#trust bl to be the thing to finally get me to post

[silent-sanctum]

✧ Polaris ✧ - Jotaro x Reader

Chapter 12: Starlight & Sunshine

— The previous parts of the fic can be found in the pinned post of my profile. Hope you enjoy! —

Hey everyone 🥹

It's been a while since the last update. Why? Well, because I was actually spending my hiatus reviewing for my license, and now that I'm about to get it, I figured that maybe I should finally use my free time to write the new chapter (also admittedly it got delayed a lot mostly due to my executive dysfunction but hey! It's here now).

Anyways, happy reading and advanced happy holidays!

word count: 13.3k

With how superficial Jotaro’s injuries were, one long night of undisturbed sleep was enough for his wounds to recover. Though, looking back at that moment from your point of view, the subtle cheekiness of the delinquent wanting you to sleep with him wasn’t lost on you.

Admittedly, you were sure that either person wasn’t complaining.

His quick recovery allowed the two to use their time productively and be with the others in exploring Luxor, though before they joined them, it was only fair for their other party member to be checked on.

“Hey Nori, how’s our favorite hierophant doing?”

At your voice, Kakyoin sat upright and turned his attention to the direction of the door with a wide smile despite his bandaged eyes. “Y/N, it’s nice to hear you again. Here I thought you guys left for another city already.”

“And leaving a fellow student behind? Under my watch?” You chuckled as you stepped inside his room followed shortly by Jotaro behind you. Once you were within closer earshot of the red-haired teen, you made sure your faux gasp was heard. “The audacity. Were my numerous ice pop offerings not enough to gain your trust?”

He laughs softly at your playful jab. “You still owe me a multiplayer round of Spy Hunter. Other than that, I’m good.”

You rolled your eyes at that, a smirk plastered on your face. “Yeah, yeah. Wait ‘til we get back to Japan and we can have that round Nori.” You turned to your raven-haired companion with a nudge to his arm. “You want a shot at the game?”

“… Not interested,” Jotaro said, albeit with a hint of having second thoughts. “I… don’t play video games that much…”

“It’s not a calculus question. You’ll get the hang of it by the second to third try.”

“I’d rather do the question.”

“Nerd.”

“Jotaro’s here too?” Kakyoin asked with a slight tilt to his head. “I’ve heard from Mr. Joestar that you just got stabbed deep in the stomach. How are you up and walking already?”

“Don’t ask me.” The delinquent crossed his arms and sighed. “Doctor said I was good to go. It turned out my deeper wounds were healed miraculously and any surface cuts got patched up overnight.”

You caught him glancing at you with that almost wistful, contemplative look as if you had the answer to the out-of-nowhere miracle. In turn, you returned the gaze with a shrug. “Lucky you. You seemingly get what’s supposed to be a worse injury but here you are good as new. Meanwhile, I get my eyes scratched a bit and I’m not allowed to leave yet.”

There was an almost frustrated tone in Kakyoin’s voice as he said that and you could understand where he was coming from. “Hey, chin up.” You started, “On the brighter side of things, there’s no bleeding. No complications. It’s only a matter of time until your doctor discharges you.” Two pairs of footsteps approach from the hallway outside. “Speaking of…”

With a couple of soft knocks, the door opened to reveal a nurse and the physician in charge of overseeing Kakyoin’s health. “Pardon us,” the nurse said as she entered the room with the doctor behind her. “How are you feeling, Mr. Kakyoin?”

Kakyoin swallowed as he reached up to touch his bandages. “To be honest, I've never been without my vision before, so it's a bit unsettling.”

“Does it still hurt?”

“Not much. I think the painkillers are working.”

You and Jotaro stepped aside to allow the pair of medical professionals to assess their patient. “Hello, Mr. Kakyoin-”

At hearing his voice, the blinded teenager turned his head to the sound of the adult. “Doctor, when do you think I can take off these bandages?” He said with that faint trace of impatience in his tone. “I don't have any time to waste.”

“Mr. Kakyoin, while your eye injuries are not life-threatening, they are not minor either. I'm afraid we won't be able to discharge you anytime soon. But just a moment ago, we were contacted by doctors from the Speedwagon Foundation. They asked that we put you in their care. With their advanced medical techniques, I'm sure you'll recover much more quickly.”

The doctor continued, inquisitive. “Who are you exactly? The Speedwagon Foundation is world-famous. I don't think they'd get involved with an ordinary high school student.”

For a moment, Kakyoin didn’t answer for a minute until he let a small smile grace his face. “I have… acquaintances who are very reliable, that's all.”

You spared a glance at Jotaro who stood there with a neutral expression, his gaze cast on the floor with a thoughtful look. The memory of first spotting him carry the once-controlled Kakyoin to his house to get treated resurfaced in your mind and you couldn’t help but wonder if he remembered that moment as well.

The delinquent’s eyes slowly trailed from the tiles up to your face the second he knew you were staring, making eye contact the second he looked at you. You held onto that gaze long enough for him to break it with a faint pinkish tint to his cheeks.

Once the doctor had finished with his advice and excused himself together with the accompanying nurse, Kakyoin sighed as he slumped back onto the pillows. “Now that I know faster treatment is arriving, I’m growing more restless than before.”

You huffed, rolling your eyes light-heartedly at his impatience. “Just give it a little bit more time and then you can get out of here and do whatever the hell you want.”

At that, the red-haired boy chuckled.

---

The afternoon following the visit, the duo regrouped with the others as they headed out to explore the city of Luxor. Avdol was generous enough to provide the team with historical background about the locations they’ve visited. One particular spot the dark-skinned man introduced them was the Valley of Kings- an archaeological site where popular Egyptian kings were buried.

While you and Jotaro showed interest in his voluntary history lessons, he doubted the others were as equally so. The old man wouldn’t stop pacing around even if they were idle. Polnareff would rather chat with any nearby locals and be distracted by almost anything that wasn’t Avdol’s information dump. Iggy… well… he was a mutt with an attitude. Did he expect that little menace to absorb anything the Egyptian was saying?

No. The fact that Jotaro considered the dog was dumb to begin with.

“Hey, Avdol!” The entire group turned to Joseph. “I really need to tinkle! Know any toilets around this place?”

Of course, the senior citizen has to pee. “Didn’t you already piss back at the hotel, old man?” Jotaro said, rolling his eyes, while Avdol supplied him with an actual answer.

“There’s one that we just passed by. It’s the singular outhouse by the valley’s walls. You’ll see it when you see it Mr. Joestar.” Joseph turned back to see if he could spot the structure from his current spot. “Oh, and take someone with you as backup just in case of an ambush.”

“Uh… Polnareff?”

“Woah now, hold on,” the Frenchman said. “I know I like to relieve myself as much as our old friend here, but I do have to ask if the toilets here are somewhat… good? Functioning even-”

“Pol.” Whatever the white-haired man had to say got cut off by your abrupt interruption. “Do you have to go to the big boy’s bathroom or not?”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Then stop whining drama queen and piss,” Jotaro continued on your behalf.

“Alright, alright,” Polnareff pouted and started to walk to Joseph’s side like a scolded child. “You two really can be direct with your words, huh? I’m still older than both of you by the way.” He and you shrugged in response and the Frenchman nodded wordlessly as he joined the old man on the trip to the outhouse.

While they were on their way, the others remained put and waited until the duo were done answering the call of nature. Avdol settled himself on one of the smaller rocks to meditate, Iggy sat by the same rock and lazed about, and the remaining two teenagers decided to roam around the area, never straying too far from the group.

“Hey Jotaro-ssi,” he looked at you. “We’re so close now. Can’t you believe it?”

Jotaro paused and stared at you, comprehending what you just said. Close? Well… of course. It’s only natural for us to be closer than when we first met. Isn’t that the whole point of spending time with each other and shit?

At that thought, he shied away from your gaze and couldn’t stop the tinge of warmth growing in his cheeks, but he had to respond or it’d be obvious. And god forbid if it came off as obvious. “I… yeah. Yeah, guess I can…”

“We’re so close to Cairo. All those days of travel and it’ll take one more day until we get to the capital! And we can finally put all this Stand fuckery behind us,” you chuckled. “At least, with the whole fighting others with Stands thing. We can’t exactly get rid of our ghost pals.”

Oh. That type of close. He fumed harder at himself for misinterpreting your words. Still battling with his embarrassment, the delinquent tipped his hat over his face in a vain attempt to hide his most likely reddened cheeks. “Sure…”

And of course, you’d pick up on his sudden bashfulness with a teasing coo. “Hm? What’s wrong? Do I see pink in your face?”

“Shut up.”

Like that ever worked on you. You smirked and fully turned in his direction, arms behind your back as you stepped closer to him with a playful type of predatory gait. Much like how you had approached him outside his house when you wanted to come on this journey to Egypt. “Why? I’m just asking. You never know- you might’ve caught an infection from your wound.”

With every step you took, his heart thudded harder in his chest. Not that you’d know any of that when his stone-faced expression is still plastered on his face, but damnit all… you made it hard for him to keep it up with that smug smile you had. He was already near the rocky wall and he’s not going to step back any further.

Jotaro stood his ground and forced himself to return your gaze with his stoicism, feigning a scowl to make it somewhat convincing. “I’m fine and I already told you my stab wound’s already healing.”

“Okay, but there’s nothing wrong in making a reassessment to make sure,” you said and took two more steps toward him. This time, his foot made that step back as his chest started to beat quicker and his cheeks to heat up further. You smiled up at him with a feline-like tilt of your head.

Again, the delinquent let out another one of his annoyed grumbling to get you to stop and spare his heart from bursting out of his chest. Fortunately, you did and stopped a few feet away from him. “You really do like being a menace, huh?”

“Can you blame me? You’re fun to tease.”

He scoffed despite finding your interactions amusing. “Just because I’m choosing to walk around with you doesn’t make you any less of a pain in my ass.”

You nodded with a pout, looking downcast. “Oh, of course, I’m well aware. My bad…” But just as he thought your teasing was over, that smirk returned. “But you aren’t exactly doing anything about it now, are you?”

Fuck. “You… ” He said with a grumble, scowling past his fuming cheeks. You remained unbothered by his punk facade and smiled.

“Yes? Got something to say? I’m all ears.”

Jotaro did have something to say but all it took for his words to fail him was you leaning close to him out of the blue in the middle of his thoughts. His heart skipped a beat and in another subconscious act, he took another step back until he made contact with the rocks behind-

“Agh!” He exclaimed as a zap of electricity shot through his shoulder, shocking him momentarily before he pulled away in an instant. “The hell?”

You stopped with your playful antics and switched for genuine concern as you drew away from him. “Oh my god, did I push it too far?”

Jotaro shook his head, rubbing the affected area of his shoulder. “It wasn’t you. It’s…” He looked back to see what caused that tiny spark. There behind him was an oddly placed electric outlet with one socket. “This?”

He stepped aside for you to see as well. “Who would install an outlet in the middle of this place?” You said. “This place isn’t a resting spot; from a practical standpoint, it’s installed way too high up for anything to be plugged in.”

Was it always there when we got here? Jotaro furrowed his brows, trying to remember if it was the case.

Just then, the faint voices of a complaining elderly American and a whining Frenchman came within their earshot. “Mr. Joestar and Pol’s back. We should return to the guys and step away from that faulty installation.”

The delinquent glared at the outlet accusingly once more, before giving up and sighing. “Fine.” He shoved his hands into his pant pockets and joined you on the way back.

However, as minute as it was, he could still feel the lingering aftershocks from his shoulder.

---

One history lesson and a failed attempt at a satisfying pee session later, the group collectively decided to make a quick stop at a nearby open cafe to discuss what to do next as the sun started to set.

You weren’t one to pass up on a group discussion so while your delinquent friend chose to stand nearby, you pulled a chair from another table and took up a space beside Polnareff.

“We could make it to Cairo in two days, but we're all compromised. Why don't we spend tonight and tomorrow in Luxor to take a break?” Avdol said.

“We should! Since we got to Egypt, our enemies have been getting stronger,” Polnareff said in return, groaning more from being tired than frustrated. “We've just barely been winning. Hell, we’d all be probably dead if it weren’t for Y/N's Stand getting us out of big trouble.“

“I agree. While I don’t mind protecting ourselves, I’d appreciate it if everyone could at least take a breather so our minds can rest. Maybe in that way, we can fight this new batch of enemies with better strategies than just simply facing them head-on,” you said, earning the group’s collective nod of agreement.

“Speaking of dealing with our foes head-on,” Pol craned over his shoulder to look at the delinquent still standing in the same spot, picking something off his sleeves. “Hey, Jotaro! We all agreed to take a mini rest day. I already know you’ll agree to it too but I’m just letting you know, pal!”

You turned to look at him also noticing the repetitive action from your fellow teenager, but you kept your attention on what he was picking that made him scowl with irritation- Coins, discarded bottle caps, safety pins, etc. In the background, the radio had switched from tunes to static.

“Mr. Joestar, are you feeling alright?” At Avdol’s question, you and Polnareff returned their attention to the older adult currently grasping the wrist of his prosthetic hand, which seemed to twitch involuntarily in the case that he wasn’t pranking them.

“I-I’m okay. I probably didn’t calibrate the joints in this bad boy enough.” The elderly man clenched his artificial fist and stood. “Enough of that, let’s find ourselves a hotel for now.” You and the others nodded, standing after him.

Heading out, you waited for the others to go first before you approached Jotaro. On his back, a couple of stray caps stuck to his gakuran. “You seem preoccupied,” you said as you plucked the items off his clothes.

“You think?” He said, dripping with monotone sarcasm. “Let’s just head to that hotel. I want to take a nap.” You gestured for him to go ahead so you could follow close behind.

However, as they passed by a nearby man working on carpentry, you heard the person cry out in pain the further they got away from him. You paused and turned around only to see a hammer flying straight at the clueless delinquent.

Jotaro could only notice what had happened once Silent Sanctuary swiftly caught the hammer by its handle a couple of inches away from colliding with his head. He stared at the object with surprise and drifted his gaze to you with gratitude.

“What? Did you hit your fingers?” Polnareff said. You returned your focus to the source and found the same carpenter hunched on the ground, crying with pain as he clutched the area near his cheek, whose skin was badly punctured by the three nails in his mouth. “Be more careful!”

While the Frenchman berated the poor guy, the hammer held in your Stand’s cloth continued to push against its hold, strongly drawn to the delinquent as it wobbled. You watched it do so with curiosity and he did too with you. Either way, the group left the man to his injuries and headed back to the city.

You stepped past the many locals, keeping close to the delinquent’s side. One of them lightly bumped against your shoulder and with an apology ready, you turned to look at the said person- a white-haired woman in a red hood, black skirt and leggings, and red shoes.

She didn’t look back at you or say anything, but you did your part and went about your day.

As the afternoon came to a close and evening took its place in the sky, the team managed to find a standard hotel and much like their time in Singapore, Mr. Joestar booked enough rooms for 3 pairs with the same room assignments.

The second you and Jotaro unlocked the door to your room, you spoke up first. “Alright, both of us can agree that there’s something wrong with you or at least something’s happening around you, right?”

“Bottle cap and spare change sticking to my pants and uniform isn’t exactly normal. Then there was that hammer wanting to hit me.” He groaned, crossing his arms. “I just recovered from a stab wound and life decides that a concussion should be next to my list of grievances.”

You huffed, smirking. “Who could’ve guessed inanimate objects would take a liking to you too?” You said even as stared at you pointedly. “Giving your posse of fan girls a run for their money.”

Jotaro scoffed, rolling his eyes. “The flying tools weren’t noisy or obnoxious. There’s that at least.”

Both of you stepped inside and almost immediately, the lights flickered and several small items began to shake from their spot. “It’s happening again…” You walked further in and eyed the metal jar decor that slowly inched off the bedside table. “It’s only affecting specific objects.”

With one glance at each other, you reached for the jar and held it firmly in your hands. Between your palms, the decor pushed against your grasp towards the direction of your fellow teenager. He cocked his head and stepped into a different location only for the jar’s pull to follow him. Behind him, the smaller items had dragged themselves to him and stuck to any spot of his body.

All of which were made of metal.

“Magnets,” Jotaro said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Damnit, I became a human magnet. That explains the annoying things being glued to me. But how did this happen?”

“Do you think it had anything to do with the minor shock you got back at the Valley? You know, with the out-of-place outlet?” You replied.

He frowned as he reached over to rub his shoulder where he got briefly electrocuted. “Maybe. Nothing else was strange but that random socket.” He narrowed his eyes. “Was that a Stand?”

“Can Stands come in the form of mundane, inanimate objects?”

“… Did you forget the ship? The car? The damn sun?”

“I said mundane, genius,” you retorted. “If that’s the case, then should we be concerned for everything now? We’re not safe around people, animals, and now random things in this place.”

Jotaro sighed, sitting down on his side of the bed with his hat over his eyes and his back against the headboard. “I can’t be bothered to think about whatever I have going on tonight. I just want to get some sleep.”

You sat next to him, tucking your legs underneath the sheets. “You do know I’ll start talking your ears off tomorrow the second I wake up in the morning.”

“It’s nothing new.” He looked at you. “You always talk my ears off when you get the chance.”

“But you’ve gotten used to it, haven’t you?” You scooted closer to him until your shoulders touched. “I’m surprised you haven’t snapped back at me for my never-ending speeches or dismissed me at any point of this trip.”

The delinquent kept his focus on you, searching your face as his mind looked for the words to say in return. He averted his gaze away shortly after and said, “Like I said, your constant talking isn’t anything new…”

“Not even a single ‘bitch’ for me?”

He pressed his lips into a firm line, his body tensing for a split second before he answered with a quiet, “… No.”

You quirked an eyebrow at his sentiment, a small playful smile growing on your face. “Oh? What’s this? Has the menacing delinquent done a quick introspection? Never expected that in my bingo card.”

“Shut up, woman.”

You let out a huff, still smiling. “Close enough.” You puffed out both your pillows and made yourself comfortable against the mattress. “I suggest you lie down completely unless you wanna wake up with an aching back.” Jotaro nodded and let Star Platinum switch the ceiling lights off as he rested his back on the sheets, his head on the pillows, and an arm laid open.

“The first thing we’re doing tomorrow is finding a solution to your magnet problem…,” you muttered, words slurring as you grew sleepy. Subconsciously, you inched yourself closer to him, resting your head on his shoulder. “Before we… move on to… Cairo…”

“Mm.” He hummed as his arm wrapped itself around your back. “Sounds good…”

---

The first thing you and Jotaro did the morning after Polnareff woke and nagged the whole group to breakfast outside their windows was what you had said to him: Find the source of his magnetism and figure out the person behind it.

But where do we start? Do we return to the Valley of the Kings to find that outlet or skip that and track the user? How though? It could literally be anyone. Your mind paced a million times over trying to figure out what to do. What’s our game plan here?

“You know you don’t need to stress this much, right?” The delinquent said, perched on the edge of his bed watching you walk back and forth. “I’m the one affected. Not you. We also have to eat…”

“I know that but who knows what could happen if we just let this slide any longer?” You replied. “There’s always a catch with this type of stuff. What could be harmless at first could become a threat down the line; so we should come up with a solution to this at least and then we can do the other not-so-threatening things next.”

He crossed his arms. “How harmful could it possibly get?”

“You’re gonna risk finding out?” He shrugged and you sighed. “Of course, you would. You know what? Fine. Let’s join Pol and the others for breakfast then I can return to stressing the fuck out.”

“Again… You don’t have to-”

“Alright then!” You clapped your hands once and headed for the door. You turned to look over your shoulder and smiled. “Food first, plan later!”

Jotaro rolled his eyes and stood to follow you out, only to get hit in the back by the nearby metal chair. He grunted and looked back with an irritated scowl. Once he faced forward again, you were there staring at him with a cocked brow and a face that screamed “I told you so.”

“Don’t.” You gave him one cocky glance over before proceeding out onto the hallway.

Your point only got proven even more as both of you walked down the area. The magnetism of his body had managed to cause a scene with three elderly women and the metal embellishments of their skirts, all of which had both of you intervene quickly with you providing appropriate apologies and him turning away to avoid peeking any senior undergarments.

Things only got worse as the nearby idle room service trolleys started reacting to his presence. He caught onto the noise of cutlery growing louder and not a minute later, he spotted a collection of steel forks and table knives flying straight in their direction. “Y/N. Run.” He grabbed your wrist and bolted with you tugged behind him.

You caught onto the problem and as soon as the kitchenware reached close enough, Sanctuary acted accordingly and shot out a wide strip of rose gold fabric to shield both of you from getting impaled. However, as you were about to round the corner, more cutlery flew through the air at alarming speeds in front of you.

Star Platinum’s precise barrage was the next to deflect the incoming forks and knives. With the way cleared, he increased his speed and ran out of the hotel hallway before any other kitchenware could find his location.

Eventually, you reached the hotel’s escalator leading down to the lobby and Jotaro ushered you to go first. You did and he trailed behind you. “Damnit. I hate that you’re right. Whatever magnet crap I’ve found myself in got worse.”

“I’d love to show off my smug laugh but we should deal with this first. Come on.” You couldn’t wait for the machinery to bring you to the ground floor so you continued to walk down the moving stairs, but another grunt caused you to turn back to see the delinquent stuck on the escalator’s steel steps, both feet and hands glued to its surface.

“Shit,” he cursed, struggling to get up. Star’s hands manifested to at least help push him up. “I lost my damn balance, now this?!”

You were about to help him but as soon as your back was turned, several strings with metal beads flew past you and further ensnared his body against the steps, wrapping around him with its thin strands and making Star’s efforts useless.

Someone rushed down the escalator steps and you quickly turned around to see a familiar red-hooded woman reach the bottom floor with a few of the same strings hung loosely around her waist.

The Stand user. “Hey!”

“Y/N!” You snapped your attention back to your companion, still struggling to free himself to no avail. At the same time, the woman weaved her way into the forming crowd. Damnit. “It’s getting too tight. I… I have to-” His words got cut off as Star’s fist readied to smash the machine he was stuck on.

“No, don’t!” You exclaimed. “You’ll just make more debris and be buried in them. I’ll look for the emergency stop.”

“Then you better hurry. I’m getting too close to the ground floor.”

You quickly reached the bottom steps and stepped to the side. There near the steps was the red button with the words “In case of an emergency” written around it. You pressed it without a moment’s hesitation and the escalator began slowing down, and just as the delinquent reached the bottom floor, the steps stopped.

Star Platinum went to work immediately and pulled off the strings that entangled his user’s body, tossing the freed strands far off into the distance and away from his magnetic field. His hands detached from the steel and ignoring the onlooking locals, you reached out to grab them and helped pull him up.

And as if a switch had been flipped, the magnetic force in his feet disappeared completely. He staggered forward and in turn, you lost balance and stumbled back onto the nearby statue, hands flailing to find something to grab onto.

As your palm found a solid surface, you yelped and recoiled immediately as a tiny zap of electricity shot through your hand. To your misfortune, the same bizarre outlet made itself known again. In that same second, you could feel the air grow tense around you with an invisible “pull”.

“Y/N,” he called out. “You okay?”

You raised a hand to stop him from approaching. “I’m fine but I got zapped too.” You stepped aside to reveal the Stand. “Guess you don’t have the right to say I have to relax, hm?” He cursed under his breath. “But what’s done is done. I saw the lady responsible for this whole mess and if I were to guess, she might still be nearby if her Stand’s here.”

Jotaro nodded and with you taking the lead, both of you pushed past the surrounding people and out the hotel’s entrance. “What did she look like?”

“White hair. Red hood. Black skirt. Red shoes,” you said as you surveyed the streets for the target. “She sort of stands out among the rest. You’ll see her when you see her.”

“Already did,” the delinquent said with Star’s crystal clear gaze fixed eastward. “She’s standing by that building’s entrance watching us from the distance.”

You acknowledged his report and made a move toward her only to find out your wrist had attached itself to Jotaro’s arm. “Now this?” He looked at their joint limbs and back at you. You groaned and continued running. “Whatever. Let’s just get to her. Is she still at the same spot?”

There was no resistance from him as he followed your footsteps, wrists still glued to each other. “She’s making a run for it.” He scoffed next. “But it’s more like she’s going for a casual jog by the looks of it. Like she’s taunting us.”

You breached past several more locals and made it to a small empty street where the woman currently was, her pace unhurried and brisk. Oh, she has the audacity to treat us like toys? Not even taking this seriously? For some reason, that fueled an inner level of petty you never knew you had and led you to sprint even faster.

Sanctuary acted on your command and manifested several of her silk fabrics, intending to bind the enemy user. However, you could spot the grin on her lips as she threw back a large pouch of bolts in your direction. You came to an abrupt halt and diverted the fabrics back to serve as a shield.

Just as you thought you were in the clear, several windows shattered all around the pair, and out flew batches of metal crafts, furniture, and electrical components. Instinctively, you and Jotaro huddled close to each other as both your Stands deflected and blocked the incoming projectiles, with Silent Sanctuary forming an arc on your side while Star Platinum released one of his barrages.

Then there was the car that pushed the teenagers down the empty street and against the wooden fences at the edge. You had his Stand to thank for taking the brunt of the vehicle’s hit while you had your Stand to thank for cushioning the impact against the wood.

When the dust settled, the woman was gone.

And to your late realization, your back pressed against the delinquent’s unable to detach without placing greater effort. “Great. Just great.”

“If you’re right, then she’s still close by. We can search around and deal with her properly then,” he said.

“Uh excuse me, are you forgetting something?” You looked back at him with a deadpan. “Do you want to go looking for her like this? What maneuver shall we use: Crab style or carrying-me-around-like-your-backpack style?” You retorted.

“Shut up and let me try something.” You threw your hands as he turned both of you so he held the fence, while Star hovered out of him and grasped both your arms. “Run a few feet away immediately at the count of three. One. Two…” And with one loud “Ora”, the Stand yanked your body off his and set you down as far as it could reach.

Following his instructions, you immediately ran a couple of feet away as soon as your feet touched the ground. For a second, his plan worked and he turned to see the outcome, but the strong magnetic pull returned not too long after and you yelped the second time as you were flung back to Jotaro’s magnetic field.

Jotaro caught you with a grunt, staggering back a few steps as his arms encircled you. You opened your eyes and found yourself back against his body, this time in a more intimate position with your front glued to his. “So, your plan worked… until it didn’t.”

He said nothing in return, looking away from you with hints of red dusting his cheeks underneath the shade of his hat. You puffed your cheeks as you pulled away enough so you could plant your chin on his chest with traces of warmth present on your face. “Oh come on. This isn’t the first time you held me this close.”

“That… That was different…”

“Was it though?” You hummed. Despite their current situation, you couldn’t help but tease him for a bit by raising your hand to tip his hat. “And we both know we’re used to close proximity like this by this point.”

“But let’s put our game face on because like you said, we can still track her down if my theory’s right.” Jotaro glanced down at you this time and with one look at your determined smile, he nodded with stoic, tinted cheeks. “We need some sort of plan though. Clearly, chasing her won’t do us any good if she anticipates it.”

By that time, a group of curious children had gathered to see the two 17-year-old teenagers seemingly get all close and cuddly in front of their eyes. “We should discuss whatever you have in mind somewhere more private then,” the delinquent said under his breath.

“Ah…” You looked over at your new audience. “Right. Can we at least change positions to something more manageable? Walk-wise? Unless you want to carry me.”

Jotaro made a low sound of agreement and through several, awkward attempts to move against the magnetic pull that may or may not have involved “suggestive” movements, you found yourself in a more… appropriate hold with your back against his chest.

“You lead the way this time.”

He nodded and took a step forward. You moved with him. “Ah, good grief. We better have a way to beat her by the time we get there…”

“Don’t worry. I think I have something in mind.”

---

An hour had passed since then and with a plan now up their sleeves, they ventured out once more and encountered the Stand user lounging by the walls, arrogant as usual with a cigarette in one hand and the other hidden behind her back.

“Look who’s back,” she said, casually turning to the pair. “Had fun being glued to each other, hm?”

“Cut the bullshit bit-”

She groaned and dropped her used stick to the ground. “It’s Mariah. You could’ve asked for my name before calling me other terms, boy.”

“I don’t know if you know this Mariah,” you started, making sure you enunciated her name out loud. “But we don’t give a damn what we call you. I could call you a derogatory slur for siding and believing a human leech with a petty grudge, but I’m more classy than that.”

Jotaro huffed at your blunt words, though from their talks during spare time, you did suggest using a variety of other unsavory terms for their enemies out of the fun of it, ranging from “ass licking cuck” to “cock sucking pussy”- both of which were two words more than his go-to token “bitch” and a string of words he did not expect coming from you.

There was a slight twitch to Mariah’s eye and a subtle frown to her otherwise smug expression but she sneered at you to make up for her break in character. “You’re talking big for a high school teenager. Why don’t you start chasing me down and attack me again using that Stand of yours instead of wasting time with your annoying little chatter?”

“How about you strike first this time so you could have a turn?” You said. “It’s only fair game and justifies this trial of yours once we beat you to a pulp when we’re done.”

Mariah let out a snort before bursting into laughter. “Fair game? Trial? What are you, a judge?” She continued, mocking. “You two going to give me a death sentence, hm?”

“I’m just saying; you want a turn or not? Because I know you know my Stand can easily catch you, lady.”

She narrowed her eyes at both of you and in the next minute, she smirked and stayed put with her free hand on her hip. “I don’t think I want to. Keep those turns for yourself. Not like it matters.”

“Okay,” you shrugged. “Your loss.”

A strip of Silent Sanctuary’s cloth shot out of you and darted straight to Mariah. Expecting it, she grinned and tossed a switchblade she held behind her up into the air, cutting through the electrical cables above her. Due to both of your magnetic fields, the loose wires immediately curved and flew straight to the two teenagers.

But you were prepared.

The second Mariah threw the blade, Star Platinum launched off a sizable rock hidden behind Jotaro toward and over the woman. Wrapped around it was another one of Sanctuary’s fabric strips. As a result, your body detached itself from the delinquent and went flying together with the rock.

He rushed forward to strengthen his magnetic field, drawing the cables away from you and towards him instead. At close range, Star snatched every stray wire and held it firm in one gloved fist.

Still caught off guard by the sudden toss, Mariah stood in the middle of whatever the two had plotted with a frustrated frown, trying to come up with anything to flee. But, as you said, your Stand could easily catch her. Once mid-air, Sanctuary launched several strips of silk toward the red-hooded woman rapidly, binding her arms and torso.

The second you hit the ground, cushioned by your Stand’s spare fabrics, Sanctuary lifted Mariah off the dirt. It spun her round and round until it built up enough centrifugal force to launch her toward the delinquent.

Jotaro held his hat over his eyes as his Stand hovered before him, and with his signature battle cry, Star Platinum landed one heavy jab at the enemy Stand user, followed by his trademark fist barrage. With one last uppercut, Star sent her battered body back in the air.

He intended it to end there considering how crippled and incapacitated she was, but you apparently had other plans as a strip of rose gold quickly caught Mariah while airborne, and with no time wasted, her body flung into a large upward arc. With enough momentum, Silent Sanctuary finished the fight by slamming her to the ground as hard as she did with Steely Dan.

With the enemy Stand user dealt with, the tense magnetic air surrounding him dissipated as her Stand ability became null as its user.

You walked over to Jotaro and went over to the shallow crater where Mariah lay defeated and unconscious. “Defendant,” From the inner crevices of his soul, he pocketed one hand and tipped his hat saying, ”With the jury’s verdict, you are hereby declared guilty…”

He subtly glanced at you, wanting you to come up with something to close his quip. However, knowing how silly his one-liners were for you, he might as well come up with something to finish it himself.

To his surprise, you beckoned him to lean over, only for you to snatch the hat off his head and wear it on yours.

Then, copying his stance, you placed a hand on your hip and tipped his hat over your eyes, holding one side of his hat’s visor. With one smooth sweep of your fingers across its edge, you turned your body together with the movement and stared down at the fallen enemy with your closing remark:

“Court adjourned.”

That was… Jotaro stared at you with wide eyes, his cheeks heating up at an alarming pace. I… He honestly did not expect you to join him in this otherwise dorky gesture, more so within a minute. But as you did so with his motif, his chest raced a million miles a minute and his stomach fluttered with butterflies he never knew he had.

You knew what you did and you didn’t hide it with the way you smiled slyly up at him. You removed the hat and placed it back on his head. He didn’t even realize he hadn’t moved since you made your ending statement. “Let’s check up on Mr. Joestar and the others and get some brunch while we’re at it.” With a playful pat on his shoulder, you went on your way.

Still reeling, he straightened up and held his face as he willed the blush from his cheeks to go away before the others saw him. Especially Polnareff.

“Come on!” You called out from a distance. Jotaro took a deep breath and with his cheeks cooled down significantly, he turned to follow you. “Hurry! I heard a window get smashed nearby!”

"Can... Can you say that again?"

"Absolutely not."

You and Jotaro ran to the sound of commotion from the street nearby and upon arrival, they were greeted by a young man with dark hair and bright blue eyes sprinting in their direction, holding two young boys dressed in oversized clothing in his arms. Behind them was an adult with a weird hairstyle and colored shades, wielding an axe and an oddly-shaped shadow with eyes.

Upon seeing the teenagers, the man made a panicked gesture to shoo them away. While they didn’t run away, they stopped in their tracks and watched. Wait a second. The delinquent narrowed his eyes at the people in front of them: The man himself wearing his grandfather’s clothes and the two children with him dressed in Polnareff’s get-up and Avdol’s robes.

We’re they- “Mr. Joestar?!” “Old man?!” You and he exclaimed simultaneously.

“Stay back, kiddos!” The man grinned and turned back to them, a youthful glint sparking in his eyes. He placed the much younger Frenchman and Egyptian down, both of which waddled behind him. “It’s been a while since I’ve felt this energized.” He cracked his knuckles dramatically and fizzled from his arms was an abundance of pure, channeled energy. Hamon.

“Joseph Joestar’s got this!”

---

Though the group planned to have yesterday be their break period, considering what had happened to both parties, their rest day was far from relaxing. From dealing with magnetic Stands to age-reverting ones, nothing had surprised them by this point.

But time waited for no one. By the time they aged back to normal and the following morning dawned upon them, the group progressed on their trip from Luxor to Cairo. According to the Foundation’s doctor, Kakyoin would stay behind for a few hours but would join them sometime late afternoon once his final check-up was done.

With a train ride and a drive down a couple of streets, they reached the capital at last. They began asking the locals yet again for the location of DIO’s headquarters using Mr. Joestar’s spirit pictures, starting from the outskirts of the city and working their way to the center.

Most of the day was spent with no progress and no news about the whereabouts of the vampire’s base and by the time afternoon came, the group was exhausted from both the constant questioning from people and the heat. Their search brought them to an open cafe where a handful of locals lounged and drank away from the desert heat.

You and the guys asked around and yet again, they provided no valuable information needed to progress their mission. That was until one of them spoke up claiming he knew where DIO was.

But with the way he presented himself with confidence as he played with his cards, you couldn’t help but be suspicious of his motives. Beside you, both Jotaro and Avdol shared the same stance.

Unfortunately, after losing to a 50/50 guessing game, your hunch was right once the group witnessed Polnareff’s soul get taken out of his body by the man before you named Daniel J. Darby, a professional gambler and the user of the Stand Osiris; and according to him, the only way to return the Frenchman’s soul was to beat him in any game.

Mr. Joestar was the first to challenge him with a game involving alcohol, coins, and breaking surface tension. If any of Jotaro’s and Avdol’s stories of the old man were right, then he should be able to use his tricks to beat Darby. You watched as they took turns dropping the coins into the full glass, your heart skipping a beat at every drop of the elder Joestar’s coins, and stayed nonchalant when he used a wet cotton to cheat.

Anything to beat the enemy after all.

However, by the end of the game, the notorious gambler lived up to his name and outsmarted the trickster Joestar at his game. The coin hadn’t dropped yet Osiris had managed to snatch his soul away and convert it into chips just like Polnareff.

By then, you looked among yourselves and pondered who should go next. As wise as he was, Avdol wouldn’t be able to face Darby with a steady mind considering how frequently his panic and neurosis were evident throughout their encounter with this enemy user.

While you were a confident person with no issues taking risks, you didn’t take pride in yourself when it came to any form of gambling. Never in your life would you imagine yourself playing a guessing game that would most likely be rigged against you which would end up losing more than you earned.

Which left the Jotaro to take the player’s seat.

In some way, it made sense despite the delinquent most likely never getting involved in any gambling. Among the three of you, he was the most calm and aloof when it came to high-risk situations like this, and with the game being Poker which involved a ton of bluffing and mental manipulation, you trusted him to beat Darby at his game with his wits.

With the keen eyes of Star Platinum, no card tricks and cheats would be utilized unless the adult wanted more broken fingers. Eventually, a kid was brought in to help deal the deck.

At first, the game was in favor of Darby with him having the better set than his opponent and thus is able to take half his soul chips, but in an unexpected turn of events once the next set of cards were distributed to both players, Jotaro never touched nor glanced at his cards.

You furrowed your brows with uncertainty, Avdol was on the brink of another panic session, and Darby became confused and frustrated on why the delinquent refused to look at his hand.

Instead of playing his hand, he opted to play in a competition on who got to raise the highest pot. On his turn, he wagered both Avdol and Kakyoin’s souls into the game, placing two stacks of six white chips alongside his remaining three. The gambler smirked and evened the bet with both Polnareff’s and Mr. Joestar’s souls.

But he wasn’t done because, on his next raise, Jotaro glanced at you briefly with an indescribable gaze before pulling out a new stack of white chips, wagering your soul next which unnerved the master gambler. Naturally, you were anxious knowing your life was on the line, but then again, when was it not?

At this rate, you could tell the cogs began to run full time in Darby’s mind, constantly doubting and growing paranoid about the situation at hand, more so after the delinquent showcased Star Platinum’s speed via a quick lighting of his cigarette and the sudden appearance of a cold drink.

The final nail in the coffin was yet another raise from the stoic teenager, placing a new stack on the table as he wagered his mother’s soul. Everyone was appalled, you included. Is he this confident that his cards are great? Did Star do something? On Holly’s behalf, your chest tightened with anxiety, and beads of sweat rolled down your temple.

This meant Darby needed to even the pot with something of equal value to two stacks of soul chips such as, as cleverly suggested by Jotaro, the secrets to DIO’s Stand. At that, Darby noticeably panicked having found himself trapped in a corner. With added pressure from the delinquent’s rising voice, the adult trembled from where he stood.

The audience waited with bated breath for his next move. You kept your hands clenched on your lap still trusting in his plan, Avdol began hyperventilating together with the kid dealer, and the man stayed frozen in his spot as his hair turned gray, unable to make that final decision.

In the end, Daniel J. Darby ended up losing in spirit before he could say “call”.

And now with the adult out of commission, all the souls he had stolen were set free, including Polnareff’s and Joseph’s as they were spirited back into their bodies.

Avdol went over to check what the teenager’s cards were and with you joining him, your heart momentarily stopped while the Egyptian beside you keeled over on the verge of passing out.

Jotaro’s hand was trash- no pairs and all cards being among the lowest values of the deck. I could’ve died for real. We all could’ve died. You knew the game was rigged in one way or another since Poker was the gambler’s favored activity, but knowing he was defeated regardless gave off another level of relief upon yourself and admiration toward the delinquent.

“Well, now we can’t ask him that question now, can we?” Mr. Joestar said, looking down at the currently giggling man twitching on the floor. “Let’s head out. The Speedwagon Foundation must have brought Kakyoin in by now.”

“Oh, goody!” Pol said excitedly. “Perfect timing too! I saw this cool place with a bunch of gals and games and I really want to drag him there-”

“Are you seriously going to spend your time doing that instead of asking around where DIO could be, Polnareff?” Avdol said in return, composing himself after nearly passing out a minute ago. “Miss Holly’s life is still on the line. A crucial line at that.”

“I mean I was planning to do that by night because I’m sure most people would be at home, right? And if that wasn’t enough, Kakyoin and I could ask more people while we hang out,” Polnareff grinned. “We get to have some time and we might have more chances for any information about DIO’s HQ. Sounds like a plan, eh?”

Mr. Joestar whacked the Frenchman by the back of his head. “Whatever Polnareff.” Other than their minor squabble, the three older members of the group went on ahead. You smiled and shook your head, wanting to join them.

But you paused in your tracks as something light tugged at you from behind. You turned to look over your shoulder to see a hand holding onto the fabric of your uniform top and you trailed further up until you met Jotaro’s averted, almost-shy gaze. “Something wrong?”

He said nothing as he dropped his hand only to step forward until his chest pressed up against your back. “Jot- oh!” You squeaked a bit when the delinquent suddenly tucked his chin on your head, wrapping his arms around you from behind as he slouched over you. “You alright?”

“Quiet,” he answered gruffly but you didn’t need his response for an answer. You felt his heart pound rapidly in his chest, his breathing coming out in deep stutters, and his hands shaking from where it overlapped over you. Your eyes softened and you leaned back against him, reaching up to hold his trembling hands with yours.

Like Avdol and yourself, he was just as terrified as you were; scared of the idea of his plan not working and sacrificing everyone’s lives in vain.

“Do you want to keep holding me as we walk? Or should I give you a minute to calm down?”

His arms tightened around you and his cheek pressed itself on your head. “Keep walking… we don’t want to lose track of the old man…”

You huffed and patted his hand, smiling. “Okay.”

---

Evening came by earlier than they had anticipated.

By the time they arrived at their hotel, Kakyoin was there waiting patiently in the lobby. Once the doors opened to the group, he turned around and approached them with a welcoming smile. Last Jotaro saw him, his eyes were bandaged but without them, he saw the vertical scars over and under both his eyes.

“Nice battle scars Nori,” you said with a warm smile of your own as you walked over to give him a friendly pat on the arm. “Good to know your eyesight’s still functioning.”

“You’re right,” Kakyoin chuckled. “Still being able to see is great, but it’s not so great to be sensitive to light from now on.”

You shrugged. “It’s a small price to pay. I believe you’ll adjust to it in no time.”

“You’re sensitive to light now?” Polnareff said with a pout beginning to form on his face. “But… But I had plans…”

All three teenagers turned to the Frenchman quizzically. “Plans? Like what?” Kakyoin said in return.

“Hey everyone,” Joseph called out. “Avdol and I will be booking the rooms again with the usual assignments, but a little while after, we’re going to talk over drinks about our plan moving forward.”

“Time’s running short so we’re going to prepare ahead of time just in case we find DIO’s headquarters as early as tomorrow,” Avdol said in continuation. “Anyone care to join us?”

Jotaro couldn’t care less about any of that and would rather act on the spot, but you heard the invitation and immediately chimed in with a quick “I will”.

At this point, he’s not going to deny being disappointed when you decided to be in the grown-up discussion group. He wanted to offer to take another of their casual stroll down the evening streets but apparently, you attended to other plans.

You looked up at him, questioning if he wanted to go with you and he slowly shook his head. You nodded and headed over to the two adults and walked away in the direction of the front desk, leaving him with the boy who had cherries for earrings and a guy with a penchant to do some fuck shit.

“With them on their way, what was it again about your plans? Kakyoin said. “You seemed very eager to talk about it.”

At the mention of nightly plans, Polnareff grinned with that excited gleam in his eyes. “About that! I had a little chat with Mr. Joestar and Avdol about us hanging out tonight! I figured if we’re going to go all out starting tomorrow, might as well have this night for ourselves!”

And some fuck shit it was.

“Oh a night out,” the red-haired teenager said. “That… seems nice. I’d like to do something fun once in a while. What do you have in mind?”

The Frenchman chuckled and slung his arm over Kakyoin’s shoulder. “Oh buddy let me tell you. On the way here, I’ve already spotted a ton of areas we could go to. There’s a nearby arcade with a bunch of games you told me about coupled with similar stuff of that genre. There’s also a bookstore down the street that I could’ve sworn had some of your favorite manga being shown for display.”

“Did you manage to find any VHS stores too? I’ve been wanting to add something to my soon-to-buy list for when I get back.”

“I was about to mention that yes,” Pol said. “There was indeed a VHS store near the arcade. I’m sure we can browse their catalog with something that will interest you.”

“Including the latest releases like The Lost Boys and Full Metal Jacket?”

“You bet your ass, my cherry-licking friend.”

Kakyoin beamed at Polnareff’s eager statement. “You’re quite the persuasive one, aren’t you? Because I’m becoming more interested in joining you.”

Jotaro watched the both of them chat like old-time pals, waiting for his time to insert his opinions on all this. This talk of hanging out for tonight and not once had the Frenchman turned to Jotaro for his input. It seemed like his plans were intended solely for him and Kakyoin only with the way he kept being buddy-buddy with the other teenager in the room. He bit back a scoff and resisted rolling his eyes in annoyance.

Aren’t you forgetting someone, asshole? As if sensing the negative vibe radiating from the delinquent, Polnareff finally turned to him with a cocked brow. “Aha! Looks like someone’s being grumpy today.”

“You think?” Jotaro said, his irritation unfiltered.

The Frenchman walked over to him and placed both hands on his shoulders with a sigh. “Jotaro, my cigarette-smoking little brother, I really do want to include you in our nightly exploration but I’m gonna have to seat you out on this one buddy.”

“And why the hell would you do that?”

“You see, in addition to all the aforementioned locations I shared, I actually intend to divulge our cherry friend here with some juicy Polnareff secret techniques on the way.”

“Secret… techniques?” Kakyoin asked in the background.

At that, Pol grinned and said, “I intend to teach him the ways of talking to the lady folk, and not just the getting to know them phase of it, but including the whole consistency of keeping it close with them for the long run.”

The red-haired teenager choked on his spit. “What?”

Oh, hell no. Almost immediately, Jotaro shrugged off the Frenchman’s hands off his shoulders with a deadpan expression. The action only made him smile wider as he raised his hands in surrender. “I told you. You wouldn’t like it.” He looked over at Kakyoin. “I mean, why would I give the basics to a lady killer like our delinquent friend over here?”

“Hey,” Jotaro grumbled.

“Ah my bad, monsieur. What I meant to say was why would I teach the basics of finding love when Mr. Bad Boy already had set his eyes on one?”

Polnareff glanced over at Kakyoin, who got the memo and smirked after him. “You’re making all the convincing points tonight, Pol.”

Between the two of them snickering to themselves, Jotaro’s cheeks fumed at the blatant observation made. How did they- why would he- “You… you…”

“Now, now.” The Frenchman slung his arm over the delinquent’s shoulders, this time making sure the latter didn’t shrug him off. “Don’t try to deny it. As a citizen of the City of Love, I can tell who’s after who just by a couple of tells and some signs here and there.”

What he wanted now was to bury himself in the dirt, never to reappear while they were here. “I…I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“It’s really obvious,” Kakyoin said. “Even I can see something is going on between you two.”

“Now, even if I can’t offer you the beginner’s guide to love,” Polnareff said next. “What I can offer are some words of advice on how to officially get the girl~”

“What do you-”

“Confess. He means a confession,” Kakyoin supplied succinctly.

His face grew a couple of degrees warmer as he glared at the grinning adult. “Fuck off.”

Much like you, the Frenchman continued with his speech regardless. “Alright listen up. The way to ensure guarantee in sealing the deal to her heart is to find somewhere secluded that’s also scenic.” Jotaro kept silent, admittedly listening to whatever he had in mind. “And then-”

Pol pulled away only to splay his arms wide open and break out in the most dramatic way of giving advice. “You proudly speak your heart out and say ‘Je n’arrete pas de penser a toi ma cherie!’ Then the fireworks explode, the crowds burst into applause, and the musicians start playing in the back-”

The delinquent whacked him firmly behind the head before he could spill more nonsense into the air. “Shut up. Your ramblings are going nowhere.”

“Since he’s been projecting too much of his ideal date, let me pitch an idea that could work for the likes of us more… reserved folks,” the other teenager piped in as the the Frenchman rubbed his head. “Pol’s right in one thing and that’s the seclusion. When you get there, you could start by easing your way into confession by opening a casual conversation. Only when you both are settled in good spirits you start telling her honestly about what you’re feeling towards her.”

“After all, nothing’s more genuine than simply saying the truth.”

Polnareff stared at Kakyoin with surprise and awe. “You know your stuff.”

“I don��t actually. I was just saying some stuff out of my head based on common courteous practices.”

“Both of you, look at me.” The delinquent’s voice brought both their attention back to him, who was least pleased about being the subject of their conversation. “Do I look like I’m able to do whatever the hell you just mentioned?” Neither replied. “Also, why are we even talking about this? Aren’t you two supposed to go out on your nightly escapades or whatever the fuck you said it was?”

“Because I mentioned about picking up ladies and said you couldn’t come because you’re already crushing on-”

“I’m not- Shut up!”

“Jotaro-ssi!” On cue, his heart skipped a bit at the sound of your voice. Everyone turned their attention to you by the stairs. “Mr. Joestar managed to convince maintenance to open the rooftop. You should come check it out!”

He quickly composed himself with a cough and nodded, standing more upright and pocketing his hands to at least keep his cool image intact amidst the flustered nature of his state. “O-Okay…”

Both Kakyoin and Polnareff smirked to themselves and gave him a supporting thumbs-up only for the delinquent to glare holes into their souls before following you up the stairs.

---

“Seems like I caught you in the middle of a conversation with the boys. Mind telling me what it’s about?”

You looked over your shoulder and found him shying away from your gaze. “It’s nothing important. Pol just wanted to hang out with Kakyoin and do some exploration around the city. That’s all.”

“Why didn’t you join them?”

Jotaro didn’t reply for a minute, and then he did. “I wasn’t interested…” He turned to look at you. “How about you? I thought you were busy talking with the old man. Got bored?”

“I was.” You tossed him their room key which he caught. “But after a while, Mr. Joestar got a bit too tipsy with the whiskey and proceeded to ramble about some lady he met somewhere in Japan, but he was all over the place with the details.” You chuckled. “And so I excused myself and a thought came into mind… that maybe you’d like to stargaze with me if you weren’t busy.”

He hummed. “That… sounds nice.” You smiled and continued up the last batch of stairs before reaching the door that waited for them at the top. With a gentle twist, it swung open and the two of you stepped out onto the rooftop.

Above them, the night sky was dotted with hundreds of blinking stars, glowing faintly alongside the moon in the darkness that blanketed the warm glow of the city below. You walked over to the middle of the space and settled down onto the cool concrete, bunching your knees to your chest as you took one deep breath.

The door softly clicked behind you, followed by a pair of footsteps approaching you. For a moment, there was a shuffle of fabric and just as you were about to check what it was, Jotaro had already draped his gakuran over your shoulders, as if on reflex, and sat on the spot beside you.

You held onto the edges of his uniform and tugged them over your body, smiling wider as a familiar warmth engulfed you. For a moment, none of you talked to the other and let the calm evening air fill the silence. You simply gazed up at the sky with awe and watched the tiny orbs of light twinkle.

“Back when we were in the desert, I haven’t noticed how pretty the night sky was here,” you said. “I know you’ve seen them before, but tonight, they’re just as pretty as last time, weren’t they?”

“Mm.” Your eyes still faced the stars but from your peripheral, it wasn’t the case for the delinquent. Not when his head was slightly tilted in your direction when he hummed his answer. Your hands gripped his uniform a bit tighter as you could feel your heart beat faster.

“What are your plans after all this?” You asked.

“After what?”

“After killing DIO… saving your mom… what then?”

A brief pause. “I guess… go back to studying, resume our days as high school students, and do some other stuff…” And then another pause. “Like… visiting a beach in Tokyo. Preferably during sunset or sunrise…”

You glanced at him and felt your lips curl into a smile before you let out a faint giggle. “You still remembered that?” He nodded once. “It was such a random thought though.”

“Not to me. It wasn’t.”

This time, you nodded back with nothing to say. You let go of his uniform and instead fiddled with your fingers as an indiscernible feeling bubbled in you, one that had your stomach filling with butterflies and your chest fluttering with every word he spoke during this moment.

There was that comfortable silence yet again, nothing but the gentle breeze, the faint noise of urban life below, and the occasional chirp of a bird or two to create the ambiance the both of you basked in.

But then, the delinquent shifted from where he sat, and when you looked over to see what he did, you saw him pat his pant pockets with furrowed brows and pink-tinted ears. You had a question about what he was doing, but it was left unsaid when something thin and solid pressed against your chest.

You reached inside his uniform’s pocket and pulled out a small paper bag. “What’s this?” You asked him but all he did was stare at the bag with wide eyes and reddened cheeks. “Did you buy something embarrassing?” You teased as you undid the flap and opened it. “Well, I promise not to tell everyone that you bought…” You pulled out the item in it and your words trailed off.

In your hand was an intricately made cherry blossom hair comb with small golden leaves and tiny rhinestones at the center of each rose-gold flower.

“You… bought this?” Jotaro shied away, nodding once as he held his hat over his eyes. “I mean… it’s gorgeous. It must have been expensive too. But why… would you spend money on a pretty thing like this?”

“I… saw it for sale and…” He curled in on himself as he mumbled the next words. “I wanted to give it… to you…”

What? You held the comb gingerly in your hands and began fidgeting it around, feeling every smooth and rough texture of the accessory. “You bought this… for me?”

Jotaro took a deep breath and faced you with every inch of his cheeks and ears now red. He gestured for you to give the comb to him and with you short-circuiting at the moment, you did what was asked. His eyes narrowed into shy squints as he mumbled, “But let me at least do this…”

Your cheeks grew warm significantly as you inched closer to him. With deft fingers, he tucked any stray hair you had behind your ear and slid the comb’s metal teeth carefully through your locks until it rested neatly on the side of your hair. Once finished, the delinquent gave it one more look over at you and nodded again, before turning away flustered.

No matter how much you sat in silence, your heart couldn’t stop beating hard ever since he gave you that gift, your fingers constantly toying with each other as you processed whatever you had going on in you. You thought back to the times he was there and in doing that, you realized how often he stayed by your side ever since meeting him at school all throughout the whole journey.

At first, you hadn’t thought too much of it. Jotaro was your first true friend you made since your transfer to Japan and you read all the gestures he did for you as platonic, but now, you considered the other option that lie past mere friendship.

All those times where he seemingly just stared at you as if honey dripped from his eyes, that moment where he had found and shielded you with his entire self during your breakdown, his bashful blushes, his willingness to cuddle when he wasn’t the type to do such things.

When he chose to reciprocate and open parts of himself that were hidden beneath his stoicism in the submarine and to be vulnerable in your arms after he distracted your possessed friend away from you, as if to compensate for his inability to communicate his feelings. And now, he had a thoughtful gift he bought for you.

Could it be because…

You glanced at him again and found the delinquent to be focused on the floor, still flustered from minutes ago. Could you actually be feeling this way? You didn’t want to jump to conclusions and possibly make things awkward between you two, but you just had to ask and seek an immediate answer.

To know and confirm whether or not the feelings you recently recognized you had, were mutual.

“Hey…” You started, timid and hesitant, but Jotaro looked over at you as he always did when you called for him. “I… have something I need to get off my chest and you have no other choice but to listen or else I’ll go crazy.”

He huffed and motioned you to continue.

Here it goes. “Take this with a grain of salt or whatever, but I’ll just say it outright. Right now. You can react to it however you want to react, except bursting into a scoff or laughter because I will beat you to the ground for making this embarrassing for me-”

“Good grief. Just say it Y/N-”

“I like you!”

And then the silence returns, more palpable than ever before. You were a blushing mess as you finally blurted out those three words, your chest thundering and your hands clenched into fists on your lap. On the other hand, Jotaro was speechless… a different type of speechless. He stared at you with widened eyes with a blush as deep as yours.

You pressed your lips together and averted your gaze away from him, clutching his uniform tight as you tried to make yourself small. “There… I said it. I think I felt that way ever since Singapore… or maybe even before that. I’m honestly not sure but I had these feelings for you for some time now.”

No response.

And with every second that passed, your embarrassment grew further until it was your turn to raise your voice at him out, flustered. “Could you say something? Your thoughts perhaps? I’m dying over here!”

“You said I could react however I want, right?” You turned to face him with furrowed brows and nodded. “Then feel free to slap me if I ‘reacted’ too much.”

“What do you-”

Your words were left unsaid as Jotaro leaned forward to softly press his lips on yours. You gasped against his kiss, your body stiffening and your heart clawing its way out of your chest.

It was over before you could process or do something in return. He slowly pulled away and hovered near your face, his breath fanning with yours. His hooded gaze found yours and this time, you couldn’t respond. You stared into his aquamarine eyes and waited if he’d continue.

“Jotaro-ssi, I…” He abruptly stood with pressed lips, a choked sound fleeing his throat as he immediately tipped his hat over his heated cheeks and rushed to exit through the door with tense shoulders, closing it behind him.

You sat there for a moment, your mind reeling from the additional surprise the delinquent had for you.

It was mutual. He did like you the same way you liked him.

The floral comb adorning the side of your head seemed to bloom with your emotions. At that thought, a smile blossomed on your face as you lightly touched your lips, still feeling the ghostly touch of his kiss. Now, you want to return it properly.

You got up with his gakuran still draped over you and exited the rooftop.

He couldn’t have gotten that far. If anything… You walked down a couple more flights of stairs to the second floor where your room was. You did give him the room key so if your hunch was correct then, he should be in there. You stopped before your designated hotel room only to see the door was left ajar.

You stepped inside and softly closed the door behind you. Walking further inside, you scanned the sleeping space for any sign of the delinquent. The bed was untouched and the chair was still tucked under the desk, but the glass door to the balcony was open. With the moonlight shining through the curtains, his silhouette was made obvious.

With the same adoration you held, you crossed over the room and stepped back out into the cool evening air. You turned to the side and there he was- sitting on the bench with his hand covering his face.

You silently approached and sat on the empty spot beside him. “Hey…”

Jotaro lowered his hand to his side and still without looking at you, he muttered a quiet “hey.”

Knowing he wouldn’t be able to make the next move, you inched closer to him until your shoulders touched his. “You know… you kinda left before I could say how nice that felt…”

“… Y-You… liked it?”

“Mhm. Just as much as I like you,” you said with a soft smile. You reached up and tenderly cupped his cheek. “And it wouldn’t be fair to you if I don’t return the favor, right?” The delinquent stared at you with shining eyes and subtly leaned on your palm, nodding once.

With your hand guiding his face close, you closed your eyes, leaned forward, and pressed your lips to his. You felt him reciprocate immediately, melting under your touch as he tilted his head to deepen your kiss. You drew back to catch your breath before he sought your lips again. His hands slowly held your waist just as yours held his nape.

This was nice.

It felt… right.

Every time one of you pulled away, the other would return for another and another, already growing addicted to the blossoming affection you mutually shared. In the middle of your kiss, you couldn’t help but smile against his lips and let out a soft giggle as he kept peppering kisses with his smile mirroring yours.

Eventually, you managed to hold back from seeking another by placing two digits between both of your lips. Without masking it, Jotaro pouted a bit as you drew away from him.

Shortly after, both of you remained sitting outside under the stars with your head resting on his shoulder and your hand in his, fingers interlocked with each other. “Guess we’re more than friends now, hm?”

“Yeah… it seems so.”

You chuckled and nuzzled his neck before tucking your chin on his shoulder. “Does this mean we get to call each other with cute petnames now?”

“Don’t get that started,” The delinquent scoffed. “I’m not calling you ‘baby’ or ‘sweetie’ or some other cutesy stuff like that.”

You scrunched your face with him at the mention of those two words. “Oh, hell no. I wouldn’t call you either of those too. I was actually thinking of making our own unique petnames.”

Jotaro cocked a brow and glanced at you. “You have something in mind for me?”

You gazed at him for a solid minute as you thought of what to call him. As you studied his features, you couldn’t help but notice the stars twinkling in the sky behind him and the star-shaped birthmark he had on his skin, and suddenly a thought came to mind.

The lone star glimmering in the darkness of your nightmares, its single light serving as your warm beacon of hope amidst the cold reminder of a forgotten past.

“Starlight.”

You uttered on a whim, the petname coming out naturally. You kept a close look at him and gauged his reaction, hoping it elicited some sort of positive response.

And you got one wherein he covered his mouth and turned away from you, body shaking slightly trying to stifle in a laugh. “Yah!” You swatted his arm and whined, your cheeks growing multiple degrees warmer. “Why are you laughing?!”

He cleared his throat and composed himself. “Sorry. It just came out…”

You narrowed your eyes at him and would’ve called all this off if it hadn’t been for Jotaro squeezing your hand as his way of apologizing and acknowledging your effort. “Well, if you’re gonna laugh about it, how about you try making one for me and see how I react?”

“Yeah, yeah. Give me a second.” He looked over at you and his playful gaze turned fond as he reached into the crevices of his mind to make something up for you. During the whole time, you couldn’t help but feel shy when he looked at you with mild intensity.

With the same soft tone you had when you said his petname, Jotaro said:

“… Sunshine.”

For a split second, your heart skipped a beat at his deep voice saying something as sentimental as ‘sunshine’, but instantly recognizing that fact had resulted in you hiding your mouth behind your hand as you bit back a laugh.

“Oi.”

“See? Not so funny when I laugh at your attempt at a cute name, huh?” You sighed and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek to say she didn’t mean to mock him trying. “Alright, maybe the petnames weren’t meant to be.”

“I think it’s for the best.”

“Should I just stick to calling you ‘Jotaro-ssi’ then?” You said with a teasing little tilt of your head.

“If that’s what you’re used to, then call me that all you want, Y/N-san,” Jotaro said, looking at you with a tiny smirk.

You let out a petulant “hmph” and laid your head on his shoulder, making yourself comfortable with him by your side. In return, he leaned his head on yours.

Even though you treated the petnames as a joke, you tucked your creations in a safe, cozy vault in your memories, holding them close to your heart with affection and care.

Starlight and Sunshine.

… I love it.

[elliesaysfuckseattle]

Hi this is my first work so I’m excited to post it here!! I’m super open to feedback and I hope you enjoy :) also I wrote this while quite zooted so let’s blame any grammar issues on that!

18+ Work of fiction. AU Ellie in modern times. Men and minors please do not interact!

Content warnings: NSFW, some bondage (handcuffs), capitalism

Through hooded eyes, I can make out the veins in her hands as she grips the headboard above me. The corner of my mouth quirks up in a smirk as I hear her suck in a breath. My nose just barely bumps against her clit, her stomach tensing as a moa-

“You know you need to pay attention if you want to pass this menu test, right?” Ellie asks me, her scarred eyebrow rising as her eyes shine with something similar to amusement.

“Not my fault you decided to quiz me on a packed Friday night,” I retort, hoping the lights are dim enough to cover the pink spreading across my cheeks. Patrons chatter around us about things I could care less about. Hell, as long as those green eyes stayed focused on me, the guests could not tip me at all and I’d be none the wiser.

“Grab a tray for the espresso martinis. And don’t look at them as you carry them across the room.”

I give a quiet “Ay ay, captain,” in reply, which rewards me with a silent glare. I cautiously place the drinks on the tray, distributing their weight evenly and locking my gaze on my table. I hope the confidence I am faking is passable, despite the slight tremor in my hands. She reaches the guests before I do, joking about something that happened one of the hundreds of other times she’s served them.

I may have been out of the industry for the better part of a decade, but even through my rusty skills I could tell that Ellie was a good server. One of the best I’ve seen, honestly. I can’t even be mad when she got cocky at the end of last night, organizing her tips while she cleared what other servers only make on a holiday. I tried to ask her how she makes all her tables feel special, how she has that ‘it’ factor people can’t get enough of. “It’s just psychology.” She murmured distractedly while rooting around in her bag for a lighter. “Everyone thinks the experience they want is unique. Really, they either want you to sell them a bottle of wine like a sommelier and fuck off, or they want dinner and a show. If you want to make money here you need to memorize our wine pairings and their flavor profiles…otherwise you’ll be like all the others here.” She stood slowly as she rose off the bench in the back of the kitchen, stretching her arms above her head. “Now are you smoking with me before I walk home, or not?” She watched me as I mulled it over, but I can’t remember the last time I smoked. I don’t trust myself to not be embarrassing around her, so I shake my head no and promise another night.

My gaze falls to the tray I’m holding as the memory from last night fades. The liquor sloshes against the rims of the martini glasses, a few drops crashing over the side as I suck in a breath. I hold my breath the final few steps, only letting it out once the third glass is placed down. Ellie’s smile is brighter than LED headlights as she places a hand just barely on the plane of my back, telling the table that her last trainee dropped a full glass of water on a bride-to-be during the bridal shower. “I told them to stop hiring kids. I guess they finally listened and gave me someone with a fully developed brain this time.” The table erupts into laughs, even though it wasn’t that funny. Clearly they didn’t need this round of martinis to keep the party going.

“Enjoy! Please let me know if I can help you with anything at all,” I chirp in my customer service voice, a fake smile hurting my cheeks. I walk off, checking in on our other tables as Ellie chats with one of the bar regulars.

Five minutes later, I still see Ellie at that goddamn bar stool. A woman with black hair and cherry lips is looking smitten as her and Ellie sniff a sample of their Sauvignon Bl…Pinot Grigio? Chardonnay? Fuck, I really do need to remember which wine bottle is which. I can barely hear the timber of the woman’s voice at the side station as I print the check for a table, “I am buying tequila shots, and I insist you take the other with me. You know your manager won’t care as long as you’re subtle”. I can’t help but roll my eyes to myself. How do these kinds of guests just fall into her lap? Besides throwing themselves there?

I watch her shoot the tequila out of the corner of my eye, her face giving nothing away as she sinks her teeth into the green flesh of the lime. Cherry Lips is over the moon, acrylic nails resting on her upper arm. Eventually, Ellie tears herself away, the alcohol flushing her cheeks and the smattering of freckles across them. She stands close to me as I enter entree modifications into the computer, reading what I input and checking it for accuracy.

“How do you work them like that?” I say exasperated. “How can you get guests to love you?”

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in closer to me, “Let me smoke you up and I promise I’ll tell you all my tips.”

“Fine. I’m broke.”

Three hours later I swing my legs over her lap on her couch, the bare skin of my thighs peeking out from the pajama shorts she let me borrow. I pass the bong back to her, coughing as the smoke chokes my throat. She laughs, reassuringly patting my back, “You’ve got that, breathe through it.” I turn into her, my head tucked into her shoulder.

We’re both quiet as we realize how close to her neck my lips are. I see her bloodshot eyes flutter closed on each exhale, my breath sweeping across her pulse point. My head rises as my lips softly dance across her exposed neck. “This okay?” I murmur, and her quick nod coupled with the heavy breathing push me to keep going. I press my lips harder into her neck, my tongue languidly brushing under her earlobe. I continue, tugging her earlobe gently between my teeth and circling it. My tongue softly follows until Ellie’s hands are on my shoulder, pushing my back against the seat of the couch.

Her jade eyes loom over mine, as her chest rises and falls with the pattern of her flustered breathing. “I need to feel you on me,” she trails off, flicking her gaze down. Our mouths crash together, and I moan into her mouth when she gently sucks my bottom lip. Her teeth bite it deliciously, causing another moan as my eyes roll back. I feel as if her lips are melting me at each moment. I’m still kissing her as I use one arm to prop myself back up, switching to where I now straddle her. My thumb caresses her jaw as we continue to make out, and she lets out a breathy sigh.

“You sound so pretty for me,” I whisper into her ear, “such a good girl.”. Ellie whimpers at this, the noise softly settling in the room. I quiet it with a kiss, swallowing her moans. “I love how you kiss me, I’m so wet right now.”

“Ellie please ride my face.” I insist. “I want to feel you cum on my tongue.”

Her eyes shoot open, checking if I’m actually serious. I lift my eyebrows and nod, to which she grabs my wrist and practically drags me to her bed. I settle in on the middle of the centre of the bed, but she shakes her head, “I want you up by the bedposts. I need something to grab,” with an embarrassed smile. I chuckle and comply, my head now pressing against the wood of her bed frame. She settles her weight on top of me, but then grabs my wrists. Before I can protest, she has each hand cuffed to a bedpost.

“Holy fuck,” I sigh, hips grinding into her mattress. “You’re so fucking hot, Ellie.”

She grins before hovering above my face, just out of my mouth’s reach. I crane my neck and she lifts her sparkling core away, chuckling. “I can’t just let you have all the power, can I?” she asks. I moan, still trying to reach her pussy. She takes pity on me and lowers herself onto me. I can’t help but go right to her clit, wanting it to pulse for me. I lick a stripe up her center, collecting her juices on my tongue before swallowing. “You’re as sweet as I thought you would be.”

She moans louder now, one of her hands finding my hair and getting tangled in it. She uses her grip on my hair to ride my face and use my tongue. Her hips stutter around me as she continues, and I can’t control the moan I make into her. Her pace quickens as she begins to climax, her taste coating my lips. Her eyes lock onto mine as her mouth opens, a heavenly string of “oh my god”’s falling from her kiss-swollen lips. I can see her stomach tighten, and I keep pace with her soaked core as she starts to cum.

“Is my good girl cumming for me? Yeah?” I ask as she nods, loud moans filling her bedroom. She quivers on my lips until she is a mess of heavy breathing and overstimulation. Too soon she lifts off of my face, her mouth on mine. “I want to taste myself on you,” she says, kissing me until I am straining against the handcuffs.

She nimbly leans over and undoes them, rubbing my wrists to promote circulation before giving them a gentle kiss. I feel a small smile creep onto my face, her body fitting next to mine as her arm snakes under me. I curl into her, ending up with my lips near her neck again. I lift my head up slightly as I whisper “You so owe me your secret tricks now!”

A grin quickly forms on her lips, “I don’t know, you might have to show me again…” she trails off, laughing as you playfully slap her arm.

[halliescomut]

Our Youth Final Thoughts

Important edit added March, 5, 2025: It was reported (or at least I found out about it today) that the actor who portrayed Haruki in this show, was accused and arrested by Hong Kong police for SAing a translator after a fan event. It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that is absolutely reprehensible behavior, and I hope his victim is able to get justice. If this knowledge affects your desire to watch this show, that's understandable and very fair. Shows like this are the unified works of dozens of creatives, and they do deserve to have their work appreciated, and things like this happening create even more barriers to queer stories being able to be told. I put this in simply because I don't want anyone walking into this story, identifying with this character, and the. Finding out later and being disheartened and disappointed, as I was.

I don't actually think I've posted much about Our Youth on here, but I finished the series over the weekend and wanted to talk about my overall thoughts.

There's so much I loved about the show. It's the first show in quite a while that I actively felt excited to watch every week. It's a trope that I'm often a fan of the 'bad boy with a heart of gold' and the 'nerd'. I did describe the show to a friend as 'what if Bender and Brian from the Breakfast Club ended up together?' which isn't the most inaccurate tagline, but is certainly not the most contemporary.

There's so much to talk about. I'll start by saying that one of the things that I really appreciated, that spoke to me about the series is how integral queer media is to the story of the characters. Haruki seeing and finding comfort in a queer film, this film being one of the sources of strength he has as he survives the abuse of his father, and eventually opens a door for him to become a filmmaker and tell his own stories is beautiful. It so clearly showcases how queer media is life-changing and life-saving for many queer youth.

There's also this element of telling your own story. We see that directly with Haruki's films, but it's also present in Jin's writing. I think one of the most heartbreaking things we see there is that Jin's story is never 'public', we don't see Jin take a chance there. But there is value in him finding the courage to give Haruki a chance to read his work. Sometimes there's victory in trusting just one or a few people, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Another theme or topic brought up in the series, particularly in the finale, is marriage equality. I've been taking in a lot more Japanese BLs this last year than I really have Thai BLs or Korean BLs, Taiwanese, etc., and I've seen this brought up more than previously. It's not always as direct as here, but it's there. Seeing over the last 2-3 years marriage equality brought to the forefront in Thai BLs, and now in a matter of days we'll see the new marriage equality law go into effect there, that it kind of gives me hope. I know the societal pressures are different there, and in a lot of ways it's a don't ask, don't tell situation, but consistently bring up the topic, normalizing queer love, both in queer media and in mainstream media, helps to create a path for that progress.

Another aspect I think is well done, though not perfect, is how the time jumps are handled with-in the story. By my figuring the story spans a bit more than a decade, and when creating, and specifically casting that, it can be hard not to create something where you feel like it's teens playing dress up as their father's by the end, or adults acting unconvincingly as children in the beginning, but there's a good balance here, at least with Jin and Haruki. I think part of the stems from the actors ages, Jin's being only 20, and Haruki's 25. that age difference allows Jin to look HS age, and him being believable as young lends credibility to Haruki. It's also almost a visual shorthand for Haruki to look older while they're in HS because he basically had to 'grow up' quickly, leave his childhood behind because of the abuse of his father. Once they move into the university years, they're basically the age of university students, no suspension of disbelief needed, and then in the final episode with that flash forward, it's not unbelievable to think they'd look somewhat the same. Contentment and happiness will hold off a lot on the aging process.

So to move beyond these kind of larger, more impactful concepts, lets get in close and talk some about Haruki and Jin as characters and a couple. The story kind of sets them up to be opposites, but they're more of a mirror of each other than anything. Both suffer from the neglect of their parents, distanced both physically and emotionally, and it's pretty draining for both of them. I think it sets them up to almost recognize each other in a way. Once they both take those small steps to open up to each other, we see the way they treat each other with so much care. There's moments where both are a bit rough around the edges, especially in the first handful of episodes, where they kind of let their emotions overwhelm them, but in most of their interactions, even starting in that first episode, they're so gentle with each other. I really started to pay attention to body language and how characters interact with each other after my no subs watches of Taikan Yoho, and it was to a level here that it was really noticeable or noteworthy.

That gentleness from both of them, that willingness to reach out, even when they're still so young and unsure, shows so much care. These are two boys (in the beginning) that don't feel loved, much less truly valued. The way the treat each other shows that they value the other. They value their thoughts, their feelings, and even the others' future, to the detriment of their own emotional wellbeing. That's a really hefty gift to give someone, and I think they only really feel comfortable doing so because it's reciprocated, even from the very start.

Taking them separately, we'll start with Jin. Jin is easy, he makes himself easy, he doesn't cause a fuss or an uproar, he just exists quietly. Which when you look deeper, when you take the time to look, to see, you see this incredible loneliness in him. What makes it frustrating as a viewer, is we see him having active discussions with teachers, there's opportunities there for people to recognize what's going on there, but the unfortunate thing is that obedient children are kind of overlooked. And Jin often overlooks himself. He's not necessarily shown to have ambitions on the same level as Haruki, but it reads to me more than he's not really allowed himself to really think about his dreams. He's lived his whole life with this understanding of what the expectations are, and so why would he ever seriously considered something outside of that. It lends the finale it's own bittersweetness, because we see Jin choose Haruki, to decide to take that leap, and while he may not be doing it as boldly, but in his own sort of mild, unassuming way, it's still Jin putting his desires first, and that's a triumph on it's own.

To talk about Haruki, Haruki is heartbreaking. Specifically because the way the narrative is presented, we don't know the full story until we're half-way through and already half-way in love with him. We see him through Jin's eyes in the beginning, beautiful, mysterious, almost unfathomable, and as those first few episode pass we start to see a little bit more. The shift in episode 5, now seeing in the story from Haruki's perspective is a rude awakening in many ways. It wasn't that we didn't have empathy for him before, we certainly did, but seeing so blatantly what he was dealing with hits hard. And it wasn't just about the physical abuse he had been dealing with, which is horrific on it's own, but the way Haruki was so close to giving up. The scene I can't get out of my mind is him saying "Whenever he beat me, I decided I wanted to die." That lack of desire to fight to survive shows how much everything had been wearing on him for so long. When he starts to know Jin, when he starts seeing that a future is possible, we see that fight start building up in him, and it's a relief to see. I found myself after episode 7 feeling so frustrated with him because we we had basically watched him be used and abused by his father OR sacrificing for others. We see him having made the choice to not reveal what he's dealing with to his mother, he decides to take the fall and get suspended from school, with the assumption being that he feels that Jin will be better off without him. He doesn't want Jin to choose to stay instead of studying abroad, because he knows Jin has a bright future and he doesn't want to affect that. But for myself, with the perspective of age, I know that there's hope, that Haruki has a future. So I was very in my feels after all of that.

After our time jump into university seeing Haruki now actively pursuing his dream is a relief, with its own counterpoint of sadness as we are seeing Jin pursue a degree he has no passion for. It's all part of what makes this story so affecting, I think. Life is not all hope and rainbows, but it's also not all loneliness and pain. And there's a realism in choosing a future that's steady instead of taking a chance, the same way there's realism in pursuing a dream that seemed unreachable, knowing that there is a safety-net for you if things don't work out.

To talk a bit about what I didn't like- their parents. All of them sucked. Yes, arguably Haruki's dad was by far the worst, being a raging alcoholic who was physically abusive to his son for likely at least a couple years if not more. But even Haruki's mother doesn't get much sympathy from me, though we do see that Haruki holds no grudge for her (because of his fucking self-sacrificing bullshit). Jin's parents, I almost have no words for. There's an acute lack of interest from both, but we'll talk about dad first since I have less to say about him. It surprises me that Jin's dad is as emotionally distant as he is. We see that Jin has a great deal of respect for his dad, he appreciates and has an interest in his work, but his dad never thinks to build on that. I just find it odd. As far as Jin's mother, she's physically a bit more present, though I feel if you asked her flat out if she loved her son she might have to stop and think about it. He's basically a to-do list in her calendar, something that needs to be checked on and checked off, and I wonder how bad it was before the start of the shows timeline. It's not good that a teenaged Jin is being left for weeks at a time on his own, but when did they start doing that? It's a common trope for young Japanese children to be self-sufficient, and it's so open ended that my mind can't help but picture 8, 9, 10 year old Jin being left for days. But he's good, and obedient, and that's just life, so he goes on, and how heartbreaking is that?!? And I'll be honest, I was genuinely surprised to see her texting Jin in the final episode when we've flashed forward. When it feels like neither of them actively work to keep that bond intact, how was it still there? I suppose the answer is duty.

The emotional and physical trauma both Haruki and Jin deal with, I also didn't love--because it made me an absolute emotional wreck. I have some mixed feelings over how some things were handled, or specifically how most things were not at all handled. The resolution for a lot of the issues that we see is no resolution. Yes, we see that the emotional connection forged between Haruki and Jin is a beacon for both, enabling them to weather their individual storms, once that concept is established, it kind of drops off to nowhere. It's not even that it's built upon to the point where they both become self-sufficient or confident in themselves, it just is there, then in ep 7 (I think) they just go their separate ways and we're never shown that they're still affecting each others lives. We're shown that they're still in love with each other, that the other is still in their thoughts, but not how their experiences helped to shape them directly. It's worse with Haruki's father's death. It's an INSANELY traumatizing event, and it's almost treated like "well now he can't beat him any more and he can go live with his mom and everything is fine", and like...WHAT? Setting aside for a short moment the fact that being the one present at the loss of a parent even an abusive one, is gonna be traumatic, there's so much emotional distress and grief that comes from losing an abusive parent, especially as a child. Because it's not just grief of the person, it's grief of the unknown. Could there have been a future where his dad got sober and they had a happy life? A time where his dad became what he had been before? A revisit of that loving father? So you're also working through that loss also, and that's really not even a blip of a thought it feels like.

My final thought is something I didn't like, because it made me sad, but also still makes sense within the narrative, and that's the fact that we never see Jin or Haruki come out. I know we get tired of coming out stories, and I didn't need a dedicated scene or episode showing either coming out, but in the final episode where we see the friend group come back together we're shown in no uncertain terms that they are not out to them, & even more that their friends don't know they're dating each other. And I think that sucks. I think it's reasonable and understandable that either might not be out to their parents (though fr your dad makes gay movies Jin--so why not?) or to coworkers and acquaintances, but to have friends you've seen and known for more than a decade and you're still afraid? That's so sad.

Overall, the word I might use to describe this love story is unassuming. It's not necessarily bold, but steady, which is something both characters need. They went through their teen years with different versions of upheaval and loneliness, and in the end they have each other, they have work that supports them, and they feel like they have a future, and that's something I think their teenage selves could have never even imagined.

Thanks for reading.

*Also, I pulled some pics/stills whatever from @colourme-feral who has an excellent series offering more context to the subtitle translations. Absolutely amazing, and I definitely recommend checking them out if you haven't.

Link: https://www.tumblr.com/colourme-feral/search/miseinen%20translation/original

[pinkkop]

For the past while I've been wanting to start doing weekly post about the QL's I'm watching and the new year is the perfect opportunity to start doing just that!

It'll be a place where i can share my thoughts on the BL and GL shows while I'm watching them and leave my final thoughts as well.

This week I've just left the shows in alphabetical order but I'll probably start sorting them from most to least liked next week. Also I hope this post doesn't feel too long since I don't know where I'd place a cut 😊

Let me know if there's anything you find confusing or if there's anything I could do better for next week.

QL Recap for Week 1 The 30th of December to 5th of January

🇹🇭 Caged Again Ep. 9 of 10 ----- Watching on: Gagaoolala

I'm still enjoying this a lot but it's definitely lost some of its spark. 

🇹🇭 Fourever You Ep. 15 of 16 ---------- Watching on: Gray

I'd completely forgotten that WeTV starts fast-tracking the episodes towards the end so color me surprised when I saw that ep 15 was also available and unsurprisingly I watched it the second I realized. I lost interest in Ter and Hill a couple of episodes ago so I don't pay much attention to them anymore. I am however really enjoying Johan and North. I feel like I haven't seen this kind of pairing before. I'm really enjoying the slow development of North slowly learning who Johan is and opening up to him and then Johan slowly opening up to North as well. I'm not a fan of when characters get unnecessarily jealous of their romantic interest's friends or have a problem with friends being close like when Hill saw a problem with how North and Ter cuddle. On top of this I don't like when a character makes decisions for their romantic interest unless they are small decisions, which meant that I also wasn't a fan of how Hill and Johan fixed the "problem" with Ter and North cuddling. Like who the fuck just moves their boyfriend out of their place and into yours without asking first 🤯. Those two things are the only major gripes I have with this show right now and I mostly just try to ignore them because Johan and North are still hella cute and I love that they are finally officially dating without drawing it out unnecessarily (looking at you, Hill and Ter).

🇯🇵 Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu Ep. 9 of 10 ----- Watching on: Gagaoolala

I'm not sure where they are heading and what Hirukawa is thinking with how he is acting but I've really enjoyed this show as a whole so I trust that it'll all make sense next week with the final episode.

🇹🇭 Perfect 10 Liners Ep. 11 of 24 ------- Watching on: Youtube

I really like Gun and Yotha as a pairing and I'm definitely invested in this show but it's not at the top of the list.

🇹🇭 Petrichor Ep. 6 of 10 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

So many reveals this episode! This show is not quite the same level of brain-rot as Spare Me Your Mercy was for me but I'm having a good time and I'm invested in the story.

🇹🇭 Sangmin Dinneaw Ep. 2 of 8 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

The first episode was promising and I'm always a fan of characters having sexual fantasies because it gives a good insight into the character's feelings, both because of the fantasy but also with how they react to it. Episode two made me feel more like I was watching a pulp drama and I'll admit that I'm not a big fan of the over the top acting of some of the characters which seems like those characters will keep being a part of the story going forward. It's just not a type of humor I find funny but so far it's not enough for me to drop this show. The trailer was steeped in it though so who knows how much of the show will focus on that kind of humor.

🇹🇼 See Your Love Ep. 12 of 13 ---- Watching on: Gagaoolala

These two are just the cutest and I'm enjoying them so much. The small touches and the casual kisses are so good and it makes them feel really real and like a good match in a way that not all BL couples do when we get to experience them after they get together. I love how Shaopeng's deafness is still a part of the plot but not in the sense that it needs to be fixed, it's just a natural part of him and it bleeds into all aspects of the plot in a really great way. Honestly this is just such a solid show! 10/10 would recommend. I'd just like for the episodes to be just 5-10 min longer so I could get more of the second couple.

🇹🇭 ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat Ep. 4 of 13 -------- Watching on: Youtube

I'm still absolutely on board with this show. The plot of getting the band together feels a little simple but I really don't mind it because it works well with Thame and Poo getting to know each other. After this episode I wonder whether Jun actually believed what he said about Thame to Po. Like does he really believe that Thame isn't interested in Po or is he just trying to avoid them getting together? Either way it was so delicious to see Po start doubting himself but then Thame once again showing loudly with his actions that he is so interested in Po and that Po is a priority to him. Like who talks on the phone for hours, falls asleep still on the call and then just keeps being on the phone when you wake up again and then pretty much serenades the other person in the morning 🤯 Absolute bonkers behavior from Thame and I'm so here for it. This actually makes me wonder how self-aware Thame actually is? Does he know that he has feelings for Po? 

🇹🇭 The Boy Next World Ep. 1 of 10 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

This is definitely a show where I needed to lower my expectations before watching the first episode because I've really been looking forward to this and I'd much rather set my expectations low and be happily surprise. I really liked the production quality of this show after the first episode and Boss and Noeul are doing really well. I'm definitely still excited about this show even if the first ep left me a little confused but I think that's to be expected when a show introduces concepts like parallel universes so I'm expecting that it'll make sense with time.

🇹🇭 Your Sky Ep. 8 of 12 ----------- Watching on: iQiYi

These two are so damn cute! This show just keeps being this little happy bubble for me. I'm glad they didn't drag out the misunderstanding so now they just gotta figure out how to bone. I like Real and Hia a lot as well but we don't really get enough of them for me to get completely invested. So far I'm not entirely sure what Hia thinks and feels because we've only really seen glimpses of Real realizing he has feelings for Hia. I'm guessing we'll get more of them while Fah and Rak figure out how to be a couple. 

That's it for this week!

For links and airing schedule check out World of BL (Only for BLs)

[lurkingshan]

Japanese QL Corner

I am currently watching four different Japanese qls every week (is this real life?? I’m not used to this kind of bountiful access to Japanese media) and I don’t want them to get lost in the shuffle amongst the bigger Discourse shows, so I’m going to start posting this little round up at the end of each week. These are all on Gaga and I highly recommend watching!

Chaser Game W

Finally a high quality gl, we have been waiting so long. And this one is making some really interesting choices, namely in making one of its leads deeply unlikeable. It's clear that Harumoto broke her heart in a deeply foolish way (I smell noble idiocy), but Fuyu's revenge for her hurt feelings is way over the line of what anyone could consider fair. Not only did she pursue this job just to personally harass her ex, she is a terrible boss who is abusing her employees to work out her personal grudges, and she's awful to her husband, as well. This show is smart enough that I trust they have a point with this (likely one that will involve commentary on misogyny and traditional gender roles) so I am hanging in to see what it is.

Sahara Sensei to Toki-kun

This one is the latest in the Drama Shower line up, and it is really not working for me on the whole, but Toki is a great character and I wish I could port him to another show. This week's episode spent a baffling amount of time filling in a backstory for Sahara that we already understood, and didn't even connect it thematically to the ongoing plot in any meaningful way. In fact, given the backstory we saw, it made even less sense that Sahara would be encouraged to pursue a relationship with Toki. This show just feels very confused about both the social conventions of its universe and what it's ultimately trying to say. Looking forward to it wrapping next week and seeing what Drama Shower has on tap next.

Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yara ka

I LOVE THIS SHOW. Sakae is such a kind soul, and Soga is a dear. I love that this show is exploring the reality of what it looks like for an "opposites attract" pair to actually try to find common ground. Sakae falling for Soga at first sight, only to realize they have nothing in common and he will have to work hard to build a bond with him, is such a delight. And I like that it feels reciprocal and Soga is also making a sincere effort. And this show is doing nice things with the side characters, too. Tatsuta is a great Get A Grip Friend for Sakae, and Kazuyo is such a sweetheart that I really hope she'll stick around rooting for this pair once she inevitably gets let down gently. Also loved getting a glimpse of the exes this week and hope to see more filled in there.

Ossan's Love Returns

I am saving this one for last on Fridays going forward, because it's such a great note to end my week on. I already posted last week about why I'm so in love with it, and this week continued the love fest. This show is SO FUCKING FUNNY while also having some really awesome messages about relationships and love at any age. I love the way Maki and Haruta are given the same cute couple moments we'd see for younger bl pairs, and the casual affection between them really stands out among more reserved depictions of Japanese couples. Highlights this week also included father-in-law bonding, Takegawa trying out a Bachelor-esque reality show in his quest for a diaper partner, Chief continuing to be an absolute delight in every scene, and several new twists in the mystery of the neighbors (loved that Haruta was having all the same reactions to that backstory that I was). ONSEN EPISODE NEXT WEEK, BABY!

[moutheyes]

time for some random thoughts!

I'm finishing three series this week—Miseinen, See Your Love, and Caged Again—and plan on doing a separate post for them, so this is just a space to get some thoughts down. I am looking forward to the Ossan's Love Thailand premiere tonight but will have zero brain cells online for the entire duration of the show. 👍

The YothaGun storyline in Perfect 10 Liners is hitting the spot, and PerthSanta are a big reason why.

If you asked me about anything that happened in the ArmArc part of the series, I wouldn't be able to tell you even though I technically watched all of it. Thankfully, the YothaGun section has me in a chokehold so far. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic is so strong, and Perth (Yotha) and Santa (Gun) are able to elevate the trope to something genuinely engaging, thanks to both their individual charm and their chemistry. I love how quickly Yotha warmed up to Gun, and how little he seems to be fighting against his feelings even if he's still awkward about being Seen; I also love how Gun's initial fascination with Yotha's personality seeded his growing attraction and romantic interest. The progression of their relationship feels natural, feels good to my sensibilities as a viewer.

Also, the little flashes of physical flirting, which Perth has always been so good at, have me vibrating out of my seat. You can just tell that Yotha knows how to reel someone in and make them feel wanted (it's his tactic at the bar, after all), and that makes me anticipate how good this couple will be when they finally put their hands and mouths on each other.

Last thing about this show: One of my favorite things in BL is a silly little ritual—the more mundane the better—and every time Gun happily does up Yotha's tie in the morning, and Yotha gazes at him with that fond quirk to his mouth, it hits so good. It's such a simple act, so domestic, so fitting for them (Gun wants to be helpful and friendly, and Yotha wants to be close to Gun), and until the scene in yesterday's episode, it was kept private between them, so performing the ritual on campus, in front of Gun's friends, was a great way to show just how comfortable they are with each other now, even if others don't understand their relationship yet.

Emi and Bonnie are probably going to ruin my life in Us the Series.

Man, that sobbing apology in the trailer got me good. I was already fully seated for this series but it must be reiterated that Emi and Bonnie look so good together. If the storytelling doesn't go off the rails (I think I can trust p'Fon and her team?) then I am ready to be fully consumed. May Sapphic Saturdays long continue!

The Boy Next World premiere was solid.

Is this considered a slow-burn for MAME? Only half-kidding, but the first episode was... nice. I'm not sure who the director is, but the style feels a bit different. It suits the mysterious, dreamlike quality of the storyline so far; I adored the moody blue lighting in Cir's apartment when he first returned home. Noeul is still channeling ADHD gremlin energy with the scatterbrained behavior, but Phu feels more childlike than Rain from Love in the Air. (I think it's the superstition?) However, I am really enjoying seeing Boss play a softer, less edgy character in Cir. Obviously their chemistry is going to be fire, so I just hope the series can continue building off its premiere. Also, I wanna know more about Jin specifically lol.

Petrichor has been really uneven, and I'm sad about it.

Love Tul, love the way Engfa plays Tul, love Tul's little work trio, but this show isn't keeping me on tenterhooks the way I want it to, even though so much shit happens in every single episode. The big reveal in Episode 6 felt shoehorned in, and the police corruption theme is well-trod territory; yes, characters like Big Tech and Daensiam are imminently punchable, but they don't feel like true foils for Tul, and the Real Killer was kept very well hidden up to this point, so even though there's a sense of danger, there isn't enough of the tension that I want from a crime thriller. Also, Thiwa has been woefully underused as a character so far. I'll stick this one out but I hope we reach a breaking point in the plot soon.

[bengiyo]

Sing My Crush: Men Need to Be Angry Sometimes

Now that episodes 5 and 6 of Sing My Crush have aired, I finally feel like I have the confidence and timing to write this post. I’m not sure how many men are in Tumblr BL fandom watching and writing along with us, but it often feels like there’s less than ten of us. As such, there are times when these guys express intense emotions that the (femme) fandom at large seems to struggle with that make perfect sense for me, particularly when it comes to anger.

The most notable recent example of my breaking with fandom reactions happened with Episode 10 of La Pluie with Phat’s explosion in the rain confrontation and aftermath. I thought that Phat’s betrayal and hurt came through loudly, and I totally understood him finally losing his cool after being dicked around by Saengtai for multiple years. Others struggled with this and turned on Phat. Today, I want to talk about Han Baram and Im Hantae and Hantae’s choice to take Baram to a boxing gym to vent out his frustrations.

Quite a bit happens in this episode in terms of the broad spectrum of male feeling. With Sangin, you get his need for control and power. He is cruel in every interaction and physically throws Baram into a wall to yell in his face.

He derides Hantae and diminishes the support he’s given Baram for years.

With Jeong Pal, we get him crying and despondent over Baram’s decision to leave them. He is allowed to be upset, and all Hantae asks is that they try to trust Baram.

Baram is so sad for me because he’s always holding so much of his feelings inside. I love Baram’s confession to Hantae in this episode because it feels not too dissimilar to the first love song he wrote: Letter of Apology. He feels like his feelings are a burden to others and that he is inconveniencing them. He doesn’t even wait around to let Hantae process what’s going on, like many of his K-BL brethren recently (Looking at you Our Dating Sim and Individual Circumstances!).

Finally, we get to In Hamtae. After all the awful things that have gone down this episode, he is so gentle with Han Baram before taking him to the boxing gym.

He leads him by the hand to a seat and gently wraps his hands for him even as you can see he’s still pissed with Han Baram the whole time. He even takes a moment to laugh and call Baram cute while putting on the headgear.

Once they finally get to the boxing ring, he gives Baram a literal shove to get his emotions out so he can finally vent his frustrations. He tells Baram to envision his right hand and Jin Sangin and his left hand as Im Hantae. He sees the uncertainty in Baram’s eyes, and reassures him that he envisions punching Baram’s face all the time and to not overthink it. He cheers Baram on as he finally starts to punch with force. We even get to hear Baram’s exertions as he’s finally letting out his feelings.

Y’all, when I tell you I started to cry so hard as Baram finally got to audibly express some of his frustrations. He needed to be mad. He deserved to be mad. What Sangin did to him was cruel. He ruined Baram’s first confession. He made him feel weird and undesirable. He later stole his goddamned song from him. He threatened him if Baram tried to fight back in any way. Baram needed to express that anger. It isn’t always going to be pretty, and I love that Im Hantae gave him a space to do that.

Still, we’re not done. Im Hantae makes them switch places, and he’s practiced at this. He says all of the feelings that are on his mind:

If you go to Highcode Entertainment, what about our band?

What about our dream?

What about me?

You’re so bad. How could you have confessed in that way?

That’s why you got dumped.

Then he throws the gloves at Han Baram, who asks such a heartbreaking question: “Why is it so tiring to like someone? What did I do wrong?” Im Hantae hugs him, and Han Baram is finally starting to push back on how others make him feel when he chides Hantae for how hard he hit him. Hantae assures him that he did nothing wrong and the two of them end up resting on the floor of the gym together in a shot that definitely came from the source material.

I just absolutely love that the final scenes of this episode are about how righteous it is for Baram and Hantae to be angry and upset about the things that have happened, including the things they might have done to each other. Men feel the full gamut of emotions, and anger is one of those. Sometimes that anger comes out explosively, and often it’s ugly. It is so important to me that we earnestly engage with men’s anger in a genre about close, personal relationships. We often get angry on behalf of characters that are being done wrong, and I think it’s so important that we interrogate the kinds of anger we allow characters to express in our shows.

With these two, there’s something so special about the tenderness Hantae showed Baram before, during, and after the boxing sequence to make sure Baram finally let out his own frustrations and hurt.

[puffins-studio]

Jason Grace ⚡️

I think the reason am so excited now for the Percy Jack and the Chalice of the gods, is I think it seems like it a chance to experience Percy Jackson in the moment. I been in the fandom for a bit, even tho it seems like it just me in my little corner when the books come out. But I got into them when the Apollo trials were being released. And this is the first time for me me a book is going to come out that has Percy as a main character. So my brain is just making it randomly special. Last minute I decided I wanted to post something, and I have the 7 made plus two mystery people, so I decided to post one of them and I thought what better why to celebrate then with a joke. As aren’t you wondering ’where’s percy?’

I do love Jason, he deserved to have lived. It why he lives in my headcannons

Hazel

Percy & Annabeth

Nico & Will (tsats spoilers)

Leo

Many Jason headcannons below as I love headcannons and love sharing them.

[ID: The picture is a felt doll that is the shape of a gingerbread men with a big circle head he is Jason Grace from Percy Jackson. He have light skin felt, blond short hair, Gold rim glass, and a little scar where a mouth would’ve be. He have on a yellow shirt, tan jacket, that have a purple, orange, and yellow bead for pins. He in light blue jeans that are cuffed, and a chain hanging on his right side. He in black converse like shoes. He have a bracelet on this right that is a braid of purple,blue, and black. And another that is an asexual color one, black,grey,white,purple. He have a camp half blood necklace with a purple and a yellow bead. And he have a white round bead that is supposed to be a stand in for a moon theme necklace.:ID]

Jason headcannons

Surviving

Either Hera was watching and was mad that Zeus’s punishment for Apollo would get her champion killed and give Apollo some of his healing powers or saved Jason from the killing blow. Kinda to also show the gods can be cruel but also kind. Or Artemis save him as she save Apollo and Jason is also like a brother as Thalia convince her. It also as he had plans to build the temples so maybe one of the minor god healed him as he maybe for Storm to fall, Jason just need to let go and fall a get high. Lol like god level trust fall.

Pants

Jason had a hard time trying to find pants that would fit and when he finally found pant that fit his waist they were too long in the leg. He was going to hem them but he keep forgetting so he just cuff them and Will sees and ask Nico about it and Nico is like should I tell him- no this is funny. And it just Jason doing a ton of bi things without knowing

the chain, Nico and Jason do activities together as they both have memories parts, and Nico take it upon himself as a favor for Thaila, to show him the way of being a punk. Just imagine the first day of this, Nico just clip the chain to his pants and he just “look at you, already looking the part” and the black shoes are a part of this. Thinking he may try to paint lights bolts on them or something.

Jacket

power wise with Jason’s flight a aviator jacket is better for him when flighting but he doesn’t want to copy Nico’s look in case it upset him (it won’t, Nico would just tease him about it) but so he gets this coat and Nico end up teasing him as it an old man jacket and Jason tease back saying if course Nico knows this as he is an old man. (When trying to find a reference picture i didn’t know what this jacket was calls and so typed old man jackets and it popped up

Pins I kinda can’t remember as I forgot to note it down, but I think it the two camps, and some random lighting pin Nico, or Leo found, or they can just be pins the 7 found that made them think of Jason so he have something that reminds him that he is someone.

Bracelets

Going with Nico’s adventure with the Apollo bracelet making. He makes Jason and Percy matching bug 3 bl as they always joke they are brothers and just Nico leaving them in their cabins as he doesn’t want to make a scene, but Jason and Percy find one of them in cabin 1 when Percy was hanging out together and they are like wait and run to cabin 3 to find Percy’s and they put them on and go run over to find Nico and they make a big fus about Nico does love them and Nico is like no thr purl for heazl, black is for him and he likes the color blue but they just ruffles his hair.

And he have a ace bracelet from Nico too. He the first to get a pride bracelet from Nico and he help Nico put on his as he helped him get to this place where he could be proud so Nico wanted him to tie it as like a sign of trust.

Asexual

I feel like a headcannon a lot of Percy Jackson characters as ace but we deserve it. As also like sex repulsedace son of Jupiter/ Zeus kinda funny in my book. Like Dad is basically known for hooking up and Jason is like nope. Him and Nico being two confused aces together as like Nico trying to explain it to him and Jason like isn’t that how everyone feels? And once Nico knows what he feeling has a name, he runs to Jason to tell him too.

I headcannon Artemis lets any gender join the hunter they just have to sworn off sex and be loyal to her (if you like that took then look up the myth of hippolytus by Overly Sarcastic Productions. I love that channel too!). And each time the hunters visit campus they ask if anyone want to join. One time when they come around when Nico and Will got together, before Nico tells Thalia about them, she ask if he wants to join as she thought he still didn’t feel like he has a place and he like no I think if found a place with the help of Will, Jason, and everyone here. and then she also asked Jason if he want to join them. and he thought about it for a moment and realized he already been through a lot, does he really want an immoral life of it, and what sold him on not joining is he happens to looked over to where Nico was watching him and he saw Nico’s worry eyes, a look basically pleading him not to go. And that night Jason and Nico have a sleepover in the hades cabin, with Nico may or may not having saying that he wants Jason to be his brother and he will be his brother in return.

The necklace is also like a thing for Artemis/Diana (for if she the one who save him), the hunt/his sister, and ace pride. I feel in his look for his identity, finally realizing one part of himself that makes him him, he would just be happy about it, and full embrace it.

Random

Him and Percy dare each other to do stupid things like when Jason meet a new camp just hit himself with lightning and act as if nothing happens

Am going to add another headcannon here as I like it and I need it.

Being hit in the head

Jason with actual brain damage from all his concussion . I want him with a TBI, him having memory problems, having a harder time spelling and reading. As someone with a TBI I want a character with a brain injury that isn’t a vegetable, who just get angered every 10 minutes or just walks it off. Him talking with Will/Chiron about concussions and stuff and him being a bit worried about hitting his head again, him and Nico talking about memory issues. Give him a bit of a speech impediment or sensitive to lights and sounds. Jason and Nico hanging out in the dark hades cabin when they have migraine days. Jason asking Will for help for a talk to the camp about being cautious about any type of brain injury. As the brain is important and weird and it can behave differently for everyone, and healing magic can’t heal it completely, so they need to be careful.

[rocketturtle4]

Be My Favorite, Lets Reflect

Okaaaay I’ve decided this is happening today after all because who knows what the combined power of Only Friends and Laws of Attraction is about to do to my brain.

Full Disclosure: I’m an optimist and I’m easy to please. If I finish a show, that typically means I liked it. This final episode could have been an actual disaster and I probably would have given this show 8/10 and watched it again in the future.

Tagging the people who have been watching along with me, in case you wish to read my final thoughts, getting to be a part of this experience with you has been an absolute delight no matter how late you joined! @shouldiusemyname @thegalwhorants @plantsarepeopletoo @lurkingshan @pandasmagorica @twig-tea @waitmyturtles @benkaaoi @telomeke @dribs-and-drabbles @stuffnonsenseandotherthings @clairificusrex @williamrikers @grapejuicegay @dropthedemiurge @bengiyo

With all that said here goes

Themes that felt unfinished

The whole thing with any and all parents, but especially Piseangs felt somewhat unresolved/glossed over.

I have no idea what the point of the Kwan/Not storyline was??

Themes that felt reasonably resolved but could have been pushed more

Looking back I kind of like that the fighting for rights storyline was most strongly played out through Max. This was consistent all the way through and while I do definitely think this show could have chosen a different direction and taken a stronger stance, I’m not mad about this.

I genuinely think that the fact Kawi tried and then DIDN’T LIKE the rollercoaster after episode 10’s EXTREMELY ON THE NOSE POINTING (apparently this one still invokes strong emotions huh) kind of make’s ace!kawi pretty close to canon, they clearly still have sex which is totally fine in my books but like, my dude is ace.

Where have I landed overall?

Using my unnecessarily lengthy 5 category system of rating and review this show ended up at 92% 21st out of 82 BLs 12th out of Thai BLs, Greater Recommendation  

I want to be clear here, 92% is HIGH and I loved this show A LOT, the ending very much included. Also I normally wait longer to give something a rating so this could waver but likely only by a couple of percent either way

What Was My Takeaway? -It’s about Control

Okay so this is definitely influenced at least in part by my readings of @lurkingshan (here) and @waitmyturtles (here) posts and I loved how the framing of the serenity prayer in Shan’s takeaway (original post by @shortpplfedup here) lined up perfectly with my thoughts so I will put that in here

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,  The courage to change the things I cannot accept,  And the wisdom to know the difference

So much of this show was about Kawi learning that control and change isn’t resolved through force but instead through trust and patience. In the first half of the show, Kawi tries again and again to alter things into perfection, and he fails each time. He learns that only his own actions can be controlled, not even his own feelings are entirely within his grasp. He learns to hold on to the things that matter and let go of what can not be.

He father dies but he gets a chance to see him again, and to convey his feelings sincerely building up the relationship before the end.

He learned that even with a second chance, some things can’t be changed, and no matter how hard he tried his dad still died.

He gains a beautiful found family, so different from the family he was trying to build with Pear before he understood himself.

I feel like episodes 10 & 12 dragged my right down into my feels about the things control can change. Because to me, everything that happened in the theme park in episode 12, juxtaposed in my head against everything that happened in the theme park in episode 10 highlighted how much change control can wrought.

In episode 12 we have the shifted perspective, Piseang has come back, Piseang is panicked and fearful and Kawi clocks this immediately, and what does he do, he stays completely calm, in this same time, but in the original timeline (ep10), Kawi is lacking all control. Max has pointed out to him that Piseang probably want’s sex and Kawi is NOT SURE how he feels about that. He tries to regain some equilibrium by taking them out but refusing to ride and ends up more and more prickly and uncertain at Piseangs every nudge.

Opposite this we have our episode 12 timeline where our focus is all different, Kawi is pulling Piseang along with him and encouraging him to accept the future even as they enjoy a lost moment of the past. A moment now filled with much greater joy for both of them because with the pressure gone, Kawi is ready to face anything if it makes Piseang happy.

I have seen some interesting thoughts about Kawi being affected by the knowledge of his possible death, and maybe this is it, but to me this change felt different. For some people it’s easier to be strong when someone else is being weak, because we can’t always be strong for ourselves, sometimes we have to be strong for others. Kawi’s focus in this second timeline was outward rather than inward and it fundamentally changed the experience for both of them.

Piseang hadn’t really been weak much in their relationship, even in the most developed future where they aren’t together, he is there, steady and waiting for Kawi to need him.

In this episode Kawi had to be steady and this put them on more equal footing than ever before because Kawi has grown so much. We have seen his change, his arc was immense and, to me at least, immensely satisfying. Getting to see this Kawi in episode 12, the one who is calm and sure in the face of his partners uncertainty highlighted how these two will work and grow together in the future we had already seen.

It made me like episode 10 more

(I have specific thoughts about consciousness and whether or not the latter scenes in ep10 occur with Kawi’s knowledge of future!Piseang laid out at the bottom of this very interesting thread. In short(ish), my takeaway is that the memories of Kawi’s second day at the amusement day are dormant but present in Kawi’s mind, influencing his actions. To me when he reaches out to Piseang at the restaurant towards the end of episode 10, after Piseang has travelled back to the future

this is an extension of the reaching out we see Kawi doing throughout episode 12

This gif was posted by @wanderlust-in-my-soul as a part of this post which is all the times Kawi and Piseang hold hands in ep 12 (often with Kawi reaching out). Even if Kawi doesn’t consciously know it, he is influenced by the events of episode 12 in the latter parts of epiosde 10, this also makes me feel better about the episode 10/11 sex scene for the record)

It made me like episode 11 more (and I already liked this one!)

It made me glad to have been so wrong about where I thought episode 11 and 12 would go.

Because the finale drew us back in to the core of the show. It let go of the things that could not be finished and brought together the things that could. Making us the audience sit with the very themes Kawi had learned.

@dropthedemiurge actually put it so beautifully that I’ve just stolen (and slightly paraphrased) their words straight out of this post

“the final episode was not here to yell, but instead to speak softly and soothe your worries until you find the courage to live and stay smiling, content with discovering the right way to live”

I was left warm and fuzzy, content and satisfied, I could never be mad at a show for that.

[duckedupcunt]

Been thinking about if I had a secret hacker/stalker friend. Some close with a little bit of a crush. Maybe when we were hanging out one day and I was away from my phone they installed some spyware on my phone. It wouldn’t be too hard. I trust my friends with my passcode.

We continue to hangout, me being completely oblivious to any changes. We are just sitting on the couch together playing on our phones. being the horny guy I am, I look at something nsfw. Maybe it’s my twitter, here on tumblr, or one of my many online fanfics and bl mangas. While they are finishing setting up the bug on their phone, ready to live watch my every move with a recording feature for when they are too busy to live view.

They watch my every move over a couple of weeks, maybe even a month or two. Keeping track of all of the deprived and horny thing I look at. Taking notes on the most interesting and embarrassing kink and quirks.

Suddenly I get a message on here. “I know who you are.”

I laugh it off, pretending that paranoia hasn’t already started to eat away at me. I respond quickly so as to not overthink it. I play it coy and respond: “oh yeah, what do you know about then?” ”I can’t just take your word for it”

They take a moment, maybe 10-15 minutes. They know that this will increase my anxiety, make me more malleable. Suddenly they start typing and it take a while but they finally send the message.

“How do you want me to prove to you then? I have so many options for you! I could just send you a photo of yourself. Simple and effective but I don’t think that would excite either of us enough now would it? You like so many disgusting things ‘Issac’. Though we both know that isn’t your real name. Just one of your several allies to keep your anonymity. I’m proud of you for at least trying to keep your info safe but you really need to switch up your passwords and start adding 2 -factor to more of your apps. Not that that could protect you from me. mmm let me see… I could quote one of your favorite post, one of the one you won’t reblog out of fear. Or how about I tell you where you work? Maybe you’d like that one. It’s scary to think someone could connect this blog to you and your job. You’d get fired for sure. Oh and I’ll give you one more option. I’ll login here and post something. Whatever i want, I’ll respect you wish for privacy but maybe I’ll slip something small in just for me.”

I panic reading their message. I try to reply, i haven’t decided what to say but I start typing and suddenly I’m kick out of tumblr. More panic sets in as I try to open the app, it won’t let me. 2 minutes pass as I am frantically trying to get in and my screen turn black. Text appears on the screen.

Go ahead and open it up again

Go and see what I have done

My screen returns to normal. I hesitantly open tumblr, afraid of what i might find. I look at my posts, there is a new one from just 50 seconds ago. Just one word. My deadname.

[tm-trx]

currents.24[2024]

selections from my week in media [9-15 june 2024]

[anticipating]

Khemjira - paranormal BL - I need it to premiere yesterday. Yes, "never trust a Thai BL trailer" but my hopes are so up. That trailer is amazing.

The Rebound - sports BL - The lead pair's acting has improved by leaps and bounds since their first drama together, so I'm looking forward to seeing them in something new. Meen is apparently a very good basketball player so that bodes well for a more than usual amount of on-court action in the show.

Sunset x Vibes - workplace romance with a supernatural twist BL - I'm excited to see MosBank in a new drama together.

[listening]

"Fancy" / Twice

"FWB" / Great Sapol, Wandee Goodday OST

"Like It" / SHINee

"Next Level" / aespa

"Satellite" / SHINee

[reading]

How a Resurrection Really Feels by LiarsandThieves22 - Steve/Eddie Stranger Things canon-divergence fix-it fic - I loved this story so much: nice and long, Steve-centric, and chock-full of all the found family vibes.

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa {4 stars} - A queer YA Pride and Prejudice retelling - I enjoyed it a lot and thought the author did a great job reinterpreting the familiar story beats.

[watching]

House of Stars, ep 1-3 - I don't remember why I had this on my watchlist for the year, but I powered through the first three episodes and now I'm kinda hooked. Toey is the standout and I hope he gets his own little plot. I will never get tired of his reactions to Pitch's nonsense.

Lovely Runner, ep 1-4 - I am loving it so much, wow. The time travel mechanic is different than any I've seen before, so that is keeping me guessing. I'm curious to see how it evolves over the rest of the series now that the (seemingly) big reveal about how it works has happened. I didn't know that Kim Hye Yoon was the female lead or I would have started it sooner. I adored her in Extraordinary You and she's still a delight.

Wandee Goodday, ep 7 - Another great episode this week. The fake breakup for their fake relationship actually hurt quite a bit to watch. Yak taking his necklace back was physically painful. I loved it though. The less said about Ter, the better. ugh, Ter. But, I finally remembered to look up the theme song and discovered that Great sings it?! He sounds so good, I love it.

previous Currents posts

.

[chalkrevelations]

So, I already mentioned some of this in tags, but I felt the need to pull it out into a post, because although I'm sure someone's already talked about it, I'm dying over some of the Boston and Nick bits from the mv for Ford's song, particularly the outdoor roller skating scene. Because first of all, can we talk about their demeanours in this? Boston looks like he's actually relaxed and having fun. In public. Holding hands with another guy and helping him skate. With eyes only for him and not at all for who might be watching them, even though they're in a crowd of people. Nick is allowing himself to lean into the care that Boston is offering to him. They look happy and relaxed and not on edge like they're both, for various reasons, waiting for the world to crumble out from under them.

Also, I cannot get over the fact that Boston's shirt says "faith/hope/love." Because for him to profess any of those things - toward himself, the world, another person - is frankly monumental from where we've seen him on the show so far, locked in his closet, escape plan in place, unwilling to trust or make connections. And "faith, hope love?" Come on. We know what the greatest of these is - right? RIGHT?

This is from Corinthians 13:

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

There's been plenty of electronic ink spilled over what messages directors might be sending via clothing - including T-shirt slogans - in various bls, and I can't help looking at Boston's shirt in this context. "When I was a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." What is this saying about where Boston's story might be headed? What changes could we see from his current childish, selfish behavior?

(And god, that whole center section, verses 4-7, I kind of want to sit down and pick through how they might relate to all of the various storylines in the show. Which one is relevant to which character and which couple?)

I also notice this scene snippet is one of the bits that's shot like it's video footage, with a prominent date that actually seems to indicate the current time of the show is three and a half years in the past. I'm wondering if the final episode timeskip we often get is going to jump us to the present day.

[pippin-pippout]

Sooooo I decided to pause watching only friends a few episodes ago. As soon as I learned Atom was blackmailing Boston I was out. Because I knew Atom, younger brother to the incredibly self righteous Cheum, would not be held accountable by the narrative.

I was hoping he would be (and Cheum - honestly everyone else has the narrative say something judgmental about their choices but never the girl who constantly puts her friends down in the name of “holding them accountable”).

I thought the show had a good setup, with the characters all coming in with very clear flaws. I wouldn’t have minded a happy ending that had focused on character growth for all of them, whether that ended in relationships or as “only friends.” But from what I’ve heard everyone (except Boston) gets an unrealistically happy ending filled with BL tropes.

And for Boston. I’ve read some excellent posts analyzing Boston and his punishment by the narrative. I am ok if he doesn’t have a happy ending because his friends are not ready to forgive him for some really shitty things he did. But the narrative is responsible for a) making it clear that his bad treatment of his friends is what Boston is being condemned for, and b) that the friends all of their own issues and like in real life, our personal issues mean we can forgive some thing and some people easier than others.

From what I know of the finale, that’s not what happened. Rather, it warped what Boston was being punished for FROM: sleeping with his friend’s boyfriend and recording Mew and Ray and holding that over their heads TO: a condemnation of casual sex and refusal to commit to an exclusive relationship. So much so that when he became the victim of defamation for something that was beyond what even he would do, the narrative did not care to get him justice (or even establish that there was a need for justice to be served). Instead, he deserved it for daring to have casual sex and daring to sleep with someone who was so clearly very willing and even pushy about it.

It’s fine if Boston and Nick don’t get their happy ending. It’s fine if the reason is because Nick wants something exclusive and Boston doesn’t. But the narrative should not be framing this as an ongoing punishment for Boston preferring casual sex over monogamy. It’s fine if Mew doesn’t forgive Boston because his trust was violated and it’s difficult to regain that. It’s not ok if it’s because Mew judges Boston for having casual sex. And even if the narrative decides to go with the second option, it still has a responsibility to show that Mew’s judgmental actions are not ok either.

Audiences are capable of critical thinking. And I want to make it clear that when I say the narrative should do this or should not, it’s not because I think it needs to spell out the good and bad things they did without any layers of gray or nuance. But the narrative is created by people as part of a huge entertainment brand in Thailand that is the leading mainstream source for Queer content there (and in the world at this point??). And like with any narrative, the author’s POV is there.

And that POV comes through clearly - casual sex and non monogamous relationships should be condemned, as should addiction. Judgmental and often cruel responses to those things should be celebrated. Some makes are excusable (like cheating) so long as the character commits to monogamy (the social norm) after as a way to repent. Other mistakes (also cheating) are not forgivable even if the character recognizes it was wrong and apologizes, so long as they continue to enjoy casual sex. This POV is what I personally am not ok with because this brand has the power to influence a lot of people’s perspective on what is considered morally pure. That is especially true when it comes to the relatively recent phenomenon of mainstream queer television.

So I probably won’t finish it. It’ll just piss me off. If any of this post is inaccurate to what happened in the show, feel free to reply. As I’ve said I’ve only been keeping up with it lately through the commentary surrounding each episode. Not watching it myself.

Side note: where was Sand with his bat??? That was from this show’s trailer wasn’t it? That’s what made me want to watch this in the beginning!

[ldysmfrst]

Reciprocal Synergy (2) - Enigma

Status: Ongoing series

Chapter number: 2 of unknown

Word count for Chapter: 2,393

Work count for Story: 4,246

Genre: Omegaverse Au based off KinnPorsche: Thai BL Drama

A little about the author: I am a mother of two beautiful children, one of whom has special needs, and the other loves everyone. I started a Patreon, and I would be grateful if you donated to help me make ends meet while I am out of work.

This is the very first story I wrote. I posted it here in July 2023, but I have now edited it and finally decided to add it to my library. I hope you enjoy it. I only have two chapters written so far, but I may get back into it... once I am healed up from my hospitalization and almost dying at the start of August 2024.

Each chapter starts with a definition. (thought it would be cool) 💜💜💜

Warnings: NOT BETA READ!! This chapter does have guns, violence, Alpha, and motorcycles.

Library of LdySmFrst / Reciprocal Synergy Master List

E·nig·ma

/I’nigMuh/

noun

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

“I saw the video from the alleyway,” my father informed me while sipping his tea and looking over the gardens. “You trusted, asked for protection, and gave protection to a stranger. Wait… not just a stranger but an Alpha stranger. Now, you have Arm looking for him to give this Alpha stranger money you promised after he stole your watch, which is worth more than triple what was agreed upon.”

I knew all of this already, but my father…oh, my father loved to point out every flaw that he could just to show his displeasure in the turn of events. Couldn’t he at least be happy that I was trying to correct it discreetly?

“Tell me, Anikinn, what is the point of wasting resources?” With the last question, my father looked me square in the eye, the challenge simmering just beneath the surface.

“I want to uphold our honour, Pa. We never go back on a deal and who knows, he may still have the watch.”  My father nodded his head slightly, always the ever-present helicopter parent.

“Fine. Find this Alpha stranger, and pay him the agreed rate, but then you must get him to work for us. It seems he is a strong Alpha, and it is always good to have someone like him on our payroll.” My father breathed as if to say more, then stopped to take another sip of tea, seemingly to maul over a thought before stating, “Not only will he work for the family, but he will also work for you.” 

The challenge had been given. 

I may have been getting the family’s business partners to accept me in my new position. Still, I need not forget that by codes, I cannot take over fully until I have proved myself to the current head of the family, my father. 

“Understood, Pa. I don’t know if he will, but I will find a way.” I reluctantly agreed, standing to take my leave. I give a slight bow to my father, which he ignores. 

I walk out of my father's balcony and into the hall, only to be greeted by Arm with a tablet. “What is it, Arm? Did you find Jom?”

With a hasty bow and handing over the tablet, I see first a picture of some other, not good-looking male Beta named Jom, who works as a bartender at Hum Bar. 

“Who is this, Arm? You saw the footage from the alleyway. This is not the right man. He is a beta on top of it all.” I glare at Arm, who is avoiding looking at me.

“Yes, Khun Kinn, this is the only Jom that works or lives in a 15-mile radius of where you were assisted in escaping, Hum Bar. Please look at the second dossier.” He quickly states as he clicks on a different document on my tablet. 

My breath catches slightly at the picture of the Alpha stranger. 

It is only from the chest up, and he is dressed in a white, thin, and sheer sleeveless shirt failing to cover his chest, brass buttons, and a Chinese high collar. His ears are covered in a tasteful amount of brass chains. His smiling lips are covered in the same earthy brass color shimmering in the light. His eyes are done with a slight smokey shadow, which brings out the deep yellow amber of his Alpha shining through. Finally, his hair is artfully styled with white highlights striking against his deep brown natural hair color. 

Name: Porsche Gender class: Alpha (potentially Feral) Status: Bartender at Hum Bar Siblings: Porchay Gender class: Not yet presented.

Next to this one is an equally devastating photograph that seems to be of a completely different person, yet with the same amber eyes and face sneering back. 

There is no makeup, artsy hair, or see-through shirt this time. 

The photo is just him, again from the waist up but gleaming in sweat, muscles tense, taking a classic martial arts stance. The only mark on this photo is a busted lip. 

Taking a deep breath and clearing my throat, I read the dossier. 

Name: The Phoenix Gender Class: Feral Alpha Status: Former Taekwondo National Champion and current underground fighting headline contender Status: $7.8 Billion in debt collector unknown.

If I thought my breath caught on the white photo, then my breath left me with this one.

Who is he, really? 

The Phoenix or Porsche… maybe he is both.

“I want you, Pete, Big, and Ken. Then anyone else would fit in for this venue for recon. Where is he tonight? Bar or ring? I need to pay a debt and collect a life.”

“Ring, Khun Kinn, at the old condemned swimming stadium. He is headlining tonight and is up against some heavy hitters. Seems he is past due on his payment and was added to the roster for tonight while you were speaking with Khun Korn,” Arm states, taking back the tablet and tapping on the screen. 

The guards are undoubtedly being notified of their new assignment for tonight. Within moments, a loud screech is heard from the floor above.

Hanging my head, I glance at Arm, “Khun No is not having a good day I take it?”

“Well, he set up a marathon of Tale of the Nine-Tailed Fox for Pete, Pol, and myself to watch with him, and now it will only be Khun No and Pol, Khun Kinn.” Arm timidly says. 

Since he was kidnapped, my elder brother, Thankhun, has been unique. He lives his life through his dramas. His personal guard consists of Pete, Arm, and Pol. 

He will tell you that he does not trust anyone other than his family, which is not always accurate. If he didn't trust them, he wouldn’t be so dramatic when his “useless” guards get into different rotations. 

“Fine, take yourself off the list. I will have Tay and Time join me as it is in Tay’s boundary. That should be enough to make an impression and get what is needed.”

The fight does not start until late evening, and the headlining match, where The Phoenix is rostered, won't start until midnight.

That gives us time to find additional information about the venue and the other fighters. The venues are picked and announced on the same day of the fight, which does not allow any fighters to gain the upper hand or hide anything to aid them in the ring. 

However, it will take a little longer to find out who is rolling out the cash for these fights. Since the fights are being held within Tay’s boundaries, it won’t be someone out of reach. 

Then again, for the Theerapanyakun family, nothing was out of reach.

Pulling up the parking lot, the venue is a 5-minute walk to the south. The sounds of a live DJ start flowing through the air, and the lack of mixed scents on the wind with the undercurrent of peaches let us all know that they must have hired a decently large Omega Den to help keep the crowd in check. 

Omegas have a unique ability to release a calming pheromone in the air that calms everyone. It is one of the reasons why I had Pete placed on the team tonight. His scent is more like apple pie and ice cream and decently strong. 

He always comes in handy when getting answers with minimal bloodshed or calming down Khun No when his panic attacks kick up. 

Big, Mew, Beam, and Mok are all Betas. 

Tay and Time are Alphas and a mate-bonded pair. 

However, with how pretty and delicate Tay looks, you would think he was a “high-class Omega baby,” which tends to be everyone’s, sometimes fatal, mistake when dealing with Tay and Time.  

Tonight Tay is laying it on thick in an all-white suit with a thigh-high layered slit which only shows when he walks… well, more like sashays around flashing some skin. His white high-waisted jacket only closes with a single silver button, and he wears a silver lace bodice. His hair is teased up and back with silver highlights, tasteful silver and glitter dusting around his eyes, and glossy lips that would make anyone want to have a taste. 

On the contrary, Time is dressed in a deep blue suit typical for any businessman with silver accents with his watch, pocket square, and chain necklace. 

They match, but not overly so.

They have been a couple for several years now. Still, it always amazes me how well Tay puts up with Times roaming eyes and rushing fingers, but who am I to judge a mate-bonded pair. They are hard to find and rare when they are the same gender. 

I played it down tonight. I am simply dressed in tan suit pants, black penny loafers, and a black dress shirt open to mid-chest without makeup or jewelry, aside from the family ring. 

That ring is my key to everything and anything or anyone. 

It never comes off, and it never will. 

The team has opted to dress more for the outing than to be spotted as security, dressed in jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and the like.  Everyone has been given orders to drop the formalities for the night and play as if we are all old acquaintances or work buddies when they need to come and impart any information or take direction. 

The closer we get to the venue, the louder the music plays, the stronger the scents toxify the air, and the energy of the ring creeps across your skin. 

A quick look at the team and a few of them split off in pairs, jogging through the crowd. Others hang back but never lose sight of Tay, Time, and myself. 

Looking around, the crowd is a mix of mid-game players and bottom feeders, and there is no one high-end like the three of us; so much for effortlessly blending in. 

“A’Kinn, why are we here again. This is NOT your usual scene,” asks Time, looking around with a slightly disgusted look and clinging a little tighter to Tay.

“I have a debt to settle with someone, one of the fighters, but he won’t be on til a bit later. For now, try to enjoy your beautiful date tonight. I am sure Tay will have many eyes on him.” I say while showing my heated gaze, enjoying Tay's view from his heeled shoes to the smoky silver eyes.

“Oh Kinn! You are such a tease,” Tay preens under my gaze, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. “You always know what to say to make someone feel wanted and know the work they put in to look nice pays off. If others learn the same thing, the world may not be so insecure.”

“Come on, babe, you know you look good. You always look good. Can’t you see it when I look at you too?” Time whines while burying his nose into Tay’s neck, scenting him along his mating bite and causing a small gasp to escape Tay’s lips.

“Fine, yes I can see it but sometimes words also help.”

I just shake my head. 

I never understood the point of bonds and mates.

My father always acted as if being a mate-bonded pair was the end of the world because they could make you weak and give your enemies a target with neon flashing lights how to bring you to your knees. In fact, my brothers and I are pretty sure that our mom and dad were in an arranged marriage and that mom died because she found her bonded mate and father had him murdered. After all, it would make him look weak to lose her as a wife to someone else, bond or not. 

“Hey Booouuudy.” I roll my eyes as I look at Mok, the newest bodyguard on the team. He almost slipped up calling me boss, but it was a decent save.

“Oh hey, Nong Mok, what are you doing here? Don’t you work tomorrow?” I asked to keep up the preset relationship roles assigned when everyone was briefed on the way over.

“Yeah but I switched the afternoon shift with P’Tank because I didn’t want to miss out on the Special Event tonight. Its not everyday that the main match is six to one.”  Giving Mok a slight tilt, I process what I was just told. 

Special event, six verse one, and who is Tank?

“You mean it's a gang-up on one guy?!” Time interjects, “What did that one guy do to earn such a match?”

“Word has it that Jay set this up. Apparently, the poor sap of a guy is behind on some payments, and this is how he is to catch up. The deadman’s name is ‘The Phoenix’. The dudes he is up against look like they have more than enough muscle to put down anyone here,” Mok offers, glancing around, looking like he is bored with the conversation but is really just doing safety checks.

“You mean to tell me it is one Alpha against 6 others? Are they all Alphas too, or is it a mix?” I ask, trying to keep the pit of worry and concern that has now formed in my stomach from leaking into my voice.

“Well, the match has been named ‘All-out Alpha.’ So, I am sure you can guess the answer to that question, bud. I would love to chat, but I see an old college hottie. Peace out!” Mok says as he starts to jog over to Beam, who looks stiff and cannot find a way to relax and blend in. Hopefully, Mok can get Beam to chill, or people will start to wonder.

“Umm... A’Kinn. If Phoenix is against six other Alphas, this isn’t a match. Is it a cover-up for a reminder or a beatdown, and why do I feel it's Phoenix that you owe a debt to?  Could it be because your face paled just a hint when Mok said his name?” 

Damn, Tay.

He has been my friend since primary school, and almost nothing gets by him. However, he is not wrong with anything he says. 

I am here for Phoenix. 

I owe him a debt, and we may have just got front-row seats to his murder.

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Tag List - OPEN

@bethanysnow @braveangel777 @danielle143

[lurkingshan]

Japanese QL Corner

ICYMI: There are so many Japanese qls airing weekly, so I’m going to start posting this little round up at the end of each week. Most of these shows are on Gaga and I highly recommend watching!

Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna 2

Besties, I screamed!!! We were blessed with episodes 9-12 of this fantastic second season this week, and we finally reached the moment we've been building toward for so long. I AM SO PROUD OF KASUGA AND NOMOTO. Amazing job using your words, ladies. And I loved the way they tied Kasuga's family plot in here, with her need to move giving her the motivation to finally tell Nomoto what she wants. Nomoto was ready for it, too, and already planning to confess on her own (still not over that adorable screamsqueal she let out after inviting Kasuga for Valentines dinner). I can't wait for them to buy a big house, invite Nagumo and Yako to live with them, and start their very own lesbian commune where every meal is amazing.

Chaser Game W

I did some investigating this week because the way these characters are written was just not making sense to me. And as it happens, not only is this show about women written by a male screenwriter, it was adapted from a het manga! Itsuki's character was originally a heterosexual man. Let me tell ya, this made a lot click into place for me. Trust a male writer to take a het romance about power dynamics, gender swap one of the characters to make it a gl, and fail to adjust the characterizations and plot for the completely different power dynamics and communication styles that would entail. It doesn’t explain all the issues with the writing, but it sure does explain a lot about the puzzling lack of feelings processing and communication between these two women. Despite that messiness, I will finish watching this one to support the ratings so we get more gls soon.

My Strawberry Film

What we got here is a love chain of pain. Chika loves Ryo, but Ryo loves Hikaru, and Hikaru is fixated on Minami. Everyone is pining and there is no way for everyone to get what they want. A classic high school angst set up, though admittedly not my favorite kind of story. I will continue to hope that Chika experiences an awakening and we end up with both a bl and a gl pair in this show. I did not expect them to find Minami that easily (or that she would be their peer), so I'm curious to see where they take the plot for this one.

Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yaro ka

Last week I said I was wary of them bringing Mizuki back into the mix to interfere in the relationship, and as expected I was irritated with the way the show used him in this week's episode. I like where that final conversation between Sakae and Soga ended up, but I didn't care for the way Mizuki was used to interfere. It felt like a retread of the last couple weeks, didn't accomplish anything new for those relationships, and just made Sakae seem kind of weak willed and immature. Sakae was not feeling confident about Soga's feelings because he had not communicated clearly, but every time Soga tried to talk to him, Sakae just stood there and let Mizuki get in the way. I would have liked to see him draw a firmer boundary with Mizuki and talk to Soga like an adult, but instead he was wavering through most of the episode and not giving Soga the chance to explain things. It was an annoying dynamic and I hope it's actually over. But of course, Mizuki hasn't left yet and the episode didn't allow us more than a brief happy moment before flashing forward to a breakup, so we're clearly in for more seesaw shenanigans before this ends.

Perfect Propose

I love this show, y'all. I already posted a little love note to this episode, which I thought was so smart and authentic in the way it depicted Hiro's ongoing struggles with work, his burnout, and his fear about moving on (also shoutout to this post from @befuddledcinnamonroll for a great overview on why the storytelling choices are so effective). And for an episode where Hiro and Kai shared only a couple scenes, it got a surprising amount of relationship development done, as Hiro became more aware of his growing feelings for Kai and Kai made his intentions and his boundaries clear. I love that he put the ball firmly in Hiro's court to decide what he wants and ask for it, and I am so looking forward to seeing Hiro run next week. If only I could get another six episodes, everything here would be perfect.

Ossan's Love Returns

I'll be honest, this show has been kinda wobbly for me in the back half. It feels like they put too many balls in the air and are not quite sure how to land them all. For one, I am just not nearly as invested in this Izumi/Kiku loveline as the show clearly wants me to be--I've been shipping Kiku x Moving On the whole time and was hopeful we may be finally getting there, but it just keeps coming back around. Takegawa's story seems to have gotten lost somewhere along the way, and I was so confused by some of the storytelling choices re: Kurosawa's plot this week that I had to convene @twig-tea and @my-rose-tinted-glasses, and our collective brain power still couldn't quite piece together the show's intent. I loved the first stretch of the episode with the whole squad assembling to puzzle through what they know about Chief's health woes and support him, but then they lost me with that goodbye video sequence immediately followed by a one month later psyche! moment. If they are not killing Kurosawa off (which I don't think they are) the very overwrought final scenes with him, Haruta, and Maki hit pretty weird. Having now seen the end scene that undercuts it all, it could be that it was meant to feel like comedic melodrama, but in the absence of any solid reassurance to the audience that the health threat was not real, that did not really land. All that said, I still love all of these characters and it's been a real delight to see Haruta and Maki settle into their married life, so I'm still very happy to be watching and looking forward to how they wrap up.

[airenyah]

so. at the beginning of the month i forced hidden agenda on my mom, right? and originally i was planning on spending my semester break watching also last twilight and only friends to talk acting. well, after hidden agenda we ended up doing a star in my mind rewatch instead (which she actually watched live with me back when it aired)

and at some point while we were discussing acting stuff about joong(dunk) i decided i urgently needed to watch mafia the series with her too bc i felt a desperate need to talk to her about joong doing comedy (bc he's fucking GOOD at comedy and i really needed to show her that)

the thing is, i didn't tell my mother shit about mafia the series. i just went "mom. there's a series i n e e d you to watch. it's a mafia series. i won't tell you the reason why i want you to watch it, but trust me, you'll know once you see it"

(oh and some extra backstory to make the whole thing i'm about to write about even funnier: right before we watched ep1 i actually showed my mom the tiktok trend videos that joong and dunk posted yesterday. meaning my mom actually saw joong's face RIGHT before we went into mafia the series. this will be relevant in a bit)

so we start episode 1 and get thrown straight into a fight scene. a minute or two in my mom says "i assume the cast includes someone we know" and i'm like :) and my mom continues "and i assume it's gun" and i'm like 🤭🤭🤭 (while also wondering just how she didn't IMMEDIATELY clock that it was gonna be joong, considering how we've only watched joongdunk shows all month and how i've been showing her loads of excerpts from joongdunk interviews and behind the scenes or some of their social media posts, ESP after i showed her the joongdunk tiktoks right beforehand)

the episode continues and one character is asked about his son shortly before it cuts to the intro (which i skip as fast as humanly possible, praying it won't land on joong and ruin the surprise (it didn't)), followed by a scene at the character's house. the reveal starts:

my mom says "the son will be the actor we know". i quietly go 😏

the camera pans up the bed and the actor turns around to face the camera as it reaches his upper body and we get the face reveal:

my mom goes "is that ohm?????"

i try to keep a poker face. internally i'm screaming in WHAT world does this look like ohm pawat?????? HOW do you not recognize joong here???? you LITERALLY SAW his face only 5 mins ago in their tiktoks?????

the scene continues. the character speaks. my mom knows she knows the voice. i'm giggling. the character makes his way down the stairs

"oh wait, is it the other one???" my mom says. i hesitate. did she finally get it? i wonder. i know she's been struggling a little with the names. she remembers what their names are but she keeps forgetting which one is joong and which one is dunk. she also knows dunk has done only two main roles, both of which we've already watched this month. is she thinking of dunk but can't remember what his bl-partner's name is?

i'm confused. "which other one?" i ask

"the other one from bad buddy."

"ohhh, nanon?" okay, she still has no clue. good thing i didn't say anything yet to confirm or deny and asked for clarification instead. "no, it's not nanon", i tell her.

the character sits down for breakfast

"AH!!"

there it is. my mom doesn't even say anything, she just makes a loud "ah" sound, but i don't need clarification this time. this time i know for sure she's correctly identified who it is. i start laughing. so does my mom. "alles klar", she laughs. and with that she has finally figured out the first part of the puzzle of why i'm forcing this series on her

*("alles klar" is a phrase that literally translates to "everything is clear" and means something like "alright" or "i understand" or "i know what's up" or "i got it")

i'm doing it, i just sat my mom down for mafia the series hehehe