crush on him, but he was unreachable to you, too perfect and shining in your eyes

Besides, you had only talked a few times in class, but nothing more. So you don't think he actually remembers you

The prom night was kinda a sensitive topic to you

Your parents put a lot of pressure on you because theirs was literally the best night of their lives and the night were they confessed to each other (a pretty romantic story <3)

So they were counting on you ending as them

But no one had asked you out yet, so you were scared to disappoint them

However, what you didn't expect was to be asked out by gunwook?

Wow wow wow, hold on. What? 🤯

How did this happen?

Well, on lunch time you were chilling happily with your friends when you saw him coming your way making you curious

Would he ask one of your friends?

He stopped when he was by your side and asked you right there on the spot making you a nervous wreck

You couldn't believe it

But you stuttered out how you could your answer

"Y/n, I know we haven't talked much but I think you are an amazing person and I would like to go to prom with you"

"M-me, ahm ye-yes I'd like to"

So you told immediately your parents

Bad idea

Now they thought he was your boyfriend

You told the misunderstanding to gunwook but he just brushed it off and told you to just fake it, just so you could please them (he didn't mind tho, if his crush was desperate he just took his shot)

And that's what you did

Your parents welcomed him waiting for you to get changed and literally fell in love with him on how polite and gentle he seemed

You finally finished and was ready to go with gunwook but your parents decided to take a couple of photos of the moment

Photos where he looked like the happiest men alive

When you guys got out of your house he complimented you with the biggest smile and softest glance ever making you melt inside

And just as your parents you had probably the best night of your life

That ended with both of you exchanging your first kiss 😉

Two cuties in love kinda oblivious to it

Yujin

♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡

You know those kind of friends that have known each other since you were literally babies? (Childhood friends yeah)

Yep, those were you and yujin, the bestest of friends

The duo that was always bickering in between classes but kinda looked like two baby lions play fighting ☺️

You weren't together 24/7 because he was on the football team and you were on your drawing classes

But each opportunity you had you spend it together

As your families were quite close to another they always joked how you would end up together at one point, which you both hated and always opposed to it

However as time passed our little lion yujin was in conflict with himself because maybe he did like you that much

And this was pointed out by more than one person so he was starting to question it himself

As the end of the year was coming the school decided to throw a party inspired by the prom night, so everyone had to act as if they were on it

When yujin learned he had to invite someone he instantly thought of you

But he seemed to shy to ask it himself

Everytime he tried he always backed down

So deciding it was enough you decided to ask him himself

"Y/n i- I wanted to see if um- if um-"

"Yujin, let's go to this prom together"

And smiling shyly at the situation he accepted

Thanks y/n for helping our little yujin 🥰

As you were still kinda young your parents offered on giving you a ride, but due to the embarrassment they would probably cause both you decided to make an agreement and let them leave you halfway

So when you opened the door and saw his eyes shot up and be instantly focused on you, it made you shy

But yujin just thought you looked so cute and pretty that he just needed to look at you properly

When you finally started walking alone once being left at the according point you interlaced your fingers with him expressing your excitement

Was making yujin all shy and flustered your new mission?

Yes but unknown to you apparently lol

When you got to the event you had a pretty decent time together

That was when you accidentally drank a cup of waiting?

That wasn't orange juice?

🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️

Now you were being dragged by yujin outside to take a break

You felt actually touched by his gesture

You had never saw him taking care of you that much

When you were feeling better y'all got bored of the party 💀

So you decided to go to McDonald's :D

Turns out you had a better time there just playing around and messing with each other

Two teenagers being teenagers

And maybe having a crush on each other

But y'all didn't need to know that at the moment 😉

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[gatoraid]

Recs for Kinky BL Manga

I made a short rec list for a friend who wanted to read BDSM themed BL that's not dom/sub universe, and I thought I could share it on Tumblr as well. These stories depict the characters (mostly) knowingly and consensually engaging with different kinks, but bad BDSM etiquette, dubcon etc can still occur. I've provided links whenever an official English translation is available. Please support the artists by reading from official sources if possible.

Kinbaku / Shibari

Suji: May I Tie Up the Yakuza This story tarts out pretty horny, as the MC, a professional rope artis, just wants to find a hot top he can tie up while they have sex. Although there's plenty of spiciness, this manga is also actually really touching. I just loved the ”pitiful yakuza with a tragic past and a kind, loving rope artist” couple dynamic. Overall a very healing story, and it takes shibari seriously and treats it with respect. Tapon: Entwined In Red Two classmates, a "normal" nice guy who is secretly turned on by ropes, and a seductive son of a yakuza who is forced to sell his body, get entwined in this story that is also ultimately about healing. Shibari is present more as an aesthetic; the couple engages in much lighter bondage in the actual sex scenes. You can read a more thorough write-up on this manga on Renta's blog: Healing From Trauma’s Scars: tapon’s “Entwined in Red”

Masochistic Main Character

akabeko: 蝶と花の関係性 / Chou to hana no kankeisei This workplace romance between a newbie worker who wants to be bossed around and humiliated and his senpai who's willing to indulge his whims is one of my all-time faves when it comes to kink themed BL. I especially love how their relationship also allows the seme character to take back his agency after being sexually abused when he was younger. Akabeko is a master at spicy scenes and this manga is no exception.

Yuitsu: REVERSE A police officer who gets turned on by dangerous situations is caught up in a fuck buddy situation with a dangerous guy who later turns out to be associated with the yakuza. Basically it's porn with some crime drama, the plot wasn't especially deep or memorable but still a hot, entertaining read like a lot of Yuitsu’s stories.

Humor & Comedy

Harada: 変愛 / Hen ai Can't make a kink-themed list without mentioning Harada. Hen ai consists of episodic stories about an idiot couple who do all kinds of scenes together including student/teacher cosplay, bondage, shaving etc. The seme character claims to be into "normal" sex at first but always get super carried away once the uke character eggs him on. I just love how they are also very affectionate with each other in their own silly way. The titular tankoubon only has one story about this couple but you can also find them in Harada's short story compilations Positive and Yajirushi.

Azuma Kaya: 桜田先輩改造計画 / Sakurada-senpai kaizou keikaku Yes, this is the same Azuma Kaya best known from The Scene of My Rumspringa. This story is much less serious, featuring a total S&M queen seme who tries to punish his idiot senpai at work but senpai gets waaay too into it. This was such a fun read, and I loved the constant flipping of the character dynamics, like how the seme character is an experienced dom but becomes a trembling mess when it comes to some stuff he's much less experienced with.

Serious & Melancholic

Ido Gihou: 夜はともだち / Yoru wa tomodachi A thoughtful, at times even sad story about a more vanilla guy who gets into a somewhat strange relationship with a guy who is a pretty hardcore masochist. The loneliness of trying to understand one another is the first thing that comes to mind from this manga for me, rather than the spicy scenes. This is probably one of the first BL manga where I encountered these themes handled in a more realistic/serious way, so in that way it could probably be called a classic?

Matsumoto Miecohouse: The Beautiful Greenness A recluse author MC with lousy eating habits and a cheerful greengrocer who wants to cook him healthy, delicious meals - and tease and degrade him in bed - make an unlikely pair in this 3 volume manga. Parts of the story are very uncomfortable to read, like the main character's homophobic remarks and the way he judges other people. But it's only through being forced to give up control and to face his own ”ugly” desires during sex that he can start to accept both himself and others more. Matsumoto Miecohouse always has unique, interesting stories even if their art might not look like much at first sight, so I definitely recommend checking this and their other stories out!