#lonely!sans or bans

[daniwolf9005]

After seeing my old refs of Bans and whatnot I think I should share some updated concepts (I made these a few weeks ago)! I drew Bass because they’re still so lovely in my opinion! I kinda really wanna digitalize it into a sticker or something because they give great serotonin 💖 for the second sketch I wanted to play off the idea that since Bans is the opposite of Sans that instead of smiling all the time and hiding when things are bad, he frowns all the time and wears his emotions on his sleeve- really upping his anti-Sans narrative (thus why Sans doesn’t appreciate him because he’s everything he would rather not be). As for the third I was mainly making a concept of like- you know how when Sans is really upset his sockets go black? I wanted it to be the opposite for Bans- where the black in his eyes become more obsolete, in turn making the ‘X’s dashed in his eyes- kinda making his eyes closer to Sans’ (in the pure white pupil form) thus the reason he’s able to smile but it looks deranged because he’s not used to smiling and he’s under a lot of distress. The original concept was gonna be because I thought Sans frowned when he had black eyes but that was in fact a Mandela effect ahah- anyways yep! Just essentially making Bans the antithesis of Sans to make the ‘being Sans’ negative side’ a more prominent piece of who he is!

[makeitmingi]

Cause Baby You're My Muse [Chapter 31]

Genre: Romance, Idol!AU, Music, Slight angst

Pairing: Mingi x Reader (y/n)

Characters: Producer!Reader, IdolLyricist!Mingi, IdolProducer!Hongjoong, Idol!Seonghwa, Idol!Yunho, Idol!Wooyoung, Idol!San, Idol!Yeosang, Idol!Jongho, cameo(s) by other celebrities

Summary: You always preferred producing underground, having an unknown face and governed by your own rules. But when you start freelancing for idol groups, you say goodbye to your lone wolf lifestyle as you learn to work with idol producers and lyricists.

Word count: 3.2K

With the main title song completed and approved, the Ateez boys had been busy learning the choreography and practicing. You were working with the other producers on the other songs that would be in the album too.

"Before I go, Indigo. I wanted to speak to you." Eden said. You turned away from your computer to face him.

"So I am aware that you have been in a relationship with Mingi for a while now." He stated. At his words, your stomach sank and your heart stopped.

"I-I... I'm so sorry, Eden." You shook your head, standing up and bow repeatedly to him.

"There's no need to apologise, Indigo." Eden said. You still didn't feel calmed down, looking at the conflicted look on his face.

"As a friend, I congratulate the both of you. But as your senior... I would caution the both of you to be careful with how you act around each other in the presence of others." Eden advised.

"We will be more careful, Eden." You promised.

"With the comeback coming up and you just starting your career outside of the underground scene and you know Mingi had some heat for taking a few breaks, I would hate for things to get ugly and out of hand. If you know what I mean..." He hinted. You nodded, fully aware of what he meant without him needing to say it.

"Ateez doesn't have a dating ban. From the start, it was always established by the management but you know how scary some fans can be." He said.

"No matter what, I would always put Mingi before myself. As long as he is safe and unharmed, I will take the heat for it." You said with determination. Eden gave a nod.

"I won't tell the management. It's not my place to tell." Eden sighed.

"Thank you." You bowed. You didn't bother asking Eden how he knew because it didn't matter to you at this point, he already knew.

"But you do know that when it comes down to it, the company has to choose to protect their artist." He said. That was fine, in fact, you would prefer them to protect Ateez and Mingi over you.

"Of course I hope it doesn't get to that point. You have a really bright future and career as a producer Indigo. I would hate for you to disappear underground again. There's so much more you can do above ground." He chuckled.

"Thank you for saying that. I won't let it get to that point, I promise. For Ateez and Mingi's safety and career. They've been through too much to be scrutinised again." You said.

"You're really selfless, Indigo. Willing to forgo your career for them." He raised an eyebrow.

"That's what love does, I guess. Not just between Mingi and I but with all the Ateez boys. They grow on you." You giggled.

"I understand that." He nodded, having ben there.

"Plus, Mingi's been happier. You can tell when you look at him and work with him. He's more productive and more positive, in terms of his anxiety too." He smiled.

"That's all him. It has nothing to do with me." You shook your head, not wanting to take any of that credit away from Mingi. Even if Eden disagreed, he didn't correct you. He merely nodded his head.

"Alright, that's the busy work senior side. But as a friend, I'm happy for you and Mingi. Congratulations." Eden chuckled, standing up to give you a hug. You laughed along and wrapped your arms around him. When he moved to leave your studio and let you get back to work, you stopped him.

"Actually, there's something else I need to talk to you about..." You chewed on your bottom lip.

Mingi yawned, coming out of his room. He massaged his shoulder as he walked to the kitchen, feeling the ache from the long hours of dance practice.

"Captain." Mingi bowed his head, acknowledging the male.

"Mingi ah..." Hongjoong started. Mingi hummed in question as he faced the fridge, looking for a cold drink.

"Eden knows about you and Indigo..." Mingi stopped at Hongjoong's words. His eyes widened as he closed the fridge and turned around to face him properly.

"What did you say?" Mingi asked, hoping he heard wrongly.

"Eden knows about your relationship. I'm giving you a heads up. I told you two to be more careful." Hongjoong frowned slightly. He didn't want to lecture Mingi for being physical with you when you were dating but he was the leader of the group, he had to think about how this would affect everyone.

"We are careful, hyung. Indigo sets very strict boundaries when we're at work." Mingi argued.

"Well, you were obviously not careful enough for people outside the group to now know." Hongjoong pointed out. There was no point in arguing when it was the truth.

"Is he going to tell?" He cast Hongjoong a side glance.

"No, he won't. But he asked me if I knew and how long have I known." Hongjoong crossed his arms. Mingi let out a sigh of relief.

"But we don't have a dating ban, hyung. The fans knew that since we debuted and would expect it, sooner or later. It could be any one of us." Mingi reasoned.

"Yes, they may expect it. But that doesn't mean they will react well to it. We're talking about safety here, Mingi ah. Not just yours but Indigo's, Haneul's, your family's, even the rest of the other members." Hongjoong said.

"I'm only saying this because I want to know if you and Indigo are prepared." Hongjoong sighed.

"Prepared for?" Mingi asked quizically.

"The worst. If the company finds out and when the fans find out. What sacrifices are you going to make? Where do your priorities lie? Where does Indigo play into all this?" He explained.

"Whatever it is, Indigo is my priority. I promised her that I'll keep her and Haneul safe. That's the bottom line." Mingi said firmly.

"I won't let all this harm the members, hyung. If anything happens, this is all on me and me only. I'll take whatever blame and responsibility." He added.

"Let's hope it doesn't get to that point then." Hongjoong looked at Mingi with knowing eyes.

The captain didn't say much more and left the kitchen. While he was proud of Mingi for being courageous and putting you before himself and his career, Hongjoong was worried. He treasured the both of you like his younger siblings, he wouldn't want to lose any of you because of a scandal like this.

"Mingi ah. You okay?" Yunho, having heard the whole conversation, emerged from behind the wall.

"Mhmm. I'm fine." Mingi lied through his teeth. He clenched his jaw, turning around to face the fridge, stoically getting an iced coffee out to drink.

"You know Hongjoong hyung is worried about both you and Indigo. It's hard for him." Yunho said. Mingi nodded glumly.

"We're with you. Whatever you need." Yunho reminded.

"Thanks, Yun." Mingi gave a nod.

"I'm going to call her and tell her. If Eden hyung hasn't spoken to her, she should at least know that he knows and be prepared for it." Mingi stated and walked out of the kitchen.

Yunho looked at Mingi's retreating back. He was worried for his best friend. Mingi has become genuinely happier after being with you. But if your relationship were to get out, the whole group would suffer with the two of you suffering the most.

"Hey. Can you talk?" Mingi pressed the phone to his ear.

"Yeah... I was actually just about to call you but I got held up at my meeting." From the tone of your voice, Mingi already knew that you knew.

"I'm guessing Eden already spoke to you?" He asked. There was a short pause before the sigh and the hum from you.

"Are you okay?" He asked further.

"I am. Don't worry. We just have to be more careful in the future. And Eden said he's not going to tell the management. We can't let things get out of hand." You were trying to sound calm and positive.

"How much more careful can we be? I already barely see you and we work in the same building." Mingi openly expressed his frustration.

"I know that. We don't have a choice now, do we, Mings? We're lucky that it's Eden this time, someone we're both close to. Had it been another staff member we're not familiar with, who knows what they could do? Them telling the management would be the least of our worries at that point."

"You're right. I'm sorry." Mingi sighed.

"No need to be sorry, Mings. We're both scared but it's going to be okay. We'll be okay." You promised. Mingi hated that you had to calm him down when you were probably feeling the same way as him.

"We'll work together. Just please... Please don't leave me." Mingi caved and let his real fear show.

"I won't, Mings."

"Okay, I'll let you go back to work. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. I'll see you tonight?" He said. Mingi was going to come over when his practice ended.

"Sure. And thanks for checking in, I'm glad we talked right away. Yes, I'll see you after your practice tonight."

"I love you." Mingi blurted.

"I love you too." You chuckled and hung up.

Mingi dropped onto his bed as he stared at the ceiling. He turned his head to see the photo of you on his nightstand. You didn't know he had this photo because he had taken it secretly. You were looking out the window with a soft smile on your face.

"Beautiful." Mingi said softly, a small smile of adoration appearing on his face. He was worried you would run away because he wanted to run away. But he couldn't do that to you and the others.

"Everyone get ready for practice!" Hongjoong's yelling sounded out through the dorm.

"I'll see you later." Mingi kissed the photo and went to change.

"I'm pumped and ready!" Wooyoung jumped up and down. From the demeanour and behaviour of the others, Mingi's guessing that they don't know what happened.

"I think Atiny will like the songs and dance." Yeosang smiled.

"And we have two songs! One title and one performance song. Double kill." San made slicing actions with his hands.

"Of course they will like it. This song was made by the amazing brain of Producer Indigo." Jongho scoffed. Once everyone was accounted for, Hongjoong ushered everyone out. They climbed into their vans, driven by their managers. Mingi put his AirPods in, keeping his cap low as he let the music drown out his thoughts.

"I miss Indigo. We've all been so busy, we work in the same building but it's like two separate countries." Wooyoung shook his head with a click of his tongue.

"Mangi ah. Have you seen her recently? Or spoken to her?" Wooyoung sat up in his seat.

"I haven't seen her. We called but she's busy and we don't want to disturb each other." Mingi replied. Seeing Mingi put his AirPod back on, Wooyoung nudged Yunho and threw a nod over to Mingi.

"He was up working on lyrics so he's tired." Yunho smoothly lied.

"Juggling producing and performing is not easy." San shook his head, looking at Mingi with sympathy.

When the vans pulled up, the boys all stepped out. They piled into the lift and headed up to the dance studio. While waiting for their choreography team, they spread apart to start warming up on their own. When the door opened, their CEO walked in.

"CEO Kim." All 8 of them stood up, going to where he was at the doorway and standing in a line to bow to him. The suited male smiled at the 8 of them.

"Hello, boys. Working hard on your comeback?" He asked.

"Yes." The 8 of them chimed. It was like they were all trainees, waiting to impress for the chance to debut.

"Good, good. I know all of you are hard workers. Indigo has proven to be an asset to the producing team." He nodded. Mingi couldn't help but stiffen when he mentioned you.

"Are you doing okay, Mingi?" He asked.

"Y-Yes, sir. I'm okay, thank you for your concern." Mingi bowed his head.

"That's good to hear. Ateez is the best when we have all 8 of you together." He said. Everyone nodded in agreement while Mingi let out a mental sigh of relief, the CEO hadn't noticed his slight reaction and was only referring to the break Mingi took from group activities because of his anxiety.

"Anyway, I just dropped by to say hello and see how you guys were coming along with practice. I'm going to meet with the producing team now. All the best boys." CEO Kim explained.

"Thank you." The 8 of them all bowed to him again.

"Thank you for dropping by, sir." Hongjoong stepped forward and shook his hand. Giving the captain a pat on the shoulder, the CEO left the practice studio.

"The CEO seems to like Indigo. That's good." Seonghwa smiled like a proud mother.

"Hyung, you look like a proud parent." Wooyoung snickered.

"I feel like one. Knowing that my child just got praised." Seonghwa clutched his heart, closing his eyes dramatically. They all continued warming up until the choreographer and his team came.

"Please take care of us." The 8 of them bowed.

"Likewise. Thank you for all the hard work you've been putting in everyone. Let's have another safe and productive dance practice session." The choreographer smile and everyone clapped, nodding in agreement. They picked up from where they left off.

You were working on the music tracks when your doorbell rang. You paused the music and stood up, going to the door. Your eyes widened when you saw the CEO and Eden there.

"CEO Kim." You immediately bowed deeply to greet him. In reality, your heart was pounding in your chest. Did he find out?

"Hi, Indigo. I just came to see how the progress of the tracks are." He smiled kindly.

"Oh, yes! Please, come in." You stepped aside to invite them in. As he walked past you, Eden squeezed your shoulder, a signal for you to breathe and calm down.

"So the title track is done. Which is the choreography that the group is learning now. We're finishing up the performance track and we should be done within the next 3 days." You explained.

"Okay. What about the b-side tracks? I want the b-side tracks to be just as good as the titles." He said.

"Of course, sir. I completely understand. We're still working on the editing for the b-side tracks. We just got the raw vocals for track 7 and will work on it to get it done as soon as possible." You said. You were glad you wore your mask now so that it could hide your nervous, fearful expression.

"Alright. Good to see the tracks coming along well and on schedule. You really impressed me and the board with your track submissions. Eden did a good job bringing you in." He complimented.

"Ah, thank you." You bowed awkwardly.

"Would you consider signing on full time as a producer here? I think you have a lot to offer." He asked.

"I-I... I appreciate you thinking so highly of me, sir. If it's okay with you, I would like to just focus on this comeback first before deciding anything." You rubbed the back of your neck.

"That's a good mindset. I hope you will consider that as an option. Terms and conditions are flexible. We'll protect your identity if necessary." He promised.

"I'll keep that in mind, sir. Thank you."

"Yes, we'll definitely speak again after the comeback." He patted your shoulder. You nodded with a meek smile.

"Make sure to give the names of the members that worked on the tracks to the marketing and promotion department. The fans like seeing that, shows that the boys are a part of the writing and producing process." CEO Kim said to you and Eden.

"Of course." You both replied.

"I won't hold you for too long. It was nice speaking with you, Indigo. I wish you all the best and thank you for working hard on this comeback." He held his hand out to shake.

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity and for putting so much trust in me." You shook his hand.

"Let's discuss more in your office, Eden." He turned to your senior. You walked the both of them to the door, bowing once again.

"Oh my gosh..." You leaned back against the closed door, sliding down from your legs just completely giving out. You let out a shaky breath, finally breathing normally again.

After working for a few more hours, you took a bus home. You made a really quick and simple dinner, setting aside a portion under some covers for Mingi to have in case he was hungry later. With music playing in the background, you ate your dinner and went to take a quick shower.

'Hey, baby. Sorry, I'm running a little late. Don't wait up! - Mings'

Seeing the message from him, you turned off the lights outside and went to your home studio to work.

'Thank you for your revised track for the OST. We will create the lyrics and discuss on the singer that will perform the track. If you have any recommendations, please let us know.

- Representative'

You leaned back in your chair and smiled happily, proud that they finally approve of the OST track. You did some light work until you felt tired. Honestly, you did want to wait for Mingi, to welcome him and hug him.

"Ateez... Mingi fancam." You searched on your phone and watched a compilation of Mingi on stage to try to keep yourself awake.

"Baby? I'm here." Mingi called out softly when he entered the house. He spoke softly, worried that you would be asleep already. The house was dark, except for one kitchen light you left on.

'Didn't know if you had dinner but I prepared something for you. I know you're watching your carbs so I put the meat in lettuce wraps instead. - Love, (y/n)'

Mingi melted at your note. He folded it carefully and tucked it into his bag, not wanting to lose it.

"Fix on!" Mingi heard his own voice coming from the bedroom and walked in to find you asleep. You were holding your phone.

"What's this?" He tilted his head to watch the video playing on your phone.

'Mingi Fancam Compilation #4'

He cupped his hand over his mouth to stop his laughter from escaping and waking you up. This really made his day, all the tiredness just dissipated. Mingi actually left the room to laugh in the living room on his own. Why did he think it was so endearing of you to watch videos of him when he wasn't around?

"I love you so much." Mingi leaned over you to kiss your forehead. He gently removed the phone from your grasp and charged it on your nightstand before going to shower.

~

Series Masterlist

[maskyish]

Banri's Birthday Rabbit TV 2023 - Episode 1 - "Banri's Wedding?!"

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3

Please note: I am NOT a professional and my level of JP is very, very basic. I do this for practice and to share with other fans for fun. Please take my translations with a grain of salt as there may be mistakes. If you see any, please let me know and I can correct them. If anyone else has this card and wants to translate this at any time then please feel free to do so!

*door opens* 

Riku: Manager! President…! 

Tsumugi: Ah, everyone! Thank you for coming! I’m sorry to have called you all so suddenly….

Riku: Is it really true that Banri-san is getting married?! 

Tsumugi: Huuh?! 

Tamaki: I didn’t hear anything about this from Ban-chan!! 

Sogo: Me neither…! 

Nagi: Is this why you’ve called us here today? 

Iori: If this is true, we could’ve made preparations to celebrate…! 

Mitsuki: Exactly, there’s no need to be a stranger! I would have made a cake or two! 

Yamato: Calm down, you guys. So…. is it actually true, President? 

Otoharu: Ahaha. This is pretty interesting, isn’t it? 

Tsumugi: Pr- President?! 

Otoharu: Well, if that’s the case and Banri-kun is getting married, what will you all do? 

Mitsuki: Of course we have to have a huge celebration! Not just with cakes, but a whole feast! 

Yamato: For starters, I’ll prepare the finest alcohol and we can have a drink. I’d like to stay up all night and hear the story of how he met his other half. 

Tamaki: ….. I’m….. kinda lonely. 

Tamaki: I love Ban-chan, and I’m happy for him, but….. 

Sogo: … I think so, too. I’d like to talk to Banri-san first. 

Riku: If he has a family, he wouldn’t be able to support us like he does now, right…? 

Nagi: Even so, we have to send him off with a smile. Just as Banri has always done for us. 

Iori: In the first place… is it really true? I just can’t believe he would keep this from us….  

Otoharu: Hmm, well, it’s not true. 

IDOLiSH7: Eh?

Otoharu: Banri-kun isn’t getting married. 

IDOLiSH7: Whaaa—! 

Tsumugi: I- I’m sorry, everyone! And President, please don’t say things that can cause them to be so uneasy!  

Otoharu: Ah ha ha. Sorry, sorry. 

Riku: Thank goodness…. I was thinking about if it was maybe with our manager or something….

Otoharu: What was that? 

Yamato: No, no, absolutely not. 

Nagi: As long as my eyes are blue, I will not allow it. 

Otoharu: I will also never allow it. 

Tsumugi: E-enough! In any case, it was just a misunderstanding. 

Mitsuki: So, what did Riku hear then? About Banri-san telling the staff he was taking time off for a wedding. 

Tsumugi: Well, that’s what I’ve called you all here to discuss today…. 

Tsumugi: Someone in the industry is holding a wedding ceremony, so Banri-san and I will be attending. 

Otoharu: Originally, I was going to go as the representative, however some work came up. 

Tsumugi: I’ve heard from the other companies that Anesagi-san, Okazaki-san, and Utsugi-san will also be going…. 

Otoharu: The wedding ceremony will be held in Karuizawa, so I thought it would be a good chance for the managers to take a vacation as well. 

Otoharu: It might be an inconvenience to everyone for a little while, but I plan to follow up with the other staff and give them my thanks. 

Tsumugi: I’ll be checking my phone from time to time, so please contact me should anything happen! 

Yamato: Haha. Well, I figured it was something like that.

Nagi: OH! But you seemed to be the most flustered, Yamato. 

Yamato: What is this guy even saying? 

Iori: I swear, you’re too quick to jump to conclusions upon hearing the word “wedding”, Nanase-san. 

Riku: Huh?! Even you froze up when I told you, Iori! 

Mitsuki: Jeez! The instant you guys realized it was a misunderstanding, your facial expressions relaxed! 

Sogo: I’m glad we know now. Manager, please don’t worry about us and enjoy your time off.  

Tamaki: Yeah! You and Ban-chan are always working hard. I got nervous when we got called to the office! 

Tsumugi: Thank you, everyone….! 

Otoharu: I’m glad. I hope all the managers can go and refresh themselves. 

Riku: Doesn’t Karuizawa have a famous gelato shop? Tenn-nii went there before while on location and said it was delicious! 

Yamato: That sounds nice. Go ahead and enjoy some sweets too. 

Sogo: I know of a few recommendations for places as well, I can tell you about them later. 

Mitsuki: Sweet! There’s a restaurant I wanted to try too, so if you’d like to go, you can let me know what you think! 

Nagi: Your happiness is my happiness. Please go and relax to your heart’s content. 

Tsumugi: Thank you very much…! I’ll accept everyone’s kindness and enjoy myself to the fullest! 

Tamaki: You absolutely have to try the local King Pudding flavor with grape mousse in it, no matter what! It’s seriously delicious! 

Tsumugi: I will! I’ll bring some back as a souvenir, too! 

Tamaki: Yaaay~! 

Iori: Yotsuba-san, please do not coerce her into buying you souvenirs so nonchalantly. 

Iori: Even though it’s already September, it’s still hot out, so please take care against the heat. 

Riku: Forget about work while in Karuizawa and just enjoy your time with all the other managers! 

Tamaki: Oh yeah! Since all the managers will be there, why not just have that party there? 

Sogo: That’s true, it might be the perfect opportunity! 

Tsumugi: ‘That’ party? 

Nagi: Banri’s birthday party! We all talked about having the yearly celebration! 

Yamato: It’s that time of the year, after all. 

Tsumugi: I see….! I’d love to help! Did you already have something in mind? 

Riku: Yeah! Actually…. 

—–––––

Anesagi: …. And that’s about it for next month’s schedule. 

Anesagi: On another note, I have my wedding coming up soon. So I’ll be away from the office for a few days. 

TRIGGER: Your wedding?! 

Gaku: Wait, wait. Are you being serious, Anesagi? Congrats! Let’s celebrate together! 

Tenn: Congratulations, Anesagi-san…. I’m really happy to hear such wonderful news. 

Ryuu: I’m happy too! She's getting married, huh…. It’s making me cry a little! 

Anesagi: W-wait a minute, you guys…. 

Gaku: So? What kind of person are they? I hope they’ll properly treasure you. 

Tenn: The entertainment industry is a unique business, so I can’t help but wonder if they have an understanding of the work you do so that it doesn’t put a burden on you, Anesagi-san. 

Ryuu: I think whoever she chose must be a good person, but there’s the smallest chance that’s not the case, right? So if you don’t mind, we’d like to meet them, too. 

Anesagi: Hold your horses! It got interesting so I figured I’d just keep quiet and listen for a while, but then I heard what you were saying about me. 

Anesagi: I’m not the one getting married, it’s an acquaintance of mine! I’m just attending the wedding! 

TRIGGER: An acquaintance?! 

Ryuu: W- what…! I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions…! 

Gaku: So you’re only attending! It was an easy mistake to make, huh! 

Tenn: Even though you were the first one to misunderstand, Gaku.  

Anesagi: Fufu. Sorry about that. Just as I was thinking you were happy for me, you guys suddenly got over-protective so it was fun to watch. 

Anesagi: But if I were to actually get married, you would be worried about me like this, huh. 

Gaku: Of course we would worry! If we’re to entrust you to someone, then they can’t be half-hearted about it. 

Ryuu: You’re our special manager. We want your partner to cherish you, too. 

Tenn: Just as you think about us, we also think about you, Anesagi-san. 

Anesagi: You guys…. 

Anesagi: Thank you. But for right now, my only love is my work so I promise you don’t have to worry about it for a while. 

Anesagi: The wedding will be held in Karuizawa, so I’ll be taking some time off and staying there, but feel free to contact me for anything. 

Gaku: Forget about work and just enjoy yourself! There’s a lot of good food there, right? Plus the air is clean! 

Tenn: That’s true. There’s a lot of quiet cafes to relax in too. Or maybe you can sit on the terrace. 

Ryuu: It’s too early for the leaves to be turning yet, but there’s still a lot of nature so please take your time and enjoy it! 

Anesagi: Fufu. Thank you. I’ll go and recharge, and when I get back I look forward to making the best work with you guys! 

—–––––

Rintaro: ….. Rinto will be absent for his wedding soon. So I hope you both will be able to send him off with a smile. 

Yuki: Sure, whatever you say. Don’t phrase things in a purposefully misleading way. Okarin is just attending a wedding. 

Momo: We already heard about it from him! 

Rintaro: Ehh–! How boring. I thought I’d get to see you guys panic, like, “What marriage?!” 

*door opens* 

Okarin: Please stop trying to get reactions from people for your own entertainment.

Rintaro: Gh, Rinto. 

Yuki: Instead of doing such nonsense, just have your own wedding. 

Momo: Aren’t you keeping your wife waiting? Hasn’t it been awhile since your registration? 

Rintaro: I can’t afford to leave a gap in my workload right now. 

Yuki: I wish you would just retire already. 

Okarin: Alright, come on now, Yuki-kun. I’ll be sure to pass along the congratulatory gift you two left with me. 

Momo: Thanks, Okarin! We wanted to go too since they’ve done a lot for us. 

Yuki: Could all our shoots be moved to Karuizawa? 

Momo: Ahaha! Even if the camera was rolling, we could take a nap under the trees with the sun filtering through. 

Yuki: I’d like to go for a month. 

Rintaro: Then, we can make it a job to have Yuki compose a song for my wedding and have the music video shot in Karuizawa. 

Yuki: Okarin, shut this guy up. 

Okarin: Idols shouldn’t furrow their brows like that…! You shouldn’t ever show a face like that on camera! And President, please stop messing around! 

Rintaro: I thought it would be nice.

Okarin: I’ll bring back souvenirs. Some sausage for Momo-kun, and some local vegetables for Yuki-kun! 

Yuki: That'd make me happy, but since it’s a rare vacation, I think you should just relax and go with the flow. 

Momo: Exactly! The managers from the other offices will be going too, right? I’m sure you’ll have lots to talk about, so just enjoy yourselves! 

Okarin: Thank you very much. There’s a lot I’m worried about, but I’ll take your word for it and just have fun.

—–––––

Shirou Utsugi: ….. So, that’s why I’ve called you all here. I’ll be going to Karuizawa to attend an acquaintance’s wedding, so I’ll be taking some time off. 

Touma: Eh?! You’re getting married?! 

Haruka: Huh? What are you talking about? 

Minami: He just told us he’s going to an acquaintance’s wedding. 

Touma: O- OH….. I see. That scared me….! 

Torao: This is why I told you that you drank too much yesterday. This guy’s head is foggy. 

Touma: Haha, my bad. Tora was drinking, and it got too lively….

Haruka: What, you two went out drinking together? This is the first I’m hearing about it. 

Minami: It seems like you two had work together yesterday, but isn’t it heartless you didn’t tell me? 

Shirou Utsugi: Umm… Are you fighting? 

ZOOL: We’re not! 

Shirou Utsugi: Is that so? Well, after a reaction like that, I look forward to seeing what kind of reaction I would get if I really got married. 

Zool: …………

Minami: He doesn’t really seem like the domestic type, but I could see him suddenly dropping a bombshell on us one day and telling us “I’m getting married"... 

Torao: Although he’s never shown us even a trace of a woman, he definitely seems to fall into the category of someone who would be popular with women…. 

Touma: I don’t know why, but it feels like he’d marry someone really famous….

Haruka: Utsugi-san is really kind, so maybe he’d be surprisingly family-oriented? I could see him cooking home-made meals on his off days….  

Haruka: ….. But, still…..

Haruka: …. It’d probably be sorta lonely. 

Shirou Utsugi: You’d be lonely? 

Haruka: No, not really, I’d just congratulate you normally!! It’s not like I wouldn’t want you to get married…! 

Minami: I understand. It’d be lonely if he had someone special besides us. 

Touma: I see… Well, when you put it like that…. 

Torao: Haha. It seems we’ve become quite attached to Utsugi-san. 

Shirou Utsugi: You guys…. Thank you. That makes me very happy.

Shirou Utsugi: My special ones are the ones who are in ZOOL. 

Haruka: …… Yeah. We know. (1) That’s why you can spread your wings as much as you’d like. 

Minami: We’re looking forward to the souvenirs. 

Torao: There’s some good stores there, I can tell you about them later. 

Touma: We’ll rabbichat you if anything happens, so right now your only job is to take a break! 

Shirou Utsugi: Haha, thank you very much. I’ll be sure to strengthen my friendships with the other managers as well. 

—–––––

End of Episode 1

TL Notes:

The word Haruka uses here has the connotation of like "we understand the feelings you're trying to convey"

[meenatranslates]

[SR] Taichi | Reminiscence of Blooming

There were feelings of frustration, as well as regrets and repentance. Still, I was able to keep running without going off the rails because everyone acknowledged me. Lead Skill: A friend I admire, who is my comrade and also my rival Adlib Skill: Right side, good! Left side, good! My smile, good!

__________________________

Veludo Town Oshi Spot! ~Video: Taichi~ - Part 1

__________________________

―Yosei Uni (Day)―

Taichi: Haah...

Juza: ...Still not goin' home yet?

Taichi: Oh, Juza-san! Are you planning to go back now?

Juza: Yeah. But I'll listen to you if there's anythin' you're troubled with...

Taichi: Eh?

(Is he worried for me because I let out a sigh...?)

Thanks, Juza-san!

But it's no big deal, really! I just can't decide on which place to introduce for the video, that's all.

Juza: The one for the commemorative event on Inste?

Taichi: Yup, that one! Also, since the weather's good today, I was thinking of taking a detour somewhere before heading home...

And it's been a while since I've been to the karaoke, so I thought I could try singing to my heart's content once in a while!

Juza: ...I see.

Taichi: I- I told you it's not a big deal!

Please don't think that I sighed so seriously over such a small thing!

Juza: I wasn't really thinking that...

Taichi: So yeah, Juza-san!

If you have time today, wanna go to karaoke with me?

Juza: Karaoke, huh...

Taichi: Ah, it's fine to decline if you have plans after this!

Juza: ...No, I don't mind goin'. I was just reminded of the time when we were still in O High.

Taichi: O High?

Juza: Just like today, you invited me and Tenma to karaoke on our way back from school a few times.

Taichi: We really had lots of fun back then~! I might as well invite Ten-chan today...

Tenma: You called me?

Taichi: Wah! Great timing, Ten-chan!

Tenma: What do you mean?

Taichi: Juza-san and I just talked about going to karaoke! Wanna come along, Ten-chan?

Tenma: ...Sorry, I gotta leave for work after this.

Taichi: Oh, really? Okay, do your best at work!

Juza: You seem busy these days. Don't push yourself too hard.

Tenma: Thanks, you two. Go have fun at the karaoke.

―Karaoke Box―

Taichi: ...Ha~! Like I thought, it feels refreshing after singing all out!

Huh? You didn't put any songs to sing yet, Juza-san?

Juza: I got too absorbed in listenin' to your singin' that I forgot to do it. That song just now, I remember you also sang that last time we went to karaoke.

Taichi: Yeah, I did! It's the theme song for the drama that Ten-chan starred in! We sang in duet at that time.

It was a bit hard to sing while playing a tambourine, but it was really fun!

(I already feel nostalgic about that, huh~. We make a lot of memories each time we go here.)

(Come to think of it, we often come here to do karaoke. Maybe I should introduce this place for Inste...?)

Juza: You sure can sing even while playin' a tambourine. I don't think I can do that...

Taichi: It's 'cause I was trained by Ten-chan and Ban-chan! I feel like my tambourine skills improved thanks to them...

(Ah, that's right!)

Can we take a selfie together, Juza-san? I wanna send a pic to Ten-chan...

Juza: 's fine by me.

Taichi: Okay, here's the mic for you, and a tambourine for me...

Say cheese~!

*snap*

Juza: Was that okay?

Taichi: Totally! I sent him the pic and said "Let's go together next time"!

Now then, I gotta continue to liven up your song with my tambourine skills~!

Juza: Yeah, countin' on you for that.

―Lounge (Night)―

Tenma: I'm home.

Taichi: Welcome home, Ten-chan! Did you see the pic I sent on LIME?

Yeah, sorry for the late reply. I also saw the picture of you slightly cut off.

Taichi: Ahaha. I tried my best taking the pic while holding a tambourine, but my hands went a little crazy...

But then I thought, "This should be okay enough"!

Tenma: Yeah, I can really tell that you had fun from the picture.

Taichi: I did, but because I sang your drama's theme song by myself, I kinda felt lonely.

Tenma: It's the song for the drama that I was in, so of course it can't be good without me around.

Taichi: Yup, so let's duet together next time!

__________________________

Veludo Town Oshi Spot! ~Video: Taichi~ - Part 2

__________________________

―Karaoke Box (Day)―

Taichi: We came all the way here, so let's sing together today, Ten-chan!

Tenma: Don't get ahead of yourself! You need to shoot the introduction video first.

Taichi: I- I know that~! I was just joking...

Wait, why're you suddenly holding the remote control!

Tenma: Well, I saw that the theme song for the drama I starred in was in the rankings, and I got curious so...

Taichi: You're right! It's amazing that it's in 3rd place! As expected from a drama starring Ten-chan!

Tenma: Heh, I guess so.

No, wait- Just get started and film already!

Taichi: Ah, just wait, please~! I'm doing the preparations right now!

~~~~~

The person to introduce their recommended spot for this time is... Taichi Nanao, from Autumn Troupe in MANKAI Company!

Tenma: And the one in charge of filming is Tenma Sumeragi from Summer Troupe.

Taichi: Many thanks for Ten-chan! Now then, the place I'm going to introduce is here! The karaoke box!

There are times when I have the sudden urge to sing...

This happens to you guys too, right? How about you, Ten-chan?

Tenma: Quite few times.

Taichi: Thought so! At times like that, I always come here!

It's close to the station, has the latest models, it's pretty clean, and there's also the drinks station...

This is like, the best place to sing!

Tenma: I mean, it's a karaoke box after all.

Taichi: Well, yeah, that's true but~!

Oh right, the Autumn Troupe of MANKAI Company, of which I am affiliated with, once performed a band-themed play...

Tenma: Ahh, you mean "the Rad Red", where Taichi played the lead role. You guys also held a live performance of an original song during the play.

Taichi: Yup! I actually came here and wrote that original song at that time!

I've also come here with the other troupe members to sing, and many other fun things happened...

This place holds many memories for me.

*ding*

...Wait, what!?

It's the theme song of Ten-chan's drama! Why...!?

Tenma: Taichi! Your elbow's pressing the button on the remote control!

Taichi: Agh, it's true!! I should stop this, right!?

Tenma: I'll do that, so you just keep focusing on the video...!

Taichi: G-got it!

Umm, anyway, karaoke is the best! So everyone should come and hang out here too!!

―Lounge (Night)―

Tenma: ...Have you posted it yet?

Taichi: Uhh, just a second.

~~VLOG starts~~

Caption: Something unexpected happened during the introduction of karaoke box!?

Taichi: "I've also come here with the other troupe members to sing, and many other fun things happened..."

"This place holds many memories for me."

*ding*

"...Wait, what!?"

"It's the theme song of Ten-chan's drama! Why...!?"

~~VLOG ends~~

Taichi: I've successfully submitted my post!

Thanks for getting me permission to use the theme song, Ten-chan! I didn't have to do a retake thanks to that!

Tenma: I wanted everyone to see your video too. The way you panicked is amusing no matter how many times I watched it.

Taichi: Now that you said it, that was a bit embarrassing...!

Tenma: Hey, don't talk too loud or you'll hurt your throat. That awful voice is because of the karaoke you and the others went to yesterday, right?

Taichi: Uhuu, I had too much fun singing that I overused my throat...

Sorry, Ten-chan, even though you told me to be careful.

Tenma: ...Well, I did expect that this would happen.

Here, have some honey. It's the same one I gave you before. This should make your throat feel better. (1)

Taichi: Wahh! Thanks, Ten-chan! You're so kind that my heart's gonna get captivated again...!

Tenma: It'd be a problem if you can't go to karaoke for a while. Mostly worried about your tambourine skills, though...

Taichi: I can still play the tambourine even if my voice gets hoarse! Or rather, I want us to duet again some time!

Tenma: I get it already, so stop shouting!

Take care of your throat so that it'll heal quicker.

Taichi: Okay!

Story Clear!

=====NOTES=====

[1] Referencing the Epilogue of "the Rad Red".

[bakersgrief]

a/n: I can't draw it, at least not yet, so I decided to write it. Bear Juza! ...Mostly. Everyone is trans and jubantai gives you cavities, basically.

Everyone around Juza could see how they changed. They were becoming more comfortable and confident. Their effort and passion was helping them grow into one of the finest actors anybody knew, breathing life and love into their roles.

Those around Juza could also see they were healing. Juza wouldn't say they had ever been unhealthy, exactly, but it was obvious that they were becoming healthier and happier by the day.

The truth was, Juza had been hurt. They had been hurting for a long time, before joining Mankai. That was where the healing started. And soon, the growth.

It started with a bit of hair. Juza had hair in most of the usual places, but they noticed their chest seemed to be getting fuzzier lately. Over the course of a few weeks, the sparse chest hairs their teenage self possessed grew like a patch of ferns. Soft curls adorned their chest more thickly than before; curls that had trailed down their abs and stomach and up their back and shoulders. It was a little unnerving for them. Juza felt as if it contributed to their masculine, intimidating image. But they were surprised by how much their partners seemed to like it.

Laying in bed, Taichi ran her slender fingers through the cloud of curls on Juza's chest.

"It's so soft and fluffy, Juza-san! I didn't think you could get even better for cuddling!" Taichi threw her arm over Juza's abdomen, snuggling closer into their side.

"Can't believe you ended up even more hairy than you were before. You were already gettin' a shadow by the time we went to bed," Banri mused from zir position on Juza's other side. Taichi agreed enthusiastically.

"Yeah," she chirped. "Now they get it at 4 o'clock! You're so cool, Juza-san!"

Juza felt reassured by their lovers' praise. It seemed a shame that their body was changing just as they had been becoming more comfortable in it. Oh well, that was life. (Or, "say-la-vee", as Homare-san would say.)

Time passed. People changed and grew. Perhaps it was fitting that Juza's body was changing now that their life had taken a turn for the better, as if puberty had decided to hold off on hitting them like a truck until they had learned to love their body and their self more than before.

But hair wasn't the end of it. Oh no. As time passed, Juza found the muscles they had gained from constant fights (and maintained from being an actor) were slowly being hidden under a layer of fat. Their body was growing bigger and softer, less hard ridges and more curves.

That was something they didn't dislike. A lot of people disliked having a pudgy tummy, but Juza was very happy with their new soft, squishy body.

"INCOMIIIIIIING!!!"

"Oof!"

Kumon had launched ximself into xer big brother's chest. Juza and Kumon would always be brothers. Regardless of the fact that neither were quite boys anymore.

Kumon squeezed xer big brother enthusiastically.

"You're so squishy, Nii-chan!!!" Xe hollered.

Even though they hated loud noises, Kumon's noises would never be a nuisance to Juza. Xe knew when they needed quiet.

"Thanks, Kumon." Juza chuckled, patting xer head.

Their mother could hardly believe the change her eldest had been through. There they were, on her doorstep. Completely changed from the lonely, angry teenage boy of two years ago.

She could barely keep the tears from falling as she wrapped them in a hug.

"Uh! ...Hi, mom."

"You look so good, baby! You've gained weight- that's so good..."

Juza smiled privately. They thought so, too.

"Hey, Ban-chan! Maybe we should start calling Juza-san "Kuma-chan" instead."

"Ha? Why would we do that?"

"Well, they're a bear now, right?!"

"Does it even count as a bear if they're not a man?"

"...I don't mind being a bear."

"Good!"

Taichi snuggled deeper into the space between her partners.

"You're our bear!"

Banri reached over and pinched one of Juza's love handles.

"Oi, keep it in the bedroom." They growled.

"Whatever." Ze retorted. "You're lucky I'm happy being a little femme, otherwise I'd beat you out in the hair department."

"Bullshiiiiiit~" Taichi sang, giggling.

The three of them cuddled closer on the couch, another happy day drawing to a close in the Mankai dorms.

[akihatohnoofficial]

r/akihaowners

A place for questions and conversations about owning and caring for your Akiha. For photos and videos, check out r/akihas.

14.7k masters | 19 online | Top 5% ranked by size

Posts sorted by hot

===

Topic: [Adopting] Where to Boy Akihas

u/throwaway5318008 posted 3 hours ago:

Hey guys i'm looking to buy an Akiha, but i'm a college student so i don't have a lot of money right now. how cheap can i get one for?

EDIT: BUY I MEANT BUY. FUCK I CAN'T CHANGE THE TITLE.

u/charzardass replied 2 hours ago:

Fellow boy-Akiha enjoyer detected ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) A man of culture, I see.

If you want one for cheap and don't mind buying used, check your local Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. I've been lucky enough to get several for under $50 ea. Happy hunting!

u/pm-me-akiha-titties replied 3 hours ago:

If you're a college student, the cost of buying an Akiha isn't your biggest concern. You'll need to pay for routine veterinary care, clothing, a cane (many cheap Akihas won't be sold with a cane), enrichment (Akihas don't like being left alone! What are you going to do when you're in classes?), and, of course, food? The Akiha Care Guide provides an estimate of monthly expenses for Akiha raising.

| u/throwaway5318008 (OP) replied 2 hours ago:

| Yeah i live in a dorm but its a single so i dont have roommates. And i was thinking she could just hang out in my apartment while im in class? And i can bring back food from the dining hall. So i dont think she really needs clothes or whatever if shes in my room the whole time.

|| u/knightyknight replied 1 hour ago:

|| yeah OP you can ignore that simp. some people love to spoil and coddle their akihas and then warn eeeeeeveryone how expensive they are. well of course they're expensive if you treat them like people.

|| anyways I have a buddy who's an akiha breeder so I get mine for dirt cheap. you can always try to find a breeder in your area and offer to buy the dams off them once they stop being fertile -- they'll usually sell them for next to nothing to clear up space for the next young dams. ===

Topic: [Advice] How to make less noisy?

u/SmolTaterTot posted 7 hours ago:

Hi folks. I recently bought an Akiha, and I love him to pieces! The only problem is... I don't think I was prepared for how noisy they can be. Mine's always meowing and moaning and whining all day and night. I've read the FAQs, so I tried hitting him when he wakes me up in the middle of the night, but he hasn't stopped. Any advice?

u/himejooooooshi replied 5 hours ago:

UNGRATEFUL [huffy face][huffy face] being whiny and needy is an Akiha's charm point

u/ArrowToTheNiichan replied 7 hours ago:

You done goofed. You clearly aren't giving him enough attention since he's crying all the time, so hitting him (i.e. giving him attention) when he wakes you up is just encouraging the behavior. Go back and RTFM again, specifically the part about behavioral conditioning.

But it's true that Akihas tend to be pretty loud no matter what. Some vets can remove the vocal cords for you if it really bothers you that much, but insurance won't cover it. Good luck.

===

Topic: TIFU by getting a "friendly" pair of akihas

u/sirtwixalot posted 12 hours ago:

I read that akihas need attention and get lonely easily, but they can also be intimidated by unfamiliar akihas, so I decided to buy a pair of akihas from the same breeder so that they could keep each other company.

I got them Friday afternoon, and they spent Saturday and Sunday grooming each other and wrestling together. One of them calls the other "nee-san," and the other calls the first one her "puppy." So they seemed to be getting along really well. I wasn't even having the problems with them refusing to bathe or eat that I hear sometimes happens with akihas. So I thought they seemed like really good companions for each other.

Then on Monday.... I went to work and left them at the house.

When I came back... I think I'd be banned if I described what I saw.

Imagine if a jar of mayo exploded all over a bed.

Sooooooo TIFU.

u/himejooooooshi replied 9 hours ago:

No problem detected... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

u/SmolTaterTot replied 10 hours ago:

DUDE

u/ArrowToTheNiichan replied 11 hours ago:

Does no one actually read the FAQs before they buy one of these things anymore?

u/charzardass replied 11 hours ago:

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO

===

Topic: [Advice] How to beat an Akiha in a one-on-one basketball game?

u/Point_Me_@_The_Sky posted 2 hours ago:

[omentranslates]

Owari no Seraph volume 32 author's afterword english fan translation

Howdy, the long awaited afterword is here. I say as if my volume didn't arrive literally 2 hrs ago. Anyways, thanks for working with me.

Also I included the volume comments this time XP and I translated the back promotional page too just bc I haven't seen anyone else post it yet?? But I don't pay super close attention to the teasers usually so don't come for me if it's just the same text as the last few.

"Afterword

Wow, this is it, the climax! Writing it gets as lonely as it is fun, and it's as fun as it gets lonely, among other things! To everyone who's followed along this long, I'm truly grateful.

From here on out, I'm going to have a new editor. Owari no Seraph has thus far been blessed with nothing but the best and brightest in editors, all full of motivation. From Hosono-san (the sharpest blade in Shueisha) to Kosuge-san (the industry's top Nice Guy) to Kasai-san (who played it straight but turned out to be a total weirdo). And now, exploding onto the scene to take the baton from those three absolute characters, and his name issssss.......Okuyama-saaaaaannnn!!!!!

Now, this new guy in charge is truly amazing, he's got enough motivation to take me aback! He goes, "Kagami-san! We could have the whole world!! Nono, the whole universe!!! From now on just leave it all to meeeeee!!!! There's no doubt we'll do great things together, so just leave it all to me okayyyyyy!!!!" He's been yelling like that since we first met. He brought so much of that heat to the venue we were going to have our first meeting over dinner at and we ended up getting chased out and banned from coming back! It ended up being a whole incident, we really started off with a bang.....is what I'd like to put here, but I'm actually working on this afterword before that aforementioned meeting so I decided to just write my heart. The truth is that we actually haven't met yet! (Say what?)

Everyone, look forward to the next volume, where I tell you all how our introductions went! The one I'm writing now will actually probably pass through my new editor Okuyama-san's hands before we do meet, so I'm kinda scared about how that's gonna go, I'm like shaking (lol). But I'll definitely have a story to tell for next afterword! So on that note, I hope to see you all here again next volume, for those who just wanted to be done reading before it gets deep, I'll say goodbye to you here. I'll see you all next volume!!!!!

So, then, about myself recently. I put to rest some things that have been bothering me as a creator for sooo many years. Yayyyyy!! Wondering how I'm going to live and who I should become. As I'm facing up my works, and also my experiences as a person, as I'm experiencing the lives and deaths of those precious to me, what does it make of me? My characters grow up, am I working hard enough to keep up with them? I suddenly feel like I'm approaching my answers. And wow, what a ride it's been. What a ride being a creator is.

There was a time I was writing so many projects, but I've been rather spending my days studying since encountering those worrisome thoughts. But I've finished my studies and at long last arrived at just being thankful. It took a lot out of me to get here. And having Owari no Seraph publishing monthly, I think it was something that really managed to keep me as a creative grounded through it all. Writing is what I love most of all, I've been able to realize that it's who I am. For that, I am truly grateful to everyone. Yamamoto-san, Furuya-san, every one of my readers, to those in charge here and my editorial staff and everyone else who associates with me and every member of my family, I'm deeply thankful for the one of a kind, precious ties that bring us together in this world.

Which is all to say, I've returned to my extremely prolific writing habits, so I'll be glad if you all read what I've got to say!!!

Huh, I guess that wasn't too heavy afterall. Anyways, everyone, I'll see you next volume! Oh, and the finale of "Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu" is also happening after six long years. If any of you have ever read it, I hope you enjoy that too!

So then, see you in volume 33!!!!

Kagami Takaya"

Kagami Sensei's volume comment: "I'm writing so much! Back to the drafts!"

Yamamoto Sensei's volume comment: "We've reached volume 32. Yuuichirou and Mikaela, the Shinoa Squad, Ferid and Crowley, a lot of different stories have really taken off. I hope you're all excited!"

Promo page in the back (text only):

"On the move to make their own dreams come true...

All of these different stories speeding up towards the final battle!?"

The next volume is planned for October 2024

[noonaishere]

Online/Offline - Main Cast

y/n (you!) - Jageun Gomen Goyangi (“JGG” or “Cat”) - A faceless streamer since she was about 17. Somewhat of a chaos goblin, but only because her parents raised her to stick up for herself and not care what others think. Sometimes lonely because of her chosen profession. 

San - Barista at AtoZ cafe and general sweet guy. Will help anyone with anything if he can. Calm and patient, but has a silly side. Banned from jumping in the cafe.

Seonghwa - Owner of AtoZ cafe. Appears stern, but cares deeply for the people around him. 

Wooyoung - AtoZ cafe’s genius baker. Trained as an international pastry chef, but prefers the quiet life of a cafe baker. Desperately in need of a vacation.

Yeosang - Former childhood friend of y/n and friend of Wooyoung. Teaches science at a nearby school.

Minsoo - New worker at AtoZ cafe. Bright and sweet. (oc. faceclaim: Swan from Craxy)

Keeho - Childhood bestie of y/n, and the person she started streaming with all those years ago. Idol employed at Wonderland Entertainment in the group JUPiTER.

Yeji - Has been streaming with y/n and Keeho for a few years now, but streaming with Ruyjin longer. Lives in Korea.

Ryujin - Has been streaming with y/n and Keeho for a few years now, but streaming with Yeji longer. Lives in Korea.

MicktheMacken (“Mick”) - Has been streaming with y/n and Keeho for a few years now, but streaming with Brick longer. Lives in Australia with Brick, but from LA.

BricktheBracken (“Brick”) - Has been streaming with y/n and Keeho for a few years now, but streaming with Mick longer. Lives in Australia with Mick.

And now, because I realized I fucked up the ages a whole bunch because of who I picked and the timeline…

Ages: 

23 - Minsoo

24 - Yeji, Ryujin, Brick

25 - y/n, San, Wooyoung, Yeosang, Keeho, Mick

26 - Seonghwa

Quack - unknown… (probably mid-20s)

masterlist | prologue

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Dianne Feinstein, the woman who represented California in the US Senate and was the longest-serving female senator in history, “blazed trails for women in politics and found a life’s calling in public service”, Hillary Clinton said.

The former New York Senator and Secretary of State, who in 2016 was the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major US party, paid tribute to her fellow Democrat shortly after the announcement of her death. At the time of her death, Feinstein was 90 and still in office.

Clinton added: “I’ll miss her greatly as a friend and colleague.”

From the White House, Joe Biden saluted “a pioneering American.”

The President added: “Serving in the Senate together for more than 15 years, I had a front-row seat to what Dianne was able to accomplish. It’s why I recruited her to serve on the Judiciary Committee when I was chairman – I knew what she was made of.”

“… Often the only woman in the room, Dianne was a role model for so many Americans … she had an immense impact on younger female leaders for whom she generously opened doors. Dianne was tough, sharp, always prepared, and never pulled a punch, but she was also a kind and loyal friend.”

Gavin Newsom, the Democratic Governor of California, will select Feinstein’s replacement. Calling Feinstein “a political giant”, he said she “was many things – a powerful, trailblazing US Senator; an early voice for gun control; a leader in times of tragedy and chaos.”

“But to me, she was a dear friend, a lifelong mentor, and a role model not only for me, but to my wife and daughters for what a powerful, effective leader looks like.”

Feinstein’s “tenacity”, Newsom said, “was matched by her grace. She broke down barriers and glass ceilings, but never lost her belief in the spirit of political cooperation. And she was a fighter - for the city [San Francisco, where she was the first woman to be mayor], the state and the country she loved.”

There was some discord among the praise. David Axelrod, formerly a senior adviser to Barack Obama, pointed to recent controversy over whether, given her evidently failing health and absences which affected Democratic Senate business, Feinstein should have retired.

“How sad that the final, painful years will eclipse in the memories of some a long and distinguished career,” Axelrod said⁩. “RIP, Senator Feinstein.”

Many users cited a recent piece in New York magazine by the writer Rebecca Traister, about Feinstein’s declining years, which asked: “She fought for gun control, civil rights and abortion access for half a century. Where did it all go wrong?”

John Flannery, a former federal prosecutor turned commentator, was among those who had a rejoinder: “I hope some of those who hounded her in her dying days will remember her contributions.”

Many tributes highlighted Feinstein’s contributions to attempts to combat the problem of gun violence.

Though Feinstein “made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties”, Biden said, “there’s no better example of her skillful legislating and sheer force of will than when she turned passion into purpose, and led the fight to ban assault weapons.”

Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator from Connecticut and a leading voice for gun control reform, said Feinstein would “go down as a heroic, historic American leader … an early and fearless champion of the gun safety movement as author of the monumental Assault Weapons Ban of 1994.”

“For a long time, between 1994 and the tragedy in Newtown in 2012 [in which 20 young children and six adults were killed], Dianne was often a lonely but unwavering voice on the issue of gun violence.”

“The modern anti-gun violence movement – now more powerful than the gun lobby – simply would not exist without Dianne’s moral leadership.”

From the US House, Maxwell Frost of Florida, one of the youngest congressional progressives, called Feinstein “a champion for gun violence prevention that broke barriers at all levels of government.”

“We wouldn’t have had an assault weapons ban if it wasn’t for Senator Feinstein and due to her tireless work, we will win it back. May her memory be a blessing.”

From outside Congress, Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, a pro-gun control group, pointed out that Feinstein was “one of the first among her colleagues to support gun safety – including Democrats”.

Inside Congress, as a government shutdown loomed, Feinstein’s desk in the Senate was draped in black cloth, a vase of white roses placed to mark her death.

From the other side of the political aisle, the Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins called Feinstein “a strong and effective leader, and a good friend.”

Newsom has pledged to pick a Black woman to replace Feinstein until the midterm elections next year.

On Friday, Barbara Lee, a Black Democratic congresswoman running for the seat, said: “This is a sad day for California and the nation. Senator Feinstein was a champion for our state, and served as the voice of a political revolution for women.”

Among commentators, the MSNBC anchor Mehdi Hasan highlighted what will to many prove a complicated political legacy.

“The high point and low point of … Feinstein’s long and storied career as a US senator both relate to the ‘War On Terror’,” Hasan said. “Low point: voting for the Iraq invasion. High point: going against the CIA to expose their torture programme.”

In his statement, Newsom said: “Every race [Feinstein] won, she made history, but her story wasn’t just about being the first woman in a particular political office, it was what she did for California, and for America, with that power once she earned it. That’s what she should be remembered for.”

“There is simply nobody who possessed the poise, gravitas, and fierceness of Dianne Feinstein.”

Jennifer Mercieca, a historian of political rhetoric at Texas A&M University, put the case for Feinstein perhaps most simply of all.

“Dianne Feinstein was on the right side of history,” she said.

[letmeoutofthebasementt]

in fact in many readings it seem to be select members who arent typically interested in marriage or dont really deeply care to find an exact partner yet at the same time members like san often sound quite lonely at times, theyre very very interesting guys cause when i read idols relationship readings its quite funny how short a lot of their relationships seem to be or last. like i bet some idols have dated another idols ex and so on.

I think their relationships are short because they’re idols

They don’t have time

They may get caught

They’re not overly exposed to people other than the members and staff + crazy fans

Most of them didn’t have childhoods

They’re grown and starting their first relationships because of dating bans and just not having time

etc.

It’s honestly something that’s sad but a given

[daniwolf9005]

Going back to my roots with this one! Wanted to experiment with expressions and I think it went pretty well overall! Always had the idea that Bans would be part of the evil/bad sans group unwillingly because Nightmare decided to take him to their base solely as a source of energy when ever Nightmare was feeling low. He thrives on negativity and Bans’ existence is literally that!

[wutlaikalikes]

The Lone Wanderer, Again

I was expecting someone would have some form of lore but I didn't expect it to be Shinri.

source: https://x.com/aragamioga/status/1802149449822859560

Oga: Will this be banned from YouTube? Is this ok?

no worries Oga-san, you haven't been banned yet so your kouhai will be safe...?

【3D Showcase】The Lone Wanderer, Again #Shinri3D link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7ud60YJtLs

source: https://x.com/banzoinhakka/status/1802176115760562563

source: https://x.com/crimzonruze/status/1802176672176750670

source: https://x.com/goldbullet_en/status/1802176687175545324

source: https://x.com/octavio_holo/status/1802179723432534240

source: https://x.com/octavio_holo/status/1802175228350783537

source: https://x.com/banzoinhakka/status/1802179070773616848

source: https://x.com/banzoinhakka/status/1802178277945270610

source: https://x.com/goldbullet_en/status/1802178620384805185

[for context of what 'spagetti going up and going down' that Octavio asked Shinri to dance. its a popular dance in the early 2000s in South Elysium. for reference, check out this YT shorts: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HnPAHWaFy4Q]

source: https://x.com/crimzonruze/status/1802180291684860146

source: https://x.com/regisaltare/status/1802180418709397837

source: https://x.com/yatogamifuma/status/1802182030815588791

source: https://x.com/octavio_holo/status/1802181197487063306

source: https://x.com/crimzonruze/status/1802186302730686668

source: https://x.com/crimzonruze/status/1802182363964715295

source: https://x.com/crimzonruze/status/1802185592391843963

source: https://x.com/octavio_holo/status/1802185767491662063

source: https://x.com/crimzonruze/status/1802183350699929835

source: https://x.com/octavio_holo/status/1802187849267347755

-end of story-

source: https://x.com/gavisbettel/status/1802177042848604447

source: https://x.com/banzoinhakka/status/1802185167773245942

source: https://x.com/goldbullet_en/status/1802177754030330017

source: https://x.com/octavio_holo/status/1802176374847004945

These 4 tweets... 👀

lol

my after thoughts: Throughout the story, I thought might Aruran might appear since OG Aruran or Arupapa is a dimension hopper/traveller. OG Aruran left to go to Arunii's (current Aruran or Youngrandeisu) world to fight monsters since he is the only one strong enough. Even the portal used was the same! Oh well, I just need to see Armis' Goldbullet and Crimzon Ruze 3D next to complete ムチムチ五稜郭 (Muchimuchi Goryokaku) or Pecxodia.

[myechoecho]

The Secret Romantic Guesthouse, ep 11

I loved this episode.

San and Dan Oh remain ridiculously cute. And somewhat oblivious to the fact that everyone around them can tell something is going on between them.

Absolutely dying at the fact that San looked so shocked when Shi Yeol just casually says he cannot hurt the woman his master is in love with. It takes him a beat because at first he just agrees and then he’s like WHAT? And then he’s further stunned when he realizes that Shi Yeol has seen more of these moments. But more on Shi Yeol later.

Still I love that San gives Dan Oh an out after the kiss on the cheek, which she refuses.

I have to laugh at how decidedly uncomfortable San was talking with Dan Oh alone in her room. Their whole conversation shows how much they understand one another. He cannot promise he won’t do anything and she knows this. So when she says she’ll believe in him, it is really meaningful. You can tell he was hurt when she’s told him to leave before. But now she’s going to stay by his side and that means everything to him.

THAT LAST SCENE. That hug is one of the few times he’s really initiated physical contact with her. He gives his reason for wanting to become king, and that he cannot do it without her. That kiss was everything

Now that San knows that Shi Yeol is the Watchman, I adore the change in their relationship.

I initially thought that Shi Yeol and San were the same age and that the Watchman from 7 years ago was a different one. But it seems that Shi Yeol is a few years older than San so he’s really coming across like a big brother, especially with the teasing.

They are actually having meaningful conversations too, outside of San being the jade dust. I think that San has been desperately lonely most of his life. To have a friend who is close to his age and knows his secret is easing his loneliness.

I will say that Shi Yeol’s “character” seems to be just an exaggeration of his actual personality and I like that. I hope we find out more about how he became the Watchman.

So I turned out to be wrong about San shooting the king, but in my defense I did say it seemed to be really early to do that.

More people finding out about San now - Yook Ho and Ban Ya. I am very curious to see how San’s identity is going to be revealed.

There really are quite a few pieces in play. San, Mok In Ho, the King, Chief Administrator, Left State Councilor, the Eunuch, Ban Ya, the Courtesan.

I’m still most curious about the Eunuch since I don’t know what exactly his game is. San is right though - he could have revealed him that first night or really any time after that. I do think the Eunuch is on the side of the Eunuch. If that aligns with San then so does he.

I am leaning towards the king being eliminated and the final battle for the throne to be between San and Yoo Ha.

[globerovers]

A land where babies swim before they walk - this is the world of the Moken sea gipsies and remote island getaways.

In the 1946 book Biggles Delivers the Goods by Captain W.E. Johns, the goggled hero flies over the Burmese coast and Andaman Sea as he conquers the Japanese army. Looking down, he sees “Below the aircraft, like a string of green beads dropped carelessly on blue velvet… the islands of the archipelago, lonely, untouched by civilisation, each hiding beneath its tangle of jungle, a wealth of animal, bird, and reptile life...” 

This part of the world remains a largely unexplored lost kingdom where nobody knows all the species living in the dense jungle and in the turquoise waters. A pristine utopia of primal seclusion which is irresistibly lovely, and one of the last few paradises on earth. Here everything is alive, even the shells are crawling. 

Welcome to Myanmar’s Myeik Archipelago! Formerly known as the Mergui Archipelago, this is a place where adventure seekers can make their dreams come true. This is a place for explorers. A place for those who are yearning for destinations that still remain untouched, immaculate and unspoiled by mass tourism. This is a place where tourism is a brand-new terminology. 

The Myeik Archipelago is an immense area with more than 800 islands stretching for 400 km (248 mi) along the long narrow Kra Isthmus, part of the Tanintharyi Region in the extreme south of Myanmar. To the north is Myanmar’s Mon State, and further south are the idyllic Thai islands of Surin and Similan. 

Mainly composed of limestone and granite, the islands vary in size from small jagged rocky outcrops to islands many miles in diameter. The consistently pleasant temperatures, with average lows between 20-24°C (68-75°F) and average highs ranging between 28-33°C (82-91°F), are ideal conditions for tropical wildlife to thrive.

Most of the islands are covered in very dense jungle that drops into the turquoise waters, interrupted only by brilliant white powder-soft sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Some have tidal rivers and are fringed by large mangrove forests where fish and other sea creatures flourish. Others are surrounded by coral reefs and beds of seagrass, adding to the region’s diverse fauna and flora. 

The majority of islands remain uninhabited and untouched, although some of the larger islands are home to small communities of Burmese fishermen and the Moken people, also known as the Sea Gypsies. A few islands each have a single resort catering to tourists who are mostly well off.

However, the archipelago now faces challenges, including climate change, overfishing, and illegal poaching.

UNESCO recently assessed the Myeik Archipelago against World Heritage Site criteria, concluding that it “... forms an ecological system of outstanding biodiversity and integrity. Surveys have recorded 50 globally threatened plants and animals in the Lampi Marine National Park alone …” 

While too early to determine the long-term prospects for this fragile ecosystem, it is hoped that the increasing interest in ecotourism will provide an incentive for local authorities to protect the fauna and flora of the reefs and islands before it is too late.   

The history of Myeik Archipelago is generally unknown to much of the world. Most stories remain untold.

Most, if not all of the islands in the Myeik Archipelago, remained officially off-limits to foreigners for decades. However in 1997, Thai dive operators gained access to selected dive spots as Myanmar’s military government started lifting travel bans, although strict regulations were kept in place. 

When opposition leader and activist Aung San Suu Kyi became state counsellor in 2015, international travellers found it politically and morally acceptable to visit Myanmar. However, during the 2021 military coup she was once again placed under arrest. Still, Myanmar remains open to tourists who are warmly welcomed by the locals, especially those in the tourism industry.

The vast majority of islands remain undiscovered by tourists with many inhabited only by colourful wildlife and the odd fishing village. 

While tourism has increased since the late 1990s, the lack of infrastructure means only a few travellers visit the area, mainly via chartered yachts and live-aboard dive boats from Thailand or even Indonesia. However, the region is poised for change as the almighty tourist dollar is knocking on the door!

PEOPLE OF THE ARCHIPELAGO

The indigenous people guarding this island paradise refer to themselves as Moken, but they have several names. In Myanmar, they are generally known as Salone, while the Thais call them Chao Lay. They have also been dubbed “Sea Gypsies” or “Sea Nomads” by outsiders. Some Western travel writers have described the Moken as a “semi-aquatic race inhabiting a tropical haven”.

The Moken, who have lived undisturbed for centuries among these islands, are one of Myanmar’s most distinct ethnic groups. Over hundreds of years they have adapted to living on the water and moving to land during the rough monsoon season where their huts are built close to shore so they can constantly monitor the sea and their boats. 

Considered hunter-gatherers rather than fishermen, they hunt big fish from their boats using three-pronged spears rather than the destructive nets favoured by traditional fishermen. Masters of free diving, they can hold their breaths for a very long time while perfectly focusing their vision underwater. Women collect a variety of molluscs, sea urchins and sea cucumbers from the bottom of the sea, often as deep as 12 metres (40 ft). 

While the Moken believe one should not be greedy and only take from the sea what they need, they also believe that resources are infinite. 

Often they embark on multi-day fishing trips, though the trend is towards shorter trips, due to decreasing numbers of traditional kabang or big houseboats. As the government no longer allows cutting of the thickest trees needed to construct them, the Moken increasingly harvest fish and other food items closer to the coastline from smaller dugout canoes. 

Traditionally they moved from one island to another once resources were replenished. Nowadays they increasingly inhabit small permanent villages on the islands while their population—currently estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000—continues to slowly grow.

The seas they presided over for centuries are now getting busier with large trawlers and squid boats infringing on their territories. 

The Moken can’t compete for the limited resources, although the Myanmar government is trying to control the influx of foreign boats. As competition increases, it is not clear how they can continue to live a sustainable existence, so they are likely to increasingly abandon their traditional lifestyles and turn to the lucrative tourist trade.

When I recently visited a Moken village on a remote island, I found several stalls selling foods and candies, much of it packaged individually in plastic, with lots of locally-produced dried fish also available. Their customers are local Moken as well as Burmese from nearby islands and the mainland. 

The Moken kids are friendly and welcoming towards visitors, though some gasp in shock—perhaps they have never seen Westerners. Their faces are painted almost comically with the traditional Burmese thanaka, a yellowish-white paint made from ground bark. 

They are very much at home in the water and I could easily believe these kids really can swim before they can walk. 

Some adults smoke locally-rolled green-coloured cheroots, a potent Burmese cigar, as they lazily sit outside their homes and shops gossiping about the latest village news. 

Babies casually sway in little hammocks hanging between palm trees and on the small verandas of the stilted homes. This peaceful existence fits my image of life on a small remote tropical island.

British photographer Cat Vinton spent several weeks in 2009 documenting a Moken family aboard a kabang. 

She writes “...their nomadic free spirit, their lack of a routine, their knowledge of the sea and the jungle, their love of nature… these elusive people are born, live and die at sea. The Moken children can swim before they can walk. Their philosophy focuses on pride in the face of scarcity…”.

The lifestyle of the Moken has changed significantly in recent years and is set to change even more as these islands are increasingly opening up to outsiders and tourists.

THE ISLANDS

From high above the archipelago, the islands appear to form three vague strings, spread out over many miles.

Located in the westernmost reaches of the archipelago, about 85 kilometres (53 mi) west of mainland Myanmar and Thailand, Boulder Island is remote and pristine, earning its name from the gigantic rounded boulders scattered along its shores, some stacked into gravity-defying formations like immense stone sculptures.

Beyond its bizarre rocky landscapes, Boulder Island’s interior harbours lush jungle while idyllic beaches tucked into protected coves are scattered along the coast. With no villages or roads, and only one small eco resort, Boulder Island remains virtually untouched by civilisation.

Its isolation and lack of development means clear waters and intact coral, making Boulder Island one of the archipelago’s finest snorkelling and diving destinations. Look out for juvenile black tip reef sharks, sea otters, and large schools of small fish right in the shallows near the beach!

Jungle trails connect all eight beaches—your escape routes to a hidden paradise of beauty and solitude. 

Each one reveals new surprises from gravity-defying boulder formations to secluded snorkelling spots and beautiful shells. They share soft white sands and crystal clear turquoise waters. The trails also lead to lookout points for panoramic views over the island.

This rugged and unspoiled island is excellent for birding with a diverse array of bird species—spot the white-bellied sea eagles, Brahminy kites, Nicobar pigeons and many more. The chirpy white-rumped shama will unquestionably wake you up early with its beautiful songs. 

Harmless monitor lizards and reticulated pythons also inhabit the jungles, but fortunately, no dangerous animals or insects have been identified making it perfectly safe to explore.

The island’s only accommodation is the privately owned solar-powered Boulder Bay Eco Resort tucked behind the lush fish poison trees and screw pines of Boulder Beach. This small, cosy resort was built to sustainably integrate into the island’s ecology.

After being invited to visit, I boarded the resort’s boat in Kawthaung, Myanmar’s southernmost town. On the pleasant five-and-a-half hour journey to Boulder Island, we passed many beautiful islands and beaches, mostly uninhabited. A speedboat can be arranged for a faster trip.

As the boat approaches the southern side of the island with its distinctive piled-up boulders in the shallow waters, you will see the resort ‘s well-camouflaged beachfront bungalows peeking behind the trees. 

At high tide, you can disembark right onto the beach. During low tide, the boat moors at the concrete jetty which extends beyond the exposed corals. Depending on the conditions, you may need to be chauffeured to the jetty or beach by rubber dinghy or two-person kayak.

The friendly staff will welcome you with an ice-cold drink at the resort’s spacious thatched-roof community centre and check you into your bungalow after a short briefing. With open sea views, the community centre is a place to relax while dining, enjoying the bar, accessing the satellite internet, and playing card games with other adventurers. 

Welcome to paradise!

The resort offers eight eco-friendly seafront bungalows with another twelve amongst the trees. Constructed in the traditional Burmese style with wooden frames and walls, and local palm-leaf roofs, none of the building materials other than bamboo have been harvested from the island. 

The ample supply of fresh water is pumped from a well and meticulously filtered to ensure it is clean and safe to drink. Close to the adjacent beach is the large Yoga Centre, a versatile space for yoga, meditation, meetings, and any other events.

Make use of the resort’s fully equipped dive centre—with a qualified dive instructor, kayaks and snorkelling equipment to explore the surrounding and nearby reefs.  

The area has prolific fish and invertebrate life—in the shallower waters, you can expect to see many coral species as well as parrotfish, pipefish, butterflyfish, snapper, grouper and lots of colourful sea anemones with their resident clown-fish. 

While diving, you may see shark species such as black-tip and tiger sharks, as well as eagle and manta rays, giant stingrays, octopus, seahorses, frogfish, scorpionfish, ribbon eels, ornate ghost pipefish, schools of barracuda, rainbow runners, tuna, trevally, Spanish mackerel—the list is almost endless.

Alternatively, take a multi-day sea safari on the custom-designed live-aboard Burmese-style junk, the MV Sea Gipsy, ideal for diving, snorkelling, adventure excursions and romantic overnight trips. The tastefully decorated boat features five comfortable open-air gazebo areas on the main and upper deck which are transformed into beds with mosquito nets at night, and two bathrooms with toilets and freshwater showers on the main deck.

The huge sundeck invites guests to sunbathe on the wooden deck chairs or sit back under the stars with a glass of wine. Other areas provide space for relaxing either in the sun or shade. 

With the diving and snorkelling gear aboard the boat, explore the world below the surface teeming with iridescent reef fish that glitter like jewels and corals glowing with life. The underwater world invites exploration and promises discovery for those who venture into the depths.

The MV Sea Gipsy cruises between several islands where you can stroll along picturesque beaches, try sea kayaking, swim in crystal-clear turquoise waters, and go snorkelling. You may also meet the local inhabitants, such as the Moken. 

To experience all the resort has to offer, combine a few days in a bungalow with a few days on board the boat. Note that the resort is closed during the monsoon season when the seas can be rough and rain may fall for hours on end.

Boulder Island stands out among the many islands of the Myeik Archipelago—its natural beauty is breathtaking and offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, while the Boulder Bay Eco Resort ensures your time on the island is comfortable and unforgettable.

Arguably the most well-known island in the archipelago is also one of its largest. Lampi Island, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Myanmar mainland, is around 48 kilometres (30 mi) long and five kilometres (3 mi) wide. The island is home to the National Wildlife and Marine Park which protects over 1,000 species of animals, plants and marine life in the Myeik archipelago and was declared an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003.

As Myanmar’s only marine national park, it is rich in biodiversity with numerous plant species associated with its vast mangrove forests. Some of its many bird species are classified as threatened, including the plain-pouched hornbill and Wallace hawk eagle. 

Among the more unique birds are the white-bellied sea eagle, Nicobar pigeon, crested partridge, red-throated sunbird, brown-winged kingfisher, Pacific reef heron, emerald dove and more. 

Look out for loggerhead and green sea turtles, Sunda pangolin and dugong on and around the island. The region’s diverse range of wildlife also includes the cute spectacled leaf monkey, gibbons, reticulated pythons, monitor lizards, oriental small-clawed otter, lesser mouse-deer, civets, and many more.  Sometimes crab-eating macaques can be seen foraging for crabs on the rocky shores.

Many globally threatened species are amongst its amphibians, reptiles, sea turtles, mammals, fish, crabs, sea snails and sea slugs, bivalve molluscs, sea cucumbers, seaweed, seagrasses, and 333 species of plankton.  

Activities here include canoeing on the two perennial rivers on the west side of the island where the best-conserved mangrove forests are to be found, and hiking in the jungle. While official hiking trails throughout the archipelago are still very limited, if you are adventurous enough to take on the dense forests, you will find hiking through jungles on the islands to be one of the most rewarding experiences in the region. 

Visit the traditional Moken villages with houses built on stilts, and join them for diving and snorkelling in the Andaman Sea.

Across a 220 metre-wide (722 ft) channel known as Salet Galet cove at the westernmost tip of Lampi Island is Wa Ale Island. The protective cove is a popular anchorage for fishing boats in the fairly shallow waters, particularly during turbulent weather. A tiny island in the cove is home to a small community of Moken people. 

Wa Ale Island is known for its pristine kilometre-long dazzling white-sand beaches, flanked by rocky cliffs and backed by lush evergreen jungle. 

The island’s only accommodation is the luxurious Wa Ale Island Resort, creatively constructed with local materials including river stones and reclaimed wood to minimise its impact on the surrounding environment. 

Its luxury tented and treetop villas overlook the beautiful beaches on its doorstep, while the restaurant serves Asian-Mediterranean cuisine with ingredients from the resort’s organic garden and seafood from local fishermen who use sustainable fishing methods. 

As well as relaxing on the white-sand beaches, recreational activities include snorkelling and scuba diving, hiking through the dense jungle, paddle boarding and kayaking through the inlets of the dense mangroves forests. Kayaking and paddle boarding offer great opportunities to move slowly across the shallows that skirt the enchanted mangrove forests and up the small rivers, while getting a glimpse of the many small creatures living in these shallow protected waters.

For more detail about Wa Ale Island Resort, please refer to GlobeRovers Magazine, July 2018.

KAWTHAUNG—THE GATEWAY

One of the gateways to the Myeik Archipelago is Kawthaung, Myanmar’s southernmost town, separated from Thailand’s Ranong Province by a broad estuary of the Pakchan River. Known as Victoria Point during the British rule of Burma between 1824 and 1948, it is a charming, laid-back town straddling the hills between the Kra Buri River and the Andaman Sea. 

Several points of interest include the 21 metre-high (69 ft) Pyi Daw Aye Pagoda on a hill overlooking the town. Built in 1949, the temple features eight meditation niches representing the eight days of the Buddhist week, and 14 Buddha images. About three kilometres (2 mi) further north is the Mey Paw Kyan Pagoda. 

Explore the large area of stilted houses along the edge of the river at the northern end of town with a few restaurants and drinking spots. At low tide, the residents scour the muddy riverbed for molluscs and crabs, while at high tide the kids run along the wobbly planks connecting the houses and then jump into the water to play like fish. The people are very welcoming and curious to engage with visitors.

The downtown area has a few small restaurants serving authentic Burmese food, as well as coffee shops and interesting markets. At the most southern tip is the Nagayone Temple right at the water’s edge. Nearby is the Kawthaung Grand Spirit Shrine.

Before or after your island adventure, stay a few days at the lovely Victoria Cliff Hotel and Resort, located on the cliffs just 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) from Kawthaung harbour. The resort’s luxury accommodation includes Ocean View Wings, Lake View Villas, and Hillside Villas, many of which are brand new with exceptionally beautiful interiors and open sea views.

The resort grounds are well-groomed botanical gardens, complete with a lake, swans, a variety of flowering plants, very tall palm trees and incredibly well-maintained giant bonsais. 

After a day spent enjoying the resort’s facilities or exploring the southern tip of Myanmar, visit the resort’s Maliwan Spa for a relaxing massage or scrub, or work out at the well-equipped fitness centre overlooking the pool and gardens. Enjoy this large swimming pool set among the gardens or the smaller infinity pool overlooking the sea. The resort can accommodate up to 500 guests for weddings, conferences and celebrations. 

At dusk, relax in the large open-air restaurant with stunning views over the sea and nearby islands while you enjoy top class Burmese, Asian, and Western cuisines, paired with wines, beer or cocktails. 

As vibrant sunsets give way to glittering moonlight, you will be astounded by the star-strewn skies at night. The restaurant’s prime location promises to make memories as vivid as the surroundings. Pure bliss!

As our journey through the Myeik Archipelago comes to an end, we leave the untouched beauty of its islands with a sense of awe. 

The pristine beaches, dense jungles, and vibrant underwater life have shown us a world that remains largely unexplored, while the warmth of the Burmese villagers and the Moken people have added a human touch to our tropical paradise adventure. 

However, the challenges facing this archipelago remind us of our responsibility to protect these natural wonders for future generations. 

As we bid farewell, we carry not just memories of scenic beauty, but also a renewed commitment to preserving such magnificent corners of our planet. 

Whether you’re an adventurer at heart or simply a lover of nature, the Myeik Archipelago awaits your discovery. So come, explore, and help to keep this paradise unspoiled.

Check out Boulder Bay Eco Resort’s website for more information and contact them to book an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, make contact via info@boulderbayecoresort.com. An even better way to enjoy these islands is to combine a stay at the resort on Boulder Island, with a few nights cruising around the islands with their boat, the Sea Gipsy. For more information, check the website of the island safaris or write to them at info@islandsafarimergui.com.

To stay at the Victoria Cliff Hotel & Resort, email them at info@victoriacliff.com.

Also, check out my complete guide to the beaches of Myanmar and my list of Myanmar’s 10 best beaches.

[anthonybialy]

Hating Speech

You’re an accomplice.  There’s no appeal, either, so accept the struggle session’s sentence for amity.  The only crime Democrats care about is using mean words they decided make others commit assaults.  The infractions themselves are excused away as the result of poverty they cause or blamed on implements used as long as they feature triggers.  Linking scolding Nancy Pelosi to a madman attacking her husband is the sort of distortion makers of the most tenuous case claim to oppose.  At least they have an accurate example to cite.

Demonizing a foe should be banned.  This is politics we’re discussing.  The First Amendment should end with an asterisk.  As with other fabricated portions of the Constitution like the insurance mandate, education, and separation of church and state, liberals have reached the stage of just shrug off pretending to find justifications.  Pointing out the only ones thriving in such a wretched economy are thieves has been branded hate speech.

A concerted effort to silence foes is particularly adorable from preeners pretending everyone who doesn’t cheer for an insurance mandate like the harmed individual is reveling in an attack.  Ensuring only the side that pretends to care gets to be heard is tougher to do on Twitter now that Elon Musk has the app in his pocket.  But the dinosaur legacy media is doing its best to connect everyone noting that Paul’s spouse’s beliefs are as unconstitutional as they are daft to a lone disturbed assailant.

The list of violations you shamefully haven’t proclaimed you oppose is virtually endless.  Demanding Republicans condemn one particular attack implies culpability.  The faction in question is already outraged by crime, including the numerous offenses in Pelosi’s district.  Acting as if those who vote differently aren’t upset about misusing a tool on a human is particularly hideous while acting as if incorrect assumptions cause rancor.  Conspirators are responsible for daring to note Nancy remains a hustler and hassler.

Those newly blacklisted from noting the deficiencies of election competitors are similarly prohibited from acknowledging what sounds fishy.  You’re not allowed to challenge the official narrative regarding the hammer wielder heading to the Speaker of the House’s house after reading the Washington Free Beacon’s tweets.  There’s certainly nothing suspicious about how the fiend got inside or if he knew his victim.  For someone who’s gotten rather rich from public service, it seems the representative couldn’t afford working security cameras.  I blame greedy taxpayers for not paying a selfless public servant enough.

Dedicated foes of using paying governmental employees to enforce laws suddenly trusts everything the police claim.  There’s finally a crime liberals condemn.  Haters of every cop not involved in this particular arrest seem rather nonchalant about constant transgressions against San Franciscans who aren’t married to prominent congressional Democrats.

An excuse to stifle criticism is especially rich from those who have concluded they don’t have political opponents but enemies.  When one concludes government fixes everything, anyone thinking otherwise therefore keeps society from purring.  Progress is thwarted by liberty, according to advocates of involving government with every life aspect.  It’s logical in its illogical way just like everything else the state’s cultists goofily proclaim.

The media should be aware it relies on free speech to do its job.  Newsroom partisans ironically use false charges to inflame hate.  But this is no time for self-reflection.  Eminently skilled journalists have concluded the attacker was motivated by conservatives who note the present Speaker of the House uses federal power to bully the rest of us while she enriches herself.  Sure, there’s nothing trifling like evidence.  But interrupting the narrative throws off Democrats who sure aren’t going to win elections by gesturing to results.

It might just be possible that someone willing to hurt another is unbound by rationality.  This particular criminal appears to be a delusional human who doesn’t seem to obey any sort of coherent political doctrine.  Lots of Bay Area commune dwellers are renowned for heeding complaints about present meddlesome tendencies of the House of Representatives.  Reality-based intellectuals still think Sarah Palin’s map spurred a murder spree.

Affiliation is a magic spell that changes everything.  Take Steve Scalise getting vilified as a chief fiend before a prototypical loser proved he sucked as assassinations, too.  Presently indignant Democrats didn’t seem particularly worried that treating a Republican like Adolf Satan would provoke a deranged and dedicated liberal to try to murder his target at baseball practice.  That’s unless you count Joy Reid’s gloating as compassionate.

Most of us learn that words are not actions around kindergarten.  Of course, most of us also figure out that printing money to get rich has a catch around the same time.  Liberals who downplay actual incursions against others sure find lots of words to be felonious.  Those using colorful language to mock politicians are not responsible for lunatics taking rhetoric to heart.  The only thing keeping sanctimonious speech enemies from blaming Martin Scorsese for the attempted killing of Ronald Reagan is the latter’s affiliation.

Endure your lecture from very calm partisans who think conservatives want poor people to starve.  They crave controlling women by noticing sonograms.  And anyone who notices criminals disregard gun-free zone signs want children who are born to be murdered.  Professional slanderers think everyone else wishes harm on those who dissent, too.

[sanjosenewshq]

66 Clinics Throughout 15 States Have Stopped Providing Abortion Since Roe Fell

Simply over 100 days have handed for the reason that Supreme Court docket repealed 1973′s Roe v. Wade ruling, and the devastating results of the landmark choice are already on full show. Following the judgment in Dobbs v. Jackson Ladies’s Well being Group from late June, 66 abortion clinics throughout 15 states have been pressured to cease providing abortion providers, in accordance with an evaluation launched by the Guttmacher Institute on Thursday. Twenty-six of these clinics have been pressured to close down fully, whereas the remaining 40 are nonetheless open however simply providing different sexual and reproductive well being providers. The evaluation from Guttmacher, a analysis group that helps abortion rights, targeted on the states that had been implementing both complete or six-week abortion bans as of Sunday. Clustered primarily within the Southeast, these 15 states embody Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Alabama. Fourteen of them haven’t any abortion clinics resulting from near-total abortion bans that got here into impact after Roe fell. The fifteenth state is Georgia, which nonetheless provides abortion care in 13 of its clinics, however providers are closely restricted for the reason that enactment of a six-week ban in July. “That is solely 100 days in from Roe being overturned, and we have already got 14 states the place there is no such thing as a abortion supplier,” stated Rachel Jones, a principal analysis scientist at Guttmacher and the lead writer on its new report. The nonprofit estimates that 26 states will doubtless ban abortion inside a 12 months of the Dobbs choice. Texas, due to its sheer measurement, had essentially the most clinics earlier than the June ruling. There have been 23 abortion clinics within the Lone Star State, however none presently provides abortion providers. Twelve of the Texas clinics have shut their doorways for good, whereas 11 proceed to supply different providers. Arizona beforehand had eight abortion clinics, none of which now provides abortion care. Seven of those clinics stay open and provide different well being providers. Louisiana was residence to a few abortion clinics earlier than the Dobbs choice, which centered on a clinic nicknamed the Pink Home. All of them have since been pressured to close down fully. Almost 22 million girls of reproductive age reside within the 15 states analyzed by Guttmacher. That’s virtually one-third of the whole U.S. inhabitants of girls of childbearing age who are actually going through bans or extreme restrictions on abortion. And this quantity doesn’t embody nonbinary and transgender individuals who can get pregnant. The demand for abortion care has elevated lately, in accordance with a separate report from Guttmacher that got here out days earlier than the Dobbs choice. After many years of decline, the variety of abortions being carried out saw an 8% enhance between 2017 and 2020. “These bans on abortion are coming at a time when the necessity is even better than it has been,” stated Jones. Some states — like Ohio and Indiana — are nonetheless battling abortion bans in decrease courts, forcing clinics to supply abortion care someday however not the subsequent. And that’s merely not sustainable for amenities which might be typically already underfunded and understaffed. “On this whack-a-mole world that we’re dwelling in ― the place abortion bans are in place after which are usually not in place after which are in place ― that’s not a practical atmosphere for clinics,” stated Jones. “They’ll’t hold accommodating these adjustments and legal guidelines. It takes its toll.” Originally published at San Jose News HQ