#so there’s this robot from the future…

[destinysbounty]

I think I wouldn't mind Zane's NPC-ification quite as much as I do, if it didn't feel like they were also retconning the fact that he was ever a person to begin with.

Like, sure, I totally understand. Dragons Rising has a huge ensemble cast, and the RGB trio + new ninja are the clear focus. And I don't mind that! Everyone who does get proper narrative attention is written so wonderfully and I adore what we have. But...sometimes it feels like they're just kinda divvying up everything that makes Zane who he is and giving it to everyone else, and never even briefly acknowledging Zane's ties to those traits.

Remember when Zane used to have prophetic dreams foretelling future events? Me neither. Hey Lloyd, how are your visions coming along?

Or, y'know how one of Zane's most integral plot lines, character details, and motifs is his struggles with memory and identity? Remember that time he got amnesia and was then both manipulated and magically corrupted into being a villain? Nah that never happened, anyway check out what Jay is up to now

Or, does anyone recall how Zane is a canonically really good cook with pies so delicious they made Jay cry on screen? No that's Arin's thing, actually

Heck, we even have our quota of ~Silly Robot Beep Boop Bop~ jokes fulfilled by Lobbo!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on any of the other characters for having these traits. Nor am I arguing that Zane should have a singular monopoly on these types of storylines. But when they take traits that have for so long been primarily associated with Zane, like cooking and visions and amnesia, and share them with someone else without even briefly acknowledging Zane's prior involvement...idk. It just feels like they're trying to repackage all the things that make Zane interesting while still writing him out of the narrative. It feels like they're going "whaat? Zane, have personality outside of being a generic robot character?? That never happened!" Like they're just trying to have their nindroid and kill him too.

And I mean, to some extent I can understand their hesitation. It's the same reason the Mr. E/Echo reveal got scrapped in s8 - theres just way too much going on right now, and the narrative load required to explain somwthing this complicated during a reboot/sequel would just bog down an already very complicated story. Zane has a very convoluted backstory that, for new fans dropping in to the sequel series for the first time, may be difficult to explain. How do you recap Zane's history with amnesia in a neat an tidy way for the next gen story, when there's already so much going on?

Like i said, i get that. But they could at least make, like, brief blink-and-youll-miss-it allusions, yknow? Like how they played the Ice Emperor theme during Zane's existential crisis during drs1, or when Zane told Zanth not to follow dancing birds in drs3. Tasteful, subtle, doesn't require much insider knowledge and newer fans could easily interpret it as a noodle incident comment without losing out on their comprehension.

Maybe after Jay gets eliminated from the Tournament, Zane offers to go after him saying, "I've lost myself once or twice before. If anyone understands what he's going through, it's me." And if you want to preserve the plot unobstructed, maybe you can have it so that either Zane fails to get through to Jay or Jay is gone without a trace before he can get to him. Maybe there's a brief scene of Zane making a pie to try and cheer Sora up, but she can't eat it because it reminds her too much of Arin. Or maybe Lloyd has a panic attack over his visions and Zane is the one to offer him the advice about not fighting the vision and letting it come naturally.

Don't you see how easy that is? You would change literally nothing about the story at large, and you're not detracting from the main plotlines or character arcs that are quite validly dominating this series. But you're also throwing a bone to the people who actually like Zane. Like???? I'm not even asking for much here, man :/

Idk. Maybe I'm just bitter and need to touch grass, who's to say

[kpoptrashlord-007]

Sunchoke;; YJW

Word Count;; 6.1k

Genre;; Fluff, F2Ls

Pairing;; Jungwon x Reader

Summary;;

“Weeds are simply plants that grow in places where humans do not want them to grow.” You’re not in love with your fellow receptionist. Really, you’re not! The feelings you have for Jungwon are purely platonic. You respect him. You admire him. You adore him. Totally normal feelings to have for a coworker! But if perhaps there was an opportunity to spend more time together and to get to know one another better, you wouldn’t say no. And if feelings were to grow during such an outing and you both decided it’s time to explore a future in which you’re hopelessly in love with one another, well, you’re just an adventurous person! Seriously! You’re not head-over-heels madly in love with Jungwon! You’re just friends! . . . unless? “Many people consider sunchokes a weed, but I don’t. The flower is pretty; it reminds me of little sunflowers, sunflowers that come back year after year.”

Warnings;;

None, really. I'll use this as an additional information dump: Non-Idol AU (Hotel Staff AU), Coworkers to Friends to Lovers Humorous (I think it’s funny) It’s meant to be pure fluffy but it’s a little angsty too?? I’m not sure why or even how that happened. But not like super sad!! Just a part with a sad undertone. It’s fluffy and cute, istg, it’s so cute. Mentions of a slight height difference (to me 6’ is tall, anything less is only kind of tall, and anything more is extremely tall so his 5’9 is just ‘slight’) Overuse of italics (you can take them from my cold, dead hands!) and long sentences(, my beloved). It’s a story about spring - did you really think I wouldn’t hit you with flowery prose? And don’t think just because it’s a story about flowers that I won’t find a way to also make it about space.

Prompt;;

'Flower Picking' from my 2022 Valentine's Day Prompts!

Notes;;

Not me typo’ing Jungwon as Kingwon. Twice. It’s also the first fic I wrote since I came back from my hiatus, and the first of 2025! (Not the first new fic I posted, though. I wrote Hold Your Breath while writing this one and it got posted earlier too. Stole all the glory, smh.)

Main Masterlist || EN- Masterlist || Fluff Masterlist || Valentine's Masterlist

Placing the final vase with your latest haul of illegally acquired flowers on your desk, a sense of pride blossoms in your chest. Despite the beauty of the Dawn’s Light Hotel and its world-renowned gardens and meadows, many five star reviews begin with warm regards for the dual reception desks in its modest lobby. The two desks serve as the first glimpse of the hotel’s interior, and you’ve endeavoured to make it a mighty fine one. No matter the season, no matter the weather, the most vibrant bouquets are the first greeting all guests receive.

Followed, of course, by your brightest smile.

“Good morning, madam,” your voice is practised and even, “will you be staying with us today?”

An elderly woman, hair as white as a snowdrop, returns your smile. “Oh my,” she practically giggles as she looks between your desk and the one across the foyer. “It might not be as large or fancy as the Signiel Seoul, but it has more charm, doesn’t it?”

Snapping your attention away from Jungwon’s desk you swallow your disappointment and muster another million-dollar smile. “It sure does! One morning the owner awoke to see the entire estate basked in a golden glow, the air shimmering and the flowers dancing in bloom. He knew then and there that this place was magical.”

“I don’t doubt that,” the woman says with a content chuckle. Her enthusiastic excitement is hard to ignore and you soon find yourself laughing in tandem.

The check-in process is second nature after all these years. Despite how easy it would be to fall into the motions, to let a robotic subconscious guide you through the day, this job is one you’ve come to cherish every moment of. As guests come to your desk to both check in and out, as tourists ask about the grounds, as your coworkers stop by for a quick break after each major rush, your demeanour never falters – genuine joy that takes root within the lobby and blooms in the hearts of all those you come in contact with. 

Happiness is, after all, contagious. 

Jungwon reminds you of this as you glance at him during a slow period, truly cementing the belief. He is the reason your worldview changed. When you first started this position you had been nervous, body hunching in on itself under the sheer pressure of self-inflicted stress. He took one look at you and saw a lifetime of worries. From that moment henceforth he took it upon himself to care for you.

“You need to slow down every now and then, okay?” he said most often during peak hours.

“Have you walked through the gardens today?” he asked whenever you made a mistake you wouldn’t stop beating yourself up over.

“Everyone has bad days,” he told you more than once during your first few months, back when you let the guests under your skin and allowed your temper to control your tongue. “If every action we take and every word we say will come back around in some kind of karmic retribution system, wouldn’t it be better to spread kindness? If we release goodness into the world on a daily basis, then there’ll be more of it available when we stumble upon an inevitable bad day. At least that’s what I think.” He smiled so brilliantly as he watched over the guests coming and going, entering this paradise ever so briefly before returning to the hardships of their everyday lives.

It was then you realised how much a single smile, the simplest of acts, could brighten a person’s day.

Or, in your case, a person’s entire life;

for everyday you’re witness to his smile and all the warmth that comes with it, a safeguard against bad shifts and worse days. He’s a pure soul with a heart that never falters and a mood that never sours. No matter the season, the weather, or the guest, Jungwon spends every moment bestowing joy and empathy to a broken world.

“He’s amazing,” you murmur. 

To yourself , mind you, but that doesn’t stop your night shift replacement from overhearing.

“And he’s single,” she says, unplugging your phone from the desk charger and holding it out to you. “You should ask him out… or maybe I will, just to spite you.”

With a roll of your eyes you accept your phone and leave your aromatic post in her capable hands.

—

It’s unintentional timing, truly, that finds you both walking the corridors to the staff quarters side by side. The nice older woman you’d helped earlier in the day had stopped you for a quick word. You tried to pay attention to her radiant praise of her room and the hotel itself but your eyes wandered, and where your eyes went so did your mind. It took great effort to keep your body still, grounding it in place lest Jungwon’s gravity ensnare you once more.

Call it divine luck – the woman departed in high spirits right as Jungwon finished his hand-off to his own night shift counterpart. He called out a soft goodnight to the team, to which the entire lobby staff reciprocated. Falling into step with one another came naturally, as did filling the gentle silence with talk of your independent yet parallel days. This is the status quo. What’s good and proper. No messy feelings or talk of relationships. Just coworkers. Friends .

“You outdid yourself today,” you say, long past content with ending a day without a proper conversation. “Your desk looked magnificent.”

Jungwon rounds a corner and pauses. You don’t stop, tired feet eager to end the day despite your heart’s protests. The staff quarters is up ahead, the steel keypad gleaming under the LED lights overhead. A few more steps and you’ll part ways, not just for the day but the whole weekend. 

You can’t help but wonder how he spends his days off. Does he rest? Catch up on sleep or laze about? Is he secretly a party animal? Catch a cab out only to walk home in the morning? Does he live day to day?

Does he let his heart decide how best to live his life?

“I have to do my best,” he says, and the softness of his words has you turning to face him.

“Why? You’re just competing with yourself. You’re in a league all of your own, you know. No one comes close.” You’re rambling. “Not even if they tried, so…”

He sighs as he takes the last few steps to pull ahead and open the door for you. The downtrodden smile that tugs at his lips is so unlike him it damn near hurts to see. It isn’t right. How could the light of the universe flicker and dull? And how can you be expected to stand by quietly and watch?

You can’t bear to watch him spiral alone, lost to whatever dark place his thoughts conjured.

You’ll bring a smile to his face one last time before your parting.

You’ll find him and bring him home.

With a curtsy and an exaggerated bow, you glide over the threshold. Before he can follow you inside, you reach back to hold the door for him. Your goodwill gesture does nothing except earn you a tired frown. You knew it wouldn’t be easy; the roots of melancholia always grow deep.

Oh well. You’ll just have to dig deeper.

“Right this way, my flower prince,” you call out in a posh English accent. “Doth thou haveth any last requests from thee?”

“What are you–”

“Perhapseth you needeth a hot cocoa? Thougheth it iseth a spring day, faire and hot, like you good sir. A cold cocoa might be in order…eth. Ordereth. Ifeth you wanteth.”

“A cold cocoa”–Jungwon grimaces–“sounds awful! Please, no, never.”

You exhale for much longer than necessary and throw your hands up. “The flower prince haveth no taste.”

“But! I do actually have a request, squire. I demand to know your–” 

Upon hearing your disapproving tut he breaks off into a laugh so sweet, it uplifts the drab staff lounge and brings colour to a room once devoid of it.

“I desire the source of thou’s flowers. I wish to knoweth the location. If thou drops the secret to where such rare and beautiful flowers are beheld, thou shall be forgiven for making a mockery of regency period pieces.”

You snort. “Like you did any better.”

“I was up to pitch – you weren’t even center left field.”

“Okay, okay, let’s end this before we do to sports what we–mainly you–did to Bridgerton,” you call to him as you speed walk over to the lounge's snack station. After pocketing some fruit and with a little pep in your step you skip back to Jungwon. “But honestly I don’t think you can handle knowing where I get the flowers.”

Handing him a tangerine, you watch as his face scrunches in confusion, eyebrows knitting and lips pouting. He doesn’t say anything as he pulls open his locker. You sneak glances at him from time to time as you fiddle with your locker’s combination. He’s packing up for the day, exchanging his work gear for his personal belongings. Seconds pass in relative silence as you follow suit.

After the heavy clang of both locker doors crashing shut solidifies the true end of shift, a final (albeit temporary) goodbye of sorts, you’re left unable to move.

Taking a step toward the exit, even a single step, ends whatever it is the two of you have in this fleeting moment. It breaks the bubble, returns you to your own personal, individual, separate lives.

It’s too soon.

Can’t you stay a little longer?

Would he want to stay with you a little longer?

“Well,” he says, and your stomach drops. 

When he turns to you he’s smiling. Always smiling. So vivid, so effulgent. Your body reacts automatically, your expression mirroring his own. A flood of endorphins overcomes all sensibility. You don’t want to leave him. Not now, not ever. Is it selfish? Is it selfish to covet this feeling? To want it always and for no other?

“Well.” You nod, unable to look away, unwilling to shatter the moment.

Jungwon takes a step forward and your first instinct, to your embarrassment, is to lean toward him. A wisp of hibiscus encircles you as the distance between you closes faster than you expect it to, as if you’re not alone in your desires, as if he, too, wants this moment to stretch on and span eternity.

You come to a jerky halt before he has a chance to, giving you time to confirm that he is also leaning in. You might’ve leaned in first, but he leaned in twice as hard. He’s practically doubling over you, cutting the slight height difference out of the equation entirely. Any closer and he’d breathe your air. You’d breathe his air. The thought is dizzying, which is concerning on several levels. 

Friends, remember? 

Keeping it professional.

Keep it professional.

"Well?” and this time you realise it’s not an ending but a question. “Don’t leave me out in the dark.” As if you ever would. “I can keep a secret.”

A secret?

Right. The flowers.

“What makes you think I’m not spending my hard earned paycheck at a florist?”

“Do you really think you can pull one over on me when it comes to florists in this area? I know them all,” he says matter-of-factly. “I know all the gardens, too. I’m the flower prince, remember?”

“Okay,” you acquiesce. “I’ll tell you. Better yet! I’ll show you. But I want to know where you get yours, too. Deal?”

Jungwon extends his hand, a triumphant smile playing on his lips.

“Deal.”

—

An afternoon of texting gave way to an evening of bantering which concluded with ardent plans to meet in the morning. 7am to be precise. Early enough to catch some sun before the midday heat sets in.

Wistful hope and millions of thoughts kept you awake half the night until you at last passed out from sheer exhaustion. Getting up and ready for the day would’ve been torture if not for the fact that it was all for the best cause: seeing Jungwon. Outside of work, no less. In your free time!

Birds sing their little hearts out in bold declarations of love and trees whisper secrets from an eon past. Whenever the breeze picks up the tall grass sways and a hint of a floral paradise teases you. Somewhere along this trail is Jungwon’s secret garden. He hasn’t confirmed the existence of said garden but you know you’re right. The scents, the colours, the atmosphere – it’s all too vibrant, too magical.

It’s been an hour since you stepped foot on the uneven dirt path. You had been a little late (finding the spot proved more difficult than you anticipated) but Jungwon didn’t seem to mind as he leaned against the back of his car, soaking up sunlight with a content smile. When he caught sight of you he waved. His visage, unabashed joy simmering through an outwardly cool exterior, warmed your heart (and your cheeks, though you hope it wasn’t too obvious).

It took the majority of the hike to calm your jittery nerves. Constant reminders of your self-imposed friendzone does little to dissuade the yearning of your heart. Sneaking glances at Jungwon only heightens the battle raging within – the backpack he’s carrying, what is it for? Does he really think you’ll need so many supplies when he simply instructed you to bring nothing more than a bottle of water? Or does he plan to use this time to collect flowers, a sort of two-in-one excursion?

“We’re here,” Jungwon says as he gently guides you to the side of the path.

“Already?”

At least time flies when you’re overthinking your entire life and every interaction you’ve ever had.

 Jungwon huffs out a little laugh before looking up and down the trail. The coast is clear. He takes a step off the rocky dirt onto plush green grass. With a ‘come hither’ wave of his hand, he abandons the path and heads straight toward the treeline. You gulp as you also check the trail one last time, though undoubtedly for very different reasons. There doesn’t appear to be any indicators or markers – how can he be so certain this is the place? For the entire trek you’ve been surrounded by lush foliage and towering trees. What makes this spot any different?

You follow Jungwon off the barely beaten path and into the unknown. A shiver of excitement shoots down your spine. It’s not every day you get to try something new, go somewhere fun.

Emerald leaves caress your skin in a gentle welcome. Birds chirp high above, their calls harmonious. When you glance down you find the remnants of a brick road long forgotten to the years. It’s easy to question what you see. Being present in the moment, however, is much harder.

Pushing the concerns and the curiosity from your mind, you ground yourself in the here and now. Spring is fleeting, sure, yet in its own way it is eternal. Year after year it returns, all of its wonders and beauty offered freely. Animals, from the smallest insect to the largest mammal, rejoice as life circles back around to the beginning once more. The hardships of winter are forgotten and the world is filled with endless possibility.

Tearing your gaze up and away from the fragmented path, you watch Jungwon. Wind tousles his hair, depositing the occasional tree seed on his silky strands. Most fall to the ground but you count one, two, three remaining. It’s a conscious decision to reach out, your fingers gliding through his hair and shaking the seeds loose. He’s soft, so soft and surreal under the mosaic rays of sunlight breaching the canopy.

He’s turning to face you, his chin parallel to his shoulder, and your breath catches in your throat. Brown eyes twinkle alongside an energetic smile that never fails to brighten your day. He’s ethereal, impossibly so, born to live amongst the flowers and bathe in the sun. The glade he’s taken you to does little to distract you – he outshines it all. This fact is proven, you realise, by your complete disregard of your journey’s end. How could it possibly compare to him?

“We’re here,” he says, his tone light. “What do you think?”

“Amazing,” you answer breathlessly, never once breaking eye contact. “Truly the most beautiful sight I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

A smattering of pink dusts his cheeks. “You haven’t even seen it properly yet.”

He reaches his hand back toward you, delicate fingers inviting you to hold, to be held. When you clasp his hand within your own, his warmth spreads from your fingertips through an intricate highway of nerves all the way to your heart. Within seconds your entire body is flushed with heat. You refuse to run from the sensation, doubling down by squeezing his hand, a gesture he returns as he guides you to the centre of the field.

As hard as it is to look away, you know how special this place is to him. You can stare at him for eight hours straight come Monday but he might never bring you here again, an outcome that is becoming more and more likely given how little you seem to care for his treasured paradise.

Swivelling your entire body away from him you close your eyes and take a deep breath. Sweetness coats your tongue and you let it sit there, savouring the taste, before exhaling. You inhale once more and hold the breath, allowing the air to rejuvenate your lungs. Your mind clears. A gentle breeze washes over your skin, cooling you. It’s relaxing; the whole world standing still so you can smell the flowers and listen to birdsong. Pushing the air through your parted lips in a slow exhale, you open your eyes.

Blinking does little to wash away the painting you’re greeted with. You doubt tears would even be enough to erase the beauty of the scene before you. There’s no other way to describe it, either. Hyperbole be damned – it’s fantastical like the Garden of Eden with as much colour and flair as the Miracle Garden in Dubai.

Thousands of tulips, roses and camellias bloom in brilliant shades of sunrise. Light beams down upon the glade, highlighting individual flowers as if they were hand-picked by the Lord Himself. Bees float above the petals, drunk off the sweet spring nectar, their wings humming an afternoon sonata. 

A distinct wave sweeps through the tall grass and before long you see its source: a family of gray squirrels, three playful and eager kits with their tired mother. A small gasp escapes your lips, garnering both the squirrels’ and Jungwon’s attention. While Jungwon smiles, the squirrels are less happy to see you. They take off back into the woods at lightning speeds.

You’re at a loss for words as you rotate in a semicircle, taking in the swaying trees and the critters bustling about. 

It’s all so alive; 

so wonderful and free.

“Jungwon, this place…” you trail off as you take a step toward him, your hand reaching for his. Fingertips graze and the affection you’ve denied for so long blossoms. “It’s magical.”

He interlocks his fingers with yours, a silent invitation, one you accept without hesitation. Sidling ever closer you cosy up to him, side by side. You rest your head on his shoulder and sigh. “Thank you for bringing me here, for looking out for me, for caring.” Thank you for all the love you’ve shown me. “Thank you for everything.”

“I am the one who is grateful,” he murmurs, and you tilt your head to better see him. “You push me to greater heights and encourage me when I fall flat.”

You huff. “Like you could ever fall flat.”

“Really?” You can’t tell if he’s teasing or not so you nod, your cheek rubbing against his cotton shirt. He laughs, and you want to record the sound as a pick-me-up on your worst days. “Even now – you can’t help yourself.”

Your eyes narrow as you push away from him, your hand gripping his bicep like he’s a prisoner liable to abscond. “You’ve shown me a magical meadow full of wonder and beauty but somehow that isn’t enough?” A dog barks in the distance as you await his response. He offers nothing more than a shrug so you continue in a much smaller voice. “This isn’t enough?”

“That depends…”

“On what?”

“Where you get your flowers.”

“Where I get my– guy, my dude, you cannot be serious.”

You loosen your hold on him and give him some space. It was odd being that close anyway, like you were pretending to be something more than the two of you are. Pleasant, maybe, but still odd. 

“Where do you get them? I’m finding it harder and harder to compete with them day in and day out. I’m worried I might lose soon,” he says, and you know he’s avoiding a certain topic but can’t fathom for the life of you what it might be. 

You wave him off. “Yeah, yeah. Losing isn’t in your DNA so I wouldn’t worry too much. I’m resigned to a life of second place but I won’t stop trying to one-up you just because of your puppy dog eyes.”

His gaze snaps to your face (for a moment there you thought he lingered on your lips) and a flood of warmth stings your ears.

“I don’t do puppy dog eyes,” he says, and you can’t help but smile.

“If you say so,” you say with a little twirl, hands outstretched yet lowered. The tips of your fingers run across silky petals, their texture soft yet raw in a way only nature can be. “But you do. You get sad sometimes and you pout. Your lips jut out like”–you demonstrate briefly, the expression you put on far more exaggerated than necessary–“and it’s hard not to ki–”

You blanche as your mouth snaps shut.

You did not almost say that.

“Ki…?” he presses.

“Ki…ll. Kill. Kill your sadness.”

“Kill it?” he asks and, as you’re nodding (with vigour and gusto!), adds, “With a kiss?”

Forcing a laugh you ignore the sweat pooling in the well of your spine and point at a random flower. “Isn’t that pretty!”

“That’s a weed.”

You both stare at the white clover patch for a beat before you clear your throat. “No… it’s, um, it’s not. Weeds aren’t really a thing? And it’s technically flowering. So it’s a flower.”

“I agree,” Jungwon says as he leans down to examine the clover. He holds one of the flowering buds between his fingers. “Weeds are just plants people don’t want around anymore. We remove them before they have a chance to flower but they can be beautiful, too, if only given the chance.”

His voice is distant, so distant you worry you might lose him to his own thoughts. With little grace and no foresight, you drop like a sack of potatoes. The soil is soft beneath you, your knees planted firmly amongst tufts of cool grass. Wet grass. Staining-your-clothes-green grass. A chill seeps through your pants and settles into your joints.

The angle, however, is worth the discomfort.

The clover patch rests between you both, with him still bent over and now positioned to look into your eyes while you sit on the damp ground, locked in and observing every trace of melancholia lingering in the shadows of his picturesque features. He lets go of the clover as you stare up at him with parted lips, breathing an afterthought.

He clears his throat and straightens. His slight build now towers over you. It’s a new sensation, feeling small beneath him.

He’s erecting walls and throwing up neon signs in an attempt to distract you as he asks, “Why are you staring at me like that? If I didn’t know any better I would think you had a little crush on me.”

Despite his teasing tone and how clearly he’s trying to steer the conversation toward some light bantering, there’s something your heart yearns to tell him, a desire to dress a wound you never knew needed tending.

“I wouldn’t mind being a weed. They’re fighters, you know? They don’t listen to the haters; they’ll grow where they want, when they want. Against all odds.”

“Which is one of the many reasons weeds are actively targeted and eliminated – they’re a detriment to the plants around them.”

“It’s a plant-eat-plant world, my prince.”

Jungwon cracks a smile as he rolls a stone underfoot. You can’t help but smile alongside him.

“So how about you tell me what’s up, huh? Why do you have to be the best? Are your parents flower shop overlords? Did they kick you out of the family business for being a sunchoke instead of a sunflower?” 

He shoots you a look but ignores your antics.

“I have to because…” Trailing off, his words fade until you’re straining to hear him over the cacophonous racket of mating calls and territorial disputes. 

You blink at him a few times before rolling your hand backward a few times. “Wait, repeat that.”

“ I have to because ,” he enunciates with a little too much sass, to which you quirk a brow but remain silent, giving him time to open up at his own pace. “Because if I don’t, I’ll lose.”

“Lose what?” Your hand idly glides over blades of grass. They imprint an earthy scent on your palm and fingers but you don’t notice, too absorbed in watching Jungwon’s conflicted expression. “What could be so important?”

“You.” Did you hear him wrong? You must’ve. He’s just so quiet, his words escaping alongside a tuft of dandelion seeds let loose in the wind. “I don’t want to lose you .”

For a moment all you can manage is to stare dumbly – mouth open, eyes wide, nary a thought on your mind – until his words process instantaneously, dispersing hope to every ounce of your being. There’s so much potential in that sentence alone. It fuels what could never be voiced yet was so poorly hidden: 

you’re in love with Jungwon. 

Voice a whisper, you ask, “Why would you ever lose me?”

“Because you’re the sun and I’m an annual. One day you’ll best me and you’ll realise you’ve grown bored of the whole thing, that there are greener fields out there with fresh talent and innovative technique and–”

“Technique? What, like genetically modified Frankenstein plants?”

“ And you’ll realise my season has come to an end so you’ll find a new flower to bask in your light, to nurture and care for.”

Is he serious?

He can’t be.

There’s no way.

“I really need you to listen because this is something you should know,” you say as you stand. You brush your knees off in a futile attempt to look a little more presentable before using your grass- and mud-stained hands to cup Jungwon’s cheeks, holding his delicate, pretty, wincing-in-disgust face within your dirty palms. “Sunchokes are perennials. ”

He’s silent for a good thirty seconds before blurting out, “Are you being real with me right now?”

“Yes. They’re perennials. And they’re a tuber, just a little ‘fyi’ since you don’t seem to know much about them.”

His entire body deflates and his expression deadpans.

“I’m bearing my soul to you and this is the response I get? I’m called a sunchoke. A sunchoke ?”

“Yes, and a perennial! Don’t sell yourself short, Jungwonnie.”

“I am not a sunchoke.”

“Don’t hate on sunchokes. They’re good for you. And they’re pretty! An all rounder plant.” Letting go of his cheeks, you use one of your pointer fingers to boop his nose, emphasising each word as you coo, “Just. Like. You.”

Jungwon rolls his eyes but he can’t hide the mirth sparkling within them. You flash him a big grin and give him a full-body nudge, swaying on the balls of your feet as you switch from his left side to the right, your arms pressing against his, fingers eager to entwine until at last he reciprocates. He interlocks his hand with yours and that all too familiar warmth returns. 

You bow your head, shying away from the idea of being too overt, wanting to childishly hide your thoughts from him. The floodgates are open and it’s too much all at once – years of denying your crush, repressing your affection, it’s written all over your face if that goofy quirk of your lip is anything to go by. 

You like him, that much you know for certain.

And he likes you, even if he’s completely wrong about why you endeavour to best him.

So why must it be so hard to like one another, together, at the same time, no misconceptions?

Why can’t you just… be in love?

“Hey,” you murmur, voice soft as you ready yourself for the leap.

“Hey,” he responds, his words your safety net.

“Hey.” You don’t hide your feelings any longer, wearing your heart proudly on your sleeve as you beam up at him, willing all your tender sentiments to pour forth upon him in a gentle shower. “I don’t compete with you because I want to best you – I do it because you’re my gold standard. No one will ever outdo you, not to me. If I’m the sun, then you’re the core at its centre.”

Jungwon’s eyes widen for a mere second before they relax and a soft smile lights his entire face. He rubs the back of your hand with his thumb as a cool breeze sweeps through the glade. Upon the wind comes the hint of lavender, though it’s masked by the sweet aroma of the thousands of roses surrounding you in a veil of spring. Flowers bend and wave, some loose petals taking flight. The trees sing as their leaves rustle and small gaps in the canopy speckle you in sunlight. 

Emboldened by the season of new beginnings, you lean forward, tilting your head upward. 

“Wonnie, you’re the heart of the sun. You’re my heart.”

Jungwon stiffens and despite his best efforts, he can’t hide his grimace. 

Which you don’t hold against him because you, too, are wincing. A low whine is bubbling in your throat and you’re overheating from pure embarrassment. Your heart ? Who says things like that?!

“That was…”

“Yeah, I know, let’s just forget it.”

“Kinda hard to.”

“Well, try to,” you say on the verge of begging but holding yourself back to protect the last threads of your dignity, “please?”

“I make no guarantees. As your heart it’s my duty to remind you about it daily.”

“That’s my brain’s job and it won’t need any help torturing me for the rest of forever, thank you very much.” You sigh, dropping your head against his chest. You bury your face in his shirt and he pats your head. “Now are you going to be my boyfriend or what?”

“Wow,” he drawls. “You really need to leave the romance to me.”

“Not an answer and I’m suffering enough as it is.”

Your eyes flutter open as warmth embraces your cheeks, your face held gently within his hands.

“There’s something I really need you to listen to, okay? I need you to understand this before I can commit to being your boyfriend,” he says as he brushes some strands of windblown hair behind your ears. Your pulse thrums, blood pumping madly at the mere mention of him, your precious Jungwon, committing to the idea of forever with you. “The heart of the sun is the core.”

You’re smiling with your entire being as his words process at their own pace. The whole glade is alive with possibility, with fervent youth! And now Jungwon is smiling as well, though his smile doesn’t look as goofy as yours feels. His is almost… triumphant, like the cat who ate a canary. 

Like he’s gotten the last laugh.

It isn’t until he uses his pointer finger to boop your nose that it dawns on you.

He’s using your own tricks against you.

“You’re a funny guy,” you say with little enthusiasm. “Real funny. Great callback. So clever.”

But you let the whole thing go when his lips press to yours. Sweet like hibiscus, the kiss sends your heartbeat into a frenzy, your whole body thrumming as if on a sugar high. His nose brushes against yours as he tilts his head. The slight angle allows for closer contact, for a deepening of the connection. You part your lips and welcome him, his taste lingering on your tongue even after he pulls away.

“There’s nothing in this world I’d rather be than your boyfriend,” he says, his voice dreamlike and breathless.

“Is that so?” He nods, and you have to fight your giddy glee before it makes a fool out of you. Clearing your throat, you swallow once and take two deep breaths. “On to business, then.”

“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”

“Not at the moment, but as a rule I always prepare for the worst,” you say, patting his fluffy hair before taking a step away. You need the space to think. Your brain needs to be reminded that there’s a world outside of your super cute, really smart, practically perfect flower prince.

“Now that you’re officially my boyfriend–”

“And your heart.”

“–I have a legitimate question for you.”

“I have one for you, too.”

“Me first.” Gesturing around the glade and its thousands of brilliant flowers, you ask, “Why do you need to know all the florists in the city if you have this?” 

You can see the wheels turning for a few seconds before he snaps his fingers. “Ah, right. I did say that. To be honest I don’t actually know any florists. I go in every now and then to the local shops or the farmer’s market to pick out complementary flowers if I think an arrangement needs a little something extra but…” Your mouth forms a little ‘o’ and he shrugs. “Now the million dollar question, the one I’ve been dying to know ever since you brought in that saffron crocus grand bouquet last year: where do you get your flowers?”

You can’t help but snicker. “The crocus. You know I had no idea at the time that it was worth like… big money. Like, big-big money. I couldn’t go back to the house again after that. They’d probably shoot me.”

“It’s not. Shoot you? Well, not the flower at least, the spice is. But why would someone shoot you?” Jungwon’s all over the place; he’s adorable. “What do you mean, ‘go back to that house’?”

Seeing Jungwon confused and remembering your nightly activities brings on a fit of giggles that soon grows uncontrollable. It’s a full-on laugh, loud and boisterous, but also nervous as you prepare your confession.

“Well, you see,” you manage to huff out, “I steal them!”

“You what ?”

“I steal them! From rich people's yards! At 3 am!”

Each sentence is punctuated with another bout of laughter, and by the time you finish talking you’re not the only one bent over clutching your ribs and wheezing so hard you’re crying.

“So when I took the crocus, well, I didn’t realise they were growing so much because they wanted the stigmas, you know, for saffron. Poof! All their spice gone overnight!”

Jungwon wipes a stray tear from the corner of his eye. “I can’t believe I’m dating a criminal.”

“Soon to become one yourself.” His brow raises quizzically and you continue, “I keep my promises and I clearly remember telling you I’d show you the source from whence all flowers cometh frometh. So you and me, tonight, we’re breaking the law, baby.”

“You know what they say”–Jungwon wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you back toward him–“Criminals who crime together, stay together.”

“Sexy bad boy Jungwon, hello,” you say, interlocking your hands behind his neck. “What’s next? Are you going to kiss me until I grow weak in the knees?”

He grins as he leans down, resting his forehead against your own. “I can do that.”

It’s on a fine spring day that time slows as he kisses you with reverence and care;

On a fine spring day, as you reluctantly part in need of air, the world proves itself both good and right;

It is on this finest of spring days that a pair of sunchokes looked upon one another and saw their sun gazing back.

-fin-

If you enjoyed this, please consider liking, commenting, reblogging, and following!

Thank you! – ♡ –

[ludolka]

Null has been consuming my thoughts again.

We know the lab is working on making the perfect sellable Android. But how haunting would it be for Joel to see nulls model on ever billboard/advertisement. The model he fell for everyone can buy him.

I don't think the lab would sell the original. But it sure could mess with Joel to see a null make his morning coffee in the coffee shop or a null in a nurse outfit wheeling a elder through a park. Or even a null holding hands with a different person acting lovely dovie to each other

I know it would mess with me to see the person I like everywhere I look👀

Yess, you get it

It wouldn’t just mess with Joel though, it’d mess with the entire team. Lizzie, Jimmy and Mumbo. They have been working tirelessly on Null next to Joel for years. Hell it’d be even strange for Scar and Cub too, who have spent nowhere near as much time around Null as his team

But it’d also mess with Null. Think about it, he’d see his own face everywhere. Hear his own voice. See his own body move separately from him. He’d see himself do things he wouldn’t do himself

And just how awful it’d feel for him. He knows what he is, a prototype for a whole line in the future. But he’s getting sentient, finding his own identity and trying to handle his own feelings and opinions. And then he’d be faced with the fact that he’s just an easily replaceable and replicable machine

I actually have a little comic planned that slightly touches on this topic, so look out for that sometime in the future

But also, I think Null’s growing sentience would put the entire Xelqua line’s future in question. If the first one’s sentient, the one all the others will be modeled after, then what’s the guarantee all those other androids won’t be sentient as well. And a sentient robot isn’t exactly marketable or desirable for most buyers

[hypexion]

Like before, Series 15 of Doctor Who only having eight episodes is bad for it. Series 14 just about held it together, but that's because the finale didn't strongly hinge on the Doctor-Ruby relationship. In constrast, the Doctor-Belinda ends up being a big deal. The problem is that said relationship does not develop in a way that actually makes sense or feels organic.

Let's review the Belinda situation in each episode:

The Robot Revolution - Belinda is kidnapped to another planet by evil robots sent by her ex-boyfriend. She watches a woman who trusts the Doctor implicitly die right in front of her. By the end, she's not fond of the Doctor and his dubious ways, and wants to go home.

Lux - Belinda gets caught up in a fight with a malevolent god, on her second "adventure". She immediately admits that the Doctor's life terrifies her. In return, the Doctor says he might not be able to get her home. Overall, she is still not thrilled.

The Well - Belinda literally almost dies, because getting shot in the chest is the only way to save her from a parasitic monster that would otherwise drive her mad. She is directly confronted with her mortality, and is again terrified.

Lucky Day - Belinda isn't really in this episode.

The Story & the Engine - Belinda has apparently mellowed out enough to be okay with the Doctor visiting his buddy instead of proceeding with getting her home (tangent: how does this make sense in the Mother Belinda timeline?). She laughs at a guy and seems to have gotten over her previous worries. There's the hook that she sympathises with the Doctor's need to find a place where in fits in, but that would be more effective if she were already warming up to him.

The Interstellar Song Contest - Belinda spends most of this episode believing that the Doctor is dead, and thus she is permanently trapped in the future. In the Mother Belinda timeline she presumably has an even worse reaction. Then she sees the Doctor torturing a genocide survivor, and still ends the episode by saying she thinks the Doctor is cool. This should lead into the nadir of Belinda's relationship with the Doctor, but instead it gets brushed off and woah finale cliffhanger.

Stepping out of the reviewing for a moment, and I think it's already clear that Belinda undergoes a sudden personality shift between The Well and The Story & the Engine. Part of this is probably just poor management where the "not hyped about the Doctor" aspect of Belinda's character wasn't passed onto the non-RTD writers. But it still ends up mangling the overall character progression. If you want Belinda to start liking the Doctor, there needs to be an episode that can make that happen.

Moving on:

Wish World - Belinda... isn't meaningfully in this one. She's been hollowed out to act as one of Conrad's perfect housewives, a fate that is both horrifying and yet somehow very boring. Other than having a bit of a scream, Belinda does nothing proactive, being pulled around by the plot. When she "betrays" the Doctor to the doubt police, it's because she's playing out a role. Rather than, say, her having a subconcious distrust of the Doctor because of all the bad times she had travelling with him.

The Reality War - Belinda remains hollowed out, her entire character being compressed down to "Mother". After sitting half the episode out, she's suddenly super buzzed to be hanging out with the Doctor and having his fake baby. You know, the guy she watched torture someone the last time she was actually herself. Although Belinda might still be in wish mode while Poppy was around so Real Belinda is even less in this episode. Then finally we get Mother Belinda, a character who didn't exist until the Doctor invents her (theories to the contrary are wrong).

Overall, Belinda has a highly disjointed "arc" if you can even call it that. She doesn't develop, but rather shift between several characterisations, and it's rather jarring. And the worst part is, you could probably fix it with two more episodes, and wouldn't you know it, Belinda isn't in one episode, and is replaced with a puppet in another.

There is too much trying to happen in Series 15 compared to the actual amount of time to make it happen. (I'll even tick everyone off by saying Flux worked out better than this, and that only had six episodes while originally being planned for ten.) I also think the episode ordering adds to the problem, as Belinda gets the worst end of adventures with the Doctor first, which should be enough to put anyone off. But no before the finale even starts she's suddenly cool with the Doctor.

I suppose the conclusion is that Belinda ends up being more of a plot device than a character, which is bad. I don't even know what else to say because this is really more of a rant than an "essay".

[ckret2]

So is Scaramouche more loyal to Aku than Demongo?

Do you think Demongo has aspirations to overthrow Aku which is near impossible, he'd need to have Jack's sword for that?

Guess if Scaramouche is loyal, then no wonder Aku prefers him to Demongo and why you do a Aku/Scaramouch pairing in some of your art.

"Who is more loyal to Aku," "who does Aku prefer & why," and "why do I ship scaraku" are three ENTIRELY different topics that have nothing to do with each other.

Who's more loyal:

I do personally headcanon that Scaramouche is 100% loyal to Aku thanks to robot programming—he's not capable of disloyalty—but I don't necessarily think he's more loyal than Demongo.

We don't know how loyal Demongo is. We don't see a single sign that he isn't loyal. He happily does what Aku says; he likes the orders Aku gives him, and he likes the prize he'll win for obeying it.

He implies he considers himself more powerful than Aku—"You are a powerful foe. Perhaps too powerful for my master… but not for me."—but he never implies he plans to do anything about it.

We know he must never have demonstrated disloyalty, or else Aku wouldn't trust Demongo with the essence of the one person & weapon capable of killing him.

("Demongo secretly plans to overthrow Aku" would be interesting, sure—"I'm more powerful than him, and once I have Jack's essence I can finally kill him"—but interesting in a "someone should write that fanfic" way. I don't think it's true in canon.)

It's entirely possible he's physically-incapable-of-disloyalty loyal, just like Scaramouche. He might be something Aku created, just like the shadow soldiers we see him use sometimes, and thus magically bound to Aku's will. We just don't know.

For the purposes of your implicit question (who does Aku prefer?), I think that Aku considers Demongo 100% loyal. And so I think Aku's opinions on the two of them have nothing to do with loyalty.

Who does Aku prefer:

In season 5, Scaramouche is powerful enough to single-handedly slaughter an entire village and then go toe-to-toe with Samurai Jack.

Meanwhile, in season 5, Demongo is trying to rebuild his essence army. That means he's currently weak—and thus useless. He's worth enough to Aku to have been set loose to rebuild his army rather than killed outright, so Aku thinks he could be useful again in the future—but he won't give Demongo a new army.

Aku prefers Scaramouche because Scaramouche is useful. It's that simple. He's got no affection for failures. Failures get crushed in his hand and/or exploding heads.

If they were both full power at the same time, who knows which one Aku would "prefer." Since Aku has to summon Demongo from the pit of hate, it seems like Demongo isn't used very often; and since Scaramouche is Aku's #1 assassin, he must be killing a lot.

I imagine Aku would see Scaramouche as a tool for day-to-day assassination jobs, to kill as many people as possible; and Demongo as a tool for special occasions, to be used only against enemies his normal assassins can't handle—enemies that would make nice additions to Demongo's army. Useful for different tasks.

Why do I ship scaraku:

For reasons that have nothing to do with who's more loyal or who Aku considers more useful. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A few characters, Demongo included, are comfortable around Aku, but not a single character in the entire show acts happy & eager to be near Aku—except for Scaramouche.

When Aku's so depressed he'll hardly get out of bed, turns away visitors offering him tribute (he loves tribute!), brushes off his scientists (he loves new war machines!), and barely bothers to fight a rebel army (he loves crushing his enemies!)—he still accepts Scaramouche's calls.

Scaramouche repeatedly ignores Aku's orders to leave him alone—something Aku would kill most people for. Scaramouche isn't afraid of Aku.

And: Aku doesn't kill Scaramouche for repeatedly ignoring his orders. He never acts annoyed at Scaramouche's very annoying personality; he only gets impatient with Scaramouche's chatter once, because he's trying to hear Scaramouche's news about Jack.

Scaramouche never suggests he's trying to kill Jack or to tell Aku about Jack's sword for personal gain. He mentions Aku rewarding him to bribe people to take him closer to Aku, but he shows no interest in collecting any bounty himself. He's already #1 assassin, can't climb any higher, and doesn't suggest he's trying to. He's doing all this for Aku.

During the same episode that Ashi is adventuring across the world to reach a deeply depressed Jack and tell him something that'll restore his hope and determination to kill Aku, Scaramouche is adventuring across the world to reach a deeply depressed Aku and tell him something that'll restore his hope and determination to kill Jack—and Scaramouche is decapitated the whole time.

Lots of characters are loyal enough to obey Aku. Scaramouche is the only one devoted enough to disobey Aku, risking his own life in the process, because he thinks it'll make Aku happy.

Nobody in the show appears to like Aku but Scaramouche, nobody in the show demonstrates as much care for Aku as Scaramouche, Aku doesn't tolerate as much defiance or nonsense from anyone else as he does from Scaramouche, and Aku never acts as casual and friendly with anyone else as he does with Scaramouche.

That's why I ship them.

Also Scaramouche is a sassy gay robot with a purple coat. I like that.

[candyheartedchy]

It’s my comfort movie and I get to make a self insert for it if I want 😤

[hitwiththefandomz]

Peepaws do some tech talk

P1 (what could go wrong with some tech talk) other doodles

P2

Based on @butterfilledpockets B.E.N.T. au

[zosonils-art]

working my way through the long list of robot masters who i really love but have never properly drawn. one billion transgender robots on planet earth o7

[my bomb uses she/her!]

[midnight-drip]

GANG I SAW THE WILD ROBOT MOVIE

I FUCKING SOBBED !! I AM NOT USUALLY A PERSON WHO CRIES AT MEDIA BUT THIS MOVIE GENUINELY MADE ME START CRYING

the book was my childhood!! and when I heard it was gonna get made into a movie my grandpa and I got super excited and so he took me to see it for my birthday

y'all it's fucking gorgeous!!!!! okay time for me to comment on things I adored about it, in no particular order... :

Kit Conner was honestly a perfect cast for Brightbill, he played the role soso well and made me cry at least three times. Fink was perfect, as he always has been. he's such a silly guy and he's so important to me and his voice is actually perfect, major props to Pedro Pascal :)) and OH MY GOSH ROZ!!!!!!! gang Roz's voice slowly becoming less mechanical as she spent more time on the island until those last few conversations she has with Brightbill where she sounds genuinely HUMAN. OHMIGOSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I love her so fucking much. she's so perfect. and also. the way her eyes kinda go small the first time she looks at Brightbill, and then they just dilate so much 🥺 AGHHHH I love her !!! the animators did an incredible job with her, she's so expressive. also I love the way Brightbill mimics Roz, he's fucking adorable and perfect and I love him so much. also also AUGH Fink being worried about Roz and him freaking out when the other animals knock down Brightbill's baby pictures PLEASE I adore Fink !! my favourite silly sneaky little fellow !! and AUFHHHH the ART!!! this movie looks INCREDIBLE!!! it's like every frame is its own painting that I could frame and hang up on my wall. I want to eat this movie it is soso pretty.

[cardbored-box]

The funniest scene in yugioh was when Bruno had an existential crisis and was questioning the nature of his existence because he picked up a cat

[sotc]

every year i ask for bloodborne 2 and each time im disappointed but being surprised by fumito ueda's latest project trailer release?!! i can't even be mad fr i am thriving

[rythyme]

robots in the future when they're forced to replace minimum wage workers:

[zigcarnivorous]

Just a reminder that the 'what if I bite myself and you get sick' routine is word-for-word ripped off from the cult classic show Mystery Science Fiction 3000. If you have seen this played off as if it were an organic interaction between quirky tumblr mutuals, cringe in the knowledge that people plagiarize from real artists to gain acceptance.

And it is this EXACT type of person, perhaps literally, that is maligning the desperate survivors of the most documented genocide in history.

Keep that in mind.

[ckret2]

What if?...

Years had passed since "Jack" had returned to the past and killed Aku. He takes the Emperor's throne after his father dies, although without much enthusiasm, and soon after Jack's mother dies as well, he abdicates the throne (and his sword) towards the most righteous of his samurai, and retires to a life of a Buddhist (or maybe Taoist) monk.

One day, Jack is sent by his monastery to retrieve a sacred relic for an once-in-a-century ceremony from its normal storage site... in a city of Kojima (now a normal feudal Japanese town yet). Even though Jack is sure that nothing he saw in the Future exists yet Now, he can't resist the temptation to at least take a look how the Portal's location looks Now, so he takes a side turn to the north of the city.

The magical lake that Jack remembers drowning everything that touches its surface is now only ankle-deep all the way, so he easily walks to the other side. There are no giant talking creatures, no mountains of robotic corpses... but then Jack notices a few human skeletons along the way, seemingly belonging to warriors or thugs. Can it be?...

The place looks completely different, but the Portal is exactly how Jack remembers it... and the Guardian is already standing there, completely with the suit and the red-tinted glasses that shouldn't even exist yet for a few centuries!

"You had returned, Samurai Jack" - says Guardian. "I... have been waiting"

"But how?!" - gasps Jack in shock - "You didn't even met me yet in this time! And in the future, Aku had killed you!"

"I do not percieve time like mortals" - smirks the Guardian - "and remember the events from all timelines. I am not permitted to use my firearms at this time point, though, so... would the sword be enough for you now?"

"Jack didn't beat the Guardian in the future because he's gonna beat the Guardian in the past" is the funniest explanation for that plot hole.

Where'd a monk get that crown though

(also side note: I'd prefer it if y'all would not send me super long detailed scenarios like this. Like, this is a mini fic. I don't want the responsibility of being the OP of somebody else's story. What if I don't wanna post it? I'm gonna feel bad that somebody put so much work in and lost it to the void bc they sent it as an ask. post stuff like this to your own blogs please! This site's samurai jack tag could use more activity—especially from folks actively discussing the show.)

[squoobest]

good morning

[transingthoseformers]

Idk if you have one somewhere and I just can't find it, if things aren't cooked enough to warrant one, or what, but. Do you have anything like a guide/introduction to your TF OCs. If not would you consider making one. 🙏 pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasplea- (/silly, /nf)

I can try and make one for the major/reoccurring ones!!

Though, I will admit, I am a little bit of an OCs Georg and have several, several folders worth of Transformers OC designs and ideas, so I don't think there's enough time in Earth to put all of them into a guide