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bengiyo · 4 months

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I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama Ep 3 (Finale) Stray Thoughts

Last time, Akafuji recognized that he has a crush on Aoyanagi for real, and Aoyanagi also recognized there may be something going on with him. The two lonely boys are trying to put on their best faces for the sake of the drama, but Akafuji is crushed by his own attraction, and Aoyanagi by his own doubts in himself as an actor. Aoyanagi rescued Kuromiya from an aggressive can, and we learned he's afraid of aggressive women. Kuromiya intervened, and Akafuji took Aoyanagi on a date. The two of them practiced kissing, but it was sad as fuck, and then the network cut the kiss from their show.

This curry looks pretty good.

Oh yes. Thank you voiceover for confirming they're both thinking about the kiss.

I'm glad Akafuji can still benefit from his stan knowledge, but now he's spiraling.

Welcome back, baby is a messy eater.

It definitely feels like they're having more fun separating themselves from the characters.

I will love Akafuji forever. He responded to being dumped for loving his hobby by loving it harder.

I would also stan Aoyanagi if he took me so seriously and then praised me for loving my stories.

I love when one confesses when they think the other is sleeping.

Aoyanagi has the best eyes of the year OMG.

I like the manager listening in to check on his charge.

Ope. Tendo-san called it falling in love.

I love the shot of the manager stepping over Hajime in the front as it's implied he's putting himself between Hajime and Akafuji.

Oh no. My boy is gonna be alone on his birthday again.

Oh, of course it was intended as a surprise party. I love Akafuji.

Aoyanagi is crying. I'm crying.

THE CARD IS EDIBLE.

Welcome back, The Heart Knows!

They cut a kiss from a friends to lovers BL with this much sexual tension?? Come on.

I'm glad the rest of the crew knows that Aoyanagi is a good actor who usually hits his marks.

They really had that boy spit on the 4th wall. Holy shit.

Fucking paparazzi holy shit.

Oh, I hate misunderstandings like this, but I get it.

Tendo-san, please fix this!

OH MY GOD. I'VE HAD TO GIVE FOR SO LONG AND I FINALLY GET TO RECEIVE. I had hoped the managers would be real and I was not expecting this!

Run, baby boy, RUN!!!

Holy shit, this indeed a stan's apartment.

He has the cutout!!

This is a completely acceptable stan reaction, and also a fantastic shot.

"I like you as myself" will never get old.

"I'm sorry for going on about myself. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?" Sorry to all other BL characters, but we have a new king.

I love this confession.

They planned to remove a kiss that was in the manga??? EVIL.

Aw, this was so close to perfect, but then they chickened out on a real kiss.

Final Verdict: 9.5, This Show Will Drown You in BL Goodness. If they had kissed properly, this would have a 10 and the new standard for all comedy BL follow. Instead, I will say that this show executes comedy with meta commentary about BL better than any other attempt before it (excepting A Man Who Defies the World of BL). Despite confirming the managers, the show chickened out on the mains and I will be docking it for that. Still, this show was excellently paced and will be my new default reaction image whenever someone insists that a Thai BL should be 12 episodes of meandering nonsense with no fucking idea where it's going or what story it's telling. This show executed a great arc in three movements. Everyone else, have several seats.

#Ben watches #bl drama no shuen ni narimashita: crank up hen #i became the main role of a bl drama #japanese bl #bl series

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pandoa · 1 year

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Let me just scoot myself in here real quick AHEM! I would like to participate in this 100 followers event!

I would like epel with....

Daisies ~ “it’s our little secret, alright?”

AND

Freesias ~ “you’re an idiot” “no, i’m not” “i hate you” “love you too”

Thank you^^ you don't need to do this if you don't want to and congrats on 100 follower you deserve atleast 500 but I digress.

Daisies ~ “it’s our little secret, alright?”

Freesias ~ “you’re an idiot” “no, i’m not” “i hate you” “love you too”

~epel felmier x gender neutral reader~

warnings: just random people thinking epel is a girl while on a date with reader.. bless his heart. pls remember that although here, in this fic, it's to be taken as light-hearted comedy in a fictional scenario, misgendering others can have serious effects on people irl. always remember to never assume the important things about a person just because of their appearance. thank u <3

YAKOOO TYSM I KNOW YOU DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU REQUESTED BUT HERE YOU GO LMAO- we're actually almost at 500 atm hehe anyways HOPE YOU ENJOY MY DEAR YAKO

♡manly misunderstanding♡

Epel wasn’t too sure what it would feel like to overblot. But he was sure that he would be moments close to forming the oozing, black liquid from his pen if you and him did not walk out of the mall you both had been shopping in as soon as possible. Because what had disrupted your very first date together as a couple was just outrageous.

Out. Rageous.

“Hello, Miss!” an overly cheery voice called out to you both, specifically referring to your startled boyfriend who jumped up in surprise. “Would you like to try out our new moisturizer?” the saleswoman chirped, “It's one hundred percent made of natural ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter! Perfect for a self-care day!”

Epel hesitantly raised his pale hand in refusal, instinctively shielding you from the gazes of the insistent advertisers as if you were a jewel in need of protection—even despite the fact that he was clearly the one in need of more protection rather than yourself.

“Ah—No, thank you,” Epel politely declined, “I think I’m alright—”

The bright saleswoman, however, continued to tread closer and closer to the first year’s defensive form as she eagerly passed down a fancy-looking bottle of lotion into his hand, “Are you sure? We are having a limited-time sale for this season only! Here, come into our store and see for yourself—”

“Young Lady!” Readily backing away from the previous shop, the two of you hastily moved forward to flee the creeping stares of the mall only to immediately be caught by another spokesperson. “Please have a sample of our latest concealer!” The seller, this time a very young and refreshing boy, called out to Epel, “Clogs no pores and nurtures your fair skin!”

“Ah—Sorry, I’m not very into that sort of thing—”

“Hi! Wanna try out this trending red lipstick? I bet it would SO match that cute top you have on right now, Miss. Post and share it with your girlfriends, too! Or even your boyfriends!”

“Please, just leave us alone—”

“MADAM, DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN FREE TICKETS TO SEE POPULAR ACTOR NEIGE LEBLANCHE IF YOU ORDER A CASKET OF OUR RED APPLE SODA RIGHT NOW! THAT’S RIGHT! FREE TICKETS TO SEE OUR MEDIA PRINCE, NEIGE LEBLANCHE IF YOU PURCHASE RIGHT NOW! GET YOUR DRINKS TODAY!”

“OH FOR SEVENS’ SAKE!”

Hollering in frustration, Epel’s sanity had ticked its final thread of patience as he bolted towards the blaring red lights of the mall’s heavenly exit. You quickly followed behind him, concerned but slightly amused by your boyfriend’s struggle to escape the grasps of the endless sea of salespersons as they all flocked the young boy like a stray piece of food being surrounded by a wave of birds on the shoreline. Dashing past the tempting aroma of the plentiful food stalls, speeding away from any stranger who had so much as looked your way, and skipping across the wooden tiles of the mall’s boardwalk, you and Epel had finally stopped to rest as the advertisers were now nowhere in sight.

Well, you had thought so, at least.

“...You know,” your voice said tiredly, finally catching your breath from the strenuous chase, “if the other first years saw this, they’d never let you live this down, right?”

“Shut up,” Epel glared back at you with no real ill intent. “It’s our little secret, alright? And no tellin’ Ace or Deuce ‘bout this! Nev’r!”

“Really~? What if I accidentally let it slip out one day during alchemy lessons that we were both chased down by a bunch of your fangirls and fanboys because of your beautiful looks? What would you do then?” a smug smile then slowly grew on your face, clearly trying to cause some sort of mischief between the two of you with your jokes.

The boy proceeded to maintain an exhausted stare at your comment, “You’re an idiot, (Y/n).”

“No, I’m not.”

“I hate you.”

“I love you, too.”

Epel, upon hearing your words, stood still in shock for a fragment of a second as he took in what you had just said in its entirety. “That’s… that’s not fair,” he muttered in what seemed like a flash of defeat, “But you were kiddin’, right? You wouldn’t actually—”

“Hey, you there!” another unknown voice coming from the store adjacent to the both of you pierced your ears like a dozen nails on a chalkboard, “Would you like a special sample of this new cologne and perfume by a well-known rising actor and model? May I present to you, madam, Fairest and True, Schoenheit: The Fragrance—!”

“NO, PLEASE,” Epel curtly yelled as he leaped yards away from the salesman innocently holding out an elegant, violet bottle of perfume towards his stature, “ANYTHING BUT THAT—”

a/n: currently imagining vil in a fragrance commercial like adrien agreste from miraculous ladybug. i am dying.

#twisted wonderland #twst #disney twst #disney twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #twst imagines #epel felmier #twst epel #epel twst #epel twisted wonderland #epel felmier x reader #epel x reader #epel x you #pomefiore #blossom grove prompt event

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gold-rhine · 11 months

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Guili Plains: the sitcom

In which Cloud Retainer forces Morax to choose superior invention at gun point and he chooses a gun, Yaksha siblings have to deploy Xiao’s secret power while being caught between a rock and a dust goddess, and Guizhong invents a music machine which can bring tears even to the eyes of Lord of Geo.

Characters: Morax, Guizhong, Cloud Retainer, Xiao, Bosacius, Bonanus, Indarias, Menogias

Warnings: none, safe for view, Morax and Guizhong could be read as either platonic or married for 300 years. 2023 Lantern Rite spoilers I guess?

Kinda part 2 of this fic , but can be read as stand alone. Pure fluff and comedy.

..... I .....

“Ah,” Morax said, very carefully and prepared himself for the tough conversation when he saw his two friends this evening. He knew a storm approaching even before the thunder hit. “And to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I don’t have anything to say about the farce she proposes,” Guizhong said in a tone that suggested she actually had quite a lot to say.

Cloud Retainer ignored this statement, but her eye twitched.

“We seek your council to use your authority as our arbiter to resolve the argument of whose mechanical creation is more superior.”

“You do,” Guizhong said immediately. “I do not. I *know* I’m better.”

Morax blinked, slowly considering his next words.

“Did it not occur to you that I… uh, am not so well versed in the art of engineering as both of you are?”

“Yes, that’s the entire point of her bringing in an ignorant layman as an authority,” Guizhong said. “She plans to impress, no, to *bamboozle* you with the unnecessary complexity of her plans, so that you’ll naively name her the best engineer.”

“One thinks that Rex Lapis, as the most spiritually in touch with our nation, should be the one to realize which invention connects to it’s traditions.”

Morax blinked again.

“You’re doing your lizard thing,” Guizhong said. “With the slow, but repetitive blinking, not with the tail. You’re stressing him out, Cloud Retainer.”

He was too sober for this.

“Ladies, would you like to have a refreshment drink?” he said, walking up to a table with a wine decanter and filling up the cups.

“Sure,” said Guizhong. “I’ve been too sober for this for at least the last hour.”

Cloud Retainer squinted at him and said, “One might prefer to excuse herself from the festivities.”

“Oh, are you still not over his square cups?” Guizhong said, picking hers up and rolling her eyes. “Come on!”

“One just thinks that it is highly unusual to...“ Cloud Retainer glanced at him, cut herself off with a fake cough, fixed her glasses and continued. “It bears no importance. But back to the matter, allow one to introduce you to one’s humble invention, which represents a pinnacle of form and function that a loom can ever achieve...“

She was unrolling the scrolls with design on the table while Guizhong elbowed Morax and whispered conspiratorially “Psst. I have snacks. Do you want me to bring them out so you can pull out square plates too?”

“Is it Mora meat?” he asked back in a same hushed voice.

“Yeah.”

“No. This pettiness would be unbecoming of us.”

Guizhong narrowed her eyes, “You just don’t want me to eat my lowly mora meat with your fancy wine. You know what, you deserve her snobbery for your snobbery.”

“... And this is why it’s obvious that intricacy of one’s design is clearly superior to ballista's simpleton construction,“ Cloud Retainer was gesturing at her scrolls. “Though for the sake of fairness we should give Guizhong opportunity to present herself.“

“No need, I’ve heard quite a lot about it,“ Morax said and Guizhong huffed. She downed her wine in one gulp like a shot (Morax winced) and stepped up to Cloud Retainer.

“You know what’s your problem? You fundamentally misunderstand the true purpose of engineering. You think you’re better by the virtue of making your designs so complex and intricate that no one can repeat them, but it is in fact the opposite. Good engineering is about perfecting and simplifying the design until it can be easily used, maintained, replicated or upgraded by others. My ballista is so simplified on purpose, so that even someone untrained like him”, Guizhong pointed at Morax, who almost choked on the wine he was sipping, “would be able to fix and use it if needed with the minimal information he’s got from listening to me rumble. We make these machines for the PEOPLE, Cloud Retainer, not for bragging about how unique and intricate you can make your gears.“

Cloud Retainer pursed her lips and said, ice cold and glaring daggers over the edge of her glasses.

“One believes we’ve heard enough. It is time for you to name the winner, Lord Morax.“

“Oh, just name her and let’s be done with it. I don’t know why I’m wasting my time trying to explain the ethos of good design while all this arrogant bird wants is a meaningless stroke to her ego.“

Morax finished his wine, put the square cup down carefully and met Cloud Retainer’s eyes.

“If you demand me to choose, I will have to choose ballista.“

“What? Preposterous!“

“Yeah, of course he chose right winner for the wrong reasons.“

“We’re at war, Cloud Retainer,“ he said calmly. “Obviously, our nation would presently benefit more from a weapon than a loom. I don’t know what you expected me to do.“

“One expected you to have a better judgement, but perhaps one was mistaken indeed.“

Morax took a deep breath.

“Would you like some snacks?“ he finally said pleasantly and conjured a square plate.

..... II .....

“So, what is so urgent that we’ve been summoned for?“

Bosacius held up all four of his arms in a shrug in answer to Menogias, who just joined a group and tried to keep with a quick pace, but look dignified at the same time.

“Would’ve told you already if I knew. I was only told to assemble everyone and get to Rex Lapis’ tent as quickly as possible.“

“Was there an invasion?“ Bonanus speculated, tucking a strain of blue hair behind her horns in a worry. “Why else would Lord Morax need all of us at once?“

“A couple of us would be enough to handle a simple conflict on the borders. No, it must be a new hostile god at least!” Indarias said. “Ah, I hope he’s flammable, I’m tired of the wet aquatic freaks that you can’t even set on fire.”

Alatus pursed his lips and shot Indarias a disapproving glare. ”Our duty is no laughing matter.”

She chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Oh, cheer up, little one, it wouldn’t kill you to have some fun once in a while.”

Alatus bristled in indignation, but before he could answer, they’ve reached the tent and muffled sounds of heated argument from within stopped any attempt at bickering. Everyone looked at Bosacius. He sighed and stepped first inside of the tent.

“... solutely ridiculous and I would not stand for you treating me like I’m some helpless useless... What is that?“

Guizhong and Morax turned when Bosacius appeared. He gave a ceremonial bow, looking pointedly away.

“My Lord. My Lady.“

The rest of yakshas entered the tent and stood in what was less of a military line and more of a group huddled behind Bosacius wide back.

“Generals,“ Morax said calmly. “You are to follow lady Guizhong on her mission and ensure her safety.“

“Oh, for fuck’s sake... All five of them?! I’m going on a scouting trip, not to declare a war!“

“You’re going into what is basically a hostile territory, hence even the need for ballista there.“

“So? I can take care of myself, I don’t need five yaksha generals babysitting me. They can do something more important.“

“Your safety is of the outmost importance.“

“You are so stubborn about the stupidest things sometimes! General, you have to agree that escort of all yakshas at once is a dumbass idea?”

Bosacius startled, being suddenly put on the spot. Bonanus made a squeaky noise behind his back. Menogias grunted, Indarias fire crackled in agitation. He could feel the stares of all of them at the back of his head. Bosacius looked from indignant Guizhong to Morax, who did not look like he was open to criticism.

“My Lady,“ he said diplomatically. “We yakshas are a simple folk, born for battles. We are soldiers, give us orders and we will fight to death, but I certainly could not hope to give any valuable input into your strategizing decisions.“

Yakshas behind his back breathed out in unison.

“Wow, you really are turning into a tyrant,“ Guizhong said to Morax, who raised an eyebrow in a expression that usually stopped all arguing, but she proceeded without missing a beat. “Even your strongest generals are afraid to voice their opinion.”

“Enough! I’m leaving and i’m leaving *alone*,“ she turned to yakshas and gave them a narrowed look. “And if someone tried to follow me, I would like them to consider that being crushed by a stone spear is a quick and easy death, but dying from chocking on dust is a very slow and painful torture.“

She stormed out of tent. Bosacius looked at Morax.

“Follow her,“ the geo lord said calmly. Bonanus squeaked urgently, Menogias rumbled and elbowed Bosacius.

“Um,“ Bosacius said. “As my Lord commands. I would just like to mention that it might be hard for us to ensure Lady’s safety while choking on dust.“

“Follow her stealthily,“ Morax said after a pause.

“Um,” Bosacius started saying. Morax folded his arms and narrowed his eyes.

“Sure,” Bosacius said quickly. “Of course. Stealth is my middle name. I’m barely noticeable in broad daylight.”

“Ugh, I HATE being caught in the middle of family scandals!“ Indarias grumbled when they all got out of tent.

“Don’t disrespect our Lord,“ Alatus said with a frown and had to dodge hair ruffling again.

“You’re lucky you’re so adorable, you tiny killjoy.“

“We could’ve maybe got out of it if it wasn’t for the incredible eloquence of Bosacius. “UM,“ Menogias mimicked mockingly.

“Well I didn’t hear any of your famed eloquence at all.“

“I simply respected your right to speak as our supposed leader.”

“Oh, so you respect my right as a leader when it’s time to argue with Rex Lapis, but won’t stop backtalking for the rest of...“

“Guys, guys, we need to do something,“ Bonanus said, fidgeting with her arms. “We’re going to lose her if we waste any more time.“

“You’re right. Ugh, what to do...“ he turned to the anemo yaksha. “Alatus! You’re going first, because you’re the most... stealthy. We’ll follow closely.”

Smaller yaksha stepped up and nodded solemnly, but Bonanus moved to hug him protectively.

“What? No, we can’t endanger our little brother!“

“No, no, he’s right,“ Indarias said. “Guizhong won’t hurt him, he’s too small and cute!“

“Am not!“

“So this is your genius plan?“ Menogias folded his arms, lip curled sarcastically. “To rely on Alatus’ cuteness?“

“I am stealthy!“

“Well, we need SOME plan. I’d ask you for ideas, but we don’t have time to wait until you design all of us camouflage outfits.“

Girls gasped and looked at the geo yaksha. Menogias snarled and pointed his finger at Bosacius.

“I wouldn’t rely on you wearing shirt ever, you barbaric...“

“Boys!“

..... III .....

It was a beautiful summer day and Morax was sunbathing in his original dragon form. He enjoyed his humanoid shapes just fine, but nothing could beat the sensation of scales of a cold-blooded creature literally absorbing sunlight.

Everything was perfect. The wind was rustling in tall grass and carrying faint smell of glaze lilies, the sky was of that deepest dark blue color that it only gets on July middays with no shred of clouds in sight, birds were chirping, Guizhong was sitting next to him, leaning against his side and fussing with her latest project. She would mutter under her breath things like “soulless music... I’ll show her soulless music...” or “elitist conservative snobs...” or sometimes move his tail to get to one of her wrenches or scrolls, but he was used to this and so it didn’t deter him from slowly dazing off.

He was almost completely asleep when the loudest most agonizing noise startled him awake. It was the worst sound he’s ever heard in all thousands of years he’s lived, it somehow combined mechanical screeching, excruciating wheeze of nails dragged on glass and also deep low reverberating bong.

He flew up, ready to end the misery of whatever abomination was making this wail, but the horizon was clear. The sound stopped as abruptly as it started.

“It worked!“ Guizhong yelled excitedly from the ground.

“What worked?“

“My bell!“ she presented what indeed looked like a metallic bell, beaming proudly. Morax blinked and carefully landed next to her.

“You mean you made a thing that makes *this sound*... on purpose? Are you inventing torture devices now?“

“No, don’t be silly! It will be an instrument that will be able to compose and perform beautiful music! Eventually. Of course it needs work first, I will be tuning it in, but the important breakthrough is that it can make sounds by itself!“

Morax blinked and shrugged, which in his current form looked like a ripple, started curling back into position he had before he was so rudely woken up, and then froze in the middle of a movement, glancing at Guizhong sharply.

“For how long will it keep making these kinds of noises before it can play beautiful music?“

She opened her mouth, closed it, chewed on her lip with her eyes darting.

“Oh well, you know, it’s hard to say exactly... Oh! Do you maybe want some wine?”

“I will have to ban this, for the safety of the nation. And perhaps, the entirety of Teyvat.”

“It won’t be *that long*, come on! Do you want snacks with that wine? I’ve got some fancy snacks, not just mora meat!”

“They locked the knowledge of less torturous weapons in the abyss, Guizhong.“

“Ah, come on, don’t be melodramatic, drink your wine, it will be fiiiiine“

#rhine writes #rhine writes light #guizhong #zhongli #morax #xiao #genshin impact

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bitchfitch · 6 months

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wait I just realized how fucking funny making Haze a prophet instead of just a generic horny demon is.

It's always been canon that Aleistar got the book with Haze's summoning details in it from Eadwulf. it Used to be because Haze and Eadwulf just didn't click and Eadwulf didn't find their deal fulfilling. Now though it would have to be because Eadwulf didn't like the answer Haze was able to give him.

I've decided to make it the stupidest possible misunderstanding for comedy's sake.

Eadwulf asked Haze to show him when he see's his true love for the first time. Haze complies and shows Eadwulf the first time he saw Adi.

Unfortunately without knowing how things play out, it kinda just looks like Haze is showing Eadwulf jacking it to extremely forgettable porn on a shady lil site. To Eadwulf it felt like a very 'you have no true love just give up and watch some smut tapes' type gesture.

Except Adi is a cam boy and is in a number of his platform's advertisements. It Was the first time Eadwulf saw him, he just didn't realize the fucking, banner ad above the video was the important piece of this extremely mean looking prophecy.

So he snaps at Haze and says some Hashtag Unkind Words before banishing him and sulking. Only giving the book to Aleistar as an excuse to bitch about what happened.

So a few weeks later, after Eadwulf has met Adi and fallen for him and After Aleistar finally breaks down and summons Haze, Eadwulf pieces together what happened and very sheepishly apologizes for how he behaved the first time they met. Haze gets a Good long cackle out of it.

#(Haze can see the future but he doesn't always know whats important in his visions and kinda just has to intuit it.#Haze's guess as to what the vision meant was that A. Eadwulf did need to just give up on this and jack it like a normal person.#or B. he needed to get in touch with one or both of those actors. Not even Haze would have guessed the banner ad cat boy was the #important piece of the vision. Haze didn't even notice him.)

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zuragin · 1 year

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Some ZhongXiao fics on ao3 that I love a lot.

What the title says.

I have not read all the fics in the tag because there are so many, so... it is what it is! This sampling will probably be smaller than it should be. This list is in no order of preference.

1. The ZhongXiao Alliance by Yellow_Canna

R18 fic. I think this must be the most popular?? ZX fic with a little bit of VenAether too... it is the one fic that appears in the search engine when you type “zhongxiao ao3″, haha. But it is so worth it. The characterizations are well done. Also, it has EVERYTHING. Comedy, drama, romance, angst, absurdity, smut, misunderstandings, character evolution, babies. It is a whole ride. I love how Xiao and Venti are written here in particular, as well as the prose in the middle part. I enjoyed reading this so much and have even re-read some memorable parts. If I start reading it I end up reading everything... it is a very dangerous story! But it is such a nice read! Just read the summary. Not putting it here because it’s quite long. It is a whole adventure.

2. Boca de dragón by Narialam (Spanish)

Este fic está en Español y la verdad lo considero muy bueno. Me pesa mucho que no esté completo, pero al menos llegó a un punto de inflexión importante en la historia. Básicamente a Zhongli le da hanahaki. La caracterización de Zhongli aquí es muy interesante.

“Cientos de años atrás, la enfermedad de Hanahaki había causado algún que otro estrago en la región de Liyue pese a la atenta mirada del arconte Geo. Ahora que se había retirado nuevamente tenía que enfrentarla. Esta vez, en sus propias entrañas.“

3. city of requests by stonesbeyondthesea

“A strange mortal wielding a Geo vision cleans out all of the demons and monsters in Guili Plains and Dihua Marsh within a single night. Though reluctantly impressed, Xiao refuses to place any confidence in this man’s intelligence, considering he thinks the best time for such an activity is in the pouring rain at the dead of night.

In which Xiao discovers the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's Consultant who insists on accompanying him in his duties looks uncannily like his former Archon.”

This fic is so cute. Zhongli and Xiao are both playful, since Zhongli is playing at pretending to be a mortal. He thinks no one knows, but Xiao and the rest of the Adepti were aware of his real identity since the start... It’s such a cute fic. It’s also about Xiao getting closer to a mundane life. Qiqi is also suuuper cute. Also if I remember well Xiao speaks with the birds in this fic and it is sooo cute.

4. bury what needs burying by mnabokov

“Xiao has never felt grief like this.”

R18 fic. MAN, THIS FIC KICKED MY ASS and punched me in the gut a couple of times while reading it. I do not know if I was too sensible that day but I for sure felt the sadness and the grief. Yes, this fic is about grief. This fic is also one of my favorites. Poor, poor Xiao. I never forgot about this story it’s just too good.

5. dawnbreak by moonbell (snowdrops)

“If his destiny is death, has his lord’s will defied that of heaven’s?”

This is a response fic to the archon quest in 2.7... it is really nice. I think the one line I loved was:

"I said I would not apologise for saving you. But I ask that you forgive my selfishness in keeping you alive," Zhongli says, lowering his head to Xiao. "It is one thing to ask your suffering for the protection of a nation. It is another, to have forced it upon you for my own sake."

6. xi wangmu by tzitzimeme

“Xiangling scales entire mountains to satisfy the palettes of her two pickiest customers. (Or, two men who are emotionally stunted by their own immortality inadvertantly turn an overly enthusiastic chef into their messenger pigeon.)

[Post 1.1 addendum added: Xiao remembers how to live.]”

This fic is more Gen (still, please be careful to read the tags beforehand), and I know the author has been involved in some drama, but I still enjoyed this particular story. I just enjoy the slow evolution of Xiangling’s interactions with both Xiao and Zhongli, and the ending is also cute.

7. i let xiao eat a dream but it gets surreal and horny by bimbitri

“It's been hundreds of years since Xiao last ate a dream. Zhongli offers him the chance to eat his, but Xiao quickly realises that he's bitten off more than he can chew.

[ Xiao was no longer a hunter, a devourer – he’d become swallowed by Zhongli's dream entirely. He could feel it pressing against him. The weight made him gasp and squirm. Every inch of him – of his existence, of his identity, his self – was caught within the dream. Its touch was electrifying, sending tendrils of sweet heat over every inch of him. He was overwhelmed by each ethereal caress. Too much. Not enough. He wanted, wanted, wanted. ]”

The title and summary describe it well enough so I cannot add much. It is R18 obviously.

8. The Perks of Being a Cat by Minglan

“Hu Tao will kill me,” Xiangling breathes. Her gaze darts between Zhongli and the soup she prepared – the one which transformed Zhongli into a feline creature.--Zhongli accidentally turns into a cat and Xiao doesn't know.”

This one is a lovely fic about Zhongli turning into a cat and getting the rare opportunity to get closer to Xiao because of it.

9. eternity begins with you by lorkhaj

“Zhongli remembered love. He remembered the pretty eyed boy left alone in the garden, covered in scars and cherry blossom petals. He remembered sneaking into their storage closets and stealing kisses amid breathless giggles and soft touches. He remembered midnight walks and stargazing and swordplay.Above all, he remembered all of their broken promises and fleeting maybes; he remembered Xiao.//

So begins the tale of the dragon chasing the human through history.“

This FIC IS INCREDIBLE. I was in awe when I finished reading it. I read it in one go because I could no stop, I needed to know how everything turned out. It was a whole adventure. This fic is more like an AU based on the characters instead of a canon like story, but the story is so, so good. Please, please read it!! My words are probably not decent enough to praise it.

10. the way joy sounds as it exits your mouth by crookedspoon

“Tender moments upon waking.”

R18 fic. This was very lovely and hot.

11. it's my first time being human (i learned to bear the retribution) by wisforia

“

One day, a young man catches his eye behind the counter at the coffee shop he frequently visits. A new staff, perhaps. He is not a familiar face, and Zhongli is certain he would have remembered him if he had seen him before.

There is a grace to the way he moves, fingers precise as he prepares the concoctions his customer has ordered. His dark hair streaked with teal is gathered at the small of his nape, yet still a few wispy pieces slip out, brushing against his sharp features, softening them.

Zhongli is merely a lawyer who frequently visits the coffee shop down the street from his office. Xiao is merely a barista working at that same coffee shop. One of these statements is not entirely true.”

This is an excellent AU in a modern setting that is still not finished but it’s uploading frequently and I am thinking it is already in it’s latest stages. The characterization for both Xiao and Zhongli, and just any other character in here really, is so good. I love it so much. I am enjoying following this story. I love the fragility of both Xiao and Zhongli in this. It is such a good slow burn story.

12. weathered stone by astracytevi

“Zhongli's heart is like weathered stone. He can stand waiting for Xiao after the incident at the Chasm; he is good with patience, after all.

But despite all of the weathering he has gone through, Zhongli holds firm (or does he really) when he learns that the one he loves returns the feelings.”

This is a nice mutual pining and love confession fic after the 2.7 event.

“I’m sorry I’ve always been a burden to you. I’m sorry that you’ve had to deal with me being a nuisance for so long. It would have been better if Bosacius survived. He was a hero. I am not. Despite what I’ve told the Traveler, I am not.”

Oh, Xiao...

13. Even a Broken Glass Can Still Hold Water by Minglan

“Xiao always imagined their first kiss to be different. He imagined it to be warm and grounding – like finding home when his has been gone for so long. Too long.

---

Or: Xiao ends up in the same dorm room as his long-time crush Zhongli”

I also love this AU so much because they are just fellow students in this one, but also it talks a lot about Xiao as a character and the story creates a whole network of characters around Xiao too, so it is interesting to read. I enjoy seeing Xiao analyze his own mental struggles and trying to improve for his relationship with Zhongli. It is still not finished and the new chapters come out slowly, I pray everyday the author does not give up on this story...

14. Desire by ragnvndrr

“I wish that you, my lord, will tell me what it is you desire.”

Xiao worships Zhongli.”

R18 fic. Its is a sweet mature fic which I think, it is well described in the summary.

15. what it means to serve by morax-yipyip (ahajkunless)

“The thick musk of a powerful, centuries-old dragon permeates the air, enough that Xiao can smell it even outside the small cave Zhongli has hidden himself in. He knows it's dangerous to go in, deadly to offer up his own body for use like he's considering.

But to help Zhongli, he really doesn't have any other options.”

R18 fic naturally. This fic is basically Zhongli getting in some stage of heat, and Xiao willing to help him in the best way he can... I love Xiao’s devotion so much. This fic is about care and devotion.

16. 报春花 (bàochūnhuā) by lumieres (irlsugawara)

“

beside my bed a pool of light— is it hoarfrost on the ground? i lift my eyes and see the moon, i bend my head and think of home.

Thoughts in the Silent Night

By Li Bai”

This fic is set in the past and it is about learning feelings. It is oneiric and poetic.

17. Terra Incognita by bunbum

“After carrying out a mission, Xiao returns to Liyue Harbor to find his Lord has taken on a new, unexpected form.”

This is a R18 fic. I like it mostly because there are not many fics where I see Zhongli taking a female-like form, so it is a nice surprise!! I like how they have such great communication, which is displayed en every scene and in particular in the smut. It is also based in the Rex Incognito books of Liyue, so it is of interest to me. And I like both Zhongli and Xiao in here.

One part I liked:

“Do you wish for my domination or submission?”

For once it’s a question Xiao can answer easily. His voice comes out in a weak breath. “Domination, always.”

“Thus, it is written in stone,” Rex Lapis declares.

18. to struggle in vain by kirbeby

"So this is what it feels like to be warm." This is Xiao’s first thought when Morax grips his arm to pull him up from the ground. He hadn’t realized until just now that he’d forgotten the feeling. His second thought, moments later and much colder, is a desperate "He can never know."

soulmate au where when you touch a bare hand to your soulmate's skin for the first time, they receive a soul mark. one soulmate being marked doesn't make the other's mark appear automatically; they both have to touch a hand to skin. for angst purposes.

This is a soulmates AU and I love them all, enough said!! It is also after the 2.7 event, which is also welcome.

His second thought, moments later and much colder, is a desperate “He can never know.”

19. A Novel Encounter by ApolloACNH

“Caught in a sudden rainstorm on the way to the train station not long after leaving work for the day, Xiao takes shelter in a bookstore with an eccentric owner…”

This is a lovely, lovely AU that was so good I wanted it to be way longer. It is long enough but it is just such a cute read. Here Zhongli is a bookstore owner, hehehe.

#zhongxiao #if i make someone curious about zx as a ship even if they don't play gnsn i already won #these are basically all the fics i have bookmarked #no actually i don't recommend it that much ppl in gnsn fandom hate this ship like they killed their grandmas

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the-sage-libriomancer · 5 months

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Random media i love and want to recommend:

Saving Me (animated tv show) - A Canadian show about a brilliant 61 y/o inventor who, upon realizing that he's driven away everyone he ever loved, projects himself into the mind of his 12 y/o self to help save his (their?) relationships before they crash and burn. This show gives me super intense Gravity Falls vibes, in the sense that it's basically just what would happen if Ford Pines went back in time to help his child self. It also has a lot of interesting plot pieces that slowly connect over the course of the series. Currently has two seasons.

Daybreaking Romance (manhwa) - A Korean manhwa following three different college couples and their romantic escapades. This is very slice of life but also features comedic misunderstandings of epic proportions and grounded examinations of people, not to mention plenty of nice lighthearted emotional turmoil. Also two of the main characters (Saebyeok and Yeomyoung) are the most autistic twins you'll ever meet. Check it out if you like simping boyfriends, aesthetically pleasing artwork, and misunderstandings that drive you up the wall in a good way (if you're a Miraculous Ladybug fan you'll probably like this one lol). Unfortunately there's no official English translation so you'll have to read it online.

Mision: Yozakura Family (manga) - a recent(ish) Japanese manga about a high schooler who accidentally gets married to the head of a family of spies and is adopted into the family business. Now I've complained about this series in the past, but I'm still recommending it because it's funny and sweet, all of the characters are easy to love, and the main couple are incredibly shippable. Plus its myth arc is shaping up to be incredibly interesting!

The Goes Wrong Show (tv series) - a British comedy series with the premise "what if an amateur theater group tried to put on shows and they went disastrously wrong?" It's the most hysterical, side-splitting show I've ever seen - I'm not kidding when I say every episode makes me choke with laughter. The craftsmanship is also top notch. You will not BELIEVE what sort of things these actors will go through for the sake of the bit. There are two series (seasons) plus a handful of holiday specials and a wholeass movie. Also, the entire series is free on YouTube!

Small Kingdoms (book by Charlaine Harris) - a short story collection, all featuring the same character: Anne DeWhitt, an assassin trainer turned high school principal. The writing is clean and concise, in a way that grips you right from the first sentence and doesn't let go; I also really love the characters, who are delightfully practical and also super endearing. Definitely recommended if you like thrillers, good writing, and short reads.

Eerie Tales From The School of Screams (graphic novel) - a recent horror anthology comic. It's middle grade fiction, but hoooo boy it's the sort of book kids will come back to as adults and be like "holy shit, this was for kids???" You might recognize the author and artist (Graham Annable) because he's done a bunch of comics/comic strips and also worked on movies like Boxtrolls and Coraline. This one has a bunch of body horror and creepy art so genuinely don't read it if you're not interested in horror horror ^^'

#thinking about how much i love all of these #but they're so niche that i can't really recommend them to people irl #recommendations #media to consume #(<-for people going through the tag)#saving me #the goes wrong show #mission yozakura family #daybreaking romance #graham annable

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blueteller · 2 years

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"To eat your cake and still have it" – Mary Sues VS Misunderstood MCs

I started wondering about something recently. Namely, why isn't Cale Henituse a Mary Sue?

"Gasp! But Blue Teller!" – you say. "How could you possibly accuse Cale of being a Mary Sue?! No one would dare say such a thing!" Just, hear me out for a moment.

While people's opinions vary on what exactly a "Mary Sue" is, I think most of use have the basics down: it's basically the type of protagonist you see in badly written fiction (commonly fanfiction specifically) – usually female, but can be male as well (although it's rarer to see male characters openly condemned by the audience for being Over-Powered and One-Dimensional due to stereotypes). Male counterpart is sometimes called "Gary Stue", but I'll keep using MS for simplicity.

MS is perfect, doesn't have flaws – or at least any "real" flaws, for example she's allowed to be "clumsy" or have "low self-esteem" because those traits still make her attractive. She is gifted, talented, beautiful (although she's mostly unaware of it) and everything goes right for her. Everybody adores her and she is objectively The Best. Anyone who disagrees with her is the Bag Guy. Often the object of romantic interest for many, MANY people around her, because of course everybody is attracted to Mary Sue! She's allowed to have a tragic backstory, but within the story itself she rarely experiences any hardships or failures. The world itself seems to be only interested in her alone, even reality bends in order for her to be successful.

You know, that type of character.

So now you might be thinking: doesn't that sound suspiciously close to a certain favorite red-head of ours??

So we go back to the main question – how is Cale not a MS?? Because most of the typical MS traits I pointed out seem to be true for him! Even how he has very few "real" flaws, but those usually make him only more attractive!

Not all of the things I described MS with line up with Cale, obviously; he experiences failure, both past and present, and he suffers a lot. More importantly, Cale is by no means a badly-written character.

MS is a typical Good Protagonist. Her intentions are pure, or at least mostly. We take it at face value that she's In The Right, or at least we're supposed to. Cale is more morally complex than a typical Good Protagonist from the get go, but that's not what makes him different: it's the fact that he acknowledges the complexities of morality. He doesn't simply seperate people by them being "good" and "bad". Everybody has their own goals and interests, including Cale. Just because other people's opinions don't align with him 100% doesn't make them his enemies. He is also often biased, or even wrong.

We are set up to root for him, obviously, but he's not Unquestionably in the Right. However, he still receives the same amount of glory and attention that a MS gets for being the Perfect Protagonist.

But just what is it about him that makes him work, though? What makes him different? Why is a typical MS considered "shallow" and "badly written", while Cale is one of the best and most compelling characters I've seen in a while?

Well, most of the answers to those questions can be summed up in a single word: misunderstandings.

Let's face it – having a character we root for receive fame and attention can be very gratifying. But it's exactly that feeling which some (usually amateur) authors get drunk on, and eventually go too far with it, creating an Unrealistically Perfect Objects of Admiration – which in turn makes them too feel too fake to make them relatable, especially if they are too pretty and OP on the top of everything. They stop being a fun character, and become One-Dimensional like a stock image, a statue; basically a caricature of the very good protagonist they're supposed to be.

However, there is a solution to that: to make a character receive all the glory while not being a MS. And that's the Power of Misunderstandings!

Yes, the way to eat your cake and still have it in your possession… Have a character who is in fact flawed and commits errors. But due to circumstances and wacky hijinks, as well as some seriously thick Rose Glasses on, the MC's companions constantly misunderstand the situation! Now the MC still gets all the credit without sacrificing their character for the sake of fanservice!

It's the perfect solution!

It's not the only story where I've seen this trope, but TCF excels at it. The story thrives on the comedy of misuderstandings, creating fabulous scenarios. Cale gets misunderstood by countless people in countless ways throughout the novel. All of these accidentally create the image of a MS-worthy hero, except he's not like that at all! Furthermore, he hates it! He hates being percieved as something he is NOT! And it's hilarious!

That is how it is done in modern era, my friends. We no longer need to deprive ourselves of cake in order to still have it. After all… now CTRL+C exists, hahaha! 🎂🎂🎂

#tcf #trash of the count's family #lcf #lout of the count’s family #mary sues #cale henituse #analysis #character analysis #misunderstandings #the power of misuderstandings #tcf humor #writing

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tobiasdrake · 11 months

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As someone who's kind of sick of media starting out lighthearted and goofy but then deciding to go darker and edgier over time, I absolutely love Kyoko and Misako's confrontation with Sabu. Spoilers.

Like. This is the guy. Top dragon of River City's premiere yakuza family. Recurring archnemesis of the franchise. Ultra-serious character without an ounce of wit or comedy to him. His whole presentation in the game is the unfunny super-serious Actual Bad Guy.

He's not pathetic like Ken. He's not goofy like the emblem bosses. He is a big man in a big suit who says serious things in a stern voice, and he's here to whip the game's tone into something much more dignified.

And. These girls. Dunk on him. XD It's amazing. Can't even be arsed to listen to him talk. They spend the entire confrontation trying to figure out why he's glowing, which he is actively trying to explain. Because screw him. He's played up like the ultra-serious guy but does anyone really care what this dipshit has to say? He's a clown!

This whole thing was so avoidable. The girls beat up his daughter over a misunderstanding, and now Sabu's caught up in the Sunk Cost Fallacy of wounded pride. He could just. Like. Run his crime empire and not fuck with Misako and Kyoko. That was an option this whole time.

All they wanted to do was buy a video game. That's it. That is their entire investment in this campaign. Those are the stakes. Whether or not they will get their video game is the whole conflict here.

It's just Sabu's wounded family pride compelling him to go to war with them. These literal children inadvertently embarrassed his family, and so to try and avenge that embarrassment, he breaks his entire crime empire upon them. When he could just. Not. Do that.

It would have cost him nothing to shrug his shoulders and go, "Well, that happened. Anyways." But for the sake of his bruised ego, he throws good resources after bad trying to prove that he's a bigger man than a high school girl. And fails.

#river city girls #sabu #river city ransom #kunio-kun

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glitch-pep · 8 months

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Milo pixel art! :>

Aaand some facts under the cut!

Won't hesitate to roast people that deserve it, (*cough* Vendetta *cough* or anyone evil in general) but those people are usually too stupid to understand what he's talking about.

Charlotte always misunderstands his jokes and gives them her own meaning, he doesn't bother to correct her.

Has a microphone that he got ages ago when he still had the whole comedian dream, he can pull it out of thin air at any given moment.

Spends far too much time putting gel in his hair each morning. That's why it looks so shiny.

Keeps making play pretend comedy shows infront of the mirror and for Maggie's stuffed animals/plants.

Does try to write new non dark humor jokes, but the paper just ends up in the garbage at the end.

Basically a coffee addict at this point that can't go a day without at least one cup of it.

Might sometimes pull out a nail file out of nowhere and start filing his nails whenever he's bored or ignoring someone, purely for the comedic effect. But he'll only do it to people who deserve it, like I said before. (let's not question wether or not he has nails for the sake of simplicity)

Does many things just for the sake of the comedic effect.

It's extremely difficult to make him laugh. It's possible, but difficult nonetheless.

He's incredibly nosy, but he'll never admit it. He'll be like... "I don't care if they broke up. It's none of my business." and suddenly after a day he knows the whole history of it.

He watches soap operas and reality TV to make up for the lack of interesting stuff happening in real life. He's aware how dumb they are, but they're entertaining enough.

He likes solving crossword games and flipping through joke books and magazines.

#my ocs #my art #my oc's #my oc #milo #making fiends oc #my pixel art #maggie #maggie making fiends #making fiends maggie #The post about Milo's family is still a wip! It'll be a long one-#I'll definitely post it eventually tho!

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opinated-user · 1 year

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A while ago while in the Jewish tag I saw a post by Lily yelling at a Jewish person for a post in which they explored Jewish ideas of forgiveness in Steven Universe. She, a gentile, immediately told them they were wrong about their own culture’s values and doubled-down on the “Steven Universe supports Nazis” bullshit.

Like, other Jewish people have argued with the post because that’s what we do but to come in as a gentile and tell us we can’t interpret our own values and culture over a fucking children’s tv show is just disgusting.

She apparently thinks a tv show for 8 year olds made by a Jewish person is more antisemetic than the telling Jews how to interpret our religion.

I also saw a post where she said she wouldn’t call out antisemetism because “last time I did it people harassed me”(again she’s talking about fucking Steven Universe). I literally hate this woman.

i remember that. it was originally a post from a jewish person talking about the jewish influence of Sugar could be seen on the themes and art of SU, something LO vehemently and willfully misunderstood through anon (real or self send, we'll never know) as "this person is saying that you should forgive murderers and abusers." i think even another anon tried to tell her that she was wrong and LO just... pull out one google screenshot definition as refutations that OP was wrong and misunderstanding their own culture, just for the sake of defending SU. the whole point of LO is that she, as an outsider, had a better grasp of this one Jewish principle than actual jewish people because of one google search. simply because to her it was important to deny the jewish influence of a show made by a Jewish woman. that post about don't talking about antisemitism and blaming everyone else for it was in response to her complete silence about the antisemitism on the Hailey Quinn show she can't stop gushing about. whenever she does talk about it she only knows to defend it saying "a jewish writer did it" or "those are jokes that jewish comediants did all the time"... completely ignoring the fact that Sugar being jewish never stopped LO from try to pin her as a sympathizer of nazis. some of us point out how hypocritical that was and the double standard, resulting on LO, as always, making herself the victim of the situation. all of this before sympathizing with a bonafide nazi and having her wife openly following that nazi.

i'm glad to know that these events did reached to some jewish people who weren't originally part of her fanbase, because that means she'll have less people to abuse and dispose off in the future. LO is not an ally to Jewish people. LO sympathized with an actual nazi and will sell any Jewish person she can for her own good if she can.

#lily orchard #lily orchard is an antisemite #lily orchard is a nazi sympathizer

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virtualcarrot · 1 year

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[KKIR] Not!fic - wherein Konoha’s pecking order is unclear, Iruka has bad taste in lays and a misunderstanding arises regarding who he has slept with

It's genin team assignment time at the academy. The head teachers, headmaster (Iruka), three jounin representatives, and two Hokage assistants are all gathered at a table to discuss it. Kakashi's hanging around reading in a corner, unofficially present, because he has the clearance, is curious about the proceedings, and nobody will dare throw him out when Iruka himself can’t be bothered to.

As usual, Iruka is extremely conscientious in his work, especially where his charges are concerned. One of the jounin, whom we'll call Kazuhiko because he needs a name, has been pushing for team selections that he feels will be particularly gratifying to work with on the field in terms of raw power and connections (bloodlines together and "normal" genin apart), only for Iruka to keep denying him. Eventually Iruka loses his cool and snaps at him that until the genin are assigned they're still the Academy's responsibility and not for jounin to put in dangerous situations for the sake of prestige.

"Watch yourself Umino, I'm still your superior. Just because we're sleeping together doesn't mean your get preferential treatment."

You could hear a pin drop in the room. Iruka goes red in the face and sputters, but quickly gets over the embarrassment to tip into outrage. "Preferential treatment!? I'll show y--Just because we were sleeping together doesn't mean you get preferential treatment. My word is final."

After that, the rest of the assignations carries on more quickly, albeit in a muted, very awkward silence. Once they're done, Iruka excuses himself with a pointed look at Kazuhiko to follow him to a side room. The moment they're gone, the rest of the group finds that picking up their stacks of notes requires time, effort, and for them to linger around.

The thin walls can do little against Iruka’s booming outrage.

"Preferential treatment, really, Kazuhiko?! Preferential treatment would be letting you do whatever you want. I've always been outspoken for my students, you're not the first. I've publicly yelled at Kakashi multiple times before, I've even been at odds with the Sandaime hims--"

"Wait, you've slept with Hatake?!"

Iruka hasn't. But in the room where the rest of the group is shamelessly eavesdropping, everybody turns to stare consideringly at Kakashi.

Kakashi tucks his book in his vest, lifts a hand in a wave, and teleports away.

Later, Iruka slides into a booth at a street food restaurant. He raises a finger at Kakashi, currently undercover. "Not one word."

Sukea smiles sweetly in response and mimes zipping his lips. Neither of them startle when Anko slams a hand on their tabletop, though in Iruka's case it's a near thing.

"You have shit taste in men, Iruka. I mean, Kakashi, eh, why not, but Kazuhiko, really? That man cannot be that good of a lay."

Sukea perks up, mouth pursed in open surprise, the little shit. "Kakashi? You've slept with Hatake Kakashi?"

Iruka could murder him.

[follows a comedy of errors that sukea/kakashi finds all too hilarious to underhandedly encourage. “Ah, umino iruka,” he’ll say softly, gaze lost in the distance, when asked about it, “the one who got away.” and then the turntables! when he realizes in blood-curdling horror that he half means it]

#I suffer from WIPitis and out-of-context-snippet disease #kakairu #not!fic #naruto #hatake kakashi #umino iruka #not!fic : naruto #my scrawl

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lightdancer1 · 11 months

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This also applies to one of the most basic tropes separating military fiction from military reality:

Now granted, at the start, there is always the reality that a story is a story and reality is reality. Real life differs from fiction in all kinds of ways and just as it's perfectly acceptable to portray a medieval past without reliance on a historically accurate dung-filled literal shithole unless you're doing a Monty Python movie, there are good and cogent reasons why these factors of real wars tend to be left out.

Yet, and I admit to a bias here because it's how I write my own stories, I believe that aspects of this can enhance a war story told in another fashion while not bogging down the narrative.

The most obvious factor is that war stories, most often because writers do not bother to really read into how real wars are fought, neglect logistics entirely. In reality real wars are almost entirely matters of logistics, which shape what actually happens in a battle or a campaign. It is this side of real wars that is almost invisible in war stories because unless you've got a Good Soldier Svjek style approach it's rather boring to write some REMF making sure the armies are fed, equipped, clothed, or to get into the kind of detailed aspects that account for what gives higher officers their actual ranks.

In reality generalship really is an artform requiring a person to blend multiple skills at once, only some of which are military. Bullshitting and political aspects are very important aspects to a point that generals that pretend they can ignore them are forgotten and the ones that are remembered excel at them. But fiction will show you a general pulling an Albert Sidney Johnston and acting like an overranked sergeant and seldom shows you the general getting killed like the actual people who did that tended to do.

The second is the factor of friction/fog/confusion, aka Murphy's Law in military uniform. Anything that can and will go wrong always does in the most grimly hilarious ways possible, people do not have perfect information about what's happening and the misunderstandings can have a gallows humor all their very own. This factor is left out of fictional wars not because it's not dramatic, but because people like their wars with superheroic wunderkinder who always know what's on the other side of the hill, where in reality the wunderkinder was a lucky son of a bitch and the other side was taking a shit break and he timed the attack right when they were crapping.

And the third and especially blunt factor is that no matter the era war is long elements of boredom (with all the havoc that can happen with armed people trained to kill) interspersed with deadly peril. Whether or not it's face to face with the more visceral aspects or the indirect and impersonal horror of a modern battlefield, actual peril is a relatively small, if extremely memorable, part of military life. Fiction, of course, really leaves this bit out unless it's the rare (these days) military comedy where this is the primary setting.

This is by no means stating that stories should mirror reality. There are entirely cogent reasons why they don't, but this is also why it's very hard to do a truly antiwar film because films almost always leave the boring and ugly parts out, and the result makes war look ten times more glamorous than it is.

The extra factor is that almost any kind of story you can think of will have these points where they fiddle with reality for the sake of the story. The task of a good writer is to deal with this very truthful problem for all writers and make the story so good the readers never really notice all the bits fudged for the sake of the craft.

#lightdancer comments on literature #meta #fiction writing #tropes #military fiction

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ao3feed-bnha-girls · 27 days

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#AO3 Link #FanFiction #AO3 Izuocha #♥#Izuocha #Kirimina #Kamijirou #🎈#⚤#R:T #A:BloorplesDoorples #Fluff

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w-ht-w · 2 months

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ENTJ Humor: Self-Deprecating, Dark & Absurd Humor

"When it comes to humor not everyone appreciates the same style, and so this can make for a lot of misunderstandings. ... At times this can be challenging for the types with a darker sense of humor, as they don’t always feel free expressing this without receiving judgement.

ENTJs definitely appreciate humor, especially dark or sarcastic types of humor. They enjoy being able to use their wit in order to give a more biting response. ... They can actually be over the top at times, wanting to push the envelope and see how much their humor can shock people. This is often surprising to people, as ENTJs are focused and driven people who at times can seem rather serious. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a playful side, and this is often where their humor is expressed.

... they enjoy when things push certain boundaries. Sometimes the appeal to dark jokes is that they can be rather shocking, ... ENTJs aren’t afraid of crossing certain lines, especially when they are around friends. ... For the ENTJ it can be fun and entertaining just to see how others will react to some of their darker or more shocking jokes. ... Sometimes ENTJs enjoy pushing their buttons, even mocking or teasing people they care about. It can seem weird to some people, as they don’t understand why the ENTJ can be so mocking towards their loved ones. It is purely for the sake of being funny and playful, as the ENTJ [is] extremely loyal to those close to them, ... They sometimes enjoy making a joke which can confuse people or make them question just how serious they actually are.

Sometimes comedy which is a bit darker is also entertaining for the ENTJ because it has more thought put into it. Intelligent or witty humor gets them more intrigued and leaves them feeling like not just anyone can appreciate the joke. They enjoy when people use their minds as a means of stating certain truths and bringing them to light. That can be one of the most appealing things about dark humor for the ENTJ, that it might cross lines but that it can also be extremely honest. The more straightforward and totally sincere dark humor is going to really hit home to the ENTJ. When it is shedding light on something people might be afraid to admit to or accept, it definitely draws them in. Sometimes the truth can be dark or make people uncomfortable, but ENTJs are rarely afraid of feeling uncomfortable over these types of things. ENTJs are definitely drawn to sarcasm as well, ... especially when not everyone really understands them or the joke they are making. For the people who do appreciate it, it can actually give the ENTJ a better idea of which people they feel more connected to based on that.

ENTJ Self-Deprecating or Absurd Humor

ENTJs can certainly have moments of self-deprecating humor, but only if it is very funny. They don’t like people who do this constantly, as it just starts to feel like they are actually down on themselves. To the ENTJ it is more fun to banter back and forth with someone and see how the other person can come at them. Being too self-deprecating makes them feel like people are going to see them as weak and use that to their advantage. ENTJs don’t like showing vulnerabilities, and so they can avoid using too self-deprecating humor too frequently. On occasion when they are around people they trust they might poke fun at themselves for the sake of making someone laugh.

ENTJs can certainly have absurd or over the top humor sometimes, especially if it goes against people’s expectations. This is more for the sake of poking at people and seeing just how they will respond ... It is all done in jest and not meant to actually upset anyone, ENTJs will respect boundaries if people clearly set them. They just want to know where people stand, and how far they can take more offensive humor before the people around them get bothered by this. For the ENTJ it can be a lot about reading and understanding people, and at the same time still be funny. ENTJs do enjoy people who can follow along with their sense of humor, and who don’t seem to get offended all that easily."

#entj

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