#the confidence i project on my blog is just an act for a role that i am playing. it's fantasy and should be treated as such

[skye-nsfw]

How are you so confident with this stuff when you're so young?

I'm 21 and still can't really figure out what I want

i exposed myself to these concepts at perhaps too young of an age, but it did allow me the time figure out what i do and dont want. however, what u like and what u dont like changes over time, especially when u start exploring w/ people physically. i wouldnt fret about figuring out what u like or what u dont, instead i would say focus on having good, healthy experiences, and let ur curiosity drive u towards the things u like.

as for why i project confidence, it's bc i want to be. it's a part of the role i want to have in most of my dom/sub dynamics. it is also bc i feel these concepts and topics should be a normal part of everyday conversations, that they should be normalized.

of course, being horny makes that easier ;)

[cannellee]

Love this blog fr <3 wish their was more omegaverse on tumblr..

I have a request! Any alpha tokyo revengers characters x tall! Omega reader !!!

Can you imagine reader from far away looks intimidating because of their height but is actually a sweet heart !! I love this trope sm

TOKYO REVENGERS OMEGAVERSE ★

୨୧ alpha! Tokyo revengers x tall!omega! Reader (pairing : mikey, draken, baji & sanzu)

— a/b/o tokyo revengers headcanons

tw : slightly pervy mikey (?) & unhinged baji.

my masterlist : ☆

(aaah thank you sm!! I hope you like it🫶)

MIKEY

when mikey first met you, he never once thought you were an omega. a beta for sure or a submissive alpha at least, but definitely not an omega.

you had that intimidating look and an overall quietness that is so foreign to an omega. he was surprised when you first talked to him about a school project to smell such a sweet aroma around you.

probably thought you were carrying some sort of snacks and asked you to share.

your usually unexpresisve features softened instantly and you explained quickly that it was just your pheromones.

seeing a flustered look on your face was new for mikey. he might be slow at times but he understood immediately what you meant and that he was mistaken.

your height never phased him. he was an alpha, and didn't need his omega to be shorter than him for him to have confidence.

when you started dating, he was actually amused by the reactions you would give him.

mikey loved to tease you. you just seemed so sure of yourself, even though all he needed to do to make you loose your composure was his pheromones.

it seems you were very sensitive to smells, more than your average omega. and mikey knew it.

he couldn't help himself! you were just so cute crouching down to dig your nose into his neck to moment his scent hit you.

your scent also drove him crazy. with little to no care for time or place, mikey would often bury his nose into your chest. it's not his fault if your boobs were always right in front of his eyes!

he doesn't care if you're shy, you can't stop him from getting a good sniff. you might be taller but mikey still is stronger than you.

would then sweep you off your feets and carry you bridal style to yours or his house.

mikey loves it when you're both inside his bed or your nest, that way he can kiss you without having to ask you to bend down. that face you make when you weren't expecting his kisses is adorable!

forces you into his clothes. he loves when you smell like him, especially when you both go outside. his sweaters are often too small for you, but insists you look good with tight clothes regardless.

buys a few oversized shirts a while after...

mikey felt a sense of pride to have such a beautiful omega submit to him & accept him as her alpha.

he might tease you a lot, but never about your height, and those who dare act up in front of you are met with a fight, no exceptions.

mikey is unsurprisingly protective and takes his role as your alpha really seriously.

people often mistake you as a beta and that sometimes lead you to uncomfortable situations. others don't think much of it and think of you as an assertive type of person, they often disregard your feelings as a result.

that's not mikey's case. and his instincts and genuine care for you make him able to read every one of your reactions, even though he doesn't look like the observant type.

if you don't feel at ease, he will gently drag you away and take his time to calm you down.

DRAKEN

being taller than any omega, people would often subconsciously treat you with less care than your counterparts.

believing the perfect omega is someone shorter than them, most alphas never even looked at you as a potential mate.

you kept repeating to yourself that it didn't matter, that you would fine someone worth it one day. but you couldn't change the fact that you were deeply insecure.

you tried everything to make you look smaller, less intimidating, being sure you would attract more alphas, but to no avail.

when you met draken was the first time you didn't feel out of place.

being pretty tall himself and an alpha at that, he was unexpectedly the taller one out of the both of you.

he is also surprised about your height but doesn't think twice about it.

you're a sweet thing who needs an alpha's attention, and good for you, draken is just soo ready to give you that.

the more he gets to know you, the more delicate you appear in his eyes. your every moves are so captivating, slow and soft.

draken's protective instincts are always on when you're near.

he enjoys the fact that he doesn't have to bend down to kiss you. he will look at you in the eyes and tenderly put his lips on yours. it's just easier and more romantic that way!

being almost the same height as him is very practical too! he's your personal stress reliever, and you find yourself burying your face into his neck with ease at any time of the day.

draken lets you do anything with him. he loves making you happy and comfortable.

knows it's useless but draken will still try and help you around the house or when you're doing groceries to grab the higher items before you do.

says it's to avoid you dropping it on your face and hurting yourself, you tell him you can easily do it yourself but you find his motives very touching.

draken knows how previous alphas have treated you and hates himself for not meeting you sooner.

would give them the beating of their lives if he ever got his hands on those who hurt you.

how could someone possibly harm you, physically or mentally, you're such a kind omega, and so docile at that. your desire to please your alpha is so strong it drives draken mad.

you're lucky you found him. draken knows how to look after you the way a reliable alpha should. you can always count on him!

BAJI

baji is completely devoted to you.

I still can't get off my head how he's toman's n.1 boyfriend.

when baji first saw you, he knew he was going to make you his.

he thought you were the prettiest omega he ever saw and never once doubted your second gender.

most people would agree baji is a bit clueless but there are stuff that don't escape his eye.

the way you carried yourself so softly, your soft spoken tone, your natural kindness and the terribly sweet and fruity smell that followed you everywhere, there was no way you could be anything other than an omega.

while baji has his smart moments, he also is a bit dense.

probably thought he would've to assert dominance first, in order to make you look at him.

people couldn't possibly get the attention of an omega such as you, elegant and graceful, without proving themselves.

can you imagine how shocked he was when he found out you didn't like his present.

turns out burnt cars with your name carved on them isn't your thing.

baji starts to court you like a normal alpha would after that.

when you both finally decide to date, he's the most doting alpha you've ever had.

people sometimes look at you funny. you both form and odd pair, with a feral alpha baji and his tall and shy omega who's trying to calm him down.

when that happens you drown him in you scent and hug him like a baby.

he loves it when you do that, but when he cools down, you're back into his arms and he's the one scenting you.

if you were to ever kindly make fun of him for being shorter, he would waste no time in tackling you to the bed and making you understand that he doesn't have to be your height to be the one in control in your relationship.

baji has the upper hand in your dynamic, his abundant confidence is what keeps him away from insecurities.

he knows he's very much capable and can protect you if danger arises.

has such a soft spot for you, he thinks you're genuinely the purest and most loving person he knows.

when he wants to look at you in the eyes, he carries you with ease to the nearest low wall and makes you sit on it. places himself in front of you, between your legs and starts scenting you.

scenting is a big part of your couple's life. baji is all about claiming you in that way.

showers you with kisses and attention. your height doesn't matter to him.

SANZU

sanzu takes dating you as a way to prove himself as an alpha.

you're tall, confident and really beautiful.

he thinks you were out of his league.

tall omegas like you are so rare, countless of alphas must have tried to get their hands on you but you still chose him?

that's it, you're bound for life.

the first time you interacted he was swept off his feet, he thought you were really pretty, sure, but your kind-hearted and humble personality was unexpected.

you were a breath of fresh air in his life of delinquent.

growls and threatens anyone who dares offend you, if they can't appreciate the person you are then there's no reason they should stay around you any longer.

sanzu with a tall omega mate gives off major guard dog energy. he feels like you're so precious you could be snatched away instantly if he were to turn his head, even for a small second.

probably a bit paranoid, but that's why he protects you so well. sanzu will unknowingly make you feel the safest you've ever been.

now his wardrobe is your wardrobe, he will buy clothes too big for him just so you can wear his stuff.

sanzu is always with you, insists that you need his constant care, that your unusual height makes you more desirable and that he can't let another alpha gets his hands on you.

acts all big and fierce when you're both out, he needs to keep the danger at bay, but gets all pouty at home and engulfs himself in your embrace.

he loves it when you're the one who takes care of him at home.

complains about how you didn't look at him enough earlier when you were with your friends. he's just mad he has to grab your chin to make you notice him more.

he will use his pheromones if you keep teasing him, spreading them so much your heat start and he has to carry you home to take care of you just the way you need it.

sanzu just worships your every being. thinks your height is the most attractive part of your body.

[arrowhawkart]

Alright what's up everyone! If you do not follow my personal blog fair warning: I have become very suddenly obsessed with Dragon Age and have been playing thru the games for the first time ever- so expect the next chunk of art from me to be very Dragon Age-centric

So Anyways here's Cedric Hawke, the fun little guy I made for my DA2 playthrough and became incredibly attached to much faster than I expected.

More incoherent rambles and thoughts on my Hawke under the cut- it's very stream of consciousness under there and also very very long you've been warned

[ID in Alt Text]

Just like.... wow.... okay so I've now played through Inquisition and finished Trespasser and I've gotta say DA2 really took the cake for me, like by far my favorite of the 3. (Like please don't get me wrong it absolutely had it's issues I'm not saying it was a perfect game or that all the writing choices were amazing) But I just really enjoyed the smaller more personal scale of the conflicts in DA2, I liked that Hawke was even more Just Some Guy, and like yeah the Warden and the Inquisitor aren't like special chosen ones or anything, but they are both tasked with these gigantic world-saving country-spanning quests, and Hawke? Hawke is just a guy trying to do right by his family. Like he doesn't have any world saving mission. He is just trying to Get By and that really made this game hit home more for me than the other two.

I said I was gonna ramble about my Hawke and I just ended up rambling about DA2 itself... whoops. ANYWAYS- Cedric- My Boy Cedric- I recognize that a purple mage Hawke is the most common route people go and I am by no means unique or original, but this game series is very new to me, personally, and I'm having fun anyways. (From here on out I will be talking about my Custom Hawke and not like, Hawke the player character in general)

And gosh I'm such a sucker for complicated and messy family dynamics, and DA2 does that so well. Like the Hawke family is Fucked Up. Bethany gets killed by that ogre while they're fleeing Lothering when she tries to save their mom from said ogre, and Leandra immediately turns and blames Cedric for Bethany's death- and then later in Act 1, Carver, best baby brother Carver, also throws Bethany's death in his face while they're having their own stupid argument which started because Cedric was trying to cheer Carver up and boy did that fail dramatically.

Like Cedric is witty and charming and sarcastic and kind of an asshole sometimes, and comes of as incredibly over confident and cocksure and that's because he's very much been shoved into the role of 'okay you've gotta take care of everything and if you don't everything bad is Your Fault, and since you're in charge of taking care of everything, everything bad is automatically Your Fault No Matter What Anyways.' So he's gotta playact like he has everything all together and under control, because what the fuck is his family gonna do if he doesn't? And underneath all of that he's an incredibly stressed out guy, who does not feel like he can ever let on that he's stressed and making everything up as he goes and just hoping that things work out well.

And like he tries to do the right thing- by god does this man try. He brings Carver with him on the deep roads mission because he and Carver work well together! Carver wants to go! He loves his little brother, there is no one he would rather have by his side than his little brother! There is no one he trusts more than Carver to have his back! Carver and Cedric are incredibly close, (yes in the game's friendship/rivalry system Carver was locked in at full rivalry but that absolutely does not mean they weren't still very close and also friends). Like Carver is the one person who actually recognizes that the way Leandra projects all of her own issues onto them, but like mostly Cedric, is really shitty! He acknowledges that after apologizing for his part in the argument I mentioned above. And then of course Carver ends up getting the Blight during the deep roads mission, because nothing can every go right for them. Thankfully Cedric brought Anders along, so Carver is able to become a Grey Warden instead of DYING, but he has to leave, and Cedric doesn't even find out whether or not Carver survived his joining for months. And of course Leandra blames Cedric for this, she begged him not to bring Carver along with him, and he did anyways and now she's never going to see her youngest son again and it's all Cedric's fault. And that's how Act 1 ends and I just.... Auaghghghghhhh-

And then we've got Act 2, and like mid-way through Act 2 is probably the high point for Cedric. Things peak for him here and then it's all one big snowball downhill from there. So like, Cedric romanced Fenris, because this man is addicted to difficulty, and of course was going to immediately be infatuated with the guy that makes hating mages half his personality. (I mean it wasn't immediate, it was more of a slow build, mutual-trust, to friendship(and yes once again Fenris was at full rivalry but I stand by what I said about the friendship rivalry system earlier), to lovers thing, especially considering three years pass between Acts 1 and 2) And yeah, Cedric doesn't hide the fact that he's very into Fenris, and Fenris definitely hasn't seemed opposed to this. So after Fenris kills Hadriana and then they have that fun little argument that ends with Fenris pinning Cedric to the wall and kissing him 😳- Cedric is like, riding the high of what was probably the first positive physical affection he's gotten since Carver let for the Grey Wardens three years ago. And then of course the following morning Fenris immediately breaks things off with Cedric, so what Cedric thought was going to be the start to a romantic relationship, just ends up being an ill-fated one night stand. And like! Cedric does not begrudge Fenris this! He completely understands Fenris's reasons, he is not upset with Fenris at all! He is still just completely crushed though. So yeah, things peaked for Cedric for like one very short night and then start speeding downhill. Because not long after that is when his mom is killed by a fucking serial killer. As if things weren't already fucked enough for Cedric, already having lost his twin younger siblings.

Also side note- I love the fact that DA2 is portrayed as Varric telling the story of Hawke's life to Cassandra, and that we know Varric is an unreliable narrator. Because like Leandra's last words to Hawke being that she's so proud of her strong boy- at least with how Cedric's relationship was with Leandra up to this point- felt so so out of character for Leandra, and I love the headcanon that that's Varric giving his bestie some closure narratively that he never actually got in reality. So like that's canon for Cedric. Because that was Leandra's decapitated head frankensteined onto another woman's body- and magicked into a reanimated corpse that absolutely did not seem like it had any conscious thought- like she was already dead before Cedric showed up. There were no final words. There was no nice narratively satisfying ending to that one. And I like it better that way tbh........

We're just gonna like skip over the whole qunari invasion subplot because I am. Not a fan of how that was handled. Writing wise. Like what the fuck was that. Like I have THOUGHTS about it but they're not gonna go on tumblr. Anyways. Moving on.

Champion of Kirkwall! Yay! Meredith knows he's an apostate mage and is just Waiting for any half-decent excuse to either bring him to the circle, make him tranquil, or kill him? Not yay! Cedric is absolutely good friends with Anders, and has been helping with the mage underground every chance he has. People in the city have been whispering about making him of all people Viscount and he has no idea how to feel about that, like he'd rather not, but who else is gonna do it? And who else would do it and actually give a shit about mages and elves and just like lower class people in general? Like this incredibly stressed out guy does not need more added to his plate, he really doesn't. But he's definitely thinking about it. I mean hey! It's not like he's got any family around to take care of at this point right? Why not just take that eldest daughter syndrome thing he's got going on and use it to fix the city?

The one bright spot for him here is that hey, at least he and Fenris get back together. That one's nice. They both deserve something positive and comforting after all the shit they've been through.

And then Meredith is trying to invoke the right of annulment and Anders blows up the fucking Chantry. And Cedric can't even blame him for it. After 6 or 7 years of painstakingly working to try to find peaceful ways to improve the lives of mages and getting blocked at every turn, with the knowledge that Meredith has been getting worse and worse and worse, and has been actively looking for any excuse to invoke the right of annulment and just kill every single mage in Kirkwall? And Grand Cleric Elthina has been absolutely no help, and has absolutely been subtly on Meredith's side the entire time. Like at a certain point, violence really does feel like the only option left. When you've been backed this far into a corner.

So obviously Cedric takes the side of the mages, doesn't kill Anders, is honestly like 'my dude, my buddy, my guy, my best pal(aside from Varric, and my boyfriend Fenris) why didn't you tell me? I would've helped you on purpose.' He's elated when Carver shows up during that final push to the Gallows, like the whole situation is absolutely shit, and it'd definitely be better if his beloved brother was no where near danger, but he's a Grey Warden now so that's not even an option anyways. So it's just nice to have him around even during such an intensely stressful moment. Honestly everything is so unbelievably fucked at this point that Cedric isn't even stressed anymore. Like things literally cannot get worse. He's kind of riding the high of things not being able to get worse. Or maybe that's just adrenaline. Who knows. Aveline and Sebastian both leave, Cedric is unbothered. Doesn't even try to convince Aveline to side with him later either, like he's never really gotten along with her, and he did not like how she treated Carver. Fenris and everyone else stick around, and that's what matters to Cedric, like all the people he was actually close friends with stick with him in this moment (Fenris, Varric, Isabella, Merrill, Anders, & Carver)

And then yeah, they save the mages, defeat Meredith, leave Kirkwall with the renegade mages. Everyone goes their separate ways due to one reason or another, except Fenris. At least Cedric does get to keep one positive close relationship around.

[agentem]

2023: The Year that Should Have Been Samuel L. Jackson's

Anyone who follows my blog knows I really like Samuel L. Jackson. I don't know him personally or anything. I just think he seems fun. I like how he says he makes the kinds of movies he would want to see as a kid (and isn't precious about the ~art~ of acting). Brie Larson also said some things in the Captain Marvel press tour about how confident he is, and now sometimes I think "Pretend you are Samuel L. Jackson" when I feel anxious in a work situation.

Some other things I like about him:

He was expelled from Morehouse College for his acts of civil disobedience. Though I can't say I support some of his later criminal acts or drug use.

I enjoy the random fun fact that he was an usher at Martin Luther King Jr's funeral.

Unlike a lot of the MCU actors, SLJ reads comics. He was the one who saw his face in The Ultimates and was like, "Uh. WTF, Marvel?" just because he happened to read it. (Companies are not allowed to use an individual's likeness without their consent, he could have sued Marvel, instead he made a deal for them to put him in movies if they made them.)

Regarding the above, I think a lot is said about how Feige and Favreau were such visionaries to create the MCU. And obviously they did the work. But I think SLJ saw it even earlier. (Ultimates came out in 2002, six years before Iron Man would happen and the deal he made would pan out.)

I know SLJ has made some bad movies. Some are fun bad. Some are just bad. But he has a way of making even the worst dialogue interesting. (IDK. I saw a teen spy movie he was in with Hailee Steinfeld and Sophie Turner. They are both actresses that I like, but any scene he wasn't in was kind of boring. And I was like, "Whoa how did you make me pay attention; I was falling asleep?")

Wow this post is long and I haven't even gotten to the point.

The point is that Secret Invasion should have been his moment to shine in the MCU. He never led a project before. And it's being called the worst thing ever. But it's so frustrating that it was so bad with the caliber of actors they had. It should not have been this way.

To add insult to injury, Jackson finally got to perform August Wilson's The Piano Lesson on Broadway.

Jackson was part of the original cast of that play, working with the celebrated playwright himself... at Yale Repertory Theater. When it came time to move the play to Broadway, Charles S. Dutton replaced him.

So last year a Broadway revival was staged. It was directed by his wife, LaTonya Richardson Jackson. Now Jackson played the older man, and his friend Denzel's son, John David Washington, played the role Jackson had originated.

Jackson was nominated for a Tony. But didn't win. The internet made fun of his reaction to the results being read.

I just feel like, I'd have been bummed too. He didn't slap anybody or complain about losing. He was gracious.

I keep thinking about what could have been. He's 74 years old (doesn't look it, imo), but he won't be around forever. I want him to be appreciated in his lifetime.

And goddamnit I am still mad they didn't air his Lifetime Achievement Oscar speech.

[sincerely-sofie]

45. Since you've said that just about every character you've written is a self insert, what's the character you relate to the most? Or a character that isn't yours?

45. Name a few characters you relate to?

In the TPiaG cast, I relate to everyone pretty equally! They all reflect different facets of my personality and life experiences, at least with how I've written them. As for characters that aren't mine / in TPiaG... Oof. Oh man. I'm going to embarrass myself doing this, I just know it. But here goes nothing. Now presenting the informal Sincerely-Sofie kin list!

Ranboo and TommyInnit's characters from Dream SMP

I'd never heard of Ranboo as a content creator before my friends busted in the door to my DMs to say his character was Literally Sofie and I needed to check these compilation videos of him Right This Very Second. I didn't believe them at first. But then I watched a couple vids and was like "Ah. I see. He IS Literally Sofie."

I had to avoid watching anything put out by Ranboo for his DSMP character because the guy's acting was so good I would feel down for days after watching his lore. That one scene in the panic room where he's talking with the voice in his head hit too close to home, and I couldn't watch anything else by him afterward because it would send me backsliding emotionally. It was very cathartic, don't get me wrong! But psychosis was a bit too fresh of a wound at the time for me to start revisiting.

TommyInnit's character is one that I think people might be surprised I relate to, but his prey animal rage is something I find very relatable. I might be projecting too many headcanons onto him, however. I've written a fair number of fics focusing on Tommy, and I never was certain if he was very in-character.

Hunter from The Owl House

I haven't watched The Owl House in full, and don't have the means to do so, but Oh My Word. Hunter is just me in a different outfit. Geeky little ADHD-having, people-pleasing, dumb-dumb itty bitty trauma-experiencing baby boy. I see him and I see my teenage self. That one scene in that montage where the main cast are in the human world and he gets a haircut because he's having issues with his hair being triggering? I've lived that! I hardly have to project onto him because he's already me.

Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle (the movie specifically)

Book Sophie is too sassy for me to compare myself to, haha. But movie Sophie is pretty relatable! Being hesitant yet impulsive, lacking confidence when it comes to herself but finding it easy to take a leadership role and advocate for others— heck, I even had identical hair to her when I was younger, complete with those annoying little wispy hairs coming out from her hairline! I also used to have a habit of talking to inanimate objects before anxiety beat that trait out of me.

One might assume the name was a contributing factor to me relating to her. Now would probably be a good time to reveal Sofie is just a pen name, not my real one ^^;

My Melody from Sanrio

Take my word for it: this rabbit is my fursona I commissioned from Sanrio. You all need to know that this is what I look like when I'm reading your asks + the tags on your reblogs. I was originally planning to run a blog themed around My Melody. My Melody??? More like ME Melody.

[lymbreaksin]

I don't usually post on this blog but anyway, I wanted to sort all of my opinion about the spiderverse movies. I'm not even a marvel or spiderman or anything but holy shit how much I liked the itsv and atsv. I'm not gonna say anything controversial just an average view on the whole thing

things I liked the most about it:

1. the protagonist

MILES IS SUCH A GOOD PROTAGONIST. at first we see him as a typical awkward teen protag but he's that and so much more!!

the creators did such a good job with showing him as a teen(which is a rare thing)! like they've actually seen teenagers irl!! he is soo relatable. the way they showed his life is really natural. all the problems he has seem like those that an average teenager would have: his parent–child relationship issues, changing schools, getting closer to his origins, finding his sense of identity, his poor flirting skills etc. etc.

he really was an average teen in the first movie and it's such a good start. it really connects him to a viewer. but in the second movie we also see him as a skilled spiderman!! he's gone through a lot tho to become one, they really showed how difficult it was to him. my man upgraded so much!! he's not only relatable but also amazing!! but it's not even the best part of him.

I WAS STUNNED BY HIS ACTIONS IN THE ENDING OF ATSV. THE WAY HE REBELS AGAINST THE WHOLE FREAKING SPIDER SOCIETY. he chooses his own path!! he's not going to be stuck in the past like Miguel, he's gonna save everyone!! he became one of the strongest and unique spidermen, the whole spider society couldn't keep up with him!!

he may look liker your average teen protagonist but he's not!! the representation is sooo good!!

2. the message

THE WAY THIS SHOW SAID "WE SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF THE HARMFUL SYSTEM" IS SOOO POWERFUL. THE MESSAGE WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD AND LOUD. the show nailed it!!

3. the animation and the artwork

it's hella amazing. goes with the storytelling really well, reflects the true colors of the characters and affects viewers in a way that no animated show would to, truly perfect.

4. the side characters

Gwen

she's so cool. her design, how graceful and confident she seems(she isn't), her vibe. the conflict with her father hit toooo close to home, honestly. the special connection she has with Miles, they really understand each other on emotional level. also I really appreciate that they didn't make this whole stupid love triangle things with other characters like Hobie and her friend Peter. their pairing with Miles is great, honestly I'm surprised there aren't many fics about them in ao3(I've searched).

Peter B Parker

he may seem like a loser: he's divorced, doesn't have a house, looks imperfect and generally isn't what you would expect from a superhero. but it's not what he is. he's also a really kind–hearted character, he and Miles have really taught each other a lot of things. he's his first mentor and without his help we Miles wouldn't be the same. he is also a really powerful Spiderman even if he doesn't look like it. kinda reminds me about one of my friends who's really alike to him. I love his character development in the 2nd movie, he overcame his fear and now we can see cute Mayday with him. the way he acts kinda obsessed with his parent role and kids is soo funny to me. are they all like that after they become parents?

Miguel

he is a rich man, spiderman wannabe, stuck in the past, he can't deal with his emotions, he's projecting onto a 15 years old boy who doesn't want to lose his father. he's exactly what you would hate about a character, he suits the antagonist role so well. I honestly don't understand the hype about him bc maybe bc I'm not straight so Idc about how he looks. for me he looks pathetic actually. but pathetic enough to be a low key interesting character

Pavitr and Hobie

these two are great too but I was kinda expecting them to have more major role in the plo, but okay we'll see it later. their designs are really cool tho and their friendship is precious

aunt May

she's soo badass, I really liked it. reminded me of mrs Hudson from Sherlock tbh, one of my fav characters. she knew all about her nephew and helped him with being a superhero?? kind of a shame we didn't really know him, I wonder what was he like. maybe we will see in the next movie??

Doctor Octavia

her design is so cool tho and damn, she looks really good. the way she and Peter B Parker interacted was hilarious tho. also were they friends with aunt May I ship them kinda?? pretty sure they're gonna tell us in the 3rd movie. can't waiit

5. the villain

I thought he was gonna be some kind of a comic relief but he upgraded and now he isn't and looks freaking terrifying?? really excited about what's gonna happen to him in the 3rd movie and how he would develop.

6. the ending

AGAIN, THE ENDING. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT COMING. THE EARTH–42 PROWLER BEING MILES, HIM THAT SHOULD'VE BECOME A SPIDERMAN AND ALSO DOES MIGUEL NOT KNOW, WHAT THE HELL?? really broke all the expectations but in a good way

[leadershipandlife]

Musings from the Leadership Trail

The last time I regularly updated a blog was back in college. Now, diving back into it feels ambitious, yet I can’t ignore the excitement bubbling up inside me. I’m at a pivotal moment in my life—a time of transformation—and I’m eager to share my journey with you.

A Bit of Background

I’ve spent over a decade climbing the corporate ladder in various functional roles, with the longest stretch—eight years—as a Group Treasurer, managing liquidity and investments for a large conglomerate. My team was small, never more than ten people, and my focus was narrow: liquidity. Sales, marketing, and external affairs were not part of my world.

Then came a turning point. Early last year, I was offered the role of Cluster CEO, overseeing eight business units. The appointment came so quickly that I barely had time to process it. The trust placed in me to lead over 1,700 employees and navigate an industry I knew little about was overwhelming. I was terrified. But when I looked around the room, I saw that the board and executive committee had no doubts about my readiness or capability to take on the role.

I didn’t feel fully prepared for a CEO position, but I was fortunate to join the CEO Apprenticeship Program—a rigorous, year-long journey designed to equip future leaders with the confidence and skills needed to succeed.

This program, combined with my hunger for change and the freedom to build a dream team, set the stage for one of the most transformative years in the history of our Group’s logistics cluster. Each aspect of this journey deserves its own blog post, and I’ll be sharing those stories here.

A New Chapter Begins

Just yesterday, I graduated from the apprenticeship program. This week also marks the end of my tenure as CEO of logistics. I’ve decided to take a six-month sabbatical. Why? First, I need time to focus on personal projects that I’ve put on hold for too long. But more importantly, I need to gain clarity on my next steps. The program and the CEO role have profoundly impacted me—I’ve discovered my true potential and realized that leadership is my calling. But I want to lead with purpose.

In the months ahead, I’ll be reflecting on what truly matters to me—my values, the impact I want to make, and how to align these with my next professional role. While I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished as CEO, I struggled at times to see a clear alignment between my values and the work I was doing, which took a toll on me.

Looking Forward

I want to live a life of purpose—to build a legacy, make a meaningful impact on people’s lives, and inspire others along the way. The last year and a half has shown me that I’m capable of achieving this. Over the next six months, I’ll be crafting my personal strategy for becoming an impactful leader and a model citizen.

Through this blog, I’ll share the experiences that have shaped me, hoping to inspire others on a similar path. I’ll also explore what we can all do to make the world a better place. And I’ll remind myself and you, dear readers, to savor life’s beauty and nurture meaningful relationships. After all, I firmly believe that the richness of your personal life is the foundation of effective leadership.

Welcome to Leadership and Life: A Balancing Act. I’m excited to take this journey with you.

[collsfilmblog]

Blog Post -Pre - Production for Scene recreation and Tableau 

Hello film chat! I am going to be entirely honest and say I need something to procrastinate my essay for comms and practice. I have been writing little entries into a doc every once in a while describing my thoughts. This is me putting it together in a readable form so I can feel productive.

Film Narrative 1 - Tableau Film 2

For this film, we had to use one of the two page scripts we had written earlier in the semester. 

Production meeting 1

After a meeting with Sean to explore which script we should use, we sat down as a group and went through all the practical logistics of turning the scripts into films. Not which one would be easiest, but which did we think was realistic. After going through all the pros and cons of the scripts we narrowed it down to 3 before doing an anonymous vote. My script “Walk Out” was voted for by the group due to the location being quite simple, but still requiring us to make contact with locations, and the most potential for interesting movement and sound without moving the camera (criteria for the assignment). I’m happy people liked my script and wanted to use it, it was a bit of a confidence boost as I’ve never been all that sure if I had any screenwriting capabilities. However, responsibility also lands on me, what if the dialogue is cringe? What if actors hate it? Or even worse, the audience hates it. Or even EVEN worse, the lecturers hate it? Our past films have gone down pretty well in terms of feedback but I’ve not had much creative input for them so I don't want to ruin the reputation of Group 3 as everyone in it is so talented. Anyway I need to chill it with the doubt as Sean seemed to quite like it as well as my group so hopefully it’s gonna go okay!

Meeting 1.5

David, Cliona, and I met up to discuss the Script of the project as Cole and Dylan were unavailable. We went over some actions in the scene and changed them to make it more interesting (as well as easier to film in one shot). I think David and Cliona definitely improved the script and I'm very happy with it. Script -

We also drafted up a casting call for actors as most of us either don’t want to act or are busy doing something else. Dylan is usually keen to be an actor but he hasn't had much of a chance to do any hands-on camera or sound work other than in out 8 shot film so I wanted to make sure he was behind the camera on these shoots.

Cliona also made this poster to put up in the Merchiston campus -

Production Meeting 2

Group 3 met up as a whole to discuss the film and get the ball rolling. We had discussed what roles everyone wanted to do beforehand so really just finalised them and we ended up with

David - Director

Coll - Producer/Writer

Cliona - Sound

Cole - Cinematography 

Dylan - 1st AC/production designer.

We got onto locations and looked at quite a few before settling on The Voyage of the Buck, a bar near to Haymarket where Cole’s family goes quite often. We hoped the loyalty might sway the decision, and when we asked they seemed pretty keen to let us film in their alleyway! Yay!

We also started looking at scenes for our final scene recreation. We initially didn’t have many ideas, only being able to come up with Spud’s interview in Trainspotting and the library scene from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I don't know why but I just went entirely braindead when my group asked me for suggestions. A film student who can't think of movies they like?? What am I doing here!!! But eventually, ideas started flowing and between us, we’d come up with many ideas. After watching through them all and going over pros and cons we circled back to our strongest picks, Trainspotting and Eternal Sunshine. We chose Trainspotting because it seemed manageable whilst still being a challenge. (psst. Group 3, it’s me from the future… don’t do it!! We haven’t even filmed and it's already causing so much trouble, who knew finding an empty hall would be so difficult!?)

We also settled on roles which was pretty much the same as Walk Out but Dylan is doing sound and Cliona is doing production design.

Things I had to do for both shoots 

-Risk assessment

-Book kit

-Location (although everyone has done location)

-Call sheets

-Organise more meetings

-Permission forms from locations and and actors.

I’ve got a shopping list of kit from Cole and David so I’m going to try and make sure its booked early so we can get everything they want.

Risk Assessments 

I visited the Voyage of the Buck and the City Cafe to try and scope out any risks that may be present. 

Voyage of the buck poses much more risks with cobbled roads, traffic and the weather. 

The City Cafe is nowhere near as hazardous but there is still risk of tripping and moving around in a tight space. We’ve also had confirmation from both locations that we are allowed to film which is great!! Now we just need time to find our interview room for the scene recreation…

Risk assessment for Voyage of the Buck and the City Cafe -

(very sorry Andrew, I only realised today when you said that you needed to put different locations of different risk assessments... Sorry!!!!!!!)

[mysankalpdreamnestreviews]

MySankalp DreamNest Project and MySankalp DreamNest Reviews

When my wife and I embarked on our journey to find our dream home in Bangalore, we knew that making the right choice was crucial. We wanted a project that would not only meet our expectations but exceed them. That's when we came across MySankalp DreamNest, and after reading their reviews, we were convinced that it was the perfect choice for us.

The MySankalp DreamNest project in Bangalore has garnered a considerable amount of positive feedback and reviews, which played a significant role in shaping our decision. The MySankalp DreamNest reviews echoed sentiments of satisfaction, contentment, and delight from numerous homeowners who had already chosen this project. These reviews acted as a testament to the quality and credibility of the development, giving us the confidence to move forward.

Reading the MySankalp DreamNest review Bangalore provided us with valuable insights into the project. We discovered that the development was highly regarded for its smart homes concept, which incorporated modern technologies and features. The reviews highlighted the convenience and comfort offered by these smart homes, such as automated systems, energy-efficient solutions, and advanced security features. Knowing that we could embrace a tech-savvy lifestyle in our new home was a major selling point for us.

Furthermore, the MySankalp DreamNest smart homes reviews specifically emphasized the excellence of the project's location in Bangalore. The development was commended for its proximity to key areas such as business hubs, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and entertainment options. This was a crucial factor for us as we desired a home that offered convenience and accessibility to all the necessities of daily life. The positive feedback regarding the location further solidified our decision to choose MySankalp DreamNest.

In addition to the positive reviews, the MySankalp DreamNest Bangalore reviews also highlighted the developer's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Homeowners expressed their appreciation for the excellent construction, attention to detail, and superior craftsmanship displayed throughout the project. The reviews spoke highly of the developer's professionalism, transparent communication, and prompt responses to queries and concerns. Such positive feedback gave us peace of mind, knowing that we would be in capable hands throughout the entire buying process.

Ultimately, it was the overwhelmingly positive MySankalp DreamNest Feedback that swayed our decision. The consistent praise and satisfaction expressed by homeowners who had already chosen this project were compelling. We realized that we weren't just investing in a property but also in a trusted developer who had successfully delivered on their promises time and again.

The MySankalp DreamNest project had proven its mettle through the experiences and testimonials of its residents. It offered smart homes, a prime location, and a commitment to quality that resonated with our vision of a dream home. The positive reviews solidified our belief that choosing MySankalp DreamNest was the right decision for us.

In conclusion, the MySankalp DreamNest project in Bangalore stood out to us due to its stellar reviews, including the MySankalp DreamNest reviews, MySankalp DreamNest review Bangalore, and MySankalp DreamNest Bangalore reviews. The positive feedback highlighted the project's smart homes concept, convenient location, and commitment to quality. After thoroughly reading and considering the reviews, we confidently choose MySankalp DreamNest as our dream home, and we couldn't be happier with our decision.

Referral Links : https://www.cgmimm.com/blog/why-me-and-my-wife-decided-to-go-for-mysankalp-dreamnest

[0livesfilmbl0g]

C R I T I C A L R E F L E C T I O N - FILM NARRATIVE

Within this project, I undertook the role of writer, co-set designer and script supervisor. I wrote and redrafted the script multiple times, meeting up with the rest of my group and taking in their input and the input of Catriona from the weekly meetings. I oversaw what costumes the actors would wear on the day of filming, which I spoke to them about prior, however, Louise Cade oversaw the designing and creating of the band t-shirt for one of the actors. I made two ice cream sundaes from playdough and clay, which were vital plot points within our film. (More pictures from my blog: https://www.tumblr.com/0livesfilmbl0g/711967790687485952/march-2023-we-secured-our-filming-date-for-friday?source=share ) I oversaw finding and getting most of the props, such as the tablecloth, sundae glasses, skateboard, cutlery etc. On our shoot day, I took notes on camera and sound after each take, this allowed my team to keep themselves right and helped the editors find the best takes quickly. I also made sure there were enough pauses in the actors’ acting for the voice-overs, which was a vital part of our film.

Within the film crit, we received very constructive feedback on various aspects of our film. Each of the lecturers agreed saying that the voiceover throughout our film wasn’t necessary and would’ve worked well, probably even better, without it. I completely agreed with this after seeing it from their perspective and now understand better what a good voice-over is, and what its key purpose is. I am glad to have learned this since I know it will make me a better writer in future. Another criticism we received was to do with framing. We were told the master shot could’ve been tighter since the actor walking into the frame had been cut off. By doing this we could’ve eliminated the white-wall syndrome we faced due to having to use a classroom, as well as created more of a sense of place as the wide shot made the room seem empty instead of a bustling café. I wholeheartedly agree with this and will take it on with my next project.

In class we were instructed to think about only having one of the characters have a voiceover. While I agree that this worked much better than the initial two voiceovers, I wish I had thought more about what the voiceover was saying, since one of the main criticisms in the crit was that the voiceover didn’t convey any new information, and the actresses acting did the voiceovers job anyways. Catriona suggested we focus on the female character’s inner dialogue being the opposite of what she says out loud, however as a group, we didn’t think this would be easily conveyable in such a short timeframe, as it would take longer for the characters’ relationship dynamic to be clear to both parties. Although we did take on the idea, and when redrafting the script, I changed her inner dialogue to be more truthful and crueller than what she was saying out loud, although not the opposite of what she was thinking. I think the strongest points of our film were the sound and acting since we received compliments in the crit that the sound recording and sound design were consistent and well done. The actress’ acting really helped convey the character’s personality and allowed the audience to dislike her character. This is exactly what we were going for, and her performance was strong and believable. I think some of the camera shots could’ve been improved upon, as the master was just too wide and some of the lower angles on characters were slightly confusing and out of place. We also could’ve paid more attention to the background wall as it was a little bare.

Our group worked very well together, as we all pulled equal weight and got along very well. We didn’t experience any major creative differences and all of us were confident in our individual roles. I think if we had more experience in making films, we would’ve been able to pick up on the voice-over being a weak part of the story, the master being too wide, or parts of the dialogue being weaker than others. We worked well as a team and gave each other feedback on small things when asked, and we are all proud of each other for putting so much work into the film.

I have learned how powerful hindsight is when making a film, and that not everything will work out, despite how good it seems at the time. If we could go back and re-do the whole film, I am very confident it would be much better. I have learned a lot about writing characters and dialogue, as well as bringing a set to life in film form, and it has been rewarding to see it all come to life. With this experience and hindsight, I have learned a lot, and the feedback on other components of the film, such as sound and directing has given me a good knowledge that I will be able to use in future. From watching other films my peers made I have recognised the importance of set design, and I have understood that even with our limitations to a Craiglockhart location, we could’ve played about much more with set design.

Group Padlet Link (process pre/post here): https://padlet.com/405837661/film-narrative-group-d1-pa5pj7odcofnkw5c

Personal Tumblr Link (photos of shooting here): https://www.tumblr.com/0livesfilmbl0g

Krooked Quiche shirt design: https://padlet.com/405837661/film-narrative-group-d1-pa5pj7odcofnkw5c/wish/2571772465

Menus and photos for background wall: https://padlet.com/405837661/film-narrative-group-d1-pa5pj7odcofnkw5c/wish/2571768854

Link to final film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t_x3Ms8TMY&feature=youtu.be

[charmixpower]

Explaining my slow descent into Winx Club best friend madness that I fell into two days ago, and now bothering me enough to make a post abt;

I don't think I mentioned this when I was live blogging s2 but in (I think) the ep Twinning Witches (which could have been used to flesh out some nice witch side characters but I digress) Griffin said that she put them in the worse groups based on friendship/personality

Bloom and Tecna

Stella and Musa

Flora and Aisha

This was my thought process upon receiving this information

Firstly I thought the most obvious choice for the worst team work would be Stella and Aisha, but then I realized that despite Stella accidentally excluding Aisha I don't think their teamwork would be that bad? Like Aisha wouldn't fight with Stella? I honestly think they'd just be really uncomfortable but they wouldn't of dropped the ring like Stella and Musa. I felt like genuinely the moment the got a moment alone together would be the moment they started getting along, and yeah that literally happened. Like they have a lot in common? It's really just Aisha's hypersensitivity due to trauma and Stella's obviousness coming into conflict. One conversation cleaned that up, on the other hand

The more I think about Stella and Musa not getting along the best the more I agree. Honestly they both deal with crippling abandonment issues in the exact opposite way. Stella trying to prop up an over exaggerated personality as happy and fun loving as possible so people stick around and Musa doing the exact opposite of projecting her real personality as agressively as possible to keep people that might leave her away. I also feel like Musa coped with having no friends at school by becoming a teacher's pet, and Stella did the opposite of becoming the class clown, and Musa's snitch tendencys and Stella's blase attitude often come into conflict like over the test answers. Musa seems to care more than she lets on and Stella tends to over exaggerate the importance of things she knows doesn't matter in an attempt to ignore the things really bothering her. I agree that these two would struggle in their friendship at times!

Flora and Aisha I wasn't expecting but it makes sense? I think Aisha's mix of anxiety and over confidence that she constantly moves between would literally force Flora to take a more active role in what ever their doing and I think that would just be very stressful for Flora. Mostly bc Flora seems very conflict resistant? I think Flora being so slow to act would slightly make Aisha's anxiety worse? From experience when you get random bursts of confidence you need to cling to those or else you get trapped in fear. I think Flora would read these bursts of confidence as recklessness (and she's not wrong) and try to slow Aisha down, unaware that that was one of the few means of not being terrified all the time. That and Aisha would definitely mirror Flora, and Flora would absolutely loath the leadership role this places her into.

Bloom and Tecna genuinely surprised me? Mostly bc the show apparently decided that Bloom would randomly take offense to Tecna's gadgets and that's just dumb. Bloom had never had a problem with Tecna's technology. Honestly this would of made more sense if Tecna's casual bluntness hurt Bloom's feelings? Bc Stella says thing carelessly that she doesn't mean, I think it would be easy for people to brush of her more rude comments bc she's a bit of a ditz. While when Tecna says something rude, she means it, she just isn't soically aware of what she's saying enough to know she's being rude? Tecna needs to be around people who are unbothered tbh. That and I think Tecna would grate against Bloom taking the leadership role the most??? I feel like Tecna sees Bloom as the least qualified member to lead, and she's not exactly wrong. Sure Stella lazy, but she has a weird amount of combat experience. Bloom on the other hand is a fish out of water in this new world, and Tecna is probably so confused as to why the only person who never knows what's going on ended up as their defacto leader. I think a cute resolution to this would be Tecna realizing she's the leader bc she listens to all of them and remembers their perticualr strengths to use them them best (in battle). Bloom's anxious slightly confused nature and thin skin would naturally come into conflict with the blunt queen I don't make the rules.

So

Taking that Stella and Bloom are best friends for granted

Since the show outright states that Aisha and Flora get along badly that would leave the other best friend to be either

Aisha and Musa and Flora and Tecna

Or

Aisha and Tecna and Flora and Musa

And since Aisha and Musa have a full episode dedicated to their friend ship I was like "Ok! Case closed! The pairs inside of this friend group are Stella and Bloom, Flora and Tecna, and Musa and Aisha!"

Bc it makes sense?? At least to me?

Aisha and Musa have a episode dedicated to their friendship and how much they care about eachother and it's super cute and I love it. But also I think they are very similar? They both feel like outsiders, they both struggle to connect to people and (unlike Tecna) they really care about what people think and deeply want to be close to someone? Plus both of them are the some of the most dedicated characters in the Winx club. I am convinced that Musa and Aisha are ride or dies. Like Ashia goes to rob something for a girl she barely knows and Musa is always first to defend her friends. I remember at first Musa was more hesitant to help the other Winx before she knows them well but after that she's covering Stella's tracks when she's on a war path. Aisha, Stella, and Musa make up team "How do you want your ex's life destroyed?? We got a list of options."

Flora and Tecna at first caught me off guard but I definitely see it. Mostly bc of Chemistry major Flora doing experiments with mad scientist Tecna. Plus while their both smart I think Flora would never get annoyed at Tecna not getting as high as grades as she could (bc Tecna doesn't have the highest grades of the Winx? But she seems to know everything so I'm assuming that the girl is just an ADHD mood and doesn't do her homework). Plus I think Tecna would be able to make decisions for them both, taking leadership stress off of Flora, without steamrolling her. I mean Flora is willing to tease and mock Tecna without getting overly worried so they must have some type of rapport going on. Plus Flora being able to keep Tecna grounded in the emotional side of things bc Flora has a lot of emotional intelligence and would be able to explain why these emotions happen and why their important and I genuinely think that would be really nice for Tecna who struggles with them

But then I saw Musa be the most upset over Tecna's death, I low key assumed that we'd finally be seeing some anger from Flora bc she's v underutilized, then I saw the wiki fucking list Musa and Tecna as best friends and Flora and Aisha as best friends?????

And I'm going absolutely feral

The ones explicitly stated to make a bad pair??? Is Winx club actively fucking with me????

Not only do Musa and Aisha have a lot of on screen friend moments, I don't think Aisha and Flora interact out side of Flora hanging onto Aisha when on the hover bikes!!!!

I just?? They're trying to convince me that Musa and Tecna we're best friends even though Musa explicitly states that she sometimes feels left out of the Winx club (implying that she didn't have a best friend within the group) only to say this???

Even their order of introduction implies that Musa and Aisha should be best friends, Bloom then Stella then Flora then Tecna then Musa then Ashia!

I was utterly flabbergasted

Anyways 🙈 me at the Wiki bc why would Musa be feeling left out and get all these cute moments with Aisha if she had a best friend in Tecna, I'm losing my mind

[weedplantar]

putting this on anon instead of in the comments bc my main account is way different than your blog topic but abt the huntlow thing I'd like to know more about your reasoning! I totally agree about huntlow as a ship because I feel like it's not right for that sort of thing to be happening so soon with the whole timeline but as for hunter as a character it's really interesting to see someone who views him differently than the majority of tumblr!

Eek I'm so sorry this is so late, I'm only now able to sit down and go through asks after moving. So my main issue with huntlow is honestly I just don't see it. Hunter has never had friends before and he is only just now unlearning everything he's been taught by belos. I think the scenes that people point to huntlow, are mostly just him adjusting to having friends and being loved platonically. I can maybe see him having a crush on Willow, but I don't think Willow likes him back.

My second issue with huntlow is that I don't think Hunter is ready for a relationship where he's at right now. Like I said before, he's only just now experiencing having friends. He has some messed up views about relationships and love and connections, so I don't think he could be in a healthy relationship. His self esteem is also really low and he needs to become more confident with himself and his abilities. He needs some space to learn what healthy relationships are like and how to be a good friend before he can be a good partner.

My third issue with huntlow is I don't like how the fandom depicts Willow's character with Hunter. They seem to see her as a sort of therapist or caregiver figure for him, and that's not a healthy relationship dynamic at all. Obviously, it's normal and fine for your partner to give you emotional support, especially in their situation, BUT it's unhealthy to put your partner in a therapist role. (this ties in w my second issue)

And as for Hunter himself, I don't particularly dislike him, but he's definitely not my favorite, and this fandom seems to worship him. I don't like how mean he was to Luz, how manipulative he was towards Amity in eclipse lake (literally targeting her insecurities and projecting his own onto her to get what he wanted), and how the fandom seemed to push other characters aside (WILLOW AND GUS) as soon as he came along. There's barely any solo Willow content outside of her ship with Hunter and Gus is so underappreciated. I get why he acts the way he does, I really do, and I sympathize with him, but it's a REASON, not an EXCUSE. I like him a little bit better in later episodes, but I still just don't get why everyone loves him so much.

[accioecho]

Lee Da Hee for GQ Korea

"Everything becomes memories in the end. You should always strive to have a positive energy."

Feel free to share this translated interview! Though I would appreciate if you could credit me by linking back to this blog or tagging me on Twitter ^_^

GQ: But... uh, why do you look so happy? You’re looking at me with such a happy expression that I don’t know what to do right now.

LDH: Hahaha. No but if I kept listening with a blank expression, I would come off as cold looking. And you would go: “Are you in a bad mood?” So I try to smile more. Otherwise I would come off as cold looking.

GQ: That’s quite a big difference. I got startled when you pulled a straight face.

LDH: Right, it looks like I’m angry. But I’m not, so this is why I try to smile more. If I don’t smile like this, people tend to think I’m cranky. Of course when I get angry, I have a temper, but I’m not usually like that.

LDH: And it goes both ways, it’s easier for me to open up to someone if that person is smiling instead of sporting an expressionless face.

GQ: You were laughing/smiling so brightly that I was kind of hypnotized.

LDH: Hahaha

GQ: When you appeared in the drama “Beauty Inside”, you weren’t the typical villain wearing a red lipstick but were the kind of villain to wear a new, nude shade.

LDH: Ohh, that’s a very nice way to put it.

GQ: Really?

LDH: A nude tone villain. This is the first time I’m hearing this expression, I like it. Yes, up until then, secondary female characters usually tried to win someone’s heart or because they lacked attention and love, they tended to bother the female lead. But “Beauty Inside” was different. It was a different kind of role. I played a villain but my character wasn’t hateful. She had her own convictions and that’s why she was so interesting.    

GQ: Kang Sara was that kind of character, played by Lee Da Hee.

LDH: This is why I didn’t want to play the typical secondary character, the typical second female lead. Yes she was given a fancy background but I also wanted to try something new, something different. Not something that could be shown through strong makeup, I wanted to add a layer of depth to her style.

GQ: I think we could feel the difference hence why it was so interesting. It was obvious that you studied this role a lot and this perfected style has stuck to you, the actress.

LDH: Well, first of all, I find it fun to radically search for something new. In a way that doesn’t stand out too much, while still being faithful to the character, I try to bring out the best of what I can do. Back when I was younger, I had no clue about all that so I just did what I was told to do. As I matured, I discovered what were my weaknesses, what to cover/hide etc. For example, you might think that I’m skinny, and that all my clothes fit me well. But I have a big bone structure so clothes don’t fit all that easily. But because I know this about me, I’m able to adapt,  know how to find the right clothes to try to keep looking pretty. Thanks to the GQ photoshoot, I got to try out this colorful mascara for the first time. And it’s so much fun. As I experience new things one by one, I’m able to see what’s right for me and what’s not.

GQ: It might be insensitive/rude to say this to an actress who has a career spanning 20 years, but I feel like the name Lee Da Hee has become clearer to me since “Beauty Inside”.

LDH: No it’s not insensitive. I’m really thankful that you remember me from that role. No matter how recent the drama is, the point is that you remember me because I left you a good impression. I really appreciate it. To be honest, a lot of people remember me from my role in Beauty Inside. People actually think I didn’t play in many projects before that.

GQ: But you did consistently star in various projects.

LDH: Yes, but I guess they weren’t memorable roles. I don’t think I played characters that stayed in people’s minds. Beyond the character and the role in itself. A drama can be loved by a lot of people, but beyond that, when I watch a show as a viewer, there are some actors that leave a deep impression in the way they play their characters. I wonder if I lacked that kind of aspect. I kept thinking to myself that maybe there was something missing in my acting that didn’t leave a memorable impression.

GQ: You left quite a strong impression after playing roles like Kang Sara in Beauty Inside and Cha Hyeon in Search: WWW. But more recently in LUCA: the beginning, I feel like you shed that strong image. If you found a type of role that fit you, you could have just kept on playing the same kind of characters, but it looks like you’re not afraid to radically change your image.

LDH: You’re right, I wanted to do something different. I wanted to show a different side, something that differed from the bright roles I usually played. After Beauty Inside and Search: www, I was afraid of being type casted. I didn’t want people to think I always played the same kind of roles. But I think I was was too confident when I chose to play in LUCA. I thought I could do anything.

GQ: You thought you could do anything but it didn’t turn out this way?

LDH: Even my mom thought the same thing. That it wasn’t a really good fit. In a few words, she thought my acting felt a bit forced. Hahaha. That it didn’t really flow well. The main takeaway is that I tried something different. If it turns out to be a good fit, then it’s good and if it doesn’t, it means I can just find something that does.    

GQ: Your mother sounds like the type of person who doesn’t mince her words.

LDH: My mom is very level headed. Just by looking at my back, she can tell if I was focused or thinking about something else. I spent a lot of time with my mom, even more so than with friends, and I also cried a lot in front of her. If I ask her “Mom, what’s wrong with me”, she’ll tell me not to think these kind of thoughts, that whatever I’m thinking is not true. We had a lot of moments like that.

GQ: You looked so cheerful today that I didn’t think you could also have rough times.

LDH: Why wouldn’t I? I went through times of depression when I would think, “Am I charismatic enough?”, “Do I lack something as an actress?”. There were times when my self-esteem was very low.

Since I’m tall, I used to have Directors who always said “you don’t match, you don’t match” (with fellow actors). Since I couldn’t do anything about my height, I thought that I could at least work on my body, make myself smaller. So I worked really hard on my diet. I used to eat rice cake soup that my mom used to make using beef broth, once every day. My mom followed along and did the diets with me. Every time. You can guess what kind of mom she is, right? I used to say: “Mom, should we at least drink soju since we only had one meal today?” And we’d share a bottle.

GQ: Hahaha, I see that you don’t hide your positive energy.

LDH: Everything becomes memories in the end. You should always strive to have a positive energy. And try not to think negatively. This way, you can find more motivation when an opportunity comes along, and this is also how more opportunities come up. I know that if I don’t love myself, I’ll end up being depressed and have a low self-esteem. So starting with myself, I also try to be nice to everyone, to compliment them. Let’s not be hurtful, and let’s try not to say mean things. I try to tell myself I’m a good person, and I project that to others as well. Let’s be nice to each other. Let’s be someone that gives off a good energy.

GQ: Why did you hurt your knee?

LDH: Ah, this? (Points to her left knee). I rode one of those electric scooters and fell as I tried to avoid an electric pole.

GQ: It must have hurt a lot if you fell while riding it.

LDH: I’m okay now. It was a bit concerning at first, but I’m just glad I didn’t hurt my face. It’s too bad I fell while riding it for the first time, but I wanted to try it so I learned my lesson now. I don’t even look at the scooters now. I know they’re too dangerous for me.

GQ: You made a very decisive conclusion based on your experience.

LDH: Yes, I should never try to ride a scooter again.

GQ: I also see a scar on your neck. Do you fall often?

LDH: Hahaha. No, I was washing a necklace. It’s a necklace made with my grandmother’s ring but the edge is a bit sharp. I got scratched while washing it a bit hastily.

GQ: Did you grow up under your grandmother’s care?

LDH: No I didn’t... actually both of my grandparents died in a car accident. They were so healthy so I thought they would live for a long time, but they suddenly passed away. When I didn’t work for a while, they used to say “When are you going to make money”, or “how long are you planning to live like that, without earning any money for your mom and dad”. It hurt me sometimes. But whenever I appeared on tv, they were the first ones to watch, and they always asked me when I would be on TV, on which channel... and when the time came, they always made sure to turn the tv on and watch my shows, and whenever we met, they told me they were proud of me, holding my hands and hugging me. I always think about these times. I miss them. Very much.

GQ: This is very moving. I believe these emotions and feelings make who you are.

LDH: I might sound like a crazy person, hahahah, but I have a picture of my grandma and grandpa next to my bed, and I always speak to them: “Grandma, I’m back”. If I’m upset about something, I say “Grandma, this thing just happened and this is so hard. I miss you.” - that’s how I cope and move on. This is how I try my best everyday. It makes me focus on what’s important. My family, tomorrow (the future) and all the things I love.

[hope-grace-serenity]

Hello! I just found your blog and I love your meta about Faith (honestly I just missed that no one really talks about her). Considering that though, I have a question - what do you think her relationship with John and Jacob is like? I often see people headcannoning her as being John's bestie and honestly, the idea never sat right with me. And on the contrary, I think Jacob cared about her more than people usually presume. So I was curious about your take. :D

Hi! :) I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my posts! The question you asked is so interesting because there’s barely any information in the game about the dynamics of the heralds. There are a lot of different ways to interpret or headcanon their relationships, and I think other takes besides my own are equally valid and can be fun to read about. 

As for my personal viewpoint, I headcanon John as having--or had in the past--some kind of one-sided rivalry towards Faith (Rachel). She’s described by NPC’s as being Joseph’s favorite, and another NPC says that Joseph gives Faith whatever she wants. John, on the other hand, is said to be someone who never had Joseph’s full confidence, and we see how distraught he is when Joseph chastises him for giving into his more violent impulses during the baptism. I think seeing Joseph be so full of affection towards this outsider and “adopting” her into the family would make John see red. The fact that Rachel, unlike the past Faiths, makes herself valuable due to her use and production of the Bliss, as well as her talent for manipulation and knowing how to play the game, is something that aggravates him even more, because he knows she’s not going away anytime soon. He knows how Joseph views her and isn’t stupid enough to take action against her directly, so I think any kind of conflict would be more passive-aggressive, like  trying to constantly one-up her. An example of this “competition” can be seen when he tries to paint himself as being a better herald than she is because he believes he treats his underlings better than she treats her angels.

HOWEVER, there is something from the game that makes me feel like there might be another layer to the John-Faith dynamic besides rivalry. Two different NPC’s both express that Faith is going to be angry that John was killed. If he was constantly being antagonistic towards her, then she wouldn’t be that upset if he died, right? So my personal belief is that, after 7 years, the two developed some kind of understanding with each other, to the point where they might be considered friends, even though I feel there’s always going to be an underlying jealousy from John’s end.  Faith is very quick to pick up on what people are thinking/feeling, and I could see Faith being the one to initially extend an olive branch to John  (either out of genuine sympathy and/or more strategic purposes). I don’t think John would be emotionally mature enough to take it at first, but as the years go on I could see him developing a grudging acceptance and respect for her and her abilities. John can be pretty passive-aggressive and petty, but so can she, and I genuinely think he would meet his match with Faith and would quickly see that he couldn’t “win” this one, which would cause him to adapt (just like how he needed to adapt to different situations in the past). The fact that she lasted 7 years with the group is quite telling, and they *do* have a lot in common that they could relate to and talk about. I could see them both trying to figure things out about the other as a way to get an advantage in their weird competition, and unwillingly end up growing closer as a result. Joseph’s presence and influence over both of them would always be the biggest stumbling block and prevent them from having a normal relationship, but I think that by FC5 they’re about as close as they can be, all things considered.

As for Jacob, I think Faith would initially have a much harder time getting a read on him, which would make her cautious at first. I also think Jacob would purposely keep her at arm’s length, especially in the beginning, because of the replaceable, disposable nature of her role. I think he feels the whole “Faith” position and her title as a “sister” is one big farce and somewhat insulting to the brothers’ history and all they went through, but puts up with it purely out of a desire to make Joseph happy. As with John though, I think Faith grows on him as the years go on. While he might first only view her in terms of what she can offer to the Project, he eventually sees that she has a strength and ingenuity to her. This strength is what keeps her in the Faith role for so long, and Jacob respects strength. I feel like their personalities would mesh well and they would be cordial to one another without the strings that Faith’s relationship with the other brothers might have.  I also headcanon that Jacob acted as some kind of mentor figure, even unknowingly, because Faith takes some cues from him in her approach as a herald. I know it’s been discussed on this site before, but both of them focus on breaking down or warping the minds of others--the key difference is that Jacob’s approach is intimidating yet upfront while Faith’s is soothing yet duplicitous. Good cop/bad cop, in a way. 

I do think that Jacob purposely tries to close himself off to a certain degree in order to not get emotionally invested, because as a soldier he always prepares for the worst and would not want to be emotionally compromised in his mission. After Faith dies, one of the NPCs says that Jacob would “happily sacrifice everyone and everything to feed Joseph’s collapse. He doesn’t care about Faith.” Ultimately, his brothers and their mission will always be Jacob’s number one priority. He might like and respect Faith on an individual level and value her more than random canon fodder cultists, but in the end, she’s still an outsider, and if her death is needed in order to achieve that mission, then so be it. It might sound callous to us, but Jacob has an extremely pragmatic worldview, and this reason is specifically why he tries not to get emotionally attached to anyone besides his brothers. It doesn’t mean that he dislikes Faith, it just means that he views her as more expendable to him than his blood relatives, and wants to keep it that way because feeling otherwise would lead to a conflict of interest. 

But those are just my two cents! I know different people have different opinions, and other takes are totally valid as well, especially since there’s so little to go on in the actual game. Part of the fun is seeing all the different ways the characters get interpreted.

[spectrumed]

8. book

I decided to start writing a book. A novel, it’s going to be fiction. It’s a big project. I dread big projects. I don’t feel as if I am ever able to complete them. It’s going to be left unfinished, why do I even bother? So many projects that I’ve started and never finished. I get an idea, then I can’t make myself do the actual work to make it a reality. Why do I think I can write a book when I can barely read books without becoming distracted and doing something else instead? I give up too easily. But, then again, do I really have it in me to produce something that is good? That people would want to read? Insecurity creeps in, telling me that I will fail. I fear failure. Of course I do, who doesn’t? Whenever people say that their greatest fear is failure, all I wonder is who out there is not afraid of failure? Is there someone out there with so much confidence that they absolutely do not in any way fear failure? Even narcissists technically fear failure, it is what leads them to such ridiculous overcompensation, putting on the facade of bravado to mask their actual dire sense of insecurity. Do not fall for the scams, no person is truly without self-doubt. (Well, I guess maybe psychopaths, but there’s a whole lot of things amiss with them.)

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve entertained myself by coming up with stories, fictional universes that I would populate with characters of my own invention. When I was a kid, what I really wanted was to become a comic book writer and artist. Well, in between other gigs I imagined would suit me, including at one point wanting to be a “singing farmer,” as I put it. Still, I’ve always returned to fiction and storytelling. There’s something about creating a world that lets you so fully distract yourself from all the stressful daily hullabaloo that goes on around you. Escapism, it’s fun, it’s therapeutic, I think. There’s a reason why humans have been telling each other stories for millennia, since even before we lived in houses. Back when we were all huddled around the fire, wearing our best comfortable animal furs, sharing tales of the hunt. Your uncle who once took part in killing a mammoth, the impressive beast nearly gorging him with its big tusks. How clever he was when he noticed that the mammoth had one leg weaker than the others, and used that to his advantage. How the entire hunting party banded together to bring the behemoth down, getting all that meat to feed their families with for months! Stories make you feel good. Like as if you have something to celebrate, even when you might be starving due to the more recent hunts not having gone as well. Damn that saber-tooth tiger that killed your uncle…

Storytelling is linked to acting. Both with acting and with storytelling you have to commit. Whatever you are doing, whatever role you are performing, you have to sell it. You may be on stage talking about that time you went scuba diving with your future wife, and how you encountered an oyster with the most magnificent pearl inside, and how you made a ring for the pearl and used it when you proposed to her. You have to sell it. You have to get the audience laughing, gasping, crying, going “aww,” feeling as if they were there with you that day. Of course, they don’t know it is all just lies. You made it up. It’s all fiction. But you committed, so they won’t ever know. Storytelling is a gift to others, people will appreciate you if you tell good stories, but you’re also kinda deviant. Even if it’s technically based on a true story, you’ve certainly added your embellishments. You’re a trickster, a devious individual. No wonder actors have historically been seen as dubious folks. They come into town, romances all the young women and men, telling them big tales of their lives on the road, and they can’t possibly know if you are telling the truth or not. You may just be lying. You probably are lying. Let’s be honest, you’ve probably not told a single true thing in your life.

I am bad at the hustle. No, I can talk quite well, and I can keep people’s attention for a long while. But I can’t be a huckster. Going out there, putting myself on the line hoping people will swallow my bullshit. I can’t really avoid speaking from my heart when I do speak. Or when I write, as I happen to be doing now. This blog has so far been thoroughly candid in places, in such a way I may come across like I’m at a confessional. Not that I have much evil to confess, but I can’t help but be transparent. I can’t flip into different kinds of personalities, each with its own schemes and plots, being some master manipulator, someone who you can never figure out what they're truly up to, or what they truly want. No, what I am is clearly written on my face. I’ve got one self, and it is the one before you. He’s hairy, and tall, and a bit of a dork. I am happy to talk to you, to engage with you, but I won’t be anyone but myself. I am me. I hope that’ll do.

Of course you are familiar with all those pick-up artists that plagues the internet. Or well, not just the internet. Go into any old-fashioned bookstore (where they store books on paper, not in digital code,) and you are bound to find some sleazy book written by a sleazy guy about how to sleazily seduce women. Those books don’t want you acting like me. According to them, seduction is all about manipulation. To figure out the very right thing to say to get women to fawn all over you. They don’t want you to be sincere, telling the truth as you see it. Nah, you gotta keep that stuff bottled up, deep down inside your soul, because most likely, your true self is ugly. It’s interesting how you can get little details from these pick-up artists depending on the sort of things they say, the tips they provide. The fact that all of them seem to harbour this festering misogyny is no big surprise, but every so often, you get these little glimpses of these people’s true worldview, one where power is everything, true love is a fallacy, and happiness is a lie manufactured by Hollywood to make us all into docile consumers. No wonder the “red-pill” so often leads to people taking the “black-pill.” First hucksters will lure you in, telling you that they’ve got the secret as to how to be a success, then when they’ve got you isolated, they reveal to you how truly misanthropic and bleak their actual beliefs are.

I am fascinated with cults, for much of the same reason why I am fascinated with storytelling. What is a cult leader if not just a great storyteller? They’re something like the modern day shaman, capable of spellbinding people with their weird idiosyncratic way of speaking. High-functioning people with autism are often said to have an idiosyncratic way of speaking. No, I am not suggesting that cult leaders are all somewhere on the spectrum, though it wouldn’t surprise me if some famous cult leaders did turn out to have been on the spectrum. However, for an autistic person to become a cult leader, I think they would have to be a true believer, and not some fraud just looking to scam others. Ultimately, no autistic person would want to surround themselves with people unless they truly do believe it is essential, to like, save mankind from damnation or something. It’s the difference between sincerity and insincerity. It is difficult for autistic people to be insincere, as insincerity requires a lot of social skills that autistic people struggle with. Having to juggle all these balls in the air, making sure you keep the big lie going, that you remember to change your behaviour depending on who you are speaking to in order to keep them from figuring out that you’re a bullshitter. Hollow people are great at being insincere. People like L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the highly profitable cult that is Scientology, was at his core a hollow individual. He had no problems twisting the minds of the people around him, because he never felt a need to be sincere. If an autistic person were to become a cult leader, I can guarantee you that it wouldn’t be a profitable cult. Nah, autistic people aren’t in it for the money, we’re all about keeping it real.

Being a sincere person, surely I should be able to write a novel and make it feel earnest. Like it was delivered with passion, because I wouldn’t be able to write anything that wasn’t true to myself. Well, I do hope so. Having something I’ve made be referred to as genuine is something I see as a great compliment. I’m a student of art history, I’ve made some “serious” art before, I know how terrible art can be when it is not delivered with good faith. Sure, some art is cynical, or ironic, but even then, it tends to come from a real place. Good artists, even when they’re fully armed with the dada mindset, must believe in what they are doing. Whether they are doing it for a laugh or not, that’s irrelevant. Even if all you wish is to be silly and make something that is comical, you have to believe in what you are creating. Or else people won’t bother engaging with it. Why look at a painting by someone who is just interested in making money? Insincere artists do exist, and they can end up becoming quite successful, but ultimately, history won’t be kind to them. Damien Hirst comes to mind, heard he's into NFTs now.

Sure, I don’t like insincere people. Does that make me a bigot? Like, it’s not as if they can help themselves. It’s just who they are, spineless maggots with no soul. It doesn’t mean we have to hate them. No, no, no... I am just generalising. Don’t go thinking there’s just two kinds of people in the world, the sincere and the insincere. It’s not a binary. Most people are both, just like with introverts and extroverts, humans are complex. But there are definitely those that decide to feed into their insincere side, realising that it is often the key to success. Through insincerity, you learn to let go of self-doubt, you stop worrying so much about what others think of you, because you are never truly yourself. If they hate you, then so what? They don’t actually hate you, they just hate a role that you are playing. So what if you seduced that woman, made her feel as if you were the perfect match, then you ghosted her and completely forgot about her? It’s her fault for falling for your tricks. You were clearly just playing the game, being a super-seducer, she should have known better. By embracing insincerity, it’s like gaining a superpower. No longer do you have to care about the impact you have on others, no longer do you have to worry about what it means to be a social human being making choices that affect the others around you. Because you’re not the person they think you are. Actually, you’re not quite sure you’re the person you think you are… Who are you?

I’ve got the plot all laid out in my head for the novel. It’s going to be based in the fantasy world that I’ve been working on for the last few years. I’ve been working on this world for almost half a decade now, come to think of it. Why do I keep feeling as if I am never able to keep to a project, when I’ve clearly been working on a massive project all this time? Sure, it’s all just in my head, but it’s not as if most people have the kind of patience to keep going back to a single big project, even if it is just in their head. Not once, while thinking about my fantasy world have I been distracted and started thinking about cute puppies, instead. And you know how difficult that is. Maybe I am too hard on myself. Maybe I will finish this book, and maybe people will want to read it. Maybe it will even get a minimal number of angry reviews, like, I may get a book published without some folks trying to harass me into committing suicide for daring to think I can write. Some people may even be enthusiastic, blowing up my ego with great praise. Maybe someone will come along and tell me that they want to buy the rights to make my book into a movie or a television series. Maybe I will get rich? Maybe I will get famous! Woo! Success here I come!

Well, no, here I go being insincere. That’s not what it’s about. I should be writing this book because I want to write it. Because I want to prove to myself that I am able to write it. Sure, it’s not as if there’s not a little brain goblin inside my mind whispering sweet nothings about how one day I might turn out a real respected author. One with real fans that gets to do big book tours talking about how brilliant I am, how brilliant my work is, and how brilliant things are going for me. I am not going to pretend I don’t have the same aspirations for success that others have. Inside of me you will find the same greedy piglet of an ego hungry for more adoration and more validation that you will find in any person. Humans don’t know when to quit, we always want more. But I am at least safe knowing that I will never debase myself, descending to the same depths as those inhabited by soulless grifters who go through life abusing the trust of others in order to get by. I’m sincere, in the end. I always turn out sincere, in the end. I am a good boy.

And I am also really sexy. I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before on this blog, but I am really, REALLY, sexy. Like, you wouldn’t believe it. Oh, I am so hot. And if you follow and subscribe and hit that bell, I will teach you how you can be just as sexy as I am! And buy my book! And my merch! And my new single! And of course, my new cryptocurrency, by the name of “autism-coin.” It’s going to be a real success on 4chan, let me tell ya!

[the-himawari]

A3! Magazine Interview Translation - PASH September 2020 (1/2) [from MANKAI Company]

On behalf of MANKAI Company and GODza, we will directly hit up the 4 who graced the cover of this month’s issue! Stories looking back on the Act-off, and talks about their private lives these days are included ❤

*Please read disclaimer on blog

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Nanao Taichi

Profile: Age 18. Autumn Troupe member. Went through experience as a child actor, was active in another theatre troupe, and after joins MANKAI company. His characteristic bright and sprightly aura is his unique weapon within the Autumn troupe. The first work he had a leading role in was the Autumn troupe’s 5th performance, “Fire up, Mantou Fist!”. In Autumn troupe and Winter troupe’s mixed play, “Stray Devil Blues”, he displays his presence as the second lead role.

  Q. Through “Stray Devil Blues” which was unveiled at the Act-off the other day, what type of new weapons or proud strengths of “Actor Nanao Taichi” did you discover?

A. It’s still too soon to say this is a “weapon”, but wouldn’t it be my delicate acting? I feel like I’ve gotten a little more skilled at acting with things like facial expressions and minute gestures! Up until now, I’ve been using my entire body and expressing my emotions rather largely, but this time I wanted to express quite a realistic human who is much like the root of “Nanao Taichi”. It was lucky that I got to co-star with Tsumugi-san who’s the best role model for that.

Q. What are the charms of the lead Tsukioka Tsumugi-san that you discovered through co-starring together?

A. Ummm, it’s hard to put into words but… I guess it’s his “reassurance”. I feel a sense of security both as I’m at ease when we’re together, and also since he’s a dependable acting partner. And even now, he teaches me how to study and he helps me when I have troubles; he’s always been like a super reliable older brother, but I felt that even more this time as we were co-starring!

Q. Please tell us what Nanao-san has been into these days!

A. Eating my school cafeteria’s daily special sweets! All of them are cheap and tasty, but my favourite right now is the “pineapple panna cotta”~. But this project unfortunately seems like it’ll only go on for a limited time… It’ll be too bad when it’s over, but I can eat Omi-kun’s tasty sweets at the dorm so it’s alright!

Q. Regarding “contracts”, which is the keyword of your stage, who in MANKAI Company would Nanao-san bind a contract with…!?

A. Actually, I recently got my long-awaited driver’s license but now that I have it, as expected, I want my own car… So that’s why I want to make a contract with Guy-san and work part-time at his shop! If it’s possible, for 4 hours a day, 3 times a week—ah, this kind of contract is a contract, but it’s an employment contract…!

Tsukioka Tsumugi

Profile: Age 26. Winter troupe leader. Has been devoted to theatre since his school days, and also has lengthy experience within theatre troupes. Skilled at delicate expressions. The first work he had a leading role in with MANKAI Company’s Winter troupe was their flagship performance, “Sympathy for The Angel”. As the lead for “Stray Devil Blues”, he played a role whose impression different greatly from any he had done up until now.

Q. Through “Stray Devil Blues” which was unveiled at the Act-off the other day, what type of new weapons or proud strengths of “Actor Tsukioka Tsumugi” did you discover?

A. Wouldn’t it simply be “confidence”? After all, to have been able to gain a significant win over GODza gave me significant confidence as an actor too. Though I was able to win during our flagship performance as well, what I gained this time is just as extraordinary as what I had acquired with everyone in the Winter troupe and MANKAI Company.

Q. What are the charms of the co-lead Nanao Taichi-san that you discovered through co-starring together?

A. Taichi-kun is a natural mood-maker who always changes the atmosphere in a positive direction. The times when Tasuku and I got too heated over the play, when everyone’s acting didn’t mesh well, or when they reached their limits… The one who shifted the atmosphere was Taichi-kun. It was so impressive that Guy-san said “Nanao is like an air purifier”.

Q. Please tell us what Tsukioka-san has been into these days!

A. I started a vegetable garden recently. A fruit sandwich that I ate at a café was so tasty that I suddenly thought, “maybe I should try growing fruits too”, and that’s how I came up with it. Right now, I’m raising strawberries and blueberries, but next time I’m thinking I’ll challenge growing some potatoes and onions as requested by Director, and edamame as requested by the adults who like alcohol.

Q. Regarding “contracts”, which is the keyword of your stage, who in MANKAI Company would Tsukioka-san bind a contract with…!?

A. Actually there’s something I’ve been after ever since I heard Masumi-kun will attend my alma mater University… During my school days, the rolled omlette sold at the co-op store was really tasty, and even now I crave it occasionally. So that’s why I want to make a contract with Masumi-kun and have him buy it for me on a regular basis, or something. However, I can’t think of what compensation I’ll give in return. I’ll try consulting Masumi-kun about that.

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| GODza