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dangermousie · 7 months

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This is such a lovely, lovely, sequence in ep 2 and a great way to show that Ling may be brash and loud and vulgar and what not but he is a genuinely nice person when it matters - he gives her the drawing back (that she wrote the address/directions on the back of) though he wanted it badly and though he barely knows her and she hasn't been warm to him. Because it's hers, not his. And even apologizes for crumpling it before he saw what it was. He is bashful and genuine and none of it is motivated by wanting to pick her up and it's honestly so lovely.

This bit! When she says it doesn't matter since this is just prep material and the way his jaw metaphorically drops because this is something he treasured so much and she's all "it's nbd piece of nothing."

God...I forgot how genuine they both were.

I love it, honestly. Because she's also not trying to pick him up (she's as far from that sort of thing as the moon) but he's admired her art and has been nice and protected her from the molesting creep so...

This is the very first time we see Qi Luo smile. At his enthusiasm. They don't know it, but they are beginning oh-so-gradually bring each other back to life.

Honestly, I love him. Also, I don't have this capped but the first thing he says is he doesn't have money to pay, which is why he has to come up with something else and it was my first drama and so I did not realize how rare it was to have characters who are broke and stay broke and act broke and it informs their living conditions but it is and yet this drama does. Except for a brief bit where he's made to live with his father again (and that ends fairly quickly), Ling is broke at the start and he continues to be broke through the end (though he gets to be a racer by the end so things are looking up) and Qi Luo herself is barely middle class. It's rare and I love it.

I am screaming into my hands at this scene no matter how many time I rewatch it but also, he really does end up carrying it out, doesn't he? I do love his protectiveness. Part of the reason Ling is first drawn to Qi Luo is not just her painting which makes him think of his mother, but it's because, at his base, Ling is a very protective person. Sheng has twisted that, one of Ling's best qualities, but it's still there and he's found another outlet for this, only this time she is worthy. Just as he is worthy of her trust.

Oh Ling ahahahahahahah

The thing that is so awesome about this little sequence is not that he just says it because he can't help it, he's not really meaning it or expecting anything but her reaction. She does not desire him in any way (sexual desire is a LONG way off for her) but she is not in the least shaken or uncomfortable because she knows he means no harm or even a genuine offer and is just being his usual self. In fact, she uses this opportunity to ask him to model which means she feels safe to be in confined spaces alone with him and this is insanely huge as is the fact that she allows herself to be amused at his confusion. But also his face before she clarifies is amazing ahahahaha.

This is actually going to lead me on a loooong discussion as to how this is a rare drama where the (eventual) sex scene isn't just for fun and aesthetics (not that there is anything wrong with that) but for character development and progression. Because sexuality and approach to it is a crucial important part of the story.

This is most obvious, of course, in the case of Qi Luo. QL, after the repeated rapes by her stepfather, is obviously someone who’s not only locked her sexuality away and threw out the key, but she is someone so incredibly traumatized when the drama starts that she can’t even bear to interact with boys in any fashion at all.

She is terrified of Ling/dislikes him in the beginning (and it’s a vague general dislike that she shares for the rest of the world, not specific to him) when he does nothing more than politely asks her for directions. This is the girl who used to pray every day that no one speak to her in school.

And yet, paradoxically, part of the reason she is OK with Ling at the very start, even before she falls for him, enough not to shut him out is that he is so open about everything, sexuality included. I am thinking of that bit at lunch where he is trying to talk to her and she is staying silent so he jokes whether she would like him to open her mouth with his tongue. It's ridiculous and overt like all his pick up lines which have the subtlety of a brick. But it’s all open, on the surface, nothing hidden, what you see is what you get. She knows where she stands. Everything out in the open (well, not his issues but that’s a matter for another discussion) and he doesn’t treat her as a weirdo but an attractive girl, but also his attentions are so good-naturedly out there and so general that she doesn’t have to worry about him pouncing for real. It’s just talk he’ll do with anyone and if she doesn’t take him up on the offer, he’ll find someone else and he is not really pursuing her. In fact, she sees how protective he is of her.

He is not like her stepfather or that teacher (as she actually tells him at one point.) She is terrified of ‘normal’ because she’s seen what horrible things it can hide. With someone like Ling, it’s not hidden at all and the very fact that he doesn’t lie or pretend, that all the weirdness is out there so she knows what to expect, makes her feel safe. (Of course, as we later find out, a part of her is drawn to Ling precisely because of the violence, because he is acting out what she so much wants to do, to her tormentors, in her head. Tong Dao might assume she is Ling’s good angel and he is right. He is also right that if she were to disappear Ling would go full blown psycho (even at the very end, when Ling says he wouldn’t get revenge on Tong Dao, I don’t know. It’s tremendous growth that he can even think that but I think he really would snap in some horrifying way if QL died). But, in some ways Tong Dao is very wrong as she has an enormous deal of darkness in her. After all, she is the one who wants the stepfather dead, and it is Ling who stops.)

And as she starts to interact and falls in love with Ling, she begins to open up, both emotionally and physically. Part of the reason she is so adamant about not giving Ling up (when Qing Mei threatens her and tells her she will smash her hand and so QL won’t be able to paint, QL replies that it’s only her right hand and she can teach herself with her left) is because he really is the only connection to humanity and to feeling normal she has. She has so few outlets that she is desperate to keep this - she clings to him because he's her first/last chance (and she is his.) And of course, through being with Ling, through letting in another person, finally feeling secure to feel, she begins to let others in as well: Da Ye, Qing Mei (who goes from enemy to a friend), etc. I love that she will always be an introvert, the reserved one. But she is so much more functional at the end.

But she opens up physically, too. I am thinking of all the kissing and hugging and the amount of physical contact, which must be such a novelty to her (the scene that kills me is when she later tells Ling that he is the first person she’s kissed because through everything, she’s never been kissed.) It's gradual and fraught and lovely and culminates with the sex scene after which, significantly, the sexuality thing is not really addressed again except in normal fashion of her waking him up in the morning or his father asking about kids blah blah.

Tangent: with that scene, it’s so crucial that she is the one who makes the first move, because after knowing of her rape, there is no way Ling would make the first move. It's pretty telling, the way she phrases her request to him: to take her back to the time before she was 16 (which is when she was raped). For her, making love with Ling is really reclaiming herself, fully freeing herself from her trauma, being fully who she is supposed to be, a college girl with a boyfriend who does all sorts of normal couple things, sex included. I think that is the crucial thing: for her, sex itself is made normal because she is doing it with whom she chooses and when she chooses. It is not forced on her and so she does not have to feel forced. (Side note: I rewatched this bit out of order and I love that Ling is so attuned to her that when she closes her eyes he realizes she is beginning to freak out and tells her to open her eyes and look and see that it’s him or that he tells her he’s never seen anything more pure than she is when she starts freaking out she is dirty…But I think it’s the look on her face at the end that kills me the most: it’s this total surprise that wow…this can be good.)

The interesting thing is, the narrative is pushing sex with love is great but sex outside of that even if not forced can be OK or can be a sign of something else. Just look at Ling. He is all about meaningless fun sex before Qi Luo. He would never force a girl or even chase one that’s not interested and he is very into having the girls have a good time as well, but the whole point is, his whoring around is a symptom of some of his problems: he doesn’t want to make emotional connections. He doesn’t want to feel, to be vulnerable, to open himself up to loss again (I bet part of the reason he ran as fast as he could from Qing Mei is because she wanted to get serious). In his extravert, gregarious way, he has walls even thicker than Qi Luo. But that’s the whole role reversal in effect in their relationship: loving him makes her able to open up physically. Loving her makes him patient about this with her. And makes him incapable of being with others (physically, no less!!!) Because it’s all about being able to connect.

It's made repeatedly clear, as I mentioned, that outgoing daredevil Ling is much more messed up and fragile than Qi Luo. The results of her trauma are very very visible: withdrawal from the world, lack of interaction, almost pathological shyness. Ling, when we first meet him, appears to be a fun extravert, popular if a troublemaker. But as we get to know him, we see that his demons are so much much worse even than Qi Luo’s. One doesn’t get locked away in a mental institution for nothing. Ling is terrified. He isn’t terrified of physical things. But he is afraid of himself: he is afraid of losing his mind (with good cause), he is afraid of the kind of person he is. If Qi Luo has loathing for her sexuality (or her lack/presence thereof), Ling things of himself as completely unworthy as a human being. He thinks he is useless academically yes. And a failure as a son and brother, true. But what really is the crux of the problem is that he thinks of himself as a monster. This is something Tong Dao latches on and Tong Dao isn't wrong at least in the sense that there is an enormous potential for darkness in Ling. I love that the drama doesn’t gloss it over. He is the guy who almost shot someone when he was a kid, he used to get into these completely awful fights which made Domyoji’s seem like mild temper tantrums (and before his committal they were getting worse and worse) and he is the one who almost chokes Tong Dao and stubs a cigarette out on his hand.

But that is why he needs Qi Luo. Qi Luo has seen him at his worst or knows of his worst actions and still loves him, and still believes in his goodness. In fact, she never lets him put himself down even as an offhand joke. Qi Luo loves him for him, not for the image he might project or because he’s cute or whatever. Just as QL is sometimes puzzled as to why he’d want to be with her, you can tell that a part of Ling is permanently astonished that someone who is ‘good’ and knows him so well actually continues to love him.

If Ling is Qi Luo’s ticket to normalcy, to interaction, Qi Luo is likewise a ticket to sanity for Ling.

He is someone who grew up in a horrible unstable environment, with a crazy mother and a father who tried to be distant. His almost pathological dependence on his brother, as they were sent away from family while still kids, is understandable but considering what Sheng was like, only led further down to trouble. Sheng is what really screwed Ling up, I think. Not just the suicide (though that is horrific enough) but because Sheng used Ling as his ‘id’ to act out his revenge fantasies/bad side, an outlet to everything the model son could not do, but he also would prevent Ling from developing a separate healthy identity. Just look when Ling tried (in high school).

I think Qi Luo is the first person Ling has who both loves him and cares for him (in many ways, from the most physical: she takes care of him when he’s sick and I realize that no one probably has before, or she cooks from him and he says that he doesn’t remember his mom but she’s unlikely to have cooked. I love that she makes him a silly, pink, ‘hello kitty’ lunch box and he looks at it and grins and is totally happy and you can tell that’s when he really thinks he wants to marry her), but she is also the first person in his life who loves him without manipulation or hidden motive and expresses her love as support and wanting what makes him happy for him. He has worth in someone else’s eyes for the very first time as a person, not an expression of something, or a symbol or what not. And I think that allows him to discover stability in himself. (Stability and tenderness. So much tenderness. The scene that really stays with me on rewatches is a very little one. It’s where she is alone at home and he knows she is afraid (though he doesn’t know why) and he stays by her bed the whole night, keeping her company, only to leave quietly in the morning.)

I better stop, this went on tangents and got insanely long...

#twdrama #mars #vic chou #barbie hsu

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cecilspeaks · 5 years

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157 - The Promise of Time

If it walks like a duck, and sings like a duck, And excretes slime like a duck, Then it’s a d- uh, you know? I don’t think that’s a duck. Welcome to Night Vale.

The future is here, listeners. The future is now. Dying has become a bad joke, and we wonder how we ever put up with it.t The Quality Cryogenics Corporation, run by one Casper Rhodes, is offering a simple solution. They will remove your brain upon death, freeze it, and then revive you hundreds of years from now, when the technology exists to live eternally. The town was recently traumatized by time working correctly and us all having to deal with aging, so this solution is exactly what we are looking for. And it only costs 10,000 in cash, no refunds. I am currently getting together the funds to purchase this service for both myself and my husband Carlos, because I believe that the two of us can live together forever. No more is there this awful time limit ticking down from the moment of our meeting until the moment of our parting. Now our brains will sit snugly next to each other, until we are weakened anew to a bright future.

Carlos says he is a little unsure about this, because he thinks that death is one of the most scientific processes of all. But he’ll come around. We’ll just talk about it, and he’ll see it my way. After all, we have the rest of our lives. And our lives – will never end.

Here’s the news. Now that we all know we’re going to get to live there, all any of us can talk about is the future. What is it going to be like? Will there be trees? Will we still have that insufferable moon? These are the questions we are all having to consider now that we will live forever. And one person is claiming to have those answers. A professional futurist and digital prophet named NZ has released a lengthy report outlining what the future is like. Apparently, skyscrapers will be twice as all, but also twice as thin. Each floor will only hold about one medium room or three very small rooms. But also, skyscrapers will have thousands of floors. The biggest revelation in NZ’s report is that in the future, menial labor will be done by robots! Robots will wash our cars, clean our toilets, and cook our food, leaving us all the time in the world to quietly boil in existential dread. According to NZ, these robots first enter the market in about a hundred years, and then really catch on until everyone has three or four at their disposal. And also everyone is so, so bored.

Man, the future sounds great. I can’t wait to get there! This has been the news.

Let’s have a look at today’s horoscopes. Leo. This is a fantastic month for new business plans, travels, meeting new people, and breaking out of the windowless prison cell you woke up in this morning. Good luck on all those exciting ventures!

Virgo. I hope you are not too attached to your left hand. Either way, you won’t be soon.

Libra. You will walk out from your house. The sun will look strange to you, even though you think it perhaps always looked like that. It will look like it always has, and it will look so strange. As you walk down the street, you will see a path you’ve never noticed before, leading away from the familiar into a dark and twisted wood. You will follow this path, the warm dirt softly crunching under your feet. At the end of the path, you will come to a small and cozy home. In the window will be a boy, and he will give you a sign. A hand to the side means it is safe to go on, a hand by the air means the burrowers are hungry tonight. A covered mouth means the time is nigh. You may proceed accordingly. Even the stars do not know what happens next.

Scorpio. You’re a great brother-in-law, husband, father and friend. And if it’s up to me - and let’s be honest, it is – the stars will never say another mean thing about you again.

Sagittarius. You are really walking on thin ice here, buddy! No really buddy, you are walking on thin ice, buddy look down, the ice is about to crack and the waters below are so cold and clear. You have never seen anything so beautiful.

Capricorn. You have spent your life searching for your soul mate. Finally, having given up on love, you have volunteered to board a starship destined to never return to our world. You will live out decades on that vast arc, developing close but platonic relationships with the few fellow humans that are with you. Finally, in your 83rd year, you will land on a planet that’s surface will appear to be made entirely of silver. You will step out onto that foreign terrain, and waiting for you will be an alien being made entirely of vapor, a wisp of a creature whose droplets will curl around you, and you will smile and realize that you have finally found your soul mate.

Aquarius. Your lucky number is five, which is also how many days you have left. That’s an auspicious coincidence!

Pisces. Everyone knows your terrible secret, and they think it’s really boring.

Aries. This just says “spiders” in increasingly large fonts for about seven pages. Aww, that’s cute!

Taurus. Turn your eyes to the heavens. Honestly, it’s better not to see what’s approaching from below.

Gemini. There will come a day in which you will have to go to the ocean. Who knows when that day will come. You might be hundreds of miles away form the ocean, you might be in an airplane or working on a farm in Ottawa. But there will come a day in which you will have to go to the ocean, and so you will travel in whatever attire you were wearing when you were called, barefoot and groggy, walking day and night until you see the glitter of water, until you hear the hush of the waves. And then you will walk into the ocean until only your head is above the surface, and you will laugh and laugh and laugh. And the ocean will laugh with you. But today is not that day. Who knows when it will come?

And lastly, Cancer. Uh huh. OK. Yeah. Everything is basically fine with you, yeah. You’re good. Nothingggggg tooo report.

This has been horoscopes.

Demand has become so high for the services of the Quality Cryogenics Corporation that Casper Rhodes announced that he has run out of space for brains. “Gotta stuff these head blobs somewhere,” he said, “but where to toss ‘em?” City Council agreed that this is an important problem, and immediately requisitioned large swaths for Night Vale real estate to serve as eventual brain storage locations. There are rumors that this move was made in exchange for free use of cryogenic services by the City Council. But the council vehemently denied the allegation and said to prove their innocence, they would arrest anyone who tried to say that they were guilty. Initially, the public library was one of the buildings intended to be converted to brain storage. But a single librarian scuttled out from the front door and stood eye to eyes with the City Council, until the City Council whimpered and backed down. At which point the librarian silently retreated, their deadly point made, their library safe. This is quite a change from when the only customer of Casper Rhodes was Charlie Bear, weekday shift manager at the Ralphs. Now there are only a few people left in town who haven’t signed up. I am a little ashamed to say that Carlos and I are one of those few, it’s y-, eh, taking me longer than I thought to scrape together the money and Carlos still wants to talk about it more but don’t worry, we will definitely join you all in the future. I will see you there!

Speaking of which, local futurist and digital prophet NZ is giving a seminar on the future. But attendance is expected to be low. Frankly, people find NZ’s predictions a little silly. After all, what does this NZ know about the future that we don’t? All any of us know about the future is that some day we will end up there, and by the time we get there, it won’t be the future. In any case, we expected more exciting predictions. Frequent space travel, miracle cures to the disease, and contact with more alien species than the three we know about in our primitive time. But NZ just won’t shut up about robots, and how much of the future is defined by robots serving us hand and foot. Only three people showed up to NZ’s seminar, one of whom was your faithful reporter, and one especially upset attendee even threw popcorn and led a chant of “Booriing!” during the part about the robots. And I’m not sorry I did it, either. It was very boring.

The family of missing person Frank Chen has filed a lawsuit against the city, declaring criminal negligence in allowing a five-headed dragon to claim the identity of their one-headed human family member, merely because the dragon carried about Frank’s ID. “You are all monsters,” said Frank’s sister Lauren. “Monsters! Monsters! Monsters!” She said this through a bullhorn, as she drove her convertible up and down the city streets. “But how could we have known?” the City Council fumed. “What, are we supposed to look into every suspicious disappearance in Night Vale? We only have 18 hands, we are doing the best we can.” The lawsuit will start with a document review and depositions. Currently, they are seeking all records on the suspected killer of Frank Chen, one Hiram McDaniels, who has not been seen in town for a couple years now. They also want to interview friends of Hiram, including a radio host who wouldn’t describe himself as a friend, more a dedicated observer.

And now a look at the stock market. [squeals] Wheee, ahahahaha! Ahahaha ooh, oo-hohoh, whaaaaaaaaa, hahah, wow!! This has been a look at the stock market.

Now let’s go over to – hello? Oh sorry, wha-what are you doing here? Listeners, the futurist NZ has entered the studio. They are waving at me frantically and holding up signs, um let me just put on my reading glasses. Embarrassing, but I suppose we all eventually reach that age. I never thought I would, but now that time is working correctly and I have aged – yes. Yes, no I see you, pointing at the sign, screaming NZ just give me a moment now where did I put those glasses? It’s in my pocket, oh [chuckles]. Now there’s some sort of metal man next to NZ. Oh, yes you have a sign, OK alright, alright, here’s my glasses! [clears throat] Uh, NZ’s sign reads “I am not a futurist, I am from the future. A time traveler sent back to warn you all.” And they’re still pointing at the metal man. Ah, this is one of those robots that NZ is always going on about! NZ is saying that everything they told us about the robots was true, and they brought one just to prove it, well hi robot! Oh, oh the robot has something to say? Oh, wait, it’s saying “I’m hardly a bear.” Well no, [chuckles] I’d say you’re not. You’re more of a robot. Oh no, I misheard, they’re saying “Time carved a pear.” What? NZ, I think your robot is malfunctioning. Wait, not it’s saying… it’s saying, “I’m Charlie Bear.” Charlie Bear? Well he’s the weekday shift manager at the Ralphs, this makes no sense. The robot is saying again: “I’m Charlie Bear.” And then it is saying: “Help me.” It is saying “help me” over and over in a hollow digital moan.

Listeners, uh.. Let’s check in on the weather.

[“Good Intentions, Bad Advice” by Nicky Flowers https://nickyflowers.bandcamp.com]

The robot told us everything. Once the robot was Charlie Bear, weekday shift manger at the Ralphs, and then a man named Casper Rhodes came to town. Casper offered the idea of living forever, freezing Charlie’s brain after death so that he could wake up in the future once mortality was a bad dream. Once sickness was a memory. So Charlie signed up. He took out his life savings plus a couple loans and paid the 10,000 dollars. And Charlie became the first customer of the Quality Cryogenics Corporation. And Charlie was so happy. He is so happy somewhere in town, even while this robot tells us its story. Charlie is unaware, and he is happy. Because Charlie believes he has defeated death. And Charlie will continue to believe this for another 15 years until the unfortunate whistle pig incident. And after that, his brain will be removed from his mangled corpse and will remain frozen for centuries in the grain silo outside of town. And then one day, Charlie will awaken. It will be the future, as promised, and as promised he will not be dead, but all will not be well. He will have awoken as a brain in a metal body chained to that body’s programming. It will be explained to him that he was brought to the future by the Quality Cyborg Corporation, in order to take care of any errands or busywork needed while the humans of that future relax and watch him toil. You see, when we deny death and toss ourselves into the future, we do so with the strange delusion that the future feels it owes us life. That in the world of the future, they would want nothing more than to devote time and money into resurrecting each of us into eternal wellness. But the future does not feel any obligation to us at all. The past means only one thing to the future, the past is a resource. Every brain saved by Casper Rhodes is a resource.

It is a trick. We are being used. We must put a stop to this, we were all wrong trying to fight death this way, to put our trust in the future is though it would be anything but some other person’s present. Carlos was right, I was wrong! Who is this Casper Rhodes, and why is he doing this?

Oh, Casper’s calling to the station. He must be calling to confess or otherwise explain his crimes. Casper, is that you? What have you done? What have you done? Casper: Hi there, Cecil. Was listening to your show and really disappointed to hear what you were saying about me, buddy. But as the Smiling God says: when your enemies try to bring you down, just smile wider and wider until your smile eclipses the sun and then all other life in the universe. Believe in a Smiling God, buddy. Believe in a Smiling God.

Today’s proverb: As Dolly Parton said: tumble out of bed, and I stumble to the kitchen. Have to fight an evil magician, yawn and stretch and fight him for my life. Wise words.

#welcome to night vale #wtnv #welcome to night vale transcripts #episode 157 #the promise of time

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i-guess-im-writing-today · 3 years

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Day 14- Overgrown

Day: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, On Ao3

Chapter 14- Overgrown

Adrien huffed, trying to fix his hair, but he knew it was no use. The miraculous gave his hair more volume than he knew what to deal with. Adrien looked up, seeing his lady had already abandoned him. He felt himself pout. He knew that it was smart of her to do that. There have been countless times where they nearly saw each other and even more times where they had to sit back to back recharging because they didn't want to leave yet. It didn't help that they had class soon, and Marinette's parents were sure to check on her and- OH MY GOD! He told Mrs. Dupain-Cheng that he'd hide in the pantry so she wouldn't have to leave the bakery. She was going to come from their house to the pantry and find him missing!

He rushed himself to the bakery and detransformed right as he entered the bakery. He saw Marinette and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng come down together to check on him and casually leaned against the counter. He channeled every cool character he'd ever seen on TV and every photoshoot he'd ever done in his pose.

Mrs. Dupain-Cheng was the first the notice him. "Adrien? What are you doing, and why are you out of the pantry already?"

"Well- umm, the noise outside calmed down, so I - ahhh!" His elbow hit the corner of a mixing bowl at the edge of the counter.

The bowl flipped over, and using his cat-like reflexes...he missed it. Not only did he miss it. He fumbled with it on the way down and got it all over his face and shirt. Then almost in slow-mo, it fell upsidedown, spilling everywhere. He stood frozen for a few seconds with his arms outstretched, looking at Marinette.

She bit her lips and looked at him, the floor, then back to him before bursting out in laughter. "Sorry, hahahahaha- I can't! Oh my god, Agreste, you looked like a kicked puppy!"

Cat he wanted to correct.

"Why are you just standing there? The bowl's already-ahahahaha- just drop your hands already, you dork!" She grabbed her stomach and caught her breath.

Adrien smiled and awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, forgetting that he still had flour coating his hands and arms. His eyes widened as he tried to shake the flour out of his hair, earning him another stream of laughter from Marinette and even a few chuckles from her mother. Adrien felt that it was worth it, though. He had made her laugh as Adrien. He saw her blue eyes squint from how hard she laughed and how she desperately tried to regain her composer but ended up laughing more when she locked eyes with him again. Her laugh was infectious, and soon enough, he was laughing just as much.

Marinette finally caught her breath, "Maman, I'll take Adrien in my room and see if I have anything that'll fit him,"

"Okay, try to be quick. You two still have class. I'll clean up down here,"

Adrien felt his heart pound. He was going to her room! He always wanted to go, and now he had an excuse to look around! She led him up the stairs that brought them into her living room, and Adrien tried not to fanboy about all the pictures he saw of her with her family. He felt like a fan given VIP access backstage.

When he finally entered her room, it was both exactly and not at all what he expected it to be. It was so warm and cozy, with fun patterns and designs everywhere. He always imagined his lady quite organized, but Marinette as a mess. And somehow, both were true. Half-finished projects, labeled boxes, walls filled with inspiration, everything had its place. It was so distinctly her. He wanted to wander around but felt that it'd be rude, so he just looked around.

"Here. Not Agreste family quality, but it'll work while he wash your clothes." She handed him a light green sweater with a black paw-print on the front and some black sweatpants.

Adrien felt giddy. It was a Chat Noir themed sweater! It was him! And his lady made it! Marinette quirked an eyebrow at his reaction but didn't say anything and led him to her bathroom. After making sure that she closed the door, he excitedly jumped around. This couldn't be a more perfect day. He made up with Marinette, heard her defend Adrien (although she didn't know it was him), saw her room, and now he was going to wear a sweater she made based on his superhero persona (which you know was dating her superhero persona!). He felt so lucky, which as a black cat, he rarely felt.

He hurriedly put on the sweater and sweatpants, wanting to see how it looked. It felt soft and warm and matched his eyes perfectly. His heart warmed, and he wrapped his arms around himself, feeling so loved. He came out of the restroom after calming himself down a bit, but he didn't see Marinette anywhere.

"Up here," Marinette's head popped out of the door above her bed.

He climbed up and saw her standing near the railing on her balcony with all her plants surrounding her. Overgrown vines of her hanging plants and blooming flowers around her looked like a scene from a movie.

"Thought they were the same size," she muttered to herself "not too bad if I do say so myself,"

"I love it," he said a little too truthfully.

"Good to know, but you gotta take it off before you leave. It's a present for my boyfriend,"

"Oh...OH!" the realization came late that he was the boyfriend she was talking about.

Marinette tilted her head, "Umm, yeah. Anyway, now that we're cool, I better not hear you making fun of him anymore, or I'll go right back to hating you,"

Adrien giggled, "okay,"

This one actually got long! So much fluff and just Adrien being very cute. I also want to say oh my god thank you?! I thought I was mostly writing this for me and 2 other people because it's been so long but within 2 hours of posting chapter 11 and 12 I had a few kudos and comments so it makes me feel like y'all were just waiting for me to get off my lazy ass and write again.

#ml enemy au #miraculous ladybug #inktober 2019 #ml fic #day 14

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anxiety-trademark · 3 years

Text

The week in review:

Raw 10/26 NXT 10/28 NXT UK 10/29 Smackdown 10/30

Raw:

Wonder what 19/11 means.

...Arsenic??... What in the-- WHY IS SHE SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS.

Boy y’all really nailed home how agonizing his suffering was before he died. My head hurts, this show is demented.

My god there are legitimately 2 of these psychopaths now.

wwe production should give Alexa’s voice a reverb effect whenever she says “let him in”

Girl is actually laughing hysterically while Bray ruthlessly murders Rambling Rabbit. Goodbye.

This act works so much better as a duo, Alexa was right in requesting to work with Bray.

kekekek Shayna makes a list of women she wants on her Survivor Series team; Nia snags the list and sees she’s not on it. Whose idea was this tag team? Need to know who I’m sending a fruit basket to.

Appreciate Mandy clarifying that Otis and her are still close, but I don’t understand why wwe separated them.

What is with everyone wearing black??

Lmfao this man really tried giving his rose to Shayna SIR PLZ. He had a better chance giving it to Sonya lesbireal.

Dana actually having a decent speaking segment. Half point.

“I feel like this is a joke. Is this like punk’d? Are we-- are we getting punk’d?” Nia came to entertain tonight.

Why can’t wwe just implement GMs again? Love Adam Pearce but he’s literally just playing the role of GM. Just keep them in the background with the mere purpose of cohesion. Good example: Paige. Bad example: Corbin.

This actually makes sense. You have the tag champs automatically being added, cuz duh, and the tag team who are undefeated since forming and moving to Raw. So have the 5th team member fight for the spot. I don’t hate that at all. At least there’s logic being applied.

I will never not hate Peyton’s theme. Yikes.

WHAT THE FUCK IS NIKKI CROSS’ NEW THEME LMFAO why are we throwing some bland, midwest country rock track with such a slow tempo at her??!? oof rip. Sucks for Nikki that Alexa wanted something more for her career but one could not possibly blame her, so.

ahahahaha I just noticed Nia took Byron’s seat. She’s so fucking funny.

Look if y’all are gonna do the move where someone lifts you over the top rope to set you on the apron, FUCKING JUMP FOR THEM. They’re not supposed to dead lift you.

Nice kick to Nikki by Lana; sloppy vault over the top rope. It’s kay, she isn’t even the worst one in this match lesbihonest.

Lacey gets Nikki in position for a suplex off the top rope, and Peyton - as quick as can be - jumps in to throw Lacey in a German suplex. That was smooth with very minimal set up. Points.

So Lana steals the win by pinning Nikki and the camera pans to all 4 team members looking absolutely shook. I am dying.

Interesting to see them focus on Peyton’s disappointment.

aaaaand rip Lana for the 6th time.

Such a jarring remix of Alexa’s song.

I know y’all are super weird and choose to sexualize/fetishize everything that you don’t understand, but I appreciate Alexa’s new persona. It’s like Firefly Funhouse characters meets Disney themed characters (which is core to Alexa) meets Harley Quinn. It’s a fitting cosplay with fitting demeanors. So if y’all could quit talking about ageplay like a bunch of weirdos, that’d be great.

Alexa and I are the same age and tbh I’m kind of shook on her behalf to see her share these segments and storylines with Randy Orton. Like I was a kid watching his feud with triple h. We were mere preadolescent kids lol. Good for her.

I like that she’s immune to Fiend’s name now that she’s fully embraced him become brainwashed.

Omg she’s just sitting on the turnbuckle laughing at them.

So Fiend is just a looming threat to Orton rn? Just letting Orton know that eventually he’ll have to answer for the fire he started all those years ago? I wasn’t here for Bray’s run back then so I’m kind of trying to piece this all together. Anyway fine segment. I don’t much care about Drew vs Orton but I appreciate Orton selling the intensity of the Fiend. He’s a good worker.

Highlight: Completely split between Nia being hilarious & Alexa being creepy as hell

---

NXT:

Well at least they’re keeping Ember backstage for her promos. That’s an improvement.

True, Dakota as a babyface was awful. Not sorry. Her character consisted of “scared” and “sad”... That’s it.

Big fan of the set for nxt tonight.

It’s so rare to see someone handle Rhea, what a nice dynamic.

These 2 are best friends irl, aren’t they? Enjoyable to watch them go punch for punch back and forth. If nothing else, they’re definitely selling that they’re pretty evenly built.

True though, Rhea does have her athleticism going for her. Rhea’s kicks are a beautiful thing to see. Soccer player ftw.

Really like this match. It’s cool to see the range of different matches Rhea can have. It’s not often you see her in an underdog type of role, and you wouldn’t think she could thrive as one, but it works for her just the same as being a dominant powerhouse. Shouldn’t be surprised though, her vs Charlotte at wm was a banger, and Charlotte was definitely the dominant force in that match.

Commentators said Rhea’s inverted cloverleaf has tapped out “many” superstars in nxt, and I just wanna know who? Cuz I have zero recollection of such.

Good showing for Raquel. Gave zero shits about her prior to this. She’s always just been the Diesel to Dakota’s Shawn Michaels.

GREAT counter by Rhea from the one armed powerbomb into nearly a headscissors takedown.

This match is very well paced.

Oh yes, that’s the type of match that easily could’ve gone longer and left me wanting more, which is a hell of a compliment. I underestimated how good this would be.

Wow they’re having Poppy rob us of Io’s theme song? For shame.

So how does the wheel actually work? Do they really not get a chance to plan out their stip matches? That’s weird. I love it, but it’s weird. Is it rigged? It’s gotta be rigged, right?

Love the black and orange themed ladders.

lmao Candice’s reaction to the bag of body parts. Fantastic.

Did Candice hit Io in the face with a laptop?? Honestly, points.

Lol chalk outlines on the tables. The theme is great.

Oh man, a moonsault straight onto chairs. rip Io’s midsection.

Wicked suplex onto the sitting chair, oof. Looked like Io clipped that.

Meteora into a steel ladder, which then fell on Io. She taking a beating lol.

Commentators mentioning Johnny counter: 3

Kinda cool spot twisting Candice’s ankle in a chair. Of course, it’s not like Candice sold the damaged ankle anyway, so.

Swinging neckbreaker through the tables - a spot that would’ve been great if the commentators had actually sold it and there was a real crowd.

idk who the hell is helping Candice, but I think it’s just fantastic that Shotzi came in to stop them.

“LeRae can’t reach,” as if this match wouldn’t have been over if she would’ve just climbed up one single ring.

Welp Candice is dead now. Fell off the top of the ladder through another ladder. Nasty landing. rip.

Brutal match, but it still wasn’t better than their first match. At least Candice did work and this wasn’t boring unlike their last takeover match. Points for the damage they caused to their bodies, eesh.

Highlight: Rhea vs Raquel

---

NXT UK:

Oh nice UK added some monitors. Good for them, even if the stream quality is kinda poor.

I like this match up. Dani Luna is an athletic powerhouse, and Valkyrie is an athletic technician. This is more the type of quality match that I’d expect on the MR - minus the storytelling/performance aspect, but that’s okay.

Really appreciate Luna’s strength for how small she seems.

Valkyrie is fun to watch. Her arm drag takedowns and counters are entertaining.

Damn Valkyrie can do a springboard cross body and a pele kick as well? What an intriguing skillset she has.

Holy shit that snap German suplex by Dani was effortlessly CLEAN.

I’m not big on Dani’s look tbh. I feel like she’d be more of a standout if her hair was a different color. I don’t think blue works for her, personally.

An interesting finisher by Valkyrie... I don’t hate it. I’m all for the result, though. Good show of respect between both competitors. Wouldn’t mind watching them again in the future.

Current day has KLR still as champion (#foreverchampion) but I’m guessing they’re really gonna have Piper be the one to inevitably end it. Should be Valkyrie as far as I’m concerned. Even if she’s trash on the mic - not saying she is cuz I have no idea - she’s super entertaining to watch.

Highlight: Dani Luna vs Valkyrie

---

Smackdown:

New year, same old Nattie trying to be the Survivor Series captain.

Billie Kay is entertaining but wbk.

Bianca, ma’am, you JUST started going here. Calm down.

“Bianca nobody really cares, or knows, what EST means, it’s totally irrelevant. I’m the boat.” lmao I genuinely love Nattie, not sorry.

SHE CLAPPED AT HER goodbye. Give me a Bianca vs Nattie match, entertain me plz.

Ah a triple threat? That’s fine I suppose, what the hell.

Why does wwe keep depriving me of Bianca’s entrance? I hate this company.

Billie Kay: *jumps in the ring to catch Bianca in a random pinfall; fails; proceeds to leave the ring once more*

Billie Kay really is a special level of awful, but at least she has character work going for her.

Good cover by Bianca to set up the basement dropkick by Nattie to break up the pin.

Boy Bianca sure did take her time breaking up that sharpshooter. You got both Nattie and Billie Kay screaming and she’s in lala land lmao.

I will genuinely cry if they ever change Bianca’s music, I stg. Good for her btw. Appropriate result.

What’s the purpose of the polaroid camera?

Soo did they basically give Carmella the layout of Sasha’s gimmick while turning Sasha babyface? Is that what’s going on? What rules is Carmella making? What shots is she calling? Why does this girl have champagne? You know who would rock the “fuck y’all I’m rich, look at my Gucci and diamonds” gimmick? The Ice Queen, Charlotte Flair.

What an adorably tiny cross.

Carmella you’re not really known for winning, but alright.

Hate this music btw.

Lol this fucking chair. Okay.

“Long time rivalry renewed” didn’t Asuka and Sasha have a minor feud a mere 5 months ago? That lasted one month?? Is that considered long time now???

Sasha’s makeup is off key ngl. I hate that outfit as well.

Yes, yes she was your best friend and that was really sad, but you’re not saying anything different than you have before. And you’re STILL not likeable. But hey, I’m happy for you all the same, now be as entertaining as Bayley plz.

“The whole world knows that you can win a championship, but even you know that you can’t hang onto one. Unlike me.” pppffffttttt she’s not wrong.

Who do I gotta pay to permanently separate you 2? hiac was great, let’s end the debacle now plz.

“You made me sign that hiac contract under duress,” THANK YOU BAYLEY see someone knows their legal jargon.

Peep that gnarly bruise on Bayley’s arm. Whew.

She’s so annoying lmao.

��Backstabbing bitches never win,” hi, Sasha? Longest reigning Raw women’s champion, first ever wm main eventer, first ever women’s dual world champion, face of the company, cover of espn and 2k20 Becky Lynch just called; said that is absolutely not true.

Highlight: Bianca, Billie Kay & Natalya backstage segment

---

*Raw shined the brightest this week, but I have to shout out NXT as well for their 2 matches, particularly Rhea vs Raquel.

#wwe #issa review #feel free to ignore these #cuz who tf cares lesbihonest #today's props goes to:#rhea ripley

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etcwrites · 6 years

Text

The Convoluted Dance

Lancelot Week Day 6 @lancelotweek

Prompt: strengths/insecurities

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Status: Completed

Summary:

There are a few moments when Lance sees it.

One day it is at the corner of Lotor’s smile, the other, it is in his clenched fists as he refuses to give up.

And sometimes -

Sometimes... Lance can even see it in himself.

AO3 Link

“Alright, team! Look alive!”

Lance adjusts his rifle, voice full of energy as his fingers make quick work of his gun, the scope soon focusing to show the crowd filing the avenue. "And don't get caught with your pants down"

"Tch!"

"Ahahahaha! Lance!"

"Alvarez, SHUT up!"

“Hey!” Lance argues, voice going high in indignation even though a smile spreads across his lips.

“First of all,” he chats, fingers checking the mechanism of his rifle and making sure it is locked on the ledge. “Zethrid! Rude! Didn't I ask you to call me Lance?”

He makes a disappointed noise at the back of his throat.

“Second, how could you?! I shared all of my hair braiding secrets with you!”

“Alvarez!”

“He is right you know, I mean he DID share his trade secrets with you"

"Thank you!"

“Ezor, for fucks sake, not you too!”

“Can we please focus on the job at hand?!”

Hearing Acxa’s tone they all fall quiet.

Then...

“Just saying,” Lance murmurs, making sure his voice conveys a perfect kicked puppy imitation. “I feel so betrayed.”

“Lance!"

“Yeess?”

“Enough.”

Swallowing down his nervous giggle, Lance focuses his attention on the crowd, surveying the area through the scope. His nerves tingle with charged energy, paranoia getting under his skin and rubbing him the wrong way, like an annoying itch that he can't scratch.

"Alright, I'll play nice" he adds at last, getting into a more comfortable sitting situation, tone finally turning a touch serious.

Ezor giggles over their communication line, eyes searching the roofs, and locating him to give a small wave. She is positioned inside the crowd, her shapeshifting ability making her the best candidate to hide within the masses.

Zethrid is at the rear, positioned near the ornamental statue of Voltron, her giant body visible through the crowd if not for her sheer size, then because she is accompanied by various Galra peace members and Blades of Marmora agents. They are waiting quietly and patiently while getting various glances from the crowd, some distrustful, others downright terrified. The usual stuff...

And Acxa...

Scope moving Lance traces through the crowd to finally end up at the podium, the stage clear but filled with all kinds of equipment, ready to start the broadcast at any minute.

All according to schedule Acxa is still at back stage, accompanying the King. She is to stay at his side at all times, with everyone nervous of exposing their leader for too long.

Exhaling Lance bites into his lip, suddenly the silence getting to him. Before he can stop himself words tumble from his mouth. "So how is our oh mighty leader doing?"

There is silence for a few seconds then Acxa's voice cracks through the line. "....he is...ready."

Lance swallows down his sigh, giving a tiny eye roll instead. "I'm sure he is," he mutters. "But that wasn't what I asked." Through his scope he catches Zethrid's exasperated eye roll but decides to ignore it. That woman has been crossed of his list for treacherous behavior.

A few tense seconds pass then...

"He says that you should stop worrying."

Stop worrying?! He isn't worried! He is NOT!.... ok, maybe he is. BUT that doesn't give the right to the pretty boy to call him out on it!

"Does he now?" Lance grumbles.

"Lance," Acxa warns again, this time her voice quiet as if she is trying to keep their conversation from a certain Galra King. "I need you to focus"

Gritting his teeth Lance shifts his position and pulling his eye from the scope sends a quick glance to the empty stage. "Yes, fine" he replies a second later, eyes absentmindedly tracing over the crowd.

He knows... he knows how this is supposed to go, how it is planned and yet-

A subtle ripple goes through the crowd, eyes and ears turning towards the stage, a low murmur starting, soon to be crushed into an booming applause. Each and every equipment on the stage suddenly comes alive and as if cued, from the left corner, a hero walks on to the stage.

"Shiro! Shiro! Shiro! Shiro!"

And behind him, Lance finally sees....Lotor...

He stands with his head high, posture relaxed and a pleasant (fake! fake! fake!) smile over lips. Even with the power and confidence radiating from his frame, he looks vulnerable beside Shiro and his paladin armor. His white ornamental robes sway in the light breeze, long hair open and down.

"We thank you for your support! This war couldn't have been won without your faith and support!"

Another round of applause ripples through the spectators, the crowd absolutely in love with Shiro the Hero.

But soon... it will be Lotor's turn.

Determination spreading over his shoulders, Lance takes a deep breath then once again settles into his position, one eye closed, the other at the scope. "-And now please give a warm welcome to our ally, King of Galra, Lotor!"

A loaded confused silence falls over the crowd, all eyes and cameras turning towards the new Galra King.

Lance takes a deep breath.

It is showtime!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"King?" Lance questioned, eyes tracking Lotor's movements as the other strolled through the command room.

"Yes," Lotor replied easily, confident in every way. “We've concluded the term emperor can be conceived as... imposing."

Lance gave an unapologetic snort. No shit!

"Think of it as... REBRANDING!" Coran chipped in, his energy and adorable try in jazz hands giving Lance life. "I believe that's what is called, yes, rebranding... I mean a fresh perspective is really needed when it comes to Galra nation, I mean I can't even-" Suddenly stopping Coran gave Lotor an almost apologetic smile. "No offense, Prince Lotor"

A calm and polite smile appeared on Lotor's face, his tone incredibly accommodating when he spoke. "None taken"

Lance’s eyes narrowed, carefully watching the prince. There was something wrong with that smile.

"The people are not ready to face another Galra Emperor" Allura cut in, her tone soft but in control.

Which was fair, Lance supposed. After Zarkon and his crushing tyranny the universe certainly deserved something better.

"What about the Galra?" Keith grumbled.

Immediately Lance's gaze fixed on the other boy, eyes this time narrowing in thought.

The Galra?...

"Yes?" Lotor asked, a brow rising elegantly.

"They can't be too happy about this!"

Oh... As much as it pained him to admit it, Keith was right.

"The mullet has a good point" Lance supported, ignoring but immensely enjoying the conflicted scowl on Keith's face. "Your people won't be pleased that you are leaving the title for something less."

They won't be pleased with you leaving the conquest, went unsaid.

Though as if he heard the silent challenge, Lotor turned to him, for a few seconds something dark passing through his eyes before, once again control shifted into its familiar place. "Let me handle my people”

A tight self-deprecating smile spread over Lotor’s lips, causing an unidentified chill to pass down Lance's spine. "You will soon understand how adaptive they can be."

That was the first time Lance ever saw it.

Strength and weakness...all wrapped into one entity...

It was...intriguing.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Lotor looks calm over the podium, his hands open and entirely unthreatening against the defensive faces of the crowd. "People of Naen!" He calls out, voice warm even through the metallic quality of the sound system. "I know you are sceptic at seeing me before you and even though you may have doubts, I want to you to be certain why we are here."

Lance turns his scope away, tracing through the crowd and looking for any disturbance.

"We are here, only because we hope for a better future!"

Breath hitching Lance keeps himself from turning towards Lotor. The line sounds so... sincere, so natural. If Lance hadn't known the production phase, he thinks he would have been fooled by the whole display.

Quickly checking a few faces from the crowd he almost bites his lip. There is shock and disbelief in almost every face, a hushed expectant silence falling over the crowd. There is also a healthy amount of distrust but that ought to be expected.

But one thing is certain. The crowd can't take their eyes of the Galra King.

"That is true" Lotor continues, his voice turning softer. "I don't expect you to believe that I am, we are here for the prosperity of the universe. Because that is simply...not true."

A collective murmur breaks through the crowd, Lance's finger twitching over the trigger. He can't watch Lotor from his current point of view but he knows this is the part where he moves from his position, getting closer to the people.

“It is not the prosperity of the universe that we seek! What drives us is simply... family.

A new kind of silence falls over the crowd as people of Naen turn wistful.

There is a clog at Lance's throat as well, eyes stinging and as he watches he can see similar expressions on other people's faces. Painful or grateful...remembering family matters.

"We want a better future for them, we want to give them hope, to protect them!"

A pause and Lance can swear every heart stops with Lotor's words, his own throat turning tight with nervous energy as sweat breaks inside his palms at hearing this new part.

"But most vital of all...we want to belong."

Lance's heart stops.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Lance has always been a people's person, coming from a crowded and close family culture it wasn't really surprising.

He has always been proud of being a people's person too. Wanting to be close to someone, sharing bits and pieces of your experiences, just reaching out and touching...

Though...sometimes universe was too vast, too hostile to just reach out and connect.

“Was you father an alien? Because let me tell you, there’s nothing else like you on Earth!"

A few amused huffs and disapproving, condescending eye brows later, Lance waved off the passing Galras, his feet moving past them.

"Ok," he smiled over his shoulder. "I get it, you are simply mesmerized by my touching lines. You need time to absorb the beauty of them."

It has been nearly two months since he had started travelling with the Galra nation, the program to ensure the peace and integration throughout the universe requiring the Paladins to connect with their allies. Pidge had got the Olkari, Hunk, the Balmerans (lucky bastard!). Keith was with the Arusians and Shiro with Puigians which left Lance with...the Galra.

It was cool though, it was ok. Lotor was calm, all polished smiles and diplomatic nods and his generals even though tense at times were...civil. Blades of Marmora were still cautious but slowly establishing relationships and starting to trust... and yet, Lance's attempts at connecting with others were not yielding much positive results.

It wasn't that Lance was ostracized or actively shut out. Oh no! He still had a certain level of connection with some Galras, thank you very much. And those were certainly promising but without his lion Lance guessed he would have gone insane by now.

Moving down the corridor, he let his feet to take him towards the communal areas, hoping to actually find an opportunity to start a conversation with a few people. The ship was almost a maze, each and every corridor looking same to him, and two months still not enough time to fully explore the giant space.

But communal area 5 was probably the most popular and easily accessible area within the ship and that’s where Lance spent most of his days. It was always crowded which actually gave him the opportunity to struck a few conversations with the others and it was-

Suddenly stopping at the entrance, Lance found himself looking at the back of a group of Galra, the hall packed with people.

Communal area 5 might have been popular but it was never this crowded...

"Hey, what is happening?"

At his question, the Galra with a red mane gave a side glance; lips pushed together and thin tale flicking against her thigh. "Ragk" she murmured, body moving aside and allowing Lance to see the center of the crowd where a huge Galra was towering over a petite figure, teeth bared and hackles raised....literally.

"You think you have the right?! You need to learn your place, half breed!."

"Huh, and what IS my place, exactly?! C'mon dirtbag, tell me!"

Wait...did he know that small Galra?... she looked so familiar...

Suddenly a growl reverberated from the huge Galra's throat who Lance guessed to be Ragk, sharp teeth glinting in the artificial light of the ship. "Insolent mutt!" A huge hand reached over and before the other could stop it, curled around her throat.

What the hell?!

Lance looked around, expecting to see an inclination towards separating the two, only to find neutral faces.

Seriously?! What was this? Fight Club?!

Before he could authorize it with his brain, he had already moved, body wriggling between the other Galra

and moving towards the two at the center.

“Fuck off!”

The other Galra was struggling, her teeth bared and trying to bite into Ragk’s hand, while her tail swished angrily, almost striking the other in the face.

He knew her but...he just couldn’t pin it down. Though shaking the doubt away Lance stepped forward.

“Heyyyyy guys, let’s try something different today and not rip each other’s throat out, yes?”

He pulled on Ragk’s arm, his other hand reaching out towards the other Galra. At the contact both of them turned towards him, surprise showing on their faces...in fact shock was in every face surrounding Lance, all Galra undecided on what to do with this new development.

At last Ragk decided to take the lead.

“This is not your fight, Paladin!” he growled, eyes narrowing in disdain, the message clear in his voice.

Back off!

“Hey!” Lance exclaimed indignant, his fingers digging into the other’s skin, still trying to pry it away. “This is a peace mission, so yeah it is my fight!”

Ok...that didn’t really make sense, but -

Suddenly the petite Galra’s body twisted, tail turning and swishing across the air to land a solid across Ragk’s face, and subsequently with a quick move teeth cutting into his hand.

A pained howl fell from Ragk’s mouth, blood running down his hand.

Shit!

As the two separated, Lance bit down on his lip but stepped between them, panic churning deep inside him and fear travelling down his spine.

“Chett! You mutt!”

Wait...Chett?! Ah, now he remembered-

Before Lance could take another breath, Ragk gave a loud growl, his body charging towards the other.

“Hey, hey! Back off! Now!”

No wonder finding a skinny human between his body and his target, Ragk looked surprised, his eyes opening wide before narrowing into dangerous slits.

“I said,” he growled. “it is not your fight. Get out of my way!”

Lance took a deep breath, his heart fluttering in his chest.

“No.” he said simply, thanking universe for keeping his voice steady. “I’m not getting out of your way. Not with your attitude.”

“With my attitude?” Danger was extremely clear in Ragk’s voice, his eyes now fully shifting from Chett to Lance. Or maybe it was homicidal intent...

“Yeah, buddy!” Lance said, putting his hands over his hips, chin up with stubbornness. “Your attitude! What gives you the right to call her such names?”

Behind him Lance felt Chett shift, barely getting close to him.

“For one, I know she was one of the few who were stationed on the planet Ers. Half breed or not she fought for your stupid ass so you might consider re-thinking how you are going to address her. Besides -”

Ragk looked only shy away from strangling him but now Lance was pissed. Taking a step towards the giant Galra, he hit across Ragk’s chest with the back of his hand. “- do you really think you can afford fighting amongst yourselves, and alienate each other when half of the universe distrust your nation and the other half hates even hearing the word Galra?! Get real! You need to stick together or you are not going to make it!”

An eerie silence fell over the room.

Shit, Lance thought, panic squeezing around his throat. Great work at making friends, Lance.

Now he was always going to be an outsider and not just any outsider, but an outsider who looked down on them, who scolded them... Great...just great...

Taking a deep breath Lance readied himself to facing the music and drawing every Galra’s gaze on to himself. His hands curled into loose fists, legs shaking slightly, eyes watching carefully –

Wait?... Where were they looking? Somewhere-somewhere behind him?...

Turning slowly Lance surveyed the area, his eyes almost immediately focusing on the all familiar figure of Ezor and right beside her -

Lotor.

Shit...

Breath hitching Lance forced himself to calm down, a nervous tingle spreading down his spine, and his mind trying to estimate how much of the conversation Lotor might have heard.

“King Lotor-” he started, turning his attention to Lotor’s expression, entirely prepared to find anger, annoyance or any other negative feeling, yet-

There was a pleased smirk on Lotor’s lips... not a diplomatic smile, or a controlled neutral expression but a smirk!

“The Paladin is right!” Lotor said, his voice carrying across the hall without any difficulty. “We will only be defeated faster if we start fighting amongst ourselves, if we try to bring each other down.”

Eyes turning to Lance and taking in his surprised expression, Lotor’s smirk got softer. “We need to stick together.”

Lance felt his throat close, face burning.

The second time he saw it...it was a realization, catching him off guard...

It was eye opening.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Let me tell you a story" Lotor says, causing Lance's head to rise from the rifle and wide eyes to focus on the stage. He doesn't remember any of these being in the original speech, yet they all fit, like puzzle pieces that finally make the picture clear.

Lotor looks entirely too comfortable in front of an unfamiliar crowd, the silver in his white robes catching the lights from Naen's red sun and giving him an ethereal feeling.

Lance wonders if this was planned as well.

"It is the story of a young child born into controversy, persecuted from the start because of looking different, because of not being pure enough. A half breed." Lotor stops, eyes taking in the whole crowd, something rising from his frame, for a few seconds expanding, enlarging, imposing.

A shiver runs down Lance’s spine, his throat closing off.

"That was what the child was called.” Lotor continues, eyes entirely fixed on the crowd. “‘You don't belong’, was what the child heard each and every day. It was the punishment...of being born different." Taking an audible breath Lotor stops at the edge of the stage. Silence expands before him, all eyes fixed on him.

"... Her name was Narti"

Shock ripples through Lance, similar reactions echoing through the other communication lines as well, each and every member of the audience including his team seem surprised, the world pulled right under their feet.

“What is this?...” Zethrid breathes her voice tight and grave. “What is he doing?!”

Lance swallows, his fingers clenching around the rifle as the same question burns in his mind without any answer.

“She was a half breed as me, she was an ally, a... friend, and yet - She was let down.” Eyes turning down, Lotor opens his hand, palms towards the audience, his frame looking extremely defenseless on the giant empty stage.

“She died because of her family”

Ezor takes a sharp breath, wetness in her voice calling for Lance’s attention.

Then taking a step back Lotor raises his head, eyes once again travelling across the crowd. “I have never had a family in the conventional sense.” He offers. “For me, it was never about blood”

Eyes fixed across the crowd, he raises his head. “It was about bond.”

Taking a few steps across the stage Lotor inhales with determination, a new kind of power settling over his frame, this time the energy far from hostile. “I am the leader of my people! I am the leader of Galra, of half breeds, of persecuted and persecutors. With their successes and failures, they are my family.”

Looking through the crowd, Lotor soon fixes his gaze on Queen of Naen, her eyes looking even bigger now. “It is a leader’s responsibility to protect his people.” Lotor addresses the queen, his voice kinder. “ It is his responsibility to provide a better future for his family.”

For a single suspended moment, the crowd holds its breath, the queen scrutinizing Lotor, then...a tiny nod.

Replying with a nod of his own Lotor, once again turns towards the crowd. “That’s why I am here.”

As Lance watches the King takes a controlled breath, voice rising with emotion.

“The war wounded each and every one of us! It has left ruins in our cities, yes! But more tragically it has left debris and rubble in our hearts. With every one we have lost-“

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"The war has left ruins behind, not just in our cities but in our hearts as well-"

"Now, that was good!"

"No.." Lotor growled, eyes fleeting across the paper in his hands. "It is too dry, it needs more feeling, a stronger tempo- It has to be more!"

"Uugh!" Lance let his head fall between the pillows his naked legs rising towards the ceiling as he wiggled his toes. "It has enough feeling, Lotor, please. You've been at it for five hours"

Raising his head Lance watched as, spectacularly ignoring him Lotor once again took his place in front of the mirror, eyes carefully fixed on his reflection, clearly ready to take the freaking speech from the top.

With a sigh Lance turned across the bed, face now turned towards the ceiling and long legs rising up and opening to the sides rhythmically. "At this point it is normal that it sounds dry to you" he tried, voice softer. “You’ve gone over it one too many times. You know the lines! That’s why they feel bland.”

There was a brief silence, then...

"Lance..." Lotor warned softly, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "I have to get this right."

There it was...the fear

"My people-"

Turning on his stomach Lance fixed his gaze on the other man. "They know you are trying your best, they have eyes and they can see it!" Then getting up from the bed, Lance let himself get close to the other man, eyes fleeting across his face.

Under the soft lights of the bedroom, Lotor looked tired, shoulders down, blue eyes unfocused but his jaw set, stubbornness bleeding from his frame.

"You need to rest," he murmured softly into the space between their lips, hands settling over the other man's shoulders then moving up to cup his cheeks. "You have been at this for hours"

At the contact Lotor's body relaxed as a whole, a sigh making it past his lips, and eyes closing in relief.

Even after all this time, it was still exciting to see when Lotor showed vulnerability, his carefully built walls coming down around Lance, opening up, trusting...

Encouraged at the reaction Lance took another step, warm body perfectly curling into Lotor's space. "C'mon, pretty boy, you can take another look in the morning." Lips ghosting, Lance gave his lover a look under his lashes. Fingers sensually trailed down the other man's arm, movements slow and careful, almost afraid to scare him. "It will be a fresh start." he whispered, fingers now brushing against the printed copy of the speech. "Just come to bed..."

Lotor opened his eyes to look at him, his breaths already turning tight with arousal...or maybe it was exhaustion... A second later, something wistful passed through his gaze, tongue peeking out to lick his dry lips before-

He took a step back, Lance's fingers only brushing against the paper, and coldness seeping into his skin with his lover's absence. "I need to get this right."

There was such an edge in Lotor's tone that Lance could only swallow down his objection, concern churning inside him. "Lotor..." he murmured, reaching for him and planting a kiss over his lips.

A sigh tickled his lips, breaths mingling and the moment staying almost suspended between them. Then eyes linked with intent, Lotor raised a hand to run through Lance's hair, fingers settling at the back of his neck. "Lance..." he whispered, causing a lazy heat to pool at his stomach.

Another kiss shared... This time longer, heavier, needier... breathtaking and absolutely toe curling...

When they parted away, breaths still tight with need, Lance raised his eyes to look right into Lotor's, heart soaring without his permission. "You'll do great... I know you will.”

Brows rising in surprise Lotor inhaled slowly, his breath quivering for a single second. Then with a smile that looked young on him, he nuzzled against Lance's nose, forehead leaning against his lover's.

Slowly...he exhaled.

"Thank you...Lance"

Nowadays he saw it all the time, the convoluted dance of weakness and strength, chipping away and dragging down, supporting and pushing up...

It used to be intriguing.

It used to be eye opening.

Now... it is simply theirs.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"I am not here for the prosperity of the universe...and I am not here for Voltron's quest of achieving peace."

Despite harsh words and commanding voice Lotor looks unsuspecting, his frame centered on the stage, and arms slightly open.

"WE are here for our families! We are here for those we couldn't protect and for those who we still want to!"

For a brief second a pained expression passes through the King's eyes.

"With all of our shortcomings and with all of our strength, the only thing that we want is to move forward!"

Lotor's gaze once again finds the queen, an expectant silence falling over the crowd.

"...And we want to move forward with you"

Silence...

Only shivering breaths and wide eyes fill the avenue...

Then –

Eyes closing, two fingers slowly rise up to touch across the queen's forehead.

The gesture of acceptance...of alliance...

One, then two, then three... Slowly the gesture spreads across the crowd, one by one fingers rising up, and a reverent hush falling over the people.

Across the stage, Naen's red sun raises high, its changing rays painting the King in pink. With a deep breath Lotor raises his fingers to his forehead and repeats the gesture.

"Thank you"

With a sigh and a smile, Lance closes his eyes, head tilted towards the sky.

Together...they will move forward.

#LancelotWeek2017 #lancelot #lance x lotor #voltron #voltron legendary defender #etc.writes #the convoluted dance #lance #lotor

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junioradventure · 7 years

Text

[FANACCT] 170611 KNK “해달별" Fansign Experience at 제일라아트홀 (Fanboy)

Hi again!

I’m here with my fanaccount for KNK’s fansign during their “해달별" promotions.

This was a notably important fansign for me because I’m pretty sure this is my last fansign event before I leave Korea on the 22nd...

I’m so sad. ㅠㅠ

Anyway, it was a really awesome event and I’m glad I got to see my favorite group up close and personal again.

I did a video about their fansign before during “U” era too.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

KNK’s fansigns are getting more competitive nowadays, with fans buying more than 10 albums to have a chance to get in. I originally bought 9 albums, but after seeing a fan next to me at the CD store buy 10, I bought 3 more, totaling up to 12 albums overall. And I got in!

On the day of the fansign, I found the building where it was held and headed to the B2 floor. Some fans were waiting to get in, but the staircase and entrance was rather narrow. I showed my Alien Registration Card to verify my identification (though a passport works just as well) and the staff told me to pick a card that was on the table. The assorted cards were all face-down, and this was to determine my seat number. I got number 63.

I took my seat, but the rows of chairs were all close together and narrow too, not allowing much room. This was a noticeable inconvenience when fans had to squeeze past each other in the rows. I spent a huge amount of time before coming to prepare a fanletter for my bias Seungjun, so I had to write down all the post-its for the members that I would put in my album.

Soon the members appeared and the fansign went underway. They looked so handsome as always, but they look especially good with the suits in this era aghhhh.

Sorry that my picture’s quality isn’t too good, but this is how the fansign was conducted. The order was: Jihun→Inseong→Seungjun→Youjin→Heejun

MEMBER INTERACTIONS (with pictures and gifs!)

I’ll fast-forward to the interactions I had with each member. I’m sorry that I forgot some things that happened, but in the thick of the moment, it’s hard to process and take in everything that happened (for me). Luckily, I met someone at the fansign that was kind enough to take a video of me when I went through this great experience. I was really nervous again, because they’re my favorite group and this was my last time, so I was even more anxious.

JIHUN

So leader Jihun was first this time around~ Actually he was rather quiet today as well; when I met him at a fansign last year, he was rather soft-spoken too. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I pointed to the questions I had brought for him on the post-its and told him I was a part of an international KNK fan group on Facebook, and I gathered some questions other Tinkerbells wanted to know about KNK. He was listening and then all of a sudden, said, “Ah. International,” in English. THAT WAS FREAKING CUTE AHH. He was really handsome up-close, though. He looked mature and cool when he was in thinking mode, but then he lapsed into squishy mode when he smiled and it was just adorable.

He really thought deeply about the questions I wrote. I guess he had to think a lot about how to answer them. But another factor was that time was really limited and the staff members were quite strict so they moved our albums to the next member by force, cutting our time short.

Blue post-it note: Q: Which member is really the closest to Jihun-hyung...? A: I’m close with all but umm... Heejun?! Jihun had some trouble answering this question but dang, I didn’t expect him to think so seriously about it. ㅠㅠ I’m sorry if I had to make you pick a favorite! I know you all love each other LOL.

Yellow post-it note: Q: Where do you draw the inspiration when you make the choreography (for KNK)? A: There’s just times when suddenly... Ttak! I forgot what other little things we said after he answered those, but I had to move on. I gave him high-fives as a farewell and moved over to... Inseong!

INSEONG

Next was my second bias, Inseong. I greeted him by saying, “Inseonggie hyung~” hahaha because he’s just a fun, cool guy. He grinned and asked, “Hyung?” I SWEAR THIS WAS SO REMINISCENT WHEN I FIRST MET HIM in person when he asked me, “Am I hyung?” LOL. But he is just killing the visual game nowadays. He looked especially handsome today. He asked me where I’m from and I told him America, more specifically Hawaii.

Bottom post-it note: Q: Is there a place you really want to visit (vacation-wise)? A: Hawaii That’s probably why he cleverly wrote his answer as “Hawaii” for my question, but I’m not complaining! Inseong is really easy to talk to. I told him that his hairstyle for this concept suits him very well and that he looks really handsome. He was really happy to hear a compliment and ahhh he was just an excited hamster. I assured him that he was already handsome but now, even more. I basically complimented him a lot because he deserves more love and attention!! Top post-it note: Q: The most difficult point of this promotion...? A: Live...!? He explained that singing live was one of the toughest parts of promotions. I asked why, and he said it’s because he has to sing rather high. I understand him because him singing the chorus in “해달별" while dancing pretty vigorously looked really tiring... But he pulled it off! I told him he was really good and that he’s doing well. I feel like he was insecure a little about his performance as a vocalist and how well he does and I wanted to reassure him. It was time to move on so I told him bye~ Inseong really does have a warm heart and he’s such a nice person please give him lots of affection and reassurance

SEUNGJUN *BIAS ALERT*

*sigh* I really can’t express how great and caring Seungjun is. I can tell he truly loves and adores his fans, and it shows from the way he treats them. He said my name like, “Junior?” in a cute tone and I said cutely too, “Seungjunnie-hyung~” AHAHAHAHA. He immediately looked at my questions and more antics ensued.

Blue post-it note: Q: POKEMON or DIGIMON, you can only choose one A: *marks Pokemon* but went the extra mile to show his UNCONDITIONAL PREFERENCE FOR DIGIMON LIKE WHAT THE NOOOOOOO Yellow post-it note: Q: Is there a member you want to live with for the rest of your life? A: Inseong Jihun At first, he took a look at the blue note and I reiterated, “You can only choose one!” Without hesitation, he answered, “Digimon!” I was like WHAT THE HECK, NO YOU CAN’T CHOOSE DIGIMON OVER POKEMON OMGG. He was so firm, he was like, “Digimon~” in a cute tone and I told him, “Why??” He seemed a bit sympathetic and marked Pokemon, but said, “Digimon~” again and decorated a box around the word Digimon. DANG IT SEUNGJUN. I was like OTL because I came dressed in a Squirtle hoodie because I thought he loved Pokemon more but that happened. I mockingly complained, “I came dressed like this too...” Seungjun chuckled and then proceeded to gently grab my arm and draw a little heart on the Squirtle patch design on my hoodie!!!

SJ: *in a Korean accent* Hearteu~ I internally died at this cute action like I AM NEVER WASHING THIS HOODIE AGAIN LOL I also made sure to give him the letter I worked on. He then looked at my second post-it, which he thought about for a moment. At first, Seungjun wrote Inseong, so I asked him why. He said because Inseong is funny. BUT THEN LAST MINUTE Seungjun scratches out Inseong’s name and writes Jihun AND HE DIDN’T EVEN GIVE A REASON WHY LOL. So that made think like HMMMMM this ship really sails itself huh... Now I had to tell him that this was pretty much my last chance to see them... Me: Actually, on the 22nd, I’m leaving Korea, so this is my last chance to see you guys. I’m really glad I got to see you guys often while I was here. SJ: *in a cute pleading voice* Don’t go~ (AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH) Me: I don’t wanna leave either!

And then this happened.

OMG I was so flustered when he asked when I’ll be back with that cheeky smile that I accidentally lapsed into English hahahaha. He probably didn’t understand what I said, but I had to move on ㅠㅠ!! Wait for me Seungjun, I’ll be back!! I really want to cry now... Hahahaha. And it ended cutely because I kept shaking his hand, and then...

Thank goodness. He is the best and he’s always so sweet!!

YOUJIN

Okay I’m going to start off my account of Youjin because right when I got to him, he asked me, “Are you a fan of Seungjun?” BWAHAHAHA he called me out!! I told him that I liked all the members but yeah, Seungjun was my fave... If he noticed that, then wow...

And then it was like another round of deja vu because I told him I was from Hawaii and that he should come, and he replied, “I want to go too!” LIKE THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID LAST YEAR AT THE FIRST FANSIGN LOL.

He looked over my questions and I told him they were from other international fans. He got super excited over the Overwatch question and his inner fanboy came out.

Yellow post-it note: Q: Which heroes (do you use) when you play Overwatch? A: Roadhog, Reinhardt, and... the last part was a bit illegible but I think he wrote the name of a Korean Overwatch player named 후아유. [If anyone wants to help me out with deciphering that, it’d be much appreciated~] He was so happy when talking about his mains for OW, but I had to tell him that I actually didn’t know the game at all loooool. I wish I could’ve nerded out with him but idk ㅋㅋㅋ He even asked me, “Isn’t Overwatch quite popular in America?” lmaooo which is true but yeah, I’m clueless.

Blue post-it note: Q: What are you most afraid of?? A: Bugs! 1인칭 horror game.

So Youjin seems to be the least fearful in the group so I also wanted to know what scares him. He wrote “bugs” and I couldn’t believe like this guy didn’t flinch for the ghost prank or a VR zombie slashing him but he’s afraid of insects??

I’m not judging tho but dang.AND OKAY I SEARCHED UP THE HORROR GAME HE TALKED ABOUT AND THAT SHIZ IS NO JOKE.

OH HELLLLLL NOOOOO YOU CAN COUNT ME OUT OF THIS GAME CUZ SHIZ I WOULD PISS MYSELF DURING THIS VR EXPERIENCE

But Youjin is a cool chill guy who loves gaming so hit him up yo

HEEJUN

Heejun, Heejun, Heejun. You never know how he’ll be like. I heard from a friend that he’s different every time which is kinda true. The first time I met him, he was comical but on the quiet side, and we were kinda awkward... BUT THIS TIME WAS JUST OMG LOL. He spoke some English to me even though I was talking to him in Korean which was cute. He said things like, “Where are you from?” and “Really?” Soooo silly. I complimented him on his English pronunciation and I DIDN’T NOTICE THIS UNTIL MY FRIEND SHOWED ME THE FOOTAGE SHE TOOK AND-

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. Heejun’s also quite chill but he’s so funny agh.

Yellow post-it note: Q: Is there a concept you want to try? A: BTS’ Blood, Sweat, Tears hOLY SHIZ IS IT WEIRD THAT I CAN ALREADY IMAGINE HEEJUN IN THAT KIND OF CONCEPT? he already bares his chest sometimes like omfg and I can totally see him pulling it off like shiz I AM READY Blue post-it note: Q: Heejun-ah~ Please write down your favorite color!! A: Black, gray Heejun forgot because he even asked himself out loud, “Which colors do I like?” I told him, “Why don’t you know??” HAHAHA. I told him I was l was leaving soon and he just replied, “When will you be back?” LOL. IDK, I wish I knew, then I wouldn’t have to leave y’all ㅠㅠ I told him bye and he was like, “bye bye!!!” Later on, the members picked random seat numbers from a box and the chosen fans could take a selca with them. SO LUCKYY. I WASN’T CHOSEN BUT UGH IT’S OKKK. Then they played 공기, which is a Korean bean game similar to Jacks. Jihun got really competitive and he almost kicked the stage LMAOOOO. Seungjun was really bad at it and he ended up last. Youjin was first, followed by Inseong, Heejun and finally Jihun secured a place by a hair. Seungjun’s punishment was dancing to their title track with aegyo LOOOOOL he tried his best but he looked so awkward omg And that was it. My last fansign with them. I love them so much, because they’re all so wholesome and show their personalities unabashedly. All of them are SO DIFFERENT and the dynamics are just so interesting and charming. SORRY I cut it a little at the end but I have to go to class ㅠㅠ I’ll tweak this a bit later maybe but I hope y’all enjoyed this!!!!

#knk #fanaccount #fanboy #해달별 #크나큰 #팬싸인회 #170611 #sunmoonstar #gravity

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myriadis · 7 years

Text

Pleased to Meet You

For @celxstialclan

Aiko looked at her living room with satisfaction. Since Tsukimi called her the previous day to tell her she was visiting her to introduce her newborn baby, she had done an amazing effort to clean up the house and to make sure Kara took his nap in his room. Also, she had bought some cakes from their favorite pastry shop and just when Aiko had finished brewing tea, the doorbell rang. As she expected, her friend was in the doorstep.

Tsukimi had yet to recover her figure but her coat made it less noticeable, and she looked worn but her eyes had the joyful gleam of a new mother. One hand was bolding a diaper bag and the other a baby car seat that was covered with a blanket.

“You’re so mean, Aiko, you didn’t visit me at the hospital!” Tsukimi complained with a pout, greeting her friend with a kiss and carefully laid the seat over a table.

“Sorry, I just couldn’t find someone to replace me for that conference in Shizuoka!”

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore. Musashi is out of the country in another kendo tournament, so I am alone at home with the baby.” Tsukimi removed the blanket from the seat, revealing a plump newborn that was sleeping peacefully.

“Look at him. He looks like you, Tsuki.” Aiko’s cheeks flushed slightly, overwhelmed with cuteness. From the moment Tsukimi told her about her pregnancy, Aiko had been genuinely happy for her friend and would excitedly sit down to touch her belly, buy things for the baby, and even look for baby names.

“His name is Mutsuki, written with the first characters from the words for ‘harmonious’ and ‘hope’.“ Tsukimi said proudly with her choice of name.

“Really? I thought it was just a mashup of your names: Musashi, Tsukimi… Mutsuki.”

“That’s not it. I chose his name carefully!” Tsukimi retorted very mortified, and the baby stirred on his sleep. But as a matter of fact, she did think the same when she came up with her son’s name. “Besides, since it’s the traditional name of January, and he was born in that month, we thought it was fitting.”

Mutsuki was a very handsome baby, with curly black hair, rosy cheeks and thick eyelashes. His mouth pouted slightly and his brow furrowed in the same way Musashi did when he was very deep in thought. But Mutsuki resembled his mother the most.

With all the fuss around him, Mutsuki groaned, about to cry but was soon quiet again when Tsukimi held him, and he opened his dark, innocent eyes.

“He’s so adorable!” Aiko squealed “Can I hold him?”

“Yes, of course. But please clean your hands and face first.” Tsukimi gave Aiko a disinfecting wipe.

Aiko arched an eyebrow in amusement with her friend’s request, and after cleaning herself up, she held Mutsuki and raised him over her head. “The lion king’s here!”

“Aiko, careful! His neck muscles aren’t that strong yet!”

It seemed that Aiko’s happy cheer had been a calling to summon her older siblings. Sora came out from the kitchen, bringing the pastries, coffee and tea; Takashi had just finished repairing a leak, and Haruki returned from work. The fact that they had showed up at the same time made obvious that they were there to take a look at the newest member of the Uchiha clan. Tsukimi was very pleased that her little son was getting so much attention.

Sora was the first to approach Aiko and was delighted with the baby, but especially with the onesie he was wearing. “Aww, he is adorable! Do the clothes I made fit him just fine with no allergic reactions?”

“Yes, thank you very much. They’re better than the ones I was about to buy at this exclusive boutique.” A few weeks before Tsukimi’s due date, Sora had the consideration to give her a big bag of unisex baby clothes made with the best quality material and extreme care with the details.

“That’s good.” Sora was about to take the baby, but Tsukimi also gave her a disinfecting wipe. She cleaned herself without issue and also held Mutsuki, but definitely not in the same way as Aiko had done. Mutsuki seemed slightly uncomfortable but just stared at Sora in silence. “Hello, little one…”

“Oh look, another squishy.” Haruki spoke, taking a look at the newborn. He was his love rival’s nephew but despite that specific factor, he had the best wishes in mind for Mutsuki. “I hope he has his uncle’s charming personality.”

“Wow, Haruki said something nice about Genji and it didn’t rain outside.”Sora joked, laughing softly.

Tsukimi smiled, and before Haruki reached for Mutsuki, she also handed him a wipe. Already used to fussing mothers from having to deal with Kadia and her babies, he couldn’t believe that the tomboyish Tsukimi would also become one.

“I don’t think that’d make Musashi happy, but I do believe he will.” she crossed her arms and Sora passed the baby to Haruki, who gently poked his cheek “My son won’t grow up to become a heartless dick like my other stupid cousins!”

“Watch your mouth.” Takashi said, standing at a safe distance from the group. “You don’t want your child to have a potty mouth, do you?”

“Come here, Takashi, the baby won’t bite you!” Aiko encouraged him while pulling his arm.

Takashi remembered seeing Tsukimi before when Aiko invited her over for tea a year ago, and again when she threw her a surprise baby shower. That last time, Tsukimi was very round, content, and evidently very attached to her unborn child. She reminded him of his mother when she was expecting Aiko, and predicted Tsukimi would make a good mother.

The curiosity got the best of him and he looked at Mutsuki. “So you finally showed up.” Takashi cleaned his hands with a wipe and his fingertips gently stroked the baby’s face. A soft smile crossed his features, remembering when Aiko was that small.

“Do you want to hold him?” Tsukimi asked, taking notice of the tender expression in Takashi’s face

“Ahahahaha… no.” Takashi backed off from Haruki, as if Mutsuki had a highly contagious disease.

“Why not?”

“Don’t take it personal, Tsukimi.” Haruki said returning the baby to Tsukimi “It’s just that Takashi nearly dropped Aiko when she was a newborn and he hasn’t held a baby since then.”

Tsukimi chuckled and looked down at Mutsuki, who was cooing and staring at her. She remembered that Musashi also had been a bit fearful of taking his son in arms for the first time, but he had done it well anyway. She handed Mutsuki to Takashi, putting his big hand behind his little head and his arm under his back. “See? It’s easier than you think—!”

Takashi was trembling, despite being encouraged to sit down. Mutsuki was lighter than he thought, and he leaned on him seeking a more comfortable position. Just as his nerves were slowly settling down, Mutsuki sneezed and squirmed, panicking Takashi. But Tsukimi put her hands over his and looked at his eyes.

“It’s okay, he just sneezed. I’m here, you are doing great.” she smiled to him and continued holding his hands, giving Takashi a little bit of reassurance.

“Wow, I’ve never seen Takashi so tame before.” Aiko murmured, noticing he was calming down.

“That’s because a hot mama is turning him on” Sora teased while laughing to herself.

“Mutsuki likes you.” Tsukimi said, embracing her child again.

After they had their turns holding the baby, the group had tea and cake while Mutsuki slept. Aiko bombed Tsukimi with questions regarding the delivery, and she gladly answered all of them. The more explicit she was about it, the less apetite the others had.

“And when he finally came out, Musashi almost challenged the nurse to a duel because she didn’t let him hold Mutsuki right away. He was all bloody and slippery but still Musashi didn’t care.” Tsukimi explained, sipping her tea. “Oh, for the record, he cried.“

“I understand that feeling, I felt the same when my first child was born” Haruki said, without any disgust as he was the only one who appreciated the ‘miracle of life’.

“You cried? How come i didnt know that before?” Sora asked in a playful tone.

Tsukimi smiled while she listened to the siblings pester each other, and smiled fondly, remembering her own family. Perhaps she had more in common than they thought.

“You know, Haruki, if your next child is a daughter, Mutsuki might be your future son-in-law.” Aiko said out of the blue.

“Aiko, my baby is too young to think about girls and marriage! Tsukimi protested before Haruki did. However… “You’re very handsome, your daughter will be gorgeous. I will approve if my son loves your daughter in the future, but warn her about Musashi.” she was so earnest, that Haruki dropped his cup of tea.

Before a bigger argument started regarding if it was legal to arrange marriages between babies and unborn children, Tsukimi’s mobile rang, and after hanging, she hurriedly finished her cup of tea.“Kagami says Musashi has arrived to the airport. I have to go or he will lock himself with the baby if he finds out I left the house without telling him! Tsukimi picked her things along with Mutsuki and bowed before the Kamiyas. “Thanks for everything, guys, I had a very good time. I will have a whole year of maternity leave, you can come by anytime.“ Mutsuki woke up and giggled “He says it was nice to meet you!”

“Pleased to meet you too, Mutsuki!” Aiko waved them off. She was the most excited to see how that little boy turned out to be.

#ooc #celxstialclan #long post

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furederiko · 7 years

Photo

I've sort of lost track of holidays and festives since the year began, but today's Good Friday!!! Meaning it's a good friday to post a Random News Digest as well... Ahahahaha!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

The quest for young Albus Dumbledore has come to a close. Warner Bros has entrusted the iconic role to... none other than Jude Law. Which shouldn't come as a surprise, considering the Brit actor's long history with the studio, from the "Sherlock Holmes" series to the upcoming "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword". Personally, I still think Rafe Spall would make a better Albus, but perhaps the movie needs more of Law's... star power considering the first "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" wasn't exactly the big "Harry Potter" hit that WB expected. Beside, Law also suits the "younger man and quite a troubled man" criteria better than Spall.

The down side of this casting, is the general assumption that the sequels will put more focus on the bromancing frenemy between his Dumbledore and Johnny Depp's Gellert Grindelwald. It has been hinted that the two characters have shared a rather 'close' relationship in the past, perhaps even something that was somewhat romantically inclined. Okay, let me correct that. J.K. Rowling has said it herself that "Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was.", so it's more than just mere speculation. Thus, it IS going to be interesting to see how Law and Depp come to blow with one another, which is what many "Harry Potter" fans should be dying to see. Then why do I call it a 'down side'? Because at least for me, it's Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander...'s magical ZOO that was the prime highlight of the first movie. Those creatures, with the chemistry between Alison Sudol's Queenie and Dan Fogler's Jacob Kowalski coming hot in second place, are the part that I found to be delightful. These three characters, alongside Katherine Waterston's Tina, have all been confirmed to return, so one would easily wonder how these New Yorkers are going to fit in the story that takes place in Paris and Watford, England. Admittedly, Tina and even Newt himself, were pretty dull and boring for a lead. But it would feel like such a crime if they are put aside to the corner, as the spotlight is stolen by Law and Depp instead.

It is currently unclear whether the next movie will once again feature two separate storylines going in parallel with one another. But that's exactly what's currently generating the concern for some people. David Yates will be returning to helm the second movie, so let's just hope he'll find a way to make the sequel feel more... balanced and evenly focused. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2", a tentative title for now because I'm not even sure if it will be accurate to the story anymore, is set to be released next year on November 16th, 2018. That's when we'll see whether this will turn out to be a magical Brokeback Mountain between Law and Depp, or another adventure of Newt & Co.

DC Films

Pray tell, why are we getting another poster for "The Justice League"? The popular notion is that WB is launching one as preparation for that last trailer debuting in theaters alongside "The Fate of the Furious". Yet when you look at the timing, somehow it just feels rather inappropriate. I mean, why not release it alongside those character posters and teasers last month? Can't remember? Those ones that oddly arrived on the same week to Spider-Man's posters and trailer. Sounds dejavu? Because Marvel Studios had just debuted the trailer and first poster for their upcoming Thor movie as well! You know, the one that will premiere just two weeks ahead of "The Justice League"!

Aaaah yes, THAT is the reason why calling this as coincidence is hokey at best. As if WB is trying to convince audience that... yes, despite the muted colors and the joyless forced humor, their grand ensemble movie is as colorful and fun. Now I can't help but wonder if this is a direct answer to that hillarious FANMADE video that's casually making fun of Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne and Gal Gadot's Diana Prince... LOL. Anyway, my point is... hogging on another movie's spotlight is acceptable, since many studios have been doing this since the Hollywood's dinosaur age. But I do really wish WB would stop being so dickish, while at the same time, being utterly obvious about it. Stop positioning themselves as the angry envious rival, subtly but blatantly creating flame wars with Marvel, because it does them no good. Acting all offensive in a non-existent competition is the wrong thing to do, because it makes them look BAD instead!

"Wonder Woman" also made news because the movie is said to be tracking for a $83 million opening. Eventhough it is unfortunately lower than DC Films' previous two movies, it sure didn't stop fans from turning into bragging mode and stuff. After all, that's how the internet works, and sorry to say, precisely the way 'DC fans' tend to overreact with things both good and bad. Meanwhile, another outlandish rumor hit the internet, claiming that WB will release not one, not two, but FOUR Batman-related movies in the year 2019. Yeah, judging from the studio's track record on announcing DC projects, only to end up losing directors or getting back to first page rewrites... over and over again, that sounds too good to be true, right? Despite all that, just imagine the headlines and numerous thinkpieces immediately run by various entertainment, and fansites. Well, at least until WB's producer Jon Berg and DC Entertainment's President Geoff Johns themselves shot down this report in their own hillarious way. I don't know about you, but THAT is what I call FUN.

Last but not least, Dolph Lundgren has joined "Aquaman" to play merman(?) King Nereus of Xebel. Making him the third antagonist after Patrick Wilson's Orm, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's Black Manta. That's not counting the likelihood of Willem Dafoe's Dr. Vulko turning evil, of course. Director James Wan has confirmed this casting himself, and Lundgren will likely join production when it begins on May in Hawaii. Although having the former Punisher sounds good, once again, this casting felt a little toooo obvious to be a coincidence. After all, we just got a hot rumor surrounding Sylvester Stallone's important role in the upcoming Guardians movie. And when you start remembering that Lundgren used to play as Stallone's rival/opponent in "Rocky IV" before teaming up in "The Expendables" series? Aaaaaah, it's another act of spite, right there! Oh WB, when will you ever learn...

Transformers

Have you seen the latest trailer for "Transformers: The Last Knight"? I certainly haven't, because I'm totally not looking forward to see this movie anytime soon. But I heard it was great, and well... probably the best one this movie has released so far. Honestly, after the lackluster tragedy that was "Transformers: Age of Extinction", I never would've thought that we're going to get a 5th movie of this winding-down franchise. And this is just the beginning of another array of sequels, because director Michael Bay himself has explicitly stated to MTV that... "There are fourteen stories written. And there’s good stuff. So, I would like to do one of them, though.". 14? SERIOUSLY?!! Dang it, for a guy who thought "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" was meant to be the last, this statement felt like an offensive mockery. Anyways, this 5th movie is set to arrive on June 23rd. I'm personally more curious about whether it will rake as much money as the previous one. Somehow I suspect it won't, but general audience seems to love this franchise... so, we'll see.

SONY Marvel Universe

SONY Pictures has found its Miles Morales! What for? That animated "Spider-Man" movie that is set to be released on December 21st, 2018. Yes, the same date that recently has been occupied by "Aquaman". The young actor privileged to lend his voice for the animated Miles is none other than Shameik Moore. Fans might argue that Morales is half black, half latino in the comics, whereas Moore is not. But this is an animated movie, which only requires his voice, so I don't think it should be a problem. The actor himself shot to fame following his debut in Rick Famuyiwa's "Dope", later starred in the Netflix drama "The Get Down", and will next be seen in "The Pretenders". Speaking of "Dope", who would've guessed that it was such a good movie, eh? I mean, most of its main cast has gotten big comic book roles now. Tony Revolori is soon to be seen as Flash in MCU's Spider-Man. Kiersey Clemons is Iris West in DC's who-knows-when Flash movie, a feature that was almost directed by Famuyiwa. Zoe Kravitz was in "X-Men: First Class". And now Moore. Should we expect anyone else from that movie?

Aside from Moore, another cast who has joined the movie is Liev Schreiber. Schreiber portrayed Sabretooth in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", and is currently well known as the lead actor of "Ray Donovan". According to the same report, Schreiber will be voicing the movie's antagonist/supervillain, though his character is being kept a secret for now. If I didn't know better, I have a feeling that Schreiber is going to voice Otto Octavius, or more popularly known as Dock Ock. Unless he's being assigned to voice Kraven the Hunter, which might also work when you put into account his previous ferocious comic book role. Then again, just like Moore, only his voice will be utilized, so he can practically play anyone. LOL. Hollywood's favorite duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller are writing and producing this movie, while Bob Persichetti and Peter Ramsey will co-direct the movie. Considering this is an animated movie, shouldn't they start working from now? I mean, animation is unlike live action movie, because it needs to be done at least 2 years in advance to achieve the highest quality. Let's just hope that this movie will be able to stand against the rising tide of "Aquaman" when it arrives next year. Otherwise, this might spell trouble for SONY's ambitious universe.

X-Men Universe

In a very surprising (but seriously pleasant) announcement, "Deadpool 2" has discovered its future-mutant Cable. And my oh my, it's Mad Titan Thanos himself, Josh Brolin!!! Yes, scoring his second Marvel role, Brolin's Cable will be featured in not one, nor two, but FOUR future X-Men movies. Popular speculation says that his next movie will be "X-Force", if not "New Mutants" as well. He's joining Ryan Reynolds who is returning to produce and star as lead character Wade Wilson, as well as Zazie Beets who will portray Domino. Interestingly, Brolin has played a comic book character before, as the titular character in the critically and financially failed DC movie "Jonah Hex". Which means, he and Reynolds are fated kindred spirits from the get go! That's nothing but true fact, no matter how Reynolds openly 'complains' about it... LOL.

No offense to David Harbour, Brad Pitt, or Michael Shannon, but Brolin sounds too perfect for this role. Not just in terms of looks, but also in the actor's ability to play the straight-faced man with a penchant to infuse his character with various kinds of intensity. "Old Boy", and "Sicario" are great examples of this. Created by Rob Liefeld and writer Louise Simonson, Cable is the complete opposite personality to the obnoxious, oddball, and foul-mouthed Deadpool. He's a tough, no-nonsense mutant whose gruff attitude and mysterious aura didn't waste time to attract a great number of fans. He has also been paired with Deadpool ever since. Suffice to say, it's a character that is right up on Brolin's alley, with "Men in Black 3" as its easiest example. With this sequel expected to arrive in 2018, production for the David Leitch feature is set to have a June start in Vancouver. Brolin is currently filming his Thanos role with Marvel Studios in Atlanta, and might even have completed his motion-capture part already. So rest assured, scheduling issue is not even a thing. Interestingly, both movies will be released next year, which means, 2018 would be a truly Marvel-ous year for Brolin!

Marvel Studios

Have you seen the mindblowing first teaser of "Thor: Ragnarok"? The long awaited teaser was simply rock and roll AWESOME, wasn't it! Not only director Taika Waititi delivered a Thor Odinson's movie that already felt distinctly different to his previous solo features, he also imbued it with his signature quirky fun but gorgeous colorful style. It felt like this least-favored franchise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally embraced its funky Asgardian glory and cosmic side, eh? As if that's not enough to please us, it has already scored an amazing achievement by being the most-watched trailer that both Disney and Marvel Studios ever released! Is this a good sign? Most definitely. In fact, this was such a splendid teaser, I'm actually hoping that Marvel Studios won't be releasing anything else after this. This one's more than enough to grab audience's attention.

The official poster that came afterwards, though? Perhaps it didn't quite leave a similar impression, but arguably still emitted a strong promise of colors and style. Especially with all those Rainbow-Bridge-tone illuminating the titular character. Just look all those gorgeous colors, right? Chris Hemsworth is looking cool with that new haircut, and of course, don't forget the absence of Thor's beloved Mjolnir. Seriously, this movie is going to be strangely fun but epic! November 3rd, 2017 can't come soon enough.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves too soon. "Ragnarok" is still 7 months away, and there's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" and "Spider-Man: Homecoming" that we need to anticipate first! With all three releases of the year looking equally fun and colorful, it would be a mistake to skip any one of them, right? HUGE mistake. And we can expect the first screenings reactions from "Vol 2" pretty soon. Why? Director James Gunn, along with stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Dave Bautista have kicked off the sequel's worldwide promotional tour in Tokyo, Japan last week. Not surprising, because it is set to hit theatres in Australia, Southeast Asia, and other international countries theatres starting on April 25.

As for the North American region, if I'm not mistaken, some of the press members are going to be the first to see it, just a few days from now. I bet early social media reviews and responses will arrive pretty much the same day. That's also the same reason why it's going to get harder and harder to avoid spoilers spreading throughout the internet. Even interviews and press roundup have slowly reveal details about the movie, much earlier than we expected. For example, Kurt Russell has spoken to Total Film (via Flickering Myth) on whether we'll be seeing a "Tango and Cash" reunion in this movie between his Ego the Living Planet, and Sylvester Stallone's mysterious character. Nah... I won't spoil anything about it, just go ahead and read the article if you're up with a little spoiler.

For the time being, "Vol 2" is tracking for a $150 million domestic debut. This is considerably close to the opening of "Captain America: Civil War", and also a solid improvement to the $94,3 million debut of the first "Guardians of the Galaxy" back in 2014. It's hard to predict whether this opening estimation is on point or not, because even "Beauty and the Beast" have magnificently surpassed its initial tracking number (and has broken the $1 billion mark yesterday). There's always a chance that the same accomplishment will occur with "Vol 2", considering the franchise is now sitting on everyone's top 5 most favorite among the MCU. Not to mention, "Vol 2" is the first movie that will kick start the 2017 Summer Movie season in the US. I guess we'll have to wait and see, and hope the best for the sequel. Because if it's good, then I bet Gunn would not shy away from returning to create a "Vol 3".

As for "Homecoming", several rather spoilery details of the movie might have landed online as well. In this case, regarding the "Daily Bugle" existence in the MCU, several scene descriptions from an event held in Tokyo, the possible appearance of other Avengers beside Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, as well as actress Angourie Rice's true role in the movie. Hailing down from a Tom Holland's fanbase account on Twitter, these reports felt... a little hard to fully believe, because it could very well be a subjective assumption on their part. So do take them with a huge grain of salt.

Finally, remember that candid photos of Elizabeth Olsen filming an action scene for "Avengers: Infinity War" in Edinburgh? There's a video version of it now, and one that looks rather... dire and serious. This scene once again hinting that Olsen's Scarlet Witch and likely Paul Bettany's Vision will come into blow with a CGed henchmen, presumably the Black Order members. If you're curious, then go ahead and check it on Youtube. Assuming it hasn't been taken down, of course. Inline with the casting announcement from FOX, it seems Josh Brolin would have concluded his part as Thanos in May so that he can join the production for "Deadpool 2" in Vancouver. Which is probably why the "Infinity War" production will then proceed with his Black Order members instead.

Netflix

This might sound surprising, but it's the last category for today! Yes, because I have no topics for the game section. LOL.

It wasn't long ago that we heard Marvel's "The Defenders" has wrapped its production, to pave way for the second season of Marvel's "Jessica Jones". Looks like Marvel's "The Punisher" has followed suit as well with its completion. A Twitter fanbase account for lead actor Jon Bernthal, reported that the cast has thrown away a wrap party for the production that began on October 2016. Judging from this, it's safe to assume that the series will in fact arrive later this year instead of next year. It's a little suspicious though, that it wrapped just a few weeks after "The Defenders" eventhough they started at relatively the same time. Considering the mini series only has 8 episodes, does this mean "The Punisher" might be a more compact/shorter series than those previous four? I sure hope so, because forcing these serialized shows into a 13 episodes with materials enough for maybe 10 at most, certainly didn't work charm. Said sentiment has even become one of the loudest talked-about criticism thrown at them. Here's hoping Netflix will realize this issue and solve it accordingly, because seriously, watching Marvel's "Iron Fist" alone has already worn me out.

Meanwhile, Netflix is reminding its audience that the 2nd season of "Sense8" will arrive in May 5th, by launching an official trailer. Which is highly necessary, because even I have forgotten that I've written about this fact before! YIKES!!! The inability of Netflix to set a fixed annual release date is admittedly troublesome, as it tends to wore out its devoted audience due to uncertainty of when to expect any continuations. "Sense8" and "Voltron Legendary Defender", as well as their uncertain delays are good examples of this particular issue.

IMHO, "Sense8" is a show that would have benefitted from having its second season arriving as soon as possible, preferably in mere months apart (just like the Network side, perhaps?). The first season was undoubtedly slow if not poorly paced, and the story only got interesting and intense in the last two-to-three episodes. It undeniably felt like an extended intro for the real story, thus forcing viewers to wait too long (remember, first season was launched in 2015!) to see what's next (one that hopefully explores the REAL intrigue behind them), simply doesn't do any good. Sure, there was a "Sense8: Christmas Special" on December 23rd last year, but I doubt many even knew it existed nor have watched it. I sure haven't, because even I only remember about it just now, FOUR months later. LOL. And to be honest, although I'm probably among the few who DID enjoy the first season, I've realized I'm not that anxious to see the second. Why? I have forgotten whatever was happening in it, so seeing this new trailer only succeeded in making me scratch my head in confusion. That is NOT good...

Thankfully, Netflix's bingewatch functionality helps to counter this problem. After all, unlike movies that come and go, we can view any of their original shows anytime we want. So those who haven't seen the first, can plan their start later by watching both seasons all at once. Trust me, I believe that would be more effective for this series. So right now, I'm patiently waiting for the critics' reviews first before actually checking the second season. While at the same time, re-watching the first season one by one, which might be a challenge because sadly this show doesn't have a strong rewatchability. My only hope is, I won't end up forgetting about this plan in just a few weeks after release. LOL.

#Random-News-Digest #random thoughts #news #movie #fantastic beasts and where to find them #dc #justice league #transformers #spider-man #animation #deadpool #Marvel Studios #thor: ragnarok #Spider-Man: Homecoming #guardians of the galaxy vol. 2 #Avengers #infinity war #netflix #the punisher

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founders-imagines · 7 years

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Replies

//Ohhhh my duuuuudes I didn’t realize how many replies I had to do and I’m so sorry lol. I didn’t want to interrupt character week with replies, so today’s the day. All expect the top reply is under the cut! The first one is also a PSA and I wanted everyone to see it. Thank you to everyone to wanted to chat or say something <3

I made this first so because it’s pretty much a PSA: yes, as of today (3/19) the ask box is CLOSED. I had a ton of build up from character week, namely I have nearly 50 asks mixed for the trio, Madara and Izuna. I would really like to clear the inbox before I reopen it, so that no one feels like they were skipped over. The plan is to reopen next weekend though! Ty for asking<3

….I have actually not? Although I wouldn’t say that Shrek Forever After is really not my watch list lol

SO SWEET MY DUDE aaahhhh!!!! It was so incredibly nice of you to send this in my dude, seriously made my night. I’m glad to be here for the founders’ part of the fandom, I just love them so much. Thank you so so much for your kindness, hope you have a good day too <3

If you didn’t see your request, no worries! I can almost guarantee it’s in my inbox, but I was pretty overwhelmed with asks for both Madara and Izuna during character week. I plan on getting through them all over this week, so if you don’t see it by the time I reopen the askbox next weekend feel free to send it in again!

AH IT WAS YOU my angsty anon, I love youuuuuu!! So glad that character week turned out so well, minus some mistakes on my part but I’ll be better prepared for the next one now. I low-key want to make an AO3 account and write mini-fics on some of these asks, especially doc x Mads! Future project for sure <3

AHAHAHAHA that’s that, those are what we gotta call the trio now. Oh! Izuna has to be…Wind Daddy?? lol. Like avatar but founders. Tysm for sending this it really made me laugh <3

I’m SO GLAD YOU LIKE THEM! I struggle writing Tobirama, I think I have the hardest time with him and because of that I tend to spend extra time on him. Stoked to hear it’s working out well aha <3

When I read this I had to recover from laugh my ass off for a solid five minutes. The fifty shades soundtrack is so spot on for Madara’s modern au sex life tbh, especially that particular ask. So perfect lol (aw thanks I’m happy you dig my writing<3)

I hope this is readable, idk why my screenshot extension saved it like this???? Thanks my dude! Glad you found me on a great day ;) Madara day is every day in my heart tbh

Yeah, I would, plugging in a name is just my personal preference. I use a random name generator and pick the best choice out of ten names, but if the asker requests that I just use “reader” or “s/o” I’d be willing to do that too. I’m glad you like my writing! <3

My sweet Uchiha fluff boy deserves so much love I swear…..Kagami is a ray of sunshine. You’re so welcome, I’m so glad that someone asked about writing him, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have thought about it. After writing some things for him now though, he’s my baby son and I love him <3

Where a girl can see how a future relationship will end by touching someone’s hand, and in short it’s a scenario (now a mini fic……….pls forgive me……..D:) about her meeting Hashirama who shares the same ability and so forth. I’m still writing it, so I don’t want to give too much away. It’ll be shared here, and on the AO3 account I’m making (which I’ll post a link to later today)

I AM SO SO HAPPY YOU LIKED IT!!!! It was so much fun to write, Tobirama + his ragtag team is slowly becoming a favorite of mine

Again I’m sorry for the quality of this screenshot! But, that’s what I’m here for! Just to spread the founders’ love <3 they all need it (plus their own series but nooooooo)

Okay okay listen, I will write whatever gender the asker wants, but if they don’t include a specific gender I write gender-neutral, they/them and s/o. If you feel like I don’t do that well enough then…okay? Like, me the writer of this blog is gender fluid and I shouldn’t have to disclose that but come on dude, I’m not hetero either???? If the asker wants me to write something for them in a certain way with pronouns, like requesting girlfriend/wife, I’m going to write like that.

Izuna is such an amazing character with potential just wasted by Kishi. I actually used to rp Izuna, so I had a pretty good hold on his character before making this blog. I’m so glad you think I write them all well though! Tobirama is someone I struggle writing as at times, especially for headcanons that are fluffy or romantic. I put in a lot of effort into these characters because I love them all and I don’t think I’ll ever be over them tbh. Glad to see I’m def not the only one lol

#replies #sef speaks

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nora-reads-homestuck · 7 years

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Nora Listens to HS: Homestuck for the Holidays

Hello everybody! You’ll have to forgive my reprehensible lateness on this one; I had a HELL of a New Year, and things are only really just starting to settle down. But, technically, until Epiphany tomorrow, we’re still within the historical bounds of Christmas, so at least I have a (partial) excuse.

I’m here today with an extracurricular on the recommendation of my ask screener @SkaiaMechanic, who pointed me to this “unofficial official” album arranged on the side by the otherwise-legit Homestuck musicians, just for funsies. I’m actually really excited! I know that most of the time they’re probably composing exactly what they want to compose anyway, and Andrew Hussie just uses what he likes, but this is even more free rein, if that makes any sense. Granted they’re working toward a unified theme (and you know how I usually feel about theme albums), but the holidays are a pretty broad topic. So let’s see what they’ve got! ^0^

Quick aside: oh my god, that album cover. It’s super cute and well done, but I am losing my shit at Rose’s outfit. Ok, on to the actual music!

Time for a Story: Listen my children and you shall hear / of the midnight ride of Paul Revere Ahaha ok, let me actually hit play on this. ...Oh. Oh, god. Who is this?? OH MY FUCKING GOD, THE NON-CANONICAL CHRISTMAS APOCRYPHA, AHAHAHAHA. OH MY GOD. The ex-Catholic in me is HOWLING.

A Skaian Christmas: And that faded right into the first song, which has all the Christmas trappings, like sleigh bells, and horns, and... Oh, haha, it’s this theme! I kind of dig it! The additions actually go really well, festive but unobtrusive for the most part. 1:28: Oh heck yeah, that choir is rad! Short and sweet. I’m enjoying this so far.

Anthem of Rime: Aaand we’ve faded into what’s starting off as Carol of the Bells. Are we going to fade into another familiar theme? That’s what I’m predicting and hoping. Ding... dong... ding... dong... I sang this song in a Christmas choir once, and actually knowing all the words makes me some kind of weirdo, apparently? Oh hey! Yeeeahh! We’ve got... what’s the name of this one? *looks back* Terraform! Looking back on my initial review of this song, I think I’ve warmed up to it a bit. (Because the song title has ‘rime’ in it?? GET IT??? :D) Or maybe it’s just that it sounds more badass when it’s all Christmassy? Not sure. Heh, this chopped and screwed ending is fun.

Pachelbel’s Gardener: Basically if you’ve been on the internet any amount of time and you haven’t come across this video before, then... Well, I don’t even know what. Anyway! Hah. Yep, there’s those chords, and those eight notes. Whoa, that’s a weird synth. And this beat! I’m getting, weirdly, Taco? 1:25: Aha, there’s Gardener for realsies. I’m not sure if it actually really fits with the Canon in D bassline, especially considering the melody phrase is 4 measures to Canon’s 8, but it’s close enough. I’m not sure if I actually like it, but it sure is interesting. My feelings on the original were pretty tepid too, IIRC.

Carefree Perigee: D’aww. This one’s short, but I loved the Carefree Victory melody a lot, so it’s nice to hear it again. I like the reimagining of the chord progression. So syruppy and sweet. <3

The More You Know: Oh lawd.

The Squiddles Save Christmas: Woo, Squiddles! The Squiddles album has been getting a lot of play on my iPod lately. Unironically, even. Huh, this is another neat reimaginning of an existing progression! Oh... ok... these vocals are a tad bit creepy. Sounds like the singers might have had a biiiit too much eggnog before recording, haha. 1:17: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHSAJKHD. ...Nog baby????? Wtf???? Like a ‘food baby’?? WOW THIS TOTALLY WENT OFF THE RAILS WOW.

Billy the Bellsuit Diver Has Something to Say: It’s beginning to look a lot like Squiddles... Hmm, this one’s more fun so far, but I just know it’s going to get weird in a second. Isn’t it. ISN’T IT?? 0:47: Ok, yeah, here we go. 1:55: OH GOD. Unpleasant ASMR back twitches, oh no. Wow, turned down to like, 3 kbps or whatever, it starts sounding like whale song. ...Huh, the ending is actually sort of nice. Overall I don’t think I enjoyed it much, though. :(

Squiddly Night: Oh wow, I looked away from the window and didn’t realize that it had actually become a new song. AHHHHHH NO THAT ENDING WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING.

The Santa Claus Interdimensional Travel Sleigh: Wait, so they do believe in Santa, but Jesus Jegus is non-canonical? EVEN BETTER.

Land of Light and Cheer: Noel, noel, etc., etc. Are we going to bring in LoLaR’s theme here? Whoa, yep! And it’s actually really nice? I like the instrumentation in this one. That flute is gorgeous! This is a Ferkol piece, so it might very well be live.

Gog Rest Ye Merry Prospitians: Let nothing you dismay! And... somebody chugging eggnog? More like, NOG REST YE, AMIRITE? Oh whoa! Suddenly Sburb. Cool, though. Is this another Ferkol piece? The sudden loudness changes smack of his style. Hah, yep, I’m getting good at this. It helps that he’s working with established pieces that have very definite melodies; keeps the meandering to a minimum.

Carolmanthetime: Oh whoa. This is neat! Pretty heavy for a Jit piece, but I like it. And that’s hints of Showtime and Walk-Stab-Walk, if I’m not mistaken. Jit’s compositions often use somewhat cheesier-sounding instrumentation, but they’re always pretty solidly put together, and of course his piano talent is damn amazing.

Candlelight: Hah, Candles and Clockwork. To be honest, I’ve always felt like this melody had a lot of potential that’s never really been realized so far. So far this arrangement is pretty pleasant. I’d love to hear it performed by live instruments sometime. ...Wait, this one says ‘lyrics’ next to it. Eh? Oh. Oh. Welp, scratch that off, then.

Oh No! It’s the Midnight Crew!: ...Exactly what it says on the tin. Oh wait, shit, they have an actual cameo?? Ahaha.

Let It Snow: Hah, this is fun! Kind of like an off-brand Vince Guaraldi Trio. Very ‘mall food court’ vibe, especially with all the reverb. It almost makes it creepy without the accompanying voices and laughter. An abandoned mall food court at 3 in the morning? (See what I did there??)

Hella Sweet: ...Mighty big sack indeed.

Shit Let’s Be Santa: OH SHIT, this one has lyrics too. On the plus side I’m not really expecting any kind of quality, so what I hear can only be an improvement. ...Huh, this has a lo-fi early 90′s synthpop feel to it. I actually... like it?? The lyrics rhyme, too. I almost wouldn’t expect that of a SBaHJ-themed song.

Choo Choo: George the Conductor of what? ......1:12: AHAHAHAHA.

Overall thoughts:

Well, it’s a bit less than I was really hoping for, given that a good number of the tracks are just bizarre rambling (but still with extra points for the Apocrypha thing), but I don’t know that there was anything on the album that I heard and thought ‘wow that’s terrible’. I’m a fan of Christmas music, generally speaking, anyway, so I’m not sure if it would be everybody’s cup of tea, especially if you celebrate different holidays. But hey, it’s free content, and there’s certainly a few things worth listening to if only to hear some interesting rearrangements of your favorite tunes.

Top five six tracks in order or favoritude:

Carefree Perigee

Land of Light and Cheer

Carolmanthetime

A Skaian Christmas

Anthem of Rime

Shit Let’s Be Santa

Album Rating: 6/10. Drink some eggnog first for a funner experience!

#NRHS #Nora listens to Homestuck #Homestuck #Homestuck liveblog #Homestuck for the Holidays

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