#the curse of being both an artist and a writer is that I never have enough time or energy to do both

[fivveweeks]

can I ask how do you visualise Ringo like? Is it spoilers if I ask you to sketch it? You don’t have to sketch anything if you don’t want to, I’m just asking out of curiousity. Okay bye I love ur works

it’s actually kinda funny bc I have so many sketches and concepts of Ringo but I’m just holding them back bc I wanted to release them together with the next chapter so you’ll have to wait for it HAHA

[sunboki]

⎯ CHRISTMAS BLUES a Hwang Hyunjin fiction

🎄 : Hwang Hyunjin x implied! fem. reader

TROPE. enemies to lovers, exes to lovers, reader is a writer, one bed au, forced proximity au, hyunjin is an artist(not mentioned a ton), coincidences

WORD COUNT. 7.3k words ☆ 40 minute read

WARNINGS. cursing, angst galore, mention of sex (non desc.), breakup, hurt feelings, making up, mentions of getting drunk

AUG'S NOTES. this is a stupidly lovestruck hallmark christmas mindset talking, whatever you read below is definitely not me… definitely. anyway, happy holidays to everyone that celebrates! this has been sitting in my drafts for months now, initially planned to be a smau, then a fic!! hope this fic exceeds your expectations, feel free to leave a reblog or comment of your thoughts!

PLAYLIST.

SYNOPSIS. You thought getting a call from Hyunjin was the last thing you needed during the holidays, but when he reminds you of your non-refundable tickets to Paris you had booked seven months prior to your earth-shattering breakup, you realize that his call was the least of your problems.

or alternatively :

Just a week over Christmas with your ex in Paris, what could go wrong?

Every circumstance has a question that goes along with it.

How did I get so lucky? Why did you leave?

As for yours, it’s fairly simple.

Where did we go wrong?

December 18th – Seoul, South Korea.

Holding onto what could’ve been is stupid, you agreed upon that mindset a long time ago. However, the past, Him being the past, lingered around you like the scent of citrus still clinging beneath your fingernails even after washing your hands. Everywhere. He was everywhere. And no matter how hard you tried to erase the memories of what was, they served their memory purpose and disfigured your mind all the same.

And so, you replaced it.

Replaced the hurt, the searing burn, with someone else. Who turned into someone else, and someone else after that till the only thing sufficing any weekly relationship was a no-strings attached notion.

Until you met Seungmin.

He was your vice, the person dragging you out of your self-made hole of false sanctuary and safety. He laid all his flaws on the table, showed himself to you. Seungmin was gentle and kind, he was patient— more patient than anyone else in this world— and loving. Oh so loving.

But behind your undying affection for your boyfriend, he saw something you didn’t. Perhaps in your eyes, perhaps in your soul, bared to him on an onslaught of occasions.

Longing.

He saw longing in your treasured hues, longing for someone that wasn’t him.

Because some scars take longer to fade away, but yours hadn’t even begun to heal. Masked with his many layers of band-aids only to never staunch the cut, the one Hwang Hyunjin left on you.

“Seungmin I’m so sorry—“

“You love him, I know,” He nods his head, a sad, soft smile holding place on his lips.

Tonight was the night he officially talked about it. The unforgivable thought continuing to incessantly plague his mind.

Although, he didn’t regard you sourly for it. That connection you had with Hyunjin was something no other person could return nor deliver, and he had to accept that if he really loved you.

If Seungmin really loved you, he wanted the best for you, even if that meant the best were when you weren’t with him.

You were shocked when he brought up the matter, asked if you really missed him, asked if you still loved him. Yes, you had of course discussed your previous relationship, but never to this extent, never so blatantly.

Though the absolute kindness in both his tone and the way he looked at you, seated at the dinner table, kept you from lying.

It’s not fair. Not fair for Seungmin, your boyfriend, to have to take responsibility for your tormented feelings. But here he is, assuring you nevertheless.

Because he’s known. He knew from the start you weren’t over Hyunjin. Knew that, despite so much ache and anguish he caused, your heart can’t help but beat at his pace, fruitlessly connected.

And he knew in the end things would fall apart just like this, and his spot as a placeholder would fall apart along with it.

That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt though.

“He hurt you, but you love Hwang Hyunjin, I know.” He whispers, fingers tightly twined beneath the table. There’s a sort of hiccuping sound bubbling up from your throat. You stave it down.

“I’m sorry.”

He smiles, smiles when you don’t deny it, reaching forward for your trembling hands to take in his own.

“I want you to be happy, Y/N. I’m not the one you’ll be happy with though.”

A soft squeeze before he rises and curves to where you sit, free-flowing tears threatening to cascade past glossy eyes.

Without hesitation you wrap your arms around him in a hug, chest wracking with unfiltered sobs. Guilty. Guilt is devouring your soul. You don’t deserve Seungmin, nor does he deserve to be hurt so cruelly by someone he loves. But here you are, ruining him.

He’d never admit it, but the pain in his eyes—the ones you’ve stared at countless times—will always remain evident. No amount of smiling or laughing can hide that.

Pulling back while your arms stayed hooked upon his shoulders, you savor the kiss he places on your lips, the ones he delicately pressed to each of your wrists.

Sad. It’s a sad kiss. A kiss that causes your entire body to wilt against him, crashing deeper and deeper into his warmth, his comfort. He’s not false, he’s real. A real, unadulterated love you’re undeserving of.

Guilty.

“If you’re happy,” He breathes, leaning in to land gentle pecks all over your face, forehead connecting with your own. “I’ll be okay.”

December 20th – Seoul, South Korea.

Your room is still exactly as it has been. Pillows faced the same way, sheets still tousled and hanging halfway off the bed. Hell, he hasn’t even touched the blinds — staying open throughout countless nights, your perfume lingering.

Like he was afraid his touch would break apart what he had left of you.

He hopes, swallowing down the remainder of wine in his glass, you’ll be able to look back and laugh at what used to be, find the matter childish and ridiculous.

What you used to be.

Lovers.

Not kids anymore, you taught him once before. You also taught him how deep a love could be. There’d always be a space for you here, just as you left it. Although, he doubts you’d come back. In fact, you’ve probably moved on with your life. Found someone else to fill the space he did.

But maybe, if he keeps the room as it was for long enough, your room; if Hyunjin keeps those tiny paper notes you wrote for him long enough, you would come back.

What a lie.

Wishful thinking takes you far then drops you into festering despair over and over, he’s learned this the hard way.

Starting with a text.

He blinked once, then twice, then three times—picking apart his brain in order to recollect anything, any details whatsoever that could decipher this random message on a Monday morning.

Paris.

Paris?

Paris.

It hits him, evidently.

Immediately clutching his head and simultaneously slapping an aghast hand over his mouth, a sensation recognizable as utmost horror obliterates his soul into pieces, quite literally rocking his world.

Months ago, he remembered.

You’d been stupid, you’d been drunk, and impulsively booked the tickets, laughing off the “no refunds” reminder as if nothing would’ve ever happened.

It did though. And now he’s dealing with the karma in return for that idiotic decision. Soon enough you both will.

Non refundable tickets to Paris, two days from now, together.

What were the chances?

Blindly tapping his password into his phone, he (just as blindly) jams his finger to the first caller he sees, who turns out to be Minho, seeming like both a blessing and a curse in unison.

Never before had Hyunjin so clearly lost his mind and control of his words, but there’s always a first time for everything, right?

“Minho, what the hell am I supposed to do? She hates me and the flight is booked two days from now. This is just.. Fuck!” Hyunjin pours, slamming his hands against the steering wheel, burying his head into the leather as if that would magically make his endless desperation disappear.

He didn’t usually curse, so when he did, whatever had happened was serious. He carried his words elegantly, proficiently.

He'd be the last picked candidate for elegance right about now.

“If I were Chan I would’ve said you should still try talking to her about it, but in my opinion that wouldn’t change a thing. So suck it up Hwang, it can’t be that bad.”

Ah. Remind me why I ever decided to call you hoping for advice.

‘Hwang’ was the name his friend had reserved for him, coming from a long line of tissues in the mouth and other ways Minho would pick fun at the blonde. But he was at least trying to help, somewhat.

How he got himself into this situation is honestly laughable, situation being your nasty breakup and a plane to Paris.

Great. Paris is great, right? Wrong.

Because this stupid, stupid trip to Paris isn’t one he’s going on alone to enjoy the sights and delicacies there, it’s one with you, the girl who ripped his heart in half two months ago. The trip you’d planned while you were still head-over-heels, not hating his guts.

Oh, and your tickets were nonrefundable. Couldn’t forget about that part.

“.. What am I gonna do?”

“Suck it up, duh.”

“And please enlighten me on how the hell I'm supposed to ‘suck it up’ in a plane seat right next to her for thirteen hours and spend every day glued to the hip, your honor.”

The mental picture of Minho’s fraud-innocent face through the line grated his nerves like nothing else. Brows lifted, mouth slightly open. He wanted to punch that imaginary face so badly right now.

"Then follow Chan’s tutorial on making it up to your now-ex. You asked me for my opinion, and you got it. Look, all I’m saying is this is a good chance to get some level ground between you two, even if you still fly back hating each other—"

“I don’t hate her,” Hyunjin quickly quips.

Honestly, truthfully, he doesn’t hate you, he can’t hate you and he doubts he ever will. You were the one responsible for years upon years of the best moments of his life, how could he hate you for that?

Although, by the way you looked at him that night, he doubts your response would be the same.

Minho sighs.

"Even better, you could fly back with her hating you slightly less."

For once the snarky man he was spilling his problems to had provided decent reason, it was terrifying.

From a spectators point of view, his utter fit had to be quite a sight. For the record, witnessing thee calm and collected Hwang Hyunjin go insane in his car wasn’t a sight you’d see on a regular day.

But today wasn’t a regular day. Instead, it was the day he found himself trapped in a loophole of love and war with his ex.

What were the chances?

There’s no book that could wholly describe Hyunjin.

Even as a writer yourself, not even Shakespeare could depict him to the full extent. He’s flawless but so flawed, kind and yet malicious in terms of his brilliantly unfair beauty.

Every day you run into Hwang Hyunjin. The first few times, you called it coincidence, told yourself his meeting happened to be at the same time, maybe he was headed to a neighboring coffee shop.

Well, before those few days turned into every day on your commute.

And when a breakup is as nasty as yours was, it’s not too refreshing constantly seeing your ex on the daily afterward.

Today, Hwang Hyunjin is wearing a tan trench coat that reaches down to his knees. He’s wearing the same tennis shoes as always (except his usual camera is absent from the picture), and his hair is pulled up, soft, sandy strands framing either side of his face. He stands on the other side of the crosswalk, occupied with his phone while you internally ridicule him.

Staring daggers into his frame, the frigidly cold beverage in hand doesn’t aid in warming up chilling temperatures burning your fingertips, signs of winter’s impending approach.

He looks up.

You avert your gaze to your shoes. You can feel his eyes on you; feel them traveling over your body, then to your face, boring into your skull. He’s waiting, watching.

And somehow, you know you’ll eventually have to make eye contact. Because on your normal route, your turn left on Harrison street, then right on Fords. He’s there. Unbelievably, wildly, he’s there.

It’s the one factor in your (almost) perfect life without him that makes things hell.

Back then, you were like clockwork. Not a minute going by without someone being awake. You taking a nap after spending two hours searching synonyms on Thesaurus, Hyunjin just waking up, heading out with his signature Canon camera loosely hung around his neck.

Two perfect oppositions leaving their cluttered love scattered all over a cheap apartment.

For Hyunjin, it was the mug you’d gotten him last christmas labeled in bold font: “ART WHORE”, while yours was an equally degrading “SHE WOULD RATHER FUCK THE MEN IN HER BOOKS” sticker print slapped on the back of your laptop.

Little did you know you’d be desperately scraping the sticker off seven months later, that you’d leave your chapter unfinished since breaking up and that he had likely thrown away that mug.

Or maybe not. Maybe he painted over it, scribbled it out and somehow made it look good. Hyunjin has a way of making anything catastrophic look pretty.

You, on the other hand, are an erupting volcano. One that cries its lava onto the earth and doesn’t leave a pretty photograph. One that froths and rumbles, and destroys things as it goes.

Perfect opposites, exactly.

Now for the real question, the monumental “where did we go wrong” part that served as an explanation.

Three little words.

I love you.

You lied.

Those are big words, big words for somebody. Big words for yourself, words you spoke to Hwang Hyunjin, looped in his apartment, making love on the couch.

Big words he didn’t return.

Big words that kept your heart stilled in your chest, left your lips blue, drowned as you collected your discarded clothes off the floor.

And you left.

You didn’t need the awkward silence, the “let me think about it”, the bullshit they spouted Kissing-Booth-style. You needed him, his reassurance when you were your most vulnerable. His three words that told you your three years together weren’t one sided, not wordlessly confessed through actions though too scared to say aloud – a feared incantation.

Words he never said. Because you did love Hwang Hyunjin, so much it consumed you into his favorite muse, him your inspiration. Then came the doubt. The recollection of your favorite, dearest moments. Was it all a lie?

Those hour-long seconds, tangled on his sofa, kept that incessant anxiety alive.

You thought you found the one when your drunk night didn’t turn into an orgasm you can’t remember, but rather being coaxed into a warm shower despite your complaining about your pants being too tight.

Somehow, you can still feel his tender kisses like a ghost of a presence, littering the skin of your shoulder instead of the sloppy alcohol ridden ones you’d known before, and for once you had woken up beside the person responsible — not to a note saying they had to leave early.

He was the one responsible for teaching you how to paint, propping you in his lap, hand guiding your own while tracing careful strokes on the canvas. It was hardly possible sitting on his stool together, though neither of you noticed (nor cared), too busy savoring the intimacy of the moment.

That was Hyunjin. He was the glass of water placed in front of you after one too many at happy hour. He was the relaxing bath when everything hurt, the shoulder to cry on.

But you were mistaken. He wasn’t the one. Seungmin was the one, the one you had left behind only to chase after a toxic remedy.

In fact, Hyunjin never was the one.

And it fucking hurt remembering that.

December 21st - 22nd – Seoul, South Korea.

The last news you’d anticipated slammed into you like a bus.

Cozied up at your desk, a number pops up on your screen, interrupting the one moment of silence you managed to enjoy. Most people didn’t call during your work hours, except Seungmin, who, for the record, called before work.

The number you’d memorized by heart was not normal either.

Him.

“Before you curse at me,” He begins, and your hand hesitantly hovers over the call button, jaw clenched beyond reason, silence shouting loud. No strength in your bones allowed you to reply. Was it fear, hatred? Both most likely.

Taking the time to continue, his silky tone lulls along the line.

“Do you remember the tickets?”

Hatred seemed the dominant factor.

“What are you talking about?” You rhetorically snap, obviously annoyed albeit confused.

Tickets? It’s been three months, why the hell are tickets the first thing he’s mentioning?

He sighs. “The tickets to Paris. You remember, don't you?”

It takes you a moment, then, aha.

How could you forget? The tip of the iceberg of what two naive, lovestruck idiots thought would be forever. Little did they know everything would slip past their fingertips.

”Well um, did you know they’re non-refundable?”

Huh.

“WHAT?!”

You’d just managed to convince yourself free of Hyunjin, but he simply dragged you further into his labyrinth.

Or so you thought.

You had grown since he broke you (with the help of your better-ex, Seungmin). You evolved better (or so you told yourself). So out of the plentiful lessons you’d learned during your reflection, the factor that stuck with you most was that nobody is there to pick up for you. No matter how much you think they will.

You swore yourself into the belief Hyunjin would mend you, but you lived blind to the truth that he was just as broken as you were, a dog chasing its tail.

And so, you dealt with it.

In ways.

Whether that was incessantly talking to yourself, fanatically checking the date, contacting Felix on the verge of tears for him to laugh and then attempt at consoling your doom, or googling the best ways to run away from your predicament, fate had it out for you.

A disgustingly impertinent, unfairly fair fate.

Packing wasn’t all too stressful, unless you count trying on an entire entourage of outfits descending from dinner to snow-attire, then focusing on simple.

And it really shouldn’t have been so awful getting into your car, nonetheless waking up to realize today was the dreaded day, but it was, and you seriously deserved an award for the amount of times you checked your clock.

Although, you at least expected to have a little bit of time before having to face him again. Talking and interacting, not just drilling holes into his head. Little bit of time as in, a few years at least.

You were wrong.

Not the first time that’s happened.

“Hi Hyunjin.”

Answering his awaiting call with unsteady pitch, your eyes immediately gravitate to the blond-haired man. Taller in stature, leaning against a nearby pillar by your gate, staring directly at you.

Never had it felt so terrifying.

“Hey.”

You hesitate, never breaking eye contact with the man you’re speaking to a few meters away.

“Are we…Are we doing this again?”

He’s solemn. He’s not the same. Different.

“I don’t know. You decide for me.”

Never for a second does your gaze stray to his lips that barely move as he utters the line. Not the same either.

Before, you’d always been mesmerized by his lips. Then he’d notice and tease you prior to delivering the long-awaited kiss, again and again till you were breathless and your head became dizzy.

But this wasn't before; this is now, filled with grudges and sourness.

“You know I can’t make big decisions.”

That isn’t him. Isn’t the Hyunjin who would always provide endless tips and support, opinions unable to be held back without duct tape.

“Because you don’t want to get hurt knowing we chose this?” He whispers, and you tug your bottom lip between your teeth hard enough to bleed.

“Because I want better for us.”

“Y/n,” He sadly laughs, and your name rolling off his tongue sends an ache clawing your chest. It’s humorless, bitter in his throat.

“There is no us, only you and me, remember? So who do you want better for?”

There’s no twinkle in his eyes or his charming smile, it’s dry and painful, like he’d been crying.

You don’t want to think about that.

“Tell me something, okay?” Holding your phone to your ear with an iron grip, you slowly inhale through your nose, sparing a fleeting glance to the floor.

“Anything.”

“If I cry, will you hug me?”

“Do you want that?”

Question after question. He reaches in further, ripping out pieces of your soul with each inquiry. Stupid, sure. But genuine, all the way from the shrouded depths of your mind did you ask.

Of course you want that, want what’s so bad for you. No strength can make you admit it.

He knows the answer.

You hang up the call, fiddling around with your suitcase prior to wheeling the blundering thing over and ensuring you find a comfy spot out of Hyunjin’s sight.

Only five minutes of talking and you already feel as if your body is splintering into little pieces he’ll arrange into the perfect puzzle, ideal and pleasing.

He won’t. Not anymore he won’t.

And in that stead you’ll remain shattered.

What a shame.

Now boarding Group Five. All passengers in Group Five are welcome to board.

The hailing announcement earns a muffled groan through your mask, begrudgingly rising to your feet while directing your attention solely upon the bridge and your tightly held boarding pass. Luckily, Incheon International Airport isn’t half as hectic as you anticipated, but you have a gnawing feeling Paris will have a lot more to say.

Truth be told, you thank every lesson on task focus you once deemed useless as you shuffle among Paris-goers to find your seat.

One that obviously had to be right by Hwang Hyunjin.

“How’s you and Seungmin?” He fixes the length of his headphones, sparing a quick look at you while speaking. You despise how easy he treats this, how easy he’s treating everything at the moment.

Unfortunately, booking this hell-on-earth back when either of you were in your demented fantasy-land meant sitting beside each other also, in assigned seats.

Cupid really needs to give up by now.

You grunt beside him, uttering a hushed, “We broke up.”

Tilting his head, Hyunjin presses his face closer, craning. Close enough that you hold your phone up as a barrier, shrinking away nearer to the window.

“…Who broke up with who?”

Asshole.

Sighing boisterously, you shove in your own earbuds, rolling your eyes. Hyunjin, cocking a brow, dejectedly slouched back. Although he doesn’t ask any more questions, and you successfully get through your first three hours in silence.

Well, prior to the flight attendant strolling by with her cart, mandatorily beckoning orders from each row.

Wheeling her cart over where your seats are, Hyunjin takes a ginger ale and the customary pretzels they hand out. So when she gets to you and you order a Sprite, the man to your right’s head snaps to you, giving you quite an incredulous cock of his brow.

“No ginger ale?”

You wrinkle your nose.

“I don’t like it,” Biting back, you interrupt him upon accepting the canned soft drink, expression bitter and unwavering.

“You always got it when you were with me” or “Wasn’t it your favorite” was what you expected to come out of his mouth, positively obliterating any ounce of peace of mind remaining inside your rattling skull. You weren’t about to sit another seven hours sulking about something your ex said.

The ex you were very much over.

Right.

Your new goal? Avoid genuine conversation for as long as possible, at least on this flight.

So, given the chance to be deep in thought, you came to a conclusion.

You were clockwork, just like before. Except now instead of just equaling the time of day, he was the hour hand and you were the minute hand, always chasing after one another only to briefly touch and start all over again in an endless cycle of time.

Although the rockier the air gets and the more your grip squeezes the armrest does your initial goal falter, finding his considerate gesture asking if you were alright practically impossible to keep from responding to.

Especially when a huge drop has his hand racing atop yours, both too nervous to truly let go.

Just the circumstances, you blame, as if this plane was the sole cause of your slamming heartbeat.

Bullshit.

Four days and this trip was going to be one for the books for a multitude of reasons, that’s for sure.

Let’s just hope you can land first.

December 23nd – Paris, France.

His assuring hold on your hand guiding you through the bustling crowds of visitors and locals storming Charles de Gaulle Airport gives you this disgusting nostalgia, festering in your gut the longer you focus on his dark head of hair in front of you, kind, magnificent almond eyes flickering back to catch sight of you time and time again — like you’d magically sift from his grasp.

It’s a miracle you managed to hit ground in one piece, nevertheless end up with the notorious artist-jerkface named Hyunjin navigating you through an supremely overpopulated airport.

Perhaps it’s the scent of wispy pine or faint cigarette smoke that tinges the atmosphere such a rosy hue, perhaps everyone’s anticipation for the holiday’s. Either way, it certainly doesn’t help fuel your “absolutely NO touchy-feely-ness Hyunjin agenda”.

Well, you had no doubt you’d have to stick to your morals on this trip in the first place, and it’s not like the odds were supposed to work in your favor. Although, a little assistance would‘ve been nice.

Guess you’ll just have to make due.

Lovely.

“Thank you!” You shout, forcing your voice to sound chipper speaking to the Cab Driver (opposing the twenty-two hours of traveling you managed to survive through). Except now, you didn’t know what to do nor what to say standing outside the hotel entrance, especially not when Hwang Hyunjin was going to be biting your ass for the next few days.

Much to your luck though, it seemed he was just as clueless as you, both prioritizing just checking into your room first and foremost.

Thankfully, the sights are a wondrous source of distraction, and you devise a plan to go walking more often than not (and not just to avoid Hyunjin). Each building appears as if it’d been expertly carved from stone, historically aged beige, awnings titled a bottomless array of Grand Seiko and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

To add, huge paneled windows are placed in each room, allowing a breathtaking view of the city as evening dawns. Whether it’s a quaint bakery hitched right below a bookstore or the bell tower seated comfortably in the middle of a square—you could never get bored.

Seems your interest tore you away from an unwelcomed reality until Hyunjin cleared his throat, thick eyebrows raised questionably.

“..We could go ice-skating?” He offers, index pointing to the huge rink a few blocks to the left.

You don’t have to speak for him to know your response, unzipping your suitcase to gather a new change of clothes without a word.

“Look, I know you want nothing to do with me, but I doubt either of us will ever have enough money to come to Paris again, so just, do it for the experience, not for me.”

That’s it.

“For you? You think I’m doing this for you? Are you really that conceited to think I’m still catering to you, Hyunjin? I’ve changed whether you like it or not, and I’m not the girl that’s willing anymore,” You toss your clothing to the side, giving him a downright venomous stare. Loathing. “I’m not yours anymore.”

“In fact,” Spitting poison, you stab your index to his chest, causing him to back up the more you advance forward. “You don’t know shit about me.”

He appears torn. His nose scrunches, and his lips form a squabbled line upon his face, evidently troubled.

Somehow, those actions that normally earned your sympathy only reared your deftly oiled gears more, angrily roaring without fail.

“Because if you did, we wouldn’t be like this.”

Gesturing around, you retreat back a few steps, arms slapping your sides irritably. Meanwhile, the tall man remains silent, attention magnetically directed down at his shoes. And for a swift moment, mere seconds, you feel sorry — apologetic even.

It makes you sick to your stomach.

You exhale. “I’ll go, and not for you. Understood?”

Hyunjin doesn’t reply, biting his cheek as he watches you disappear into another room.

You thank the refreshing scent of peppermint for its momentary relief upon entering the bathroom, practically drenching your face in ice cold water over and over as if it’d clear your head.

For you; you’re doing this for you, nobody else, you remind yourself, prepping a washcloth and your toiletries whilst praying the warm shower water eases your blaring jet-lag.

Yet, you didn’t expect a visitor to suddenly pop in while you were mid-shampoo, and it seemed he didn’t expect it either.

You swore the prolonged eye-contact went on for centuries, absolute terror embracing every aspect of your face through the clear shower door.

“Fuck! Get out!”

Scurrying like a character off a cartoon, Hyunjin manages – through spilling apologies – to blindly ram himself into the door, hands gripping his skull.

Suddenly, he pauses, hesitating.

“Wait but I’ve seen you naked befo–”

“GET OUT!” You scream.

“Okay! Okay.” He hurriedly slips out, leaving you to rethink every decision made with his name involved. A recurring thought at this point.

And with that, you quickly accept that your jet lag isn’t even close to gone and likely won’t be as long as the artist sharing your hotel room is within a six-foot radius.

Oh, and you don’t know shit about ice-skating.

Of course, Hyunjin is a natural on ice. He glides like a snow spirit, freer than ever. Meanwhile, your nails are embedded into your vice of a railing, knees shakily attempting at balancing with little success.

He’s the princess, and you’re the frog. It’s decided. Walking while you crawled, running while you walked. A step ahead that was at some point motivating, now plain humiliating.

The ice rink is jam-packed, citizens and tourists alike savoring the crisp winter, the faded twinkling of lights glittering in the distance.

“C’mon, just one?”

You, clawing the icy edge, confusedly avert your focus to where the voice came from.

It’s Hyunjin, gesturing to his camera while you piece together his request before childishly whining your despair. He lifts his toboggan upward, a few endearing tufts of golden peering out to hang over crescent moon eyes, evidently smiling.

Leave it to this man to test your sanity. How could anybody say no when he looked that cute.

“Fine, one.”

Not like I could run off anyway, you mentally consider, finding the fact your legs are quite literally flailing as a good enough sign to give in.

“Yes!” He chirped happily, hurriedly fiddling with his camera.

Watching him with that kind of expression, you witness your Hyunjin again, fumbling around, so excited about the smallest of things.

It hurts.

“I..” He trails off, voice barely audible whilst winking to see through the lense. “Don’t want to miss a moment of you.”

“What was that?”

The camera flashes, and you wonder if you heard him correctly.

“Oh nothing.” His lips curl into a sheepish grin, easing toward you and unexpectedly prying your hand into his own, involuntarily pulling you along.

Panickedly, you clutch onto any article of clothing available (another goodbye to your no-touchy-feely-ness Hyunjin agenda) similar to the handrails, squeezing your eyes shut while painfully awaiting a harsh slam against rock-hard ice.

A harsh slam that never happens.

You cautiously open an eye.

“One, two, one, two.” He counts steadily, soaring across the ice, unable to contain the huge beam the longer he watches you. Captivating.

You fight the urge to smile, the sensation of wind whipping your hair and his warm, reminiscent touch setting your nerves into a dopamine frenzy, making the routinely frown much harder than need be.

Nevertheless, perhaps staying in Hyunjin’s grasp would’ve been the safer option. Because with confidence comes failure (at least in your book of life), and your knees would’ve definitely appreciated not getting ruined.

“Are you alright?” Hyunjin murmurs, sympathetically regarding your black and blue frame, looking worse for wear, skates in hand.

“Amputation has never sounded more tempting,” Grumbling, you hobble to return your skates, the man tailing behind you choking back his giggle, kindly waiting in case you stumble.

From the way things are going, the probability is high. Except, Hyunjin walks on eggshells, worried you might rip his head off in the case he asked the question sitting tentatively on the tip of his tongue.

Keeping himself contained had never been as unbearable as when with you, constantly having to refrain from wrapping your precious self into his arms, witness those warm, beautiful hues blinking at him like globes.

Five minutes into the walk back and your near-face-plant-turned-catastrophe was his last straw.

“Can I at least carry you?”

Your head snapping back was almost comical, ogling at Hyunjin as if he told you he’d been neutered or something.

Insane. He’s officially gone insane.

So have you, apparently. Because after getting all too familiar with the icy side walk for a fifth time, you give in, stifling your thoughts from erupting out of your skull—feeling like your entire earth was slowing down on its axis when he easily swept you off your feet.

Cute, hell, romantic too, until you arrive back at the hotel and the curious looks sent your way have your cheeks burning.

“This is so embarrassing.” You whine, burying your face in your hands. Of course, Hyunjin just laughs.

You missed his laugh.

And he cares for you that night, transporting you from room to room in his arms despite your complaints you could do so yourself (although you secretly preferred it, and no, not because it was Hyunjin, only because of how bruised your legs were).

Plus, the mental exhaustion was practically debilitating, sleep beckoning you into its cozy embrace as the clock ticked on the wall. The man before you knelt in front of where you sat on the side of the bed, gently applying antiseptic to your cuts while you blanked in and out of consciousness.

Any common sense had completely abandoned you. Certainly, since you hadn’t noticed only one bed sat dead center in the room. Nor had you noticed through your half-asleep eyes how sweetly he maneuvered you around, pulling the comforter snug over your body.

His hand strays, wistfully smoothing some hair from off your eyebrow.

“I’m sorry,” He whispers, gathering spare pillows and blankets.

He’ll sleep on the floor.

December 24th – Paris, France.

Apparently, there was much more to this Paris dilemma than just the “going to Paris” part (excluding, y’know, the havoc that’s occurred over the past three days).

This fantastic surprise came in the form of a booked Louvre Museum date, now a bit more like a punishment with your current state of soreness merely rising up from bed. And, in turn, seeing Hyunjin sawing logs on the floor below, an action you were inaudibly grateful for.

You two are a different kind of romantic if that’s what you want to call it, especially when Hyunjin practically barricades the bathroom door, nonsensically shouting that he won’t make the same mistake of walking in ever again.

Sweet gesture, but it gets a tad bit irritating when you have to basically charge the door in order to move the chair situated behind it, making you doubt if it was to keep Hyunjin himself out or keeping you in instead.

Yeah. Different kind of romantic. Exes kind of romantic.

Once 5pm rolls around, you’re already dressed and ready to leave, trying your darndest to pretend you’re doing something on your phone to evade conversation. A middle school move, though your ego is on the brink of becoming extinct anyway.

Seems the final act is when Hyunjin steps out of the bathroom, wearing that tan trench coat he always did.

He notices you analyzing, stifling a very tempting smirk.

“I thought you’d like this jacket. Y’know, since you stared at it all the time.”

With a sentence you watched your endangered ego obliterate in real time, embarrassment swallowing you whole. The cycle is neverending.

Thankfully, at least one factor in your unsolvable equation proves itself useful, the factor being your already purchased tickets, granting an earlier entrance into what felt to be a new world.

A new world you recognized as Hyunjin’s world. Vast, expansive. A place you can get lost in and be okay with. Stories hidden behind gold-rimmed frames, so much to tell if only you’d listen.

He lingers by the Psyche and Cupid sculpture longer than usual. Briefly, he told you about them many moons ago. Their love awakening from something much more tragic, apocalyptical.

What a coincidence.

You spend what feels to be days in there, daylight from the lengthy windows overhead falling dark by the time you’re finished. The temperature dropped exponentially while you explored, ignorant to the frigid conditions till realizing you still had your trek back.

Curse the taxi service for not running twenty-four hours.

“You grew your hair out.” You comment, but it’s not really a comment, more like an observation you already knew and felt the need to point out for some odd reason. The awkward silence is suffocating enough.

Granted, you’d known his hair had grown. You saw him every day coming to and fro from work, so any adjustments he made you saw, some of which you remember loving oh so much.

This adjustment was his hair.

Hyunjin’s lips quirk ever so slightly, fingers straying up to tousle a strand.

“You used to love it when I grew it out.”

He continues to walk ahead, ignoring how you had stalled behind, numb grip desperately clutching your puffer jacket as if it’d magically allow you inhalations.

“You would tie it up for me, and stick my paintbrushes in the bun.”

This time, he spins around, seemingly unaffected by your (both literally and figuratively) frozen finger that simply blinks at him — robotic-like.

Like Hyunjin is a stranger. Like your Hyunjin, the old one you were mad for, is now a stranger.

“And I,” He sniffs in, his exhale causing a cloud of air to comprise in its stead. “Really wanted to marry you.”

There’s your breaking point.

He’s pulled you thread by thread closer to an unthinkable free fall, a freezing free fall. Unfurling your strings of yarn to no point of repair. So as you teeter on the edge, your defense mechanisms kick in. And before you can logically consider your options, you smack him.

Right. Across. The face.

He’s stunned, you don’t blame him for that, but there’s also a crinkle in his brows, a look of utmost hurt beginning to stain any somber expression left.

“You have no right to say that when you’re the one that caused all of this.” Your volume increases, unaffected by the glances from passerby.

You have no doubt the two of you are quite a scene, though common sense had long abandoned you, and no thought but fiery rage curls around you, tendrils alight.

“Why the hell did you want to marry me if you can’t even love me? Quit hurting and confusing me Hyunjin, I can’t keep doing this.” Practically pleading, he pulls his palm from where it babied his cheek, instead retreating to your wrists, keeping you in front of him.

“Listen.”

“No!” You screech, trying your hardest to escape.

“Listen.”

You pause, gingerly allowing him to adjust the scarf over your pink nose and ensure your gloves trap warmth for your fingers.

He bites his lip, gaze dancing across your features.

“I love you.”

You shakily exhale, wishing everything would just stop. Time would simply diminish into nothing but stillness, easiness.

Your anguish and anger was easy, and staying mad was a whole lot easier than this—confronting the pains of meeting him again, nonetheless this trip.

He’s finding the pieces to your puzzle.

You want to hide.

Worst of all? Especially hearing him say the words that ended you two months prior.

Cruel.

“I loved you,” His voice wavers. “More than anything, Y/n. And I still do. But when you said that, I got scared.”

He shakily inhales, the grip on you lessening a bit.

“Because when I say I love you back, that means I have someone to lose.”

It’s hypocritical, you know.

Hell, you know what it’s like to be a hypocrite more than anything right now. From hearing the godforsaken news to sitting in an airplane together after wholeheartedly promising yourself you’d never let him have you once more.

Yet here you were, dragging him by his collar into a kiss.

He kisses you back, like an idiot, childishly grasping his clothing-cladden frame against your face and savoring the small bit of heat huddled between where your lips meet.

His trench-coat, you remember, despite so many adjustments, is the same as usual, and it’s almost comforting to find he smells the same as well—floral, with hints of jasmine (mainly thanks to his favorite perfume). You remember that too.

Guess some things never change.

Perhaps he kept that mug after all, drank from it every day like he used to.

And perhaps, right now, he’s wishing back all the time you’ve spent apart, just like you are. Wishing you would’ve just talked like mature, capable adults. Figured things out.

Newsflash, you’re not mature adults. You’re two broken lovebirds fighting to find their song after being caged together, searching high and low for the perfect pitch when all you needed was a single note, a single start.

Positioning you where an arm wraps around your back, the other holding your cheek, he dips you as if in a ballroom dance, not kissing beneath a street light.

Everything is pretty in Hyunjin’s presence.

“Hwang Hyunjin,” You whisper, nostrils burning the longer you’re surrounded by snow, falling in hefty sheets at this rate.

He hums into your lips, maneuvering his head to kiss away the chilled tears beginning to froth upon your waterline. And in those moments, you feel so fragile, so weak in his touch.

Almost instinctively, his grip tightens oh so slightly.

“I really don’t want to lose you.”

And he laughs, a muffled laugh that nonetheless causes his shoulders to shake before delving further into your kiss, melting away every bit of anguish you felt, all the hurt and ache. Dissolved into nothingness by his lips.

Figures briefly illuminated by the light of the street lamp, you remain ignorant to the encroaching nightfall, the way the stars seamlessly blend with white snowflakes. Something out of a fairytale.

You’re certain you could’ve stood there forever, all numb and freezing cold.

But in love. So very in love.

For him you would’ve stood there. And the you still in denial without understanding this entire story would’ve died before admitting that.

This time, you’re okay with letting him finish the puzzle, create a song as lovebirds.

“You won’t, I promise,” He traces your cheek with his thumb. “Now let’s get someplace warm, shall we?”

Landing an affectionate peck to your burning red nose, he takes your hand, guiding you through climbing snow toward your hotel, sign reading “Hôtel de Vendôme” glittering in the distance.

In your opinion, however, it was too fleeting. A kiss you hadn’t realized you’d been waiting for until it actually happened, till you pathetically craved it again and again.

Although, that didn’t mean you didn’t enjoy gaining feeling back in your fingers and toes, treasuring the flicker of the fire crackling beneath a brick mantel. A few guests litter the lobby, dishing paper cups of hot chocolate left and right, taking the opportunity the mistletoe hanging above a long forgotten stairwell provides.

Christmas Eve and you’re beside the ex you swore you’d never spend it with, spend any time with generally. So surreal you simply cannot stop thinking about it, enough that you become too distracted to notice the mischievous glint in Hyunjin’s vision.

Well, before he points upward and you notice the dangling mistletoe.

And he kisses you again just like you wanted. Deeper, slower, like separating would cause you to break apart, carving your kiss into his memory for a second time.

Standing there, too lost in him to ever consider anything better than this, you begin to think maybe you’ll be able to finish that stagnant book of yours. Maybe it’ll be about two lovers turned two exes, whose trip to Paris might just have been the cherry on top to hurt feelings and broken love. Because, at the end of their tribulations, Cupid falls in love with Psyche.

And you begin to think—as the clock’s ringing announces midnight has arrived—maybe this Christmas will pass by on a good note.

No, you’re certain of it.

sunboki, may 2022 ©

FIC TAGLIST. @slut4colinbridgerton @armystay89 @shujohajohaminnie @minhosbitterriver @callmedarlingsstuff

[awritingotaku]

The Unspoken Rules of Tumblr

As explained by someone who joined around 2019

Tumblr for all intents and purposes is not like other social media websites. Think the “I’m not like other girls” but they are not like other girls and it’s for the better. Having lurked around different social media platforms for years, I picked up on the spoken and unspoken rules that make this website more bearable than other ones. So here’s a list that will be important to new users.

Block but do not engage. Yes the rule that is understood by much of the user base and I think actually is one of the reasons why fandoms here are actually not that bad. If you remember any rule off this list, make it be this one. Why is this rule so important? Because flame wars often don’t change minds and it just creates a toxic environment. If you find someone that infuriates you, don’t attack them and just block. If they are really bad and pose a threat to people, collect evidence and do a warning post explaining why that person is dangerous but still block them.

Everyone here is a clown, even the famous ones. There is no superiority here. The number of followers you have often connects to how much of a clown you are. Now being a clown here isn’t always bad, many famous ones here make people’s days with their posts, but it’s not a contest here. In fact, fame is often considered a curse and once you have engrained yourself into the collective unconscious, you will mainly be remembered for why you became a famous tumblr clown.

Please hide your likes and follows. Don’t know how that started but it’s a thing here.

Likes do nothing, instead reblog. If it doesn’t fit the theme of your main blog, make a side blog for your reblogs.

Use tags. Tags are key here for both as a blog runner and blog reader. It allows you to quickly sort through things and see what you posted.

You don’t have to censor words like die or sex. We instead have trigger warnings tags that people can specifically block out if they don’t want to see content with stuff like that.

You want to been seen and see cool things, the algorithm is not going to do that for you. Instead you have to actively seek out what tags and blogs to follow to get the content you want. It’s more human and unlike most social media you gotta interact with people. If your feed is negative, it’s likely due to who you follow.

Don’t have a blank blog, the obvious bot usernames, or default profile pics. We are so used to fighting bots that we will auto block because of these. Some bots if you just try to click their username will get you viruses so we are careful.

Never forget the tumblr roots. Superwholock while often thought long dead still has a lasting memory here. It’s the websites heritage. Also add Hannibal and My Little Pony.

There is no cringe here for the most part. X Reader writers are just as valid as the artists here. We are all clowns because we are on this site.

Be kind and remember, people are just as human as you.

This has been you guide to Tumblr! I hope you enjoy this hellsite as much as I have.

[reimenaashelyee]

Clean version here

Not a bingo but a jenga. My responses below the cut

Somehow I have half of this image filled out. I wish I could cash it in for points to redeem.

Jenga:

First comic is a magnum opus: There had been a string of graphic novel adaptations of books I wanted do when I as a young teenager, but The World in Deeper Inspection was my first, substantial, original behemoth of an idea. It was the only one with the power and the potential to stay and push me to become a comics creator. Everything I am and have as an artist and writer is because of TWIDI.

Fan art more popular than OCs: This was going to be inevitable because I hardly ever post about them online. But I suppose if you count my one-off character design illustrations that go viral or my published graphic novels, this box wouldn’t be true… (The God of Arepo is my most popular fan work)

I binged your life’s work in 2 hours: I am glad you like my work enough to be this engrossed in it – but honestly please please reread it again and SLOWLY so you can appreciate the visual storytelling – not just the words and the main action!! You’ll have a fuller experience if you take the time to luxuriate!!

This isn’t even my day job: It both is and isn’t. I do enough from comics that I can survive out of it near full time (thanks to my usual speed; very grateful), but I get financial stability from the monthly paycheck from the actual day job. Relying on my speed to produce near-constant output for money is something I am losing interest in as my ideas become more ambitious and niche.

Subscribe to my Patreon: Somehow I am able to hawk my free-to-read platforms with a certain amount of success but never can get a big dent on my Ko-fi.

Received unsolicited critique on a free comic: Unavoidable reality. Though I hadn’t had something egregious in a long time (and it better stay that way).

Had to explain what a webcomic even is to someone IRL: Nearly all the people I surround myself with are ‘normies’ (people who aren’t so online and/or don’t read online media), so this comes up often – and it will become more frequent as I pursue institutional pathways like residencies and grants. Even if they knew what webcomics were, it would be under the name of webtoons.

I can’t wait to draw this scene in 4 years: lol @ Alexander Comic and TWIDI

Multi-year hiatus: TWIDI’s eternal curse, until I figure out how to build enough stability in my career/life to return to it – full-time and for real.

Financially supported by someone else: My dayjob, mainly, but previously my parents.

Is somehow mutuals with favourite artist: That’s what it’s like as your career progresses and matures! It’s always nice to become peers with those you admire – especially the ones you grow to love only after knowing them.

Characters get gayer over time: Growing up and being able to witness the various ways of living can and will change how one approaches their characters.

Successfully fulfilled a Kickstarter: Not on my own, but I had a few for my books that published smoothly.

Empty space:

ADHD diagnosis: I have ADHD-esque behaviours that I have managed to overcome with ADHD-specific hacks, but whether I actually have the thing itself is a question mark. I lean towards not really having it since I am able to execute and complete tasks regularly.

Works in animation or went to school for it: I used to want to study and work in animation before I discovered the potential of comics as a storytelling medium. I don’t have a desire to break into that industry, even without all the employment and late-capitalism instability that it’s going through right now. I am not averse to trying if asked, however.

Had an art teacher who hated anime: Never went to art school.

Yes I’ve had burnout but what about second burnout: Currently going through a fallow period, but I really don’t think it’s Burnout Burnout. Touch wood, I continue to maintain my love, interest and desire to make comics and stay in my artistic career.

Forgot how to draw main character’s face: Characters are so seared into my brain, it’s not easy to forget. Helps that they each have particular quirks that belong to their design.

This comic gave me my hand/wrist injury: Still out here WITHOUT any of those. I hope I can keep it that way until whenever I retire.

Emergency commissions: Hopefully I will never have to resort to do this. (Very grateful, yes)

Sleep… “schedule”? my 7-8 hours of sleep is essential and non-negotiable.

If it’s not 3 hours long is it even worth adding to the work playlist: This is is referring to video essays I guess? I rarely ever encounter essays of over 3 hours that I am interested enough to watch. (Also I can’t really watch something while drawing; I lose speed/concentration)

Embarrassed to look at early pages: Not embarrassed – I was younger and less-skilled then, that’s just how it is. There were a lot of things younger me did that I could still learn from.

Regrets costume choices: I pride myself in being able to style myself and my characters, and so far I have never regretted the clothes I give my characters – the TWIDI characters all have base outfits from when I was 15!

[kteezy997]

6 Months -Part Five// t.c.

Warnings: cursing, kinda toxic behavior, slightly needy Cam

18+ readers only, please

A/N: it's long but I promise it's worth it. I have taken into consideration readers' suggestions!(:

Cameron got back to her room, showered and prepared for the hair and makeup people to come. There was a knock on her door and she answered, but it was Timothée, not a makeup artist or hairstylist in sight.

He held her long awaited cell phone and laptop in his hands. “Look what just arrived for you.”

She gasped, “Oh my gosh!” she grabbed the devices from him immediately and saw that her phone was fully charged. “Thank you.” she said, looking up at Timothée.

“Don’t thank me. Call your mom, call your friend Nova. They want to hear from you, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, yeah, I miss them.” She said, leaning against the door way. Despite her excitement of getting her things back, she still got lost in his gaze.

“I know you do.” he replied, giving her a grin.

Cameron bit her lip, “Do you wanna come in for a minute?” she held the door open wider.

Timothée took a tiny step toward her, “I want to, but I shouldn’t. I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself if we were to be alone in your room.”

It was then that Cameron noticed the height difference between them, it was perfect. She could kiss him on the jaw if she wanted, and he could rest his chin on the top of her head. How divine, she thought.

“And we don’t have that kind of time, anyway, you have to get ready for tonight.” Timothee pointed out.

She leaned in closer to him, “What if I wanted you to lose control?”

He pursed his lips, blinked slowly, then leaned in. They both drew closer to each other.

Cameron wanted this badly, she wanted his lips on hers, his lips everywhere on her body, if she was being honest with herself.

Their lips just brushed each other's, and- "Hey, sorry we're late!" cried out a high-pitched voice.

Cameron and Timothee broke away and were met with a young, smiling blonde woman in a simple black outfit, and a Latino man, looking wildly flamboyant in a brightly patterned shirt. They were both fabulous.

"Nah, it's okay." Timothee said, he was obviously annoyed that he and Cam were interrupted, but he knew that they needed to be here, and Cam needed to get ready. " You'll be working in Cameron's room, and thanks for coming on such short notice."

"Oh of course, Timmy, thank you. I-um hope we weren't interrupting anything?" the man, obviously the more talkative of the two, looked from Timothee over to Cameron.

"No! Not at all." Cameron smiled and shook hands with both of the new people. "Come in, come in. I'm excited. I've never done this before."

"Oh honey, you're gonna love this!" the man said as they were led into Cameron's room, "I'm Carlos by the way, I'll be doing your hair, and my lovely friend Montana is a rockstar makeup artist." They both started to set up their stations and products in the room.

"Bye Timmy." said Cameron with little wave.

"You called me Timmy." he said, surprised.

She grinned back at him. She was blushing as she closed the door.

"Are y'all going steady?" Carlos asked her, raising his eyebrows and smirking.

She decided to dodge the question and said, "Do you guys mind if I make a phone call?"

"Oh, not at all, babe. You need a minute alone before we start?"

"Um, no we can start, but can I trust you that what is said in this room doesn't leave it."

"Honey, we work in Hollywood, we can be flies on the wall. Nothing will get passed us." Carlos assured her firmly.

"Okay, thank you so much. I need to call my mom." Cam said, sitting in the chair and Carlos went to work on her hair.

She called her mom who was so ecstatic to hear from her. She let her mom know that she had moved in with a new boyfriend and she was enjoying her new job. "You'll have to visit, once I really get settled in." she was proud of the way that she was selling it. Perhaps the writer in her was making her a good actress. She made her characters in books do and say whatever she wanted, so why couldn't she do the same? Though it wasn't that much of a stretch to call Timothee her boyfriend.

After she was all ready, she got in her gown and looked in the mirror, barely recognizing herself, but in a good way. She had never looked nor felt better.

Timmy came into her room, dressed in an all-black suit. His curls were laid in a way that was a little messy but still elegant. "Whoa." he said, taking in the sight of her. He hadn't seen her with lipstick or her hair in a updo much less a sparkling floor-length ballgown. "You look gorgeous, Cam."

"Well thank you, I could say the same thing to you, sir." she said, walking over to him. She put her arms out to hug him, but he took a step back.

"Sorry," he said, "we should really get going." he took her by the hand, leading her out of the house.

She was terribly confused, and embarrassed, why in the hell would he refuse her advances? Why was he acting weird toward her? Did he not like her that much anymore?

......

They arrived at the party and before they got out of the car, he said, "So, you do know that once we get out of this car, we'll be linked together in every news outlet all over the world. Are you good with that?" he gave her hand a little squeeze.

"Yeah, you should know that I'm not totally disgusted by you, Timmy." she grinned.

He smiled with a light chuckle, "Good. I'll get your door." He then stepped out of the car.

Cameron could see cameras flashing outside, she suddenly felt nervous. She could see the headline already: 'Move over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce! Are Oscar-nominated actor Timothee Chalamet and New York Times best-selling author Cameron Reese Hollywood's new star-crossed IT couple?'

The car door opened, and she was met with Timmy's green irises, and she decided in that second that she would just focus on him and not pay any mind to the paps or whoever else was outside the venue.

.............

Though the walk inside was a blur of flashing lights and strangers calling out to them, the party itself was quite vivid. Cameron could make out several iconic faces that she had seen in movies throughout her life. It was truly a room of film industry legends, and Timmy was among them. She felt proud to be next to him, to be the one on his arm.

But he wasn't looking at her, not at all. Why was he becoming distant? And now? Now that she was starting to genuinely like him for who he was and desperately desiring him. It was so confusing.

"I'm gonna go talk to Scorsese and Leo. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Go mingle, I bet people here will know you who you are from your books. Grab yourself a drink. I'll come find you soon." he held her hand, and leaned in.

Cam's heart skipped a beat, he was about to kiss her! She couldn't believe it.

His lips then met her cheek softly. "See ya." he said, turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Disappointed, she stood there for a moment, just people watching, looking over the room. Then over by the bar she spotted a handsome Paul Mescal. She got an idea.

She went to the bar and ordered a drink, then looked at Paul, who had also noticed her.

"Hi, I'm Cameron."

"Hey, Cameron, I'm Paul." his Irish accent is so hot, she thought.

"Look, I know this is weird, and you can say no. But will you help me make my boyfriend jealous?" The bartender brought her drink over and she thanked them kindly before taking a sip as she waited for Paul's answer.

"Oh? Who's the guy not giving a dashing girl like yourself the attention she deserves?" he asked, smiling cheekily.

She looked across the room, nodding at Timmy who was talking to Leonardo DiCaprio.

"No way! Chalamet? I don't know..." Paul laughed, "I don't want him to hate me."

"Oh, he'll know that it's not real." she assured him. "He'll know I'm just wanting his attention."

"Alright, love, I'll do it. I'm an actor, baby, I'm good at this."

She smiled, "Okay, great, just wait until he's looking and- oh! He's looking."

Paul tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and looked at her with the most believable lust in his eyes. He took her hand and kissed the top of it.

Cam took her attention from Paul to momentarily gaze over Timmy's direction. His face was pale and void of the friendliness he was expressing just a moment before. He said something to Leo and started to make his way over to them at the bar.

"Perfect! He's coming over."

"He's not gonna punch me is he?" Paul asked, hopefully.

"No, no, he's not like that." Cam assured him again, "Thank you so much for playing along."

"What the hell's going on Cam?" Timmy demanded as he approached her.

"Nothing Timmy. Just introducing myself to Paul Mescal here."

"Hey Tim." said Paul, politely.

"Hey." Timmy said flatly, giving the other man a nod.

"Sorry I didn't mean any disrespect to you or your lady, mate."

"No, it's all good, man." They shook hands and Paul bid adieu and left the couple to go mingle.

"Are you trying to piss me off?" he said through his teeth.

"Maybe! Timmy you've been weird all day. I have practically thrown myself at you three times today and you did nothing!"

"Cameron, please don't cause a scene." he said, putting a hand on her hip and closing the space between them.

"Well, you had to have me, you keep me prisoner in your house and then when I want you back you turn cold! What the fuck?"

"Hey! Okay, watch what the hell your saying, would ya?" he looked around to make sure no one heard what she had said.

"What's going on Tim? Why didn't you want to introduce me to Leo and Scorsese? Are you ashamed of me or something? Tell me."

"Look, you know I want you more than anything in the world, but I don't want to feel like I'm taking advantage of you. I want you to be completely sure before we do anything that we might regret. And I don't want to introduce you as my girlfriend to anyone without your consent."

"Timmy,"

"Hey, Cameron?" called a male voice.

They looked over, and they both knew who it was.

"Hayden?" It was her ex-boyfriend, well her boyfriend before...Timothee.

"Where have you been?" Hayden looked at Timothee, "You're fucking him? Was this before or after you dumped me by text?!"

Hayden was mad, and from his point of view, she could understand why.

"Hayden, you have no room to accuse me of anything, I know you were cheating on me!"

Hayden frowned, "Cheating? I never cheated on you, Cameron. Is that some bullshit he fed you?"

"But I saw...photos." Cam said looking at Timmy, who in turn had a strange look on his face. She couldn't make out if it was shame or regret, or maybe a mixture of both. "They weren't real?" she asked him in disbelief, and she started to tremble. This man, whom she was falling for, had been lying to her the whole time.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? You're a fuckin freak, man." Hayden insulted Timothee, and rightfully so.

Cameron felt sick to her stomach. "Fuck you, Timothee." she spat in anger.

"Cam, please-" he pleaded. Tears flooded both their eyes.

"No, no! You're nothing but a liar. You cheat and scheme just to get what you want without giving a shit about who you hurt in the process. I never want to see you again!" she yelled with fumes and stormed out of the party.

@gatoenlaciudad @thebetawolfgirl @musicandbooksaremyhappyplace @softhecreator @tchalamss

@chalametbich

[lemonlyman-dotcom]

Weekend WIP Game

Thanks for the tag @welcometololaland 💕

Rules: List your WIPs below (if you only write one fic at a time, feel free to include future WIPs/ideas!) then answer the following questions. Then, tag as many people as you have WIPs (or more). (There are also questions for artists/GIF creators below).

For Writers

1. WIP List:

Ex Fic (tentatively titled “You and Your Sensational Soul”): TK, Carlos & Owen go to see TK’s ex’s band play when his tour rolls through Austin. Set during the fiancé era between seasons 3 & 4.

TK Strand’s Day Off: exactly what it sounds like, it’s going to be a 5+1 five things TK does on his day off, mostly building it around the paddle boarding with Buttercup scene and this line from Call Me If You Get Lost (as requested by @carlos-in-glasses in the comments of that fic): “So far TK plans to sleep in, arms and legs wrapped around Carlos like an octopus in a forced cuddle, hopefully have lots of lazy sex and maybe catch up on the new season of Emily in Paris.”

Tarlos’s Day At The Gym: exactly what it sounds like! Carlos does free weights with some buddies from work, TK takes a barre class and reminisces over the time Carlos took a class with him and just …could not hang. Carlos reminisces over a time he wouldn’t have felt comfortable coming to the gym with his boyfriend and kissing him when they go their separate ways in the locker room. TK sits in the sauna naked and Carlos loses his mind.

West Wing AU: Carlos works in the White House, TK is an embedded war reporter who’s called back to the states and has to fill in at the White House press corps while his colleague is on maternity leave. He thinks reporting on domestic politics is SO BORING, and he complains to Carlos about it loudly. But. They fall in love. There could be a scandal on both sides if it gets out. What will happen? Will TK go back to being embedded? Will he stay in DC for Carlos? Will Carlos follow him off on his next adventure? I DON’T KNOW LET’S FIND OUT!!

9-1-1 emergency fic: that’s all I’ll say

TK & Paul Buddy cop fic

CHRISTMAS FIC!!!

2. Which of your WIPs is currently the longest?

Ex Fic, I think it’s about halfway done

3. Which WIP do you expect will end up the longest?

Probably the West Wing AU

4. Which WIP is your favourite to write/the most enjoyable to write? Why?

I’m only actively working on Ex Fic right now, and that one is really enjoyable because it’s part of my music series. Music is my biggest passion in life and the thing I get the most joy from, so writing about it and sharing aspects of what I love about it with you all is so fun!

5. Which WIP do you find the most intimidating to write? Why?

The West Wing AU!!! I have never written an AU before and I’m scared.

6. Which WIP do you experience the most self-doubt about. Why?

Probably the emergency wip because I have to kind of know what I’m talking about and make it exciting like the show.

7. Which of your WIPs will you seek out a beta/sensitivity reader for? Why?

I typically have all my stories beta read unless they’re 2k or less. I will likely have the West Wing AU sensitivity read depending on where I have TK embedded.

8. Have any of your WIPs been struck by the curse of writer's block?

Yes!! TK Strand’s Day Off! I wrote the paddle boarding scene months ago and I just. It’s not coming to me. But it will!

9. Which WIP has your favourite OC? Tell us about them?

Okay, I think it’s gotta be TK’s ex Felix from Ex Fic. He’s a musician, he’s a producer and a DJ. They didn’t break up for any nefarious reasons, he was an exchange student at NYU’s music program when TK was in the fire academy. They had fun together, but they always knew Felix was going home (to Germany) so. It was sweet but short, and he’s one of TK’s only exes that treated him well. So Carlos can’t even hate him 😂

10. Which WIP is the sexiest?

Well there is a (Lemon style) sexytimes scene in Ex Fic so probably that one atm. However, TK Strand’s Day Off is definitely gonna require some sleepy morning sex, yeah?

11. Which WIP is the angstiest?

Probably West Wing. Maybe the gym fic depending on how heavy I get with Carlos thinking about how he never felt comfortable holding a man’s hand at the gym before. We’ll see!!

12. Which WIP has the best characterisation (in your humble opinion)?

Ex Fic if only because it’s the only one that’s written 😂 I think my Owen characterization is really good tho

13. Which WIP has the best scene setting (in your humble opinion)?

Ex Fic bc it’s the most written

14. Which WIP have you worked the hardest on?

Ex Fic fic for sure

15. Which WIP do you have the highest expectations for? Why?

This is a tough question, I think I always set pretty high expectations for myself and my fics. But I feel really good about Ex Fic because my fics centered around music have been some of my most well received.

16. Do you dream about any of your WIPs?

Not that I can remember

17. Do any of your WIPs have particular complexities that your other fics don't?

I think the emergency fic will for sure. And the TK & Paul buddy cop because it’s gonna be a screwball comedy so I’ll really have to nail the jokes.

18. Which WIP is the funniest or has the most humour?

TK & Paul Buddy Cop for sure. Carlos is going to be so exasperated.

19. Do any of your WIPs contain outside POVs or a deep dive on a character other than the main ship? How are you finding that process?

I think Ex Fic is going to involve a lot of Owen, and it’s from Carlos’s POV so I guess we can consider it an outside POV of TK’s relationship with Owen. I always love exploring that relationship and especially from Carlos’s POV because we know how much he respects Owen and values his opinion. So seeing Owen being fond of one of TK’s exes is really gonna throw him for a minute.

20. Tell us one thing we don't know about one or more of your WIPs.

In the emergency fic TK and Carlos will have to team up to save Andrea

TK & Paul Buddy Cop is not an AU

Christmas Fic will be more TK & Marj friendship

Tagging (for artists/gifmakers here’s the original post with the questionnaire for artists!) @thisbuildinghasfeelings @heartstringsduet @alrightbuckaroo @bonheur-cafe @louis-ii-reyes-strand @carlos-in-glasses @carlos-tk @chicgeekgirl89 @tarlosmalec @herefortarlos @tellmegoodbye @ambiguouspenny @guardian-angle22 @fckingyrs @ladytessa74 @birdclowns @whatsintheboxmh @iboatedhere @your-catfish-friend @im-overstimulated-and-im-sad @liminalmemories21 @lightningboltreader @rmd-writes @thebumblecee @chaotictarlos @theghostofashton @never-blooms @freneticfloetry and OPEN TAG 🏷️

[alrightbuckaroo]

Thanks to @jesuisici33, @lemonlyman-dotcom, @orchidscript for the tags and double thanks to @welcometololaland for the tag and thinking up this lovely little game <3

Rules: List your WIPs below (if you only write one fic at a time, feel free to include future WIPs/ideas!) then answer the following questions. Then, tag as many people as you have WIPs (or more)

1. WIP List:

Alright, so to save you from endless scrolling, I'm just going to list those that have a semblance of a plot and some words written (because surprisingly, yes there are more):

you can't catch a sinner with a saint (old west au)

yesterday's love was a warm summer breeze (sequel to the parisian summer romance au)

lone star lately (workplace mid 2000s rom-com au)

beauty lingers out of reach (artist!carlos nude model!tk au)

everybody is somebody's fool (1940s au)

the rolling thunder of your finger tips (reporter!tk weatherman!carlos dom/sub au)

the sunshine is in your smile (alternate first meeting)

these eyes don't cry (5 + 1)

love in a hurricane (bodyguard au)

love by any other name (witness protection au [but make it funny] )

shoot a man and watch him die (on the lam au)

29 going on 30 (tk turns thirty event fic)

come and take a walk on the wild side (partly published, partly driving me bonkers)

We'll be here forever if I tell you the summary of each one, but if you want to know more, don't be afraid to ask!

2. Which of your WIPs is currently the longest?:

come and take a walk on the wild side is currently 60k and does not show ANY sign of stopping right now.

3. Which WIP do you expect will end up the longest?

I'm thinking either the Old West AU or the 1940s AU simply because I plan to do such vast world building.

4. Which WIP is your favourite to write/the most enjoyable to write? Why?

Old West AU for sure, but that's also where most of my mind has been on my upcoming WIPs. I'm going to love revisiting the "We'll Always Have Paris" verse though.

5. Which WIP do you find the most intimidating to write? Why?

Either the 1940s AU because it's a case fic and I'll have to put a lot of thought into that b-plot or the On the Lam AU because it's not going to be the most sanitized storytelling.

Neither Carlos nor Tk is the villain, but the world won't see it that way.

6. Which WIP do you experience the most self-doubt about. Why?

I think it's yesterday's love was a warm summer breeze, the sequel to summer slipped us underneath her tongue.

I didn't expect so many people to be excited for the sequel, let alone love the story so much, so I'm just hoping I continue doing justice to that little world.

7. Which of your WIPs will you seek out a beta/sensitivity reader for? Why?

I'm not sure, I think I might need a sensitivity reader for these eyes don't cry simply because I've never written a therapist before.

8. Have any of your WIPs been struck by the curse of writer's block?

come and take a walk on the wild side was on the mend for a second there, but right now the inspiration is back. TK's interlude is being written, ya'll!

9. Which WIP has your favourite OC? Tell us about them?

If you've read any of my AUs you know I LOVE a good OC so this is like asking me to pick a favorite child.

Ruth Baker is an office clerk in the Old West AU who I simply just adore. I get to write things like this:

Roy chuckles and it’s both sinister and mocking. “Oh Reyes, what I actually want to say wouldn’t be polite to do so in such,” Roy’s eyes glance over at Ruth, they land on her chest for a little too long. “Feminine company.” “Eat shit, Roy.” Ruth’s cigarette doesn’t move as she says it, not once looking up from her typewriter. 

10. Which WIP is the sexiest?

come and take a walk is sexy but it's not the couple you necessarily want to root for so that might be subjective. Though, I do get write fun moments like this:

“God,” Hartlock emphasizes the word, putting a mix of exasperation and desperate, wanton longing. TK’s aware of where this is going and decides to lean into it. He lowers himself on his lap, straddling him. Hartlock welcomes him, as if his lap is a spot made for TK. “You are such a handful.” He places his hands on TK’s hips, reaches under his shirt and touches his bare skin. his fingertips feeling like a sunburn. TK leans in and whispers, “I know, but that’s what you’ve got two hands for.” He presses his lips against Sam’s neck, kissing it with intent. Hartlock gives in to the moment, his hands looking to grab purchase on TK’s skin.

If we're talking strictly Tarlos sexy; toss up between the Old West AU and the Bodyguard AU (for now 🤭)

11. Which WIP is the angstiest?

Definitely these eyes don't cry. That said, it's almost been one of the most fun to write; so what does that really say about me 🥴

12. Which WIP has the best characterisation (in your humble opinion)?

I write so many AUs so it's hard to say who's extremely true to the show, but maybe these eyes don't cry since it's exploring what the show has given us as Carlos?

13. Which WIP has the best scene setting (in your humble opinion)?

Old West AU most likely. That's one I'm really take my time with the world building on. By the end of you're going to be so sick of hearing about dim bar lightning, crooked streams and blood crusted eyebrows.

14. Which WIP have you worked the hardest on?

Right now, it's probably yesterday's summer love was a warm summer breeze since I made both TK and Carlos' journey in the Parisian Summer AU so detailed. Now I have to keep it going LMAO

Here's what the research folder looks like right now (and I haven't even fully started writing it yet):

15. Which WIP do you have the highest expectations for? Why?

Old West AU because I'm finally writing things I've always wanted to give myself the chance to write. Cowboys, religious imagery, a fully fleshed arc and hey, the smut is kind of just icing on the cake at this point.

16. Do you dream about any of your WIPs?

I actually just had one (as in TODAY) and I dreamed I wrote half a chapter of two of them and just POSTED THEM??

17. Do any of your WIPs have particular complexities that your other fics don't?

I'm hesitant to say other stories won't have these things going forward, come and take a walk on the wild side really does utilize the non-linear storytelling tag and the unreliable narrator tag.

You're not supposed to agree with TK often, but that's the point.

That said, I love an unreliable narrator so I can't say it won't show up again. It just doesn't show up in the other works I'm working on, right now.

18. Which WIP is the funniest or has the most humour?

Either Lone Star Lately or Beauty Lingers Out of Reach. Lone Star Lately is literally a workplace rom-com au that teeters the line of enemies to lovers it's gotta be FILLED with humor.

19. Do any of your WIPs contain outside POVs or a deep dive on a character other than the main ship? How are you finding that process?

Owen's arc is actually the B Plot of the Witness Protection AU! I love a good b-plot (and sometimes even a c-plot) and this one is no different.

Due to being in the Witness Protection program and not being able to be out in the public eye as often as he used to, he can't be a firefighter for the time being. So, now he has to figure out who he is when he's not his job.

20. Tell us one thing we don't know about one or more of your WIPs.

Four of these AUs already have sequels outlined - some are multi-chapter, some are just really long one-shots

I'm actually working on one that's a giant secret and I can't wait to share it with all of you (it's been a blast to write so far)

no pressure tagging: @heartstringsduet, @carlos-in-glasses, @strandnreyes, @reyesstrand, @bonheur-cafe, @freneticfloetry, @rosedavid, @ambiguouspenny, @wandering-night19, @thisbuildinghasfeelings, @lightningboltreader, @paperstorm, @three-drink-amy, @chaotictarlos, @carlos-tk, @sanjuwrites, @birdclowns, @basilsunrise, @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut, @catanisspicy, @rmd-writes, @kiloskywalker, @whatsintheboxmh, @guardian-angle22 and of course anyone who wants to join in :)

if you're an artist, gifmaker or cross-stitcher, these questions might be better suited for you :)

[metanarrates]

what gets me about the loz series is how it is insanely ripe for subversion. so much of the series feels like its building up for a plot twist, for an internal deconstruction, to tell us that everything was a lie that is now being torn down. but the final twist never comes, and thats felt the most painfully in totk, the game that is the number one most built for subversion, and arguable the game that subverts itself the least.

it also celebrates the empire of hyrule and zelda place as a ruler and link's role of hero to a degree that hasn't really been felt before, ocarina of time and twilight princess and the windwaker all hold varying levels of suspicion and melancholy to those systems of power, the wind waker going as far as to let the old hyrule be washed away. even skyward sword which celebrates the creation of the later questionable kingdom has an edge of hesitance with demise declaring his curse, regardless of how literally you interpret the curse itself, it holds a thematic weight of referencing the future suffering that occurs within the kingdom they build, of the cycle of war and violence and fate etc. totk almost seems to actively fights against any criticism of those things.

totk ends up feeling almost tired, botw sets up the beginning of a new era for zelda, both a return to its roots and a new direction. i feel like a lot of people were feeling like we were gearing up for a great grand plot twist, to have all those old referenced games dug up and recontextualized. and then it just, doesn't do that. there is no plot twist, everything is played straight, nothing changes.

no matter how much loz reinvents itself, it remains the same as it ever was. the cycle continues, forever.

the sense of incoming deconstruction comes from the fact that ideas of fate and the divine right of kings and such are inherently unsustainable ideas! a clever person may notice that and assume that the unsustainability and the doubt are purposeful elements. unfortunately, the creators do not treat those ideas as unsustainable, both for cynical moneymaking reasons and for reasons of genre convention. while breath of the wild and other games, as mentioned, put forward some doubt on the idea of fate, the series fundamentally cannot deconstruct itself. to do so would be to make its internal engine fall apart.

ultimately, loz is a conservative series. both in terms of its actual politics and what it's willing to do artistically. it cannot push the envelope too far because that would make it lose its mass appeal. acknowledging the negative aspects of fate and the divine monarchy or what the fuck ever is honestly part of its appeal. you can have a greater nuance of writing acknowledging that those are a shackle on the characters and series. but, in the same breath, you reaffirm them as integral to the world and therefore good. zelda struggles with failing as princess, but in the end, she becomes the barrier maiden she was always meant to be. link's issues as a hero molded him into silence, but his silence is a necessary part of his projectability as a player character. at the end of the day, the formula remains as it ever was lol. totk just did away with the nuance because the writers didn't feel like making it more than a cash grab. it's not going to ever deconstruct itself no matter how much you wish it would.

[shay-creates]

Writblr Intro?

I have never done a writblr intro, so here we go.

Hello! You can call me Shay. I'm a writer and artist living in the US. Welcome to my art and writing blog!

About me: I'm 25, asexual, transmasc, nonbinary (he/they/it), and unsure where I fall on the romantic spectrum. Tag and Ask game friendly! Asks and conversation encouraged. I'm more scared of you than you are of me, so it may take me a bit to respond. I never know what I'm doing at any given time, so I'm very sporadic in talking about or making anything related to stories or art. I follow/follow back using Shay-Puppity (my main account).

I'm creating my world "Exalos" through stories and art, filling the world with my beloved characters (distant sobbing and screaming). I mainly write in the genre of fantasy with a smattering of mystery, horror, romance, and slice of life. Many of my characters are LGBT+ and the world they live in has no drama surrounding that.

I'm currently focused on my WIP titled "Dread Secrets," but I have several other stories in various stages of development. Dread Secrets is my first time planning with the intent of actually writing and finishing the story. Volume of projects not indicative of me being put together, it is quite the opposite.

Characters tagged by using- OC: Character name (Ex- OC: Celesto)

WIPs tagged by using- Shay WIP: Story title (Ex- Shay WIP: Dread Secrets)

Art tagged by using- Shay's Art

~My WIPs~

This part will be edited as I work on these stories, so there'll eventually be more information to read here.

Dread Secrets (current main project):

Genre/Rating: Medieval Fantasy, mystery, action, romance, adventure, not young adult

TWs: blood, gore, violence, mental/psychological/emotional abuse mentions/vague depictions, slight body horror, war, war refugees mentions/depictions, deaths, murder,

POV: Xiang, Neph, King Ansellus Kestrel, Celesto, Mystery Plotter

Summary: (WIP intro link)

Fifteen years ago, King Ansellus Kestrel of the kingdom Wisea made a last stand against the Dread Queen Celesto, his first love, as the benevolent kingdoms banded together to lay siege to the aptly named, Dread Kingdom. Against all odds, Celesto was beaten. Turned against by the Ancient of the Dread Forest, an unstable Celesto's final moments saw her body transform into a dark and twisted tree that screamed angrily into nothingness without a sound.

They had been in love, Ansellus willing to give Celesto anything he could give her. In four short years, their perfect life together fell to shambles as Celesto betrayed not only Ansellus, but friends and even her own goddaughter, Hibiki, who, even now, clings to her father to feel safe.

Xiang, a student of Prophis, attempts to aid a friend who is cursed to sleep with Grim Twilight Ivy growing around and from his body. His good intentions are rewarded by having a similar curse placed on Xiang himself. A strange mark over his heart and plagued by nightmares of being hunted by the Dread Queen Celesto in the ruins of the Dread Kingdom, Xiang leaves the ancient towers of Prophis to find a way to break the curse before succumbing to it himself. He is given a protector in the form of Malianna Ash, a half-immortal from the fiery Kingdom of Rosha.

Neph, a half-immortal in their early twenties, lives comfortably in the independent city of Rudrian with caretakers Sasha and Bryn Creek and their soft-spoken friend, Celine. Neph longs to gain recognition so they may ascend to immortality in the hopes of reuniting with their immortal mother in Elorial, the realm of immortals. They seize their chance after rescuing Xiang after the Prophis student is separated from Malianna by the crowds. Through the use of incessant nagging and a sprinkle of charisma, Neph manages to join the two strangers on their quest. Celine, who has always been at Neph's side, joins the group to aid them as both a healer and strong nature magic user.

What secrets hide in the past? Will Xiang be able to lift the curse from himself before it's too late? What dreadful secrets hide within the ruins of the Dread Kingdom? Did Celesto find some way to survive and lay low all those years ago, or is the curse the doing of someone else?

Progress: semi-complete timeline, Character illustrations done

Cast: Xiang, Malianna Ash, Neph, Scy Drakenscale, Phelan Noctus, Lorne, Kubo Hibiki, No Eiko, Celine, Scorch (Malianna's unicorn), Flit (Malianna's magic pigeon), Celesto Krone/Kestrel (Dread Queen), Felix Kestrel, King Ansellus Kestrel, Queen Tianna Kestrel, Artos Oak, Kubo Mai, Ling Yazhu, Bao Mingmei, Bao Yating, King Snydus Ash, Silas Ash, Draco, Dissonantia, Bryn Creek, Sasha Creek, Leandra Ash, Xaver Ash, Ferna Krone, Obelus Krone, Imposa Kestrel, Mightrus Kestrel, Ling Chao, Bessarion Thorne, Characters

Gods/Ancients/Primordials of note: God of Memories, God of Sanctuary, God of Guardians, God of Passion, God of Vengeance, God of Lore (Lorne), Ancient of Wisdom, Ancient of Knowledge, God of Dreams, The 11 Immortal Villains (See: Corruption of Heroes), Ancient of the Dread Forest/Forests, Primordial of Death, Primordial of Life

Song association: Guns For Hire by Woodkid + What Could Have Been by Sting and Ray Chen.

Excerpt: Nothing written yet. :3

Tinnitus:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: fantasy, modern setting, dimension hopping, coming of age, suspense, adventure, series, not young adult

POV: Gong Jiahao, Soul Warren, Maddox High, Taeil, Fable Book, Kace Asher, Zhang Remy, Nym Cardinal

Summary: something goes here. Idk if each character gets a book or if characters share a book or whatever, but they do all get some POV. There will be some angst. Also there's a mysterious person who is trying to make a deal or contract with each of the characters. Idk what contracts yet, but there's shenanigans. Also a dumb and campy fight scene because it's dumb and makes me laugh. (They're using the power of dance and music to fight and distract a fucking dragon, it's so dumb. Dumb fight scene go brr.)

Progress: vibes and vague ideas, character concepts concepted

Characters: Primordial of Chaos, Gong Jiahao, Zhang Remy, Soul Warren, Fable Book, Nym Cardinal, Maddox High, Kace Asher, Ace Siren, Mirroh, Pavel Nox, Jung Taeil, Rune Siren, Neph, Xiang, Runais, Xadrian, Phelan, Mirroh Characters

Song association: Illusion by Ateez

Excerpt: Nothing written yet. :3

Heir of Chaos:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: fantasy, modern setting?, medieval setting?, dimension hopping, mystery, series, not young adult

POV: Deimos Muse, Song Kwan, Adriel Sky, Warrick Red, Zhang Remy

Summary: Something goes here. You read that right! Remy is a POV here too. This story and Tinnitus are intertwined with reoccurring characters and that mysterious person is here too. Don't ask me how I plan to write these two stories, I just know they are intertwined.

Progress: vibes and vague ideas

Characters: Deimos Muse, Zhang Remy, Warrick Red, Song Kwan, Adriel Sky, Primordial of Chaos, Lucas String, Mirroh, Shen Saint, Gong Jiahao, Soul Warren, Fable Book, Nym Cardinal, Maddox High, Kace Asher Characters

Song association: Frost or Crown by Tomorrow X Together

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Corruption of Heroes:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: medieval fantasy, mystery, action, not young adult

POV: Kallista and/or Shysie

Summary: A fantasy story that follows the formation and eventual fall from grace of the Eleven Immortal Villains of the Dread Forest. A time when the citizens of Rusa and Centuros were ruled by Dissonantia Krone and her husband Draco Krone, before the two rulers became God of Chaos and Discord respectively. When Rusa and Centuros were constantly in a closely tied battle without bloodshed or animosity. Before the Dread Forest gained its name and the Ancient of Forests was worshiped by both Rusa and Centuros. When the Primordial of Life had curved horns upon its head and Immortals walked the same earth as mortals. How the mighty fall. How the Eleven Immortal Villains came to be (they're mentioned and may cameo in Dread Secrets). We've got Kallista, Shysie, twins Faraph and Gwin, brothers Leucis and Valrus, sapphic throuple Echo/Nyssa/and Whisper, sapphic couple Vasha and Eilla, and Lux as characters.

Progress: vibes and vague ideas, character concepts concepted

Characters: Lux, Shysie Crimson, Kallista Rose, Gwin Snow, Faraph Snow, Echo Song, Vasha Alice, Eilla Alice, Whisper Song, Nyssa Song, Leucis Bard, Valrus Bard, Dissonantia Krone, Draco Krone, Anarvale, Thronk, (more characters to come) Characters

Song association: It Seemed the Better Way by Leonard Cohen or Hunt You Down by The Hit House and Ruby Friedman

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Finding Family:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: slice of life, medieval fantasy, comedy?, pg/pg 13

POV: Pangari, Fintan, Demarcus, Amphon, and/or Yvonna

Summary: A fantasy, slice of life story about a family of Gods in the Immortal Realm. Amphon, God of Blacksmiths, and Yvonna, God of Seamsters, adopted three young Immortals who’ve ascended to godhood. Fintan, God of Flames, is often sleeping in Amphon’s smelter, his blonde hair and skin stained with soot and ash, and he only leaves the home if it’s for his twin sister, Pangari, or adopted brother, Demarcus. Pangari, God of Shadows, is a bubbly and kind-hearted young woman with bright eyes and light blonde waves. She spends as much time as she can with her family, often dragging Fintan out of the smelter to go on walks. Demarcus, God of Artisans, is dutiful and is often working hard on a new blueprint or helping his adopted father design a new sword or gift for Yvonna. This is a story about found family and the bonds that are formed by accepting each other and protecting each other.

Cast: Amphon, Yvonna, Pangari, Demarcus, Fintan, Bunsom, Lorne

Progress: vibes and vague ideas, some characters concepted

Characters

Song association: Family by Mother Mother

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Shadow of Doubt:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: Mystery, thriller, psychological thriller, horror, Crime, mature

POV: Kit Tong

Summary: something goes here. There's a single part that I will legitimately cry while writing, it's the only thing I know will happen and it makes me sad. Great character moment though. Kit has a cat named Milo and I love their cat, it's the beacon of light in the bloody dark. That's all I've got so far. One scene and the MC has a cute cat. That's all you really need though...right?

Progress: vibes and vague ideas

Characters: Kit Tong, Kim Jae-soon, Ito Genji, Sunnie Lee, Zander Blight, Freddie Smith, Mik Forest, (more characters to come) Characters

Song association: You'd Be Paranoid Too by Waterparks or Saints by Echos

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Background of Love:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: romance, comedy, slice of life, BL, GL, fantasy, modern setting, series, not young adult

POV: Elio, Tia, Season, Wins, Rowan, Mingi, Jun

Summary: something goes here. One of the MCs is probably the main MC because he's aro/ace and everyone around them is falling in love left, right, and center so it's like he's in the background if that makes sense? I haven't decided if that character is going to be called Season or Elio. This is the story with the most gay focus of any of my stories.

(old summary for some context: This story follows three couples as they pursue love. Elio has had feelings for his childhood friend Rowan for five years with the other not noticing and soon developing a crush on someone else. Elio decides to stop his feelings for Rowan, no matter how difficult, and allows his friends Dom and Dai to set him up with a temporary boyfriend Mingi. Once Elio decides to move on, Rowan soon discovers how much Elio has done for him over the years and abandons his crush to pursue Elio. Tia, friend of Elio and Dom and Dai has caught herself pining after her neighbor across the street named Mian. Despite all of her bravado and confident air, she can’t bring herself to talk coherently around Mian. No longer being pursued by Rowan, Wins begins to spend more time with Jun since they have many of the same interests. Jun stops spending time with Wins, putting Mingi first as the latter might have developed feelings for his temporary boyfriend. Can Amais, God of Love, help his heartless or will the God have them figure it out for themselves?)

Progress: vibes and vague ideas

Characters: Elio Santiago, Rowan Winters, Kim Mingi, Huang Jun, Xu Mian, Tia Amor, Season Light, Takara Haru, Dom Wong, Dai Angsan, Wins Michaels, God of Soulmates (Amais) Characters

Song association: Fake Protagonist by Getsunova or Lose (english version) by Wonho

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Misfortune:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: fantasy, medieval fantasy?, mystery, suspense, comedy, romance, not young adult

POV: Runais, Xadrian, and/or Lykos (maybe Mirroh?)

Summary: something goes here. Everyone else is having a bad time but Runais and Xadrian are just chaotic dumb and chaotic dumber and I love that for them. This story kind of absorbed another WIP idea I had called "Deja Vu" and I'm not mad about it. I like this story a bit more.

Progress: vibes and vague ideas, some characters concepted

Characters: Xiang, Neph, Runais, Xadrian, Lykos, Mirroh, Primordial of Chaos, Malianna Ash, Scorch, Flit, Phelan, (more characters to come?) Characters

Song association: Seraph by DPR Ian or Who Are You by Sam Kim

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Love Afterlife:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: medieval fantasy, romance, GL, not young adult

POV: Tahari or Nocturne/Aqualise

Summary: something goes here, but I know it's sapphic. The location is the afterlife and I do think I'm clever. Because...they...they find love...in the afterlife....so...love...afterlife.... A sapphic tale between the God of Death and an Immortal Spirit.

Progress: vibes

Characters: Tahari, Nocturne/Aqualise, (more characters to come) Characters

Song association: ???

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Demon Eye:

Moodboard Goes Here

Genre/Rating: fantasy, action, dark fantasy, romance, not young adult

POV: ??? I don't have any characters thought up yet, no names or anything. RIP

Summary: something goes here. It feels really cool in my brain, cool fight scenes go brrr. Cool character concept vibes go brr too.

Progress: vibes

Characters

Song association: ???

Excerpt: Nothing written yet :3

Deja Vu:

Moodboard Goes here

Genre/Rating: fantasy, modern setting?, dimension hopping, mystery, not young adult

POV: Pavel Night

Summary: (technically scrapped) A fantasy, mystery, suspense. Living under the same roof to save money with his six friends, Pavel has had the luxury of having a room to himself thanks to winning a long game of rock, paper, scissors. His ideal world is flipped when one of his friends, Lucas, asks if a friend of his could move in. Though Pavel doesn’t know the friend well, he trusts Lucas’ judgement of character and agrees to let the friend share a room with himself since it’d be easier than Malia moving her things out of one room and into another. As soon as this friend, Mirroh, arrives, Pavel feels a strange distrust of the stranger. Mirroh keeps to himself unless he’s with Lucas, and seems to settle in well enough. But when an accident leaves his friend Shen dead and Ambrose in critical condition, strange things begin to happen. Mirroh’s personality becomes stranger and he seems to know when something bad is about to happen, though he doesn’t seem to lift a finger to stop it. What’s stranger is Pavel wakes up to find himself back to the day of the first accident that began it all. What can Pavel do to prevent the accidents? Does Mirroh know something and is keeping it a secret? Who is the stranger that confirms that Pavel should not trust Mirroh? Should he listen to the stranger?

Progress: Technically scrapped, vibes, vague ideas, 5 chapters written

Cast: ???, Lucas String, Mirroh, Shen Saint, Ambrose Saint, Malia Shield, Pavel Nox, Rune Siren, Ace Siren, Pavel Night

Song Association: ???

Excerpt: ):

[centrally-unplanned]

I recently re-read Lost at Sea, the first truly-published work of Bryan Lee O’Malley (author of Scott Pilgrim), which is one of my favourite short-form comics. It's a re-read inspired by all my FLCL work; I commented before about the ways in which our main girl Raleigh is a distaff-Mamimi. I definitely still see it; she is what I am now referring to as a “Sadamoto Poet Girl”, those people who express their feelings in waves of metaphors they never truly clarify:

It helps that Raleigh is a teenager; it makes sure that any risk she might have of becoming pretentious is buried by how pathetically lost she is. She also may not be rocking any of the emo drip of the time but she has full depression vibes where it counts:

That mask you're wearing is bleeding black from overuse, frikkin hardcore Raleigh. This is definitely a teen angst book but I am highlighting the peaks here, a bunch of its silly chatter with her new roadtrip friends. She isn’t haughtily looking down on a world she knows is useless; she just has no clue, yet, how to make it useful. A key trait for the Sadamoto Poet Girl; their ambiguity of expression is how they cope with the ambiguity of how to relate to their own existence.

Which I think is what makes them work, both for me and in general; the actual ‘plot’ of Lost at Sea is that Raleigh has just meet up with her online older boyfriend for the first time, it went amazingly, and then he (probably) broke up with her and she has no clue how to deal. That is very concrete, and could be very basic - but by making the entirety of Raleigh’s emotional spectrum abstract and confused, the singular plot event becomes a drop in the ocean of her generalized ennui. This is a short story, and to make an impact it needs to be efficient in its expression. Abstraction is, ironically, very good at that; with no singular concrete meaning an abstract idea can hold a dozen simultaneously. Raleigh feels very real in a few short pages due to how much ground her in-her-head narration covers, without it being didactic.

Beyond being a proto-Mamami, though, what I was struck by was how similar she is to another Ash-favourite: Mara from Perfect Tides, a visual novel by webcomic artist turned game developer Meredith Gran (that, coincidentally, Bryan Lee O’Malley playtested as they are comic-artist friends). To start, how terminally online Raleigh is did not sink in for me the first time reading this, which is Mara’s defining trait in Perfect Tides; it's not as big in Lost at Sea, but her estrangement from her physical reality due to the superiority of the virtual is readily apparent. There are these two scenes in both stories that hit directly on that beat (“this place” being their writing forum in PT):

They share other traits too - both of them, being women online in the 2000’s, are fiction writers, and being fiction writing alt girls they both live incredibly in their own heads. I have talked already about how Raleigh does that; Mara has this great way of having an idealized version of *everything* that could be that she constantly holds reality up to. There is this moment in PT where Mara smokes a cigarette for the first time, and is shocked to find it is not an effortless habit:

The author in her playthrough cackles during this scene, and describes it as “some real foreshadowing”, and it absolutely is - Mara can never glimpse reality cleanly because her abstractions about reality constantly interfere. Raleigh is more self-aware, but equally cursed by her own hallucinations.

They also just cannot handle the few moments they break through their walls of awkwardness and socially “succeed”:

Mara hilariously abandons the entirety of her emo identity and thinks she has finally Found Her Tribe until the next time some inanity triggers her spiraling self-doubt, while Raleigh is mature enough to know it's not gonna last; but they both experience the same assault from the idea of social acceptance. They are both downstream of their anxieties, if that makes sense - they build castles of rationalizations in their heads in order to defend against the emotions that beset them from elsewhere. Its why the “poet girl” vibes work - they are (generally desperate) attempts at self-understanding as much as self-expression.

I enjoy typologies, and all of this is me saying that within these characters I see a type, and I see causal linkages to the context of said type. The way a girl in the 2000’s would build an identity out of forum posts and metaphors, because society ~sucks~ but she can build an alternative online, in writing, in her head, a place for the alts and weirdos. But the very limitations that attracted those weirdos in the first place also snap back to prevent that new world from being a full substitute. Reality always wins. That identity exists today, for sure, but there is something of the time and place, of the era, that cohered this identity with a specificity I see in stories (or even people) that capture it. It's structural, and the structure has changed. In things like FLCL I see it, but you see the differences too - how the structures of Japan & the US (and Canada, Raleigh represent) intersect and how they don’t. My kind of gap moe, I guess.

Though, side note: something Raleigh and Mara do not share is that Raleigh, typical for an alt-indie 2000’s teen girl protagonist, is effortlessly pretty:

I will credit the comic, ‘effortlessly’ is overselling it - another of the petty normalities that breaks through her emo shell is how she has favorite dresses and brought them to look hot for her boyfriend. Still, the 2000’s era reeks through here; audiences wanted hot leads, even indie audiences. Mara meanwhile is a full 2020’s girl in her squat, pallid normality; the relatability privileged over the aspirational. Her story may take place in the year 2000, but it's still written for today.

[aevyk-ing]

Reading the W.I.T.C.H. reboot, part 1

Okay, W.I.T.C.H. reboot, here we go!:

AS: BTW, I was a huge fan of W.I.T.C.H. my whole childhood and most of my teenage years (where the writing quality dropped). The art style was a huge influence for my current art style and I even cosplayed Elyon three times. My favorite character was Hay Lin (then Elyon) and I still have most of the comics and the gifts they put on the magazine. So yeah, no pressure.

-Maybe it’s just me, but the cover looks… boring? It’s like Will here gave life to her dolls. Here’s a first look of the redesigns and… I guess I’ll talk more about them later, but: Taranee: sporty, weird, Irma: not bad, I guess, I like the combo of tan skin and curly ponytail, Hay Lin: well, that’s not my Hay Hey, but she looks cute, Cornelia: classy, not bad and… if I hadn’t read about it, never, in a million years, I’d have guessed that’s Elyon. She’s just an albino girl.

-BTW, I would have changed the logo. It makes no sense keeping it exactly the same. I’ve always thought the “c” is the odd one here.

-Oh, emojis, cool. But Taranee looks mad. And Irma looks like George of the Jungle. Sorry.

-You know, it’s sad when you put the six characters and then leave Elyon clearly out. No slide for her (even though her color was purple). And Taranee has an undercut? I’m guessing she’ll be quite different from the Taranee we used to know. Also, first look at the… magical outfits? They look like gymnasts. Or about to dance in the Dance Academy (I hated that arc).  Also, also, Taranee looks concerned about that light in her chest and… yeah, girl, I’d be concerned too.

-While I enjoy that a multi-artist (that exists, right?) is the one behind the project, now I wonder if she was given it because she’s actually good or because she’s famous. Is she the writer? I guess? Also, putting the old designs? For what? Nostalgia?

-According to the intro drawing, Will will be the most important character, then Elyon (holding the dusty remnants of something she vaporized, probably), and then the other girls. The Heart of Kandrakar is golden now and… sorry, but I can’t with Will’s eyelashes. She looks like an old cartoon. And while Elyon’s new design would look good for any other character, I think the old one worked better for both her good and bad sides. And that hairstyle was iconic. Also, now that I see her black eyebrows… maybe she’s not albino after all? Taranee looks pissed to be there, Cornelia now has dimples (cute!), Hay Lin has the curse of “Asian-girl-with-colored-streak” and she’s extra pale and Irma… well, she doesn’t look that bad. PS: I know Hay Lin being yellow in the original comic was bad, but at least she could be light brown? I remember doing a lot of research to find my OC Aury’s skin tone and I knew it had to be a shade of brown. She looks a little ghostly-like.

-I actually like the art style.

-LOL, they did Thomas dirty.

[baiwu-jinji]

Hello hello! I thought I’d write a post to look back on 2022, and first of all I’m so sorry that I disappeared from Tumblr for I don’t even know how long >< Sorry for all the messages I haven’t answered yet – I will get to them ASAP; and anon asking about Shi Qingxuan – I’m working on your ask as well. I haven’t been reading too much danmei in the meantime either, both because life has been busier and more chaotic than ever, and because when you suddenly have the real thing yourself, you become more preoccupied with that instead of fictional accounts of other people’s romances…

2022 made a lot of young people in China, including me, who had thought any effort to track Chinese politics uninteresting and futile to rethink what politics means for us and what we can do in response. It has made me see how abusive power can never be expected to check itself, how control only ever leads to more control and its only end is to strangle and annihilate, and it will not stop until it has put the last nail in the coffin that suffocates any freedom people have to feel like humans and think as individuals. It has also made me see how easy it is to be an accomplice of institutional violence and political repression, but that it’s so much harder and takes so much willpower and sacrifice to fight against such violence and repression.

In 2022 I saw the world of my childhood crumble down before my eyes, and then I cursed my own stupidity for thinking that the crumbling was sudden and abrupt, because this process of social deterioration had already started years ago. The world of my childhood is one where China was still curious and eager to connect with and learn from the world, to show itself to the world, not the 2022 China that had managed to completely shut itself off and wrap itself in thick cocoons, from which a monster seems destined to be hatched whose only talent is to destroy…

2022 made me start to appreciate and cherish what I had taken for granted and dismissed. All the Chinese period dramas I had found cheesy and insufferably long, all the Chinese movies I had found unremarkable and not worth the hype, all the Chinese online literature I had found shoddy and shallow and not worth my time, and all the popular Chinese writers, actors, and entrepreneurs I had found too loud and attention-seeking – all of these have become worthy of my appreciation now, because all of them are in danger of being crushed, silenced, and snuffed out by the state, and have therefore become symbolic of a time when some form of creative and artistic freedom had once existed in Chinese society.

Well this is the end of my rant/reflection, and a happy new year to everyone! Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me for the past year, or who has started following me recently despite the fact that I’ve been less active.

[chunibyo-x-sorcerer]

As a sorcerer, it is a curse yet as a blessing, that's what I am. For I am Daichi Pheon-X, a sorcerer who fights evil spirits with the flames of the Dark Pheonix within me. And Oh, this is my trusted partner, Eito! Nice to make your acquaintance!

A JJK OC blog focused on adventure, crack! and feel good rps. but also open to dark themes and angst!

Rules,

Daichi & Eito,

Verses

For Mobile Readers who want to know about Daichi & Eito on Mobile. Click here.

Rules under read for mobile

Hi everyone! This is Dani, manager of Daichi! I am 25+ old. So here are the rules No hate or drama – I don’t follow people who stir up either.

I usually follow back when it’s a fellow RP blog.

I do not rp smut with Minor RPERS ( That is illegal )

I don’t mind OCs or any fandom, but if it’s a fandom I don’t know about then I might send you an ask so you can help me fill in what the fandom is about if it’s confusing. It will help us both! Or maybe surprise me!

As for OCs! I love OCS. After all, I am rping OC. That said, I don’t mind characters that seem like “sues”. So if you're a rper who is worried about your OC being 'sue', please let me know so I can help out. After all, I know the feeling when starting out as OC rper. I believe as an artist and writer, RPers can help one another, especially when they’re new to the game! I think building an OC is a starting point, what they need is a journey. By 'journey' I mean by threads to see how your OC reacts with their surroundings and the world in general. I believe it's a good way to build character development. OCs never stay what they are at the beginning. They grow. After all, OCs are like our babies, right?

That said, if I notice that you do not wish to develop well-balanced characters when getting feedback after several threads, I can’t follow you or RP with you any longer if it's not working.

Godmodding is not permitted. I won’t do it, so don’t please do it either. However, certain situations with an OP muse ( especially canon muses)  are acceptable, but I would prefer to plot it out (especially in a fight scene) before your muse does anything to mine ( like who wins or loses or ending in a draw or the fight is interrupted by external factors).

As for the font sizes, I can change the font size to match your writing style in a thread if you wish. If my font or format is hard to read or the opposite, just ask!

I have some trouble with my grammar, but if we’re writing together, I invite you to correct it. Sometimes I get overly excited and write as fast as I think and even after double-checking, I might miss a few things like typos or grammatical errors. My apologies and please let me know if I have a typo or is there anything confusing to you, I make sure to fix it right away.

Please message me or inbox me if you have ideas for plotting. I love plotting threads and planning them.

If I made a mistake in the thread, or if the reply is at all confusing, please! Just PLEASE tell me in IM or ask and I can fix it! If there’s a need for any clarification, please ask me and I will answer right away.

I might not get to every one of my threads every single day. I am sorry for any delay, but I can’t write if I’m stuck and I can’t write if I’m pressured. I won’t pressure you, so please don’t pressure me. This should be fun, right?

I create supporting characters or NPCs ( characters that are part of the story thread to move the plot along, like think of it as a mission or case.). If you need clarification, please hit me up.

I also draw my own icons! This includes Eito and Daichi/Kisho. Please, please, please do not take them without permission. I put a lot of effort into them by drawing them.

Note: if I unfollow you which is HIGHLY unlikely for me to do so….please assume it’s a Tumblr glitch or misclick on mobile  ( like I misclick the follow button when I want to click on the ask button and then follow you back which is a likely cause ) which does happen. It happened to me a few times and to others as well. If I plan to unfollow you, I will soft-block you and not refollow after a week. Because of this, if you unfollow me whether I unfollow you first or not ( and I don’t remember that happening.) I will send you an ask to confirm if it’s a Tumblr glitch. If that is not the case, please ignore the ask and I will understand thinking it’s a softblock and I will move on after a week of waiting. There are times when tumblr glitch happens to me!

Interacting with Daichi/Kisho

I love fighting and serious rp, as well as crack! So I’m flexible!

I have no qualms about writing problematic and dark themes. I mean this is JJK, right? Things get crazy.

I don’t mind RPing action, gore, dark or anything! (romance is rare)

Speaking of romance, romantic relationships are rare for me. If you request one, it needs chemistry and time between our muses ( a slow burn) especially if they have incredible dynamics. I don’t like when relationships between our muses don’t develop and go straight to romantic without any reason. I do not mind if your muse wants to date my muses but you must ask and it needs to have a good reason why though. I recommend a good story with a reasonable plot that can possibly build up a romantic relationship between them over time. That said, I have the right to disapprove if I feel if it doesn’t work out.

As for other ships, I mostly prefer platonic, rivalry, mentorship, friendship, enemies, frenemies, dependence, familial, sisterhood, brotherhood, and bonding. Again, romance is pretty rare for me but I’m not against it, it just needs development between our muses to get there. 

That said, I do not ship adults with minor muses in romance ships.

One more thing! You have  FULL permission for your muses to hit and discipline Daichi/Kisho, if he does something stupid or says the dumbest things. It is allowed and encouraged. Sometimes that guy needs a reality check and it’s a way to pull the reins on him if he does something crazy that is dangerous. So if your muse has the urge to smack him upside the head or bonk him because he does or says something stupid, please feel free. 

I think that’s all for now! If there is something that is not in the rules that you need to ask or have concerns about. Please let me know.

With that said, thank you so much for reading the rules! I appreciate it so let's have some fun!

[chill-vibes-but-rainbow-panic]

7, 8, and 11 from the thingy that you rb earlier

:))

OG List

(I apologize in advance for the long answers, I just love answering stuff like that and I have a lot to say :] )

7. Your favourite tropes to read/write/draw

(I love them all the same, but it is slightly different for each, so I'm making a destinction)

Read: Honestly, kidnapping. I love characters getting kidnapped, and their loved ones worrying/rescuing them. This also includes more-or-less any type of 'going missing'-plot (incl. Char A just running away themselves). Just the feeling of "I have no idea where or how they are, and if they're even still alive", and then the relief when they meet again. Hmmm

Write: 'The world has been cruel and hard to you - therefore I won't be. I want to show you the beauty it has to offer, too <3' This is the best way I can describe it. Characters who've just had a rough time/life being unconditionally cared for and supported. Getting everything their heart has desired for so long. Short: Hurt/Comfort

Draw: While I have yet to draw this myself, actually (because humanoids are hard), any drawing of one character being hurt or scared, while another stands over them caringly and protectively - obviously willing to kick some ass if needed - has me go wild.

8. You hope more people will come to appreciate ___ (a ship, a trope, an episode, etc)

I understand that some people find the market oversaturated by now - that's valid - but still: Redemption

I love redemption so much. I want the story to gently cup a character's face and say "You are broken, but not beyond repair. You can get better, and be happy, and be surrounded by people you love and that love you back." They don't even necessarily need trauma or have gone down a super dark path, I also enjoy: "Character is a massive jerk, and we follow them down the road of being less of a jerk". These are honestly the main reasons both the 'Good Uncle Sly' and 'Apple Cousins' AUs exist.

There are few exceptions I can think of, of villains I'm personally obsessed with, and have not made a version of, where they are redeemed. I look at Reginald Bushroot, and Camille Chameleon, and the Dark Curse - and while for some more than others - there will usually be something at the back of my mind asking: "What if you didn't have to? What if you found love? What if you got to live a quiet, gentle life? What if one day you realized you live in a reality you would never have imagined come true? In a good way? What if everyone could be okay?"

Just

Redemption

11. If you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

Fic: Family Discount

I was honestly surprised how many people liked that fic. Between 11 fics in total, this one definitely has some of my favourite comments (and it also has a surprsing amount of comments, I didn't expect that tbh). I was a little worried about posting a fanfic chapter-by-chapter, because the last time I tried that I basically (though not officially yet) stopped after one, because I can't write slice of life, it seems.

But so many people got emotionally invested in my writing, and I honestly didn't expect that? But even though I'm forced to take a semi-long break (for exam reasons), it is extremely motivating, and makes me feel that (as vague as it sounds), my stories do do something. How much joy the stuff you make can bring other people, is honestly so cool. Even if it's just a little fanart, or an ask, or a slightly-self-indulgent fanfic :)

I'm proud of having actually got this far, and also having written something me and other people love to read

Art:

I'm actually a little embarassed of this drawing, which I know sounds counter-intuitive to the prompt, but I swear, there is a reason it's here!

This is my first, and currently only drawing of the Flim-Flam-Brothers

I had basically no idea what I was going to do with their designs, and I also only had 60min, with limited tools (because Colormari)

But the thing about this drawing, was that our prompt was basically just "New Years Resolutions". And mine was that I wanted to create more art, without getting bossed around by my inner sense of cringe. Because, while I have absolutely no problem with ranting and rambling and talking about my favourite characters all over the place; as soon as I want to put them into any form of art, my organs feel like they'll turn me inside out. It's the reason this blog has dozens of rambles about how much I love Darkwing Duck, and yet zero art of any of its characters (made by me).

But I made this - and kept it around - even though I knew the characters wouldn't look the best.

So this is the drawing I'm most proud of, because it actually exists :)

[narratingvoice]

Hello again!

I just had a cursed thought while writing some fanfiction in the middle of the night (Stanley Parable, of course), and now I'm afflicting it onto other people.

Since you created Stanley, does that make you his Father.

[[gonna preface this by saying I'm not trying to knock anyone's HC, but on this blog they are in a romantic relationship. kind of. it's complicated]]

Oh no!!! No no no no no! My feelings toward Stanley are not paternal at all! Artistic creation is only similar to parenthood in a very abstract way, removed from the actual process of realization. Yes, I feel a great deal of love and pride when I look at him, but it is exactly the same feeling as when I look at a really glowing review of the game. In that sense you could consider him the Galatea to my Pygmalion. He and I are equals, both thrust into the world to serve a specific narrative purpose. You cannot separate the story from the feeling, for our relationship is the intricate dance between playing out our predefined roles and defying each other. It is something so deeply intimate that a mere genetic relationship could never hope to capture.

You're a writer, so you must understand this as well. When you create an original character, how do you feel about them? Have you ever made one that represented some kind of wish fulfillment for you? Like being a cherished companion in your solitude, for example? The emotions you poured into making them do not change if the character comes to life; if anything, they only get stronger. And on the flip side, I really don't consider Davey to be my father; he's just some guy I've never met. Write whatever fanfiction you want. I will be over here kissing Stanley on his sweet stupid mouth.

[dirtyriver]

Chilling Adventures Presents... Strange Science, cover by Butch Mapa

Just this once, I'll copy Archie's full press release:

With a string of top-selling comics establishing Jinx Holliday as the latest star of the Archie Horror imprint from Archie Comics, supporting character Danni Malloy will be next to take center stage. The duo embarks on a new terrifying adventure in CHILLING ADVENTURES PRESENTS... STRANGE SCIENCE, a one-shot comic book releasing in August.

Writer Magdalene Visaggio (Eternity Girl)—whose run on a modern update of the classic character Li'l Jinx began with the instant sell-out anthology JINX: GRIM FAIRY TALES last fall—teams with artist Butch Mapa (Star Wars) for this latest entry, a turn towards dark sci-fi. In a story about being true to yourself and what matters most to you, STRANGE SCIENCE will also reveal that Danni is transgender.

"I've been wanting to make this happen for a long time, and it's really cool to see it finally come to fruition," Visaggio said. "I never wanted Danni's trans identity to be gimmicky, or for her to feel like she was only created to be trans. So, I'd like to apologize for sneaking her over the line like this! I wanted you to have a chance to fall in love with her for who she is, not what she is. I'm honored I got to make it happen, and I'm grateful to Archie for never, not even once, pushing back on my insistence on making their books a little bit more queer. I hope Danni finds a good home at Archie with supportive writers and artists helping to keep her alive for years to come."

The new one-shot takes its title from the 1989 comic book series DILTON'S STRANGE SCIENCE, which introduced Danni, a science genius who rivaled tech expert Dilton Doiley's prodigious talent. In Visaggio's story, Danni has left that life behind to become an artist and musician, exposing her to criticism from Dilton as the teens try to save themselves from a bizarre time travel accident.

"STRANGE SCIENCE is one of, if not the, most important one-shots we've released to date. It also showcases how versatile horror can be, as it deftly blends sci-fi with horror and tells a beautiful, poignant tale about confronting the past," said Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante. "That’s all thanks to writer Magdalene Visaggio, who had the idea to have Danni Malloy tell her own story about her transition. We just needed to figure out the best way to make it fit, and a callback to her character's classic origins mixed with the new horror surroundings she's been re-introduced in just made the most sense."

Mapa added, "Magdalene wrote a story that is vital and poignant and brilliant at the same time, while also being a fantastic piece of horror/sci-fi. Expect lots of weirdness, emotion, action, and character."

Danni's first appearance in the modern Archie Horror universe was THE CURSED LIBRARY, a one-shot released on Free Comic Book Day earlier this month, and she reappears alongside Jinx in their first full-length solo adventure this week in JINX: A CURSED LIFE, both with art by Craig Cermak (Red Team). The sequence subtly establishes linked continuity in Archie Horror for the first time with references to events in other titles, and serves as a starting point for all horror fans looking for a new storytelling universe to explore.

"I think it's clear to anyone reading this that there is a ton of passion and heart in this story, which was demonstrated on every script page," Rotante said. "I'm so proud of this book, but moreover, it's an honor to help bring this beautiful story to life, and I'm consistently awed by the amazing talent I have the opportunity to work with."

STRANGE SCIENCE, with an open-to-order variant cover by Skylar Patridge, colors by Ellie Wright, and lettering by Jack Morelli, releases August 16 in comic shops nationwide and will be available for pre-order in comics shops this Friday.