#one of those moments where you really feel the still image limitation as a limitation

[tricoufamily]

HUGO HATER FOUND BOO HIM OFF THE STAGE

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[hearts4jean]

୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

jean - braiding - modern au -

It is so clear that Jean is a gentleman in case I haven’t made it clear already like a relationship with him would be the most magical epitome ever, you being his first significant other. Sure he’d be a nervous wreck, but it’s so lovely dating him. He’d love doing all that cutesy stuff with you, people around you describe you two as the ‘ideal couple’.

He loves playing with your hair so much whether it’s where you letting him run his fingers through it as you two share a moment while in each others embrace (He’d so play with your hair as you kiss him); even when you rest your head in his lap in case you’re feeling fatigued and gently ruffles your hair (He strokes your hair if you’re asleep to not disturb you too much)

His favourite thing especially is braiding your hair he just finds it so relaxing for the both of you. It’s a skill he’s always had. He utilises it with all the women in his life like his mother, younger sister if he had one, even Sasha at one point. The amount of times he would’ve gotten told off at school for playing with Sasha’s hair as kids by teachers.

Jean always fantasised about braiding your hair too but he didn’t know how to bring it up to you, it seems too sudden and he didn’t really see you have your hair in that style very much. However, he was able to build up the courage to do so as you were getting ready to go out somewhere with him. The only reason he showed up while you were still getting ready was because he accidentally showed up way earlier than planned but this minor mistake all worked out in his favour and yours too in a way.

Jean, sitting on your bed, watches you grumble in the mirror while having your face buried in your palms. He walks up to you, placing his hand on your shoulder.

“Everything alright, []?”

You turn to him with a glum expression; your phone open on Pinterest, the search bar reading “hair inspo” and the images consisting of the most vile ‘wedding hair styles’ from 2014 with a mix of the most complex styles done with unattainably healthy hair. Even Jean, a man who has limited knowledge about how girls work understands how hideous some of those styles are, snickering at some of them as you mindlessly scroll through them.

“How do you feel about braids?”

“Braids? They’re cute, not really my go-to style but-“

“Let me- Sorry, did I cut you off?”

“No no, you’re fine. What were you going to say?”

“Oh, I was going to say you should let me do your hair.”

-“What?”

“Uhh..”

“Sorry, I sounded off-putting right there. I didn’t mean to. What do you mean by me letting you do my hair?”

“I wanna braid your hair. I MEAN! (That sounds too demanding….) Would you like me to braid your hair? It’s fine if you don’t wanna..it’s..ah cool…”

“You know how to braid hair?”

“Yes!”

- You laugh. “Go for it I suppose, you seem very eager to.”

“Merde! Did I really sound like that..?”

“…”

- “Your silence is doing better harm than good”

“Do you want to braid my hair or not?”

“Yes”

“Hah! There you go sounding eager again!” You burst out laughing, pointing your finger at Jean’s face turning into a light pink.

“[]!!!!”

Eventually you do stop messing around with him and he gets to work. Jean tries to be gentle as possible with you all the time no matter the circumstance. “Sorry, did I hurt you?” And i’d be the slightest tug that was a less careful that he intended it to be. He finds braiding hair to be relaxing for him as it sort of allows him to turn all his attention on 3 pieces of hair and how they are supposed to be crossed over repeatedly until he reaches the ends.

The feeling is mutual between the two of you; you found it to be really calming moment between the two of you, creating a new way for you two to bond together. After this, you find yourself getting your hair braided by Jean a lot more often.

Once he starts to get more skilled, he even starts to spazz up the way he braids your hair to. Like braiding in ribbons or adding smaller braids between sections. Your hair is one of his favourite things about you. Jean appears to be this stupidly cocky guy who enjoys messing around with Connie by tormenting Eren or Reiner and doing dumb teenage boy stuff; well thats what he paints himself to be. Who knew the same person also enjoys braiding hair?

[gatitties]

Hello! I seen your requests are open! Could I request

Levi Ackerman x calm and kind reader where everyone’s on a mission and all of the sudden we got ambushed by titans. Reader is killing titans with Levi and her sister when she sees a hand reach down for her sister. She tries to get to her but instead she watches her sister get bit in half. Reader goes crazy and gets extremely violent with the titans because her sister was her sanity. After the battle everyone whose left alive are regrouping while reader walk up to a tree and takes her anger out on it(slicing punching etc). Levi sees her and stops her from hurting herself. Later back at camp shes training with an anger that she didn’t before so some jerk makes a joke that it took for her sister to die to become a real soldier. Levi comes around the corner to reader beating the shit out of the jerk. He gives her a warning and she listens but she’s still very violent towards targets during training and missions and cold to people. Happy ending please.

If you don’t, I totally understand! I just really like your writing style lol. ꨄ

─Levi x fem!reader

─Summary: Your entire kind personality breaks when a loved one dies, making you a completely different person, although there are people who remain by your side despite the change.

─Warnings: none

oh oh finally something to write about aot, ty! <3

You had always been a kind and warm person despite being part of the survey corps, despite having experienced a lot of atrocities, having seen so many deaths before your eyes. Your smile did not falter in the lowest moments, helping and taking into account all those who were badly injured after a cold battle, you felt that it was your duty to make everyone feel as good as possible to eradicate the problem, after all if hope is lost everything would be lost.

You had seen how many people fell apart when they saw their loved ones go to another life in a painful way, even though you felt sorry for them and helped them improve emotionally, you never knew what it felt like to lose someone for whom you would give your life without a second thought, ever, until your sister died inches from you by a titan.

You felt your vision darken, your breathing quickened and you crashed into some trees as you had lost control of your equipment, luckily you ended up high enough so they couldn't catch you, however you didn't shed more than a couple of tears, you swallowed your sadness, still stunned and unaware of what had happened.

You two were cleaning the area of titans and out of nowhere, from one moment to the next… she's gone? It had to have been a hallucination, your sister was alive and what you had seen was a hallucination due to fatigue, right?

"I-It's not true…"

All bravery was gone, you fell to your knees on the thick tree branch, screaming in indescribable pain, nothing in your body hurt, but something was burning inside you, you felt nauseous for a moment, but after a minute staring into space, listening to how a pair of titans were trying to climb the tree you were in, something lit up inside you, a furious flame.

You went crazy when you saw those titans, letting everything you were keeping inside you explode in the form of the desire to kill, you don't even remember what you did until Levi kicked you to stop because you were going to kill yourself if you continued like this.

You argued with him for stopping and you got a big punishment for disobeying orders from a superior, but you didn't complain, after all it would make you think about something other than the death of your sister, which you ended up accepting as the years went by.

Levi cannot remove that image of you, he knew that you were strong, with your limitations, but reliable enough to go in a small special group, he knew you well, he admired how you were capable of providing tranquility and hope to the most desolate people, he admired the warmth you transmitted, never in all his years working with you had he seen you lose your temper like that, even though he was scared to see you full of blood, red eyes and a furious look, he understood your pain, he had been there before.

He thought the drastic change to a tougher, less empathetic, and loner personality would go away as quickly as you got over your grieving phase, however it didn't seem to go away over time. No more kind words, no more selflessly helping people, no more considering leaving any titans alive for Hange. Levi wasn't bothered by your new way of being, in fact, you had more similarities now, but knowing you for years, it was like seeing a stranger and not the person he used to know.

He would love to be able to help you, give you words of support and return that warm and bright personality that he liked, but he was not the one, he was never good at expressing his feelings, taking cautious steps around the people he loved, he always created a wall of separation just in case, he couldn't stand any more deaths of people he really likes because it will affect him too much if he gets close enough to open up.

Despite the time that had passed, the anger and pain remained within you as you remembered the grotesque scene of your sister being devoured, it made you feel dizzy and restless, you found that training harder to get rid of your discomfort was a small solution to your conflicting thoughts. No one used to bother you at these times since you used to choose the hours when fewer people could find you, however some idiots had to watch you release all your anger by cutting trees in one fell swoop and hitting them until you bled.

"Oh look, I didn't think people here took hand-to-hand training so seriously."

"Look at those muscles, what strength!"

"Yeah, the death of her sister made her like that, before she was a weak ass, even I could beat her in a fight! There are people who need some canonical event to evolve, not me of course…"

Your actions stopped when you heard something you didn't expect from a mate, something that burned you to the depths of your being, you looked at the three guys who stood looking at you with stupid smiles, waving as if you hadn't heard anything.

You dragged your dominant foot along the ground, taking a breath, your best fighting pose to jump and bite their necks off if someone didn't get ahead of you.

"People like you should be food for titans, who gives you the right to talk like that about someone higher in rank than you!? You should show some respect towards people! Go before the punishment I give you is worse than I have in mind."

You rolled your eyes, watching harshly as Levi kicked their asses, watching as the three boys trembled like a leaf, you didn't bother to thank him, nor make a gesture of thanks, returning to your training.

"And you, what do you think you're doing? I thought I had banned you from training until further notice."

You sighed, frowning at Levi, he approached you with a determined look, you intended to start a fight with him to determine your dominance, however, he still managed to stop you, winning in hand-to-hand combat. You shifted like a worm as he sat calmly on your back, his hands gripping yours firmly, frowning at the new wounds on your knuckles.

"I learned my lesson Levi, now get off me."

"You haven't learned shit, your actions give you away, you don't have to act like that with me, I know what you're trying to do."

You mumbled some curses, feeling your eyes watering, although you were now a harder and colder person, it was only to cover your true sensitive personality, that Levi knew how to see through you bothered you.

"Just leave me alone, I promise not to continue training, but let me go."

He sighed, slowly getting up but catching you before you ran away from him, grabbing your damaged hands carefully, avoiding your gaze, pulling you gently.

"I will let you go, but first we will heal these wounds, the next time you want to de-stress... know that my door is always open for you."

[hangmanssunnies]

Writing on the wall

Summary: Hangman is back from a three month TAD. However, when he comes home he discovers you have done some redecorating concerning the pictures in the house. You know it’s because of your insecurities, but he comes to some different conclusions.  

Pairings: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Fem!Wife!Reader

Fandom: Top Gun: Maverick 

Word count: 7.4k 

Warnings: Angst, Self image issues, Smut, BDSM dynamics. Lightly edited. MINORS DNI 18+

A/N: I don’t really write anymore, however I am too in love and inspired by this man so here we are. I hope you enjoy it. It’s actually Jake “husband” Seresin in this one folks. Thanks for giving it a read if you do. 

Jake liked to surprise you when he came home sometimes. He would know generally when he was coming home. However flying back from the other side of the world wasn’t always easy, this was one of those times. He had only been able to tell you a week when he would be home.

The last you had heard from him had been a grainy FaceTime call last week saying he would be home in a few days. So, you weren’t entirely prepared when you heard the front door to your house open and a heavy bag fall onto the floor from where you were cooking and cleaning in the kitchen.

“Honey I’m home,” that familiar Texas drawl called out and you dropped everything in your hands.  Sprinting down the hallway, you met Jake who was rushing into your arms. The two of you hugged tightly and you breathed him in gripping him so tight you were surprised that he didn’t complain.

He pulled away from your hug only so that he could cup your face and kiss you. You deepened the kiss almost immediately reveling the feel of his tongue twisting with yours. It didn’t take Jake any time to walk you backwards until you were pressed against a wall still kissing furiously.

This wasn’t your first homecoming together, and it wouldn’t be your last, but the joy at seeing him again never changed. Finally he pulled away from you but a grin was engulfing his face.

“Hi,” you whispered. You were tracing a pattern on his neck wearing a grin to match his own.

“Hello there,” he whispered back, making you laugh and kiss him again.

A few minutes later he was scarfing down some food in the kitchen that you had just finished making and you had glued yourself to his side unable to be more than a few feet away from him at the moment.

When he finished eating he turned to you with a grin, and you took that to mean you could start covering him in kisses again.

“I am so gross from travel.”

“I don’t care,” you quickly told him.

He sighed then shaking his head at you, “ I do care.”  He had just finished putting his dishes away in the dishwasher and you still had the urge to be all over him . Thats was when he broached on a topic you were in no way ready to deal with.

“Baby are you painting, or redecorating, or something?” Jake asked confused looking around the bare entry, living room, and dining room.

You weren’t entirely paying attention yet though your hands were preoccupied with unbuttoning his shirt. His large hands circled around your wrist before you could finish pushing it off his shoulders.

“ The house is pretty much empty, and all our pictures are gone,” he said.  One of his thumbs tracing your pulse point softly, making your heart race even faster.

Jake loved pictures. He was always ready to snap pictures at a moments notices and his camera role was often over flowing.  He didn’t limit himself to his phone either, his collection of cameras  and passion for photography had been an unexpected thing you learned about him when you started dating.  The two of you even converted one of the basement  rooms of your house into a darkroom for him to develop film when you moved in.

You stared stubbornly at his beautiful chest  instead of answering at first. It was much tanner than the last time you had seen him in person. The middle east sun he got on deployments darkened his skin even more than the summers you two would spend on beaches here. He always came home more in shape than when he left. You knew working out was one of the best options to keep busy on a deployment, but it did seem a bit ridiculous. Who had given this man the right to be even more gorgeous? You didn’t know why you had hoped that your changes in decor during the three and a half month TAD he was gone would go unnoticed.  Some form of denial most likely.

“Oh yeah. I am starting to shuffle stuff around and redecorate,” you finally told him. Dragging your eyes away from his abs and slowly up the exposed parts of his chest. Then you traced over his neck and lips, the shape of his face. At last meeting his sparkling eyes and trying to force the most genuine smile on your face that you could.  He was staring intently at you, and the semipermanent smile lines he had on his face drifted from your sight and you knew you were not successful in your lie.

You expected him to push the issue, but instead he simply kissed you again. It was a soft  press of his lips this time though, none of the heat that there had been previously.

“I am going to jump in the shower would you like to join me?” he asked you instead.  

“No, I need to finish cleaning up but I’ll be up to bed after.”

Jake quirked an eyebrow at your response, considering moments ago you had been all over him, but again he decided to let you be. Even when you love someone it can be hard to remold yourself together after so much time apart.

Hangman kissed your forehead gently, and then made his way to your master bedroom. After a few minutes you heard the shower come on accompanied by a muffled Hangman’s favorite playlist coming from the other side of the house. True to your word, you finished the dishes in the kitchen and made sure everything was wiped down. When you had  finished and  there was nothing else to do your eyes drifted over to the former photo wall in-between the kitchen and dinning room. Your stomach flipped slightly thinking about it again.

You had taken all the photos and frames and canvases off the wall weeks ago. At first you had just pulled all of the ones of  that had you in them, leaving some of the photos of you and Jake together,  and all of the photos of him remained. Then after another week, you decide to pull off more of them, that featured you. The last month and a half of his deployment it had really just been his handsome face smiling out at you, and some of his scenic shoots.  

Finally just a few days ago when Jake had told you he was coming home you panicked. Instead of hanging up all the frames you pulled down, you rushed to pull down the remaining photos. You told yourself this way it wouldn't look too odd, and had stored them with the rest of the collection in the hallway closet tucked way into several boxes.

It had really just started with a bad day, and seeing yourself in the photos was too much. It wasn’t that you thought the photos were wrong in how they captured you. It was more like  you didn’t want the reminder of it all— of how you looked. The fight for self love wasn’t an easy one, especially not when being with Jake. The man was an Adonis, and he worked hard to be that way.  Sure he also had some good genetics to help him along the way, but it was more than just that.

Triple checking there were no other chores to be done and that you had finished. You pulled your mind away from the issues of the last few months and made your way back to your bedroom. You didn’t hear the shower running anymore, but you didn’t hear anything coming from the room at all. Not music, TV, or any of the podcast Jake loved to listen to before bed.

When you entered your room you were surprised to see all the lights still on. Jake was sitting on your bed wearing the ridiculous robe you had gotten him back when you were still dating. It was short, and silky.  He wore it because it made you laugh, and though he would never admit it, he also thought it was comfortable. He had made fun of Schmidt's robe when the two of you watched NewGirl, an action that had prompting you to get him something similar.  Then  he surprised you by  actually wearing it often. You hadn’t expected him to actually ever use it, but then again, Jake “Hangman” Seresin was the kind of man who continually proved preconceived notions about him wrong.

The small smile that made its way on your lips at seeing him back in your bed again was quickly over shadowed, seeing the stiff military posture. Hangman was perched on the edge of your bed, feet planted firmly to the ground. His back was a hard line and his arms were slightly tensed. He looked like he expected an admiral to walk in for a room check. The seriousness of his body language reflecting on his face as well.

“Are you okay baby?” you asked him with no hesitation. He had been staring at his hands, but his eyes swept up to catch yours across the room. You were frozen in place by the hurt you saw in them. Learning to read Jake’s eyes wasn’t hard, they were always his tell. His eyes were the place that could give away how he was really feeling. Even times he threw on that cocky smirk to try and hide something from you, the depths of his eyes would tell you the whole story. This was not one of those nights though, he made no attempt to hide the emotions behind his actions, searing your soul.

“ No,” he said plainly. There it was, matching everything else about him, a stiff clipped voice like he was addressing a superior officer, or this was a briefing over a failed mission. The tone rung something in you, and you immediately crossed the room unfrozen by his words. You sat next to him on the bed reaching for his hand, but he pulled it further away from you.

You couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, Jake had denied physical contact between you.  His jaw was clenched and you traced over his face the upset look. Again trying to glean more information from the limited context you had.

“ What’s wrong?” you asked him gently.

“ I think I should be the one asking that,”  he snapped back. There was a heavy pause, where you waited for more explanation. Then he said, “ It looks like you aren’t married.”

Your jaw physically dropped down trying to process his words. “What?"

“Every single photo of us in this house is gone. I may have been willing to believe you were redecorating,  but there isn’t anything of us. Of me. Anywhere.” You watched as his eyes left his hands to flash towards his bedside table which was sitting empty except for a lamp. Panic suddenly filled your chest, sitting heavy making it feel hard to breathe.

Jake kept a framed picture of you from the night he proposed and you got engaged. He loved the photo of you, and had it proudly displayed on his bedside table. He had taken it on one of his classic film cameras and it was the first role he had processed in your home’s darkroom. The photo showed you and the ring he had taken months picking out off; in it you had been wearing the same flimsy robe he was wearing right now, and you hadn’t even been looking into the camera. When he took it you had been straddling him staring into his eyes rather than the camera. The photo that was currently stashed underneath the same bed the two of you were sitting. You personally did not find it a flattering photo, but you had never had the heart to tell him that.

“Are you cheating on me?” he asked you finally, seemingly tired of waiting for you to say something. Shock was flooding your system short circuiting every possible response you were trying to come up with. You had never even guessed he would ever even think such a thing possible.

“Jake, no,” you finally managed to squeak out.

“Are you leaving me?” He still had that cold military voice. Like this conversation was him gathering intel, so he could best choose how to proceed with a mission.

“ I would never.”

“Are you mad at me? Or trying to tell me you’re unhappy with our marriage? I know I can be gone a lot, but we-“

You cut him off sharply there, “Jake, no stop.  Please stop. No, none of that.” Each question he asked made the pit that had been building in your stomach grow deeper.

“Then why? What’s going on?”

“I don’t know how to explain.”

“Explain what? Please baby, you have to give me something. I can’t be flying in the dark.” His voice cracked and the anguish there broke your own resolve as well. Months and really years of emotion coming to the surface and starting to bubble out of you.

“I hate these pictures. I hate every single one of them. It’s not just your photography. I hate every single picture of me that has ever been taken. Everyone I have ever seen, and even the ones I haven’t. Then you were gone, and they were all staring at me. I had to take them down.”  You sucked in a rapid breath.

“I don’t photograph well. You know that Jake, and you are amazing. As hot as a fucking model in every picture, which I love. I love you. But I can’t stand to have to see myself immortalized on our walls when I look the way I do next to you.” Frustrated tears pricked at the edge of your eyes and you had to bite the inside of your cheek to keep them from falling. Your lips started to wobble and you took some deep breaths trying to get some semblance of control back of your emotions. The confession left you feeling raw.

“Baby, you’re beautiful.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better Jake. I’m not. I know you love me for a million things beyond my looks. But it would be nice if you could just admit I’m not a beautiful attractive woman.”

He looked at a loss for what to say not knowing how to handle the situation.“I’m not going to lie to you. Or feed into your delusions.”

“Yes but you do lie to me all the time. They aren’t delusions, can’t you acknowledge that? I have eyes Jake. I know what beautiful people look like. I know what I look like. I can do the fucking math.”  The tears fall from your eyes and you scrubbed them away harshly, taking a ragged gasping breath trying to calm down your emotions.

“ I don’t know what to say. I disagree with you. I think you’re beautiful, I really do.”

“ You are the one making me delusional trying to make me believe that’s actually true. Does it make you feel better? Or give you some kind of satisfaction to fool me? Saying I’m beautiful to my face, because that’s what you’re supposed to say to the woman who sucks your cock even though you don’t believe it yourself either.”

You knew this conversation was bad, that after three months apart the first thing you were  doing when finally seeing him again was picking a fight. However, you couldn’t stop yourself the emotions of hurt, anger and frustration pounded through your veins, pushing right past boundaries you normally would have maintained. Fury replaced all other emotions in Jake’s face at your words. His lips thinned into a tight flat line and eyebrows creased together.

“ You think I would lie to you for what? Some sexual favor? I was telling you how stunning you were before we had even kissed, let alone slept together.” The anger in Hangman’s voice was no longer veiled and his hands were pressed into his knees so hard the knuckles were starting to turn white.  

“That’s not true, and I know it isn’t.” You let out a few dry chuckles, absolutely no joy or humor behind the sound.  Suddenly you stood up from the bed unwilling to sit so close to him during this conversation.The change in position empowered you, standing over Jake now. You pointed at him accusingly. “ You know, I heard you tell something to your friends back when we first started dating. You said to them that I’m cute and unique.That my photos can’t really do me justice, for all my talents and qualities.”

He scoffed rolling his eyes at your phrasing “No. I did not say it that way. And I certainly didn’t mean it in this convoluted fucked up way you have made up to feed into your insecurities.”

“ Sure you didn’t Jake,” you were the one rolling your eyes now.  

“ What do you want me to say?”

Tears were fully streaming down your face now, and you already felt tightness of the skin around your eyes as they started to puff.

“ You don’t have to say anything. But don’t you worry your pretty little head. I wouldn’t cheat on you. I’m not… I don’t know why that would even cross your mind. I wouldn’t turn anyone else’s eye. I still question how I caught your eye in the first place. And no one has ever turned my head like you do. There isn’t anything else to say.”

That tick in his jaw was notched again, those eyes searing into yours. It was a staring contest then, one you were determined to win. You were at a disadvantage though, stray tears still burning, begging to be blinked away, and the sudden adrenaline of the unexpected fight starting to wane. His unblinking eyes only showed resolve and determination the longer the unspoken contest went on. You weren’t sure if moments or minutes passed between you two, when your breaths had less of a hitch in them and you finally lowered your eyes to examine the floor between you two.  

Jake had been patiently waiting for you to break, and now that you finally had backed down he stood to his full hight from the bed. You didn’t take your eyes off the floor though not wanting to look up at him yet.

“Have you said everything you would like to say?” He asked you. He voice was soft then, sweet even.

You swallowed the lump in your throat before nodding your head.

“ Good,” he said in that same tone, “You say there isn’t anything to say, I don’t agree with that. But will you let me show you something then? Let me prove you wrong?”

You worked your lip in-between your teeth, trying to evaluate your emotional state, not sure if you could handle the sort of thing you knew he was getting ready to propose. He still hadn’t touched you but you could feel the warmth of him so close almost tickling you.

“Its okay if you want to say no baby. If that's the case though, then I want to make us an appointment with Dr. Smith for whenever she can fit us in, if you feel like we can’t talk about this or work through it.”

You nearly blanched at the mention of your therapist. You and Jake had done a few couples sessions in the past, but these insecurities weren’t really something you wanted to talk about with him and your therapist at the same time, in the same room.You also didn’t want Jake to know you had been canceling your therapy appointments for nearly the last two months. That wasn’t something that you wanted to also get into a fight about tonight.

All that being said though you knew you could tell Jake you wanted to drop the subject and just go to bed, and he would. He would put on boxers and slide into bed not crossing a single boundary you set between you without consent. You knew this because Jake Seresin was a good man. Even more than that, you knew we was a great man to you.

“ I don’t know,” you finally whispered, now you suddenly just wanted to touch him. He had been gone for three months.

You felt the calloused fingers of his right hand under your chin and ever so gently nudge your face upwards so that his eyes could consume yours again. “Why don’t you take a cold shower, otherwise you will get a headache,” One of his fingers brushed the swollen skin under your eyes, just grazing the skin. It was a ghost touch one you weren’t sure was real. “ The water will help you clam down too. Then you can take your time to decide if you would like to join me in the basement tonight.”

He lingered only for a moment, you could tell that he wanted to kiss you. You also knew that this fight, what you revealed to him had deeply disturbed him. He went into your shared walk in closet then, you watched him. He reemerged, wearing silky black pajama pants and nothing else. They hung low on his waist showing off  his sculpted chest, abs, and the v oh his hips that suddenly made your mouth water.

“ Taking a shower wasn’t a suggestion,” he told you raising an eyebrow clearly displeased to see you in the same spot he had left you.

His gaze was heavy on you as you went into the attached bathroom. It didn’t take you long to strip down and stand under cool water.  You stood there letting the water soothe the emotions that had been racing through you. It did help you calm down and, you felt a flush of embarrassment at how the first night back with Jake had turned out.  

You had missed him, so much. Standing under the cold water, the flush in your skin didn’t completely go away though as you thought about his offer, to give him anything he desired despite your own insecurities. It was enticing, and thinking about his toned chest and the smooth feel of his skin earlier was enough for you to make up your mind.

It didn’t take you much longer to step out of the shower, put on some lotion and wash your face with more cool water ensuring the puffiness around your eyes had receded.  You threw on a simple night dress knowing it probably wouldn’t stay on you long and started to trek downstairs.

The stairs to the basement of your home was well lit and inviting. Unlike what one might expect it was a maintained furnished and usable space. It had a large family room, a bathroom and two additional spare rooms, one was Jake’s dark room, and the other was a playroom, though usually when Jake called it that it made you want to wrinkle your nose in distaste.

Soft music was playing which helped ease your nerves, and then finally you took a steadying breath, not sure what Jake might have waiting for you in the playroom after such an odd fight.

It was a clear set rule that revenge had absolutely no place in your sex life. It was one of the rules actually put into place by Hangman, when you first discussed bedroom and BDSM boundaries when your relationship had started to get more serious.

He had left the door slightly ajar for you, so that you wouldn’t have to actually open it. Instead you just had to push it further open so you could slip inside.  When you stepped into the room he was there.

There wasn’t a bed in the room, you both had decided against it. There was however a plush love couch which Jake had made himself comfortable on. The room also featured a swing, a cross mounted on the wall, a table, and other odds and ends for play. It also had a few too many mirrors for your taste, on the wall with the closet and the ceiling.

“Hi baby,” He said after noticing you. He had a bundle of rope in his hands that he had been knotting. Your bottom lip caught in your teeth for a second at the sight of it. He may have been a pilot, but the man was still in the Navy and he certainly knew his way around some rope.

“Hi.”

He smiled gently at you and stood up from where he had been sitting, the rope falling abandoned by his feet. Jake held his arms open for you waiting expectantly. It only took you a moment to reach his embrace. Your arms wrapped tightly around his bare chest hugging him close. His arms folded you closer to him holding you tight. The strong pressure of the hug eased the nerves that had been bubbling inside of you.

Jake hummed contently having you in his arms and made no move to break the hug. However, once you started to feel at ease your hands started to trace along his back slowly, mapping out the skin and muscles there. You nuzzled his neck with your nose breathing in his scent, still clean and smelling faintly of the sandalwood aftershave he liked to use.

Your hand brushed lower skimming the top of his waist band but then one of his hands stopped you. Hangman trapped your own hand with his then threaded your fingers closely together.

“Now, now baby. No touching before we establish what we are doing.”

Rolling your eyes you nod agreeing and pressing your nose into his neck again, while tightening your fingers against his. Humming instead of really answering him.

“You know our rules?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Is the light system okay with you tonight?” he asked kissing your forehead.

“ Yes Sir,” you confirmed again.

He let out a heavy breath and then pulled his hand away from yours using it to trace up your back and grip the back of your neck.  “Anything else I need to know for tonight baby?”

“I don’t think I can…” you trailed off not finishing your sentence you worked your lip in between your teeth.

“Yes, what is it?” he asked gently. You didn’t respond at first just thinking about your response.

“If you can’t be honest and open with me, we can’t do this.” Jake said when you didn’t say anything after he gave you a moment. “ That is rule number one.”

“ I know the rules,” you told him quickly. Then a moment more, “I don’t want any pain play,” you finally told him.  He had been gone too long, and you were still too wound up and sensitive from the fight you had just finished. The idea of pain play just didn’t sound appealing to you at this time.

“Okay, I understand. Thank you for sharing that with me baby. Anything else?” There was absolutely no judgment or anger in his voice, and the small part of you that had been worried felt at ease again.

“No,” you said shaking your head and answering his question.

“Okay then, I think it’s only fair that since you got rid of all my pictures I get to have some new ones.” Jake grinned at you and gently pushed you down onto the couch.

Jake stepped away from you and strolled out of the room coming back less than a minute later. He had one of his cameras in hand now its’ strap draped across his neck. Jake made his way back to you on the couch and started gently giving you instructions on how he wanted to you positioned to pose.

Finally when Jake was pleased with how you were he pulled his camera up to take the first picture and adjusting the lens for the lighting to focus. “Is this okay?” he asked you first again. You shifted a few times under the new heavy weight of the camera eye glaring down onto you before finally nodding your head yes to him.

The first flash of the camera made you jump, and so did the second two. However, after a few more and  by the time Jake had positioned you into two more poses, giving you more and more praise you started to feel a bit more at ease.

“ You are so fucking stunning,” he said in a breathy tone his face partially obscured by the camera.  You couldn’t help but roll your eyes instinctively at the praise. Jake’s hands instantly dropped the camera so it fell against his chest.

“ Did you just roll your eyes at me?”

“No Sir,” you quickly tell him. Jake lifted your face so that your eyes would meet his again, his thumb tracing lightly back against your jaw.

“Don’t lie to me, my love. Now be honest, did you roll your eyes?” His eyes were tender but his raised eyebrow told you there would be consequences no matter your answer.

“I’m sorry Sir.”

He tsked his tongue, and pressed his thumb to your lips and you kissed it automatically. Before you could do anything else his hand retreated.

“Don’t roll them again baby. I don’t want to punish you tonight.”

The inner brat in you wanted to stick out your tongue and pout, however you held the urge back. You had agreed no pain play but you knew there were plenty of there ways he could punish you. So, instead you settled back into the pose that he originally had you in.

“That is my good girl.” The rush of his praise caused a flush and heat to bloom in you. Watching him slowly raise the camera again. “ Let’s try this again. Now look into the camera.”  The camera flashed but you made sure not to flinch or move this time. You didn’t roll your eyes at the follow up praise he provided either.  

He kneeled in front of you, and you spread your legs so that he could fit in between them. His left hand pushed the hem of your dress up slowly. When he reached the dip of your thighs his hands wandering for a moment brushing your inner thighs sliding up them before helping you lift your self up a little bit so that he could push it further up. The moment he reached your chest though he stopped again to cup each of your breast, and trace the shape of your nipple. Your breath hitched and you pushed yourself a little further into his hold.

Jake’s eyes immediately shifted to yours and finished pushing your night dress off and threw it to the side. His eyes fell to stare at your now naked form.

“God you are so beautiful. I’m going to make you my pin up baby, put you right on the side of my plane.” The genuineness in Jake’s tone made you chuckle. Before the smile had completely fell off your face Jake had snapped another picture.

“These are just for me,” he said reassuringly. He pulled off the camera strap now, and set it to the side. Then he kissed your thigh slotting himself there and pushing your legs further open. he groaned at the sight in front of him.

“Please,” you whimpered.

“Please what?” he asked you teasingly.

“Please touch me Sir. “

He hummed like he was in thought but he swipe two of his fingers across your slit while doing so. He then set those two fingers on your clit. He didn’t apply pressure though. You pushed your hips a little hoping to encourage him. He smirked up at you before dipping his fingers lower into your slit once agin this time coating them in your slick. Then he reapplied them to your clit, adding pressure this time, but it was still wasn’t enough causing you to whimper.

“ Fuck, I missed your sounds.” Jake told you following the claim by a light bite to the thigh he had his head resting on. He continued his light teasing touches, watching the frustration grown in you, never dropping his teasing smile. He paired the slow swirling of his right hand with running the left upwards to tweak a nipple. His pace was restrained and he made no move to increase it.

“You’re teasing me,” you accuse him.

“ Oh baby I’m going to worship you, but you’re going to have to give me something.”

“Yes, what is it Sir?”

He pressed his fingers a little harder into your bud making you gasp. “ I want you to look at yourself in these mirrors, and tell me how beautiful you are.”

Some of the arousal ebbed in you at his demand. Not being able to handle the intensity of Jake’s eyes boring into yours, you shut your own trying to enjoy the teasing light touches he was still giving you.

“Come on baby. I know you can do it.” You ignored him though biting your lip and shaking your head lightly at his words. It was because of this the feeling of a long finger entering you came as a surprise and your hips jerked on reaction easing him much further into you.

It was only two pumps later his lips replaced where his fingers had been previously, tongue tracing you. Your eyes flew open again and your hands tightened into a fists at your side. He added a second finger, following it closely with sucking your clit further allowing easier access for the flat of his tongue. He was working you up quickly.

The man was consistent that was for sure, building you higher and higher, not faltering or pausing in his dedication. The room filled with the sounds of your quiet sighs, occasional moans, and Jake’s fingers fucking into you. The coil in you started to tighten and with a little moan you rocked your hips seeking more. That’s all it took for Jake to pull back completely leaving you entirely empty.

You couldn’t help the whine of protest that fell from your lips, and you glared down at him. The fingers that had just been inside you were softly tracing a pattern against your lower abdomen.

“You know what I want. I’m not going to let you cum until I hear it.” He wasn’t harsh in his tone but the words still cut through you. He only waited a moment more like he wanted to make sure you knew he meant his words before his mouth was on you again building you up.

His mouth was relentless and every time you got too close to cuming he would pull away from you. Finally after the third time he denied you it was too much. One of your fingers threaded into his blonde hair tightly trying to hold him close to you when you felt him starting to pull away.

He pulled away then despite your hand in his hair and you groaned loudly. Being denied like this was too much. The string in you pulled too tight, and you couldn’t quite seem to catch your breath. The heat in you didn’t abate though and you ached. He cocked an eyebrow up at you waiting, but you didn’t let go of his hair.  

His fingers took the place of his mouth again circling your nub, in a slow pace but with enough pressure it didn’t allow the fire in you to die. “Look at yourself, dripping for me. Look how beautiful you are. I want to hear you say it.” Jake’s voice was deep and his tone only added to the build up you were once again experiencing.

You did look at yourself in the mirror above the two you then, trying to see what he could see. However, after only a few moments instead you started to zone in on all your flaws, so you closed your eyes not wanting to see it. His fingers pulled away from you again except for the one he had currently pressed deep into you, but then he stopped that ones movement too.

He started to press forward again with his mouth, but you stopped him. Instead you held him back and pushed his head away. Your fingers finally letting go of his hair and you tried to tighten your thighs to keep him away from you. “Red,” you breathed out.

Jake rolled backwards, so that he was sitting back on his heels instead of knees now giving you the space to fully close your thighs to him. He took his hands with him and you were so so empty. Your breaths were coming out in rapid pants, and the pulsing ache in your core almost too much to take.

Before he could even say anything a few tears were leaking down your face. “ I can’t do it. I can’t do what you're asking. I won’t.”

“ Okay baby. Just take some deep breaths okay?”

You nodded, and followed Jake’s breathing. He put your hand on his chest, and started counting the breaths out for you. Your racing heart slowly started to slow down, and your thighs clenched together trying to release the pressure that Jake had worked hard to build up in you.

“Why didn’t you use yellow?” He asked you, once your breathing evened out. His own hand covering yours on his chest, thumb tracing your pulse point.

“It hit me too fast. I looked up in the mirror.”  You didn’t think you could explain past that. Jake clearly wanted to press you for more details but he restrained himself.

“Okay honey,” his voice was rough and his accent came out heavier than normal making you crack a smile. “Let’s get you tucked into bed.”

“I don’t want to go to bed,” you told him shaking your head. The ache in your pussy still pulsing hotly.

“Baby, you said red. We are going to be done with play tonight. I thought I could help you overcome this in the playroom that wasn’t fair of me.” He hung his head, and his hand slipped away from covering yours. Both his hands fisted in tight on the pants he was still wearing.

You sigh curling your hand on his chest and then drawing it back to your side. “You aren’t going to be able to fix me. I don’t think I’m fixable, Jake.”

“You aren’t broken baby. I don’t want to fix you, but I love you. I want to support you. Help you. That’s my job as your husband.”

You suddenly become aware of how naked you are for another intense conversation. You look around for your night dress trying to see where Jake had thrown it. He followed your gaze and picked up the dress, helping you back into it.

“ I love you too,” you whisper when the dress is back in place. “I haven’t been good or okay while you’ve been gone. I’m sorry you came home to me like this.”

“Please don’t apologize. You are so strong, sexy, and enticing enough to drive me to my knees. You put up with so much for me. I know being married to a Navy man isn’t easy. Let alone me. But please let me support you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay,” he repeated leaning forward to kiss you softly.

“Can we figure the rest out tomorrow?” You ask him hesitantly.

“Yes, we can figure it out in the morning. And call Dr. Smith.”

You clenched your jaw, but nodded along to his suggestion anyway.

Jake helped you stand up and held you close to him arm wrapping possessively around your shoulder. He flipped off the lights, and when you reached the stairs your own arm wrapped around Jakes waist before he could commit to leaving the basement.

“Will you take me to bed and make love to me Hangman?”

His breath caught and his fingers dug a little deeper into your shoulder. “Yes, I think that is something I can do Mrs. Seresin.”

It wasn’t long before you were in your bedroom once again for the evening. This time you couldn’t stop kissing Jake. The night dress he had helped you put on was gone, and you were shoving his boxers and sleep pants down in one go. Once you were pressed naked against each other, the boiling heat reignited in you.

The nips he left against your throat had you gasping, and it wasn’t long before you were settled beneath him. Taking his cock in your hand you stroked him lightly, knowing you need more slick for the action. However, when you let go, he groaned and rolled his hips against yours, making you gasp.

“Please,” you asked him. You had enough teasing for the night.

Lining himself up, Jake eased into you. You moaned at the slow stretch as he entered you. He worked in with some short slow thrusts, until your hips met. You both let out panting breaths as you adjusted, you wrapped one of your legs around his hips and and arms around his neck pulling him down to kiss you again.

He knew exactly how to please you. He didn’t give you erratic thrusts, instead rolling up into you at a steady pace. His forehead pressed against yours when he broke off your kiss.

“ You are such a good girl for me,” he told you.

“You treat me so good. Make me feel so good,” you responded. You scratched his neck lightly then gripped his earlobe rubbing it. He rewarded you with an extra hard thrust causing you to gasp.

The grind of his pubic bone against yours, stimulated your clit in the most delicious way. Jake groaned  into your ear when you starting pressing your hips back up into his.

“What do you need baby?” He asked you.

“Fuck Jake, I just need you. All of you.” You purposely clenched your walls around him. His slow short thrust started to get longer then, and he was chasing his own end. You reached down and started to rub your own clit. It sent a zing up your back.

Jake loved to run his mouth, and sex wasn’t an exception. Praise and endearments spilled from his lips with out a thought. He called you his princess, a good girl, told you that you had the prettiest pussy he had every fucked. He came when you couldn’t stop yourself from biting into the juncture of his neck and shoulder hard.

Jake filled you up, with a few more stuttering thrusts. You worked your clit through it, a final swirl, allowing you to slip over the edge crying out his name, working your hips against him.

When you started to come down from your highs, Jake pressed sweet kisses to different places on your face and finally a chaste sweet press to your lips. He moved to roll to his side and off his arms that had to have been getting tired. However, you didn’t let him, instead with your legs wrapped around his waist you urged him to ease more of his body weight onto yours.

The weight of him and the feel of his body was comforting, it allowed you to ground yourself in the moment.  It was a reminder to your brain and body that he was finally home with you again. You didn’t release your hold on him for a few more minutes and until he was soft in you.

When you did let go, he went to get a towel to clean you up with.Then Jake went to the kitchen and brought back water from both of you, telling you in a stern voice not to move while he was gone.

It wasn’t hard to do what he asked now that so much tension had been released from your body. When he slid into the bed next to you again, cuddling up to your side you felt whole and content for the first time in months. There was mumbled I love you’s and sweet nothings with soft caresses.

You knew in the morning you two would have a lot to talk about again. You would have to catch up on how he was feeling about his TAD deployment, schedule appointments, do laundry, clean up the playroom. Eventually you would have to show him the boxes full of his photos and go through them. For tonight though you could could sleep contently with your husband at your side, and you know you were loved.

[oneprompt]

Because you write Zoro as well, may I request NSFW/suggestive headcanons of Zoro, Kid, and Who's Who with F!S/O (you could change it to GN if you feel mote comfortable), S/O gives him a hickey/mark in a place where people could see it directly and S/O teases him about it. Thank you and take care of yourself!

authors note : take care of yourself too , dearest <3 sorry for not posting the last few days btw ;;; i was very very busy with ... important matters. well.. !! please enjoy these to the fullest ..!

<3 <3 <3

SLIGHT NSFW

<3 <3 <3

Zoro x F! Reader : Leaving a noticeable hickey on him

- The delivery certainly caught Zoro off guard. He isn’t that used to you ever doing anything like that, as he’s usually the type to carry all the dominance in the bedroom. But the moment you suck and bite at his flesh, Zoro’s holding back a heep of moans. He refuses to let you know how good it felt to be branded by your mouth, your lips and teeth leaving a trail of hickies along his collar bone. 

- Zoro may keep a poker face during the whole thing but seeing marks left by your lips on him really gets him going. The throbbing sensation of his raw flesh, the deep pigment, the small bits of gloss left behind when it’s fresh... Zoro can’t say he dislikes it... But he’s not going to tell you that he enjoyed it, not to your face. Even days after, Zoro still gets aroused looking at the fading marks. 

- Zoro doesn't exactly think about it, nor does he care to hide it too much. It's just another trophy to him, similar to his scars. He doesn't really feel any reason to be embarrassed about it. It's no secret that you two are an item, and with dating comes fucking, right? You have to be an absolute moron to not connect two and two together.

- Out of you two, you're bound to be the one to get embarrassed about it. Once the crew, well, once most of the crew picks up on it, you'll get lots of under the table comments and teasing. "I had no clue you were such a passionate lover, Y/n." Robin beams at you, letting such a humiliating sentence fall from her lips like it's nothing. "I can't help but feel a little bit jealous of Zoro." The crew is bound to leave you a stuttering mess, face on fire as you rapidly decline any of their questions or comments.

- I just know Zoro flaunts his hickey around Sanji, especially when that love cook is attempting to woo you. “I got you your parfait, my sweet!” Sanji worships you like an absolute goddess, regardless of your relationship with Zoro. If anything, that pushes him to try and win your heart further... Once Zoro notices that insufferable voice, he’ll repeat every lewd thing you did to him the night before. “Y/n, you gotta ease up with your mouth next time. I think you gave my dick a hickey, too.” Sanji is already rushing away after he hears that, unsure on if his eyes should produce tears or if his nose should be leaking with blood. It’s an image Sanji loves but that marimo... he ruins everything! Zoro can’t help but laugh at Sanji’s helpless reaction, even after you get up to chase the blonde, shouting out endless apologies. 

- Even if a stranger asks about the mark, Zoro’s just gonna be blunt with them. “Oh, this? It’s nothing fight related. My girlfriend is an absolute freak.” The only limits he has about the hickey is you telling Luffy or Chopper. Zoro doesn’t care if anyone else knows about it’s origins but if you tell those two, he’s gone. He’ll turn into a strawberry the moment Luffy glances at him, head cocked to the side. “Y/n’s got a mouth tough enough to injure you, Zoro? She’s crazy strong!” Luffy and Chopper may be mostly oblivious to what it’s from and why you did such a thing to your lover... but Zoro knows. Knowing you told his adored captain and little Chopper about your sexcapades... He just can’t help but get flustered to the core. Definitely giving you the silent treatment. 

Kid x F! Reader : Leaving a noticeable hickey on him

- Kid treats everything as a competition, including sex. If you want to to do the slightest dominant thing one night, you have to fight for that. But the moment you catch him off guard, you latch onto your boyfriends neck, teeth digging into his pale nape. With that, you started a dual. Not just any dual but a mouth dual. You can’t get away with doing such an embarrassing thing to him so easily...!

- By the time you two are done fucking, you’re both covered in slobber, lip stick, and hickies. Kid may have been making a fuss over the mark but he enjoyed it. Not the act itself but the outcome. He enjoys a good competition, as well as the sight of you, covered in his passion. I suppose you two settled for a tie, hm? 

- No one in the crew bothers to ask the next day when they see you and Kid covered from head to toe. They all can tell what happened, both from your visuals and well, what they overheard the whole night... If any one dares to ask Kid what did happen, they’re getting a punch square in the eye. His girlfriend doesn’t overpower him, no, no...! 

- Kid doesn’t really cover them. He would like to but none of his clothing hide it well, as you went ham on his neck and collar. He finds them hot but he can’t find much pride in them, considering they show the fact it’ll suggest he’s not all that he’s cracked up to be. He tries to hide his embarrassment by teasing you for your own hickeys but it always come back to bite him in the ass.. 

- Tries to lie about how he totally destroyed you in bed (usually to Killer.) Even if it’s so painfully obvious that he didnt, Killer has to support his captain. “You sure did...! Y/n didn’t stand a chance, heh..” behind his mask, there’s a huge and awkward smile. No way is Kid trying to convince him of such a bogus lie... But regardless, he has to be Kid’s biggest cheerleader. That’s his best friend!

- That’s not to say Killer won’t let you give him an earful. He’s a double agent, in that sense... He loves you and Kid! Plus, you aren’t wrong when you claim Kid can be a bit subby because that’s incredibly apparent, with how he was looking... But if Kid were to find out, Killer would be dead..!

Who’s Who x F! Reader : Leaving a noticeable hickey on him

- Who’s Who is far too invested in the moment to feel your mouth grasping his chest, leaving hefty kiss marks all over him, bruises spawning. He just keeps thrusting and thrusting, hands yanking at your hair. He’s in his own world at that point, rambling degrading words to you, feasting on your body. 

- The morning after, he’s extremely moody. Who’s Who goes to his meetings, suit jacket entirely buttoned up for once. He thinks he’s fooling everyone but no, it’s obvious. The Tobi Roppo don’t bother to beat around the bush, not even close. “Did that Y/n chick suck on your tits too much?” Who’s Who is bound to throw a fit, fighting with his fellow Tobi Roppo’s. Mainly Sasaki

- Who’s Who tries his best to ignore you. You hurt his already bruised ego, whether you meant to or not. He hides himself in his room all day, desperately trying to apply makeup over his chest. Spoilers: no amount of foundation covers the love bites. 

- You try your best to get back on your boyfriends good side, claiming that you just did it to show your love, which is the truth. But Who’s Who refuses each apology you deliver him, keeping his nose up high like an uptight prick. You can’t understand why he’s so upset, clearly oblivious to the internal battle he’s fighting between his ego and his horniness. 

- The truth is Who’s Who loved that feeling you gave him so much. The feeling of your lips clamping down on his skin, tightening the same way your pussy did around his cock, right as he blew his load into you. That damn hickey drew him over the edge, feeling utterly sensational. I suppose it was a little nice to not have to always to do what he considered his normal... Wouldn’t you say?

- Of course, Who’s Who forgives you. It just takes the sweetest, almost pain inducing make-up sex for him to admit he forgives you for causing him such lengths of shame. It isn’t cutesy make-up sex, either. It’s aggressive, often leaving your beautiful, glimmering image in shambles.Covered in drool, cum and bruises you can’t help but repeat your lovers name, being fucked completely dumb by him. 

[redcracklestan]

Redcrackle ship analysis pt.1

As you can guess, i ship Redcrackle, and often, many people told me that I shouldn’t ship them for some reason.

Here I’m going to explain why it is totally ok to ship them (and why it is my favourite copule in the show).

What people told me about them is that they see each other as siblings, their age gap is too much, and that they never actually flirted with each other.

Like i did for carulia I’m gonna show y’all what i think of each of those topics.

They see each other as siblings

I think that it was oblivious that they SAW each other as siblings when they were still both at VILE, not anymore. You can clearly see this simply by the way they look at each other

I have a brother, and we don’t look at each other like that, yk?

While they were still at VILE, they looked at each other very differently

That is a brotherly look, while they were younger, but then you can clearly see that their dynamic changed, because they grew up, they changed and their feelings for each other changed too, it’s normal that way, and it’s always been that way. Their trope is really complicated, but their feelings for each other went like from best friends to lovers, and it’s not “problematic” as someone says, instead they have chemistry, they bonded as friends and they proceeded seeing each other as the sibling figure they never had since they were both orphans, and they ended up developing some romantics feeling once they both matured and aged.

Plus I realised reading some fics and just scrolling on the internet, that prolly Carmen only saw Gray as a big brother figure because she only had the “family” kind of love in her life since that moment. Maybe she had stronger feelings for him that she couldn’t classify because the only love she ever felt was for the faculty, which was more like a family to her, no romantic feelings involved. Then Graham came and she saw him as a big brother, as her found family, because it was the only love she was surrounded with for her whole life, and that then, she realised that she had some romantics feelings for him, once she grew up and experienced more in her life.

Their age gap is too much

Ok, in this fandom, there are people from all over the world, so everybody has a different opinion on this (for example, where i live, there are such bigger age gaps)

But you have to consider that they are only 2 years apart (Carmen is 20 and Gray is 22), and they’re both adults and consenting, so I can’t really see any problems with that.

They never actually flirted with each other

Apart from the fact that they, in fact, have flirted but people say that they didn’t because one of them was brainwashed during it, as we saw they showed their love for each other multiple times, in multiple scenes, in many different way (flirting is not the only way to show love).

Bro risked his life to SAVE HER (I can’t put every time he did it because of the image limit)

Bro was willing to be locked up in JAIL just to make sure that his gf got his memories back

Bro was willing to never see her again just to give her the opportunity to start a new life.

Not mentioning the fact that when he was brainwashed, he went all way to New Zealand to help someone he barely knew, just to have a cup of coffee with her.

And I strongly believe that he hesitated on purpose on that train to Paris, he didn’t wanted to kill her, he knew damn well how to defend himself from someone holding a weapon on him (as we see in the scene with Devineaux when he got his memories back and he beats his ass) + he also knew very well that she couldn’t use the weapon because of the fingerprints activation, he had no reasons to hesitate like that, except one, the boy was so in love.

Also all the things that carmen did for him, every time she said goodbye to him for his own well-being (at the coffee, on the Himalayas), every time she saved him (at Dr.Bellum’s place, on the Himalayas).

Plus, they are literally red and blue lovers.

LOOK! She is the literal definition of red. He is the literal definition of blue. If that is not a sign, guys, idk what it is.

Other than that, think about when they opened to each other about their pasts, when he told her that he didn’t wanted to hurt her even though they were enemies and basically any interaction they have, and like I said before, their eyes can talk 100%, it’s so clear. They are so cute. I love them. No one can change my mind.

They just have so much chemistry, parallels, and everything.

Concluding I wanna drop a bomb.

I honestly believe that if Gray was a girl, everyone would love him and the ship. They as a copule would be seen better from everybody on this fandom.

Ok, in the end, I only did 1 part, but maybe I’m gonna do some more? Idk, really. Anyway, sorry if i did any grammatical errors, but English isn’t my first language so…

I hope you enjoyed this “analysis” If we can call it that way, see you soon!

[taiturner]

NEW YEARS CLEAN-UP 🎊

rules: unburden yourself from the abandoned WIPS collecting dust in your folder and share 5 gifs, then tag five people. (tagged by @yenvengerberg, thank you i feel like i can do something useful with these things now 💖)

tagging with no pressure of course: @wyllhalsin, @capinejghafa, @cardvngreenbriar, @seance, @ayoedebiris, @ughmerlin, @craintheodora, @lottiemilfews, @natscatorrcio (yeah miles i'm tagging you to be funny i know what you did with those psds)

these are all from projects that i have in a folder titled "on the bench" that i want to pretend i'll come back to, but.... some of these have been benched for so long and they're no longer fresh in my head so i fear they'll be abandoned forever. should also be mentioned that a lot of projects on the bench are literally just me making all the typography first and then losing inspo when i actually wanted to gif things.... usually by the time i do start, i change my mind about the type anyway. i also have so many abandoned gifs from other gifsets i've already posted but i'm not even sure where to begin searching so... here are some things!

one of the many gifs i already created for a prompt from @yellowjacketsoctober to put the show in a different genre. ironically, a prompt that i came up with for the event specifically to make this gifset but didn't even complete. i spent so many hours and so many days trying to gif this entire arc for these three with the intent to make it a heist drama set but after so long i realized i was just giffing exactly what happened in the show and it started to feel pointless. but at least here's a preview of something that i'll never finish. my trio of all time, can they commit more crimes together please! (should also be said that this folder is 44gb because i already saved all the caps + because these psds are so heavy... new years clean up for real)

i don't know what it is about lydia that makes it so hard for me to finish any set for her, but every time i try i seem to always lose the drive eventually (probably because twd in general just feels really uninteresting for me to blend, for some reason). from a 2022 spotify wrapped meme, i'm pretty sure i restarted this specific gifset so many different times, unhappy with the colors and the blends and the text and everything -- which is why there are two very different examples here. my girl of all time though i will finish something for her eventually (and maybe even this one, because this song is still so good for her).

one of the many gifs that were abandoned by my scream vi set for favorite slasher in october. when tumblr first changed the image upload limit to 30, i promised myself to never take advantage of that too much, but i severely underestimated how many moments i would want to include for this movie and i made so many other gifs for this set but ultimately cut them so i could try to tone it down - 18 gifs in this set still feels like a lot but i spent so much time on this set that it was hard to part with many more. anyway here's sam being the hottest final girl in the world and correct about everything.

i don't know how long this has been on the bench but it was definitely a project i started way before season 2 even aired. i think i just got stuck and wasn't sure where to go with it, but anyway her!

extra spoiler for @wyllhalsin but this was supposed to be a pride edit in june for one of my favorite lgbt characters of all time. this show's camera movements nearly makes it impossible to blend anything so i lost the drive, but i will come back for felix someday (and for coty, obviously this set was for him).

[imagitory]

Okay -- so my visual aids for this post are very limited since Disney+ will not let me properly screenshot this and there are no good quality versions of this on Youtube anymore...but I need to talk about Disney's The Little Mermaid TV series for a second. Specifically, one episode very near and dear to my heart called Metal Fish, which features a human explorer going down in a fish-shaped submarine to the bottom of the ocean, getting stuck, and being found by Ariel and her friends.

Now honestly, watching the episode again, there's a lot I don't love about it. Sebastian's whole subplot with the crab scouts is really kind of annoying, and I skip every bit of it. But I love the character of Archimedes (even if he never appeared in the show again! Boo!), and -- more importantly to today -- there's this wonderful moment right toward the beginning of the third act of the episode where Ariel and our human explorer lay eyes on each other for the first time, and there's just this electric connection.

Something that bypasses words -- this sense of wonder, enchantment -- almost enlightenment. And is it surprising? No! Ariel is the spitting image of what the human explorer had in his mind, when he was dreamily sketching out what a mermaid could look like, back on land.

And of course, at the end of the episode, what else should the explorer end up being named, but Hans Christian Andersen? And what else would he do, after being rescued by a mermaid, but use it as inspiration for one of his most famous fairy tales?

Okay, yeah, admittedly Hans Christian Andersen was a much sadder and more dysfunctional brown-haired human being IRL (just watch this video for a nice deep-dive about this disaster gay/bi/honestly-maybe-even-romantic-ace)...not to mention he wasn't even half this dashing nor close to being vocally similar to the great Mark Hamill...but one thing I absolutely love about this episode, and the aspect I personally respond to most, is the choice the series' creators made to have their interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen and Ariel have a very striking visual similarity, as well as similar personalities.

Many theorize that the original little mermaid was a self-insert character for HCA, with his fairy tale being a fantastical lament about the one-sided love he felt for the son of his most significant patron, Edvard Collin, who -- like the mermaid's prince in the original -- fell in love with and chose to wed another. There's even preserved correspondence by HCA where he writes of his feelings for Edvard being "those of a woman." And although this is more likely about HCA struggling to express romantic feelings that felt out of place in the very religious, heteronormative world he was a part of than about HCA himself identifying as transgender, I still think it was such a sweet little gesture for this episode to highlight Ariel and HCA seeing themselves in each other.

And this is where I wish SO MUCH I had some good quality video so I could truly share this piece of the episode with all of you -- because the moment where Ariel and Hans see each other for the first time gives me such life.

When Hans first sees Ariel, he's lost for breath, and he sounds and looks almost bereft when she disappears from view. When Ariel first makes eye contact with Hans, she clutches her face and hair, almost as if seeing herself clearly for the first time. And the whole time, they're looking at each other not fully face-to-face, but through glass and water -- almost a reflection of each other. Because...they are.

I'm sorry, I fail to articulate how utterly beautiful this is. No love story could ever capture the emotion this short scene instills in me. A platonic connection so powerful that it transforms you and how you see yourself forever. Meeting another person and, in doing so, truly knowing yourself for the first time.

However much I might praise The Little Mermaid TV series primarily for its music, there are also moments like this that remind me how wonderful Disney's adaptation of Andersen's story really is.

[kavaeric]

Run of "Yinmai Cinematic" commissions from 2022. Commentary on each piece (yes, each) below.

I learned that I really, really liked comms where I was tasked to tell a story in a single still composition. The Yinmai series of commissions was an experiment in limiting/directing the prompts to suit this desire: the composition is inherently limited with the anamorphic-esque crop, which means having a typical character-on-white-background comm isn't really possible. The space around a character becomes exaggerated and emphasised, and so by nature this comm style forces you to engage in visual storytelling.

Luckily, I seem to have really good clients who know how to rise to the occasion. I actually had a contingency tier for Yinmai, where I would accept avatar/portrait comms for those not interested in the whole cinematic affair—no one took me up on it.

In order of appearance:

AstroVernox

She commissioned me years ago, before she came out as trans. I think her initial prompt was actually a more mundane scene of being in a cupola, but to work with the drama of yinmai we agreed to adjust it, as well as making a bit of a reference to her transition.

Noir

A fun experiment in quads composition, where the negative space around the subject is further exaggerated and creates a strong sense of empathy. Good for a bit of horror.

Flake (Light Era diagetic)

Ditto as above. One of the two trial comms before I opened publicly. The character of theirs is Trellis, and they included a Dropbox folder of inspiration images; one of them was of the hydroponics scene from the film Sunshine. I incorporated that into this.

Fosh (Light Era diagetic)

She wanted a piece about being out in the field in the Olympic forests. I had a lot of fun with the trees and the colour in the sky makes it really stand out amongst this set.

Taky (no social media) (Light Era diagetic)

They requested them as a Wintertide Adept, which got me a bit hesitant since I never liked to romanticise the military aspect of Light Era too much, but I read their prompt further and they requested a more sombre mood of anticipation, maybe dread. A great example of a client understanding the assignment, if you will. I thought about showing the feeling of isolation by strategically placing the window frame to separate him and the rest of the group in the background.

Forth & Hydrophagist

The other trial comm of this series. The dramatic nature of Yinmai means it's predisposed to show character at a moment of weakness or emotional vulnerability. It makes me more comfortable portraying military themes as it moves it away from ideas of dominance or strength.

Ashii (Light Era diagetic)

Much the same as above, but taken to a larger scale—a little more chaotic, a little more frantic. Playing with depth was very fun. This one is the most popular piece of the series, apparently.

Panzica

Prompt was making a call under the feeling of uncertainty, if I recall correctly. I sneakily referenced a police interrogation room for the environment. The worm's eye view works for the idea, but I feel like I could have executed the anatomy better.

Phenokage

The prompt was of their character, Trouble, whose backstory is a lot of them learning how to deal with being turned into a macro; feelings of being out of place and learning to cope felt resonant as someone of Asian descent living in a foreign country. I felt like I could evoke this feeling by trapping her between a building and the cage-like railings of an expressway headed in the wrong direction.

[sen-no-kotowari]

PGR S Fire Lee Character Profile

Good day! I hope everyone's enjoying the Spiral of Chronos Patch over on JP Servers (*‘ω‘ *) There's so much Lee content popping given that it's July so in a way the Lee enthusiasts are having a buffet field day! (≧▽≦) That said, here is S Fire Lee's Character Profile! I will be posting the translation his Character Version Image Song some time this week as I'm working with a personal project that I may possibly post as well so look forward to it if you're interested. In comparison to the inital release in the CN servers, they re-recorded most of Lee's lines so what you hear on the video link may not necessarily reflect what you hear in-game as of late in the JP servers. You can learn more about the expanded lore on Lee on the cut down below!

Voice Line Data

Motion Voice Lines

Lobby Voice 1

Lee: (Checks gun) ...Can't I stay here even if I don't have any other business with you? I wish to do my gun maintenance in a quiet place. The maintenance room's too crowded.

Lobby Voice 2

Lee: I was worried when I heard that Murray became the Cerberus Unit's leader if he could ever manage those rowdy bunch and all... But it seems like I was worried over nothing. He's all grown up now. However, I think the Gray Raven Unit is okay the way it is. Heh, it's because you won't do a break dance while there's an ongoing meeting... You won't, right...?

Lobby Voice 3

Lee: Humans have long since used an hourglass to measure time. While I can't say it's accurate, it was, however, the most optimal way of showing how time cannot be reversed―that's right, we, who exist in a three-dimensional plane, can't wind back time. Humans can't alter the past even if we come to regret it. ...What about me, you ask? I don't have any regrets. Even if there are countless branch points in each moment, I will surely find my way back to your side.

Raise Affection Level

Lee: Thank you, this is just what I need right now. With this, I can also complete that support robot I promised to finish― ...Huh? This is a present for me? So there's even a fine distinction made when it comes to gifts, huh...

Repetitive Taps

Lee: ...What the- ...To think there's this fully grown troublemaker inside the Raven Unit's base huh. Shall I drag you to the juvenile detention center then?

Log-In

Lee: You're here now. ...If I can never meet you again at some point in the future, I might feel sad from loneliness. ...Forget it. We have a mission to accomplish, let's get going.

Online for a Long Time

Lee: I'll do the remaining ones left, just go rest. Now! I've had enough of looking at how you look like a loitering zombie, you're spoiling the pleasant scene around us.

AFK

Lee: ...Commander, commander? ...(Sigh) You actually fell asleep from exhaustion, huh. You left your combat terminal open, guess you can't settle down without it... Really, I ought to tuck you in somewhere quiet. ...You lost some weight again... How much work did you take on this time...

Shake

Lee: ...Wha— Commander! ...Heh, you sure don't get tired of this same old trick.

Offline for a Long Time

Lee: Where have you been until now?! ...If you had made up your mind to walk out from here, I wish you could've at least said a proper goodbye then. ...No, it doesn't matter now, since you returned here in the end.

Introduction and Formation

Structure Acquired

Lee: Lee of the Gray Raven Unit, reporting. Yes, I'm back now. Other than needing to get along with each other, let's skip the unnecessary greetings and get right down to business, Commander.

Level Up

Lee: What accumulated was just the combat data itself, so I can't say for sure if I've improved. This is still nowhere near the model's limit.

Advancement

Lee: If it's a rise in rank from you, then its meaning also changes. ...Understood, I'll work hard to keep your expectations in check.

Model Improvement

Lee: The peak of evolution means breaking through one's limits as well as knowing there's a realm ahead of us we neither can understand nor have yet to encounter. ...Although taking a step inside that realm would require a significant sacrifice to be paid, I have the determination to see through it all.

Skill Upgrade

Lee: How about giving me some credit? The thrusters are now more responsive and more efficient because of this process. Seems like I'm quite accustomed to this model more than I thought.

Equipment

Lee: Testing auto preset rate, all-green. Measuring microwave distance, all-green. Since this is a highly precise piece of equipment, it's important to check that each module is working fine.

Add in Team

Lee: If you notice some sort of cue mid-battle, get away from my projectile's trajectory ASAP. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Assign as Captain

Lee: Calm down, it's okay to leave everything to me. I'll protect you guys.

Mission Accomplished

Lee: Not bad. You're becoming more efficient.

Daily Small Talks

Voice Line 1

Lee: No, I'm not mad or anything. This is how I usually am.

Voice Line 2

Lee: Rather than forcing them to cooperate, wouldn't it be more efficient to assign people to what they're good at?

Voice Line 3

Lee: ...Excuse me? I don't think it's my fault that the atmosphere became awkward. ...There's something you want to talk about? If it's about the issue on the Science Council's IUO Standard No. 9, I'd oblige to discuss it with you at great lengths though.

Voice Line 4

Lee: I promised that I'd never keep secrets from you ever again so if there's something you want to ask me, feel free to ask me anything.

Voice Line 5

Lee: (Checks gun) ...Can't I stay here even if I don't have any other business with you? I wish to do my gun maintenance in a quiet place. The maintenance room's too crowded.

Voice Line 6

Lee: You want to see the non-combat functions added to the weapon I've modified? Why do you— ...Guess it can't be helped then. I'll only show it to you once so keep your eyes peeled.

Voice Line 7

Lee: If we have nothing else to do today, want to train with me at the base? I still need to make some adjustments to this model, but it'd be challenging to adjust the result calculations without your cooperation.

Voice Line 8

Lee: I knew this part is... it'd be faster if I disassemble it once and reassemble it... Hm? Well, I'm currently doing maintenance on your powered suit. I should just let the guys at the Cosmos Engineer Union handle that...? It's fine if it's just regular maintenance, but they don't know your movement habits. Whenever you draw out your tactical knife from your left side, there's some kind of resistance around this part, right? I've already adjusted that problem.

Voice Line 9

Lee: Even if all of creation would continue to evolve, the collective matter of space will never change for all time—death follows life, and energy is concurrently generated from annihilation. If one wishes to obtain something, one must pay the price for it one day, without exceptions... Commander, behind every "miracle" that happens... correspond a sacrifice greater than you could imagine.

Voice Line 10

Lee: I was worried when I heard that Murray became the Cerberus Unit's leader if he could ever manage those rowdy bunch and all... But it seems like I was worried over nothing. He's all grown up now. However, I think the Gray Raven Unit is okay the way it is. Heh, it's because you won't do a break dance while there's an ongoing meeting... You won't, right...?

Voice Line 11

Lee: Updating the existing tactics, thinking outside the box, and even complying and sympathizing with the enemies... If I'm being honest, I couldn't understand your style of leading us at first. But now, I can have complete faith in all your decisions.

Voice Line 12

Lee: Humans have long since used an hourglass to measure time. While I can't say it's accurate, it was, however, the most optimal way of showing how time cannot be reversed―that's right, we, who exist in a three-dimensional plane, can't wind back time. Humans can't alter the past even if we come to regret it. ...What about me, you ask? I don't have any regrets. Even if there are countless branch points in each moment, I will surely find my way back to your side.

Voice Line 13

Lee: You saw what my real name was in a file? ...Oh, well, it's not something confidential anyway. Besides, I am Lee of the Gray Raven Unit now. What I thought was a temporary code name given to me became a part of who I am today and is something I take great pride in. I plan to fight as "Lee" right until the very end.

Voice Line 14

Lee: Tactical cooperation, huh... That kind of thing doesn't exist back where I used to live. There was only constant betrayal and plunder at that place. Everyone became desperate to cross over that infernal sea, so they pushed others off to the edge and used them as their bridge... But now I don't have to think about it. Even though I repeatedly told myself I don't believe in things like luck, I could say that joining the Gray Raven Unit and crossing paths with you... was the most fortunate thing that ever happened to me.

Voice Line 15

Lee: "You're never alone," huh? ...I think those words are indeed solemn. No... It's exactly because they are important that I don't want to see the person who said those words to me suffer. So "it'd be a lot better than trying to bear everything by myself," hmm... I used to think that way before, but in the end, only an even more tragic end awaits. I get what you're trying to tell me. Commander, we'll support each other from now on and get through this, no matter what.

Raise Affection Level

Voice Line 1

Lee: Since we're all on the same team, there's no need to personally hand out resources to every single member.

Voice Line 2

Lee: Why are you suddenly... Don't you have anything better to do?

Voice Line 3

Lee: Equivalent exchange... I'll never forget the principle behind it. All of the things I've received from you are engraved in my heart.

Voice Line 4

Lee: You're giving this to me? ...Uh, thanks...I guess.

Voice Line 5

Lee: Here, I finished fixing your mini robot. While I'm at it, I've also added a voice memo function to it. Huh? You...want to change the default voice data to my voice? S-stop thinking about those kinds of ideas!

Voice Line 6

Lee: ...Did you give this to other people too?

Voice Line 7

Lee: You've always remained the same even from way back then... Ah, no. I'm not complaining about it. It's... fine for you to stay the same for who you are.

Voice Line 8

Lee: Where the heck do you find these things... Wait a minute, I never said I don't need this, right? The things I've already received are mine now.

Voice Line 9

Lee: You want to try out the new weapon I use? Well, it's still in its prototype stage, so I don't think it's at a level that can be mass-produced though. There's sort of a trick in each of its module settings, do you want me to teach you those tricks? It's complex, but it's quite remarkable as a weapon. I'm the only one who currently has mastered it anyhow.

Voice Line 10

Lee: You don't need to go out of your way... I'll respond to your expectations. ...So long as it's not relatively unreasonable, that is.

Voice Line 11

Lee: So long as I'm here, you don't have to worry. Everything's going to be all right.

Voice Line 12

Lee: Thank you, this is just what I need right now. With this, I can also complete that support robot I promised to finish― ...Huh? This is a present for me? So there's even a fine distinction made when it comes to gifts, huh...

Voice Line 13

Lee: You're expecting me to spew some affectionate words? You better stop expecting then. Well if you're that desperate, let's see what kind of stereotypical lines you'll show me. ...Ack! O-okay, that's enough...! That's plenty enough for an example!

Voice Line 14

Lee: (Sigh) ...Hm? Is there something troubling me, you ask? Not really. The cost of sealed warehouses is currently on the rise, so I'm thinking about what's the best way to store your belongings. ...I-it's nothing, forget it!

Voice Line 15

Lee: While I'm not a person who'd easily make promises, from the very beginning until this day... Rather, until the lasting future ahead of us, I'll live up to my promise that I'd always stay by your side no matter what.

Voice Line 16

Lee: Here you go, my gift in return for everything. It's a mini locator made from the old power core that was extracted when my model was undergoing maintenance. So long as you always have this, you can know my location even if comms get cut off. If you push the button, I'd also know where you are. If you wish for me to be by your side, I'll absolutely come running to your side, no matter how far apart we are from each other. I promise.

AFK

Voice Line 1

Lee: Why are you staring at me? Is the strategic report written on my face or something?

Voice Line 2

Lee: When we were kids, I made this toy called "Sippy Chicken"[1] so I could explain to Murray the principles behind heat energy. ...Why am I suddenly talking about it? That's because you were frequently nodding your head low enough to hit the desk, just like that toy bird.

Voice Line 3

Lee: Commander, about the result of that experiment we did the other day-... Commander? No one's here, huh... Quite likely, considering they're the type of person who can't stay still. ...I guess I should wait for a while then.

Voice Line 4

Lee: Be good and go to sleep already if you're feeling drowsy. ...There aren't any emergency missions right now so it's fine if you don't push yourself too much. ...Just relax and close your eyes now, will you. I'll wake you up when needed.

Voice Line 5

Lee: ...Commander, commander? ...(Sigh) You actually fell asleep from exhaustion, huh. You left your combat terminal open, guess you can't settle down without it... Really, I ought to tuck you in somewhere quiet. ...You lost some weight again... How much work did you take on this time...

Online for a Long Time

Voice Line 1

Lee: Are you attached to that chair or something?

Voice Line 2

Lee: Sure is nice if you could remember one good way to shirk off work.

Voice Line 3

Lee: Seems like I need to attach a system that could pick up mental fatigue from the brain wave activity on that chair, but... If the numbers reach a dangerously low range, it'd immediately force you to sleep― ...hm? You'd like to work for just a bit longer? I trust you know what'd happen if you lied through your teeth then.

Voice Line 4

Lee: I'll do the remaining ones left, just go rest. Now! I've had enough of looking at how you look like a loitering zombie, you're spoiling the pleasant scene around us.

Voice Line 5

Lee: Is this some kind of revenge plan against everyone in the Gray Raven Unit? ...What am I insinuating, you ask? Hah. Are you trying to prove your point that humans could also work for three days straight without any rest like us Structures? ...We promised that we both won't work ourselves to death ever again, so you should also get some rest now.

Log-In

Voice Line 1

Lee: Good morning, you awake now?

Voice Line 2

Lee: That's good, the time you arrived sure is on point. Keep up with that. What time did I arrive? Just a few minutes earlier than you.

Voice Line 3

Lee: I thought I heard a loud, boisterous voice from afar but, don't tell me Kamui dropped by again, did he?

Voice Line 4

Lee: Commander, you came just at the right time. About those prospective experiments I mentioned yesterday, I just thought of one more idea for that.

Voice Line 5

Lee: You're here now. ...If I can never meet you again at some point in the future, I might feel sad from loneliness. ...Forget it. We have a mission to accomplish, let's get going.

Voice Line 6

Lee: I'm not spacing out, I'm just thinking about the Monty Hall problem[2]. If I eliminate the doors that haven't been opened, which of the remaining doors will you show up on... Hm? There's only one door in this room...? .......(clears throat)......

Voice Line 7

Lee: Last night, did you stay up late again? Taking good care of yourself is also one of your responsibilities to your team. I'm sure you know that better since you were an honor student, right? Your average sleeping time as of late is just― ...Huh? Why do I know, you ask? ...Obviously, I learned about it from Laplace's demon[3].

Voice Line 8

Lee: Good morning, did you have a good night's sleep? ...Yeah. Should we try a different greeting for tomorrow since today's greeting was okay? Since I have to greet you every day starting today, I wonder if it'd be better if we decide together on which greeting we both like. So tell me, which do you prefer?

Offline for a Long Time

Lee: Where have you been until now?! ...If you had made up your mind to walk out from here, I wish you could've at least said a proper goodbye then. ...No, it doesn't matter now, since you returned here in the end.

Shake

Voice Line 1

Lee: Graagh... ...No, it's not your fault. My Sea of Consciousness just suddenly went into an overload state. There's no need for you to worry about it... Stay still... Yeah, I'll recover from this in a minute.

Voice Line 2

Lee: ...Wha— Commander! ...Heh, you sure don't get tired of this same old trick.

Voice Line 3

Lee: If you get thrown off balance, I'll reflexively catch you and act as your cushion. ...As if. I'm kidding, let's stop this conversation. Please be more careful so you won't get hurt in the future.

Repetitive Taps

Voice Line 1

Lee: ...What the- ...To think there's this fully grown troublemaker inside the Raven Unit's base huh. Shall I drag you to the juvenile detention center then?

Voice Line 2

Lee: You think I won't fight back from this?

Voice Line 3

Lee: For the times you've poked me, I'll be repaying you exponentially. ...Hmm, so it's at a total number of 133637 times then. Now then, are you prepared to accept some "repayment?"

Activity Task Full

Lee: Activity level's reached the maximum level. We should leave our work progress here for now.

Battle Dialogues

Battle Start/Character Switch

Lee: Simulation complete. Commander, we'll emerge as the victors here.

Voice Line 1

Lee: I'll be the one to reign over your time!

Voice Line 2

Lee: There's no escape from my line of sight!

Voice Line 3

Lee: Your survivability rate's hit zero!

Voice Line 4

Lee: You can't escape now!

Voice Line 5

Lee: This is the end!

Ultimate Skill

Lee: Perish... for all time!

Light Damage

Lee: It's nothing serious, let's stay focused.

Heavy Damage

Lee: Graagh... I won't let it end, not here, not this moment.

Incapacitated

Lee: I'll stand back up if I have to... No matter what...

Friend Support

Lee: You did well holding out, leave the rest to me.

QTE

Lee: Target locked on, fire at max power!

Battle End

Lee: Guh! It's too early to let up your nerves, Commander.

Structure Documentation

Document Detail 1

BPN-06, Attacker-type, Model Name: Hyperreal―an Omega-type Specialized Structure model developed by the Science Council based on Kurono's Inverse Device research as well as the meager information deciphered from the polymerized fragment. All of its functions are fine-tuned to the model's stability, making it impervious to the Punishing's side effects.

Document Detail 2

Both the model's energy distribution capability and the computational capacity modulator are strengthened, allowing the model to perform numerous computations. In addition, to ensure the model's stability, all its external equipment uses synthetic nano-carbon metal tubes, and their thermal conductivity is increased to make the equipment lightweight.

Document Detail 3

Only a person who extensively understands small arms could utilize sophisticated and complex heavy artillery like Lee's composite armament. Although it could adapt to every battlefield, it's difficult to operate and warrants a highly stable model, currently making the Hyperreal model the only one capable of wielding this weapon.

Document Detail 4

Although this model that takes pride in its peerless computational abilities can execute multiple simultaneous high-precision computations, the burden on Lee's Sea of Consciousness constantly reaches its critical point. However, nobody knows the actual situation behind it since Lee never reports it, persuading himself that "the data deviation in his Sea of Consciousness doesn't trigger so it won't cause any impediments to my day-to-day operation."

Document Detail 5

While the development of the Omega-type Specialized Models that centered around Liv progressed, Lee willingly volunteered to participate since Liv's Sea of Consciousness was damaged during the Solaeter's development, stating that his Sea of Consciousness was "far more stable." The first time he learned that he was originally the first choice for the Omega-type Specialized Models was after he had formally participated.

Document Detail 6

Lee couldn't remember the whispers he hears in his dreams or the confusing sceneries he sees. However, if one were to ask him if he could feel the fear and worries looming when one fights alone, he would calmly deny it―because he knows for a fact that there would always be someone who'd light the beacon behind him and illuminate the way back to where he belongs, no matter how far away he is.

Rumors and Secrets

Secret 1 The exterior appearance of Lee's new model is quite different thus far, so several people talked about how the Hyperreal model looks. However, Lee himself never once noticed that he became a hot topic of conversation around him.

Secret 2 Since Lee used to often work late at night back when he was with Kurono, he still has the habit of burning the midnight oil. When he first arrived in Eden, there used to be a rumor circulating that a ghost would appear in the maintenance room when the clock strikes at midnight.

Secret 3 Even though he didn't have any interest in philosophy at first, Lee started reading books about "the concept of time" and "time and sentience" and seems to have been taking notes on the topic ever since he changed to his Hyperreal model.

Secret 4 During his spare time, Lee adjusts the weapons and exoskeleton of the other members of the Gray Raven Unit to match each of their habits. He voluntarily does this kind of work because previously "our equipment's weapon alignment was off-point and because of that, the Commander had a dislocation injury during our practical combat training."

Secret 5 Lee tried to modify his model and hide one reflective part as he failed to understand the design intent behind it. However, one researcher told him "that part regulates heat circulation" and gave up on the idea.

Secret 6 His hobbies are solving numerical puzzle games. Everyone in the Gray Raven Unit tried it once, but the only person who understood the fun behind these logical games is the Commander.

Secret 7 He dislikes having Kurono as the conversation topic. Even though he seemed to just lightly sweep Vera's badgers under the rug, Lee feels bitter about the fact he used to work for them in the past.

Secret 8 He added the Gray Raven's logo on the inner side of the model's coat himself. He hasn't told anyone about it, but everyone noticed the addition when his model underwent modification enhancement.

Secret 9 Even though he preferred his old hair color, the development staff from the Arts Association told him that "they don't have the material for that particular color in stock." Left with the choice of either choosing a different hair color or, as suggested by Asimov, "make a hat-type Inverse Device," Lee chose the former.

Secret 10 Lee modified his right arm to attune himself with his new weapon, but it became difficult for his arm to pass through the right sleeve of his coat post-modification. He had accidentally torn the sleeve apart thrice just by putting strength in his arm, and when he finally had enough, Lee decided to wear the right side over his shoulder instead.

Secret 11 When they were little, he and Murray made a "secret code" only they know about that the two of them use during their transmission with each other. Although Lee hasn't used their secret code in a while, it appears that he used it again in a recent transmission he received from Murray.

Secret 12 The reason why Lee seldom cooks is that the moment he acquires condiments and spices, the whole kitchen turns into a large-scale laboratory―he will only season the food if the condiment is weighed in milligrams. Surprisingly enough, however, it did make him good at brewing coffee because the Commander drinks coffee every morning.

水飲み鳥 (Lit TL: Water Drinking Bird) or Drinking Bird/Dippy Bird/Sippy Chicken is a toy heat engine mimicking the motion of birds drinking from a water source.

The Monty Hall problem is a probability puzzle type of brain teaser named after the host of an old game show titled "Let's Make a Deal."

Laplace's demon is a notable published articulation of causal determinism on a scientific basis written by French scholar Pierre-Simon de Laplace in the 19th Century.

[kukuandkookie]

NEW SEE YOU MY KING CHAPTER HAS ME SCREAMING REALLY GIDDILY LIKE I CHUGGED A LITRE OF CAFFEINE OMG SOFHWIDHAKDHSIDHAJDNSKBS

THEY’RE JUST SO CUTE I’M GOING TO CRY 😭😭😭😭

ALSO THIS IS LIKE…ONE OF MY FAVOURITE TROPES…

Where Character A sort of experiences seeing Character B get injured (whether due to being inside someone’s memory or here because they look alike) so when Character B shows up, Character A feels the need to hug them and confirm they’re actually okay and safe in front of them.

Zhang Li: Let me hold you for a moment. Just for a moment…

He saw Sute’s puppet brother being torn to shreds by the trap’s thread and immediately thought of Lunkhead falling apart, so he wanted to hug Mimi.

AND WHAT IF I SCREAM…

He’s taking note of how Mimi’s body is trembling and how his heartbeat is strong, meaning he’s still alive and it’s okay. 🥹

This body is trembling… His heartbeat is strong… He’s still alive… Perfectly alive…

He needs the reassurance,,, that he’s okay,,,, 😭😭😭😭

Also speaking of Sute…

He’s pretty terrifying LDGJKSHDSJ. I love insane green tea bitches like him, and it’s really cool to see who he is now that his mask is off. 👀

Zhang Li asked him if his neck still hurt (from when he was grazed by Zhang Li’s arrow), and Sute tackles and strangled him, demanding, “Little guard, does your neck hurt?”

He’s definitely holding a grudge against Zhang Li and has now completely adopted his ragtag corpse puppet as his true beloved, protective brother, with him telling him he’ll get him new hands—and a proper heart—in the future.

Ever since Erha and other similar stories, I do find these kinds of characters—especially with their twisted interpretations of love—really fascinating. He came close to killing Zhang Li today but couldn’t, so I’m excited to see what else Sute gets up to to get back at them.

In comparison to his brother though…

MIMI IS SO PRECIOUS!!

Even Zhang Li now is realizing how much like Lunkhead Mimi is, and he’s wondering when it started or if it’s always been like this… But he also thought about how Mimi is acting like this now because he’s pretending to be his guard.

Something something about their classes and ranks being different and Mimi having to play the part of a tyrant king/pharaoh and all the sad connotations that come with that…

But God, before we get into any of the potential sadder things the author would intend to explore with this couple, I just appreciate them for being them. They’re so adorable. Mimi especially!

In the panel below, he’s asking Zhang Li not to recklessly put himself at risk with no regard for his own life again. Excuse me as I go sob. 🤧

ALSO MIMI YOU’RE SO BAD AT YOUR JOB (those bandages are atrocious) AND I LOVE YOU FOR IT 🥹

He held back his temper at Zhang Li since he’s injured (and because he loves him *cough cough*) but he yelled at Xiao Wei for it. Poor Xiao Wei ahahaha. He had to save Zhang Li and then he gets fed dog food by the PDA of these two and then he gets yelled at by his boss even though he’s injured too lol.

But okay final note because I’ve hit the Tumblr post image limit:

Holy fuck Zhang Li you’re such a boss. You’re one of the most capable protagonists I have ever read about…

Not only did he manage to get back the hands on Sute’s puppet brother for Kaba, he even poisoned Sute. 👁️👁️

So they’re at an advantage now!! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[rahxe-things]

One Piece (Live Action)

No spoilers

Listen, I didn't have high hopes for this, but to sum up all 8 episodes in an easy little sentence; it was pretty damn good.

Granted there were a number of creative liberties taken to make the Romance Dawn arc fit and flow more fluidly into these 1hr long 8 episodes, but I feel like they didn't take away from it at all.

But I really want to talk about the casting. Cause they did fucking fabulous! Because never would I think I'd say that my favourite casting would be for Buggy the Clown. The man is probably the best actor in the whole show. A close second imo would be Shanks, and it's not just because these actors are spitting images of their characters, but they captured and carried their characters so well, that during their scenes I almost forgot they were based off anime characters.

As for character resemblances; I'm limiting the list to characters that are relevant to the series as a whole.

Shanks looks exactly like I always imagined IRL Shanks would look like. As a huge fan of Shank's character, I'm really glad they found someone who pulled it off.

I'm convinced they just pulled Mihawk right out of the manga/anime. I don't think they could have found someone who looks more like him AND play his character as well as he did. He didn't have many scenes, but it was enough to leave an impression.

Koby. I bet you didn't expect him to make the list. But when he's first shown on screen, he is so unmistakably Koby. The timid, uncertain kid who wants to be a Marine was castled perfectly imo.

Alvida! Another one I bet you think wouldn't have been mentioned. But here she is. But not because she's an accurate representation, but because I think they made the correct choice of casting. In the anime/manga, Alvida is known as the most beautiful in the East Blue but is actually drawn quite ugly. We are supposed to assume that her reputation comes from her brutally forcing people to spread the rumour, but this Live Adaptation allows the reputation to spread from something concrete, hiding her secret brutality. Because omg that woman is gorgeous! <3

Zoro: I think he was going to be difficult to cast, but the actor they chose makes for a fantastic Zoro. I think my only real grief about his casting is that the actor just doesn't have that gruff tone of voice that Zoro's voice actor has for the anime. His combat choreography more than makes up for it though. I'd have to say, he has the best choreography out of everyone. (I don't know if this was because of the directing, or the actor himself, but I loved it.)

Continuing with the fight scenes choreography...

First of all, most of it is (predictably) cheesy. Anime fight scenes are notoriously difficult to adapt to live action. THAT BEING SAID, I think they did really well. There are moments where movements are really strange, but they're actually far and few between, and typically only show up where someone does one of those in-human jumps or really long leaps from across a room. And Luffy's stretchiness. Granted I'm sure they did what they could, but I still feel like they did better in the Fantastic Four movies from the early 2000s.

The Snails

Sweet Baby Jesus, those things are going to be in my nightmares. That is all.

All in all, even if it's not a perfect adaptation of the Romance Dawn arc, I still think over all it was done splendidly. As I said before, I didn't have high hopes for an anime to live action show, but I finished off the episodes overwhelmingly positive. (Bonus point for someone finally deciding on a TV show instead of a movie.) I do feel like they could have planned for a 12 episode season (much like anime), if they paced a bit differently by incorporating some minor interactions that ultimately didn't make it in, but I'm still definitely looking forward to the possibility of a season 2... and 3, and 4, and so on. Especially if they get the funding to improve of the fighting choreography and CGI. There's so many characters that I want to see make it into the live action universe, that I'm genuinely hoping for this show's success. Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but did I see Cavendish on the wanted poster wall? I though he didn't start pirating until after Loguetown...?

[thefloatingstone]

How do I give my anime designs more character? I don’t want them to look bland, especially not the girls!

I had a whole different argument here and suddenly realised I was answering a question you didn't ask. I'm sick at the moment so my brain isn't working the best so forgive me if my answers seems a bit all over the place.

Most importantly, and something i think a LOT of modern anime does badly these days, is to not be afraid to PUSH the expressions of your anime girls.

if you'll forgive the mini-rant; modern anime has a really bad habit of not allowing female characters to have "ugly" expressions. Or when they do, they make them simplified emojis or make the one second of extreme emotion SO extreme it becomes completely off putting. Especially as there will be a tendency to only push an extreme expression in one single episode during a "dramatic scene".

This results in most girls in modern anime looking more like the limited expression range of a Vtuber than actual characters. There ARE exceptions, but this is a MASSIVE issue which was not the case in the 80s or 90s and only really started becoming more common around the mid 2000s.

Comparison examples! (you know I love those). I am using still images instead of gifs so the animation doesn't mask the drawing. But I'll show some animated gifs later in this ask

This extends beyond just facial expressions tho. Or rather... it doesn't.

Most modern anime shows will have the characters pull expressions in their face, but have their bodies relatively static, even in extreme emotions. If you compare the two screenshots above, the more modern example has a more extreme push to her eyes, but in the Dirty pair screenshot, not only is Kei's mouth open very wide, but her head is tilted backwards and to the side, her shoulders are drawn up, and she gives the impression even in a still image that she is in the middle of a physical reaction to something which annoyed her. Similarly, Yuri down there is also annoyed, and even though we only really see her eyes, you can tell she's hunched over and seething. In the modern anime screenshot she's just.... got the default "these are my angry eyes!" face with nothing really happening elsewhere.

Her shoulders I guess are kind of drawn up but so barely you wouldn't be blamed to think they always look like that.

And this comes to the second point.

DRAW FROM LIFE AND/OR PHOTOS.

There is NOTHING wrong using a pose doll to figure out a challenging pose. I have used pose dolls when I am unsure how a certain pose looks from a specific angle. But looking at real life, whether photos or if you can, life drawing, will be your biggest tool in figuring out how to breathe more life into your poses and art.

Now, to answer the ACTUAL question you asked about design;

I have to admit that character design is not a strength of mine. I have little to no practice with it myself and when I design OCs I end up not liking them or not enjoying their designs. I feel someone far more skilled at the design part of design might have better input, but I can tell you what I know just from observation;

The first BIG advice is; do not confuse interesting design with clutter.

This doesn't mean strip down your character design to look like a Y/N drawing, but more have every element you introduce into your design be there with some kind of thought in mind as to how it applies to the character and who they are as a person. This is a mistake I often see made with characters both OCs as well as professionally. Where character designers seem to think adding MORE to a design will make a character more interesting to look at. (PreCure has this problem a LOT)

Giving your character too many details without some kind of larger unification or idea, makes them harder to envision for people, because there's too much visual noise.

If I tell you to think of Link from Legend of Zelda, it doesn't matter WHICH Link you picture 9although at the moment it's most likely TotK or BotW Link), Link has unified design elements which means regardless of how detailed or cluttered his outfit becomes, we all know what Link looks like;

1: Blonde hair on the longer side usually, with fringe and side bangs 2: blue diamond shaped eyes, pointed ears, light skin 3: wears some variation of green. Can dress in other colours but Green is an identifying colour. Even in ToTK and BotW where he is most often shown in blue, Green is still the vast majority of the outfits and gear he will wear 4: boots and light coloured tights/pants 5: Twink

You don't need to look at a picture of Link to know this is what Link looks like. Other details like his earring, belts, gloves, bracers, undershirt etc are all there and enhance these elements and distinguish one Link from another exist, but they are not the unifying elements to Link's character design.

On top of this, all of Link's character design make SENSE for his character, what he does, where he comes from etc.

He is a Hylian so he has pointed ears and is generally elf-like in appearance. He spends most of his time in European forests so he dresses in green. When he wears other colours it usually corresponds to where he is currently traveling. He carries a sword and shield so he has a belt with scabbard. He carries an entire pantry worth of food with him, so he has various satchels and bags on his person (but not too many or the design becomes cluttered). He wears light protective gear to show he gets into fights but they are usually not heavy in nature because Link is nimble and relies heavily on movement.

This doesn't tell us anything about his personality because Link doesn't really have one, but it's a very strong character design all the same and informs us what kind of character he is and what sort of life he leads as well as what sort of background he might have (He is a skilled adventurer. Not a rich sheltered boy who has never been outside of a city before or something of the like).

Now I'm gonna compare him to the character design of a Mass Effect character which I don't THINK you'd have played since your profile says you're a teen and the game is rated M 👀 (or you might have, idk I'm not your mom) but ANYWAY! Looking at a character design which tells us about their PERSONALITY as well as way of living.

I'm not going to use any of the aliens as examples because then you have to bring in the subject of alien species into the equation and how they stand apart from the various other members of their species and etc etc. So we'll talk about a human character.

So... this is Jack

Although you may think her tattoos make her design cluttered, they don't because you don't really need to know what every individual tattoo looks like. You just know "Jack is covered in Tattoos".

So just looking at her, you can pretty much instantly pin down her personality. That being; she will most likely fucking stab you if you say one thing to annoy her.

She's like a punk on steroids. Shaved head, heavy make up, COVERED in tattoos, both ears capped in some futuristic piercings, some or other heavy duty uniform except she decided she'd rather walk around fucking topless and boots that could crush a man's skull.

Everything about her design screams "don't fuck with me I am VERY unhinged and will kill a man for less than the $4 in his pocket".

Jacks' entire personality is on display in her design. And the design as a whole present a single concept of who she is as a person, while ALSO tying into her backstory and lifestyle. (escaped prisoner from high security facility, still wearing the prison uniform, has been in an unknown number of gangs, has an extremely casual approach to sex and sexuality, uses her intimidation as a first line of defense to prevent people from getting close to her indicating a painful past)

And then you compare her to her design in the following game

This is a great design because it not only informs you on Jack's personality, but also her GROWTH AS A CHARACTER.

Her design is, at least compared to her first appearance, softer. She's grown her hair long enough to tie it into a ponytail, making her appear more feminine. But she still shaves the sides so you know she can still shank you if she wants.

Her outfit is still VERY revealing but she's also dressed borderline decently. She is not as defensive any more and could probably even walk around in normal society without getting a ticket (and then shooting the cop in response).

However even covered up, she's wearing a leather studded jacket, and she is still displaying her tattoos on her chest and hands proudly. She's still the same person... just less likely to murder you (although the option is still there if needed).

Now compare these character designs to some others which I would count as being "too busy" and tell me if these designs tell you ANYTHING about what kind of personalities these characters might have, what kind of lifestyle to they live, what do their environments and world looks like, or what it says about them

Fun fact; that last one is NOT a magical girl, but is in fact an alchemist who is living in a slowly dying world whose resources are being depleted and the future looks grim and hopeless as humanity tries to navigate this slow apocalypse.

I have no idea if any of that made sense or is useful in any way, but hopefully you get what I mean?

Look at real life. Don't rely on just referencing other anime and pose dolls. Don't clutter a character design with details that don't mean anything. make the parts of your character design you use have meaning or purpose. Even if that purpose is just "to give them a silhouette different to the other characters so she's easy to identify by sight"

[zu-is-here]

Hey zuu

Oh hii Gayfish! (*'▽'*)

UPD:

Oh no reason to worry about it! (ówò) Your family comes first so there's nothing wrong in delaying <3

My bad I'm empty-handed either but happy birthday to the twins! (〃ω〃) Your latest reblogs with them are such a nostalgia ☆

How are you doing today? *^* Heheh yours is sooo cute too! Pink rulesss (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)♪

Take your time╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

Bruh!! It was such a mistake to use mascara cause I cried all my tears out in the end ;w; Did you like it?

OH yay!! (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

[spoilers for Barbie]

Ah I can feel you! (ówò)

Perhaps I didn't take it so politically cause Ken's attempts were more ridiculous than depressing to me, although there's a deep message here.

I guess this is not so much about patriarchy or matriarchy, but about the right to be whoever you want without being obligated to anyone?

That's what made me cry in the final, when Barbie asked her creator to be a human and not an idea and felt what it's like to be one ;w;

Oh!! (°▽°) I suppose it's really individual cause I didn't cry at all when I watched Everything Everywhere All at once, and while everyone was talking about how Great this movie is (it is! *^*), I was like "?? Well that was 60% crazy, 30% fun and 10% sophistic :'D"

Looks like it's controversial indeed ("ó3ó) What do you think would be a better ending? *^*

Pff true, she acted so good xp I also enjoyed Alan, he looks so confused the whole movie XD

Speaking of the other movie— did you watch Oppenheimer? *^*

Sadly no cause we can't watch it in cinema now :') But if they'll make it legal, I'll definitely go the second time all pink! \(//∇//)\

Oh these men ε-(´∀｀; ) Alternative? :0

Awww true! (〃ω〃) That's some real things <3

> Also no I haven't seen the other movie, but my friend has, and she really enjoyed it! So has jan!

This is not as exciting as Barbie is heh, but I'm a big fan of Christopher Nolan's films, and he nailed it again <3 (The adult scenes were superfluous though, but a man can have at least one in his career right? x)

[text ahead cause of the images limit xp]

> Alternative? You know like goth, punk things like that

Ah I see! (ﾟ∀ﾟ) Looks like it's not common for them in our modern world x)

> Other then the movie zu, how have you been? What you been up to?

Working on the next part of Trapped! (☆ω☆) Hopefully I can finish it before opening commissions, that's when the real work starts xp

Do you have other news to share? *^*

> Good luck with commisons zu!!

Nothing new, just been listening to phantom still, I wonder if there were any songs left out of the movie that you might not have heard

Thank youuu Gayfish! <3

So addictive (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)♪ Oh I wonder too *^*

> Recently I've been super into Notes and Notes twisted every way. As well as Why have you brought us here? Have you heard any of these before?

Woah— I don't remember listening to the first one! (°▽°) And I like how leitmotif repeats in the second one ☆ The voices are ssso good... *^*

> Oh! Did you just go off and listen to them now?? I love them to!! The way the voices mesh in the argument, and how christens name being repeated 3 times is a common motive.

Yesss! ♪ The musical must be better in terms of listening to them, cause in the movie, watching them steals almost all the attention :'D

> And the tunes of "His eyes will find me there, those eyes that burn"

Is the same as "hunt down this murderer, he must be found" in the finally

OH right!! (*⁰▿⁰*)

> It's also sad, how much the songs are starting to reflect christens trauma. She's so frightened, and his fear is growing ever strong, its twisting her perception of it all. All up until the point kf no return, and then the phantom singing all I ask of you.

The moment she realises that he knew about her and her lover the whole time. And she hears his true motive has truly been her the whole time, and she stands up and rips off his mask

Trueee, that was so intense in the movie as well ;w; Thought that's where the viewer knows that Erik saw them and knew about them, but the music shows it another way *^*

> I still haven't seen the movie, but the musical is spectacular visually as well.

I wonder if you'd enjoy the 25th anniversary recordings, it's very well shot.

The only thing that turned me off from the movie si that the phantom was cast for his appearance, not his voice, when it really should have been the other way around for a character who's a musical genius.

Awww I would! *0*

I've heard that many actors tried to get this role (Antonio Banderas as well?) and they took vocal lessons for this cause singing songs on their own was a prerequisite ☆

> Did you know that the longest running Broadway phantom played the role for 7 years? Almost every night for 7 years! The way they hop from one song to the next, his poor voice.

He got the biggest round of Applause at the end of the show

FOR real?? \(//∇//)\ That's crazy yet respectable!!

> One thing that was pointed out to me, which kinda kills alittle bit of the tension, js when Eric is over hearing All I ask of you, he's hiding behind the horses bottom, in the statue XD idk if makes me.laugh.

In the book he's ontop of a very high up statue, and it's a wonder he even heard them.

You know I've actually been to that oprea house

PFF well he's hiding after all xd You've been there?? (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

> Also I'm sorry if you are getting tired kf talking, idk if you are busy with trapped and would rather take a break?

Oh I really enjoy talking to you about them! *w* We can both take a break though, no rush anyway <3

> Well if you do wanna watch it, you can rent it on you tube. It's my favourite versionnnn.

Of course if you get the chance to actually watch it ! Do!

I'm going to be keeping an eye on it, waiting for it to return, Andrew said that it should come back, so if it ever comes back to London, I will tell you just in case it co-alines with a time you could visit!

I know I want to see it againnn.

Awww that would be amazing, thanks! \(//∇//)\

> Ok! We can take a break heh, sorryy

But I'll see if I can find a picture of the oprea house and send it over!

It's alright! (ówò) I'll be looking forward to it *^*

@help-im-a-gay-fish OH wow!! \(//∇//)\ This is a great photo, "catching a moment" <3

He did a really good work at trying to make it as real as possible though *w*

> Me ans Jan found a night tour of the opera housessss I think we might goooo

*GASP* That's awwwsome! (〃ω〃)☆

[thesinglesjukebox]

SUISEI HOSHIMACHI - "PLANETARIUM"

Presented by Tara, a VTuber with an arrangement that shoots for the stars...

[7.00]

Micha Cavaseno: One of the more perplexing things about pop singles emerging from VTubers (in any language, company, field, whatever) is how they're beholden to personas that should hypothetically rely on the talents and abilities of the human occupying the idol's space, but instead they can often smother the human in favor of the role. For example, Ironmouse the human can offer touching opera performances from her home set-up, but somehow with professional production, you end up with ran-through pop that flattens her abilities to provide audio fanfiction for the lore and put-ons of a CGI shadow puppet. So, like any ideal pop single, you'd want something that sounds perfectly in line with the singer's persona but also something that maybe transcends it far enough that the human at the core of the record's theater shines through. "Planetarium" is good in part because it has the confidence to not line up with the perception of the performer's penchant for committing war crimes in video games (though she's demonstrated a fondness for doing so with a song in her heart!) nor anything to do with how you're supposed to take for granted her friends and associates are adults assuming the mantles of dogs or demons or demon-dogs or what have you; not even in an otherkin way. So what prevents it from being too anonymous? I'd say it's the fragility and intimacy of the song, relying on a chain-link of Suisei's very very human voice to build and frame something that has to dwell outside of this fantasy world and instead leave you wondering about the world behind the puppet where only the person gets to dwell. It's perfect, for it seemingly frets over what it means to be a idol in either the digital or traditional sense, providing illusion as hope's balm in opposition to the human who has to guide it's rudders. It's a certain kind of mystery that doesn't really thrive in pop anymore, and however the silly means it returns, it's certainly feels all to fleeting to count out. [7]

Taylor Alatorre: Though the word "planetarium" does not appear in these lyrics, the title's connection to Suisei, who introduced herself to the world as "your shooting star" and whose fans call themselves hoshiyomi (stargazers), is obvious. She's a "constellation of hope," she tells us, who strives to bring solace to the lonely and struggling, yet she is painfully aware that this solace can only be accessed through a faint projection of images on an unbreachable wall -- a screen. "Planetarium" is an idol comfort song about the limitations of such songs, one that declines to feed into fans' most rhapsodic fantasies of connection, even as it seeks to establish a genuine emphatic link across the cosmic void. Suisei is still leveraging the intimacy of the VTuber medium here, as her admissions of personal frailty are laden with meaning to those who have followed her journey. But even for the uninitiated, the stately production from DECO*27 helps get the point across, as it blankets the listener's ears with soft, Vocaloid-like iterations of Suisei's voice, then steps back to allow for critical moments of unmediated fellow feeling. The military drums at the climax, often used to convey an unstoppable reign of stardom, are instead used here to suggest a kind of mutual empowerment from a distance, a hand-in-virtual-hand march into separate yet entwined futures. It's a healthier model of the idol-audience dynamic than the industry has sadly become known for. [8]

Nortey Dowuona: For all the hoopla about generative AI, it is a bit strange to be listening to the virtual streamer sing a solid approximation of pop with occasional low bass pulses from DECO*27, who knows not to introduce and drums until the last mark: a simple snare led arrangement using the bass drum for emphasis as the song trickles away, the voice leaning back and then taking lead as the echoes surround it, cracked by a last hit of the kick. If this is what non person sung music sounds like, it might not be so bad. [8]

Ian Mathers: This kind of has the opposite effect that 10cc's "I'm Not in Love" has, for me (and this isn't just down to the difference between one singer many times verses many singers layered together). There, the massed human voices almost dissolve the song, perfect for a narrator who is trying to hide. Here, even at their most layered, the arrangement suggest a determined self sufficiency, a thing of lonely beauty created by oneself because it has to be. Not that that's the only trick up "Planetarium"'s sleeve; I don't mind telling you I sat up fucking straight the first time I heard the drums come in (suddenly thinking of "Cloudbusting," among other things). [9]

Brad Shoup: By the halfway point, I was holding my breath to see whether she'd complete the song a cappella. Drums almost don't count, but the melody was full and the pace was engrossing, and I don't think I would have missed them. [7]

Dorian Sinclair: As the Jukebox's resident Choir Guy, you'd think this sort of vocal multitracking would be right up my alley, but I've actually never liked the "lead vocalist + faux-instrumental backing vox" style of a cappella writing. "Planetarium" has a very pretty melody and Suisei (and her many doppelgangers) perform it with a lot of expression, but I can't help but wish the track had more conventional instrumentation--even as I respect the more unusual path taken. I'm just saying, if she ever records an acoustic self-cover, let's circle back. [6]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: It has a solemnity I appreciate, and it certainly feels more emotional because the instrumentation is all digital (the martial drumming in particular), but I'm sort of left here thinking of nothing beyond, "well, it's pretty." [4]

Michelle Myers: Even my textural aversion to Vocaloid can't overcome the moments of genuine transcendence in the topline melody. [7]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: In terms of arrangement this is some real "Eternal Flame" shit -- a by-the-numbers modern torch song, lushly appointed with slightly corny details (those snares!) What truly stands out in "Planetarium" is Suisei Hoshimachi's vocal performance, richly layered and genuinely emotive and moving in a way that few songs this year have reached me. As she ascends the triplet staircases of the hook she sounds at turns uncertain -- weak, even -- and radiantly confident. She's a singer in absolute control of the song. At its heart, "Planetarium" is a flawed vehicle for an incredible performance -- the musical equivalent of a middling biopic saved by a star turn. Fortunately for the song, I'm a sucker for those movies. [7]

Katherine St Asaph: Am I supposed to hear "Fix You"? [5]

Alfred Soto: The Roches, the Bangles -- many non-Asian pop bands came to mind while the harmonies bewitched me with each pass. "Planetarium" is pleasurable in itself, a track dotted with as many false endings as an Indiana Jones film. [7]

Tara Hillegeist: So, cards on the table: this one -- even with the expectation I was throwing the Jukebox either for something of a loop or something of a snooze -- this one, "Planetarium", was my pick, out of an embarrassment of options, some of which I might even be made to admit on pain of death were better songs. But Amnesty Week isn't always about if the song you nominate was the best song nobody else on the Jukebox staff heard. It's about if the song you nominate is the song you wish got listened to with the same intensity and affection as the inarguable hits of the year that everyone else heard enough times to gain an opinion on already.

And perhaps I'd have better luck if I'd not been sidelined with COVID last year, such that I could've Amnesty-nominated Suisei's near-imperial "Stellar Stellar", a song which saw her briefly break viewership records on a "live" video recording for popular YouTube series The First Take as the first and to date still only virtual performer to grace what is otherwise a series that positions itself as close to providing the rawest, purest, flesh-and-fumbles versions of popular and classic songs in the Japanese cultural discourse (recorded in, as the title implies, one take). Prefaced as it is by an unforgettable, ingeniously performative, hesitant and "humanizing" glance towards the impassive cameras, that recording is an even better showcase for the strength and depth of her vocal performance than the original song. If she has an iconic song -- and hers is a career with no small amount of attempts to provide herself with one -- then "Stellar Stellar", a tenderly swooning, emotive ballad whose romantic flourishes find themselves lanced like a boil by sharp, bitter lyrics about how she's grown tired of being told to wait for princes to come when she'd rather become her own prince and save herself, is that song, and it will likely anchor her concerts and career retrospectives in pride of affirming place for years to come. Like Suisei herself, the song aspires to reach as many people as have ears to hear it, without ever truly desiring to close that gap between where she stands, singing alone, and where the audience finds ourselves, leaning forward to listen.

And it is that melancholic comfort in her solitude that links "Planetarium" and "Stellar Stellar", specifically, contrasted against a body of work that runs far more to jazzy, EDM-inflected pop than it does to the torch song- and scorcher-heavy era of Ringo Shiina's solo career so often cited as one of her aesthetic inspirations -- an element that "Planetarium" takes even further than the performance that nearly put Suisei's name on everyone's lips. "Planetarium" builds its instrumentation, harmonies, and central melodies almost entirely out of heavily-processed shards of Suisei's own voice, with only a steady synth pulse low in the mix and a climactic, triumphant drum fill otherwise, as she broods over the regrets and slowly-crushing pileup of setbacks that she's felt forming over the course of what starts out seeming like it might be a long-cooled romantic relationship, but slowly reveals itself to be nothing more than the fraught distance between singer and nebulously identified anyfan. Suisei has always laboriously linked herself thematically -- it's in the name, natch -- with the stuff of starlight and the night sky, something distant and heavenly, and "Planetarium" finds her wondering if that celestial distance between herself and her audience means both sides are condemned to never truly feel the satisfaction of a real connection, that she can never truly be someone's reason to get up and face another cold morning. But it's as the song turns to swell beneath her that she realizes, as long as she's honest, just acknowledging that her anxieties are hardly her own means her words are reaching someone - that just hearing her sing about those anxieties as if they're her own might be solace enough for the audience she seeks. And that, she sings, in exultant realization -- surrounded by little more than the murmuring of her own voice -- is enough; her voice, indeed, is quite literally exactly enough. So -- of course -- that's when the metaphorical mirror she's singing it all to breaks, right on cue. Perhaps that'll be the step too far, for some -- I enjoyed trying to meet her gaze, anyway, all the same. [9]

[triple-7-heaven]

Kill Switch - Interlude

a/n: had fun writing this little bit from lip's perspective, doesn't add any new events just a retelling of the story so far from her side; i enjoy perspective changes in my personal stories and drafts, hope you can enjoy too! the real next part is about half done and i'm off tomorrow so i'll probably have time to finish it :-) part 1 part 2 pairing: reader x kim lip; words: 1.7k ; categories: loona, kim lip, reader insert

Where is my mind?

On him. The stranger I rode with that night. It’s not rare to see another rider in these streets, but… He caught my eye. Even from far away. I’m not sure if it’s because I’d never seen him before, or because of his… Looks. The all-black sportbike, purring loud enough to let me know something illegal was going on inside of it. Those broad shoulders underneath a black textile jacket. And the matte black helmet and visor that hid his face for those few short moments before I finally saw him smiling at me. I thought it would be fun to play with him a bit. I watched him set his hands back on the grips, and when I knew he wasn’t looking, I tapped his kill switch, and left him behind.

Come on, play with me, play with me… 

Thankfully, he did. Chasing me down, screeching to a stop beside me at the next red light. My heart stopped when I saw his face. I don’t know what I was expecting, but… It wasn’t that. Just my type, pretty eyes, a cute laugh. 

"Haven't seen you around before," he said, a bit out of breath. It was true, as I’d never seen him either.

"Maybe I'm too fast for you," I said after thinking for a second. What a stupid, snarky thing to say… 

"Don't you get away from me before I can even ask your name," he said. The tone of his voice was hot when he said it. He revved a little when the light turned yellow. 

"That just makes me want to even more," I said. I didn’t mean it. Or maybe I did. We rode together at breakneck speeds for a long stretch, and the whole time, I thought about what to do next. 

I’m not really supposed to date, I guess I shouldn’t… But I want to. It can’t be that hard to keep a secret, right? No, it’s not worth it. I don’t even know him, what if he’s a weirdo? But he’s so cute… Dammit. 

I made the decision to lose him in the side streets. Knowing my bike could turn more sharply than his, I veered off to the right. I felt a pang in my chest when I saw him trying to search for me, but all I could do was head home. 

I came to regret it. In my free time, I searched for him. I figured if nothing else, we could be friends. But I should’ve known that wouldn’t be good enough. I imagined how his body looked underneath that jacket. I imagined how his hands, hardened by track riding and mechanic’s work, would feel moving down my body. I imagined how he’d see me, love me, instead of my idol’s image, how he’d care about me, take me to dinner, go on rides with me, come home with me… Okay, I got a little out of control. I constructed a perfect image of him in my head, created this man that I’d always wanted, packaged in the body of the man I saw that night. We all get out of control, I think, when we think we’ve gotten lucky. 

But time passed, and I still didn’t find him. I was terrified I’d lost him for good. I sulked. I rode the speed limit and didn’t take any fun, tight turns anymore. My fantasy continued as I pictured him searching for me, too; his moto-cinderella. Turns out it wasn’t a fantasy, and he found me after all. I took him to the prettiest place I could think of, so that maybe he would make a move on me there and create a good memory. 

"You caught me," I said. ‘Caught,’ like I was trying to hide, or something.

"Finally. Where have you been? Haven't seen you in a month," he said.

"What do you mean where have I been? You've been looking?" I teased. It made me feel so good to know he was thinking of me the whole time too. I couldn’t let him know I was searching so desperately for him, could I? He’d think it was weird.

"Well, no. I don't know. I go to that café a lot, the one you passed earlier, and I just figured you passed by there a lot, so I thought it was weird that I hadn't seen you," he said, exasperated. It was cute to see him stutter. Did I really make him that nervous? 

"I do, I always go by right after work. Maybe you're there at a different time?" I said. I took my jacket off to feel the cool nighttime air.

"Before I lose you again, for the love of God, tell me your name," he said. 

"Jungeun. Kim Jungeun," I said. He seemed relieved to hear it. 

"I can't lie to you, Jungeun... I have been looking for you. Ever since that one night. I know it's weird, but... I don't know. You're beautiful," he said abruptly. The blush on his face told me he regretted saying that much. I wordlessly passed him my phone to give me his KaTalk. I hoped he’d take the hint.

"I don't wanna keep you, it's getting late," I said. I looked at him expectantly, but he cast his glance away. He was fidgeting with his hands the whole time.

"Got work tomorrow... What about you?" he asked.

"Yeah, wish I didn't," I sighed. I curled up on the bench and yawned.

"What do you say we do something afterwards, then? It'll be Friday night, after all," he said. Perfect..! 

"That sounds pretty good to me. You'll message me?" I said. All according to plan. Well, except for the part where he was supposed to kiss me and confess his undying love for me. That could be rescheduled. He gave me a nod and a cute smile, so I headed out. 

Our first time hanging out was great. He did take me to dinner… We talked for hours and hours, and he shaped up to be exactly what I hoped for. He was just so shy. No matter how many signs I gave him, he never made any moves, not even holding my hand or kissing my cheek. I thought maybe it would happen when he took me back to his garage: still no. I thought it would happen when we watched a movie that following Sunday, but he seemed tense and nervous. 

And then I kind of… Accidentally ghosted him? I was slammed with so much work at one time, I could hardly find time to eat and sleep, let alone text my mysterious motorcycle-riding love interest. I felt awful about it, but every time I caught a break, all I could do was fall asleep. 

It was Friday night, and I had some time off. So I went out with my friends, bar hopping and forgetting about the week behind me, even forgetting about him after I got drunk enough. Some asshole guy from Hongdae stuck himself to my friend group, and my friends let it slide since they thought he was cute. He was particularly interested in me, talking to me when I clearly wasn’t listening, buying my drinks when I didn’t ask, then even touching me when I didn’t initiate it. I laughed along; why ruin the night for my friends by freaking out about something so small, right? As he pulled me into the next bar, I swear I saw him, my rider boy. My heart hurt. My head hurt. Everything hurt. I felt disgusting, like I was cheating on someone who I didn’t even belong to. I hoped to God it wasn’t him. But from the front of the bar near the open windows, I heard that engine, and a lump formed in my throat. 

“Jane, I think… I think I’m gonna head home,” I yelled over the noise and music, hoping my friend wouldn’t press me for more details, or press me to stay. 

“You okay?” she asked and stroked my arm. I just nodded, and quickly found a taxi on my phone before nearly running away from the bar. 

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. 

Did I just ruin it? Would he ever talk to me again? Fuck. The taxi driver was silent and I was too. As soon as the door to my apartment shut behind me, I burst into tears. My body felt filthy with that drunk asshole’s handprints all over it, but I couldn’t hardly enter the bathroom; I couldn’t bear to look at myself. After some hours of lying on the bathroom floor, I could finally take a deep breath without shaking. I pulled my phone out of my jeans, bunched up in a pile on the floor, and tapped on his name. 

[01:34]

jungeuniiie: sorry, busy week... was out with my friends tonight, i feel bad for answering so late! :-/

God, I hope he answers.

chickenstripper97: oh no problem haha

jungeuniiie: maybe we could hang out tomorrow night?

He sounded different. He must have seen me… Would it be too bold to ask him to hang out so soon?

chickenstripper97: ohh actually having a rough time lately, probably gonna stay in

jungeuniiie: oh okay, no problem. hope you feel better :-(

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. It was my fault. He was probably down and out because of what he saw. I never wanted him to feel like I didn’t want him, because I did. I wanted to know him, to figure him out, to learn who he was below the surface. I had to show him I cared somehow.

So the following day, I put together a small care package for him. It wasn’t much, just some snacks, but… I hoped it would give me an excuse to see him. I still had his address in my navigation history, so I plugged it in and took the short ride over that night. Was that creepy? Probably not. I knocked, but no answer. Maybe he was out riding or at the gym; he looked like he’d go to the gym. I left it there for him with a note so he knew it was from me. 

I want to love him. I want him to love me. Is it too soon to say that? Is it unwise to say such a thing about someone I don’t really know? Maybe if I took a chance, maybe if I listened to my intuition for once, instead of squeezing my eyes shut and waiting for the fear of rejection to pass, I could be happy. I just want to know what he’s thinking, but I bet he does, too. Why can’t we be more honest..?