#like. it gets help. its getting help. throughout the story prior to and after the conflict rosa is actively getting better

[anantaru]

— how to make them blush

including dan heng, sampo, jing yuan, blade, gepard, welt, luocha x gn! reader

꒰ genre ꒱ — fluff, blushy boys, very cute

contrary to popular belief, it doesn't require a lot of effort to make your boyfriend dan heng blush radiantly because of something you'd do— for instance, delicately ruffle his soft hair, or easily grabbing his hand while you‘re going on a leisure walk or placing a precious and thoughtful compliment on him so he doesn‘t forget how much you love him. it begins slowly, and dan heng doesn‘t take his eyes from you, yet the very reason you can see it focused, more unimpeded. the casting of soothing red evincing on his person, gently cascading over the outlines of his sharp features like rural waves and there he was, you smile triumphantly at him when you catch it— expressing and doughy, the luminous scarlet color.

in the early stages of your relationship, you never thought that the usual confident and self assured sampo actually had a pretty deep soft spot of being praised and complimented by you. he likes, no, adores, when you compliment the most arbitrary things he'd carry out— whether it was easily cooking you dinner, situating a pure smile on your lips or planning ahead an upcoming date for the both of you. by the stowing means of this, you decide to do it again and tell him how impossible cute he was and how much you valued all the effort he put forth, especially how so very special and ambrosial while your boyfriend will quickly stave his head away from you before you can see it, an exultant blush flickering a powerfully charming redness on his entire face.

a man, specifically a well renowned general, such as jing yuan himself was quite difficult to fluster in a way where he‘d end up blushing and reddening honest warmth. but, evidently, you weren‘t one to give up on such a big challenge, the thought of having the man blushing in front of you was far too delicious to refuse on. so, you massage his scalp, kiss him and show him your brightest smile, yet nothing seem to work for some reason. but then, it‘s different, out of the natural sphere, when after an entire day of trying your hardest to make him show any early signs of redness, you show gradual defeat, eyes heavy and low lidded, drenched in tiredness— to add onto that, jing yuan‘s chest was far too comfortable to get up from. well, little do you realize after a couple of minutes pass, you find yourself deeply slumbering on top of him, and the thought that you feel so safe and shielded by his side, made the sleepy general blush at last.

prior to you, your charming boyfriend blade wasn‘t used to being loved or cared for in his life by anyone at all. to say that this heart warming relationship with you now was a new one, was a clear understatement. be that as it may, you can catch him hide a blush from you quite frequently, especially in the early stages of your togetherness, he for no other reason cannot help himself and get easily emotional at the thought that he has you, you're his, greater reason that you love him just the way he was and accepted each flaw, each scar, without a single care throughout the entire universe. but, one particular motion that will make the man blush instantly, faster and the most distinguished— in its highest duration, was when you cuddled him in midst the night, without saying a word, both quietly tangled under the soft sheets, and you whisper a little "i love you" right against his ear shell.

gepard finds it immensely captivating when you listen to the little, fun stories he tends to tell you all after coming home from his hard work. suddenly, he becomes shy when he notices that he talked far too much and wordlessly fears that he might‘ve bored you to death by some of his seemingly uninteresting stories, or that's how he referred to them. at the same time, when he looks at you up closer and realizes that you were in fact, eagerly listening to each of the words he expelled from his lips, gepard can‘t help himself but shine a glittering red towards your direction— cheeks puckered and flustered scarlet and spreading onto his entire face. "so?" you say, effortlessly snapping him back to the present, "how does the story end?" and your boyfriend suddenly leans into you without warning, to place a subtle peck on your lips, words couldn't possibly describe that feeling.

welt doesn't blush, nope, that's the end, he unelaborately doesn't. the man keeps himself in tact pretty forthcoming and without an issue— besides, he doesn't think it's possible for him to blush in the first place. then there's you, moving your lips slightly to indicate a smile as you slant forward, "your hair." you point out, "let me fix it." and progress your hand into his strands to couple the lousy hair hanging carelessly on his forehead. it's a mess, both the bloody situation and welt who, for some unclear reason, couldn't stomach what just had happened and he quickly pulls his head away— taking off his glasses and act as if he had to clean them, even though he just did that five minutes ago. a keen smirk plays around the edges of your mouth when you realize what was going on, yet you do not speak, don't say anything, but make a mental note to never forget on how to make your usually sophisticated boyfriend the exact opposite.

luocha knows whenever you try to fluster him, beyond everything, he has observant eyes and effortlessly sees through all the teeny tiny schemes you tend to carry out with him. when you become more clingy and coo sweet nothings towards his direction, or when you decide that your boyfriend deserves a couple more kisses than the day before, he can see that you were attempting to play tricks on him and coax out the desired reaction. but what luocha did not see coming was that, as a matter of fact, it was beginning to work, quite powerful as well. conveniently there he was, having you wrapped around his strong arms as you do it again, sneakily kissing from his collarbones to the outline of his sharp jaw, until placing your lips on him at all. he instantly blushes, pulling his hand to the back of your head to keep you into the kiss, so you wouldn't catch him, wouldn't flash him a cheeky smile afterwards too when you'd realize that you managed to make him flustered at the very end.

©2023 anantaru do not repost, copy, translate, modify

[whenmemorydies]

Lessons of a mentor: every second counts

The Bear brainrot continues unabated and a character that has been sitting at the back of my mind since I first watched 2x07 Forks has been Chef Terry. Her influence is felt in a multitude of ways throughout season 2, most notably via the impact she's had on her former chefs, Carmen and Luca. What fascinates me more about Chef Terry though are the parallels between her and Syd and the home truths that both these powerhouse women keep dropping (and which many a loudmouth dude on this show keep missing...*womp*).

Lots more under the cut. This is a long post but this show is so bloody juicy I couldn't help myself!

Who is Chef Terry?

So quick recap: Chef Terry is the Executive Chef at Ever, a 3-Michelin starred restaurant in Chicago, loosely based on and shot on location at the actual Ever. In the show, the restaurant opened in 2012 and was awarded "the best restaurant in the world" that same year.

In 2x07 Forks as Richie walks past portraits of Ever's alumni, we learn that both Carmen and Chef Luca (now based in Copenhagen, Denmark) both worked at the restaurant together, under Chef Terry. This is previously hinted at in 2x04 Honeydew when Luca talks to Marcus about working with a chef who worked "harder and faster than [Luca] ever could," and who inadvertently pushed Luca to get "better than [Luca] possibly could be, just from trying to keep up with him."

Chefs Carmen and Luca at Ever.

In 2x07 Forks, we get Chef Terry's origin story as she recounts it to Richie, who Carmy has sent to Ever to stage for a week. We learn that:

Chef Terry, like Richie and Syd, is an only child. She likely had a tense relationship with her father (who we learn was a Corporal in the military) before he passed, but is incredibly close with her mother, her only living parent.

Carm getting Richie a spot to stage at Ever was not a favour because Chef Terry doesn't do favours:

Chef Terry is quick to praise folks who try to learn. Note when she asks Richie if he'd like to peel mushrooms with her and she tells him that his first attempt is great (despite the fact that process-wise, he peels them in the exact opposite direction she does):

She had previously tried to open "a giant place" years ago when she was younger, and by her own description, "was on fire [and was] arrogant." Chef Terry then says she moved too fast and couldn't keep the place open.

She later opened Ever after coming across the building's "For Lease" sign while walking.

Its clear from her conversation with Richie about Ever's beginnings that Chef Terry is a firm believer in it never being too late to try again:

But for me, the most important thing we learn about Chef Terry in the 5 minutes she's on screen with us, is her belief in time being well spent. When Richie first sees Chef Terry, she's quietly peeling mushrooms by herself in the kitchen. When Richie asks her why she's doing this work, instead of a stage, we get this lovely bit of dialogue:

Chef Terry then goes on to tell Richie about her father and how he kept pocket notebooks in which he made hundreds of entries about different experiences while he was on military tour.

While Chef Terry never tells Richie how her father signed off on each of his pocket notebook entries, its implied by the end of the episode, that The Bear's mantra of "every second counts" originates from those very notebooks.

This was revelatory to me. Up until Chef Terry and Richie's conversation in 2x07 Forks, "every second counts" in this show was synonymous with Carmy's "sense of urgency", taped to the pass in 1x02 Hands and tattooed across his knuckles in the form of "S O U".

Prior to 2x07 Forks, "every second counts" was wrapped up in the frenetic pace of a restaurant's back of house, with Mikey dying well before his time and by his own hand, with the panicked need to fix the regret and broken-heartedness that accompanied years of estrangement, with Donna's litany of cooking timers going off every other minute in a kitchen covered in chaos and passata. It had to do with time slipping away and the persistent, but always losing battle to try and steal it back.

But in Chef Terry's conversation with Richie, it is made clear to the audience that the lesson in "every second counts" is not about speed or clawing anything back. Those notebook entries were not made for any other reason than to describe, remember, and step into a moment. Chef Terry peels mushrooms at first light in her restaurant because it attaches her to her work and connects her to those whose bellies she fills with her food. "Every second counts" is about savouring every second that we have, while we have it, and being present in each of those moments, as much as we can.

Its about realising that every second does count because every second has meaning.

Time spent informed by this knowledge, is time well spent.

Lessons and Parallels with Sydney

Like Chef Terry, Sydney also tried to run her own business, Sheridan Road, but it "got too big too fast", and she was unable to keep up with its demands. As she tells Carmy in 1x05 Sheridan,

My credit got destroyed. I mean, my whole shit got rocked.

The failures of both of their respective businesses pushed both women into the depths of existential crisis. Chef Terry tells Richie how she had been "unemployed, angry, depressed", and "blaming everybody else for all the time I'd lost."

While Sydney never makes an admission like this about the fallout of Sheridan Road, the depth of the impact of that failure on her is clearly apparent in the show, most notably in 2x09 Omelette. In this episode, Syd's father Emmanuel asks her why she is putting so much pressure on herself to be successful with The Bear. Syd responds, its because she doesn't know if she could start another business.

Later in the same episode, we hear Syd's even more vulnerable admission to Carm about her fear of failure, under that pretense for intimacy table.

Like Chef Terry, Sydney does not do favours. Recall when she fixed Tina's bouquet garni-infused cream in 1x04 Dogs after the latter kept ignoring Syd's advice on how to prep the mashed potatoes and ended up ruining her first batch of cream in the process:

Also, bonus Fak attack (lol) from the same episode:

But also like Chef Terry, Syd is generous with her praise when folks try - as opposed to only praising those who succeed. The praise is for the attempt in the moment to grow, not in the growth itself. Recall in 1x02 Hands as Syd calls out orders to Ebra, he falters and says back the wrong count. Syd gently corrects him and Ebra tries again, after which Syd says,

Gorgeous. Thank you, chef.

Its a small moment, but its one of the first times we hear the word "gorgeous" used inside The Beef. You can literally see Carmy's shock at the utterance, at the firm kindness of the exchange between Syd and Ebra. I personally like to think this might also be a moment of recognition for him, where he sees an echo of his mentor, Terry, in the woman he's about to hire as his sous chef.

And finally, of all the characters on this show, the one who seems to best understand that every second counts because every second has meaning, is Sydney. To me this is epitomised by her omnipresent notebooks in which she's always writing, clearly echoing Chef Terry's father and his will to remember the detail.

Sydney's question to her father in 2x09 Omelette is also indicative to me of a person who understands that each moment we have on this tiny blue dot is precious. When Emmanuel tells her that he doesn't think she needs to make everything "the thing" because she will always have his support, Sydney asks him,

Why can't we put everything that we have into everything that we can?

I've no doubt that Sydney's ethos, embodied by this question, is the result of the passing of her mother when she was a child. With that loss, Sydney would have learned from a young age that every second is important. She knows that you can't get more time, so you make the most of that which you have. Or in her words, you put everything you have, into everything that you can.

Its striking to me how differently Syd and Carm have interpreted the intention behind "every second counts" in the context of death and bereavement. Sydney moves through life with a drive borne out of knowing that our lives are finite and so every second contains the potential for possibility. Its why she had the guts to start her own business, had the optimism to apply to work at The Beef under a culinary hero, and had the hope to take a punt with The Bear.

In contrast to this, Carmy rails against time: at the time that he lost with Mikey, at the seconds that he might lose with each hiccup that delays a plate on the pass. For him, there's never enough time because it is constantly being snatched away.

He tells us in 2x03 Sundae that he struggles with being present in the moment and open to the world because he is always waiting for "the other shoe to drop",

I have to remind myself to breathe sometimes. I have to remind myself to be present, you know. Remind myself that the sky is not falling, that there is no other shoe. Which is incredibly difficult because there is always another shoe. I dunno, I think, you know maybe if I could provide more-more-more amusement or-or enjoyment for myself, it would be easier to provide for others, you know.

This isn't to say that Carmy isn't trying. Throughout the show, we've seen glimpses of him stopping to sit within a moment: his making time to talk to Richie about purpose in 2x01 Beef, his constant beckoning to Sydney to "say more" in both seasons 1 and 2, his return to art and drawing in season 2 - an act that physically forces you to slow down and observe detail, his repeated attempts to check in with Natalie about how she's doing despite his discomfort at the question, and most obviously, taking the time to softly, intentionally and unhurriedly comfort a worried Sydney with less than 25 minutes to open on the opening night of their restaurant.

To me, there are a number of reasons why its no surprise that Carmy is drawn to Sydney. I've mentioned a few here in this reply to @mod-doodles. Chief among them though are her consistency, her stability, and her integrity, all informed by Sydney's ethos of putting everything she has into everything she can; into making every second count, just like Carm would have seen his mentor Chef Terry do while he was at Ever.

I reckon Carmy's ultimate challenge in The Bear is going to be getting to the realisation that Chefs Terry, Sydney and even Luca (recall his chat about "openness" with Marcus in 2x04 Honeydew) have already reached: that because every second counts, happiness and peace - indeed amusement and enjoyment - are to be found in the doing, in the process, in the getting there, together. I'm sure by the end of our journey with these lovingly crafted characters, Carm will get there too.

Author's note:

Incidental to the above is this show's God-tier level casting. Storer and Calo have made it a point to cast famous and immensely talented actors in some of the smallest parts on this show...why? I'm thinking specifically of the casting of Jamie Lee Curtis as matriarch/walking emotional vortex Donna Berzatto and Olivia Colman as Capo/Chef Terry. Jamie Lee Curtis appears in The Bear throughout one full episode (2x06 Fishes) and in one scene (with everyone's favourite unproblematic king, Pete) in 2x10 The Bear. Olivia Colman appears in the show for just under 5 minutes, at the end of 2x07 Forks.

I reckon that, while the speaking parts for these characters are relatively small compared to other roles in The Bear, the casting choices here are reflective of the impact of these two characters on Carmen (in particular) and others on the show. The showrunners needed to cast folks whose reputations would precede them in order to instil in us, the audience, the same gravity of their presence as would be felt by the characters in the world of The Bear.

Donna Berzatto:

Donna's impact on the psyches of her children is huge. For evidence of this, watch the faces of Carmen, Natalie and Mikey whenever they're in proximity to their mother in 2x06 Fishes. They are constantly watching her, gauging her reactions and her levels. This is most clearly the case for Natalie who spends most of Fishes in a state of panicked fear, anticipating her mother's every move. Who better to cast as the anxiety-inducing-word-slurring-flirtatious-alcoholic Berzatto matriarch than scream queen, 80s/90s sex symbol and survivor of intergenerational substance abuse, Jamie Lee Curtis?

Chef Terry:

In contrast to Donna, Terry is a stable, consistent force of nature who has mentored successive waves of chefs that have walked through Ever's halls. She's overcome setbacks and had to relaunch herself, doing so with great success, while remaining grounded. While Olivia Colman's been plugging at acting on screen for over twenty years, she didn't reach the height of fame that she's currently enjoying until much later in her career and her life. By many public accounts, she's an incredibly talented, kind and down to earth A-lister. Also this interview with her is so Chef Terry coded I wouldn't be surprised if Calo and Storer read it and offered her the role the next day:

“There’s some amazing actors who don’t get asked back because they don’t behave very nicely,” she said. “Learn your lines, try and know everyone’s name, be on time … There’s a million people who would have your job in a second and more … who are better than you. Take your job seriously and not yourself.”

Without naming names, Colman said: “We all have actor stories of people who were unpleasant, unkind, ungenerous – and it goes around.”

Nor should actors ever become too grand to take on even a short film, she suggested: “Some people might think: ‘I don’t do that any more.’ I think that’s exciting to do. You’re going to meet new people or a new writer who might remember you later on … [Do] not get too up yourself, too grand. Work is work. If I now decided: ‘Oh, I will only do feature films,’ I might not work again.

“If you get accolades for something, enjoy it for a bit, but put it aside and pretend that hasn’t happened a week later. You still need to work and no one else will remember it either after a week. So crack on.”

Yes, Jamie Lee Curtis and Olivia Colman are fantastic actresses who could have acted the pants off their respective roles without their own personal backstories and filmographies doing any lifting...but given the limited time that they're on screen, having actresses who can bring all of that history and shorthand to the role is GOLD for quickly creating meaning and depth for the audience.

As soon as Donna first turned that corner in the kitchen in 2x06 Fishes chaotically balancing a tray of branzino in one hand and a cigarette in the other, yammering about spilling shit everywhere, I knew I was in for a ride. Likewise, as soon as Chef Terry gently suggested where Richie might find the polish he was looking for (instead of biting his head off because he was a mere stage and she was Capo), I knew I needed to be seated for the lesson that 2x07 Forks had been building up to all episode (and indeed that Richie's entire character arc had been building up to for almost two seasons). And phew...did these two brilliant women absolutely deliver.

K that's the end. If you made it this far, DM me because you are probably incredibly patient, kind and like to read and I need more of that energy in my life LOL. Thanks for spending some of your precious time with me <3.

[cutecinnamon]

Concurrence III

{ Concurrence III: "A Date" • Levi x Reader }

CW: ⊹₊ Pregnancy ⊹₊ This is honestly Fluff ⊹₊ A Date with Levi ⊹₊

:gif by pinterest

• 3.1k word count •

Note: Please read "Concurrence I and II" first since this is all a part of a series in order to avoid confusion for the story, you can check my Masterlist pinned at my profile for the links ♡

:Read Concurrence II here ♡

UPDATE: Concurrence IV is now up! ♡

:dividers by: @cafekitsune

Synopsis:

(y/n) started to experience having cravings, Levi decides to take her out on "A Date" since it was their rest day from their duties in the survey corps. At the end of the day, Levi gives her a small gift.

PART III

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You were greeted by colorful shops and mini stands consisting of various items and food.

The place was honestly peaceful, despite a lot of people walking and rumaging at certain product displays, compared to the scene of your comrades being barely alive after an expedition and the sight of crimson colored blood, which you already got used to that even haunted your dreams at night.

You were walking alongside the Captain, as he still kept the same expression on his face, but despite that you can't help but appreciate him taking you out since it was both your rest day from your duties at the survey corps,

You then remembered the reason why he took you here when you inhaled the aroma of grilled fish, topped with soy sauce as you both made your way to the little restaurant.

Your new found need of fulfilling your cravings.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

You were then reminded of the events that happened a few hours prior to your so called "date" with the Captain.

You woke up feeling hungry, you were already around two months into your pregnancy.

By the time you got out of bed which was a bit late than usual given that it was both of your day off, you saw Levi reading a book while drinking his tea, he was currently sitting on his chair next to the round table,

To be honest, it was like his usual spot for drinking tea and reading a book, kind off like a relaxing area for him.

"Good Morning, Captain Levi." You greeted Levi, still a bit sluggish as you let out a small yawn.

"Morning Brat." He responded with his usual monotone voice, still not looking at you, his attention still at his book and tea.

After greeting him a simple "Good Morning", you then took a scrunchie tying your hair up into a messy bun, as you proceeded towards the sink to wash your face.

Afterwards, you went and took your sit at the round table, across Levi.

The Captain looks at you before he spoke,

"Aren't you going to eat? You do know its not advisable for a pregnant woman to just sit around with an empty stomach." He asked with a hint of strictness.

"Captain... there is honestly something I want to ask..." you hesitantly said while fidgeting with your fingers.

Levi noticed your body language and the way you were gently fidgeting with your fingers, making him notice you were somewhat nervous or hesitant to ask him for something.

Levi sighs before he spoke, "Do you need something Brat? And feel free to say so its not like I'd bite." He said, this time you noticed that he really did try his best to soften his tone a bit than the usual.

You look at him nervously again, contemplating.

Throughout your entire life, it was honestly the first time you felt a very strong urge to eat something specific that you're taste buds are screaming at you for.

You grew up fending for yourself, without really the luxury of getting everything you wanted so small cravings were something you got used to ignoring.

But this one was different, it was like your gut was screaming at you to go and get that specific meal you were craving for.

Damn this pregnancy cravings. You thought to yourself while looking at your Captain.

despite the nonchalant expression he had on his face, you can tell he was a bit concerned and his interest was perked to what you wanted to say.

"I... I don't want to burden you bu-" before you can finish your statement he cuts you off,

"How many times do I have to say and make you understand that you're not a burden?" Levi asked, you can tell that he was getting a bit annoyed despite his calm looking demanor.

You sighed, before deciding to speak up.

"I... I'm craving for something..." you mumbled quietly, almost inaudible making him frown a bit.

"Pardon?" Levi asked, you knew that he had a bit of temper issues and you can tell his patience was wearing thin but he tries.

"I'm craving..." you repeated, this time more audible.

Levi looks at you for a few seconds, before he responds.

Is this the so called "pregnancy cravings?"

You just nod, clearly still hesitant of even opening your thoughts about the meal you're craving for.

Levi sighs, closing his book and placing it down at the round table, he then empties his cup of tea as he proceeded to the sink to wash it.

You just remained sitted not sure if you annoyed the Captain which was the last thing you wanted.

After washing his cup, Levi looks at you and he spoke.

"What are you waiting for Brat? Move your lazy ass and change your clothes." He stated a bit annoyed you haven't moved from your sit.

"Huh?" You looked at him clearly confused.

Levi sighs again, "Don't just sit there and hurry up, we don't want to keep the baby waiting for food now, do we?" He asked, still the same monotone but you swore his gaze was softer.

For a moment Levi saw light in your eyes, there was a hint of sparkle to it, a hint of life.

Ever since the whole incident happened, you became more aloof and the light in your Doe shaped eyes slowly lost its glint of hope.

Levi noticed it, despite you not knowing, he was honestly paying attention to the small details of you.

You noticed how his gaze softened even more while he stares at you, without realizing it was your expression that caused it.

You immediately went to change your clothes, Levi was wearing a simple white long sleeve polo with his usual black pants and belt.

While looking inside the wooden closet, you saw your white puff sleeve milkmaid dress with a few soft blue dainty floral embroidery and lace details at the hem of the skirt, you decided to go for that also adding a finishing touch of white ribbon at your hair.

You then went towards the Captain who was already at the door, he was patiently waiting for you while running his fingers through his raven black hair, the strands falling neatly at his forehead.

Levi noticed your presence and looks at you, he didn't say anything but you can tell by the way he was looking at you that he did liked it

You gave him a small smile and nod as you followed him out of your shared quarters.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

Going back to the present, you were now sitted inside the restaurant, waiting for the food Levi ordered.

While walking earlier, he managed to make you speak about the food you were craving for which was grilled fish topped with soy sauce.

You then looked at Levi who was sitting across you.

You decided to speak in order to break the silence.

"Captain, are you sure its alright if we eat here? It honestly looks a bit pricey..." you asked Levi softly in an almost whisper audibility.

Levi looks at you, "Are you implying that I can't afford it kid?" He asked you casually with his default monotone voice.

"Tha- Thats not what I mean Captain!" You immediately refute, while tucking a strand of your hair at the side of your ear a bit flustered.

You then noticed Levi's lips tug into a small discreet smile.

The moment was interrupted when the waiter served a big plate of grilled fish with soy sauce on top, there was also two cups of rice for both of you, a small bowl of broccoli with a few chuncks of meat, as well as a small bowl of mixed fruits.

Levi thanked the waiter and he began to put small portions of food into your plate.

"Uhm Captain... isn't this too much?" You asked Levi softly while looking at him as he continues to add a good amount of food into your plate.

"Just eat. The baby needs it." He replied firmly, yet laced with a bit of softness to it.

You give him a simple nod accompanied with a small smile.

Levi also grabs himself a few portions of food that he neatly placed on his plate.

Afterwards both of you took a spoonful,

A bright and genuine smile made its way towards your lips as you tasted the dish you have been eagerly craving for.

Levi saw your genuine expression, with your genuine smile and your Doe shaped eyes lighting up with specs of star like sparkles.

It was a warm and cozy scenery for Levi.

You noticed Levi looking at you, he then lets out a cough as he picked up a glass of water.

You both continued to eat, you can tell Levi was keeping an eye on you, if you ate properly and if he managed to finally satisfy your cravings.

"Thank you again Captain, you really made us both happy." You softly said, before taking another bite of mixed fruits.

"Both?" Levi asked you can tell he was a bit confused.

"Me and our baby." You replied still with your small genuine smile.

Levi couldn't help but give a small smile back.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

After eating, Levi opened the door towards the exit and you both continued to walk and wonder around the small stalls and shops.

You both then saw a familiar face, it was Hange.

"Oh... looks like someone is on a date huh Captain?" Hange teased, with a big grin plastered on her face.

Levi just glared at her.

"Hey (y/n), are you enjoying so far?" Hange asked with a small smile.

You nod and replied, "Yes Commander Hange, Captain Levi brought me to a nearby restaurant to eat the food that I was craving."

Hange then gave Levi a wink.

"Thats good (y/n), remember to take it easy alright?" Hange reminded knowing that you were going through some tough shit.

"Yes Commander, I promise to take it easy and to take care of myself more." You replied softly with a small smile.

"Thats the spirit (y/n)! And if any other douchebags start to make fun of you again... I'm sure Levi wil-" she then gets cut off by Levi.

"Thats enough four eyes, and mind your own bussiness." Levi said with a hint of annoyance.

Hange then bid you both goodbye, waving her hand and giving another quick wink at Levi.

"Captain, why did Commander Hange winked at you twice?" You asked Levi curiously.

"Its nothing, maybe its just your delusions Brat." Levi replied, clearly shrugging of the topic.

You just gave him a small nod and followed him through the crowd as you both continued to look around.

While you were both walking, you both saw two cadets a girl and a boy running around, the boy was running around carrying a book while the girl was chasing after him.

The boy then accidentaly bumps into you, Levi immediately caught you as you almost lost your balance. Your back pressed onto his hard chest, both of his arms pulling you close to him to steady you, while one of his hand protectively went to your still flat belly resting there.

"Are you alright (y/n)?" Levi asked you, his voice laced with concern.

"Yes Captain... thank you for supporting my balance." You replied softly, still a bit shocked about almost stumbling, but more stunned with the fact that he was actually holding you protectively while shielding your belly.

A thought then came up to your mind,

"Why will Captain Levi treat a traitor like me this way?"

That question has honestly bugged you ever since the incident with Floch at the mess hall, to be honest you also heard a few scouts talking to each other asking them that very same question.

You were then pulled out of your thoughts when you heard the two younger cadets apologize,

"We are very sorry Miss, and Captain Ackerman... we promise to be careful next time." The two cadets murmured, clearly frightened by Levi who was throwing them threatening glances.

"You two, just stop acting like wild brats and get out of my sight." Levi stated firmly.

The two cadets then quietly walked away after giving an apologetic bow.

Levi slowly lets you go, he then gently places his hands on both sides of your shoulder turning you, facing him.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked again.

"Yes Captain, positive." You replied while giving him a small reassuring smile.

"You sure? is our baby also alright?" He asked, his gaze softens.

"Our baby"

For the first time, you heard him address the baby in your womb as both of yours.

Not to mention this is also his first time placing his hand on your belly, acknowledging the baby that way.

Levi noticed you space out a bit, he then gently places his hand on top of your hair, ruffling it a bit,

In a soft and gentle way.

"Yes Captain... our baby it alright..." you replied gently, your gaze also softening towards Levi's gesture and choice of words.

Levi then lets you go and firmly yet gently grabs your hand, his big palm warming your smaller one.

"Don't let go Brat, I don't want to deal with anymore of those stupid cadets." He firmly stated, just like an order.

You look at him, meeting his gaze and you gave him a nod.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

You both continued to walk, Levi then stopped in front of a shop that sells accessories. He then went towards the area where a few Cravats are displayed for sale, while he was looking at a few ones, you decided to wonder around the small shop.

You then saw the small jewelry area,

While wondering around you saw a necklace, it was a simple gold plated hardware with a small ruby stone.

You looked at it and you were mesmerized.

Unknown to you, Levi was looking at you.

Your attention was then taken by Mikasa who entered the store,

"Hi (y/n), what are you up to?" Mikasa asked softly.

"Hey Mikasa, I'm currently just waiting for Captain Levi, he is scanning through a few cravats." You replied giving her a small smile.

"Oh, I'm here to check out a few trinkets that I can possibly give Eren," Mikasa replied, also returning a small smile.

You both had a small talk for a few minutes until Levi told you it was time to go.

You both then waved goodbye to Mikasa.

"Did you found a Cravat up to your standards Captain?" You asked Levi cheerfully.

Levi shakes his head as you both continued to walk back towards the barracks to your shared quarters.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

After taking a bath, you wore your comfortable silk nightgown in the shade soft pastel blue. You then made your way towards your bed which was near Levi's bed only with a nightstand providing it a small space in-between.

You were about to lay down when Levi called you.

"(y/n) come here." He called out to you.

You then went towards his direction, he was standing at the small kitchen counter most probably preparing tea again since you knew he has a hard time sleeping most of the time.

"Turn around." He said casually.

You decided to just follow his order since he did treat you and took you out earlier, and it was something you were thankful for.

Levi then gently took out a small velvet box out from his pocket.

He then took the small dainty necklace out.

He carefully places the necklace around your neck, locking the clasp, his hands were almost light as a feather which was contrast to his usual strength.

You look down and saw the same necklace you were admiring earlier, it had the same dainty ruby stone that caught your attention.

You then faced Levi, your gaze both locking towards each other.

You were honestly lost for words.

How can he treat you like this after everything?

"Captain... this is..." you honestly really don't know what to say.

You then took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Thank you Captain... I... I really appreciate it but... I dont think I deserve such a gift from you..." you told him, your orbs still locking with his.

"A gift can't be denied (y/n)." Levi said, still with his monotone voice but it was firmly said.

"But Capta-" before you can continue your statement he once again cuts you off.

"No but's Brat, now go to bed." Levi said in a commanding tone.

Your gaze softens even more as tears started to form around the corners of your eyes.

"You do know I did not buy that for the purpose of making you cry, right?" Levi asked, for a moment his gaze softens again while looking at you.

"Yes Captain..." you immediately wiped your tears.

"Its probably my heightened emotions due to my hormones messing with me because of the pregnancy..." you added.

"Maybe you're just really a crybaby Brat." Levi softly responded in a teasing way.

Levi sighs, as a small hard to catch smile forms on the corner of his lips.

"Thank you again... Captain Levi... It means a lot to me..." you softly said another warm, gentle and genuine smile made its way on your lips.

You hesitated, but you knew you wanted it.

Without giving it another thought, you gently wrapped your arms around Levi, embracing him.

"You really made me happy Captain, thank you."

You gently said, your voice laced with warmth and undeniable happiness.

Levi returned the gesture.

"Its nothing, now go to sleep." Levi said as he gently lets you go.

Levi then turned his attention back to the tea he was planning to prepare.

You then went back to your bed laying down, still wearing the necklace Levi gave you.

Your thoughts then wondered again to the events that took place today, your so called "date" with the Captain.

You then slowly drifted to sleep, while happily thinking about everything.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

{ Levi's pov }

After drinking tea, He then decided to go to his bed until he was interrupted by the sight of you peacefully sleeping.

He then quietly walks over to your bedside,

Levi gently pushes the strands of bangs covering your forehead at the corner of your face, getting a clearer view of you.

He also glanced at the necklace he gave you earlier that you were still wearing.

He noticed how calm and peaceful you looked while sleeping,

"I hope I made you both happy today." He gently said, he then went towards his own bed.

Levi's mind then went back to the conversation he had with Hange a few days ago.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

"So we should avoid stress right?" Levi asked Hange while both of them were discussing about (y/n)'s situation and pregnancy.

"Yes, and also Levi, the baby can somehow feel the mother's emotions." Hange stated.

"What are you implying four eyes?" Levi curiously asked.

"If the mother is happy, so is the baby." Hange responded with a small smile.

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

Levi then decided to lay down on his bed, letting his body sink to the soft blanket and cushion,

his mind going back to the small, genuine smiles that (y/n) gave him earlier with her Doe shaped eyes lighting up with specs of star like sparkles.

"I hope I made them both happy today..." That was the thought Levi had.

He then glanced at you softly before also drifting to sleep.

"Goodnight (y/n)."

Taglist: @levislegislation @dontfollowab @3llawrit3s @levitonin @crescentmoontsuki @la1225

Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed Concurrence III, it focuses more on the fluff side which is a contrast to the previous ones, but I do think this will show the slowburn and bond that will slowly form between Levi & the reader, and also I really did enjoy writing this part of Concurrence!

I also decided to include a little pov from Levi, and I do plan to add more at the future parts,

I will be starting a few drafts for Concurrence IV,

If you want to join the taglist please do say so ♡

- Cinna

[amorphousbl0b]

Arcane does a fun thing with its narrative Darkest Hour.

Or: yet another post about how insanely smart this show is and how absolutely genius its writers are (and how jealous of them I am).

For the uninitiated, the Darkest Hour is the moment just before the climax in which the heroes are at their lowest point. When the Avengers are scattered and Loki opens the portal in NYC, when the Falcon has escaped the Death Star but lost Obi-Wan, when the Fire Nation is set to annihilate the Earth Kingdom, when Frodo fails to destroy the Ring at the Crack of Doom. The heroes must confront their flaws and change for the better for a happy ending.

Arcane’s darkest hour is, of course, in Act 3. One might place it at the very end of episode 9, and that’s certainly where the story is at its most hopeless. But I’d contend it starts as early as the end of episode 8 and carries on through the entirety of episode 9.

After all, that’s when Caitlyn and Vi have separated, lost all hope, and Cait is kidnapped by Jinx. Jinx’s mind is fully gone and throughout the episode everything falls apart around her. Silco is losing control of his chembarons and may well have lost his daughter, the thing most precious to him, and is only barely keeping his powerful façade in line. Zaun has realized how ridiculously outmatched they are in a war with Piltover and the revolutionary cause has become almost impossible. Viktor has manslaughtered his assistant and may never be cured. Jayce has manslaughtered a child and finally realizes how quickly he’s losing his morals. Mel and her mother are fully separating and she is struggling with her warlike destiny. Sevika gets the absolute snot beat out of her and limps to an empty office without a boss.

So yeah. Lot of personal Darkest Hours going on.

“But what’s the interesting thing?” I hear you ask in my ear. I don’t know why I hear you. Shut up. I’m writing. Are you even real?

Excuse me.

Arcane’s interesting twist on the Darkest Hour lies in part of the trope that I didn’t mention. That’s in the villain.

Most stories with a clear-cut villain have a plot structure something like this:

Whether things are going well for one side is inversely proportional to the other. During the Darkest Hour, when the hero is at their weakest, the villain is at their most dominant.

Wait… isn’t Silco the villain of Arcane? Not to be too blunt, but he’s having a shit time. Things are falling apart for him just as badly as for everyone else.

That's the trick. Caitlyn and Vi are suffering. Jinx is suffering. Silco is suffering. Jayce is suffering. Viktor is suffering. Zaun as a whole is suffering. There is only one party in the whole story that isn't suffering, that actually is benefitting from this horrid state of affairs...

EKKO AND HEIMERDINGER

Kidding. They're not really a part of this dance. A big part of Arcane's theming is that acting to help people without an agenda is simply more virtuous than fighting for any invariably-flawed nation that innately perpetuates the cycle of violence.

No, the side that is doing fine is the other that is conspicuously absent from my two prior lists. While the characters that make up its leadership are experiencing personal Darkest Hours, the organization itself is essentially on top of the world, having just scored a huge victory and getting set to bring the war to an end before it even begins. I mentioned how poor the situation for the Undercity looks, but not its counterpart.

Piltover.

Wasn't it so that Piltover started this whole mess? Didn't their oppression cause the revolt that orphaned Vi and Powder's parents? Isn't it their actions that drive Silco to ever greater extremes? Isn't it their normalized political backstabbing that causes Jayce to sacrifice his principles because that's the only way to get ahead? Isn't it their corrupt police force that lets Silco operate his drug empire with impunity?

Silco might look the part. He might be the most personally evil character, might be the one who causes the most misery for our main protagonists Vi and Powder.

But structurally, the shining city of Piltover, its political machine, and its Enforcers are the actual villains of Arcane.

[jbaileyfansite]

Interview with Backstage (2024)

Jonathan Bailey is still marinating in his thoughts, andthey taste pretty sweet. Top notes of red wine, he says. 

These are busy times for the witty British heartthrob. He’s speaking over Zoom from Malta, where he’s filming the next “Jurassic World” installment. And two days prior, he received his first Emmy nomination for his supporting turn on Showtime’s “Fellow Travelers.” 

What’s lingering in Bailey’s mind after reaching such a huge milestone? “The nature of the story, and how that story’s come to be told,” he says of Ron Nyswaner’s limited series, a decades-spanning gay drama that’s chock-full of steamy sex scenes. For him, the Emmy nod is “an acknowledgment of [the show] meaning something much bigger.” 

The 36-year-old actor radiates humility and surges with pride for his collaborators; “Fellow Travelers” also picked up nominations for lead actor Matt Bomer and for Nyswaner’s writing. Bailey believes the fact that executive producer Robbie Rogers was able to get the project on television at all is a “brilliant signifier” of changing times. He feels lucky to have been the right person for the job. And after a couple of decades in the industry, the actor’s star is about to go supernova. 

Childhood stage work and gigs on 2000s teen TV shows led to roles on acclaimed series like ITV’s “Broadchurch” and Channel 4’s “Crashing.” He nabbed an Olivier in 2019 for his performance in Marianne Elliott’s West End revival of “Company.” Households on the other side of the Atlantic learned his name in 2020 when he courted lockdown audiences as Anthony, the strident head of the titular family on Netflix’s period-romance smash “Bridgerton.” 

Then came the game-changing “Fellow Travelers.” Bailey plays the idealistic Tim Laughlin, a closeted congressional staffer who pursues a clandestine relationship with another man amid the witch hunts of McCarthy-era Washington. The actor is keeping up that momentum in the coming months with part one of Jon M. Chu’s highly anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked” (out Nov. 22), followed by the fourth “Jurassic World” in 2025. 

“Fellow Travelers” is a fitting inflection point for Bailey, considering it reflects aspects of his own gay identity. Tim’s story also illuminates a thread connecting the actor’s work, both in and out of character: always embracing the truth, shame be damned. 

Born in Wallingford, England, Bailey made a beeline for the arts as a kid when he began studying music and ballet. After getting a taste of performing at a young age, he secured an agent when he was a teenager. Even now, he feels the sense of joy and wonder he discovered in those early days. 

He chose not to attend drama school, instead throwing himself into professional theater, where he encountered the performance process in its most essential form. “You start with your own instincts, and then you share with others in the room in real time,” Bailey says. “You academically approach text, then you emotionally explore it. Then, you physically put it on its feet.”

Theater taught him to be observant. In rehearsals, he witnessed actors being brilliant and bold, but also making crucial mistakes. Weeks of rehearsing helped him learn how to spend time with a character as he watched his castmates play against type and expand themselves through performance. Those lessons both tested and encouraged him, and they’ve carried him throughout his career. 

Since then, Bailey has gotten the chance to see plenty of giants at work. He reverently discusses performing Stephen Sondheim’s music alongside Patti LuPone in “Company” and reciting Shakespeare opposite Ian McKellen in the Chichester Festival Theatre’s 2017 production of “King Lear.” 

His contemporaries also made for great teachers. He worked with Phoebe Waller-Bridge on “Crashing” and Michaela Coel on “Chewing Gum”—two certified television geniuses whose creative successes Bailey likens to the magnesium flame of a meteor. It’s an apt comparison—Waller-Bridge called him “a meteorite of fun” in a 2022 interview with GQ. (“I think I’ve always been quite naughty,” he says playfully.)

“There’s so much you take on via natural osmosis,” Bailey explains. “It’s what you watch and how you interpret things.”

For example, he thinks that every actor should see Sandy Dennis’ Oscar-winning turn as Honey in Mike Nichols’ 1966 film “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Her performance whet his curiosity about the craft: “She is so fluid. I mean, that might be the most exposing answer I’ve given about what my inner world is like.”

Bailey’s technique is rooted in music. He plays piano and clarinet, and he approaches acting like an instrument, too. When reading a script for the first time, he experiences his character’s arc as the phrases in a song. “The way my brain works is that I see the images of what they’re doing,” he says. “When I say ‘phrasing,’ it’s like, how you get from that image to this image.”

When he was playing the bottled-up Anthony on “Bridgerton,” Bailey found inspiration in songs by Echo and the Bunnymen and Nirvana. While filming “Fellow Travelers” in Toronto, he went on long walks while listening to expansive pop music to help him explore Tim, a character whose energy radiates outward.

Considering Bailey’s process plays like a song, connoisseurs of his work might notice a motif. Sam from “Crashing,” a party boy Bailey calls “a wild, untamed animal in a tiny little cage,” aggressively maintains a facade of heterosexuality while pining for his male housemate Fred (Amit Shah). On Season 2 of “Bridgerton,” Anthony locked himself into a prison of duty and a loveless engagement to avoid acknowledging his desire for the fiery Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).

Tim of “Fellow Travelers” is the latest in a series of sharply drawn characters confronting the tension between their assigned roles and their personal truths. Viewers first meet a straitlaced rule-follower whose Catholic piety is only matched by his loyalty to the infamous Senator Joseph McCarthy. All that changes when he crosses paths with Hawkins “Hawk” Fuller (Bomer), a crystal-eyed, debonair State Department official. Their respective closets combust on contact, and they enter into a forbidden love affair just as McCarthy’s Lavender Scare has begun purging queer people from the halls of government.

Bailey’s interior work tends to be more emotional than cerebral, but he’s a generous conversation partner who’s always game to riff on the deep stuff. Whether it’s yearning, going against expectations, or facing high stakes, the phrasing is what draws him in. 

He finds a lot of gorgeous notes to play across the eight episodes of “Fellow Travelers” as the action moves from the 1950s to the ’80s, making pit stops along the way. While Hawk settles for a life of straight domesticity, Tim hurtles through a sexual and political awakening: The Beltway boy becomes an activist priest who refuses to diminish himself, especially when the AIDS crisis begins to rip his community apart.

Bailey loved being inside Tim’s head; in fact, the actor thinks of him as a hero. After experiencing the isolation of his secret relationship with Hawk, he opens himself up to the world: He comes out, moves to San Francisco, cobbles together a found family, and builds a life as his true self. 

“Ron Nyswaner has spoiled Matt and me for the operatic detail that existed between [our characters],” Bailey says, “and also with Tim’s political fervor: the truth and the honesty that he demands of himself and the world around him, and the grappling with anything that is an obstacle to his own and other’s happiness.”

You can’t talk about “Fellow Travelers” without discussing its rapturous sex scenes—and not only for titillation’s sake, though the kinky encounters between Tim and Hawk certainly call for smelling salts. These sequences gave Bailey the opportunity to commit authentic queer intimacy to the screen, which members of the LGBTQ+ community rarely come across as they search for ways to understand their identities. 

The trust between Bailey and Bomer informed everything they did onscreen. Before filming those scenes, the two actors talked through their approach at a café (Goldstruck Coffee on Cumberland Street in Toronto—a ribald little detail that still makes Bailey laugh). The filming itself was incredibly technical, and the actors worked with an intimacy coordinator on set. “We sort of hit the ground running, knowing exactly what was going to be required but also how to communicate throughout it,” Bailey says. “It felt immediately quite safe.”

He sensed an exciting opportunity to tell a story about transformative love amid the “wild, oppressive moment” of the Lavender Scare, dismissing any reservations about the explicit nature of the material. “Honestly, this is exactly why this show is going to be brilliant,” he remembers thinking.

The series’ milestone dramatic moments, with buttons still done up and no skin showing, carried that same sense of significance. No matter how much Tim grew over the course of his arc, Bailey says that his bond with Hawk remained an “extraordinary, material thing.”

This summer, the actor made a very Tim move when he founded the Shameless Fund, a charity that supports LGBTQ+ causes under the tagline: “Raising cash. Erasing shame.” The initiative grew directly out of his acting work—first inspired by the platform afforded to him by “Bridgerton” and further influenced by his experience on “Fellow Travelers.” 

Playing Tim—or, as Bailey puts it, spending “five months doing a dissertation on queer oppression and liberation”—catalyzed his thoughts about the people who created a world where such a show could even exist. “I think in ‘Fellow Travelers,’ it’s so clear what Tim wants,” he says. “But as the world around him develops, you realize there’s so much that he can’t have, but that he can help change.”

Bailey sees that progress playing out in the next generation. He has a small role on the upcoming third season of Netflix’s queer YA hit “Heartstopper” as a dreamy academic who’s the celebrity crush of the series’ protagonist, Charlie (Joe Locke). Based on creator Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series, the show has found a passionate following of young LGBTQ+ fans. 

When he watched “Heartstopper” for the first time, Bailey remembers wondering what it would have been like to see such representation on television when he was growing up. “I was so celebratory of it,” he says. “But it was obviously kind of a melancholic watch for people above a certain age, because it allowed them to grieve what they didn’t have.”

Having conquered the Regency and Cold War periods on the small screen, Bailey’s blockbuster era is imminent. He’s playing dashing love interest Fiyero in the “Wicked” films (based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel), singing and dancing alongside Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. It’s a perfect fit for the actor’s particular lens: “Musically and theatrically, I understand it massively.”

Since “Wicked” came with its own well-known songs to study, Bailey spent a lot of time with composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz’s music in his ears rather than Kurt Cobain’s. He explored Fiyero’s interiority through the musical theater form itself: What does the act of singing express for him?

And for a character whose signature number is called “Dancing Through Life,” what metaphorical direction are his steps leading him in? 

Bailey sees Fiyero as part of the same club as Tim, Anthony, and Sam, as the heightened world of Oz sends him on a journey of radical transformation. “I think about where he starts and where he ends up; he’s literally a changed person,” the actor says. “I savored the arc over two films.” 

Next year, Bailey will become an action star in Gareth Edwards’ next installment of “Jurassic World” opposite Scarlett Johansson. Though details have yet to be announced, including the movie’s title, production is well underway; Bailey just finished filming in Thailand before shooting moved to Malta. A few days before we spoke, he was interacting with a fake blue-screen dinosaur (which is only a spoiler if you thought Hollywood has actually been cloning big reptiles this whole time).

But Bailey is still keeping his theater muscles toned. Next year, he’s starring as the titular monarch in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Shakespeare’s “Richard II” at London’s Bridge Theatre. “I have to go and sharpen up,” he says of returning to the stage. “You feel so sharp and dexterous at the end of a theater run—but also, you know, without a soul. Carcass levels of absolute exhaustion.”

Bailey lights up at the prospect of getting back onstage and experiencing the kinetic energy between the actors, crew, and director. He believes that the emotional and intellectual rigor of theater leads to a tight, specific piece of work. It’s an art form that requires continuous creation night after night.

This stamina comes in handy in front of a camera, too. “When you’re exhausted, you have to rely on technique,” he explains. “Technique does get you over the finish line, and you can deliver a performance that is honest and tell the story effectively and truthfully.” 

Until then—and until he’s back on set with those fake dinosaurs—he’s going to soak up that Emmy-nomination afterglow for a little while longer. 

“I’m actually going to go and have another glass of wine to celebrate,” he says.

Source

[sunnyrosewritesstuff]

Ready to rec some awesome fics that I read this month!! Feel free to add on with some of your own Bagginshield recs. 😁

April 2024 Rec List

G Rated:

A Dwarven Beauty by bebel_bee (Complete, 4K, 1ch.)- You have to love cultural differences where it comes to the dwarven and hobbit concepts of beauty. Bilbo is getting a bunch of odd comments on his looks that he thinks are derogatory. This is such a fun, quick read with fun misunderstandings and a lovely getting together scene.

Green-Handed by lotus0kid (Complete, 41K, 20ch.)- This was a really fun magical hobbits fic. Under certain conditions, hobbits go "green-handed" which means they can grow anything through touch and that's how Bilbo finds himself one morning. The ending of this fic just gets me with how absolutely enamored Thorin is with Bilbo and his gift.

Ive found Frodo...and he found you? by Lucigoo89 (Complete, 2K, 1ch.)- I need to preface this by saying my house had an entire den of fifteen skunks living under it that we tried to relocate...I absolutely despise skunks. But I gave this a chance for Lucigoo and it was as predicted, completely adorable. Little skunk Frodo wanders off and when Bilbo goes after him, he finds him in a den of badgers, one of whom he knows rather intimately.

T Rated:

Burning Crowns by Morg47 (Complete, 9K, 2ch.)- I read the first chapter when this was just a one-shot craving more and the author didn't disappoint! Infamous thief Bilbo helps the rightful king of Erebor in his assassination attempt of Smaug. I love seeing a confident BAMF Bilbo, and apparently Thorin does too.

Frozen Heart by snowmissus (soul_of_blaze) (WIP, 14K, 5ch.)- This is such a unique AU with a compelling set up. Bilbo has been tasked by Yavanna to try to help Erebor out of its frozen state, and by extension its king. Very fairytale-esque with some great characterizations and interactions, I can't wait for more!

Imbalance by northerntrash (Complete, 10K, 1ch.)- This story genuinely shocked me! In this Hades/Persephone AU, it is Bilbo who is Lord of the Underworld and Thorin who is a plant life god. As cracky as that sounds, it actually legitimately works in this AU as Bilbo and Thorin rely on each other to make themselves better.

There and Not Back Again (or, The Saving of Erebor) by femmbingley (WIP, 178K, 52ch.)- There’s so much to say about this fic. Post-BOTFA dwarven politics where Bilbo has assumed the duties of the consort which makes things more difficult for Dain. I really love the characterizations and I just can’t get enough of this fic!

to feel you like a knife by queerofthedagger (Complete, 23K, 2ch.)- Thorin's POV absolutely shook me at the beginning as he describes seeing his three loved one laid up in cots. After Bilbo saves Thorin's life, he wakes up to find his memories prior to Laketown are gone. It was so well paced and absolutely delicious in angst with a happy ending.

M Rated:

Backs to the Wall by Conkers (WIP, 124K, 24ch.)- I held off on this fic for a long time, not because I was worried I wasn’t going to enjoy it, but because I knew how much it would have me foaming at the mouth. Missing the deadline, the Company splits up at Laketown with Thorin, Dwalin, Nori, and Bilbo remaining to earn some coin. I’m beside myself with the gentle, sweet moments of pre-Bagginshield that have me screaming.

E Rated:

The Burden of Choice by Fantasyinallforms (Complete, 56K, 12ch.)- I went absolutely feral over this fic! Bilbo and Thorin are arranged to marry each other, neither knowing who the other is, and they escape in the night and begin to travel together. There were just so many emotions throughout this fic, it was so well written!

The Riven Crown by BeautifulFiction (Complete, 254K, 31ch.)- It was time for another read of this wonderful story. Bilbo stays in Erebor to see them through the winter only to find himself in a courtship with the king and a plot to see Thorin off the throne. This is just the ultimate Bilbo remains in Erebor fic and definitely worth the read if you haven't already.

Theft by Erinye (Complete, 124K, 40ch.)- Another epic that I had to reread this month. For his part in the alliance, Thorin demands Bilbo be returned to the mountain to be tried for his crimes in stealing the Arkenstone. Although the deaths of Fili and Kili break my heart in this fic, the rediscovery of Bilbo and Thorin's relationship through sex and comfort makes this a great read.

[kaiowut99]

A Special Announcement~ | Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V Tag Force Special Re-Translation Project!

I've been itching to get around to posting about this for a few months now, but wanted to wait until I'd worked on enough for it, but also had the idea to create an announcement trailer to go with it for added good measure--after recording and editing clips for a couple weeks and leveling the audio last night, heremst we are! (For some clips, I forgot to turn off the PPSSPP emulator's DevMenu option so that shows up in the top-left, buuut I didn't feel like re-recording those, lmao.)

Details worth reading below the cut here, but tl;dr work has been in progress for over a year in between things, work will continue to be in progress for a while, and the release will happen when everything's ready, but stay tuned, fun's getting started etc etc~

So, I'm sure most of us are familiar with the as-yet-unlocalized-by-Konami TFSP, the seventh and last entry in the Tag Force series on the PSP that came out early in ARC-V's run (featuring the first five series which was a cool first), as well as the current translations out there originally worked on by the guys at XenoTranslations (omarrrio and ScrewTheRules/ClickClaxer01 at GBATemp handling the card and story/etc translations, respectively) and how there are... some issues with what's out there. Everything from the DM story mode being loaded with YGOTAS references (no shade to YGOTAS and much respect to LK/Martin for his ongoing work on it still making me laugh sometimes, ofc) to the off-the-cuff edginess of 2014-2015-era internet culture and the problematic (in some cases, derogatory) language that permeated it--though to its credit, some parts do have some level of translation attempted, but taken as a whole, it can definitely turn people off from giving the game a try and seeing what it brings to the table (which is still a good amount despite the corners Konami cut here/there compared to prior TF games).

I actually did attempt a translation of my own back in 2015 (if you've been following me for a long time, you might remember it lol), tackling the GX story text starting with Judai's heart events, but eventually put it on the backburner as I focused more on my GX subbing work and beginning to finalize everything (which I'm still doing). Sometime in 2022, a friend over on NeoArkCradle (the "anonymous YGO fan" in the opening screen) was poring over the story text and patching it up the best he could to remove the references and inaccuracies with more coherent work, and after a while of seeing what he was working with in the Discord, I was a bit blown away by just how inaccurate much of it was--so alongside him, and using the better tools available since then (including some really awesome work from both nzxth2 [who did a proper re-translation of 5D's TF6 not too long ago and was kind enough to release his tools for it] and our coding helper Xan1242 who we eventually reached out to for some help), I decided to *cracks knuckles* get involved and help give everything a more accurate and professional translation, much like I do with my GX subs, working directly off the Japanese text and files. I've been taking cracks at everything in between the GX episodes I've been finalizing going back to at least last January (and I'd used my little hiatus after finalizing GX Season 2's subs to really get at some other stuff throughout the game), starting with re-translating DM's story text but also properly translating other aspects of the game, from the character names (using the original Japanese names, including those of the TF-exclusive characters, partly since Konami made a whole mess of them in English TF1-5), in-duel dialogue, pack descriptions, and more to images with Japanese text (such as localizing the in-duel cut-in onomatopoeia as you see in the video above, or other little images throughout) using some Photoshop skills I've picked up. And it's been a joint effort, as said NAC friend and I have been bouncing off how we'd like to see this go between us to stay on the same page and all, while also checking with other translators there for second/third opinions as needed.

Our plan is to release two versions of a translation--one which uses the OCG [translated] card names in Story Mode, in-duel, and other text but not in the game's card system (mainly to deal with story-relevant notes like Osiris vs Slifer with the Gods or things like not-Utopia Hope being symbolic between Yuma and Astral, akin to how I do my GX subs), and one which uses the TCG card names in everything (like how the official subs go about it). While we're mostly working with the Japanese game files due to how the Xeno team went about decoding everything, we'll be using the card-system-related files from the fixed ISO provided by FLSGaming which fixed some issues that had been present there. And Xan has helped us with a plugin that will be used to apply our translations to the system files that were hard to edit otherwise (things like the character and recipe names, as well as the pack names pulled from for the Card Description screen), but more on how that'll work once this is ready for release, lol. At some point, I'd like to also look at HDifying textures and things, but that's definitely a bonus-level thing for after the main work here is done.

SO.

Currently, Story-Mode-wise, I've gone through everything up to Yusei's events--so Dark Yugi/Kaiba/Jounouchi/Ishizu/Mai in DM, Judai/Manjoume/Asuka/Misawa/Ryou in GX, and Yusei in 5D's have been fully retranslated, though I took initial cracks at Yuma and Yuya's events to get content for this video lol (I've also been intentionally holding off on as much ZEXAL as I can until I've properly watched the whole show so I have context). I haven't tackled overworld text yet, though (like pre-duel or the tournament-related text, which is all in the same file as all the story text). I've also been handling the in-duel dialogue as I go through the character stories, so also just up to Yusei, though I did take initial cracks at Aki's, Yuma and Shark's, and Yuya and Yuzu's for the video.

Other things tackled that were sprinkled into the video, along with some other notes:

Pack names and descriptions have been retranslated, though the descriptions may see minor edits closer to release for a little variety between worlds given the different characters at the shop. Character recipe names were also retranslated, with Yugipedia's translations for them used as an occasional second opinion, though ones based on pack names had to be abbreviated in spots.

Menu text, from the Options to Help screens and stuff in between, has been retranslated, as have in-duel text strings (so, you'll see a full "Activate Effect" instead of "Activate" or "Switch to Attack/Defense Position" instead of "Switch to ATK/DEF Position", etc--also fixed the "BATTELE PHASE" graphic typo, and NAC friend created a new translation for the "Turn Change" graphic for accuracy since ENG TF1-5 made that into "Next Player's Turn").

Database stuff, such as the Sound Test, Tutorials, Duel Missions, etc., have been retranslated closer to the Japanese text; originally I retranslated the Tutorial text via hex editor, with compromises done on quite a bit of it due to the space limits, but as Xan recently updated a text extractor tool of theirs to more cleanly pull out and reinsert that text, I've been going through and fleshing out those translations more (on my commutes to/from work mostly, to be productive lol).

As mentioned, I've been localizing/translating Japanese-text images throughout the game as I come across them, like with the in-duel onomatopoeia that come up during cut-ins or images in the shop/duel/etc screens using Japanese text, to make sure the game is fully translated.

The series logos, used during the title sequence and in the Series Select screens, were updated with translated fan edits shared on Deviantart (which we'll credit in the final release) for DM and GX, while the 5D's-ARC-V logos were edited to enlarge the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" text on them that was pretty hard to see originally.

The game's original opening sequence starts on an anti-piracy message before going into the Konami logo and then a "From Yu-Gi-Oh!..." screen before the opening animation for each series logo--the original team decided to use the first image to vent their frustration at Konami for not localizing this game, and while that's valid (to some extent), we thought we'd use the opportunity to dedicate this project to Kazuki Takahashi for inspiring our love for YGO and the place it's had in our hearts for all these years.

We'll be updating the names of cards that had TCG releases after the original patch was worked on/updated by FLSG to those corresponding names.

Xan has been working on many UI fixes for us to apply with this, among them 3-line dialogue box text as is used in the ENG TF1-5 games--once implemented for TFSP, I'll be going over everything to make full use of that extra space where needed, so things might not look as they do in the video by then.

Character bios will be worked on after I've done the story stuff, though I've taken initial cracks at it for Yuma and Yuya's bios for the video, along with translating the location/affiliation names ("Domino High School," "Satellite," etc).

Currently no release date is planned, as I'm working on this between my GX-finalizing work and actual IRL work, though we'll see how later this year looks as more work gets done--but as noted in the video, all things being equal, it will be released when everything is ready. I'll try to post regular updates or rambles now that this announcement's been made, lol, but do try not to constantly check in on a release date. 🙏🏽

All that said, I think that covers just about everything I wanted to put out there with this, lol. It's been fun to work on this so far and getting to see what I've re-translated in-game is definitely neat; looking forward to us being able to release everything when ready.

Stay tuned for more; the fun's just getting started!

[pastara-cell]

Discussed this on a wonderful server but I also thought I’d put it out on tumblr because I never thought anyone felt the same- the theme of Double life is 100%, intentionally or not, that you can’t force love. And that it’s something you have to choose. I’m going to be focusing on secret soulmates and desert duo in this post, but theres a lot of other points that support this idea!

Look back at third life. This is where desert duo started, scarian, and no one left the desert. But why the desert? Why not the cake? That’s certainly more recent in the series, isn’t it? You might say that its because people had been saying that they had been stuck in the desert much longer, and for years since before double life, which is definitely a part of it, but lets look at the stories.

In third life, during the first episode, Scar invited grian to the desert with him. Grian declined at first, but after accidentally taking scar’s first life, he swore his first life to scar. At first, it was forced, grian not wanting to be there and saying things like “Once i lose my first life I’m gone.” But after a while, we saw them grow close, and even after grian lost his first life, they stayed together. Whether you like the ship or hate it, you can’t deny that there was a connection there. And as for most of us, we interpreted that as love. Whether it be platonic or romantic, That was love. Unforced, and grown over time

Now, lets look at double life. Grian was…Less than happy to be put with scar. Infact, as much as I’ll defend grian, he was definitely not the kindest to scar. And to be fair, scar wasn’t exactly thrilled either. They never seemed happy with eachother. From Scar and Pearl’s ice bucket shenanigans, to grian going behind scar’s back for a “secret soulmate”, they just were not having it. I think this is where a lot of Scarian hate came from, and honestly, I 100% understand that. Throughout the entire series, the only reason they kept eachother alive is to keep themselves alive.

And then, theres secret soulmates. Grian and Bigb. Grian decided “Yeahhhh….No” and decided to become a homewrecker/lh, but in all seriousness, They were an interesting duo. Started with grian and bigb hoping they were soulmates, and being disappointed when they didn’t take damage hitting eachother. Grian and Bigb both found their soulmates, and that was where it was supposed to end. Except, yknow, it didn’t. Grian left bigB a gift, totally with the intention of being his secret soulmate. BigB reciprocated, and despite not interacting much, and even despite the fact that grian ended up being the reason bigb died, they had a stronger bond during double life than grian and scar did. They trusted eachother more, they helped each other, they gave eachother gifts- Heck, one of the only times scar and grian gave each other gifts without an alternative motive (aka, it not just being a gift) was when scar gave grian cookies, for his ‘secret soulmate’.

So, why did Grian and Bigb work out so well in double life, When Grian and Scar had worked out so well in the past? Because They didn’t get to choose each other.

In third life, even with grian technically swearing his life to scar being the reason they originally teamed, scar had wanted grian to come with him prior to it. He had invited grian to the desert, and was absolutely delighted when Grian ended up agreeing, even if it was out of guilt. No doubt, Grian wasn’t excited about it at first, but he warmed up to scar. It was them- well, basically against the world, (minus flower husbands, but they’re another story for another day) and grian said it himself, He was planning to leave when he lost his first life. If it had happened earlier, he probably would have. But instead, There was time for him to choose scar. Scar had already chosen him, wanted him, and grian got weeks, and got to choose to stay with scar himself. No contract binding them together.

In double life, they were thrown in together. No time to bond, no option to choose who you were bound to. The game put them together, and whether they liked it or not, anything they did directly affected the other. This only caused guilt, resentment, and like they were trapped.

On the other hand of double life, Grian and Bigb were excited to have eachother, even before they knew if they were soulmates or not. Grian gave him gifts and asked him to be his soulmate, despite knowing they both already knew and lived with their assigned soulmates. They chose eachother

You can’t force love. Double life and third life show two opposite stories. A story of chosen love, and forced “love”. Sometimes, you can force people together, and it’ll work out, it definitely happens. Look at impulse and bdubs, They were extremely happy together. But othertimes, its you get a divorce quartet

So yeah tl:dr, You gotta choose someone to love em, and thats the theme of double life even tho it’s unscripted and i’m going insane

[excarow]

so I've just binged Sk8 and it's left me wondering what would happen in season two.

Now this is gonna be a bit of a long one, so buckle in.

If we are to get a season two (and I'm definitely not holding my breath) what would be the end goal? Season one was very much Defeat Adam (after Langa learned to skate, and kind of learned to love again), and honestly I think the premise of season two would be similar; defeat the opponent (it is a shounen after all). HOWEVER, I do think there should be a secondary goal:

Reki wins a race.

throughout all of season 1 Reki never wins a race. Hell, Reki never wins anything, which is very strange as he's one of the protagonists. We see he loves skating, he's hardworking and honestly pretty good but we never see any of that rewarded. We almost see him turn into a supporting character for Langa, even as the story continues to revolve around him (not in a bad way, but more in a contrast way)

So honestly, I think Reki deserves a win, and not a win based on luck (like how the weather helped him in his race with Adam) but purely on his hard work.

and how would this work? Easy; training parallels with Joe and Cherry.

If you were to look at them, Reki seems to take after Joe (loud, brash, lovingly stupid) and Langa takes after Cherry (quiet, doesn't show off as much, doesn't want a spotlight) and while you can say that for personalities, for their skating style its the opposite story.

Joe and Cherry are the opposite dynamics of Brawn vs Brains (a tried and true trope) while Langa and Reki are Talent vs Hard-work.

Joe uses his body more, his power and instincts when he skates which is very similar to Langa, who uses he prior 15 years of snowboarding knowledge to shape how he skates. (that and i think he's a prodigy? Don't know if that's true or not)

Cherry on the other hand uses intellect and sharp precision. Which is like how Reiki uses his knowledge on building skate boards to make a board that adapts to Langa's snowboarding style and why he changed his wheels in his race with Adam. (Reki builds skateboards as a job, there is so much potential in that)

so for a hypothetical season 2 it would be nice to see this sort of training dynamic where we see Reki grow confidence in himself and it would be really nice to see he and Langa finally kiss skate together as true equals

ok rant over, sorry the moment i see any kind of opposite dynamics and character parallels i go feral

[richincolor]

Title: Asking for a Friend Author: Kara H.L. Chen Genres: Contemporary, Romance Pages: 336 Publisher: Quill Tree Books Review Copy: eARC provided by publisher Availability: Available now Summary: Juliana Zhao is absolutely certain of a few things:

1. She is the world’s foremost expert on love.

2. She is going to win the nationally renowned Asian Americans in Business Competition.

When Juliana is unceremoniously dropped by her partner and she’s forced to pair with her nonconformist and annoying frenemy, Garrett Tsai, everything seems less clear. Their joint dating advice column must be good enough to win and secure bragging rights within her small Taiwanese American community, where her family’s reputation has been in the pits since her older sister was disowned a few years prior. Juliana always thought prestige mattered above all else. But as she argues with Garrett over how to best solve everyone else’s love problems and faces failure for the first time, she starts to see fractures in this privileged, sheltered worldview. With the competition heating up, Juliana must reckon with the sacrifices she’s made to be a perfect daughter—and whether winning is something she even wants anymore.

Review: [Note: ASKING FOR A FRIEND includes several difficult familial issues, including parental death, disowning a child for a pregnancy out of wedlock, parents who probably ought to get divorced but don’t because of social expectations, conflicts between parents and children over school/career expectations, and additional threats of being disowned.]

It’s always a delight when you get a romance that hits all the right notes for you. ASKING FOR A FRIEND is one of those for me, thanks to a mix of a couple with real conflicts, family and community strife, and lovely moments of genuine connection. Juliana and Garrett are engaging characters in their own rights, and their reunion after an abrupt end of their childhood friendship had me rooting for them both. (Yes, even when they fought!) Their optimistic vs cynical takes on romance in their joint dating advice column were a lot of fun, too.

There is a lot going on in ASKING FOR A FRIEND beyond the central romance, but author Kara H.L. Chen interweaves the various subplots skillfully so that even though some things aren’t neatly wrapped up in a bow at the end (or even happily), nothing feels like it was abandoned midway through. I really enjoyed how much development characters outside the main couple got, particularly Juliana’s parents (even though her father has been dead for several years—no small feat!). Juliana and Garrett’s Taiwanese American community also felt well-explored and lived-in thanks to the interpersonal and intracommunity conflicts that played out in different ways throughout the book.

I appreciated that Juliana’s subplots with her family weren’t always resolved in ways that I initially assumed they would be. Grief, social expectations, and your parents’ dreams for you can complicate your view of yourself and your future. Juliana had to confront a lot of painful parts of herself in ASKING FOR A FRIEND, and her journey in establishing her own values and dreams was all the stronger for it. Even when she made what I felt were frustrating decisions, I understood why she chose the way she did and was ultimately pleased by where her character ended up. I also enjoyed Garret’s character arc and position in the story as one of the people who helped Juliana confront her own beliefs about the world as well as her role and future in it.

Recommendation: Get it now if you’re looking for a contemporary romance to wrap up the summer. ASKING FOR A FRIEND has a heartfelt romance at its center, which is complicated by conflicts between our romantic leads and within their families and community. There are a lot of great things going on in this book, and I’m looking forward to whatever author Kara H.L. Chen comes out with next.

Extras: Author Corner| Interview with Kara H.L. Chen

Q&A: Kara H.L. Chen, Author of ‘Asking for a Friend’

Living In Between, a guest post by Kara H. L. Chen

[absolutely-normal-about-x]

Can you tell me about this fabled Zelda/Megaman crossover? I am very curious because there's not a lot out there

Ah hahahah that Au, funny enough I was working on that a while back never really showed it to anyone cause of idk. But I maybe I can dump a bit about it haha. :)

So it obviously set BOTW universe cause it’s basically where I have the most freedom/flexibility with it *Looks at the Shekath tech and the Zonai*

It’s meant to be a loose adaptation of the story of BOTW but with X characters living in that world and what their Races would be so *Whips out le list*

An important note I tried to keep their origins from their main canon close but with my own personal flare into it (you can piece things together lmao)

X- “Hylian” (Cause he ain’t really a Hylian lmao) has a unique connection to the Zonai. Was found by Cain, an archaeologist that studies ancient Sheikah tech and the history of Hyrule. While he was researching the lost ruins. But discovers a shrine (Basically proto Shrine of resurrection). Accidentally awakens him from his unknown slumber with no memories of his past, but only a letter of his old name. Is taken in as his adopted grandson, both of them live in Hateno Village.

Hes still a pacifistic sweetheart, that has a great passion for science and history (Becoming Purah’s apprentice), but also an impressive mechanic as he was able to reverse engineer sheikah technology (and by extension eventually Zonai) to create his gadgets, he wanted to protect innocent people from threats okay-. The buster was very much in its prototype phase (that becomes completed into the Zonai Buster in TOTK) as he works on it throughout his journey across hyrule.

He’s also shown to be somewhat abnormal for a Hylian, despite his smaller chubby size he is shown to be and have strange dark blue-ish spots around skin, and horns slightly protruding out from his head and a strange symbol on his forehead

Zero: A half Gerudo, half Dweller (Basically a chimera created by a Wily) a powerful swords man. That roams the gerudo dessert after being discovered/Awakened by the Yiga Clan (and if you know how Zero first acted in prior joining the hunters you know you know). Roamed the Gerudo dessert for god knows long and being pacified/watched over by the Gerudo tribe. Who’s trying to find someone important to him from the vivid memories that he holds on.

“Something completely unnatural and yet…natural the embodiment of destruction that choose to be a hero”

Are you may know X and Zero were the proto Zelda and Link from 10,000 years ago (After the sealing way their backstories are be eh entwined ur honor) so the basic g

Axl: Korok (LET ME COOK LET ME COOK OKAY?!) we know that Korok’s used to be low key shapeshifters and such. He rediscovers that lost ability so he can interact with Hylians and leave Deku Forest to learn more of the world. So I want o lean into that as a bonus he tries to recover the masks (ya know the ones Majoras Mask :3). It’s also like funnier to see a smoll Korok being capable of kicking butt and still being a deadly sharpshooter.

Marty- Zora (she’s from a different Zora’s Domain like Yoma, she’s a shark Zora) coming from a far off Sea, she ended up on Hyrule during her travels accidentally gets tangled up in the mess but goes along with it for the thrills. But also to help out the people the hyrule (she’s the first companion that X gains)

Marino- Sheikah, left her village to pursue as a thief, def has beef with the Yiga. Basically stealing what the they stole from her people. Low key

Massimo- Goron, THE BIGGEST SOFTIE, but also the soft spoken and timid (Yunboo’s big brother maybe??)

Cinnamon- Rito a Dove cause she has that vibe yo- but still she’ll be the cutest Dove man. Also probably the first Rito to gain healing magic called Gentle Winds.

So basically the plot

“X and his grandfather were living peacefully in their village of Hateno, working in his grandfather’s workshop and small library. But not all things are well as X is haunted by nightmares of a forgotten past and calls for help from an unknown girl calling out to someone to defeat “The calamity” (Hi Zelda). The increase onslaught of monsters were starting to be a concern him as he goes off to a journey, along the way he meets friends and goes alike and soon discovers buried secrets that lay deep in the Ruins of Hyrule”

Link’s there too since the story takes place roughly around the first BOTW. But Events are separate from one another since Zonai stuff and the Depths is sorta of a bigger focus!

That’s what I can say for now it’s kinda some brain storming stuff but it’s fun ya know-

[yurimother]

LGBTQ Manga Review - I Can't Believe I Slept With You Volumes 2 & 3

ALMOST the perfect queer, subtle, and sensual Yuri romance

I love subtility. The hidden motives driving characters' actions, the meticulous dissection readers perform on every interaction and line of dialogue, the satisfying climax where all the elements build up and come together in one immaculate narrative web that ties everything up in a massive revelation, and everything else that is the antithesis of that scene in every isekai where they explain the adventure guild ranking system. Its, therefore, a shame that I think Yuri, in general, needs to give subtility a rest for a good few decades after spending the better part of the last century reveling in implied romance and sexuality to the point where the most common question about any particular series is along the lines of "is this really Yuri or just bait." So, I am all in favor of sincere expressions of lesbian identity and love between women. However, I am even more delighted by the rare story that can both incorporate subtext and be unequivocally queer. That is what Miyaka Miyahara's I Can't Believe I Slept With You! almost accomplishes.

I previously reviewed the first volume of the ecchi comedy series and found that, despite an initially extremely skeevy premise that appears to be a landlord sleeping with her tenant who cannot afford rent, it turned out to be a far more profound story about two women helping each other overcome their demons and get more out of life. Throughout the manga, steadily more details about that first stimulating encounter and our characters, the excitable but spacy Chiyo and the more cynical and aloof Landlady (whose name the manga eventually reveals).

Volumes two and three continue this pattern while slowly driving the two women closer together. Miyahara frequently employs small, everyday moments to show the character's effect, like Landlady strutting around their apartment missing Chiyo or watching YouTube videos to learn cooking and makeup for her to demonstrate attachment. At other times, more charged encounters result from the "favors" Landlady and Chiyo partake in to pay off the tenant's debt. While these often begin as more humdrum activities like going to watch the stars or giving a friendly head pat, they quickly escalate as one or the other pushes them towards more sensual activities that test the boundaries of their sexualities and feelings for each other, like a sapphic game of chicken.

I really enjoy these two together just as much as I do individually. The relationship between both women feels natural and, although exaggerated, realistic. I recall doing similar activities with my friends and crushes in my youth, and by the time Chiyo realized her true feelings for her landlady, I believed them, and they came across as genuine. Therefore, the inevitable resulting relationship and more physical aspect of the relationship felt earned and like a reward for both women who got to grow into their unlikely romance and commit to making it work despite their differences and burdens.

The other most successful aspect of I Can't Believe I Slept With You! is its characters' more nuanced story and history. Throughout the series, multiple hints and allusions to previous events and surreptitious circumstances drive their actions and relationship. While the first volume ended with a revelation about what actually happened that first night, there is more to that story and, indeed, to their relationship prior that we become privy to as the series closes. Miyahara's ability to hinge the manga on their one-night stand and continuously recontextualize it and the women's feelings about it by slowly hinting at subsequently unveiling new details is fantastic.

Furthermore, the characters' actions, particularly those of Landlady, are similarly well plotted. Throughout the manga, there are several references to traumatic events of her past, likely to do with her family, which colors her interactions with Chiyo. As she explains, she initially tried to push Chiyo away, which I have a hard time believing, considering that they slept together during one of their first encounters. Landlady is clearly suffering from internalized homophobia, which is very well done. We see that she is open about her sexuality, even at one point confessing that she is a "lesbian" (yay, a Yuri manga that uses the word!) but doing so in an "I bet that disgusts you, doesn't" it" way.

Landlady's internalized homophobia also explains her resistance to Chiyo's advances and the guilt she feels over both taking advantage of Chiyo and sleeping with her and for, in her mind, dragging the older woman, who identifies as straight for most of the series, into a relationship with other people. Landlady's failures to push Chiyo away compound this guilt, as, despite her best efforts, Landlady is powerfully attracted to her. She cannot help but participate in more suggestive and romantic interactions.

Unfortunately, Landlady's journey also gives way to the series' greatest flaw; some mild spoilers here; we never learn about the event that traumatized her. We can surmise what happened: She undoubtedly fell out with her family over her sexuality. However, the manga continuously alludes that there was one singular occurrence, one tipping point that was the catalysis of both her demeanor and her fateful meeting with Chiyo, during which, in anger, she declares, "then have sex with me" (which even if said in the depths of misery is still a bizarre and uncomfortable line). A crucial detail, the final reveal that would bring their story full circle, was left missing. While I would excuse or even praise the omission in other works, here, it is a stark, gaping void in the story.

I cannot fathom the reason for the elision. Miyahara demonstrates ridged and thoughtful detail in her characters, so I don't believe for a second that nothing was written or at least in the author's mind about the event. Furthermore, the series has excellent pacing, with the landlady gradually growing closer with Chiyo and the latter woman going on her own wonderful arc discovering her sexuality and accepting that it was okay to be in love with a woman, so I do not believe that the series ran out of time to tell the story. Slept With You is far to well-paced not to have been crafted to fit a specific length. As Miyahara admits in an afterword, they thought about revealing the truth but decided that it is okay for Chiyo to be the only person who knows. The problem is Miyahara already invited us into the most intimate parts of the women's relationship. There are plenty of panels full of thigh and cleavage shots to show that. And, given that their relationship hinges on Landlady crying on the bridge that night. So, despite our involvement in their story, readers are deprived of that detail, and the manga is worse off.

This one admittedly massive detail aside, I liked I Can't Believe I Selpt With You! The characters are lovely and make an excellent, believable couple. They both have a gleeful attitude towards their love and profound yet simple queer experiences falling into it. There are moments, both big and small, that demonstrate the growth both experience and their excitement about each other. My personal favorites are Chiyo realizing she need not explain that her lover is a woman any more than she would describe her partner's gender if she were with a man, her going to her sage lesbian neighbor for advice, and Landlady marking extra spaces off their contract so they can end it and be girlfriends.

Much of what I said in my initial review holds. It is a deep loving story with excellent artwork, although the Landlady's design is too juvenile. Suppose readers can overlook the one unsatisfactory aspect of its ending and clear the admittedly high bar of entry caused by its initial setup and more erogenous content, which only feels earned towards the end of the final volume. In that case, they will experience a beautiful and endearing Yuri. I come away from I Can't Believe I Slept With You feeling delighted by its queerness and characters and warmed by their genuine love, and that is all I can ever ask for in a manga.

Ratings: Story – 7 Characters – 8 Art – 7 LGBTQ – 8 Sexual Content – 9 Final – 8

Check out I Can't Believe I Slept with You! digitally and in paperback today: https://amzn.to/3Z44W9m

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

Some of this review is written using review copies provided by Seven Seas Entertainment. Special thanks to translator Faye Cozy and the rest of the team at Seven Seas, including Dawn Davis, Danya Shevchenko, H. Qi, Alyssa Honsowetz, Krista Grandy, and Shanti Whitesides for their work on this manga.

This review is made possible by Avery Riehl and the rest of the YuriMother Patrons. Help support LGBTQ+ media reviews, news, and analysis by checking out the YuriMother Patreon page today.

[lifblogs]

Feedback Fest 2024!

1. Intersections by Caedus501

Fandom: Star Wars: Rogue One Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Pairing: Cassian Andor/Jyn Erso Word Count: 138,967 Works: 6 WARNINGS: Graphic Depictions of Violence Dawn of Fate Summary: Jyn is a slicer making a living in the fringes of space. Cassian is a Rebel spy doing what he can to give the Rebellion an edge in the ongoing war. The two unknowingly meet each other a couple years before the events of Rogue One and are forced to rely on one another to evade the Empire. Running With the Rebel Summary: Jyn Erso is now making her living smuggling contraband throughout the galaxy. Cassian Andor is undercover in the Imperial Navy. When Jyn is asked to help an Imperial Lieutenant who may be more than he appears to steal coveted resources from the Empire, she is given no choice but to agree to lend her skills to the heist. A pre-Rogue One story. Against the Odds Summary: Jyn Erso is trying to stay one step ahead of everyone trying to find her by moving from planet to planet. Cassian Andor trying to track down not only Jyn and Galen Erso, but a weapon with terrifying potential. Based on a tip, the two meet just once more before the events of Rogue One shape both their destinies and the future of the Rebellion. Choices and Consequences Summary: A moment during the action of Rogue One that explores how events might have unfolded if Jyn and Cassian had indeed known each other prior to being forced together for a mission to Jedha. The Effects of Trust Summary: Jyn has a sudden realization that changes everything. Cassian decides to trust the woman fighting beside him and together, backed by a small band of Rebel soldiers, they take on the Citadel Tower on Scarif. Everything in its Place Summary: Jyn and Cassian must rely on one another to escape the Empire and other dangers in the wake of the Battle of Scarif. WHY I LOVE IT: I love this for the graphic depictions of violence. This takes characters I love and gets into the nitty gritty of their lives before their movie in a way that feels so canon. It’s like further experiencing the side of Star Wars we saw in Rogue One, and even what we saw in Andor before Andor was ever thought of. And on top of that I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that this turned into a fix-it fic where Jyn and Cassian live. If I remember correctly the author was surprised too. This is such a thrilling story with so many stakes. There aren’t any chapters with each part, and yes, some are almost novel length, but this writer makes it easy to keep scrolling and reading. It’s like a gritty spy/action movie where the romantic leads keep dancing around each other.

2. Infernal Fascination by evilwriter37 @evilwriter37

Fandom: How to Train Your Dragon/Race to the Edge Rating: Explicit Pairings: Hiccup Haddock/Astrid Hofferson, Dagur the Deranged/Hiccup Haddock, Heather/Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup Haddock/OC, Hiccup Haddock/Heather/Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup Haddock/Fishlegs Ingerman, Hiccup Haddock/Fishlegs Ingerman/Astrid Hofferson, Past Dagur the Deranged/Heather, Hiccup Haddock/Viggo Grimborn Rating: Explicit Word Count: 470,811 Chapters: 120 WARNINGS: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Rape/Non-con, Incest Summary: Takes place after the events of "Maces and Talons." Hiccup is captured by Dagur the Deranged, who wants nothing more than to call the Dragon Rider his own. This reignites the war between Berk and the Berserkers, while the war with Viggo Grimborn and his Dragon Hunters is only just starting. Iconic beginning author's note: "My hand slipped." WHY I LOVE IT: What’s not to love? Okay, I mean if you don’t like the warnings, don’t read. So now we’re past that, and I repeat: what’s not to love? I am here for the Game of Thrones version of How to Train Your Dragon (but better), okay? I need that Dagur that’s basically canon and would win in a staring contest against Ramsay fucking Bolton. Give me the violence, give me the gore, give me the angst. This fic can be described in a few words: epic, and messed up. So basically, I’m in love. Everyone is written so well, nothing’s out of character! (Unless you skip to, I don’t know, chapter 80, and check in on how Hiccup’s doing then because, well… That’s barely Hiccup anymore!) That’s right! This man gets broken. And not just instantly. This fic is in it for the long haul. This is a breaking that takes time, and it actually breaks the readers too. (Please never ask me about the OC Bryn. She’s wonderful. It’ll always be too soon.) Well-written, well-plotted, put together by a mad freakin’ genius. This fic will change your life, and guess what? The ending is happy. *mic drop*

3. Red Hot Chili Professors by whelvenwings

Fandom: Supernatural Rating: General Audiences Pairing: Castiel/Dean Winchester Word Count: 25,297 Chapters: 10 WARNINGS: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: Dean's doing fine. He's always late for work, he's not taking care of himself, and he isn't planning on changing that - but seriously, he's fine. Except for one thing: someone's brought back the chili pepper rating system for all of the professors on campus, and Dean isn't rated the hottest. It's Castiel Novak, the guy who's always walking around in terrible sweater vests, who's got the full ten chilis - and that's something Dean does plan to change. WHY I LOVE IT: I haven't read this in a bit, but I remember the absolute joy this brought to me. Dean's POV is so silly in the beginning that I was laughing out loud at 5 in the morning. I love seeing how he and Cas get together in this, and the rating system is such an amusing sort of backdrop for all of this, and it and Cas being a bit of the antagonist is fantastic. Also, Cas in sweater vests. Need I say more? An absolutely enjoyable read. I read it all in one go, and I'll do it again!

4. Whitechapel by BeesAreAwesome

Fandom: Supernatural Rating: Mature Pairing: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Amelia Richardson/Sam Winchester Word Count: 46,051 Chapters: 8 WARNINGS: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Summary: Chaos reigns in the streets DI Winchester has sworn to protect. A series of murders have arisen out of the poverty and desperation of the East End slums, and it is his task to hunt the man responsible. His brother Samuel, a notable psychiatrist at Bedlam Hospital, and Castiel, the precinct's surgeon, are always at his side to lend a hand. Between Dean's altruism, Castiel's cleverness, and Sam's attention to detail, they're certain they can catch the killer at large. But each man has his own twisting darkness within him. Tension rises quickly as they spiral out of control and the body count continues to rise. No one can be truly certain that each man is innocent, nor whom they can trust. WHY I LOVE IT: This story really flings you into the setting of 1800s London. There's no doubt you're there. From the description, to the colloquialisms, the clothing, the mindsets and culture—you're there, no questions asked. I didn't realize I'd love a Supernatural AU like this, but I couldn't stop reading! I love how dark and gritty it is, I love the twists, I love just how dramatic it all gets. This is a fic worth reading, and then re-reaading.

5. In Me by paintitb1ack

Fandom: Supernatural Rating: Explicit Pairing: Lucifer/Sam Winchester, Non-consensual Pairings (the fic isn't tagged like this, but I want to be accurate) Word Count: 38,810 Works: 3 WARNINGS: Rape/Non-con, Graphic Depictions of Violence Things Unseen Summary: So, Sam is being plagued by Lucifer. Again. And why write a fix-it fic when we could write something far more devastating? (Setting: Post "Into the Mystic") Living Large Summary: Lucifer!Cas has transported himself and Sam Winchester topside. The archangel is furious with Sam's physical attacks and refusal to say "yes" so, with his boy's greatest fears in mind, he prepares to give him absolute hell. Meanwhile, Dean switches gears from locating Amara to finding Sam. Drafted Summary: Broken, Sam Winchester allows Lucifer to possess him. The archangel is absolutely delighted, and decides to spend as much time as possible wreaking havoc among humans. Back at the bunker and expecting the search to be difficult, Dean reluctantly teams up with Cas and Crowley to hunt Sam Down. Fortunately (and unfortunately), he is wrong. Sam is very easy to spot, what with his face being plastered all over the news after a few violent escapades. Lucifer and Sam end up on the run with not only Dean, Cas, and Crowley on their tails, but the police as well. If only the archangel hadn't been so keen on getting himself on the FBI's Most Wanted List. WHY I LOVE IT: So this series has been abandoned, and I don't think this writer writes at all anymore (I just hope they're okay!), but I think this is still worth getting into. Every chapter is such a rush. They fly by. They're so messed up. Every chapter is shocking, and devilishly (haha) fun. This was one of the first Sam and Lucifer fics I read, and I am so glad I found it in the first place.

6. Lionheart by paintitb1ack

Fandom: Supernatural Rating: Explicit Pairing: Lucifer/Sam Winchester, Non-consensual Pairings (again, not how it's tagged, but this is true to the story) Word Count: 65,072 Works: 2 WARNINGS: Rape/Non-con, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Consequences Summary: So Crowley decided to imprison an archangel in his basement. I think you know what happens next. The Arsonist Summary: Sam and Lucifer are dead, and Dean bringing the former back could mean bringing the latter back as well. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, Dean decides that he doesn't care. But when Sam is resurrected, it's clear that something is wrong with him. Something happened while he was dead, something that changed him into someone who is nearly as difficult to deal with as Lucifer. Now with two big problems on their hands, Dean, Cas, and a few of their friends (and enemies) must try to find a way to set it all right. WHY I LOVE IT: This right here is on my list of favorite Sam/Lucifer fics. I adore it. It is so sick, and twisted, and in the best way. The plot progression is fantastic. I love how everyone's flaws are being used against them, or is driving different parts of the narrative. Again, unfortunately, this one is also unfinished, but I remember having the absolute time of my life reading this. Wherever the author is, I hope they're okay, and I hope they know that their fics are still loved. This was a bit like a welcome into the fandom for me, along with the series above this one. I think I'll cherish them in all their dark glory, always.

7. Not So Stoic by evilwriter37 @evilwriter37

Fandom: How to Train Your Dragon/Race to the Edge Rating: Explicit Pairing: Viggo Grimborn/Hiccup Haddock, Viggo Grimborn/Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup Haddock/Astrid Hofferson Word Count: 181,184 Chapters: 54 WARNINGS: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Rape/Non-con Summary: Hiccup is on Berk recovering from drowning, and Viggo uses the sleep-deprivation caused from the Midnight Sun to attack. Without help from the Dragon Riders and with Hiccup still weak, Berk is taken. Upon their attempted rescue, some of the Dragon Riders are captured, giving Viggo more pieces to his game of thrones, heirs, and suffering. WHY I LOVE IT: Another masterpiece from my brother! More grimdark How to Train Your Dragon/Race to the Edge for all those who want it! The often-implied darkness in the show is fully used in this story, turning it into something even more dark, graphic, adult, and incredibly emotional. I cried so many times reading this, I believe. There is one chapter that still haunts me to this day. I probably think about it once a week. After I read it my first thought was, "GRRM wishes!" If you want broken characters, love persevering, angst, and feeling what it'd be like to be in this fantasy setting under a conqueror, then this is the fic for you! Often, it is not just the great writing of the villain that brings this piece together, but the great writing of our heroes as well. You will not be stoic reading this.

8. A Thousand Lives by pretchatta

Fandom: Star Wars: Rebels Rating: Mature Pairing: Kanan Jarrus/Hera Syndulla Word Count: 64,725 Chapters: 18 WARNINGS: Graphic Depictions of Violence Summary: A thousand lives; a thousand loves; two souls. They always find each other, lifetime after lifetime, until they start to remember their past lives in dreams that fade as soon as they wake. They are soulmates in every sense. Kanan is an Inquisitor, working with the ISB to capture a Force-sensitive boy who is being kept out of his reach by a troublesome rebel cell. They're infuriating; every time he gets near the boy there's something about the cell's leader that always knocks him off-balance. It's almost like she's... familiar, somehow. Hera is a fighter, working with the mysterious Fulcrum to protect the newest member of her crew from the dark servant of the Empire who hunts them. He's relentless, but every time he finds them there's something she can't quite place about him. It's almost like he's... wrong, somehow. The hunt is on, but it can only last so long. The Ghost crew will need to find help from across the galaxy to stay ahead of the Inquisitor but Kanan has a few tricks of his own. WHY I LOVE IT: I will be honest that for some reason I procrastinated reading this fic, but once I truly started I stayed up all night reading it. It occupied so much of my time until I was done. It had a grip on me that just wouldn't let up. If you're looking to lose sleep, this is the fic for you! In all seriousness, I love the implication that in every universe, no matter what, Kanan and Hera will be together. I adore that each chapter has an epigraph, mostly of other fics. So not only is there a look into a different universe, a tone to set each chapter, but it is a celebration of fandom by connecting it to other writing. I love that. I love that this is a story that loves stories. It's exciting, and the enemies-to-lovers "will they, won't they" is great. Like, we know they're going to be together. The other universes say so, but that doesn't mean finding out how isn't an interesting read! Also, haven't we all fantasized about evil Kanan? I mean, come on. I think Star Wars thrives when it comes to evil AUs, and this one's no different.

9. Undercover by Loth-Cat (Starbird)

Fandom: Star Wars: Rebels Rating: Mature Pairing: Ezra Bridger/Sabine Wren Word Count: 24,996 Chapters: 12 WARNINGS: No Archive Warnings Apply Summary: To preserve their cover on an Imperial planet, Sabine and Ezra have to put themselves in a very awkward situation. Dealing with it afterward, though, is much, much worse. WHY I LOVE IT: Do you like spies and secret missions and rebellions? Do you like fake dating? Do you like undercover missions where they can hardly break character for fear of being discovered? Throw in some romance, and then this is for you. I will admit I'm not caught up, but when I discovered this fic I ate it up. I loved it so much it inspired me to even write a one-shot (but that's another story [pun not intended]). I adore Ezra and Sabine, and I adore Sabezra. Seeing them put into this situation is fantastic. I also love that they are being treated as adults who can hold their own against the Empire. This one is a bit of a slow-burn, and it's really perfect because it just fits Sabezra so well here. After all, it took a bit for Ezra’s crush in canon to fade, and then turn into something deeper. I think this author really understands these characters, and they are so kind too! (Yes, we've spoken, and I love them, ngl.) Perfect fic. No notes.

10. Post-Vacuum Calamity written by sp8ce @rockstarsatan

Fandom: Supernatural Rating: Mature Pairing: Lucifer/Sam Winchester, Non-consensual Pairing Word Count: 34,458 Works: 7 WARNINGS: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings It'll Last Longer Summary: While vessel hopping after Vince Vincente, Lucifer calls Sam up as he realizes that, on top of being a way to torment Sam, threatening violence against others is more leverage against Sam now that they're both out of the Cage. Sam receives a call from Lucifer. He's not doing so well. On Your Marks Summary: Lucifer continues to threaten violence against others as a means of controlling Sam. Sam's still not doing so well. Second Skin Summary: Lucifer frames manipulating Sam through threats of violence as a win and continues to use that leverage as a way to control Sam. Sam is trapped with no power and little autonomy trying to make sure he can successfully keep Lucifer placated. Down a Stream: Gravity Summary: Scared of what Lucifer will do if he declines, Sam meets up with Lucifer as instructed. Utilitarian (If It...) Summary: Sam feels culpable regarding the abuse Lucifer is putting him through. Into The Fossilised Liquid Sunset Summary: Sam comes to a realization and shatters the existing dynamic that Lucifer has cultivated. Hanging From A Telephone Wire Summary: What Lucifer makes Sam do to himself gets increasingly violent. WHY I LOVE IT: I remember reading this series right as it started, and then I unfortunately didn't keep up with it. When I tried coming up with 10 fics to share with you today and came up short I thought of this one, remembering how good it was, and how much fun I had with it (evil fun, mind you), so I found the series, and binged it in less than 24 hours. I was dying to have this on this list, to have this writer on this list. One of my favorite Sam and Lucifer fics to date! It is messed up in a way that I personally couldn't have come up with, and if you have read any of my works, then you know that's saying something. What this writer also adds to the Sam and Lucifer relationship is a poetic way of describing things. I know this writer (heck, my friend, they're my friend) wants to be a song writer, and it's evident in the descriptions of how Sam feels. Somehow that just makes things so visceral. Not going to lie, it is hard to get me to feel disgust while reading Sam and Lucifer because usually I'm over there laughing maniacally or something, but this series does it! And of course, I love it. I love how Sam is the only POV character as well. It really makes you feel stuck in his head, stuck with Lucifer, just like he is. It makes you wonder what the other characters are thinking and doing, but in such a way that you recognize that world has fallen away for Sam and is no longer important. Lucifer is. I also love how in this modern fic writing age that there isn't any therapy kind of talk or anything. Sam twists and twists his own identity in so many ways that the reader will know are wrong and harmful, but Sam doesn't. Sam believes all of it, and you have to sit there, and read this pain. It is enjoyable in a way that's hard to describe. I do think one of my comments mentioned I was over there frothing at the mouth. This is such a quick read too despite being a novella, so far. What a great series!

Honorable Mention

Beneath by ninepen

Fandom: MCU, Thor Rating: Teen Pairing: Some Thor/Jane Foster, and some Loki/Jane Foster Word Count: 1,807,000 Chapters: 230 Summary: Loki sits in a prison cell and waits to hear his fate. If luck turns his way, that fate could provide him with another opportunity to finally earn the respect, admiration, and power he covets. He doesn't dare dream he could return to Midgard. There he's met a number of people of interest... but there is only one he's vowed to visit. If Loki fails again, does another abyss await him? WHY I LOVE IT: To start off, this is an honorable mention because it's not on AO3. Unfortunately it's on ff.net. Yeah, yeah, I know, but this is one of the greatest fanfics I have ever read, and probably one of the greatest writing undertakings in the MCU, or fanfic community at large. It's detailed and expansive, reminiscent of the writing styles of the massive 14-book fantasy series The Wheel of Time. I have been reading this since 2012, though I haven't read it and caught up lately (yes, as far as I know, this is still going). The attention to detail is in everything, from characters, and clothing, and setting, to science and research. As a physics nerd, I'm incredibly impressed. Loki and Jane have an enemies-to...something slow burn in this, and it lets us see Loki in such an intricate light; the intricate light that he deserves. Every second in this story it is easy to picture Tom Hiddleston doing these actions and saying these lines. I also love Thor in this. This writer understands Thor. He's smart, just not Loki-smart, but really, who is? Thor leads Asgard in a war against most of the 9 realms. That's right, there is a massive war in this. This is like reading a 5-star published sci-fi/fantasy series. Nothing is left off, nothing is veered away from. This fic is surely one of the greatest of all time.

[meanscarletdeceiver]

When did Edward get his branch line? My friend says 1923. I saw somewhere that it was 1945, it might have even been here on your blog. What is canon? 

- A Former Anon

Welcome to non-lurkerdom, Former Anon! Pull up a chair. Get yourself a profile pic. Stay a while.

*strokes chin philosophically* What is canon, indeed...

First, let's stipulate that we're talking RWS. I don't actually think TVS contradicts anything I have to say here but its weird-ass chronology certainly doesn't help so let's pretty much set it aside.

Second: you might be thinking of a time way back—like, way back—when I cited 1948. That was what TTTE Wiki said in 2020, and I hadn't read all of RWS in order so I trusted it. However, I don't think there was ever any canon basis for this date specifically—and I think the Wiki editors realized it too, since that fact has long since been scrubbed from the site. It's still not a bad choice, though; just way too specific to be called canon.

Third, and tl;dr: As far as I can tell, you could say anywhere between... 1923 and 1965 and still be canon-compliant?? Yeah, that's right, a spread of forty-plus years. It's actually kind of incredible to me that the window is that wide open but there you are.

Now, it is extremely common for fanworks to have Edward "get his branch line" in the early 1920s, like after TTRE or TTTE. But I don't think that's a good reading. Technically it's not incorrect but it doesn't harmonize well with what we see him doing in canon throughout the FC1 era—which, again and again and again, is main line work.

The confusion here, I think, is that as early as Thomas the Tank Engine (set 1925) Wellsworth is referred to "Edward's station" (and in this book Edward even refers to it as "home").

But! All these references, from here and throughout the next 10+ books in the series, only mean for sure that Edward is resident shunter/banker there. We don't actually have a clear reference to "Edward's branch line" until Main Line Engines (1965).

Yeah, you can argue this is splitting hairs I guess? But, the thing is, Edward as a sort of main line utility/rescue engine as well as Wellsworth station pilot makes far better sense of what the heck he's doing in the FC1-era stories. During all this time, we don't even have a confirmed sighting of him on the Brendam branch. No, not even throughout all the Edward the Blue Engine (1952) stories. (Personally I imagine his accident in "Cows" took place on the branch but, fact is, it's entirely ambiguous.) A non-exhaustive list of what we do see him doing in the FC1 era includes: "odd jobs" at the Big Station, filling in for Henry when Henry fails on his passenger train, picking up goods at Tidmouth harbour, dropping whatever the hell he usually does to help out in the aftermath of the big engines' strike, being on hand at what Rev. Awdry identified as Vicarstown to shunt Gordon prior to the Ditch Incident, etc., etc.

The first time he's confirmed to ever set a wheel on the branch line is when we find that he's timetabled on the evening Tidmouth-Brendam "fast" in MLE. Which, as mentioned, is actually the same book we find out that "Edward's branch line" is, like, a Thing. So, a reading that makes the answer to your question "1964/5, right before Awdry started writing, when Edward and BoCo were assigned to manage the line together" is actually perfectly plausible (*small voice* and kinda cute. This would also mean that, even as BoCo is being trialled, the enthusiasts' train was also part of a trial period to decide whether Edward should be in charge of the line's passenger work... and that's certainly a Take. an unprecedented Take i believe, but a valid one.)

For my money, though, the most plausible year is 1952. After the "Old Iron" overhaul.

Lemme end with what I think is the most probable timeline for Edward's Sodor career. I'm not gonna break out all my canon citations coz this post is already ungodly long for such a simple ask... but feel free to ask for the receipts for anything in this timeline:

1915-1920 — pretty much the main line engine. especially as the other wartime loans are sent home. probably in charge of the express (which existed in a lighter and probably less tightly-timed form than we know it from Gordon's day).

1921-1922 — as the railway manages to acquire a motley collection of big, new, powerful, and extremely volatile engines—largely troubled prototypes—Edward is knocked down the roster to eventually being "the spare." since "these big engines" are "always going wrong," especially during this crazy period, that actually keeps him plenty busy until, well... things start to settle down. FC1 clearly doesn't feel the need to reassign Edward right away (anticipating, correctly, more instances of Confusion and Delay at Vicarstown, where it's nice to be able to shout "Find another engine!" and not have the answer be "... there's only Thomas??"). but before he does Edward turns on the puppy dog eyes and his new driver proves that Ed could be really valuable as station pilot at Wellsworth...

1923-WWII — Edward is based at Wellsworth to manage the depot, shuttle some goods to and from Tidmouth, and bank trains as needed. i'm gonna guess that he's often tapped at crazy hours when FC1 has what i am sure were his roughly-biannual clandestine "business meetings" where he either obtains or deploys blackmail in order to drive his devilish bargains. but Edward also remains a main line pinch-hitter, and does odd jobs all over the place until...

WWII — sometime during or after the war, another engine replaces Edward on banking duties (the goods trains at the time having gotten significantly heavier). Edward is assigned a couple of main line "Locals" each day while still fulfilling the rest of his old utility role

1948 — the clay pits at Brendam are opened. Edward makes a lot of the deliveries required for them to set up shop. he also meets Bill and Ben when they arrive. his ability to keep the new engines (roughly) in line is a powerful pull factor in getting him down the branch line more often, though his role doesn't officially change yet.

1952 — post-overhaul, Edward is assigned to the morning and evening Tidmouth-Brendam fast trains. so from here on he's on the branch line daily and thus, given his long experience at Brendam and especially at Wellsworth, is considered to be in charge of the line

1959 — despite his new role as a branch line engine, Edward is not completely relieved of all his main line utility work (in particular, please take note of Edward carting Rheneas around, the type of job to soon become very Caledonian-coded) until both Donald and Douglas are purchased. this frees Edward up to take on more branch line goods

1965 — BoCo is acquired and takes over Edward's share of the branch line goods work, which leaves Edward free for the ever-increasing special trains (stuff like excursions or wedding trains or other charters, which are frequent during the summer and holiday seasons). of course, while both are pretty happy with their usual jobs (the magazines established that BoCo doesn't really care for passenger work, and i find that harmonizes well with his appearances in canon/basis history so i accept it as canon) they do swap timetables sometimes for a change of pace

aaaand then we get to the Christopher Awdry era, where Nothing Ever Changes, and the TVS era, where Time is Meaningless, so i suppose that's that forever. cheers! (she said, with slight sarcasm)

[eclipsecrowned]

hc: evi & the lopen, perhaps.. // @nectaric

For some overlap with my chosen FC, I actually write Evi as not being wholly Riran! She has a Shin grandfather hidden back on the family tree. She has never brought this up since fleeing East, because she doesn't need to deal with that while already handling Alethi xenophobia. Was mildly afraid that her children would give it away and be crem-sized --

Evi is a creative! I don't know if she registers herself as such, but she does have some artistic pursuits. She picked up a knack for storytelling when she was traveling, which we later see her carry on with Ren. She also likes to paint, but prefers landscapes to portrait work. She sees storytelling as something collaborative with her audience, and her painting as collaboration with the earth and the forces that occupy it. She fears describing it as 'art' properly somehow solemnizes acts she takes plain joy in.

She dealt with depression on and off throughout her life. From fleeing her homeland in the night to the very end of her story, she's been dealt a hard hand the whole way through. Evi has her own personal fixes for when she feels herself going 'away,' long walks, time with her boys when she can handle it, her hobbies, but sometimes it still presses against the surface of her stillwater facade. It spiked most noticeably after her eldest was born, as the one two punch of 'my son will never know my half of his heritage' and 'my husband is leaving me alone again,' to a point she struggled to function and others took note.

Evi truly wanted a daughter, someone to be gentle to, someone the ways of war and conquest could not take from her. Evi never would have forgiven herself if she had given birth to a daughter. She never wanted to bring anyone into the back-biting society that made her feel so small, to raise her treasure to hide her hand and her desires and her truths.

Ialai lied. Evi was not some wanton, exotic scandal waiting to swallow her betrothed whole. However, she did think the safehand thing was a little funny, and delighted in teasing her husband with it. Before the boys were born, she'd sometimes freehand in their private chambers, and laugh at how she could fluster the man all others feared. She had to laugh. She had to see him as something else to cope, and he was so easily ruled by the mere glimpse of skin that to her still seemed so innocent.

It has been a minute since I read through the scene where the Lopen's family is all together, but I like to imagine he just has a ton of sisters. I don't know if he's an only son, but he's definitely outnumbered. I also think he's the baby of his family, which helped him get so smug and bold in life.

Spent a bit of time in his childhood being 'The Man of The House' whenever his father went out looking for work. Depending on the state of his Alethkar, work for immigrants could be in short supply. So clearly all his older cousins should listen to him, on account of his being so mature and important.

I think the lost his arm/made a slave plotlines actually overlap. 'Being Annoying' is an explanation for why his people wanted him gone, but would not be a valid enough reason for him to get the boot from superiors, unless the xenophobia in-universe is way darker than what is depicted on page. Between his immediate family being well established in the Camp as well as the estimate of his slave brands age, I think he was one of those teenage boys trying to make something of himself in war and got eaten alive, whether as a soldier or in some support role. Got injured. Survived, but not with his arm intact. See, now he's annoying and no longer able-bodied. It's the perfect storm for his squad to turn on him and literally sell him upriver a few years prior to canon -- and for the loss to be recent enough he hasn't internalized his status as an amputee.

Smarter emotionally than he -- or anyone -- gives him credit for. Can be short-sighted about his own behavior and its impact, but is particularly adroit about other people. He has a knack for coming around and helping Ax's Kal, for instance, or getting Pupper's Szeth to actually let down at least one wall. He recognizes there's men from the original crew that need to confront and work through their lingering feelings towards Gaz to keep the peace between respective Orders in he future.

Most likely to turn to locker room talk. Not in the sense of degradation or reducing someone to what he finds attractive, but more 'I have no filter and I'm about to educate you naco.' At present his record is giving one of my OCs a thorough understanding of techniques when on weapon maintenance duty and having sent Ax's Kal zooming off in mortification in separate incidents --

[spumonibones]

Chasing Wings: Ch. 01 Lore/Story

AO3 Chapter 01. | Chapter 01 (Tumblr)

Initially I planned on cross-posting, but unfortunately Tumblr has a character limit...? So, it's going strictly on Ao3 but every post WILL link to it. I also have it open so you shouldn't ever need an account to read.

This is purely optional, just me detailing what in-game lore that is either being used or speculated on. Gonna try and not mix-up which is which, buuut my memory is... Bad. So apologies in advance if you opt to read and notice mistakes. Corrections are appreciated!!!

LORE:

• The Not-Wolves are, if it wasn't obvious, Riftwolves. This story is at its base a, "what if?" Story. To an extent it is following canon, but there are major deviances that get revealed throughout.

• I recently checked and it just says, "able to erode the boundary of the world."

STORY:

• You the reader can easily parse out that Venti is still Barbatos without his memory, but you'll get the why and how that resulted in the amnesia.

• The terror is a combination of part of him that still feels the horrors of the Cataclysm, and also because as a Wind Spirit when I wrote this for some reason I thought Riftwolves dissolved Elements? Which was... Kind of right? Story is more leaning towards Riftwolves are capable of destroying Elemental Creatures. Poor Slimes.

•  Venti has no idea what Riftwolves are currently, was escaping a bad situation prior to this, isn't aware he has the ability to defend himself, and in that moment genuinely believes he's only human against monsters. As he starts to make sense of himself and the world, we'll see more the Venti we know and less the confused amnesiac.

LORE:

• When Venti calls for help and Xiao answers, it was a choice inspired by implications within the game? Obviously, in canon, Xiao tells the Traveler to "say my name," in order to summon him. But after literal millenia of rescuing people from dead gods and monsters, there's a sort of subtle implication that he's also listening for someone crying for help.

→In Lantern Rite 3.4, Paimon calling for help *in general* results in Xiao (and Shenhe, as a heads-up) appearing to rescue them. A link to the scene if you're interested/missed it. In a different Lantern Rite you have Paimon just calling for Xiao in general to get his attention, and goes ignored. This is probably a fandom agreed upon thing, but it feels nice including just in case!

• As for the "Evil Conquering" reference to his Burst... It's just kind of fun incorporating aspects of gameplay into writing. It also mentions his Skill that he uses, and there is another chapter with a reference to one of his Talents. Gameplay mechanics mean that the devs have to limit the true extent of character capability to maintain balance, but they do serve as a basis to build upon and incorporating that just seems beneficial to keep story connection.

• Venti's hair glowing when using Anemo - this is a trend we see with all Archons in terms of using their God-like abilities. I have a personal theory of what's actually happening with that, but including that theory meant Venti not having glowy hair/eyes/tattoos and that seemed a CRIME. I refused to commit it. So, not including my personal theory on that, but if you're curious so long as you've played Fontaine as of 4.5 (when I'm writing this) I can share.

• Venti's singing alleviating the karmic debt from Xiao. So I feel like majority of the XiaoVen fandom is aware of this, but just in case: The Teaser That Did the Thing. There's also Lantern Rite 3.4, and if you haven't seen the full thing at this point I would just recommend giving it a watch. We get some great lore and character background. If you just want a summary of my reference, Xiao (Maximum Awkwardly) and Venti (Maximum... Venti-ly?) imply the two bumped into each other and Venti once more helped with the karmic debt. There's also a trailer for that Lantern Rite of when they bump into each other, but again it doesn't relate to this point but all the same, good lore there.

STORY:

• The dream in the middle of the chapter. So, this was actually... The start of the chapter. And there was a LOT more than came after it. But the more I wrote, the longer it took just to get to Xiao and literally the entire reason I started this fic was to write Soft Softness between those two. And The Plot was getting in my way. So I broke it up, and it is now spread throughout multiple chapters. At this point, I will tell you two of those voices are in-game NPCs I am utilizing, one is 100% a character made exclusively for Plot, and the fourth... Well, started as an NPC, but now there's rumor they'll be a Vision user and playable so they're getting reworked to entirely original for Plot. Please know effort is being made to minimize usage of original characters, as Genshin is crawling with NPCs.

• Am big fan of Venti and Hu Tao friendship. Is the best. I apologize, poetry is my weakest weakness and I promise you... I jump through hoops to not have to keep writing it to a minimum. I don't want to keep inflicting psychic damage to myself and readers. Using song lyrics occurred to me, but I was unable to find any that would work for that super specific situation, so again. Apologies.

Fanfiction Name Song/Lyrics: "Chasing Wings," a Teyvat-accepting iteration of, "Chasing Cars."

Chasing Cars Cover by Tommee Profitt & Fleurie Lyrics are in the video description!

Chapter 01 Song/Lyrics: Running up that Hill

Running up that Hill by Kate Bush (link is to a lyrics video) Who doesn't love some 80s music? Intended more tongue-in-cheek, and the title works well with how the chapter starts.

Special Thanks: To my friend who encouraged me to start posting the whole thing.

My second friend who assured me doing so wouldn't unalive me.

And my third friend who when trying to help me come up with a title, suggested: "To Err is Human, to Forget is Godly." Of which there is no better cryptic summary feasible for this. My friend who will not read this, you literally have no idea how perfectly that encompassed the story and its meaning. A meaning I didn't plan, but now it's staring at me and judging.

If there is any lore or storyline aspects you would like more info about, please ask!! Sometimes questions result in ideas, and others in needing to make corrections for improved story flow. Worst case scenario it is spoiler-related and I can't share yet.