#peak video editing for professionals

[ered]

in the latest episode of Adobe Premiere is trash: with the latest update, if your export folder's name has letters that aren't in the latin alphabet, the exported video files turn out broken! Haha!

[magentagalaxies]

i have been editing for hours on end bc one of my finals is due tonight and it's nowhere near done and it's gotten to a point where i needed to take a break from focusing on the editing timeline and just do something silly and stupid so time to listen to the kidz bop cover of nickelback's "photograph" aka the most bizarre kidz bop cover i have ever heard

sharing it so more people can access this cursed gem

[applestoashes]

An update on Apples to Ashes

Hi, it's Prima, the creator and sole developer of Apples to Ashes.

Wow, it's been two years since I conceptualized Douglas and the idea for a visual novel. I think about how much has changed for me personally since March 2022, the different things that have happened to and for me. It's hard to sum it all up into a few words, but to put it plainly, there's been a lot of hardships I've encountered in my personal and professional life since starting this journey, along with some blessings that kept me going along the way.

When I first dreamed up this concept, I was experiencing a lot of new things. I was participating in fandoms for other indie "yandere" VNs, I was drawing a shit ton and garnering a following. I was actually becoming the active, well known artist I'd been striving to become since around 2015. I was so inspired and, somehow along the way, I gained the attention and respect from a lot of other creators. It was so insane to think so many talented people cared about what I was making, considered me worth following, etc.

That only grew as time went on, especially when I started the A2A project. From that point, I watched in absolute shock as people engaged with my own ideas, drew my own characters. They were hyped for this visual novel, they wanted to know more. Douglas started to get associated and drawn with other indie VN characters. This feeling of being put beside all these other amazing creators was disorienting to say the least.

Due to a lot of things I've been through, it feels like the magic wore off a bit. A lot of the drive I experienced at the peak of 2022 kind of plateaued, and... lots of things changed for me. I started taking commissions, I started doing more than just art, like getting back into video editing and voice acting. I got hired by a studio, I got a lead role in another visual novel. I told myself that I can do all these things that I want to, despite the additional need to work a regular job, and the fact that ADHD VERY much has hands. Financial hardship and mental illness... double homicide

A lot can change in two years. My inspirations for the setting in A2A came from my experiences with a job I had at the time. Well, needless to say I've had a few jobs since then, and been through a few very... jading experiences. The person I was when I conceptualized Apple to Ashes and the person I am now are two different people. I was very bright-eyed and inspired, especially by my peers. I wanted to attempt to do something I'd dreamed of for a long time: make a visual novel, and it felt possible, tangible.

I've learned a lot since then. There's a lot that goes into making a game, especially considering I'm largely pursuing it alone. Due to that, and the choices I've made, the things I've been through, Apple to Ashes progress has largely been halted. I feel a lot of pressure to make it something satisfying for everyone that's given love to this project. I feel a lot of guilt about the lack of progress, and feel like I'm earning the ire of people who are tired of waiting, or perhaps losing any momentum or interest I had originally garnered.

All that being said, I'm not saying all this to come to the conclusion that this project is canceled. It's not. I want this story to come to fruition. I want to give everyone waiting the experience they deserve. I want to reach the full potential this concept offers. I want to explore the themes I've attached, use the experiences I've had and witnessed. I want to bring light to these issues using this medium.

The TLDR of this is... Apples to Ashes will happen when it happens, but it is going to happen. To those of you who have offered your patience, I really appreciate it more than I can put into words.

Thank you for reading.

[thewritingbeforesunrise]

Urge.

18+ ONLY. MINORS DNI

(Video: credits to the owner)

______________________________________

Summary: Please don't imagine Jake getting himself so worked up on stage by accident and literally aching to just come off the stage and go straight to the bathroom of his green room to get off.

A/N: I wrote this down in two hours because I couldn't stop thinking about this. This is not edited, so there may be mistakes.

Word count: 1.3K

Warnings: NSFW 18+ONLY, masturbation (m!receiving)

______________________________________

The crowd was wild.

Jake kept prancing on stage with his guitar swinging on his hips, feeling the most powerful rock star ever.

Tonight, there was a sort of electricity flowing in the crowd that had enveloped his body from the very moment he set foot on stage.

Maybe it was because his brothers and him had indulged a bit more with makeup than usual.

He was sporting black eyeliner like the good old days and the crowd went feral about it when they noticed.

Jake secretly loved the attention of the crowd on himself.

He loved the way people reacted to the wonders he performed with his guitar.

He would never admit it out loud, but he also adored seeing girls blush and lose their minds over the utterly indecent movements of his hips against his beloved guitar.

Sometimes, he did it on purpose, just to see shocked reactions of fans at his audacity to show, in public, moves and expressions that were meant only for the bedroom.

But he didn't care. He loved it.

Hearing their screams and praises always caused shivers to run down his spine.

The kind of shivers you experience while being caught doing something you shouldn't, or when being watched during a very private moment.

But, tonight, something was different.

Everything that the crowd felt seemed to bounce off the walls and go back to him.

Everything he inflicted to the crowd with his lewd behaviour came back to him enhanced tenfold.

Sometimes, it happened.

Sometimes, he got a little excited on stage because of the vibrations of the music, the adrenaline or a particularly responsive crowd.

But never like this.

Fuck, this time he was hard.

Really hard.

Thank God he had his guitar covering his crotch or, for once, people would stop blabbering about Josh’s not-so-little friend and talk about his, instead.

He tried to calm down, but it was really of no avail.

And it was only the middle of the show. He didn't even played his longest solo yet.

And he was still so fucking hard.

When the first notes of The Weight of Dreams echoed into the venue, the thousands of people watching the show lost their minds.

And Jake was sure he was going to lose it.

He dreaded the moment he had to perform his solo.

Danny's drums signaled to him that it was his turn and he almost missed it.

But, like the professional he was, he quickly recovered and started playing like a mad man, forgetting for a moment his predicament and letting the music just flow through his body.

He started moving his hips against his beloved Gibson and felt a little shock of electricity.

It was a sensation he had always tried to avoid in fear of getting caught grinding his crotch against his guitar.

But, most importantly, in fear of losing it in front of twenty thousand people.

This time, he didn't care at all.

It felt too good.

He kept his movements steady and when the song peaked he pushed his hips harsher against his guitar, bending backwards and letting his hair dangle behind him.

Then, he sped up his movements and squeezed his eyes shut.

He was too caught up in the pleasure to notice that he kept muttering little words of encouragement to himself, trying not to come in front of his fans, among curses and other nonsense.

He honestly didn't care if his actions looked indecent.

They were indecent.

He was practically dry-humping his guitar for everyone to see.

When he managed to open his eyes again, covered in sweat, he noticed that people in the first rows were blushing wildly at his actions.

He had to bite his bottom lip to try and hold himself together.

Now, every chance he got, he grinded his hips against the wood of his Les Paul, thrusting with the steady rhythm of the music for a bit of relief.

For many mindless observers, his movements made him look just really caught up in the music he was playing.

For many others, his actions looked pornografic.

He was contributing to get everybody wet and hard in the crowd.

He didn't even notice that there was only a song left. His body and brain had dragged him there on autopilot.

When the last chords echoed through the venue, he sprinted backstage.

He bumped his shoulder against the guitar tech who usually took his guitar without a word of apology and sprinted down the stairs with his cherry-red beauty still dangling on his hips, trying to cover the massive hard on he was sporting.

He found himself in front of his green room without even remembering how he had gotten there.

But he didn't care.

His mind was elsewhere.

He opened the door, entered, turned the lock, threw his guitar on the couch and sprinted towards the bathroom.

He closed that door too and leant all his weight against the cold wood.

He unceremoniously unbuttoned his pants, dragging them down just enough to reach into his boxers.

He tried to drag that last item of clothing down as slowly as he could, but when the cool air of the room hit his flushed member, he hissed sharply.

He was so fucking hard. His pink tip was already leaking with a shiny bead of precum.

He didn't lose time.

He spat onto his hand and grasped himself, tightly.

The sudden contact caused his knees to buckle and a muffled curse to leave his lips.

"Fuck," He groaned

He gained his footing again, leaning his body even more against the door, and set a fast pace on himself.

The movements of his hand were harsh and fast, with a clear goal in mind, the same he had for half of the concert.

Reach the mind-blowing orgasm he had been building for himself for the past hour or so.

He squeezed his hand even tighter around himself, whining loudly because of the sweet contrast between pain and pleasure.

Then, with the thumb of his other hand, he started spreading precum over his swollen tip.

A string of curses left his plush lips at his actions.

"fuckfuckfuckfuck"

With a little twist of his hand, he reached his long-awaited peak.

His knees definitely buckled under him, making him fall forward on them with a wild scream while his hot cum covered his hand and wrist.

His movements didn't cease, he kept going for a while more, whining and hissing, riding out the last wave of his mind-blowing orgasm, until his trembling body flinched away on his own accord and he had to stop.

With the hand that wasn't covered in his cum planted on the floor, he knelt there, trying to catch his breath, his hair dangling in front of his face, and his ears ringing impossibly loud.

After a while, he managed to lift his head and take a look around, assessing where he was.

He noticed that his cum had mostly trickled down his hand and onto the floor.

But a few drops still clung onto his skin.

He brought his hand to his lips and licked a stripe on it, tasting himself.

The salty and sweet taste of it left him in such a haze that he had to do that again before standing up on wobbly legs and cleaning up the mess from the floor and from himself.

He managed to reach the sink and he was met with his reflection in the mirror.

He took a good look at himself, while washing his hands.

His skin was shining and flushed because he was completely covered in sweat, his eyes were framed by a thin layer of smudged eyeliner and his hair was damp.

He looked like a mess.

But he found himself chuckling lightly at his reflection, thinking about what he had just done.

___________________________

Taglist: @gvfpal @jessicafg03 @sammyslappers @spark-my-nature @hellowgoodbye @highladyofasgard @sparrowofthedawnsworld @doodle417

[asgoodeasgold]

"I run a littlle bit hot occasionally. Flash rage"

The Adow cast Q&A at the 2020 NYCC Comicon is probably one of Matthew Goode's most hilarious interviews. It should come for a health warning.

The icing on the cake is when he mimes the guy on set with a smoke machine and a wafter 🤣🤣 while the set is wobbling due to high winds and James Purefoy is being all serious trying to say his lines. These swaying hips. I. CANNOT.

Also I think this is peak Matthew Goode gorgeousness. If you are not hyperventilating looking at those pics, there is something seriously wrong with you.

A few pics

Video clip

A little clip where Goodey was asked where he would like to time walk. The romantic thing to do was to relive the wonderful day he met his wife he said (although she took a while to like him 🤣🤣🤣) but ultimately he picked becoming a professional golfer. Aw, did you hear that Sophie?

📷 My edits from the Adow cast Q&A at the 2020 NYCC Comicon from Popverse on YT

Link to cast Q&A [ starts at 17:00]

[lily-blue]

13 reasons why | reason no.9: the cupcakes are heavenly

☆ characters: baker!mingyu & food critic!you (Sooyoung - ‘97 liner) ☆ genre: coffee shop au, slowburn ☆ summary: your love life consists of flavourful dishes, delicious desserts and your best friend’s stories about his relationship with the sweetest girl; that is, until Mingyu decides to add something luscious into the mix ☆ words: 12,9k ☆ massive thank you: to @dat-town​ ♥ for everything! ☆ taglist: @soobin-chois​

➼ chapter index

Food, especially sweets, had always had a special place in your heart, because as soon as you had grown old enough to understand your parents’ relationship wasn’t ideal, they had become your safe place. Shortcakes, cupcakes, croissants - when they were made expertly, they could put a smile on your face even on the most emotionally draining days as if they had indeed been made with that one magical secret ingredient that you were desperately missing around your parents: love.

Becoming a food critic had been a semi-conscious decision that had become your passion in university. It had started small: with silly albeit professional posts on your Tumblr blog under the sarcastic nickname Joy where you had uploaded aesthetic pictures of the food you had tried, given stars to the places in different categories with a few additional words to express your opinion and credited the experience to the restaurants and coffee shops by mentioning their name and address.

When your curt comments had turned into few-paragraph-long articles was lost on you. But you still remember the day when your blog’s popularity had skyrocketed and you realised that you could make enough money from your hobby to never have to look for a job that’s related to your major: boring finances. It had been the day you had posted your first short video on Youtube with your article’s link in the description below. People had loved your sarcasm and the dynamic pacing of your edit. They had loved it so much and so actively that sponsors had started to email you about collaborations and the platform paid you for creating content. 

It felt surreal up to this day, but you had gotten more than fifteen minutes of fame.

You were still as hated as loved: truly, at the peak of your career.

Fancy restaurant and small diner owners alike kept requesting reviews from you so that they could boost their popularity, but you rarely gave the time of day to those emails, because they made you feel as though you were buyable despite never taking their money. Therefore, even if those places piqued your interest, you simply jotted their names down in your notebook and gave them a try months later when the pressure to write them a good review wasn’t palpable anymore. You didn’t do well with pushy people.

Except when that pushy person was your best friend, Felix, who couldn’t shut up about his new favourite coffee shop close to his girlfriend’s workplace. Coffee Carat was a constant in your conversations ever since Yewon had started her internship in March and you finally got to a point where you thought you had to see for yourself whether their cupcakes were really as otherworldly as Felix claimed them to be or else there was a huge possibility you would snap at him. And there were only a few things you hated more than fighting with your loved ones.

The morning rush’s buzzing noises were pleasantly lively when you walked up to the counter in your red high heels and your steps came to a halt at the end of the shorter line. You didn’t mind the crowd nor the extra time you spent in the shop waiting, because you had chosen this time of the day on purpose. You wanted to see how well the baristas worked when customers had just a tad bit less patience and so far you weren’t disappointed in their professionalism.

You offered a grateful smile to the barista who took your order and carried your tray to one of the empty tables in the back of the customer area, pleased with the interior design and the amount of sunlight the voile curtains let into the coffee shop. Even with purposely taking the chair that was facing the window, you weren’t blinded by the light, which definitely earned the place a couple of brownie points. You liked places that took their time to cater to all of their customers.

Comfortably seated, you took your phone out of your long coat’s pocket and took a few takes of the pretty decoration on the curtains, your table and the cupcakes you had bought. You made sure the videos had similar starting and ending points so that the transitions would be smoother and more natural in the final product. Then,  you were ready for the taste test.

‘Excuse me!’ A pleasant voice, albeit a bit unsure, addressed you and you put your chocolate cupcake back on the porcelain plate before you turned towards your intruder. It wasn’t hard to recognize the coffee shop’s uniform in the man’s outfit, but that just made you confused. You knew for a fact that making videos at places that were open for the public wasn’t against the law until there were no concrete signs that asked you not to take pictures or record videos. Had you missed a sign like that?

You were about to apologise and ask for special permission if that was the case, when the man shot you a small smile and bowed his head respectfully.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I was just wondering whether we could take a picture together? I’m a big fan of your blog and I just… had to give it a try,’ the barista was rambling and while it wasn’t the first time someone recognized you, it never ceased to amaze you how some people turned so shy in your presence when they were clearly brave enough to walk up to you. You could have never done the same when it came to your idols, but it was true that you weren’t in the same league as Taemin and Junho from 2PM.

‘It’s okay. We can take a photo,’ you agreed easily, never one to say no for such easy requests despite your sarcastic personality. Stealing a glance at the counter behind the man’s back, you actually appreciated that he had waited until the lines had gotten shorter.

You decided to stand up so that the barista - Seokmin as his nametag suggested - didn’t have to bend his back too much and took a couple of different pictures with his own phone until there was at least one in which you looked presentable. Not that you asked him to delete the rest. It didn’t matter to you, really, but your society was fixated on beauty standards and you wanted him to be able to share this experience on social media in case he wanted to. For that, he needed a good photo.

‘But you being my fan won’t affect my review. I’m not this easy to charm,’ you stated with a pinch of playfulness in your voice, facial expression stoic. You obviously meant every word, but Felix liked to tease you about how unintentionally rude you could come off whenever you were overly honest, so you tried to lighten your tone lately when breaking down the obvious. You weren’t sure it was working. A part of you felt it made you sound ridiculous, but well… practice made perfect.

‘Of course! You really shouldn’t be,’ the barista agreed with a wide smile and you wondered how some people made acting friendly look so easy. Not that you were a bad friend material. If anyone, your best friend could vouch for you that you were caring and understanding under the surface. But smiling at someone you had never met before so brightly? You could have never. ‘And I’m not worried about your review. Mingyu’s cupcakes are seriously the best,’ he said before the female barista called his name from behind the counter and he bowed his head again, grateful for the pictures you had taken.

You kept your gaze on Seokmin as he jogged up to his coworker and helped the girl with the coffee machine. You watched as he joked around with her effortlessly while a part of his focus was always on the task at hand and shook your head before you could have gone into a detailed analysis on how ineffective it made his work. It would have been a useless train of thought and you had come here to work anyway.

So you sat back on your chair and took the chocolate cupcake, you had been meaning to try, in your hands. It smelled delicious, a little citrusy, which was an achievement in itself taking the intensity of the dark cocoa powder you assumed they must have used when making it. The tiny card behind the display had suggested that it had an additional, orange flavour, but you had already tried a dozen of chocolate cupcakes in your life. Finding the balance between their rich, characteristic aroma and other, milder flavours was harder than it seemed.

One bite from the dessert was enough to acknowledge it was good; whoever had made the recipe was talented. However, the execution was almost amateur, and you didn’t understand why this made you disappointed when it shouldn’t have mattered. Coffee Carat was nowhere near the first coffee shop on your long list that failed to back up the hype. Still, you had more faith in Felix and his love for quality cupcakes and brownies.

Having been taught to never leave your food on your plate just because it didn’t reach your expectations, you finished your cupcakes in peace while you answered a couple of asks and comments on your social media accounts. Then, you left with a polite smile and the thought that you needed to take your best friend to a better coffee shop on your next friendly date on the weekend. Maybe you could have bought something sweet and creamy for his girlfriend, too, so that neither of them lowered their bar.

Food was self-love. Especially with desserts, no one should have made compromises.

You were used to the amount of notes, mentions, asks and messages you usually received on the day you posted a new review. You had learned it in the hard way not to be too hang up on the hate comments in your comments section for the sake of your mental health - people were more brutal in the Youtube community, a significant downside of expanding your brand and advertising your blog on another platform - and while it would have been a lie to say you had a foolproof method to scroll through the hate, now you were able to stop reading those lines when it became clear they had been written with malintention. You could focus on the good: the fun remarks, the constructive observations and the appreciation you received.

You tried out low quality places, so your followers didn’t have to and discovered rare gems, so that they could visit them knowing their food and drinks were worth the money.

Receiving demanding texts wasn’t a new thing, either. It was almost ridiculous how many people wanted you to change your opinion about a restaurant or café either for the worse or the better just to justify their preferences. You never wasted your time on these requests; that would have gone against your principles. And still, a week later, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, you found yourself in a situation when you couldn’t ignore the reappearing name in your spams anymore: Kim Mingyu. 

Every damn message you got that week was about Kim Mingyu.

Thus, when you saw that a new Tumblr blog with the default profile picture of a triangle sent you a private message, you opened it and typed out an answer.

milkgyuandcookies: “please, you have to come back to the coffee shop again!” milkgyuandcookies: “i’m telling you we have the best cupcakes” milkgyuandcookies: “it’s all a misunderstanding! i’m begging you 🥺🥺” you: “i wrote my review about the cupcakes i purchased at your coffee shop, so i can’t see any misunderstandings or mistakes here” you: “i rarely visit the same place twice, let alone in such a short period of time” you: “i’m sorry, but you had your chance” milkgyuandcookies: “then make an exception, please!! you can’t just write a review like this about my cupcakes when those weren’t even my cupcakes 😭😭 have some mercy” you: “you sold those cupcakes, i wrote a review about them. next time don’t sell them if you’re not satisfied with how they turned out” milkgyuandcookies: “aren’t you listening? those aren’t my cupcakes!!” you: “well that’s not my problem. i’m not going back” milkgyuandcookies: “just this once, please!🙏🙏i’m on my knees” you: “i’m blocking you” milkgyuandcookies: “no!!” milkgyuandcookies: “wait!! 😭😭” milkgyuandcookies: “come back!! 🥺🥺”

You clicked on the three dots next to his username and blocked him like you promised before he could have kept going on about how you should have given their coffee shop a chance to redeem themselves despite your definite no. Whether those cupcakes had been baked by him personally or not shouldn’t have mattered. They had given their name to those sweets when they had let their customers buy them, so it wasn’t your fault that you had chosen a cupcake that tasted average. You didn’t see why you should have revisited their place because of a few pleading emojis and a half-assed excuse.

You weren’t heartless - it just wasn’t easy to coax sympathy out of you with pleading emojis. They had taken a poorly calculated risk and lost when you had picked a dessert that had not reached the promised quality. End of the story.

You spent the next two hours blocking every blog that messaged you about Kim Mingyu and another half an hour phrasing a curt answer to a polite ask that claimed Coffee Carat deserved more stars. Then, you disconnected your phone from your wifi and spent the rest of the day in your bed, binge-watching the Chinese drama you had found last week. Wang Yibo’s gamer character might have driven you up the wall when he started to neglect his girlfriend because of his mentally unstable ex, but the reappearing cliffhangers did their job wonderfully, taking your mind off your followers’ obsession with Kim Mingyu.

His cupcakes or not, what you had tasted didn’t deserve your praises and you stood by your opinion.

The original plan had been to celebrate Felix’s promotion at his favourite high-end restaurant, but that place was full until the end of August, so you had ended up making a reservation for his birthday instead and invited him over, promising the blondie an inexhaustible supply of doenjang jjigae and permission to choose the movie you would watch. It was the second best thing you could give him, you were both aware of it, because your tastes in movies were pretty different and most of the time he was powerless against your arguments. You prayed he wouldn’t make you regret each one of your life decisions - such as letting him sit next to you at the American diner you had first met or befriending him - and make you watch something that left you with no other choice but to sleep with the lights on. You still couldn’t get over your unreasonable fear of rollercoasters because of your Final Destination marathon and that had been ages ago.

‘Hm, it smells delicious,’ your best friend’s voice came from the front door along with those struggling noises that coaxed a genuine chuckle out of you without witnessing his battle with his shoes. His habit to tie his laces so tightly it became impossible to get rid of his sneakers without his hands was beyond you, especially because his hands were almost always full. 

‘Better! It tastes delicious,’ you shouted back and turned off the stove with a snicker the same moment Felix finally emerged from the hall and walked past you to put his plastic bag on the counter and wash his hands by the kitchen sink.

As you two had previously agreed, he had taken a small detour to bring something sweet for dessert because while this jjigae recipe was your pride, you couldn’t bake to save your life and after numerous disheartening attempts in the past, you would have rather not given it another try at such a short notice.

‘What did you bring? Shortcakes? Pancakes?’ You asked while you stepped to your cabinet and took out half a dozen tiny bowls for your side dishes. The yellow radish in the lowest compartment in your fridge had been fermented by you a couple of weeks ago, but the napa cabbage and cucumber kimchis were new additions to your poor collection that you had purchased in the morning at the best organic food market downtown.

Although you couldn’t resist stealing a few bites here and there while you were distributing the side dishes, you did manage to leave the volcano steamed eggs untouched, which in itself was an achievement. Therefore, you let out a proud hum when you scanned the dining table, looking for important details you might have forgotten about.

‘Cupcakes,’ Felix said as he also opened your cabinet and fished out two inox rice bowls with their lids for the rice you had left in the rice cooker. Oh! How could you have forgotten about the rice? It was almost as important as your main dish.

You raised a brow without much elegance and watched as your best friend made himself at home in your humble flat.

‘They better be good,’ you threatened, although your voice was more playful than anything. It might have been over a month that you had set foot in Coffee Carat, but your friendly banters about those damned cupcakes and what delicious meant for the both of you had been a constant in your life ever since.

The pseudo-outraged scoff that left Felix’s mouth was the only retort you got, so you counted it as a win and didn’t drag out the topic. Instead, you put the jjigae in the middle of the table and let your friend dive in first although you were older than him. You were celebrating him, after all. And you had never been too keen on following conservative sentiments, anyway, like showing unconditional respect towards your elders and relatives. Your relationship with your parents had pretty much predetermined your thoughts on such matters. Thus, ever since you could have remembered, you appreciated one’s effort more than their age. Obviously, it had caused you headaches during your studies, but without a strict supervisor or a boss, it was almost too easy to live by your own rules. Even if it meant, some people called you rude and a disgraceful brat.

While eating, you listened to the blond boy’s endless chatter about the company dinner at which they had celebrated his promotion with his coworkers: how the other candidate, a loud guy named Yuksun who came from old money, had gotten wasted because he couldn’t have handled the decision. There were tears in your eyes from all that laughing when Felix’s story reached the climax, Yuksun’s futile attempts to drink Felix under the table being a comedy at its finest with the guy calling up his mom to take him home.

Since all you could have bragged about in exchange was the speed at which you had finished the tteokbokki you had ordered on Monday and the series you had almost finished the same day, you asked your friend about his girlfriend, because for 1) you genuinely liked how sweet she was and you had the habit of living your non-existent love life through their relationship and 2) you preferred the role of the attentive listener while eating.

‘She said it’s a surprise, but I’m pretty sure we’ll have a picnic,’ Felix said with a little laugh before he went into more details about Yewon’s lovely idea for their own, private celebration next week as she had needed to go home to Busan due to a family emergency you didn’t plan to pry about. It clearly wasn’t your business.

As always when you spent time with your best friend, your laugh was a bit more honest, your personality a bit more dorky and you couldn’t stay pissed at him for longer than two minutes when he chose a movie you would have never even considered watching without him being around. You were hiding behind the blondie’s shoulder, drumming with your legs out of fear and frustration while you reached for one of the cupcakes he had on a metal tray atop of his lap. You had sworn you wouldn’t have tried them until the movie had a calmer vibe, but you were already halfway through it and it showed no signs of less psychological torture.

Since your eyes were half-closed and the only source of light in the living room was your TV, you didn’t bother with checking which flavour you put your hand on. Instead, you peeled off the cupcake liner with one swift movement and took a huge bite from it as though Felix had ever restored your faith in his taste. 

Cinnamon and orange mixed perfectly atop of your tongue and the fluffy texture of the dough melted in your mouth. You needed to take another bite and one more to make sure your taste buds weren’t messing with you. The dessert your friend had brought was just this good.

‘Heol! These are heaven!’ You moaned a bit breathless when you tried a different flavour and it tasted just as good: the white chocolate and the raspberry complementing each other instead of fighting for dominance. You found yourself hoping Felix had brought dark chocolate ones, too, while you were simultaneously wondering which additional flavour would have balanced out the bitter aftertaste. Mango? Banana?

‘I know, right? Like I said, my favourite place,’ he bragged with a cheeky smile as he picked a random flavour and shoved the cupcake into your mouth. It tasted like salted caramel and reminded you of summer vacations when you had finally had enough money and freedom to visit the countryside on your own.

‘Oh, yeah? Where did you get these from?’ You asked between two bites. You narrowed your eyes and hovered over the tray, so that you could make a better judgement on the flavours of the remaining cupcakes. They all smelled delicious and two of them had that unmistakable, chocolatey aroma to them that made your mouth water.

‘Coffee Carat, obviously,’ Felix said and you snapped your head in his direction so abruptly, you headbutted his chin on accident, eliciting a groan from him with your carelessness.

In any other situation, the apology would have already rolled off your lips, but the revelation closed up your throat and made your tongue feel heavy. Confusion and disbelief knitted your brows together as you took another tentative bite from the cupcake in your hand. Obviously, it tasted nothing like the ones you had tried back in the coffee shop and suddenly the private messages you had gotten after you had posted your review flooded your mind.

Your fingertips dug into the soft texture of your dessert and the dough stuck under your nails, clinging into you like the memories of Mingyu’s whining that it hadn’t been his cupcakes you had tasted, that he wanted another chance to redeem his worth.

You didn’t notice how hard your teeth were tearing into your chapped lower lip until the damage was done and you could taste your own, coppery blood in your mouth. Fuck. Why were you feeling sorry for how you had replied to him when it didn’t change a thing. They had sold those cupcakes to you. And they were nothing special.

Your concerns must have been visible due to the deep furrows on your forehead and the small pout on your lips because the first thing your messy mind successfully took in was your best friend nudging you with a poorly concealed smile on his face. You straightened your posture and leaned your back against the backrest of your couch.

‘Is that guilt on your face?’

It was. However, you refused to acknowledge it out loud. That would have meant you had made a mistake when you had written your criticism, that blocking Mingyu hadn’t been the right thing to do and a rational part of you knew you did nothing wrong. Sure, lots of places, from high-end restaurants to family businesses, had a star chef or baker they advertised their menus with - especially when these people were not only talented, but handsome as well -, however, it didn’t necessarily mean they prepared all the food on their own. In fact! It was rather rare that one person was behind all the delicious creations. Which meant it was their own responsibility that each and every employee reached the bar.

‘Tsk, why would it be? I wrote about the food they served me,’ you retorted and stuffed the damned chocolate cupcake into your mouth out of spite so that Felix had no chance to taste it. Not that, in the back of your head, you weren’t aware that he must have been a regular at the coffee shop, hence could have tried all of these flavours out already.

To show your friend how determined you were to put an end to this conversation, you steeled yourself and kept your eyes on the screen even during the most disturbing scenes. You didn’t cave in when Felix tried to stare a hole into your temple with what you assumed was his best kicked puppy eyes. You didn’t seek shelter in the crook of his neck even when you felt like you were at your limit. You stayed strong, stubborn as a mule, and finished all the cupcakes on his tray as some sort of childish punishment that he let you have.

Damn. They tasted so much better. You hated the perfect balance of flavours and the fluffy yet filling texture with every fibre in your body - you did so almost as fervently as you loved each bite. You were clearly and unequivocally screwed.

You weren’t stupid. You might not have known every teeny tiny detail of Felix’s motives, but you should have been extremely oblivious to not realise he was trying to make you go back to Coffee Carat with the amount of cupcakes he had been bringing to your friendly dates lately. Even when you had been supposed to go out and grab some coffee at a different place, he had managed to bring you some of the sweet desserts for later and acted like it was perfectly normal to walk into a café and order brownies with another place’s cupcakes in your hand.

Slowly but surely he had been getting on your nerves until the situation had gotten to a point where you had needed to confront him whether he had accepted money from those people in exchange for his help. The accusation had earned an offended scoff from the blondie, but you had had every right to be suspicious, so you had refused to apologise.

Instead, you were thinking of ways he could have made it up to you when fueled by Felix’s persistence that festered into your own, growing guilt, you crossed the threshold of Coffee Carat for a second time, barely three months after your first visit.

While you were waiting for your turn in front of the counter, you gave yourself a pep talk and brainstormed about how you should have recorded your video differently since the interior design barely changed over the months. It more or less took your mind off the unfamiliarity of the situation and the possibility of another disappointment.

‘Hey! You came back!’ The barista who had approached you last time said, his smile so big and bright that it made you believe he still liked you and your articles despite your opinion about his workplace. His attitude made you grateful; you made a mental note to mention his professionalism in your follow-up criticism. ‘Are you here to try out our seasonal specials? They’re made with peaches.’

You stole a quick glance at the displays: all those cold drinks and sweets that were made with peaches, but still shook your head.

‘No, actually I’m here to—’

‘You!’ Someone exclaimed and you turned your head in the direction from where you heard the voice on instinct just how Seokmin did.

The man whose index finger was pointing at you was almost too tall to stand on the threshold comfortably, but somehow he managed even with his chin held high and his spine unnaturally straight. The flickering flames in his chocolate brown eyes dressed your arms in goosebumps, but you stood your ground and resisted the urge to look behind your back and check whether he was talking to someone else.

‘Me?’ You asked, breaking the momentary silence, eyebrows furrowed more because of your confusion than his intimidating aura.

‘Yes, you!’ The man claimed and let his hand fall back by his side before he took a few loose steps towards you and grabbed your wrist so naturally like he had every right to touch you even though the two of you had never met before.

Later, when your nosy best friend would ask you where did your survival instincts go when a random guy dragged you to the closest empty table without your consent, you would put all the blame on how freaking ridiculous this whole situation was. You wouldn’t admit that his grip was actually gentle or that he smelled like raspberry and chocolate, one of your all time favourite combinations. The latter two were obviously irrelevant.

‘Wait here!’ He commanded leaving you no choice but to comply because of how quick he was to turn his back on you as soon as he pulled the chair out for you and pushed you down on the hard, wooden furniture. You had never been so lost for words in your entire life.

As the shock started to slowly wear off, you contemplated whether you should have stood up and finished your order at the counter, but considering that Seokmin had done nothing to save you from this man and they were wearing the same uniform, you assumed it was for the best if you did as he asked you. Worst case scenario, you could still ask for the manager or make a complaint directly to the owner. Nothing too extreme that would have gotten him fired, but something that would have made him think twice before he did anything like this to another customer in the future.

You were a strong believer that manners should have been of the utmost importance in every establishment in the catering industry.

It was the sharp sound of a metal tray colliding with the top of your table that pulled you back to the present, the delicious smell of freshly baked cupcakes only registering in you a couple of seconds later. In front of you, there were at least a dozen of different flavours from peach and white chocolate through bananas and cinnamon to raspberry and mint. The amount of saliva that gathered in your mouth at the heavenly sight wasn’t even funny.

Caution being thrown out the window, you acted on autopilot when you reached out for one with melted chocolate chips on top and took a huge bite from it. Good gracious! It tasted just as good as everything else Felix had brought for your friendly dates.

‘Here! It’s on the house,’ a familiar voice said and you shifted your gaze from the iced white mocha to the person who had placed it in front of you, worry clear and evident in his words. ‘Please, forgive him for acting so disrespectfully.’

Seokmin looked like he was about to throw up (or throw fists, you really weren’t sure) when his eyes accidentally met yours and he bent his back so quickly and deeply, you were afraid he would hit his forehead into his knees because of the momentum. 

‘I’m not acting disrespectfully. She’s the one who blocked me for no reason,’ the giant said, proving your assumptions right. He was an employee at the shop: the baker who was praised by many and defended by even more because of his delicious creations. As childish as he acted, you had to admit that a part of you could understand why he was so upset about your article. It mocked his worth and hurt his ego although you still stood by your opinion. It was on them that they had sold those average quality desserts.

‘Dude, shut up,’ Seokmin hissed, the action so raw and human that you had to swallow back an amused chuckle. Their friendly bickering in the customer area, right in front of a customer no less, was highly unprofessional, but somehow you couldn’t mind their actions. You should have done so, you always did, but their duo was more entertaining than anything else, so you let them be for a couple of more seconds before you cleared your throat.

‘It’s okay. I appreciate your kindness, but I would rather pay for this,’ you said with a small tilt of your head. You lifted your mug a bit higher, then pointed your index finger at the tray on the table. ‘And the cupcakes as well.’

‘You don’t…’ Seokmin started, but you dismissed his worries with a firm set of mocha-tinted lips and a pair of eyes that accepted no further objection.

‘I insist,’ you added before you took another sip, satisfied with the silence that followed your statement. You watched as the barista’s gaze met his coworker’s for a brief moment before he nodded in a tentative manner, reassuring you that in case you finished, you wouldn’t have to wait in line to pay until it was him behind the counter, and turned his back on you two.

Knowing well that you wouldn’t have jumped the queue even if you hadn’t had the entire day for yourself, you stared at his back while leaving for a tad bit longer than it was necessary, then turned back to the giant with a raised eyebrow. 

‘So?’ He asked as soon as he had all your attention and you took another bite from the dessert for good measure, as though you hadn’t been addicted to his cupcakes since the day Felix and you had celebrated your best friend’s promotion.

‘They’re one of the best cupcakes I’ve ever tried,’ you admitted, blunt and raw in the way you formed your opinion, which earned a goofy smile from the baker. His sharp canines and naturally rosy lips did something to your head; you almost bit back the rest of your words just to protect his smile, but the realisation what you had been about to do horrified you enough to sober you up and push you forwards. ‘But you have to understand that I still can’t give this place a ten even though it might deserve a correction,’ you claimed, turning back ahead, so that you faced the table, at the first sight of an ugly twitch in the corner of his mouth.

Considering what you had already seen from his personality, you had a vague idea what to expect and with his darkening facial expression and pitched voice, the man did not prove you wrong.

‘What? But you’ve just said it yourself that—’

You lifted your empty hand next to your head to make Mingyu shut up before he could have started a tantrum. You had already known he felt wronged, you didn’t need the reminder.

‘Your cupcakes are exceptional, but this place clearly has employees whose aren’t,’ you said, not letting your arm fall back on your lap until you were at least eighty percent sure that he understood your reasoning.

Mingyu’s pouty lips and sad eyes made him look like a giant puppy who had been kicked out from home and your heart clenched when you saw him shift his weight from one foot to the other while he was struggling with his thoughts. The furrows on his forehead made it clear that he desperately wanted to come up with a good comeback that could have potentially changed your mind, but to his misfortune, there was no such thing. You spoke straight facts no one could argue with.

‘I didn’t even want a baker’s assistant, it’s all Rina noona’s fault,’ he mumbled, his complaint quiet enough to make you question whether these words had been meant to be spoken in the first place.

In the end, you didn’t ask for a more detailed explanation nor did you make comments on how he should have trained his assistant better instead of putting the blame on a third party. You simply took another cupcake in your hand and opted for letting him know with your dismissive body language that your decision was final.

Luckily, the afternoon rush was about to start and the more people walked into the coffee shop, the less baked goods stayed behind the displays. Therefore, the man had to go back to the kitchen and leave you alone with your cupcakes despite the desperation in each one of his movements that made it painfully obvious that he didn’t want to give up yet.

Without his overbearing gaze suffocating you, you could finish your food in a good mood and record a few videos for your channel as well before you walked up to the line in front of the counter and paid once it was your turn.

It might have gone against your principles to visit a place so soon just because your criticism made them upset, but these cupcakes… they were worth bending your ways for. Even if you refused to redeem their name entirely.

You had never been at Coffee Carat with Felix before. Not because you refused to go back to the coffee shop after your second visit, but because you liked to discover new gems during your friendly dates and the blondie had never complained about it so far.

However, when one of the chefs you had given a bad review decided to mess with your tires and fuck up your car, that was where your best friend took you after his shift to take your mind off your horrible day.

‘No way man! Is she your girlfriend?’ The blond barista asked as soon as his gaze fell on you and Felix and you furrowed your brows in confusion because of two totally different things: 1) since when was your best friend so close with the employees of this place that they used not only informal speech with him, but threw their manners out the window when they talked to him? And 2) how could this guy mistake you for Yewon when your personalities and your preferences in clothes and colours couldn’t have been more different?

A part of you was convinced that the couple was a regular at the shop, hence the only logical explanation you could have come to was that this barista was either a newbie or somehow he never worked when those two walked into Coffee Carat together.

‘Best friend,’ came the correction from your right and the mortified look on the barista’s face made up for his mistake generously. His red cheeks and crimson ears, his dilating eyes tugged on the corners of your lips and coaxed an amused scoff out of you.

‘I’ll have an iced white mocha and a brownie, please,’ you decided to order to spare all three of you from embarrassment and turned towards Felix with the intent to ask him whether he wanted to carry out the whole cheering-you-up agenda and pay for your drink or you should have fished your wallet out of your bag. 

‘No cupcakes?’ The boy asked before you could have spoken and you pressed your lips into a firm line, not pondering over the question for longer than three seconds. Felix was right. You had had a terrible encounter with a maniac earlier that day. You deserved the extra dessert.

Humming in contemplation, you eyed the cupcakes behind the display and pointed at the pile that was placed behind the plastic card I Feel Peachy written on it.

‘And two of those,’ you asked, feeling a bit better already at the sight of the generous amount of chocolate chips sprinkled atop of the cupcakes. You hoped they were made by Mingyu and not the giant baker’s assistant as you were rather sceptical that he had trained his subordinate to perfection in the past few weeks.

‘That’s my girl,’ Felix cheered and asked for a matcha latte and a brownie, swiping his card like he was a billionaire.

Only later, when you were sitting in the customer area, teasing your best friend because of his sugar daddy vibe, did you get to know that so close to the closing time every baked good was sold for a lower price. It surprised you, pleasantly so, and you couldn’t have helped but think that it was very nice of the owner to prioritise not having too much leftover instead of money. After all, those pastries they failed to sell by the time they closed the shop couldn’t have been sold the following morning. They had to be thrown out according to the local regulations.

You were thinking of buying some more cakes to support the shop and their attempt to reduce food waste when someone pushed the front door open with such force, the wood crashed into the wall with an alarming thud. Your best friend and you - along with the other six customers in the coffee shop - snapped your head in the intruder’s direction, shocked by the petite girl’s dishevelled hair and tense body language. She looked like she had come here to commit murder and you had never been more relieved in your life that it hadn’t been you who had rubbed another person the wrong way.

‘Do you kno—’

‘Where is he?’ She demanded, pointing at the blond barista accusatively as though he had already refused to answer her question when in reality he just seemed too speechless to form a coherent sentence. You felt bad for him, but you weren’t sure you had any right to confront this girl - not to mention that you had enough drama in your life with a vengeful chef who had promised to make you regret ruining his career. Considering that he hadn’t been fired after giving you food poisoning, you were convinced that he was stretching it.

You lowkey wondered whether this girl was acting like a drama queen as well or her attitude was justified. Not that you supported screaming in public under any circumstances.

‘Excuse me, miss! Who are you looking for?’ The blond barista asked as soon as he collected himself and you leaned your elbow on the table so that you could have rested your chin atop of your palm. Although his reaction time was definitely on the slower side of the scale, you were genuinely impressed by his manners; you were sure you would have failed miserably if you had been the one who had to handle a cyclone like this girl.

‘That good-for-nothing Kim Mingyu, who else?’ She spat, not giving a damn about the man who walked into the coffee shop after her or the old woman who tried to make an order, but failed to gain the barista’s attention because of her tantrum.

You watched as a handsome guy with round, nerdy glasses rushed out of the staff only area with an anxious-looking girl behind his back and wondered when she had disappeared behind the curtains to find the manager because you admittedly hadn’t paid too much attention to her presence. You had been too engrossed in your own world and the wide variety of desserts you could have chosen from.

In your defence, you were sure most customers didn’t care about the staff of these kinds of places, only that one employee who was serving them.

‘I’m not leaving until he grows some balls and speaks to me!’ The girl claimed angrily when the guy said something to her in a voice too quiet to be audible from where you were sitting. You lifted your drink in front of your lips and took a small sip, just as shocked as Felix was when the girl pushed the manager aside and hit the counter with her palms. Your bewildered gaze met your best friend’s eyes for a sheer second before you both turned back towards the ongoing drama. ‘I know you’re in there,’ she pointed at the door close to the counter. ‘Come out you self-centred bastard or else I’ll drag you out myself.’

While everyone was waiting for the baker to make an appearance - you saw two teenage boys recording the happenings with their phones -, you recalled your first encounter with the giant, puppy-like boy and wondered what he could have potentially done to piss this tiny girl off so badly. Considering that he had completely disregarded your personal space last time, you had a couple of ideas, but for some reason none of those sounded too believable, not even in your head. Sure, he was headstrong and whiny, but would he have hurt her on purpose?

You shook your head. It didn’t matter what you thought. You didn’t know him.

Still, you sucked in your breath when the baker walked out the door with a piece of cloth on his shoulder. He looked like a mess: there was flour on his apron and shirt, his hair stuck out in numerous directions and he also had some dirt on his chin although you couldn’t have told what exactly. Maybe some chocolate cream or cinnamon syrup.

‘I’m here. Can you please stop making a scene?’ Mingyu asked in a surprisingly icy tone that complemented his rigid posture perfectly. His arms were linked in front of his chest in a way that highlighted his muscles and you had to take another sip from your mocha to cool down before your imagination could have run wild. So what if he had looked like someone who hit up the gym frequently? Trouble was clearly written all over his face with capital letters.

‘Why? Does this feel humiliating to you? Am I humiliating you?’ The girl asked with a scoff, tilting her head to the right to mock him with her body language, too. You knew the type: she was petty and ready to give back tenfold whatever Mingyu had done to her. ‘Then you finally know how I felt when I was waiting for you for hours in that restaurant where even breathing in the wrong way is a crime,’ she raised her voice even more, enlightening everyone on what had hurt her so much and getting different reactions from those who were witnessing their (pretty much one-sided) fight. Looking around in the customer area, you saw your best friend shaking his head in disappointment and a boy having enough of the drama and turning back to his laptop. One girl pointed at Mingyu while whispering to the person next to her. You just drank some more. You had been to those kinds of restaurants dozens of times. You had no doubt the experience had been humiliating. Especially if it had been her first time at a place like that where even the waitresses wore tailored uniforms. ‘They had to send me away so that people who actually went there to order more than a glass of wine could eat,’ the girl spat, her frustration slurring her words a little at the end of her monologue.

You felt sorry for her even though you thought she was overreacting.

‘I’m sorry, but I’ve already told grams I’m not interested in going on random blind dates she and her friends set up for me,’ Mingyu said, not taking his eyes off the girl he had stood up intentionally or unintentionally. He claimed it was their grandmothers who had organised the date, but he had never said he hadn’t known when and where he should have shown up. Did he have the girl’s number saved? Did he know her name?

‘Not interested?’ She scoff-laughed. ‘You think you’re so amazing because you’re tall? Your skin looks like you were sweating on a farm your whole life, pathetic, really. I wouldn’t want a second date with your sorry ass even if you begged,’ she said with her index finger pointed at the baker. She acted more pathetic than a minute before if that had been possible.

Objectively speaking, everyone must have been aware that Mingyu’s beautiful, tanned skin didn’t fit your country’s ridiculous beauty standards, but this was the core problem with how a lot of people in South Korea looked at beauty. It should have been a subjective matter, not a long list with endless items everyone tried to tick off.

You genuinely believed that the boy’s natural, sun-kissed skin looked a lot healthier than the pale complexion many people desired to have and tried to achieve with make-up.

‘Excuse me, miss,’ the manager raised his voice while taking a step to the left to protect the baker from the girl as though there hadn’t been a big enough distance between the two. ‘We don’t tolerate degrading comments like this in our coffee shop. I need to ask you to leave or else I’ll call the police,’ he gave the petite girl a fair warning, something you weren’t sure she deserved, but knew it was necessary.

‘The police? On what grounds?’ She asked back, shifting a part of her attention to the person who was talking to her without really looking at the young man. Instead, she put her other hand on her hip, too, shaking her head.

‘You’re disturbing the peace, harassing the employees and as of now, you’re banned from the shop, which means you’re trespassing,’ the manager listed, making you furrow your brows in question. You might have done a detailed research on media law when you had started to gain fame on the internet just to avoid some unwanted, nasty consequences, but you had obviously never studied law. You had no idea whether she really committed trespassing if she refused to leave, but the manager sounded confident enough for you to consider it as a valid option. The question was whether she believed him as well or was willing to take a chance.

‘Are you fucking kidding me?’

You sucked in a breath and leaned a little closer to the commotion subconsciously. This girl was clearly furious, most probably because she had felt humiliated in that restaurant, but was it really worth being called the cops on?

‘Seungkwan, call the police, please. Tell them that—’

‘Screw you! All of you,’ she screamed into the manager’s face, pointing at the blond barista, Mingyu and everyone who were watching the drama. Then, she pushed the manager’s broad shoulder with her hand, fueled with frustration, and turned her back on everyone, so that she could speed-walk to the double door.

The straw between your teeth was so damaged, you could barely use it anymore when your gaze loitered over the employees a tad bit longer than it should have and your eyes met the baker’s chocolate orbs. You turned your head away so quickly like he burnt, shame creeping under your skin and tinting your ears and neck crimson in fist-sized patches. There was no way he didn’t know now that you had been paying attention to the drama, which meant he must have thought you were nosy.

You let out a pained groan.

‘People are getting crazier and crazier these days,’ Felix commented and you needed to make extra effort to not concentrate on your iced mocha in a way that could have been considered suspicious when you let out an affirmative hum.

Despite having your own car and preferring it over the crowded metros and buses you should have taken to get around in the city, you knew how public transportation worked. You even had your own T-money card somewhere in your wallet, so you really didn’t understand why your best friend acted like he owed you a ride home when he told you that he had plans with two of the baristas after closing time. Clearly, you had had a terrible day and your car had been caught in the crossfire, but you were also an adult. You could get your ass on the metro when you needed to.

‘I can take her home,’ you heard a familiar voice say and you both snapped your head in the baker’s direction on instinct, slim fingers tightening around the paper cup of iced coffee you had gotten along with the cupcakes you had purchased for the morning.

As if he had no shame, Mingyu shot a lopsided smile in your direction and made no attempt to hide that he had been eavesdropping. His elbow was still resting atop of the counter while his chin was casually on the back of his hand.

‘Would you really? Thanks, mate! You’re a lifesaver,’ your best friend exclaimed, completely disregarding the displeased glares you were giving him. He knew damn well that you didn’t like owing people, let alone someone you weren’t close with. If anything, the fact that the two of you had known each other for years and you still had problems receiving help from him when you were sick should have been a telltale sign.

You cleared your throat to express that you also had your own two cents to throw into the conversation that should have involved you in the first place.

‘Thank you, but I can take the metro. It’s no big deal, really, Felix’s just acting like I’m still five and snotty,’ you declined the baker’s offer with a patient smile, keeping your cool with grace in your every movement: in the way you held your chin high, how you lifted your paper cup in front of your lips. You took a small sip from your drink as elegantly yet unbothered as you could, mentally ready to leave the coffee shop for another month or two.

A boy and a girl left the building in the background, the unmistakable sound of a heavy door slipping into its frame encouraging you to bid your goodbye, too.

However, you were too slow.

‘She lives in Hongdae,’ your best friend said so casually, it made you wonder whether he was oblivious of the dangers of such a statement in public or he would have trusted this guy with his life and was messing with you on purpose.

‘Yongbok!’ You hissed, but he just laughed it off with a gentle wave of his hand as if you had been pseudo-sulking and he had better things to discuss than dealing with you. You bit into your cheeks and swallowed down a curse, making a mental note to tell on him to Yewon, because you knew for a fact that she would have taken your side without a second thought. She was a young girl who had moved to the capital city because of her studies. She knew the differences between the countryside and Seoul at night and in general. 

‘Then it’s not even a detour,’ Mingyu said and you rolled your eyes, because he couldn’t have known for sure just from the district. It was a big area, considering the traffic, it could have meant an hour-long detour, too, for all you cared. 

Honestly, you didn’t understand why he had offered you a ride in the first place. It wasn’t that the two of you were friends. You might have written a correction about his cupcakes, but his blog was still blocked on your Tumblr.

When his gaze landed on you, you let out a sigh.

‘It’s already dark outside. Let me take you home,’ Mingyu asked after he finally spared you a glance and it took everything in you to not squeeze the living daylight out of your coffee. You didn’t want to inconvenience the baristas who would need to clean up the mess, especially because both Seungkwan and Junhui had been fun when they had prepared your orders.

‘What makes you think I’m comfortable with you knowing where I live?’ You asked back, tongue sharp and merciless. Obviously, you would have liked to believe that your best friend wouldn’t have pushed you into a shady person’s arms just to be able to hang out with his other friends right after closing time, but the baker was technically still a stranger, so you had every right to put up your defences even if some considered it rude. It was your life, your sense of safety.

The silence that fell upon your trio didn’t resemble anything poetic. It didn’t feel like a warm blanket that shielded you from the cold; it wasn’t ugly and sticky and uncomfortable. Instead, it existed without picking on your skin or filtering out the background noise.

You gulped when memories from an hour prior popped up in your mind. You saw the petite girl storming into the coffee shop, screaming at Mingyu and calling him a farmer like it was an insult. You saw the baker’s unbothered facial expression slowly morphing into something sad and you could feel your resolve breaking as your brain identified the sight with a kicked puppy. You swore, the boy’s chocolate orbs were shining in the artificial light, tricking your heart into thinking he was about to cry.

‘Fine,’ you groaned in defeat. ‘Do you need me to wait here or…’

Mingyu’s smile was blinding.

‘Give me five more minutes and we can go,’ he promised and you acknowledged his words with a silent nod before you took a seat by a random, empty table.

You liked to believe that you were an independent, mature adult, but after the bravado he had pulled, it wasn’t below you to give your best friend the silent treatment. Thus, you paid him no mind while you were waiting and bid him goodbye only because it would have been rude if you hadn’t. You didn’t hate him. You simply wanted him to think twice before he had even thought of doing something similar to this in the future without your permission.

A part of you was hoping that the ride to your apartment complex would be spent in silence, maybe, listening to the radio or a playlist you would have never put on on your own, but of course you couldn’t have been so lucky. You couldn’t have reached the first red light, Mingyu was already rambling about his grandmother and her obsession with his love life as he was her only single grandchildren.

‘Look, it’s really not my business. I’m sorry I was eavesdropping when that girl came in, but in my defence, it was hard not to,’ you decided to put an end to both of your suffering, since it wasn’t an easy topic - family had never been one, not to you at least. If he insisted that you should have gotten to know each other while you were in his car, you would have much preferred starting with lighter subjects like what had made him become a baker or how he had come up with those recipes he was so proud of. Food… that you could have talked about for hours.

‘I know, I’m just saying tha—’

‘I can’t bake to save my life,’ you blurted out the first thing you could think of before he could have given you another lengthy explanation he didn’t owe you at all. Whether Mingyu had stood that girl up intentionally or he had underestimated the length his grandmother was willing to go to like he had said, it didn’t matter to you. At the end of the day, even if you had become acquaintances, you weren’t interested in him romantically, were you?

‘What?’ He snapped his head in your direction, making you point towards the road ahead in fear.

‘Eyes on the road!’ You demanded and you didn’t let your hand fall back on your lap until he did as you said. Once the shock of the moment passed, you needed to take a few deeper breaths to calm your heart, while the baker on your left let out an embarrassed, little laugh like he didn’t actually know what to do with himself.

You were grateful that he didn’t let go of the steering wheel with one of his hands to scratch his nape awkwardly like most people usually did in similar situations. Not the letting go of the steering wheel part, but the unconscious scratching.

‘Would you like me to teach you? How to bake,’ Mingyu specified, his question rolling off his lips with a little uncertainty, like he was fearing your reaction, which was ridiculous. You didn’t have a significant place in each other’s life, you were nobody to him but a girl who had dared to criticise his workplace and knew a guy his coworkers were close with.

You raised an eyebrow. Where was the infamous confidence that urged him to drag you to an empty table without a fair warning and feed you with his best desserts just to prove a point?

‘If I remember correctly, you didn’t want your own baker’s assistant. What makes you think you’re not an insufferable teacher?’ You asked, not out of spite, just to trigger a reaction that showed which one was the real him. Was his confidence all an act, something he perfected over the years because of his relatively handsome face? Did his personality change so much around particular people? Was it harder for him to believe in himself because of the article you had written about Coffee Carat or because he didn’t know what to expect from you?

Mingyu’s laugh was deep and it reverberated around the interior of the car, tugging on your edges and smoothing them effortlessly.

‘That’s a fair point. We might have to give it a try to figure it out,’ he teased as he took a turn to the right then stopped at the end of a painfully long line in front of the closest red lights. The traffic was as heavy as you had predicted. ‘But really, my offer still stands,’ he made sure you were aware and you acknowledged it with a curt nod.

It wasn’t that you totally hated the idea, you just weren’t sure you wanted to accept his offer and spend time together with him in an informal environment. Not because you thought he was bound to catch feelings for you; you knew more frequently than not people simply didn’t feel that spark regardless of one’s looks. Instead, you had doubts you could manage one more person in your private life. You might have been your own boss, you might have been able to spare time for friends almost whenever you wanted, but keeping in touch with more than two or three people at the same time was draining even for your generally extroverted ass. You didn’t like retelling a story multiple times, sometimes you were demotivated to answer texts immediately. One more person meant one more relationship to put effort into.

Unless he gave up on you as soon as he saw what a disaster you were in the kitchen when it came to desserts.

‘Can I turn on the radio?’ You asked after a couple of heartbeats, sneaking a glance at the boy by your side, trying to decipher how he felt about your question and your dismissive attitude. Was he disappointed? Did he feel stupid for bringing it up?

‘Sure,’ he agreed kindly, letting you pick a channel and telling you in way too much detail how you could have connected your phone to the audio system if you couldn’t find anything up to your liking.

During the rest of the ride, you didn’t speak much. You chose the first channel that played a pop song you were distantly familiar with and opted for staring out the window, watching the colourful neon lights blending into the yellow beams of the street lamps.

Still, when it was time to say goodbye, it wasn’t unpleasant or unnerving. On the contrary, there was a visible smile in the corner of your mouth when you closed the passenger door and lifted your hand for a polite wave.

You unblocked Mingyu’s blog on Tumblr two weeks later, in early August, when your best friend was unavailable because of an unannounced family visit - an early birthday surprise from Australia because his parents couldn’t take any days off at the same time in September - and you had too much food to eat on your own. The two of you had planned to have another movie night, so you had ordered plenty of mandus, kimbap balls and tteokbokki, while Felix had been supposed to bring dessert, which is why the giant baker came to your mind in the first place.

you: “is your offer still standing?”

You sent the message with quite low expectations. After all, it had been months since you had last spoken on this platform and you couldn’t have been sure whether he had remembered it existed. Based on the default profile picture he had and the lack of reblogs other than a couple of cooking memes from a month ago, you honestly doubted he checked on it regularly.

And he really didn’t. But at least the food didn’t taste horrible after you reheated it the next day in the microwave.

Your bi-weekly baking sessions with Mingyu had started with a bunch of double-texts:

milkgyuandcookies: “are you free tonight?” milkgyuandcookies: “i’ll be there in an hour just need to take a quick detour” milkgyuandcookies: “with which flavour should we start?” milkgyuandcookies: “seokmin said felix said you like chocolate so i bought chocolate chips and tons of cocoa powder” you: “are you really coming? like… are you really on your way here?” you: “what if i’m busy? or if i’m not even at home?” milkgyuandcookies: “are you?” milkgyuandcookies: “that’s a bit awkward then cuz i’m already here” milkgyuandcookies: “so you’re really not home?” you: “…” you: “give me five minutes”

Mingyu as a teacher was more patient with you than you had expected him to be based on his displeased comment on his baker’s assistant and a lot more zealous than he should have been considering your repeated mistakes with the baking soda that made even you, a complete newbie, feel tired and snappy on the fourth week, let alone a professional. Shouldn’t have he gotten tired of you after the second time you failed to measure the powder accurately? If your pride could have taken the blow, you would have given up on baking a long time ago.

‘I still think it’s the size of your kitchen,’ Mingyu claimed after he crouched down and took the tray out of your oven. Watching him move around in your small space, you remembered the disbelief on his face when he had first come over: how he couldn’t have believed there were kitchens out there where the oven and the fridge weren’t built into the complete set of kitchen furniture, preferably at his chest’s height as though being so tall was common in your country.

‘Yeah, sure,’ you shook your head in amusement, loving the chocolatey smell of the cupcakes you had baked, the third and most promising attempt that night.

You reached for the cream you had prepared for decoration, skipping on the fondant because last time you had given it a try, it took hours to make them look good and you started to get tired of standing. As usual, Mingyu had come over after his morning shift around four and it was already nearing eight. Thankfully, you had had a dinner break an hour ago.

‘No, but listen! With more space, you could feel less crowded and more relaxed,’ he argued, coaxing an airy scoff out of you when he hit your hand lightly to remind you to be patient. The cupcakes were still hot, you shouldn’t have touched them with bare hands.

‘Just admit you want to show off your kitchen and shut up,’ you groaned pseudo-annoyed with a hint of a smile hiding in the corner of your lips. You were genuinely waiting for the comment, anticipating it even, and if you wanted to be honest, you had heard so much about his kitchen equipment by now, you were actually considering asking Mingyu to facetime you from home just to show you around. However, your curiosity needed to stop there for both of your sake. ‘I won’t go over to your place just to destroy your kitchen, too. I don’t earn that well,’ you complained and watched him as he placed the warm cupcakes on two separate porcelain plates.

When Mingyu’s hand came to a halt in midmotion, you slid your gaze from the dessert to his face. He looked at you sceptically like he was about to call you out on your bullshit and you shrugged in response. Okay, maybe you earned that well, but it wasn’t what mattered.

‘What if I want you to come over, so I could cook for you? We could call it a date,’ he asked and it was your turn to raise a brow. By now, you knew that his confident and insecure selves came hand in hand, but it was the first time he didn’t beat around the bush by flirting with you shamelessly.

On most occasions, Mingyu brushed aside his own advances with a carefree chuckle before you could have taken him seriously. This time, however, he kept his warm eyes on your face, waiting.

You looked away and cleared your throat.

‘Aren’t there like a dozen of granddaughters in your hometown who are waiting for your grandma to set them up with you?’ You asked, because you could and because deep down you were a little desperate to avoid answering his question with the level of seriousness he most probably wanted you to. The teasing chuckle that stuck in your throat tasted bitter, like a nasty knot that went bad the moment you decided to not let it out.

You took a transparent bag filled with lilac coloured cream in your hand and pulled one of the porcelain plates closer to yourself.

‘You know I hate those blind dates,’ he claimed firmly and you hummed because you knew. Mingyu had the habit of giving you detailed explanations about things that were absolutely not your business. How could you have not known at this point? ‘I only go on dates with girls I genuinely want to get to know. I really don’t understand what’s so bad about this! So what if I don’t date that much, it’s not like I’ll die alone,’ he groaned, the pain in his tone so real, you could feel it in your own chest. You were being unfair and you did feel bad. However, taking him seriously would have meant you had to give him an honest answer and you weren’t sure you were ready for the consequences.

It was easier when it was all about harmless flirting.

Sneaking a glance at the boy on your left, you recognised his frustration in the way the deep furrow between his brows became even more bottomless and you swallowed your guilt when the thought that he looked adorable with his darted out tongue crossed your mind.

‘I don’t think it’s bad,’ you stated, late enough to call it an afterthought, but not too late to make things awkward with your commentary. Or so you hoped.

‘But you don’t think it’s maintainable,’ Mingyu retorted, finishing the rose petals on his first cupcake with ease while the cream was still hanging clumsily in your hand. You took a deep breath and got to work.

‘I’m only saying you have a lot of options,’ you explained and while your words came out less neutral than you would have preferred, you kept your focus on your dessert to make up for the pinch of annoyance in your voice. You shouldn’t have cared how many girls he could have gotten with a flick of his fingers, so you told yourself you didn’t.

‘So? There are hundreds of restaurants that want you to write about them. Still, I don’t see you eating out every single night,’ he argued, forcing your brain to see the logic behind his metaphor.

You nodded in acknowledgement as you got started on your next cupcake, not finding the perfect retort for a couple of minutes, but thankfully, Mingyu didn’t rush you. Instead, he put a second colour in his plastic bag atop of the first pastel cream and created the most beautiful lilac-marigold roses you had ever seen.

If you wanted to be honest, you would have admitted you were scared. Not of Mingyu, even though he had some questionable habits you were still trying to adjust to and accept - but who didn’t have those -, but of a romantic relationship with another person: the quality time you had to spend with a significant other, the responsibilities you needed to share. How long could you two have been together before everyone around you started to talk about marriage and babies? How long could you have been with Mingyu before he started to yearn for all the conservative steps a relationship entailed?

What if you had fallen in love with him one day, but not the idea of raising his children? You liked your freedom and the simplicity of taking care of only yourself although life in general could be difficult.

You went over the pros and cons in your head repeatedly, until there were no more cupcakes in front of you without a poor attempt of a rose on top of them and reached for a chopstick as soon as you made up your mind. Sure, Mingyu might have been childish and whiney and a lot of immature adjectives in your dictionary. He wasn’t familiar with personal space when it was convenient to him and his ego could take only one or two blows when it came to his profession.

However, he gave you space and time when he realised you needed it and made you laugh with his dorky behaviour more frequently than not. He was patient and optimistic. He baked the most delicious desserts you had ever tasted and hated those disgusting movies Felix used to drive you out of the world under the disguise of your friendly dates.

Your hand was shaking slightly when you scraped the sugary cream off your last cupcake with intent behind each one of your swipes. Then, with your breath caught in your throat, you slid the finished baked good in front of Mingyu.

To keep your mind busy and the mood nonchalant, you didn’t turn towards the boy to ogle at his reaction. You simply walked up to the sink and washed your hands, so that they would be clean when you placed each one of your cupcakes on a tray that fit into your fridge.

You became aware of Mingyu’s presence right behind you sooner than you felt the light touch of his dirty arms around your shoulders. You shuddered from the unexpected weight he put on you. Or was your body reacting to the warmth of his breath against your ear?

‘I’ll never eat it. Never,’ he claimed and you rolled your eyes (affectionately).

‘Sure, I worked so hard to bake and decorate these, so that you wouldn’t eat them,’ you said, then turned off the tap water without pulling away or making any attempt at putting more distance between the two of you.

For a split second, you hesitated whether you should have turned around in his arms to make him let you go with your sharp gaze, but soon you came to the conclusion that doing so would have been too risky in the current situation. The ugly, clumsily craved “yes” on the top of your cupcake might have given him enough confidence to realise he also had some power over you. It wasn’t just the other way around.

In the end, you stepped aside, but he still followed you like a giant puppy, his chin resting on your shoulder. Your movements felt uncoordinated as though your body was suddenly three sizes bigger, but you managed to reach the kitchen counter and the confession you had left on it.

Grabbing the lukewarm dessert, you lifted it to your lips, but before you could have taken a huge bite from it, Mingyu linked his long fingers around your wrist and pulled it in front of his own mouth. The crumbs that accidentally fell into your shirt tickled your skin in places that were lowkey unpleasant, but instead of scolding him, you turned your head and dived into the sweets from a different angle.

‘Delicious,’ the baker moaned, exaggerating, earning another eye roll from you and you two finished the cupcake in the middle of your small kitchen until the back hugging position got too painful to maintain due to your height difference.

That night, while you were cleaning the kitchen, you promised Mingyu that you would show him the coolest restaurants in the city and that he could have called all of your dinners dates if he wanted. In exchange, he promised to bake you every cake from his grams’ famous recipe book, which you, too, were allowed to call a date.

You doubted it fitted the definition, but you didn’t draw his attention to his mistake. You were too content to care about semantics when you (thought you) knew exactly what he meant and couldn’t wait to experience it all.

➼ next reason

[danandphilchronology]

Phil the Viking + Tim’s Adventure +  Worst Day Ever. + The Rabit iz comin to get you

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Hello besties! Another day of AmazingPhil circa 2008! We have quite a few I wanted to cover in a single sitting because I was inspired by their very in-depth and meticulous Met Gala review that you can see on Phil’s Instagram. Just looking at the titles, I can tell we are going to be in for an adventure!

Phil the Viking

I’m already nervous for what this could be. This past weekend I did a ton of independent research into Dip and Pip lore and I watched a video that was just Phil barking at the camera and let me tell y’all, that shit has scarred me. 

Wayback Machine (16 February 2008)

Muhammad Ali… Recipe for Life by loutyr

News In Color - College Edition by NewsInColor

Black History Month Presents- BLA… by agordon101

Ok, originally I was nervous because in these early youtube days, Phil doesn’t really have any rhyme or reason to his titling UNLESS he has made some kind of music lipsyncing video. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a vlog! Phil and some of his friend stared ina move called Faintheart which billed itself as “the first user generated movie”. Over 1400 myspace users auditioned for the movie and 11 non-professional actors were selected including our own Phil Lester who played Tim. I will link the imdb page here if you are interested in the plot of the film, but just to be warned, it sounds like it was as… good… and you think it is. 

It was presented at a film festival, received mixed reviews, and actually was nominated for a couple of awards. It’s crazy to think that Phil could have continued a career in actor. What a life that would have been. 

Total Watch Time 15m 30s

Tim’s Adventure

Wayback Machine (11 June 2008)

David Byrne: Playing the Building (BBTV) by boingboingtv

THE COMPLIMENTS COLLAB by PickThisCar

TAG! INSTANT KARMA! PASS THIS VID 4 HUMANITY!!! By KingHuman

Ok yall, the last video spoiled me because Phil is back in business as the king (I assume) of the weird side of youtube. It is very interesting to think that this era of Phil is the one Dan was like, “Yeah, we need to be friends”. 

Tim is a little guy who lives in Faceland (Phil’s actual face). The story of Tim is sad and short. He wished to find live and had to fight many uphill battles to be with his beloved, just for them both to be consumed by a dragon. This is not animated. This is nearly a minute of drawings on Phil’s face that I assume took at least a couple hours. This was, honestly, peak creativity. Bonus points for Phil for washing his face, I guess. 

Total Watch Time 16m 27s

Worst Day Ever.

Wayback Machine (25 June 2008)

the Trons - self playing robot band by pieplateindustries

PiKAPiKA THE MOVIE ~ GO! GO! PiKAPiKA!!~ by pikata08

Sing A Long by checkyourself

This was a song for men about how to check yourself for testicular cancer. I did a bit of research on that one. (10/10 for prioritizing health)

We love a storytime youtuber! Apparently Phil has a fear of rollercoasters? Not really, but he dreamed that he had killed an entire cart of passengers on a rollecoaster because he forgot to engage the harnesses. He was actually killed in his dream by a group of theme park mascots. While wearing a full suit and tie, he just talks us through an awful day from beginning to end. The ending, however, is true 2008 Phil and I 100% recommend you watch it. 

Total Watch Time 19m 11s

The Rabit iz comin to get you

I promise that I did not decide to spell it like that. That title does not contain any mispellings by me, I promise. That is all our Philly’s doing. 

Wayback Machine (7 July 2008)

The Blood Arm featuring Anais “Do I Have Your Attention” by laundryLA

Dynamic Architecture by dynamicarchitecture

The Cheese Incident by hiddentracktv2

CHILDHOOD STORYTIME!! Yay! Did you know baby Phil wanted to be a vet because he liked animals and wanted to help them. I could cry. He has always just been a little bean. He also wrote a murder story though, so I guess the sweet and terrifying evens out. The title comes from a story her wrote with the same name. The rabbit killed everyone and he could only be defeated by an entire army. I feel like I understand Phil less than I did before actually? Like what is going on? Why didn’t he become a horror author or horror movie director? Why didn’t his parents put him in therapy? Maybe they did. Imagine being Phil’s primary teacher and you notice that he as a tendency to write stories about murder and death… I would have nightmares.

Total Watch Time 21m 41s

[you-turn-it-into-light]

KEIKO - CUTLERY (2023) Album Review

I was thinking of giving this album a review immediately after it came out but I had very lukewarm feelings about the new songs and wanting to let them sink in a little so I left my review for a little bit. Anyway, without further ado:

Overall:

Similar to dew's Album covers, I think these are really boring. The dress is really nice, but I really hoped the album cover wouldn't be just Keiko sitting in front of a plain background like all the single covers, but alas. Again, doesn't really relate to the title or even the themes of 'ordinary people' throughout the album.

The Analog edition only coming with two songs is silly. Charging basically 7k more Yen for I'm assuming enlarged album art, a photo book and a vinyl with two songs on it is embarrassing. This could've been a stretch, but maybe an audio version of the Blu-Ray tracks or just a couple of acoustic tracks on there? Even just increasing 2 songs to 5 from the original album would be better.

There seems to be a few issues throughout the album with the quality of the vocal recordings. In Hitori Janai Kara and Yoru no Uso to you can frequently hear pops that the pop filter (the small shield in front of professional microphones) are supposed to hide. In situations like this, I'd expect the staff or even Keiko to realise this and redo the lines, but it didn't seem like they noticed or cared. This isn't as egregious as Hikaru's microphone peaking during basically the entirety of Kawaisou da yo, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

They decided to do the opposite of dew's album, where instead of making a music video for every song they made none. I'm very disappointed by this, would have liked to see at least one. Because of the structure of this album's release though, I'm not sure what the lead single would even be. If I chose one it'd either be Alcohol or Hitori Janai Kara. (I'd like a music video of Amanojaku though tbh)

Even though I like most of the songs of the album, I'm personally disappointed almost all of the songs have Keiko singing in this higher tone with very little emphasis on her heavier tone and lower notes. I get this is how she likes to sing these songs, but I can't help but gravitate to why I fell in love with Keiko's voice in the first place. This has been a running issue with Keiko's solo music for me, but I'd rather her continue to sing the music she wants to sing or hear rather than singing Yuki Kajiura-discount/rip-off music.

Watashi Update (私アップデート) - (6.5/10)

This song seems to be a mix of Amanojaku and Kirai to me. The opening in particular sounds very Amanojaku-esque, while the synth aspects are very Kirai. I appreciate a few parts of this song, like the part right before the chorus, that guitar hits very nice. I like the melody of 「No,それを決めるのは今の僕たちじゃない」 and also the three-part harmonies throughout the song. Random belted D5 as well? Good stuff. Other than that, this song is kind of mediocre to me, not fun enough to dance to but not rock enough to head bang too, just kind of in the middle. I also wish the instrumental mix was a bit louder, it sounds like Keiko is overwhelming the arrangement.

Alcohol - (4/10)

This songs grown on me a little since I first listened to it and I appreciate what it's trying to do, but similar to Latte from dew, it's just not my thing. I find the repeated synth phrase and chorus melody to be a bit grating and overall this song just doesn't do much for me. I appreciate the harmonies in the chorus, especially the low octave. The lyrics are fun and carefree and I find the control of Keiko's vocals, singing a fast melody in a carefree way, to be very impressive, even if a couple moments seem to be autotuned.

Yoru no Uso to (夜の嘘と) - (8/10)

This song sounds very Kajiura-esque, especially with Keiko's vocals and I really appreciate it. I like how the arrangement increases to a crescendo, starting with piano then acoustic guitar, then adding electric guitar, drums and strings and ending with adding another harmony for the last chorus. It's simple, but I appreciate it. I don't think I'll ever get over the chorus' melody and how Keiko subtly adds emotion to it, especially the 「この愛をどうすればいい」 in the last chorus. The richness of her voice really brings the entire song together and elevates the song for me. The only things I wouldn't say I like about the song is that the melody and structure of the verses and bridge are a bit boring and don't add much to the song except to elevate the chorus, which is fine but I'd like if they gave me more to chew on.

Kirai. (キライ。) - (5/10)

This song has gotten a lot of hate (hehe) and I didn't like it at all at first either, but comparing it to the other song most similar to it (Alcohol), I like it more than than that song for sure. I appreciate the vibes of this song a lot more and very much delivers the city-pop feeling Alcohol kind of failed to bring for me. I like the switch between the lower toned verses and the very high chorus. I will say the chorus is a little grating on the ears, and I'm sure most of it is autotuned a little bit. Given Keiko most likely isn't going to sing that D#5 live, I don't know if I'll ever figure out if she ever sang it or if it was autotuned. At the end of the day though, this type of song still isn't really for me and I don't find myself listening to it much.

Close to you - (6/10)

Similar to Kirai, didn't like this song at all at first. Thought it was very boring and forgettable for a long time. But after many listens, I kind of like it? Doesn't hit as much as Yoru no Uso to, but I'd say it's a good song. I like the blend of the piano and Keiko's gentle singing with the electronic elements (they kind of hid the string synths lol), even if I would appreciate a more pulled back version. I quite like the first verse and bridge/second-verse, sounds kind of romantic. I don't have much really to say about this song, it's kind of a cheesy chill love song that's just kind of okay I guess?

Amanojaku (天邪鬼) - (8.5/10)

This song catchy as hell! Took me a bit to warm up to this song, but this is definitely my kind of song. The fun guitar arrangement and relatively heavier mix is really my kind of tea. It makes when it pulls back and explodes back in even more effective. I love really all of this song, it's so fast-paced, interesting and catchy. I also love the lyrics with the theme of following Japanese folklore, interesting stuff. If there was anything I could complain about, it'd just be usual of Keiko not singing in a heavy-enough tone for my taste. Makes it sound more poppy than intended in my opinion. Probably my favourite song on the album ngl.

Fly, Black Swan - (7.5/10)

Keiko's lower range and tone is back (for one more song) baby! I don't know how I'd describe this, sounds a bit jazzy and I like it. I really like the arrangement and instrumentation of the verses, the fast-paced percussion with the scattered guitar and bass phrases created an interesting vibe. The muted and subtle sound of whatever brass instrument is present is nice as well. This track is kind of sexy as a whole, especially the pre-chorus. I don't usually like multi vocal layering, but I like the choice in this case. I've got it as 7.5 because while I really like it, I don't absolutely love it. I wish there weren't any electronic elements like the synths and keyboard and didn't rely on electronic percussion at times, I feel as if it clashes with the rest of the song at times. Also, overthrill definitely isn't a word lol.

Yura Yura (ゆらゆら) - (6.5/10)

Similar to Close to you, took a while for me to warm to this song but I like it more than that song to be honest. Thought it was very forgettable. I think I keep getting disappointed after not hearing a more dramatic or heavy song and forgot to just appreciate the song as it is. And this song is very sweet. Keiko's singing style in this song isn't off-putting and in fact fits the song very well. I love the arrangement with the strings, especially in the bridge, sounds very dreamy. The verses are very sweet and cute, adds to the whole vibe of the song. While I really like this song, it isn't a song I'd listen to a lot and I don't like the chorus as much as the rest of the song.

Your (ユア) - (1.5/10)

Here it is, the Revolution of this album. At this I've listened to Revolution a few more times and like her singing in that song. This entire song just screams 'cheesy' to me, and not in the charming way. It's trying really hard to very uplifting and bright, but none of it hits for me. I hate the electronic elements and especially the English sections. The 'I will fall in loooooooove' line is.... ugh, it sounds like Keiko's just shouting it (I know she's not, it just sound just she is). I don't like the verse, the chorus, the bridge, the arrangement or instrumentation. Keiko's singing is impressive as usual throughout most of this song, so I'll give it that.

Hitori Janai Kara (ひとりじゃないから) - (6/10)

I definitely like this song more than when I first heard it, but I don't have overwhelming positive feelings for it either. I like the melody most of the song and my favourite part is definitely the bridge, definitely the height of the song, especially the 「変わりのいない君と」. Keiko sings that entire part with such power. Despite that, the song is mostly a bit boring and the issues with the recording bring me out of the atmosphere of the song a bit. It's a nice song, but nothing too memorable to me. Looking forward to hearing it in every single live performance from here out.

Bottom Three Songs: 3. Kirai, 2. Alcohol, 1. Your

Top Three Songs: 3. Fly, Black Swan, 2. Yoru no Uso to, 1. Amanojaku

[nolanrossblog]

Game Hammers 2

This is the second week of game hammers. WOW! Two weeks already, we've come so - so so so - so far. Nolam This week my parents were off for vacation, so I was in charge of taking care of my 3 siblings. On top of that, it was back to school, so it was an intensely busy week. I'm going to categorize my progress this week so that I can better parse my thoughts. And I'm also going to write as the week goes on starting from Tuesday, April Eighteenth, 2023. ~MUSIC~ Since Christmas I've picked up the violin, and I do my best to average around two and a half hours of practice every week. I've also been taking violin lessons! I started with electric, but the electric violin my mom bought me isn't suitable for practicing, so I switched to an acoustic one for now. To be honest, I don't have much to show for it, but learning instruments is difficult and it takes time and dedication. It's really a battle to find motivation sometimes, but I think it's a good continuous goal. ~SCHOOL~ School is nearing its end and it's a slurry of conflicting emotion. On one hand, I'm completely mentally prepared to leave high school behind, and on the other hand, I sense I'll miss it. Life is about moving on though, and I think I'm ready. ~GAME DEV~ If you watch game dev Youtube, there is a popular Unity developer named Blackthornprod. I've been watching their videos for years, and they've helped me grow as a developer. There is a series of videos called "Pass The Game Challenge" on their channel, which works like game dev telephone, and I had the pleasure to participate in it for a second time this week. The most difficult part of these challenges in my opinion is dealing with other people's code. The approach that other people take in making their games is kind of perplexing, especially when they're given a strict time limit. I edited together a recap video of me turning what I got into the base for an adventure game about avoiding the mighty sun. You can watch it here: Recap

I'm pretty proud of what I did for the game in just six hours, and I gave the recap a story which I felt made it flow nicely. I had lots of fun participating and hope I can do it again some time.

~ART~ I've been working hard on my art final project, which includes over 5 pieces and my process of development. Hopefully in the next log, I'll have compiled some professional-quality images of my works. ~PERSONAL~ I want to become more positive. I've noticed in conversations I often have a critical point of view, and though criticism can be constructive, I often end up tearing people down, and this is a trait I want to leave behind as I move into adult life. Spebby

Wassup Hammers, welcome back to the Spebby section of the Game Hammers blog. This week was slower in terms of learning compared to previous weeks, but I still have some things to share. I’d like to focus on my mid-semester break to Lake Tahoe: I’ve only been once before, but this time I tried skiing for the first time, and I sucked pretty hard! As we headed up the Gondola my partner told me all the stories of where and how they broke their bones along the slopes, even pointing out the exact tree they broke their arm on. I myself thankfully avoided having any  particularly bad crashes, but I must have fallen at least 30 times. The most painful crash ended in a splits, with both skis still attached, and both of my legs caught on something

My first descent took 2 hours, but eventually I managed to do it without falling on a repeat descent. Eventually, I headed up to the summit of Mt. Pluto. Most of the ways down were Black Diamonds, there was a path down that was a Blue. While I had only ridden Greens up until that point, I thought I may be able to handle it with a few stumbles. I very quickly realised that it was way too steep for myself, and had to literally roll down the mountain. Unfortunately I don’t have any videos of photos. But I do have one of the peak. It had a beautiful view of Lake Tahoe. It was quite surreal to be honest. Before I had gone to Tahoe I always held the belief that the place was overrated. I had known many people as a kid who’d go up every year. But when I finally did go up it all clicked and I had a newfound appreciation for my adoptive home state.

And of course, the views on the drive back were quite something. We didn’t stop, but I got some great photos of the snow covered landscape. It was actually quite surprising how much snow there really was. Prior to heading up I was told that this time of the year, there’s little snow on the mountain and usually none in Northstar’s Village. But there were mounds of snow as tall as people all over the place. Hopefully, I will be able to return to Tahoe this summer and visit the lake properly again. When I had been last, it was too cold to swim, so maybe I’ll get to do it this summer!

Flodo Heya

Heya' my fellow Hammers, it's me, the Brazilian, Flodo. I've been doing art and making prototypes that get fixed and turned into the games we've released so far! Although after Boolliards I haven't done anything interesting, here's a fun fact: originally, Egg Rush was gonna have the player be an unhatched egg walking around and punching chickens instead of rolling and groundpounding them. Like and Share for more epic facts next week or something! Nolam (again)

I wish that Flodo would write more in these blog posts. I know that he's a capable artist with a drive to create, and that he has lots to share and be proud of.

[this-is-fox-speaking]

i wish i could’ve become one of those mlp analysis youtubers. like the thought of having one of those pocket dimensions for a channel connected to all those other folks sounds so fun. but i am not a professional at video editing and the peak of it was when i was in elementary school. and mlp has been ended for a while now.

[byneddiedingo]

City of God (Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, 2002)

Cast: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Douglas Silva, Jonathan Haagensen, Matheus Nachtergaele. Screenplay: Bráulio Mantovani, based on a novel by Paulo Lins. Cinematography: César Charlone. Production design: Tulé Peak. Film editing: Daniel Rezende. Music: Ed Côrtes, Antonio Pinto. 

City of God is an exceptionally involving docudrama that employs non-professional actors to stunning effect. The only experienced professional in the cast was Matheus Nachtergaele, who plays the drug dealer known as "Carrot." The rest were mostly recruited from the streets and slums of Rio de Janeiro, and put through several months of training, largely under the supervision of Kátia Lund, who also worked with the cast during filming and is billed as "co-director." Lund had become familiar with Rio's slum-dwellers through her work on music videos and documentary films. The shape of the film, including its flashback structure and use of quick cutting and hand-held camera, is largely that of Fernando Meirelles, whose later work includes coverage of the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio. And that reliance on flashy camerawork and narrative tricks is, I think, the greatest flaw of City of God. It detracts from some of our involvement in the lives of its characters, turning away from documentary-like reality into sheer "movie-making." Nevertheless, the film successfully immerses us in the violent lives of the people of the favelas. It was a significant critical and even commercial hit, earning four Oscar nominations, a rare feat for a foreign-language film, although it wasn't submitted by Brazil for the foreign-language Oscar. Instead it was nominated for best director, best adapted screenplay, cinematography, and film editing. Some controversy arose when only Meirelles was cited in the directing nomination, but the Academy has strict eligibility rules, and Lund's credit of "co-director" was judged to be a disqualifier. Given my reservations about Meirelles's use of the camera, I think maybe Lund deserved the nomination more than he did.

[goldenhourhimbo]

Logged online after a hectic 48 hours at work. One of the first things I see ia the Bulls video. Someone on tumblr said previously that Daniel har peak make-a-wish-kid vibe. Now that I have seen the full video, I couldn’t agree more. Imagine showing this to someone who doesn’t know him, you’d think that he has taken something before to the stadium. Also his “good thing going on” being visibly embarrassed and simulated ignored in favor of Blake is hilarious to watch. Whoever edited the video probably had to work extra hard to minimise the palpable awkwardness. Neither the “FP” or the other “h**d*b****rdaily” account posted any prt of that video.

Ahh, Daniel & miss thing - the gift that keeps on giving.

Man just wants a train run on him by an NFL team and we should respect his wishes about it!!

I’m sure this isn’t what you meant buuuuut as an over 30, I’m going to push back on the idea that being happy and excited about an experience means you’re probably on something. If anything, I think it’s super cool he was so excited about something both 1. As a rich person who has had a lot of unique experiences, and 2. In the midst of such a shit time professionally. Adults have as much of a right to be giddy as kids do. In fact, I’d argue we deserve it even more due to dealing the horrors of adult existence 🤷🏼‍♀️

[doritosandavocados]

Okay y'all the fabulous @discomagicwitch actually DMed me a bunch of DWD deets like an absolute saint, so it's time to keep my end of the bargain. Here is an updated 2022 version of "yo Hollywood please stop casting Harry Styles" (no that is not the real original title sadly)

A few things worth noting:

1- I went back and realized I wrote the headline and the blurb for the original article, but an ex co-worker actually wrote the article itself so this is actually my first stab at the topic.

2- I am not a Harry Styles stan - I don't hate the man - I find him rather intriguing and very hot, but I really haven't ever listened to his music much, nor was I a One Direction fangirl. So, overall I'm wildly ambivalent about him.

3- While I was, in fact, a professional entertainment news writer... I am not anymore. Which means I barely re-read this and I did minimal fact-checking or sourcing because that's the true spirit of Tumblr. Anyway, without further ado: Hollywood please stop casting Harry Styles, 2022 edition

Harry Styles is best known for being a boybander gone solo and (true to his last name) a fashion icon. However, over the past few years Styles has begun venturing into the world of acting.

Styles, however, did not start small and work his way up. He had the shocking luck to work with Christopher Nolan on his acting debut. Nolan, who (at least at the time) was an untouchable and unreproachable writer & director. (While Nolan has finally experienced what a flop is, his track record is still absolutely stunning - but I digress.) Styles was, somehow, plucked from the music industry and plopped into the highly acclaimed Dunkirk. Nolan is known for being highly choosy about who he casts and is most certainly in filmmaking for the art above all else. So, the choice had most everyone's curiosity piqued.

So, how did Harry Styles, pop star extraordinaire, get added to the cast of Dunkirk, alongside the likes of Kenneth Barnagh, Cillian Murphy, and Tom Hardy? Honestly, I still haven't the faintest idea. Did somebody lose a bet? Was there blackmail? Was Styles so desperate for a chance at the big screen he bought out Nolan's artistic integrity? We'll never know.

What we do know is that his role was relatively small and had minimal speaking lines. He was there just enough to bring in an audience of young women (his core demographic) that otherwise might not have been interested in Yet Another WWII Movie.

Considering he'd peaked pretty early - starting at the top of the mountain, as far as most actors would be concerned - it was hard to imagine Styles continuing his unexpected career detour. Most actors would offer up a kidney in order to work on a Christopher Nolan movie, so maybe Styles just packs it up, calls it a day, and says "thanks for the fun, but I'm going to go back to my life of being screamed at by a couple thousand fans every night while I sing about fruit."

To most people's surprise that is very much not what he did. Sure, he made more music and went on more tours, but suddenly he was being cast in more movies.

Why? For what reason? For the butts in seats? We know Hollywood is rabid to cast well-known faces to draw in crowds - quality of story or other movie aspects be damned. They'd rather overpay a recognizable face than *gasp* cast a nobody and put the budget in say... literally anything else. Costumes? Practical effects? Soundtrack?

So, here we are in 2022. Harry Styles has not one, but TWO movies coming out in the near future where we're going to really find out what kind of acting skills he harbors within. First up is Don't Worry Darling, which is again a star-studded cast. This means that if he falls even a little bit flat in his performance it's going to stand out like a hog at a dog show.

Frankly, I'm not holding out a whole lot of hope considering he can't even hold an intelligent, nay, coherent conversation regarding the concept of film. We've all seen it, the video where Harry is asked why he likes Don't Worry Darling and replies, I like the movie because it's a movie. Well hot damn, I never would've guessed that! Guess I have to see this groundbreaking film now!

Oh Harry, it's a good thing you're pretty. Poor Chris Pine, who is forced to sit beside Styles, seems to be helplessly deciding between looking like he is completely unengaged or interrupting the inane ramblings of his younger co-star. Like a true gentleman, Pine sticks with the former option.

If an actor can't even talk about the filmmaking process or even just... film in general, that seems like a hell of a red flag. Even the interviewer has to try not to laugh in that video.

Could I be pleasantly surprised by Harry Styles' performance when I inevitably sit down to see DWD in theaters? Sure! I'd be happy to be wrong, but I'm really not expecting to be.

I know why producers will continue to give the green light to putting Styles in movies. It's always about the butts in seats with them. What I don't know is why Styles decided to take on this foray into acting in the first place. I don't know what he gets out of it. He has a stunning music career. He gets praise and adoration from his countless fans. He has a career some people would kill for.

There's probably an interview floating around where he says something about "ooh it sounded fun", but like... that's what sixth graders say about their school musical. Not what a professional should be saying about BEING IN A CHRISTOPHER NOLAN MOVIE.

Of course, we've moved on from there. We now await Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman where Styles has far more substantial roles with actual lines. One would think that surely he must have some potential to be put into these films by casting directors - especially since these are films that are vying for Oscar nominations. But let us all remember that Hollywood is about money first and art second... oh and a lot of lust. Let's not forget that Olivia Wilde is (or was? - okay that's just speculation) dating Harry Styles.

In the end Styles being in Don't Worry Darling has generated far more press than if someone else (even Shia LaBeouf) were in the same role. The social media chatter, the strange & unhinged theories, gossip, and speculation about drama have created more free press than a movie producer would dare to hope for.

I mean really, we all know Harry Styles didn't spit on Chris Pine in public. Though, I'm willing to entertain theories on what wildly rude or idiotic things he may have said to elicit that reaction out of Pine.

In the end, Hollywood will always be filled with things like nepotism, favoritism, et cetera, et cetera. And that means we can beg the powers that be to stop putting Harry Styles in movies, but at the end of the day they will just cackle and stick him into a Netflix Christmas rom-com next. (Fuck they're going to do that aren't they?)

[deane247com]

Top Picks for Refurbished Dell Workstations

The ever-changing realm of business and personal computing makes it all the more important to strike a balance between cost and performance. Deane247 is here to help you out with all of your Dell Outlet product and refurbished workstation needs. We provide unmatched reliability and great value for your money.

Discovering the Dell Outlet for Unbelievable Deals

You can save a ton of money on a variety of Dell products, including desktops, laptops, monitors, and accessories, at Dell Outlet. Buyers have a range of alternatives to choose from, including certified refurbished, scratch and dent, and new products, to meet their specific demands and budgets. Get your hands on high-quality Dell products at affordable prices through Deane247's Dell Outlet.

Advantages of Refurbished Workstations from Dell

Businesses and professionals looking for affordable, powerful workstations will love Dell's refurbished options. To guarantee they are up to Dell's exacting standards for performance and dependability, these workstations go through extensive refurbishment procedures. When it comes to graphic design, video editing, engineering, or any other demanding field, Deane247's Dell refurbished workstations provide the power and stability you need to excel.

For many reasons, Deane247 stands out as a reliable source for Dell Outlet and refurbished workstations. To start, they have a wide range of products to meet the needs of various customers and companies. Deane247 finds the perfect solution for you, whether you're upgrading your home office setup or outfitting a whole team with powerful workstations.

Second, quality assurance is a top priority for Deane247. To ensure peak performance, every refurbished workstation from Dell is subjected to extensive testing and refurbishment processes. Deane247 offers warranties and support for these workstations, so you can buy with confidence knowing they will last.

Uncovering Performance and Value

You can save a ton of money in the long run by purchasing refurbished workstations and Dell Outlet products through Deane247. At a fraction of the cost of new equipment, you can enjoy advanced features, high-performance capabilities, and the reliability that Dell products are known for.

Personalized Services for All Occasions

Whether you're an individual in need of a powerful workstation for intensive tasks or a small business wanting to upgrade your IT infrastructure, Deane247 has solutions that are tailored to your specific needs. In order to make an educated decision that fits your needs and budget, their expert staff is committed to guiding you through the available alternatives in Dell Outlet and refurbished workstations.

Make the Immediate Decision to Enhance Your Workstation!

Are you prepared to take your computer experience to the next level with refurbished workstations from Deane247 and Dell Outlet? Take advantage of unbelievable savings and performance while perusing their extensive product catalog online. Deane247 offers the ideal solution for every customer, whether they are in need of a small laptop for mobile productivity or a powerful desktop computer for intensive software. Get the most out of your computer setup with Dell's affordable, high-quality products by visiting their website today to peruse the latest deals.

Smart consumers and companies alike choose Deane247 because of their dedication to providing outstanding value through Dell Outlet and refurbished workstations. Deane247 is your best bet for dependable, high-performance solutions, and they also offer discounted prices on premium Dell technology. Take a look around at all the options and see why Deane247 is the best choice for refurbished workstations and Dell Outlet.

[auromirafilms-blog]

The Emerging Dimension of Video Animation & Editing

Videos are incredibly powerful, drawing viewers in and delivering powerful messages for amusement, education, and other purposes. The possibilities for video are endless as technology advances at an unparalleled rate. Leading the way in this development is the explosive growth in demand for video editing and animation, which opens up a world of limitless opportunities and inventiveness.

Exploring the Vision

The evolution from traditional methods to digital methods has changed. Starting at the beginning of the growth, we take a look at the hard techniques and raw instruments used by the first explorer of video editing and animation to create life-like images. There have been many viewpoints and creative ideas about advancing advancements in video editing and animation, from the pioneers who established the foundation for digital editing to the modern trailblazers who are pushing the limits of animation technology. This technology explores the various ways that manipulating visual and aural aspects may bring storytelling to life, from seasoned editors to upcoming animators. It explores the delicacy of tone, style, and pacing that set one editor's work apart from another, as well as the infinite imagination and technical mastery needed to bring animated worlds and people to life.

Taking the Lead in Industry

A place where technological advancements allow the most incredible visions to come true, storytelling surpasses the limits of human imagination, and every frame serves as a blank canvas for unending creation. In the exciting phase of video editing and animation, where creativity is unrestricted and the future is being revealed right before our eyes.

Technology advancements in video editing and animation are pushing us to new heights, and it's obvious that these sectors are not only at the forefront but also set to lead the entertainment industry going forward, because of the speed at which technology is developing, animation has an unmatched ability to enthrall, inspire, and submerge viewers.

The excitement that exists now with animation and editing technologies is unbounded, and a new generation of experts and enthusiasts is reshaping these sectors. With limitless opportunities and the excitement of pushing limits, young people are establishing their professional pathways in this exciting domain.

Empowering & Crafting Creativity:

Storytellers may now create endless possibilities for video editing and animation in today's digital age, where the combination of creativity and technology creates captivating stories that captivate viewers all over the world.

Innovative ideas are sparked when different viewpoints come together in collaborative settings. The collaborative efforts of writers, artists, animators, and technologists accelerate projects to unparalleled heights and foster innovation in the fast-paced field of video editing and animation.

In addition, animation and video editing provide a stage on which different voices can be heard. By giving voiceless tales a platform, they promote compassion, comprehension, and deep conversation. With these potential tools, creators may demolish preconceptions, illuminate stories from the underprivileged, and start dialogues that lead to change in society. 

Auromira: Continuing the Legacy of Editing & Animation

Auromira Entertainment continues to set the standard for originality in the field of animation and video editing, setting high standards for rivals to meet. The peak of perfection in all facets of its trade, Auromira is well-known throughout India. Auromira surpasses expectations by remaining steadfastly committed to delivering exceptional results.

Our goal at Auromira is to not only comprehend but also anticipate our clients' demands. We have perfected the craft of bringing brands to life through arresting imagery and gripping narrative, and we have a history of innovation and unmatched service. We guarantee that Auromira's heritage will endure for many years to come, inspiring the following generation of creatives and establishing new benchmarks thanks to our unwavering commitment to quality.

Conclusion

Technology has revolutionized the dynamic fields of animation and video editing. With each advancement in computer-generated graphics and digital editing software, artists are more equipped to push the limits of their creativity. The days of constraints are long gone, and the universe of possibilities is limitless now. 

[freelancefusion-hub]

Top Video Editor Freelancers: Unleashing Your Vision with Exceptional Talent

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of visual storytelling, video content has become an integral part of our digital landscape. From captivating social media campaigns to engaging corporate videos, the demand for high-quality video production has skyrocketed. However, finding the right video editor to bring your creative vision to life can be a daunting task. Enter the world of top video editor freelancers — a pool of talented professionals who possess the skills and expertise to elevate your projects to new heights. In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the top video editor freelancers, delving into their unique strengths, key features, and the advantages they offer to help you make an informed decision.

Faqrul

Key Features:

Comprehensive editing and post-production for films, music videos, and commercial projects.

Seamless integration of special effects, including green screen, motion graphics, and object tracking.

Expertise in handling aerial footage, GoPro videos, and multicam projects.

Meticulous attention to detail in color grading, stabilization, and background noise reduction.

Customizable packages (Basic, Standard, Premium) tailored to your specific needs.

Pros:

Experienced professionals with a keen eye for storytelling and visually stunning results.

Ability to deliver in various formats, including 4K resolution.

Quick turnaround times and efficient workflow.

A collaborative approach ensures your creative vision is captured accurately.

Cons:

Pricing may vary based on project complexity and package selection.

Availability may be limited during peak periods, requiring advanced booking.

With our commitment to quality and attention to detail, we strive to create captivating visual experiences that leave a lasting impression. Contact us today to discuss your project and let us help you bring your creative vision to life.

Aqeel Ahmad

Key Features:

Fast turnaround times, with the ability to deliver edited videos within 24 hours.

Comprehensive editing services, from color grading and background replacement to voiceovers and cinematics.

Customized editing approach, tailoring each project to your unique vision and requirements.

Expertise in creating compelling video compilations and advertisements.

Pros:

Experienced professionals committed to client satisfaction and delivering high-quality results.

Neat and clean editing styles that enhance the overall viewing experience.

Collaborative process, allowing you to provide input and direction throughout the project.

Cons:

Pricing may vary based on project complexity and video duration.

Availability may be limited during peak periods, requiring advance booking.

With our dedication to meeting tight deadlines and our commitment to capturing your creative vision, our video editing services are designed to elevate your content and captivate your audience. Contact us today to discuss your project requirements and let us bring your ideas to life.

Luis R

Key Features:

Expertly crafted video editing, color grading, and audio mixing.

Specialized in creating engaging social media content, promos, reviews, corporate videos, and interviews.

Seamless integration of special effects, animations, transitions, and captions.

Green screen editing, cropping, speed manipulation, and audio enhancement.

Pros:

Extensive experience working with over 2,000 clients.

Meticulous attention to detail and creative approach.

Collaborative process, ensuring your vision is accurately captured.

Optimized content for improved SEO performance.

Cons:

Potential higher pricing for premium, high-quality services.

Availability may be limited due to high demand.

With Luis’s unwavering dedication to professional, high-quality work and his commitment to delivering exceptional results, your project is in capable hands. Contact Luis today to elevate your video content and bring your vision to life through his exceptional editing skills and creative expertise.

Mgs Editing

Key Features:

Expertise in optimizing videos for YouTube’s algorithm and maximizing view count

Comprehensive editing services: color grading, transitions, titles, sound effects, and music integration.

Delivery in high-quality 4K and Full HD 1080p formats.

Robust video enhancements: lower thirds, audio leveling, and end cards.

Pros:

Proven track record of working with channels exceeding 1 million subscribers.

Experience in editing videos with over 1 million views.

A collaborative approach ensures your vision is accurately captured.

Cons:

Pricing may vary based on project complexity and video duration.

Availability may be limited due to high demand, requiring advance booking.

With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of what makes a YouTube video successful, I strive to elevate your content and captivate your audience. Contact me today to discuss your project requirements and let’s create videos that truly stand out on the platform.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of video production, finding the right video editor freelancer can make all the difference in bringing your creative vision to life. Whether you’re seeking cinematic storytelling, exceptional color grading, or a versatile approach to video editing, the top video editor freelancers showcased in this article offer a wealth of talent and expertise.

Regardless of your specific video editing needs, these top video editor freelancers have proven their mettle time and again, delivering exceptional results that captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact. By partnering with these talented professionals, you can elevate your video projects to new heights, ensuring that your vision is brought to life with precision, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

FAQs

-How do I choose the right video editor freelancer for my project?

Choosing the right video editor freelancer involves considering factors such as their expertise, specialization, portfolio, communication style, and ability to understand your creative vision. Evaluate their skills, experience, and testimonials to ensure a good fit for your project’s specific requirements.

-How do I ensure effective communication with a freelance video editor?

Effective communication is key to a successful collaboration with a freelance video editor. Clearly outline your project goals, expectations, and deadlines from the outset. Establish regular check-ins and provide constructive feedback throughout the process to ensure alignment and make necessary adjustments.

-What should I consider when negotiating rates with a freelance video editor?

When negotiating rates with a freelance video editor, consider factors such as their level of experience, specialized skills, project complexity, and typical industry rates. Discuss payment terms, milestones, and any additional expenses upfront to avoid misunderstandings.

-Can I hire a freelance video editor for long-term or ongoing projects?

Absolutely! Many freelance video editors are open to long-term or ongoing collaborations, provided there is a clear understanding of expectations, workload, and compensation. Building a strong working relationship with a reliable freelancer can be beneficial for both parties.

-How do I ensure the protection of my intellectual property when working with a freelance video editor?

To protect your intellectual property, it’s crucial to have a well-defined contract or agreement in place. Clearly outline ownership rights, confidentiality clauses, and any restrictions on the use of project materials. Consider including non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) if necessary.

With the right video editor freelancer by your side, your creative vision can truly come to life, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impact. Embrace the talent and expertise offered by these top professionals, and embark on a journey of exceptional video production that will elevate your projects to new heights.