#the rejected headline series
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Upon request, today we have a rec list of bottom Louis fics where Louis and Harry get married and have a wedding in the fic. If you enjoy our rec lists, please be sure to like and reblog this post to help spread the word. Happy reading!
1) The Nuptial Blessing | Explicit | 3,576 words
The sweet smell of strawberries and cinnamon engulfed the entire room. He held his breath as Louis walked down the aisle to the altar. His omega looked like a walking angel- an ethereal beauty not belonging to this world, yet he was for Harry to ravage tonight.
2) I Fell For You Like A Star Falls From The Skies | Not Rated | 6,433 words
Note: This fic is the fifth part in a series but can be read alone.
Love isn't instant. you don't lock eyes and know that you want to be with someone forever, life just doesn't work that way. But the love that Louis and Harry have for each other comes pretty damn close. Wedding bells are ringing for your favorite couple, and dammit are they ready to be Mr. and Mr. Styles.
3) Please, Don’t Say You Want Me | Teen & Up | 9,320 words
Prompt 496: ABO/royalty AU. Where Omega Prince Louis is forced to marry alpha King Harry by his father for the benefit of their kingdom. After the wedding, Harry lets Louis know that he didn’t want a mate and to not expect a relationship from him. Since they are already mated, Harry has to officially reject Louis’s omega to break ties. This practice is so taboo that he doesn’t know the omega has a maximum of a year left to live after rejection. As time goes on, the omega gets weaker and weaker.
4) Won't See It Coming Til It's Already Gone | Explicit | 12,631 words
“Tell me that this is a fake,” Peter says, slapping a handful of papers against Louis’ chest. He says something else, something loud and demanding, barely even pausing for a breath, but Louis doesn’t hear it. All he hears is the sound of his own breathing, the sound of his own heartbeat.
Because this - this looks like a marriage certificate.
For a minute, everything stills, quiets. Louis drags his eyes up, meets Harry’s gaze, fixed on him.
Then the noise is back, shouting voices clamoring to be heard over each other, and Harry is still staring at him.
The ring that Louis hadn’t been able to stop noticing in the loo weighs heavily on his hand. His left hand.
5) Falling Down For You | Explicit | 14,750 words
If there was an alpha that Louis wanted to call his, it would be Harry. But what happens when an arranged marriage, a hungry press, and doubts get in the way?
6) Dreams Can't Take The Place Of Loving You | Explicit | 15,496 words
Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.
In which Liam is the go-to ring guy, Niall's relentless, Zayn is family, and Harry and Louis are disgusting.
7) Life Won't Wait | Explicit | 20,327 words
Note: This fic is the third part in a series, so we'd read the other two fics first.
It’s not until the third attempt goes terribly, horribly wrong that Harry realizes Louis is doing it on purpose.
All he can do is sit back in his chair, narrow his eyes, and watch as Louis pats the waiter on the back pseudo-helpfully, pretending like he’s actually doing something that makes up for the fact that he just deliberately tripped a waiter at one of the poshest restaurants in London and caused pasta to be spilled all over the place better. Like a pat on the back could make all of that better.
Ten minutes later, they exit the restaurant with absolutely no grace. Harry lets Louis tug him along, shielding him from the worst of the paps, but he doesn’t let up on the glare he’s got going on, directed at Louis’ back.
The gossip rags will all be screaming with headlines about how they’ve finally broken up for good, but it doesn’t matter right now.
8) Thawing Permafrost | Explicit | 22,556 words
Louis is from the frozen mountains of Glacien. Harry is from the searing desert of Calidius. They come from opposite worlds, but all it takes is an arranged marriage to bring them together as one.
9) Swept Me Off My Feet (Took My Heart And Took Me Down) | Explicit | 25,447 words
When Louis had decided to reopen his mother's bakery, he never thought a charming alpha would walk in through the door, let alone fall in love with him over tea, dessert and music.
10) You Are My Familiar | Explicit | 27,088 words
Louis loses his dog, and Harry takes in a stray. A whole year passes before they realize that it’s the same dog, and that kind of complicates things.
11) Ours Are The Moments I Play In The Dark | Mature | 30,830 words
Jane Austen’s Persuasion AU. Nine years ago Louis Tomlinson was persuaded to break off his engagement to Harry Styles, a poor sailor. Since then Louis has come to regret being so easily convinced to give up his one chance of happiness. Now Louis’ family is in debt and his childhood home is being sold. In a complete reversal of fortune, Harry has returned to England a wealthy bachelor looking to settle down. Events conspire to bring them together once more though Louis is- must surely be- the last man on earth that Captain Styles would think of now.
12) The List | Mature | 32,094 words
'In the weeks that follow, Harry opens his old journal more than he has in the past two years each time he remembers Venice or thinks about Louis. He always flips to the same random page in the middle of the book, marked by the picture of himself that Louis sent him a few days after they got home. There’s a message on the back that says, ‘Spontaneous looks good on you! See you soon,’ and it makes Harry’s chest warm each time he reads it. He wedges their list out from between the worn pages, and it feels silly staring down at a folded up piece of paper with a strange sense of nostalgia for experiences they’ve yet to have; for places they’ve never even been.'
13) If I Loved You Less | Explicit | 36,139 words
Beautiful omega Louis Tomlinson is set to make his come out in London society and determined to find a mate in his first Season. With the help and protection of his oldest friend, Lord Niall Mendes, he takes Society by storm.
Being a wealthy and titled alpha means Lord Harry Styles has grown used to avoiding unmated omegas…until now. This Season he finds himself at every Society event just for a chance to speak with the omega with the flashing blue eyes.
Louis has the aristocracy at his feet and all the suitors he could hope for, but his secrets may ruin his chance at a love match.
14) Show Me Life Like I've Never Seen | Mature | 42,948 words
Louis never expected to leave the small art studio three blocks down from his job with anything besides the painting he caught a glimpse of and simply couldn't forget.
15) What A Wicked Thing To Do (To Make Me Dream Of You) | Explicit | 44,444 words
Heirs Louis and Harry have been promised as mates to each other their whole lives. It’s expected that they will be the perfect pair to bring honor to their families. Louis cannot let that happen.
16) Tastes Like Summer, Smiles Like May | Explicit | 47,519 words
A cold prince, an alpha with nothing left to lose and a kingdom with a secret.
17) Lunar Waltz | Explicit | 56,795 words
Louis has to replace his (missing) twin brother and marry one of the most dangerous alphas of the kingdom.
18) Every Story Has Its Scars, Ours Is a Brand New Start | Mature | 62,865 words
Life as a devoted husband and an amazing father turned out to be a little different than Louis had expected. Everyone tells him it doesn't have to be that way; that he's worth more and that he's so much stronger than any one person trying to keep him down. It's all just words though until he meets the one person who makes him truly believe it.
19) I’ve Got You | Explicit | 62,988 words
As a reward for saving the king’s life, Harry is offered omega Prince Louis’ hand in marriage. Neither of them has any interest in the union going forward, and so they concoct a plan to prove to the king that they are far from a perfect match.
20) Mead Of Poetry | Explicit | 65,053 words
Under the pressure of continuing the Styles viscountcy line now that he is getting older, Harry sets himself three rules to finally settle down and marry: firstly, the omega needs to be reasonably attractive, secondly, they must be of great mind, thirdly, they cannot be anyone he would ever fall in love with.
Enters Charlotte Tomlinson, the diamond of the first water of the upcoming season and seemingly the perfect candidate to the viscount’s plan, but her omega brother, Louis, is in Harry’s way. Louis only seeks to protect his sister and he sure is not going to let a rake play with her heart.
21) Now I'm Begging for Footnotes in the Story of Your Life | Explicit | 80,742 words
Harry and Louis are engaged, but a few months before the wedding Louis realises that they don't like each other, so instead of ending the engagement two of them go head-to-head in an all out prank war.
In the battle of who will end the engagement first.
22) Billow And Breeze (Islands And Seas) | Explicit | 102,506 words
It was bright; that was the first thing Louis could recall. With a groan, he winced at the throbbing behind the sockets of his eyes and rubbed his temples in an effort to soothe the pain. Maybe he really did hit his head when he took his tumble. The omega squinted as he looked at the surrounding rolling hills and fog hanging over the countryside. As strange as it was, the world felt different, though it looked practically the same.
Disoriented and confused, Louis padded through the moss and listened for his husband. “Liam?” he croaked shakily. Nothing but a symphony of woodland creatures met his ears. His footsteps were muted by mossy green grass beneath his feet and soil fragrant as he neared the crest of the hill. At the top, he froze, lips parted in horror and eyes widening at the expanse of empty farmland—not a soul in sight. It had only been less than ten minutes prior that he could see Inverness from the crest, but now there was nothing.
“Impossible,” he whispered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief—his mind not quite able to make sense of it.
Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.
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colour me in: timeline | jjk
numerous main parts and several drabbles in, i realised how easy it is to lose track of time. considering how we’ve been jumping between the present and the past, it’s become necessary to illustrate what cmi’s timeline looks like, especially since we can’t store every bit of information ever mentioned in the chapters in our brains at once! so i decided to make this little post that outlines the cmi couple’s entire story chronologically. i will explain things that aren’t explicitly mentioned in the series in detail – the rest is only briefly listed.
in case you haven’t read the series yet and plan to do so – spoilers ahead!! hope the timeline makes sense! 💕
⤑ SERIES MASTERLIST
⤑ last year, sometime in late spring. break up with nara:
mentioned in cmi4/lights and cmi8/blurred:
⋆ jungkook and nara separate.
⋆ there is a back and forth for a couple of days, but they settle on a mutual decision: it’s over.
⋆ jungkook, hurt by loneliness and tempted by freedom, sleeps with other girls.
⋆ nara and jungkook cannot keep it at this break up – more to this later.
⤑ last year, july. frat party:
cmi8/blurred:
⋆ jungkook and oc meet at fratboy choi yeonjun’s private party and talk.
⋆ they hook up and build a connection without any high expectations of crossing paths again.
⋆ jungkook is not hooking up with nara at this point.
⋆ oc rejected hoseok whom she had a fling with during freshman year and again a couple months ago. he’s a fleeting friend.
⤑ last year, fall/september. accounting/business class:
mentioned throughout the series:
⋆ jungkook and oc meet again; oc is a business major, and jungkook attends this class for extra credits.
⋆ not long after meeting again, they fall into constant bickering, competitive in class but secretly fond of each other. lowkey even friends.
⋆ oc tries to push him away bc she’s sure this won’t end well.
⋆ soon after the semester starts, they start hooking up again.
⤑ last year, beginning of october. nara cont.:
partly mentioned in cmi4/lights and explained here and here:
⋆ jungkook and nara have a history together that goes beyond what they were to each other. they grew up together and are used to that connection, even though the depth of the relationship and its importance has faded throughout the last few months.
⋆ they hook up again, multiple times, but eventually realise that neither of them will benefit from this. it’s unhealthy – they need to move on and remain friends.
⋆ they part in good terms; a huge weight is lifted off their shoulders. nara and jungkook are officially over.
⋆ moving on is easier than it was right after their sudden decision to separate as a couple.
⤑ last year, end of october. the fwb deal:
cmi7.5.2/unhindered:
⋆ jungkook and oc have sex and seal the fwb deal.
⋆ jungkook hasn’t slept with anyone but oc since the beginning of october, and with nobody except nara and oc since the frat party.
⤑ last year, end of december. new year’s eve:
cmi5.5/not enough:
⋆ jungkook and oc, still in a fwb thing, are invited to a big party at hoseok’s place.
⋆ oc doesn’t reveal that she knows hoseok and jungkook doesn’t know. hoseok might or might not be aware that oc’s been hanging out with jungkook (more to this after cmi9).
⤑ this year, february 14th. valentine’s day:
cmi6.5/undying roses:
⋆ fwb still ongoing! jungkook and oc aren’t attending any classes together anymore; they’re friends now.
⋆ jungkook gifts her a ‘beauty & the beast’ rose bc he remembers her talking about the movie during choi yeonjun’s party.
⋆ but the movie isn’t mentioned in cmi8/blurred, so guess oc truly cannot remember this bit anymore – it’s not in her diary either.
⤑ this year, june. the fake dating deal:
cmi1–cmi3/layers:
⋆ sealing the fake dating deal.
⋆ jungkook and nara are still somewhat friends.
⋆ more that unfolds: the paparazzi issues, jungkook’s first experience with newspaper headlines, clubbing with all their friends before oc finds out jungkook’s going away for a month.
⤑ this year, july. jungkook’s vacation and the journalist reveal:
cmi4/lights & cmi5/the canvas:
⋆ oc finds out about jungkook and nara’s history; jungkook goes on vacation after that.
⋆ jungkook comes back and needs to tell her something: a journalist, hired by her mother, has been following jungkook around for a while to find content for drama. this creates a huge rift between oc and her parents, and she temporarily stays at jungkook’s place.
⤑ this year, august. the confession and the break up:
cmi6/silhouettes–cmi7.5/letters from the heart:
⋆ oc spends her time at jungkook’s place.
⋆ they make a trip to a smalltown nearby and confess their feelings for each other in the rain, but the next day, everything collapses due to more terrible headlines and jungkook breaks up with her.
⋆ weeks later: they meet again at the hospital after yoongi’s accident. they accompany their friends to the movies where they impulsively kiss but unfortunately part again.
⋆ jungkook starts to realise that and why this was a mistake. he attends an exhibition hosted by namjoon where he displays two of his paintings.
⋆ it’s his birthday, and oc, despite receiving an invitation, doesn’t show up.
⤑ this year, september. the birthday and exhibition:
cmi8/blurred:
⋆ oc has started looking for apartments.
⋆ oc goes to the exhibition.
⋆ what next?
i will add more as we go! this is a late night post, so i might come back to edit it later; i hope this helps for now. please remember that this timeline isn’t supposed to be a summary; it merely provides some insight into what occurred when. only those who have read the fic will find this actually helpful – if you’re interested in the storyline, please do read the series 🤍
#hope this helps a little! lmk if you have any questions!!#also pls praise this lil post it took longer than expected LMAO#n we have a banner hehehehe 🥰#fic: colour me in#jungkook fic#jungkook fluff#jungkook smut#jungkook angst
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Enough for you (part 1) - Mason Mount
I missed you guysssss..... finally logged back into my account after 2 months and began typing & I'm so happy!!!! I am sorry for the absent, uni and my personal life has been a living hell but I am back for now to speak and write to all you lovely lot... which I've just now discovered I now have 2,000 followers! Thank you soooooooo much I really can't believe it
This one isn't the best as I'm a little rusty but I think it's a good opener for a new series I am going to write! Currently it's called 'enough for you' however this might change the more I write of it! The next part will be uploaded tomorrow but for now feel free to fill my inbox with 'hello's' and questions as I missed you all sooooooooo much! Enjoy 💕
Summary- After your dad, frank lampard, gets assigned to manage his old team again and wants you to join him as the head counsellor, your mind fills with dread and flashbacks of a possible reunion with your ex...
“Theres no way…” You whispered, staring at your father in disbelief as he spoke the words that you thought you’d never hear again “Your managing Chelsea… again”.
“Only for the rest of the season, it’s nothing permanent yet” You could hear his own surprise in his voice, as if he too couldn’t believe what he was saying. “But it went awful last time” You gasped “Why would they want you back?”
“Cheers kiddo, I needed that confidence boost…” rolling his eyes he came closer to you, ruffling your hair slightly before walking pass you towards the kitchen.
“I didn’t mean it like that dad” You sighed, following him “They just treated you so badly last time… is it worth it?” It’s not that you didn’t want your dad to go back into managing his old team, of course you wanted him too! Goosebumps rose on your own arms just thinking about Frank Lampard’s, your dads, big return to Stamford bridge. But the excitement fades away quickly once you the memories of last time flood in your mind.
The headline that he left…
The face he made when he got the call…
The hours and hours he spent preparing to head HR to fight a losing battle…
Seeing the nervousness in your eyes, he wrapped his arms around you “Theres no need to panic, eh? It’s a couple of weeks that’s all… they need me”.
Sighing, you knew that he was right. You didn’t have to live under a rock to know how poor Chelsea was at the minute. “I suppose you couldn’t make them any worst than they are…” You giggled, a smirk on your face as you pulled away from the hug, his laugh echoing across the marble walls of the kitchen “That’s the spirit! Now let’s get a glass of wine to celebrate our return!”
Just as you were about to grab the glasses, you froze “Our return…”
“Yeah, that’s the thing…” Your dad spoke hesitantly “The board had asked if you’d also come back as the head of the wellbeing team. All the players and staff have been going through a rough time and really need a team on site to help… that’s why they need you!”
Working for Chelsea was the first job you had ever gotten when you graduated from university with a counselling degree. It obviously helped that your dad was the manager of the team, however every loved having you around and you loved being there. But when your dad got fired from the team in such a cruel way and the management of the team collapsing, there was no way that you were going to stay… so you left with him… despite everything you were leaving behind… despite leaving him!
“No way dad!” You quickly rejected, placing the glasses back down as you headed back into the living room “I am happy for you, I really am! But I’m not going back!”
“Why not?”
“I have a job!”
“You can leave it” He pushed, causing your eyes to widen “I can’t just leave my job dad! What am I supposed to say, ‘sorry guys I’m going to work with my dad for a few weeks and then I’ll return when they throw us away again’”.
“They never asked you to go” Your dad interjected. It was true, if anything the team wanted you to stay more than Frank!
“They wanted you to leave… so I did too! End of!”
“(y/n) …” Frank spoke hesitantly “This isn’t about Mason, is it?”
You didn’t realise your body could go more into shock than before until he spoke his name. The name that at one point caused your heart to burst into a thousand butterflies, but now makes it shatter into a million shards of glass that was impossible to piece together again…
“No” You spoke just above a whisper, trying to convince not only your dad but yourself. It wasn’t a secret that you were once in love with Chelsea’s number 19… to the public it might have been but to everyone in your life it was clear to see the effect that his presence had on you, and even now almost 2 years later remains on you! You were perfect together, the mix of your existences together had meaning, a love so strong that it could be seen a mile away… that was until he broke your heart.
“Don’t lie to me (y/n)” Frank sighed “Why else wouldn’t you come back?”
“Why do you even care about that?” You exploded, anger tracing in your veins “You hated us together… it was one of the reasons he broke up with me!”
Flashback
“What do you mean you can’t do this anymore?” You breathed out, looking over to him as he placed his hands over his face in anger, sitting on the edge of the sofa. What was supposed to be a night enjoying watching your boyfriend play in one of the toughest tournaments in football, turned into a surprisingly sour one. The second you returned home from the win, Mason turned bitter, his face scrunched together in thought as he refused to acknowledge your presence. “You won Mase… I don’t what is wro-“
“We’re wrong!” he screamed back, standing up from the sofa as he turned to face you “It’s not about the game… It’s about us!”
“Mason I don’t know what you mean?!?” you shouted back, confusion etched in your voice as he huffed “Us, (y/n) … it shouldn’t be happening it can’t happen!”
“We’ve been together for months Mason! Why now?”
“People are going to find out about us and then what? I’m just the player who got in the team cause he’s shagging his managers daughter!”
“Who cares what they say?!” You pushed “Who gives a fuck? I’m happy, your happy… my dad’s okay with it!”
“Oh please!” He laughed sarcastically as you raised your eyebrows in confusion “Your dad hates us together and you know it!”
“He did at first but not anymore” You tried to convince him, knowing that it did indeed take your dad awhile to warm to the idea “He accepts us Mason… so what’s this really about because I know what you are saying is full of shit!”
Mason turned back around, not wanting you to see any more of the cracks showing “I’m telling the truth (y/n)!”
“No. Your. Not.” You said, voice getting angrier and angrier “You wouldn’t do this now, you wouldn’t end us over something so simple… so easy to fix! So what is it?”
“I CHEATED OKAY!” he shouted back, causing your heart to stop. “Your lying…” You mumbled, shaking your head as you refused to let the tears go “Your lying… you’d ne-never do th-that to me… with who?”
“Does it matter?” He sighed, pulling his hair as he glanced over to what once was your happy figure, but is now destroyed. “Yes it does…” You whispered, a tear ruining down your cheek against your will “of course it does, so with who?”
“Just a girl at the club” he spoke with no emotion “I got drunk, she was there, it happened”
“Why?”
“Why what?” He tutted “Why did I fuck her? Like I just said, we got drunk she was there, you wasn’t it’s that easy-“
“No… not that” You stopped him, not wanting to hear anymore “Why wasn’t I good enough for you?”
Your words caused him to freeze as he stopped his pacing, and for a moment you could of sworn you seen the cracks to yet another lie but of course it was hidden quicker than it was seen “You know what they say… the game is the game, and sometimes your just not good enough to play!”
His words caused your body to tense up like you just got a million paper cuts, you wanted to push him… to fight him… to prove that the crack you seen was a lie, a doubt… but why would you, when the man you loved, the man you thought was your haven, just told you that you weren’t good enough.
Without another word, you nodded, walking past him to collect your belongings. Only once you were past him did you let the tears run…
“Mason?” You whispered, needing to say one more thing to him before you left
“Yes…” You didn’t look at him when he replied but you knew he was crying… but why?
“Thank you for letting me play the game with you…” and with that you left… one of you hoping to see the other one again while the other one prayed.
End of flashback
A shiver ran down your back as you remembered the horrid memory, but it was brushed off as your dad began to speak again “I didn’t hate you together!” He protested, sitting beside you on the couch “Did I hate the idea of my oldest child falling in love? Yes. Did I hate the idea that one of my best players was seeing my daughter behind my back? Of course.”
“dad…” You tried to stop him, but he obviously ignored you.
“But did I hate seeing my daughter so happy? No.” tears streamed down your face as he spoke the truthful words “I know it hurt you. The hiding… the breakup… the secrecy. But that’s what love is, and deep down I know he really did love you.”
“Then why did break up with me then?” you sniffled “If he really loved me that much then why?”
“That’s something we’ll never know unless you speak to him.”
Of course you didn’t tell your dad he cheated on you, although after the reveal you couldn’t stand to even look at him, your love overpowered the hatred of ruining his relationship with your dad and his chances of remaining in the first team.
“I’m not seeing him dad… no matter what I’m not facing him again” Your body went into reject mode at the idea of just seeing him, nevermind having a vulnerable conversation with him. “I’m not asking you too honey, he can be booked in with someone else and you’ll have your own office… but please come back with me? I need you”.
‘I need you’
The three words that held so much but little meaning. The three words that you held onto so tightly for so many years. The three words that you can never refuse.
“Fine…” You sighed, as your dads’ arms wrapped around you once more in celebration. “Thank you… thank you… thank you! The teams going to be so happy…”
“You don’t have to thank me, I’d do anything for you and you know that” You chuckled, getting off the couch to collect the glasses you put down a lifetime ago “but dad?”
“Yes?”
“You make sure Mason Mount stays the hell away from me!”
#mason mount#mason mount imagine#mason mount blurb#mason mount imagines#mason mount one shot#mason mount story#mason mount fun#englanf#england#chelsea#football imagine#football#football blurb
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Trauma Doesn't Make Someone Right or Wrong but It Does Make Them Easier to Manipulate: Tomura Shigaraki and All for One
I decided I should talk about the MHA villains more, particularly Shigaraki.
BNHA presentations masterpost
BNHA presentations on Ao3
Let’s mosey under the cut.
The color key is not necessary, exactly, but I will be referencing my other posts with similar color keys. I thought it would be helpful to give a quick visual refresher to what they are. I’m going to referencing the other stuff I’ve written a lot in this one when it’s time to get into the details, so please be aware of that.
Regular white text can also be neutral and mean none of these things, but I think you’ll see what I mean by including All for One on here when you see the graphics.
There is Tenko Shimura and there is Shigaraki Tomura. One of them is the scared child who looks like the perfect victim in need of saving. The other is the obstinate, stubborn, short-sighted and naive social deviant shaped by his trauma and grooming. The only thing he seems to exhibit individuality over is his love of video games and which kinds he prefers.
They are the same person. Traumura Shigaraki. Tenko Traumura.
Shigaraki is sometimes hard to pin down as a character because his individuality beyond his PTSD is rarely allowed to shine. However, I do believe that there are common threads between Tenko Shimura and Tomura Shigaraki. He sincerely wants to make connections, and he sincerely wants to do right by those that accept him, though his own desires and emotional responses often get in the way - as do the desires of another teeny, tiny influence upon him.
His fucking Master, All for One.
Part of what inspired my initial Bakugo presentation was showing how he breaks down the tropes of “hero”, “antihero” and even “antagonist” in shonen manga. The entire cast of Heroes and Villains (remember, they are also social designations and legal definitions in the world this manga) are doing this to some extent. Shigaraki, in particular, is headlining how there is nothing inherently special that makes someone a villain or hero. The determining factor is the perspective of the observer (or affected society.)
Shigaraki may be an antivillain in this story, but to him, that makes him appear the hero of his own story - all while still wearing the self-determined label of “villain”.
Arguably, the actions he chooses to take as a result of his trauma and fear of rejection also make him the villain of his own story at the same time, but we’ll get into that later.
Deku also has at least one mentor (in the Second User) that makes no bones about telling him that his life and well-being is less important than achieving the goal of stopping All for One. But at least he is honest, I guess.
Still destructive, though.
Most of the characters act truly heroically not in moments of glorious victory, but moments of pain, suffering, or even failure (Early-series Deku does this a lot, like when he falls to earth after heroically saving Ochako in the entrance exam. Bakugo, who is sent crashing to the ground in the ironically-named “Katsuki Bakugo: Rising” chapter after putting himself in harm’s way to save someone else, also has a habit of doing this over and over again), which is not the expectation for an archetypal hero in a storybook or comic.
Shigaraki’s glorious rise with cape, model hair, and awesome suit is likewise a moment that does not bode well for him, though he doesn’t know it in the moment.
I don’t make a slide for it, but as he ascends, Shigaraki becomes, well, ethereally beautiful. As his post-family-death amnesiac self, his suffering made him more fragile, frayed, and conventionally ugly in appearance. But after going through All for One’s training and modifications, he was given a new, beautiful facade.
But he was still on the fast track to misery either way.
This discussion isn’t super duper political, but this is your heads-up that many of these “big presences in power” characters also stand in for political ideologies or even entire countries, in some cases.
Endeavor is, roughly, the Japan before modern foreign influence. I’m sure Horikoshi could give us the specific party or movements he had in mind, but he’s not the focus of this post. If you want a more in-depth breakdown of Endeavor and the Todoroki family, please see this post.
The Kirishima Presentation post I made has the most relevant information to the topic of Westernization’s impact on Japan’s attitudes and military power, though it isn’t quite for the same approach and purpose.
All Might, the “band aid” on the My Hero Academia society, is a Japanese guy wearing the appearance of the West while wielding a power that was given to him by someone else, and at seemingly random from an outside perspective. While Toshinori’s true heroic qualities have nothing to do with his nationality (and neither do the features and purpose behind One for All or All for One, when all is said and done), it is important when understanding what Toshinori represents to Endeavor and how he views him.
Both the Heroes and Villains in this series make an entire journey and daytime soap opera of fucking themselves over, honestly.
All for One doesn’t just want to be a dictator or tyrant or king. No, he wants to be the ultimate evil and unapologetic about it. He is the big bad and he is reveling in it. He is going to make himself a cartoon, and then he is gonna rule this cartoon world. Why? We’ll find out eventually. But maybe we’ll never know! I don’t really care. He’s meant to be a static evil.
Naruto tried to be real cool by having their big bad talk about how they were gonna take over the world through hijacking the economy and using that as their in to take over all the Ninja Villages and be real fascists or whatever, but My Hero Academia jumps over that angle by taking a more emotional and universal storybook (or comic book) approach. I greatly prefer it.
I also prefer that the story is blatantly framing the movement it opposes by calling it out as a fucking cartoon villain, though there’s also a twist to this that I think Horikoshi has very intentionally performed.
Fascism most recently swept over Japan as a result of influence from the West. Bam. Easy. So it’s no surprise that, regardless of where he is from, All for One doesn’t just look like a white guy, but like fine art of a white guy from the West. Pretentious. But it’s also kinda funny since he looks like a Greco-Roman god and is trying to flatten his marble curves into lowbrow comic form.
Nazi Germany and the Italian flavor of fascist regimes dressed snappy and loved their high art. Surely y’all know how Nazi Germany defined and tripped all over themselves at the idea of an Aryan race.
Meanwhile, American comic books are a Jewish invention. Superman and Captain America were staunchly anti-Nazi, anti-fascist, anti-all that. For All for One, icon of the type of art branded as “Aryan”, to do what he’s doing in the form of a comic book and saying he likes them is... oh, it’s truly disrespectful of him, to put it mildly. It reminds me of the discussion and fallout surrounding Captain America being part of Hydra for some issues.
Anyway, All for One is rebranding again to sneak into the hearts and minds of those with more modern sensibilities (read: “lowbrow”) to do his same routine. It’s truly villainous, selfish, and disrespectful. Fuck this guy. Rip him apart.
...All of this is a compliment. A hateable static big bad is a good thing when it is what the story wants to achieve.
One could split hairs and say, “All for One’s approach doesn’t resemble fascism! It’s like X!” And if you want to do that, great. Pick your poison of specific flavor of awful Authoritarian or Totalitarian movement that causes extreme suffering. Go nuts. I chose this one because I think a broader approach is more applicable - All for One is a timeless, recurring evil with worldwide reach.
I’ve taken the qualities of Ur-Fascism, or “Eternal Fascism”, listed above from this article, which is also an abbreviation of a longer work on the topic by Umberto Eco. I don’t want to regurgitate the whole thing here, so I encourage you to read it. I did incorporate two of the 14 qualities into other items on this list, but I think you’ll find that All for One checks all of these boxes.
If you read the article or essay, please pay attention to language used like “in the name of liberation”, or how these movements tend to start in another movement with one similar ideal or begin to absorb other movements. Think about how that relates to what happened to Re-Destro’s group and ambition, and the fate of the Liberation Army as it was absorbed into Shigaraki’s/All for One’s. Think about how fascism is contradictory in many ways, but still considers itself a single movement.
For more further reading - @transhawks hits the nail on the head regarding what the League of Villains are in relation to Hero Society and All for One. They’re not really revolutionaries or a unified band of anything standing against their evil government for ideological reasons. They’re being used. If you want to enter a more extreme political pick-apart or commentary of this series, this is a good place to look and a crucial thing to understand.
It would be real cool if the USA was truly a well-meaning, if hasty, rude, and entitled do-gooder superhero, but, well, this is a comic book. Y’all know that Star and Stripe is meant to be the idealized USA rooted in Democracy and Liberty and all that stuff, right?
But even the superpowered and ideal version of the USA can be corrupted. The USA has neo-Nazis (and a total shitshow political scene, particularly conservatively but not exclusively limited to that party, currently) and stuff, too. The “We Are All for One” sign in the My Hero Academia panel of violence and chaos in the United States’ establishing shot is a good way to represent how the conditions for All for One to take control can come about anywhere.
This dude, and the fascism he represents, is a parasite.
Anyway, that’s all big-picture stuff. Let’s talk about All for One’s specific approach to getting his hooks into Shigaraki and the League of Villains.
Public opinion is one of All for One’s most important tools, especially when starting out.
Again, All for One is a parasite. And I think the moth wings Shigaraki sports in figurative representations in the manga are meant to suggest the lower two of a Death’s-head hawkmoth, which has an association with death in Japan and some other cultures. I’m not totally sure about this, though.
As for me, personally, I am familiar with this genus of moth because I grew up with the Five-Spotted Hawkmoth’s larvae, which we called tomato hornworms, in the garden. Parasitic wasps like to lay eggs in the backs of the hornworms and then the larvae in the eggs eat the hornworm from the inside out before maturing. I don’t know if Horikoshi had those in mind when he made this manga because I think they’re only in North America, but, well, I thought about them.
My point: Shigaraki was an easy target and a natural choice for All for One.
Tenko fucked his whole family over when his quirk destroyed everything. The damage was not limited to his father. His family may not have stopped his father and maybe could have done more to try and stop him (and Hana could have not sold out Tenko and blamed him for their intrusion into their father’s office), but killing them didn’t exactly help anyone.
As @transhawks pointed out, the message of “destroying the existing system (house) to root out the existing power causes more sacrifice than it is worth” is a comparatively moderate one.
But for a boys’ manga series, the major idea that, “hey, maybe try to help one another and don’t act in negative emotion - and DEFINITELY don’t become a fascist ‘cause it’s a trap” is perhaps a more immediately relevant one for that audience than a more complicated political critique. The readership of a boys’ manga is at (or about to be at) high risk for becoming the vulnerable youth Shigaraki, Spinner, and perhaps even Dabi or Toga represent.
Sometimes, things can be as simple as the story of a shitty dad doing shitty things to his family because he sucks. Sometimes, this story can also be an allegory at the same time, if it helps your cause. Dabi certainly thinks about it like this!
Shigaraki seems to flip-flop between these hikikomori and NEET categories.
The Kirishima Presentation post talks about this in great detail with more articles.
When I think about this turn of phrase, I think about Princess Mononoke and how the musket ball inside the boar god is what turned him into a monster and sent him on a rampage, and then infected Ashitaka. There’s a lot to unpack here about that, but this is long enough.
It seems that quirks, while not a definite indicator of what a person is like, has an impact on these characters’ individuality, themes, and preferences in the story.
He rises from the ashes always, it seems. And this isn’t even his final form.
“I hurt, so I want YOU to hurt!” If you don’t know much about folks affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, well, Shigaraki is pretty much a perfect textbook example.
And you could have it all... my empire of dirt... I will let you down... I will make you hurt!
People are individuals. Degrees of and conditions for suffering are all unique. But the end result of trauma upon people is the same. They hurt.
So, I think now is a good time to link to this discussion regarding Tenko’s name.
I don’t know if this alike-sound is obvious to the Japanese readership or not, or if it’s just an English speaker’s ear making the observation in similarity between words. Sometimes, what sounds like a pun to an English speaker is not a pun to a native speaker. I really do not know because I am not a native speaker. But even without knowing that for certain, it’s interesting to think about and good, relevant information regarding some of Japan’s general history. If anybody knows, please let me know.
For the longest time, I thought his name was ironic because “ten” sounds like “heaven/sky” and “ko” like “child”, so he would be named “heavenly child” or “child from the heavens”, which contrasts with his “villain” status, though remains accurate because of his incredible, otherworldly power and appearance by his transformation’s end. But it’s not written like “heaven child”. I asked. But I still think it’s funny.
Anyway.
This is a story, so I literally cannot do anything about this situation except say that I am certain that a hero will come for him. I know it’s a cop-out and I am no different than the old woman who left Tenko on the street, but, well, that’s all I’ve got.
I hope they reach him soon.
#shigaraki tomura#all for one#afo#league of villains#lov#tenko shimura#dabi#bnha spoilers#bnha manga spoilers#toya todoroki#star and stripe#izuku midoriya#fascism#ur-fascism#eri#eri bnha#eri mha#bnha meta#shigaraki presentation
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Media critic Jennifer L. Pozner has spent thousands of hours and an immense amount of patience watching both cable news and reality television, and understands better than the average person how alike they've become. "We treat stories that we would have never treated as journalism twenty years ago like headline news," she muses. And we treat reality TV the same way. More relevant to feminism, however, is how the reality genre has harnessed the belief in a postfeminist world and, in doing so, reframed retrograde gender dynamics as expressions of freedom and empowerment. Far more than any backlash could have predicted, the feminist rhetoric of individuality, opportunity, autonomy, and choice has been co-opted by a consumer media that has very non-ulterior motives for presenting women as willingly sexualized, hyperfeminine ciphers.
In Pozner's 2010 book Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty-Pleasure Television, she asserts that one of the most jarring features of reality TV is the way it urges its female participants—and often, the women and girls who watch them—toward narrower and narrower definitions of beauty, self-worth, and success, as well as a truncated sense of what kind of life is possible and desirable, all while encouraging them to see other women only in terms of competition and comparison. But "reality" functions as a magic shield against accusations of racist and sexist cliché and regressive storylines: producer and participants alike will reason that if you put twenty-five women in a room with a man they barely know, of course the evening will end with the women sobbing, yelling, yanking each other's hair extensions out, calling each other sluts, and drunkenly slurring, "We're meant to be together" to floor lamps. Reality TV is part of an ongoing narrative of postfeminism that, like Wonderbra billboards once did, assures women that feminism has granted them the power and the freedom to be whatever they want to be. And if what they want to be just so happens to conform to a smorgasbord of insecure, catty, vapid, and villainous stereotypes that even Walt Disney's frozen head would reject as too cartoonish, who's to say that's not empowering?
Let's take The Bachelor because, since it's one of the highest-rated network shows for more than a decade, we kind of have to. Since its debut in 2002, ABC's reality flagship has drawn in advertisers' favorite cash-cow demographic, women 18-34, by the millions, and has served as a barometer of how young, heterosexual, and mostly white women are encouraged to alter their ambitions, personalities, and behaviors to compete in the dating market. The show, mused media critic Susan J. Douglas when it premiered, "offers highly normative female ‘types’ into which most women allegedly fall ... urged to place themselves on a post-feminist scale of femininity to determine how far they have to go to please men without losing all shreds of their own identity and dignity. In the process, young women calibrate, for better and for worse, what kind of female traits are most likely to ensure success in a male-dominated world." For twenty seasons, the series has confirmed centuries' worth of entrenched beliefs about what women want (marriage, money, the knowledge that they've beaten out masses of other women for the a man they barely know), and what men seek (a thin, deferential woman who's only as ambitious as she needs to be to bag a husband).
-Andi Zeisler, We Were Feminists Once
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I Fell First 03 - JHS (M) [MC's POV]
Summary: You have been with Him since the beginning. To you he was the only person that existed in the world, in your world. But to him, you are another pair of hands that clapped after each of his performances. Will it change when you secure a job in his dancing academy?
Pairing: Celebrity Choreographer!Hoseok X Reader, Fuckboy!Seokjin X Reader (ft. Jungkook)
Theme: Angst, one sided pining, lowkey smut, Jealousy overflowed
Warnings: Strong language, mentions of cheating, alcohol consumption, party setting, a good amount of flirting, a very jealous Hoseok
Word count: 3,754
a/n: Things go down.... in a bad way...
Series Masterlist
Previous chapter
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Loving Hoseok was hard but ignoring him was harder. Since he got together with Somi, I decided to stay away from him. My feelings for him were evident just by the way I looked at him and I didn't want Somi to think I'm some slut wanting to take away her boyfriend. I was zoning out thinking about all these when Jungkook nudged me.
"Earth to Y/N! Still daydreaming about Jung Hoseok?" He asked.
"You know everything Kook." I sighed, "I feel so tired. I wanna move on but I just can't. He is everything I can think of."
"It's only normal Y/N. You have been loving him for a long time. And now you have even been working with him, watching him from close enough. More specifically, watching him with someone else. I know it must be hard. But you have to be strong and take a step away from him. You need to live your life too. You need to fall in love, be loved. You just can't be stuck at a phrase that will take you nowhere. Understood?" My best friend said, placing his hand on my shoulder, I gave him a tight lipped smile.
"Yeah captain understood!" I giggled at him.
Jungkook has always been here for me. He was the one to sooth me when I was embarrassed because of his rejection. He told me I would get someone better than him. He was there for me when my family almost kicked me out of the house because I chose event management and not engineering as my career option. He was there for me when I had my first heartbreak because of my first and last boyfriend. And most importantly he had seen me and my ever-growing love for Hoseok from the very start till now. Just like him, I was there for him too. I was there for him when he had an accident and his parents were away on vacation. I was there for him when he rejoiced at getting the art scholarship. I was there for him when his slut girlfriend cheated on him. I was there for him as much as he was there for me. We never left each other since we found comfort in each other. We promised, if we couldn't find anyone to love till we were 35, we would give each other a chance. I know that's ridiculous but who cares. He was my last straw and so I was for him.
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"So… are you and Jungkook a thing now?" A voice startled me and I almost spilled the coffee that I was making.
"Oh, Hoseok! You surprised me!" I said. "And what? No! Me and him aren't a thing. Yet."
"Really? You guys behaved like a couple yesterday. I mean who else holds their best friends that tight?" Hoseok said with a hint of doubt in his voice.
"Everyone, I guess? I have known him since forever so hugging him isn't a big deal obviously. I mean we even cuddle at times. So no. We didn't look like a couple." I replied being a bit irritated.
"Oh.. okay." He said with a sigh. "By the way, are you guys done with the invitation process for the party?" He clearly wanted to change the topic.
"Yeah. We're done. Everything is prepared. Hope everything works out well and the shareholders shower their money on you." I chuckled.
"Yeah. Hope so." He replied with a lingering gaze on my face. I could see him staring at me for a bit too long from my peripheral vision. A bit too longer than he should.
About the party, it was an official announcement for the upcoming festival that was about to be headlined by the academy. Hoseok was announced to be the main performer. It was a big chance for the academy. The festival needed to be successful and gain the attention of the shareholder so that Hoseok could launch his own entertainment agency as the next part of the plan. So all of us worked really hard to get on the stakeholders' good side before the festival.
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It was Friday already and I was going out of my mind. Nothing in my wardrobe was enough for the party. When I went shopping, nothing caught my eyes. The dresses were either too expensive or too explicit. Nothing suited my style and it made me hyper anxious. Soon the doorbell of my apartment rang. It was a guy from a delivery service. He handed me a package and left. There was a note attached to it.
"I know, you must haven't chosen your dress yet so here it is. Something just as you prefer.
From: Jungkook"
Oh my god! What would I do without this guy!! I called him and he picked up instantly.
"Got the package?" He asked.
"Yes!! Thanks a lot Kook! What would I do without you?" I said in a dramatic tone.
"Yeah yeah I know! Do you like it?" He enquired.
"I have not opened it yet. But I know whatever you choose will be just my type" I replied.
"But still open it up and see for once and if you don't like it tell me, we'll go. Now try the dress and send me snaps. Bye, ``he said.
I almost cried. I thanked heaven for making me confess to him, if I didn't, we wouldn't end up like this. I cut the phone and opened up the package. It was a white dress that would end just above my knees. The waist area was perfectly tight, that made my breast spill up a bit from the low cut square neck. The JH tattoo stayed in all its glory but it didn't make me happy unlike other times. It gave a perfect view of my cleavage. Jungkook really knew me better than most of the people, he really chose white, my favorite color and also the color that looked the best on me.
I tried the dress and sent Jungkook a photo of mine. He replied very lewdly, saying that Hoseok would get hard instantly.
On Saturday I dressed up nicely for the party. The dress perfectly matched my white heels, simple makeup and simple jewelry. A small heart shaped locket dangled from my throat. I felt so damn confident and thanked my lucky stars again for sending Jungkook my way.
I set out for the party in Ms. Kang's car, since she promised to pick me and Jihyun up. Three of us were single after all.
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The party was arranged at a club. As it wasn't a boring corporate party, Hoseok decided to throw the party in a very bold manner. All of us were dressed however we wanted, there was no dress code or anything else. Everyone was chilling, flirting, drinking, dancing, and enjoying their time. The guests started to enter one by one. All of them were cladded in dresses that cost more than my annual expenses. I looked at all of them with my wide eyes, it was my first time at a glam party.
My eyes wandered all over the place until Hoseok arrived. What could I even say about him? He was the perfect instance of perfection.
He looked like a king, a king to own all the damn hearts. His white fitted shirt with baggy trousers paired up and tied together with an oversized white blazer served the purpose just right. His style screamed Jung Hoseok at all of our faces and we looked at him in awe. Those soft black curls fell on his beautiful angel-like face. The red tinted, white rimmed glasses covered his beautiful dreamy eyes and I knew once he removed those I would be done for the night. I might end up crying in a bathroom stall realizing he couldn't be mine all over again.
His magnificent lips and that heart shaped smile shot daggers in my heart. I would do anything to have a taste of those lips but then again he wasn't mine to have. I was nothing but his friend that he loved to talk to. I looked at my feet and blinked my tears away. I felt a touch on my shoulder, it was Ms. Kang. She gave me a knowing smile, I smiled back. When I looked forward I saw Hoseok coming towards us, looking directly at me.
"Hey" Hoseok greeted us. I waved back at him, giving him a small smile.
"Ms. Kang! You're slaying! My god! No one can say you're 45! Be aware you might even be kidnapped!" Hoseok joked and both of me and Ms. Kang laughed.
"Y/N" he turned back to me.
"Hm?" I looked at him wishing he would say I looked good. Even if I wasn't, I wanted him to lie. That would be enough for me. I would try to be satisfied with it for the rest of the night when I would see him being all over his girlfriend.
His eyes flickered down to my tattoo and he opened his mouth, "You…." And before he could say anything a sweet voice cut him.
"Babe! You're here? I was looking for you." Somi said. Oh! Ms. Kang and Y/N, you two look nice." Somi said smiling, " By the way Y/N, the dress is so beautiful!! It's looking just perfect on you. What brand is this?" She asked, being completely enchanted with my white dress.
"Ah! I don't really know. I don't really have ideas about brands and stuff. This is a gift anyway. My best friend gave me this, since he knew I could find anything for the party." I smiled at her.
"Jungkook?" Hoseok asked somewhat sternly.
"Yeah, he knows exactly what I like." I said recalling the face of my handsome bff, that brought a smile on my face unknowingly. Once my trance broke I looked at Hoseok and saw his dark eyes digging holes in me. My smile faded at his confusing reaction.
"Suits you." He said very coldly, "let's go baby" and with that he pulled Somi with him. I felt my tears pricking my eyes as they would fall at any given moment. Without wasting any more time, I walked away to the bar. I needed a drink. I needed to drink my feelings away.
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I was wrong when I thought drinks would help me, because they only made it worse. Everyone was having fun but me. I was sitting on the bar stool with a glass of sparkling wine. I was swirling the glass while watching the love birds. The wine in the glass reflected my feeling, on the edge at a moment almost overflowing.. and then on the next moment it was saved from spilling. I had some brief eye contacts with Hoseok occasionally. His eyes mocked me every time because every time I looked at him, he averted his eyes to Somi. Reminding me that he may just look at me but his eyes would always find the love of his life. I was a mere obstacle on his line of sight, something that would vanish someday. Maybe someday soon. I smiled sadly and looked at my glass again.
I was lost in my mind somewhere, being my usual introverted self. Jihyun and others tried to pull me to the dance floor once or twice but I refused. The dance floor was already illuminated with the blinding aura of the couples of the night. The spotlight was on them, just as it should be. I just looked at them, there wasn't anything I could do anyway.
I was watching Hoseok move so smoothly. He placed his hands on either side of Somi. Her tight exposive dress increased her overall beauty even more. I saw Hoseok placing his head on her shoulder and I wished it was me. But then Hoseok abruptly moved his head, his hands and himself completely with a big happy grin on his face. He ran towards the entrance like a happy puppy to a certain someone. And then my eyes landed on him, the president of heartbreaker institute, Mr. Kim Seokjin.
I knew Seokjin since he has been the constant one in Hoseok's life. He was a big brother to Hobi and his sole supporter in every of his ventures. He came from a chaebol family and obviously he was one of Hoseok's stakeholders, one of the major ones. Seokjin was indeed handsome. It would not be enough if I say he was just handsome. He was magnificent. The Greek gods sculptured him by themselves. And the aura that he carried, offf, it was enough to make people fall hard for him just with one glance regardless of their genders. His outfit was simple, no extravaganza at all. A simple black informal suit with a white button up shirt and yet he stole the spotlight as soon as he stepped inside the club.
Thanks to Instagram, I knew quite a bit about Seokjin's reputation. He was a potential casanova. I heard that he never slept with a woman twice. No wonder about that though, he had so many choices that he didn't have to sleep with one woman twice. He would always get someone hot and happening each night with just a snap of his fingers.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize that Jihyun was almost pulling me somewhere.
"Yah! Where are you taking me?" I asked.
"Hoseok hyung called you, he will introduce you to Jin hyung. You're new and Jin doesn't know you yet." Jinhyun replied.
"Oh." I said with a small voice.
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"Hyung, meet Y/N, the new member of our event team" Hoseok said with a smile, looking at me with intense eyes and this time his eyes weren't mocking me.
"Hello, Mr. Kim" I bowed to Jin.
"You know me?" Seokjin asked.
"Yeah. Easy for a fangirl. Isn't it?" I replied.
"Hoseok, you never told me you had such a beautiful fangirl in your team all these times?" Jin flirted without averting his eyes from mine. I chuckled at him but I didn't miss the way Hoseok's smile vanished and eyes darkened.
"So you all have fun, I have something to discuss with hyung." Hoseok said before walking away with Jin. I retreated to the corner I came from.
"Do you know it's a crime when a beautiful girl like you drinks alone?" A voice interrupted my process of replying to Jungkook's texts. It was Jin and I obviously didn't expect him. As much as his aura blinded me, I didn't want him to think that I could be his little thrill for the night.
"I don't do random hookups. I am not that modern yet. Rather old school is what you can call me. So, no matter how many times you call me beautiful, I am not gonna end up in your bed. Don't waste your time on me please." I smiled at him politely even if my words were anything but polite.
"Woah! That was straight forward." He said sitting beside me and ordering a drink, which I never heard of before. " Thanks for the confirmation."
"You're welcome." I replied with a small voice.
"I admit, I had ulterior motives but that wasn't the sole reason behind calling you beautiful twice. I called you beautiful because you really are." He said with his honey-dripping voice and I found a hint of genuineness in his eyes.
"Thanks." I said, accepting his compliment.
"You know, you are very handsome as well. The blinding kind of handsome. Now I know why girls sacrifice themselves for you." I complimented him and he chuckled at my words.
"Well that's true but then again not every girl has a bold persona to reject me on my face." He cocked an eyebrow at me.
I chuckled, "maybe not everyone is not crazily in love with someone they can't have, like I am?"
"Babe, I have even slept with my friends' wives, who dated them since highschool. So, being in love doesn't matter. It all depends on what you want. You don't want it and I respect that. Rather it makes you more interesting." He said scanning me from up to down.
"First beautiful, now interesting? What more do you have to say about me?" I asked him.
"A lot of things Y/N. But it will all come out very lewd and you won't like it." He said rubbing his lower lip with his index finger.
"I said I wasn't up for a hookup. But that doesn't mean I don't want to hear some sexy comments from a handsome man." It wasn't me but the alcohol in my system spoke.
"Oh really? Then may I say how beautiful your body looks in the dress? Perfectly tight in the perfect places." He said, running his eyes down my chest totally ignoring the tattoo of his friends' name.
"Mmhmm, and?"
"And your skin looks so smooth, my hands would glide against it just perfectly." He uttered.
"And?" I said again
"And I don't wanna say anything anymore, I am getting hard." He said giggling.
"Only two additional comments? Ah! You ruined the mood, Mr. Kim" I whined.
"Jin for you Y/N" he looked into my eyes, "why don't you set the mood then?" He proposed.
"Should I?" I asked. "Then should I say how much I would love to sit on your lap? That too, facing you? How much I would love to grasp those soft strands of your hair? How much I would love it if you ran down those plush lips all the way down my collarbone?" I said in the sultriest way possible. Only if I was sober would I gag at my own words.
"And you will still say you aren't interested in sleeping with me?" He said with a teasing smile.
"Yeah, I will still say that. Because I know I am saying all these because I am drunk." I defend myself.
"Don't blame it on the drink, beautiful. Don't you know what they say? Drunk self, sober heart." He replied.
"Probably. But still. I may wanna have you all over me but I don't want it to be for just one night. I desperately wanna move on, Jin. And I need a man for that, not a one night stand." I cleared it out.
"Okay, I understand. You are heartbroken. If you want some distraction. I can be the perfect one. Don't get me wrong, I am not asking you to sleep with me. But maybe let's just dance?" He proposed.
"Yeah. Let's do that." With that he took my hand and we headed towards the dance floor.
Under the influence was playing and that got me in the mood. I started to sway my hips moving with the melody rhythmically.
"Woah! You got some moves girl!" Jin said.
"That's my favorite song." I screamed due to the loud music.
Soon Jin pulled me towards him with my arm. He placed his hands on either side of me and guided me to match my moves with him. With every passing second I found myself getting closer and closer to him. I wrapped my hands around his neck and danced with him, while his hands reached down my ass. From my peripheral vision I saw Hoseok watching us. He was sitting at the bar with Somi, while she was talking to her friends. I couldn't really measure his expression but he appeared to be upset, maybe. But soon his head was turned by his girlfriend who placed her lips on his and I immediately looked away. Looked at Jin.
"Do you probably wanna kiss me?" I asked him.
He appeared to be shocked at first but then it was replaced with a smug smirk.
"Trust me sweetheart, I have been wanting it since I first laid my eyes on you." He answered, "would you like it if I lead the way?"
"I will love it." I replied and let him pull me wherever he wanted. I wasn't thinking straight.
Soon we were at an empty place, which seemed to be a hallway. He didn't waste a second and attached his lips with mine. He cradled my cheek with one of his hands while another one was placed on my waist holding me tight. The kiss started off as gentle but it went rougher as time passed. He devoured my lips so passionately. I won't lie, being kissed after a long time by such an attractive man felt better than I thought it would. He sucked my lower lip hard while I sucked his upper one. Soon he asked for entrance and I gave him so against my best judgment.
Before I could even understand, his hands were traveling down my ass for one more time. But this time the grip was firmer. His palms grabbed my ass and pushed me at the nearest wall. His lips left my mouth and attacked my neck. He started trailing his tongue all the way from my cheekbone to my collarbone. He stopped for a while and looked at me, "why don't you think it over for another time Y/N. It can be one of the best nights you've ever had." He said. I nodded and he resumed his actions. He started sucking a spot located on the crook of my neck and I moaned out quite loud. One of his hands held two of mine and pinned them above my head. His other hand gropped one of my tits and started massaging them just the way I liked. I was a moaning mess under his touch. He pressed himself more on me as I felt his erection poking on my abdomen. Soon I felt something hard on my heated core. That was his knee. He skillfully parted my clenched legs and pressed his knee just where I was dripping wet. The needed friction sent a wave of pleasure through me and as a result I moaned out his name. For a moment he really made me forget about the person I pined so hard for. But heaven had different plans.
"Hyung, leave her right now." A voice low and demanding interrupted our little adventure. Turning our heads to the side we saw Hoseok staring at both of us with a furious expression. Seokjin left my hands and tried to say something but Hobi immediately grabbed me and started dragging me with him. But before he could drag me any further Seokjin grabbed me from the other side.
"That's so disrespectful of you Hoba, hyung isn't done with her yet." Seokjin said with a challenging gaze.
Next chapter
Taglist:-
@phenomenalgirl9 @scentedsope @teeheelittlebitch @betysotelo18 @jnghs @hobiewaifu @dreamsarenicee @definetlythinkimanalien @dreamer95 @cxbts
#hoseok angst#bts angst#bts fanfiction#hoseok x reader#jhope x reader#bts x reader#jhope angst#hoseok smut#jhope smut#bts fanfic#jungkook#seokjin x y/n#seokjin smut#jungkook x reader#hoseok fluff#seokjin x reader#hoseok x you#seokjin x you#jhope x you#jhope fanfic#hobi x you#hobi x reader#hobi x y/n#hobi smut#bts x oc#bts x you#bts x female reader#bts series#seokjin x oc#jin x reader
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boku no hero academia, season one.
prompts taken from the subs of the first series of the anime. some lines have been lightly edited for roleplaying suitability.
content warning for implied violence, mentions of injury, death, murder.
if you keep going, i’ll never forgive you.
even though you’re quirkless, you’re pretending to be a hero, [name] ?
all men are not created equal.
that was my first and last setback.
that’s a huge villain !
this is dangerous ! stay back, stay back !
man, turning into a monster’s an amazing quirk.
who’s fighting ?
you are the incarnation of evil.
show us something flashy, [name] !
a pleasure to make your ass-quaintance !
hey wait, you’re taking notes ? you wanna be a hero ?
it’s time for you to think seriously about your future.
using your powers at school is against the rules !
i’m not gonna be stuck at the bottom with the rest of these rejects.
that was uncalled for, [name.]
what the hell can you do ?
catch me if you can !
hey, let’s go to karaoke !
the incident this morning is all over the headlines !
we’re not done talking yet, [name.]
come on, you could at least say something back.
you’re pathetic. you still can’t face reality.
it’s too scary for me, i can’t watch it.
it’s fine now. why ? because i am here.
can i … be a hero, too ?
don’t worry, i’m just going to take over your body, calm down.
thanks for your help. you’re my hero.
i’m dying … am i dying ?
sorry about getting you caught up in my villain fighting.
can even someone without a quirk be like you ?
i think saving people is super cool.
i want to be the greatest hero, like you !
you went a little overboard today.
it’s your fault for getting in my way.
if we get caught, it’ll end up on my record !
a punk like you couldn’t defeat me.
the fight was not made public to the world. i asked that it not be made public.
i smile to trick the fear inside of me.
it’s not bad to dream, but you also have to consider what’s realistic.
you knew. that’s why you were trying so desperately.
help will arrive soon … someone … a hero will ...
you looked like you were asking for help.
there was absolutely no reason to put yourself in danger !
i never asked you for help !
don’t think you can look down on me !
it’s not like i accomplished anything or changed anything.
it was because it was none other than you at the scene that i was able to act.
you can become a hero.
you are worthy to inherit my power.
your quirk is something hotly debated as one of the world’s greatest mysteries.
you always start with denial, huh ?
i may hide a lot of things, but i don’t lie.
why are you giving me something so great ?
i’ve been looking for a successor.
you were more heroic than anyone else back there.
an unprepared body cannot inherit this fully. this limbs will come off, and the body will explode.
heroes these days are after the showy stuff. originally, being a hero meant doing volunteer service.
i’ve told you this before. it’s not something you can do without a quirk.
[place]'s the hardest hero course to get into.
frankly, this is a super hard schedule. can you follow it ?
did your encounter with the villain make you go crazy ?
you haven’t been sticking to the plan, have you ?
the mirage of it is just barely visible, but you have certainly become a suitable vessel !
i feel like i’m cheating.
we have to fix those leaky eyes of yours.
this is power that you earned because of your own effort.
eat this.
don’t stand in front of me, i’ll kill you.
it’s my quirk. sorry for using it without asking first.
it’d be bad luck if you fell, right ?
don’t look, i’ll kill you.
damn, now i can’t crush you.
you’ve been muttering this whole time. it’s distracting !
graduating from [place] is a requirement for being a great hero.
they have more than one of these on the school grounds ?
how can everyone be so confident ?
at the very least, we have one less rival to worry about, right ?
prepare yourself for the physical repercussions it’ll have on your body.
thanks for distracting it !
we made a good team, but i don’t think we’ll meet again.
the most important qualification of a hero is the spirit of self-sacrifice.
you were hurt this much by your own quirk ?
there was no way i could tell anyone, not even my family.
after you saw potential in me, i’m sorry i didn’t live up to it.
i did what i thought was right.
actually, i came to this town to work at [place.]
just so you know, i didn’t tell [place / person] about my connection to you.
my body broke with one use of my quirk. i can’t control it at all.
that’s cruel. do you truly aim to be a hero ?
i hate to admit it, but you are better than me.
what dirty tricks did you use to get in, huh ?
my future plan has already been torn to pieces.
i told you to go somewhere else !
if you’re going to become a hero, you don’t have time for such leisurely events.
go somewhere else if you want to play at being friends.
will you have an attitude like that the whole time ?
you’re not being creative enough. i’ll show you what it’s like to be allowed to use your quirk !
it doesn’t look good for you if you continue like this.
i’ve heard of you. you’re an underground hero.
from what i can tell, you can’t control your quirk, can you ?
[name], with your power, you can’t become a hero.
if this is my only choice, i just have to go all out.
it doesn’t hurt as much as before.
i came because i was worried, but what the heck, [name] ?!
hey ! tell me what’s going on, [name], you bastard !
by the way, i was lying about the expulsion.
tomorrow will be packed with even more rigorous tests. prepare yourself.
[name.] so you were watching ?
you cut those you judge to be without potential without hesitation.
there’s nothing crueller than letting a dream end midway.
you’re being kind in your own way, huh, [name] ?
you don’t have time to relax, [name.] the real thing starts tomorrow.
when you dozed off while studying, i happened to see your notebook.
i gave up back then. but you didn’t. you kept chasing your dream, didn’t you ?
in this society filled with heroes, truly intelligent villains hide in the shadows.
go all out. don’t be afraid to get hurt.
if things go too far, i’ll stop it.
you seem to be especially angry when it comes to [name.]
[name] is the one who makes fun of you, right ?
there are a lot of blind spots, so let’s be careful.
if i use this on someone, it will kill them.
i figured you’d come for me first.
good or bad, you were full of confidence, and i thought you were so cool.
[name] ! give me your status ! what happened ?!
i’m not asking about how you feel !
going off on your own like that … what is wrong with you ?!
you were always good at reacting quickly in a crisis.
was it fun tricking me all this time ?
you’ve got a flashy quirk there, don’t you ? try and get me with it !
i heard from [name] that you think well of yourself, but this is too much.
[name], you really can’t do anything, can you ?
hey, did you hear ? [name] doesn’t have a quirk.
are you all right ? can you stand ?
don’t look at me with that face !
are you underestimating me, [name] ?
i’m not scared of you anymore !
if i don’t hit you, you won’t die !
what in the world did you do ? explain yourself !
fine, then. let’s fight it out with our fists.
you don’t look like the type to think, but you’re more subtle than i expected.
those are not the actions of a hero.
i want to win and surpass you, you idiot !
i can’t use it because my body can’t handle the impact.
you’re a mass of pride.
there’s nothing more fragile than a heart that’s swelled to bursting.
the school year has just begun, and you’ve already been in here three times !
why didn’t you stop them, [name] ?
i know it’s not like you want to rest on your laurels at the top, but is this really that important ?
i don’t know what you were saying during the match but you were fired up !
you did terrible in the training.
what’s with those hands, anyway ?
hey, [name], you wanna grab a bite to eat sometime ? what do you like ?
there’s one thing i feel like i have to tell you.
my quirk is something i received from someone else.
one day, i will make this quirk my own, and beat you with my own power.
what are you trying to do, make me out to be more of a fool than you already have ?
wow, you’re scruffy. what’s your deal ?
i can’t believe you were able to work as a hero with all this.
[name], you’re talented, so don’t act like a kid.
you settled it by breaking your arm again, huh ?
as long as you fix the control issue, there’ll be a lot you’re able to do.
wanting to do it and being suitable for it are different issues.
this might be the first time i’ve seen you smile, [name.]
you think we could beat ‘em up ?
don’t do it, [name.] they’ll write up a bunch of half-truths about you.
if word gets out, it’s clear that the world would be teeming with those trying to steal this power from you.
my quirk’s strong against others, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look like much.
you have to think about popularity as a hero too, you know.
you do not have powers so you can harm others.
the trespassing the other day was the work of these scumbags after all, huh ?
i went through the trouble of bringing this whole crowd, too …
i wonder if [name] will come if we kill some kids ?
you can’t be a hero with just one trick.
i hate pro heroes. the masses don’t stand a chance against them.
you’re actually good at fighting by yourself against a lot of people, huh ?
this is no time for analysis ! hurry up and take shelter !
they were waiting to pounce, just like you said.
don’t you think they’re trying so hard because they have a way to kill you ?
i wonder if we’ll be able to hold out until [name] arrives.
i wonder if we’ll all make it out in one piece.
you shouldn’t react every time you hear of an incident !
you really haven’t changed at all, have you ?
i think you can stay here and relax for a little longer.
are there really idiots who talk about their plans in front of the enemy ?
i already kind of knew, but you’re pretty strong.
my quirk is totally unfit for battle !
i’m getting impatient. let’s end this quickly !
it’s weirder not to be scared right now !
rather than reflecting back, shouldn’t you think of what to do next ?
i think you overexerted yourself jumping into that crowd of villains to protect us.
we were under the illusion that our powers would actually work against the enemy.
on what basis do you think you can kill [name] ? what’s your plan ?
we need to figure out how we’ll get away from all these people.
even if we wanted to call for help, there’s interference jamming the signal.
right now, you can’t count on me, so i’m counting on you !
sorry, i thought it was a good idea at the time !
is this all of them ? they’re so weak.
you’re gonna act childish at a time like this ?
i’m sure you must be having second thoughts, right ?
we can’t win against dozens of pros. it’s game over.
i guess it’s true after all that you’re getting weaker.
how did you make a suplex look like an explosion ?
i’m the only one who knows your secret, and the predicament you’re in.
to tear you apart is my job.
there are still tons of things i want you to teach me !
move ! you’re in the way, [name] !
damn it ! i didn’t get to show off !
the symbol of peace cannot be killed by the likes of you.
do you not know how to hold back ?
it was to rescue my companions. i had no choice.
violence for the sake of others makes it admirable. isn’t that right, hero ?
you would’ve been in trouble if i hadn’t done anything earlier, right ?
my power has been declining faster than i expected.
if you can withstand me at one hundred per cent, then i’ll force you to surrender from beyond that !
they got us. we let our guard down completely.
you’re in great demand, right ?
i’m just wondering, why is someone like you a villain ?
if you don’t put up a fight, i’ll let this idiot go.
[name] ! we should get out of here now !
if i move even one step, i won’t be able to keep up this bluff.
if you and i work together, we still have a chance of killing them.
i wasn’t … able to do anything …
if it wasn’t for those few seconds you bought me, i would have been killed.
i can’t believe we let them escape after they made such a big show of trespassing.
i’m a fan of yours too.
man, you act recklessly every time, huh ?
if i didn’t act recklessly, i would have been killed.
we cannot move freely, which is why we need a symbol, like you.
next time, show the world that you are to be feared.
you were super strong. i was surprised !
this type of quirk is already very rare, but for a villain to have one, of all things …
investigating is what you’re good at. i’m counting on you !
i think i might’ve shortened the time limit of my hero form again.
have there even been any first years who experienced a real fight so soon ?
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in honor of this being my last busy week with event season at work and my eagerness to get moving on writing over here, here's a shortlist of verses/aus on this blog with two-sentence summaries of each:
main/default. jordan riley has graduated from rothfield and is eager to leave the massacre behind her and move forward with her life. she packs her bags and heads for the big apple with big dreams of making it to broadway before that spark within her dies out.
broadway. it takes a couple of years of consistent grinding the audition circuit and taking bit parts to pad her resume and her connections, but jordan finally gets her foot in the door when broadway revives west side story and she secures the role of maria.
hollywood. a few years on stage under her belt gets the attention of a producer across the country and jordan is sent script pages for an upcoming netflix horror/thriller limited series. behind the curtain kicks off her career in film and television that seems to ignite overnight.
crime. tired of years of rejection in the arts and entertainment scene of NYC, jordan auditions for an infamous nightclub in the city known to cater to the criminal underworld and secures the headline act. what she doesn't realize until it's too late is that her work won't stop at bringing in crowds, and there's not enough bleach in the world to wipe her ledger fully clean.
leverage. an extension of the crime au; jordan is presented a way out of her life of crime and in exchange, joins a group of ex-cons putting their skillsets toward swindling bad actors out of their stolen wealth and success as a robinhood sort of justice. within the group, she's the grifter, putting her acting chops to great use by serving as an intel gatherer and distraction to keep operations running smoothly.
dead by daylight. she approached the high possibility of her death with open arms and a sharp blade, but as she bled out on the auditorium stage next to her would-be killer, a thick fog sets in. when she awakes in an unfamiliar land, it becomes clear that there are worse things out there than the evils you are familiar with.
resident evil. years of working in the criminal underworld had exposed her to many secrets, some so classified that the trade-off was her life. she escapes a fake job intended to be her end by the skin of her teeth and shifts her priorities toward mercenary work in the bioterrorism sector, with the goal of enacting revenge on her former boss who was ready to trade her like a pawn.
the last of us. the world ended when she was a sophomore in college; twenty years later, she's settled in jackson as the resident horticulture enthusiast and forager, with a penchant for teaching those who are interested how to play guitar.
ted lasso. years of rejection with audition after audition in new york has left a sour taste in her mouth, and on a whim and an offer from an old family friend, she packs her bags and flies across the pond to settle into new surroundings where her past doesn't have as far of a reach.
baldur's gate 3. life in the sea is as idyllic as it can be for a siren, but jordan has always had a thirst for more and the eagerness to quench it. it's by luck - and perhaps general public fear of the temperamental threat umberlee's monsters can be - that she's so welcomed by the land-dwellers of the sword coast.
the hunger games. six years after sarah riley was killed in her hunger games as district six's tribute of that year, her younger sister - jordan riley - is reaped for the games. against all odds and through luck of charming an audience full of sponsors, evading her other tributes and utilizing her resources wisely, she comes out the victor.
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Realizing I just finished a quest I started in March 2022 in November 2023 holy shit I am sobbing in bed at 8 AM on a Saturday
When The Wonder Years announced they were touring Suburbia and The Upsides last spring, I bought tickets to see the show three times: twice over grad school spring break and a third time two weeks later on a weekend in Philly. I have regularly cited both albums for saving my life when I was a teenager, I saw them play songs off both albums at my first ever GA concert when I was 14, and they remain two of my favorite albums of all time. I had never seen a tour more than once like that before, but I revisited both albums heavily throughout the pandemic and was desperate to see the show as many times as possible.
I was determined going in that by seeing these albums live again, I would fully self-actualize and magically heal my inner child. I ran into a few problems. First, I attended these shows under a lot of stress because I was about to flunk out of grad school the semester I was supposed to graduate. Second, things didn’t always go smoothly (an incorrect hotel booking, a speeding ticket, annoying guys around me, friends getting hurt, etc). Third, I was barely in physical shape to withstand the crowds at these shows. Finally, I realized by the second show that I had evolved a little since I was fourteen and actually preferred the songs openers Spanish Love Songs and Origami Angel were playing. All of this triggered a series of existential crises that sort of clouded the whole “healing my inner child” thing.
Anyway, I went to another thirty or so shows in the twenty or so months after that, with about 25% of said shows being TWY headliners. Somewhere along the way I became the best version of myself: the kind of person who brings the energy I wish to see in the mosh pit, the kind of person who gives the opener and headliner the same respect, the kind of person who throws crowd surfers over the heads of teenagers, the kind of person who has no problem having someone thrown out for making the people around them feel unsafe, and the kind of person who will spend my last spare $30 for the week making sure touring bands have gas money. I got into the best physical shape of my life and made friends with strangers in every major city in a 7 hour radius.
All of this was finally self-actualized during the Spanish Love Songs set in Charlotte when I formed an entire hype squad of strangers after being the most impassioned SLS fan in the pit and deciding to bring my own joy, thus literally living out the message of their most recent album No Joy.
I realize now that the person I am and the person I’ve always wanted to be are the same person, and also that the person I wanted to be was inside of me all along. I am in the trenches, holding space for myself and others, screaming, nervous, and deliberately choosing to have a good time amidst the chaos. The only difference now is that I know I don’t have to change who I am to be liked or accepted by others, and that I am perhaps most likable when I am being true to my authentic self.
I’ll probably always be healing from a childhood of rejection and neglect from my mother, but in a lot of ways, I feel like I finally accomplished what I set out to do during the Suburbia/Upsides tour. I’m not sad anymore, for real this time.
(PS - my love of all things emo was pretty aggressively used against me as a kid, and I think it’s fucking hilarious that becoming actively more emo is what ultimately cured my depression)
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yorha-unit-a2 If they truly intend to make Viola the new Bayonetta, then the series might as well end up dead tbh. I honestly tried to give her a chance, felt like I was playing a shitty futuristic sekiro. I was so hoping she'd end up interesting enough to stomach through the gameplay, but nah. Her only motivation through out the game is to stalk Luka and yell at Bayonetta. (I wish Jeanne wouldn't miss in the intro)
lmao god she really does feel like Revengeance/Sekiro but Your Defensive Option Feels Fuckin Bad
I guess we'll see if the series continues and honestly with the amount of Miracle Sequels Bayonetta has gotten who knows. I'm open provided they fix her game feel-- like absolutely ain't no fuckin way she's gonna headline a Bayonetta game and only have the sword/parry stuff here-- but while I do think she's fun I can also definitely see her being rejected by the fandom as an “unworthy successor”, as it were.
Like looking over at DMC their implementation of Nero was honestly pretty smart-- basically Dante Again but Now He’s Johnny Yong Bosch-- and then has a whole game of being part of The Team before he becomes the series successor by the end of 5, in which the beloved series mainstays are still there and just off doing their own thing.
By comparison I really think he would not have been accepted showing up in 4 and then by the end of that game all of the original characters have been killed off and now it’s the Nero Show
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On Thursday evening, the House January 6 Select Committee will begin a series of televised hearings. The surface goal: Simply provide a narrative for what happened on that day. The committee is promising to “present previously unseen material documenting January 6th … and provide the American people a summary of its findings about the coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of power.”
But the underlying goal is larger and more diffuse: Show Americans how involved President Donald Trump was, and why we should care about one party’s complete and utter rejection of democratic norms. But it will be no easy task convincing a now sizable group of Republicans that democracy matters. In the 17 months since January 6, Americans on the right have hardened against reality: 32% of American adults polled in January say that Trump has “no responsibility” for the riot that day—which, remember, started with Trump telling the crowd at the “Save America” rally, “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore … You will have an illegitimate president. That’s what you’ll have. And we can’t let that happen.”
Like a lot of Americans, I watched the riots on television—the smoke, the flash bangs, and the noise. I saw Adam Johnson smile for photographs in a Trump ski hat as he held up Nancy Pelosi’s podium. Johnson later got sentenced to 75 days in prison and 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. I saw the bare-chested, fur-hat-clad “QAnon Shaman,” Jacob Chansley, standing on the floor of the Senate chamber, shouting through a bullhorn. In November, Chansley was sentenced to 41 months in prison. His lawyer told the court that he was “horrendously smitten” with Trump, who continues to live in comfort at his Palm Beach club, where he plays golf and frequents the omelet bar and plots his return to public life.
And we’re still handing down punishments to January 6’s foot soldiers. On Monday, Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, and four of his followers were charged with seditious conspiracy (conspiring to overthrow the government or prevent the execution of U.S. law). The Watergate burglars were charged and sent to jail, and President Richard Nixon was pardoned—but at least Nixon resigned, thus creating the appearance of contrition. Then again, Nixon didn’t have Fox News counterprogramming coverage of his disgrace.
Speaking of conservative counterprogramming: CNN’s Brian Stelter tweeted on Monday that “Fox’s top news anchors will be moved over to the Fox Business Network, and they will cover the hearing there. At 8pm ET on an ordinary night, Fox News has more than 3 million viewers, while Fox Business has under 100,000. That pretty much says it all about Fox’s priorities.” Fox News is no stranger to covering congressional hearings and scandals. In the 20 months after Benghazi, Fox ran almost 1,100 segments on it. But Fox knows an armed insurrection is bad for the Republican brand, so it’s planning to memory-hole these new hearings. And Republicans and the other conservative media are already doing the same. Senator Bill Hagerty and Senator Ted Cruz have both been tweeting about drugs being “seized” at the border. The New York Post (owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp) is surfacing another video of Hunter Biden.
Even the theoretically liberal New York Times ran a headline loudly announcing that the “Jan. 6 Hearings Give Democrats a Chance to Recast Midterm Message.” But the hearings aren’t partisan (there are even two Republicans on the committee). The partisan framing distracts from what’s really at stake: democracy. It also diminishes the events of January 6. Isn’t the armed insurrection more meaningful than midterm messaging? Why are the two being muddled in the first place? Isn’t a coup news enough? But the false equivalencies will almost certainly continue to run wild.
But I believe it’s still possible to change hearts and minds, and the January 6 Committee—unlike former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who struggled through the 2019 congressional hearings about his report on Trump—understands sound bites, some of which might even penetrate the right-wing echo chamber. It’s crucial that the mainstream media not call a strike before the committee is done and the information it presents is allowed to permeate a few news cycles. Republicans will cast the committee as slanted, but a pro-democracy bias is—or should be—anything but partisan.
#us politics#news#2022#Molly Jong-Fast#the atlantic#wait what?#donald trump#trump administration#Republicans#capitol protests#capitol riot#capitol riot investigation#house select committee#Jacob Chansley#qanon shaman#Adam Johnson#enrique tarrio#proud boys#fox news#rupert murdoch#sen. bill hagerty#sen. ted cruz#new york post#the new york times
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The transcult, gender stereotypes and drag storytime……
https://www.themercury.com.au/news/national/abc-accused-of-grooming-kids-after-drag-queen-appeared-on-play-school/
Liberal Senator Alex Antic has accused the ABC of “grooming” children by allowing a drag performer Courtney Act to read a children’s book on Play School about a girl who likes to wear trousers.
The claim sparked outrage in Senate estimates on Tuesday, with Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young suggesting it was an entirely inappropriate use of term.
“Heavens above – girls wearing pants. That is the level of rubbish you are putting forward,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
But Senator Antic doubled down on the criticism, suggesting if she didn’t like it she could leave the room.
“The program was rated G and has been heavily promoted on TV and on the app. Why is the ABC grooming children with this sort of adult content,” Senator Antic said.
Grooming traditionally refers to when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
But that characterisation was entirely wrong and offensive in the context of a children's story about a girl who likes to wear pants, Senator Hanson-Young said.
Earlier, Senator Antic suggested the ABC was encouraging “gender dysphoria” by allowing a drag performer to read a children’s book on playschool.
The Spectacular Suit, by Kat Patrick, is about a young girl called Frankie who is preparing for her birthday party, but all her party dresses feel wrong. She ends up feeling comfortable wearing pants.
Senator Antic told Parliament what was being discussed was not ‘dressing up’ but a more adult concept.
“Cross dressing. Let me ask you this, does ABC agree that transgender or cross dressing are adult concepts?,” he asked.
In response, the ABC managing director David Anderson rejected the assertion.
“Senator, I don’t see that as grooming children with our content,” he said.
“That particular program is reading from a book that is about dressing up so I think …
Senator Antic then interjected, “Female children in male children’s clothing, you think that’s not …”
Before he could finish, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told the Parliament the complaint was a joke.
“You mean young girls wearing pants? Seriously,” she said.
“It’s offensive. It is deeply, deeply offensive.”
The Liberal Senator then invited Senator Hanson-Young to leave the room if she didn’t like it.
“Grooming is a really serious matter! It is not for being played with by conservative senators to make headlines,” she replied
“Sexual assault survivors right around this country will be deeply offended, deeply offended by you playing politics.”
Courtney Act, whose real name is Shane Jenek, made her Play School debut earlier this year.
She is one of Australia’s best known performers and has previously hosted the ABC interview series One Plus One, describing herself as“pansexual, polyamorous and genderfluid”.
The ABC managing director said the national broadcaster was not grooming children.
“I was simply refuting the fact that we were grooming Australian children. Because we are not grooming Australian children … What we are doing, that is about dressing up,” he said.
“When it comes to transgender, yes, you can see there are people that wish to identify as a sex other than what they were born as, and I don’t accept what you are saying about somebody who is trans grooming Australian children,” Mr Anderson said.
Originally published as ABC accused of ‘grooming’ kids after drag queen appeared on Play School
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HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED THIS WEEK (11.2-11.8.22):
NEW MUSIC:
Pop-punk outfit Signs of Progress released their newest song “Truth or Dare” over the weekend. The song is set to appear on the band’s upcoming third EP, which is a follow-up to last year’s The Static Hero EP.
Scene Queen announced that her new EP Bimbocore Vol. 2 will be released this Thursday, November 10 via Hopeless Records. The artist recently collaborated with Set It Off’s Cody Carson on the song “Barbie & Ken.”
NOFX released their newest song “Punk Rock Cliche” last week. The band is set to release a new album called Double Album, a follow-up and companion to last year’s Single Album.
Avril Lavigne and Yungblud teamed up for a new song titled “I’m a Mess.” The pair previously performed together on The YUNGBLUD Show back in 2020, where they performed her classic song “I’m With You.”
nothing,nowhere. shared his latest song titled “Cyan1de” featuring Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. It follows on from “M1SERY_SYNDROME,” which features Senses Fail’s Buddy Nielsen.
Ville Valo delivered another piece of his upcoming solo album Neon Noir with a song titled “The Foreverlost.” The album is set to arrive on January 13 next year via Heartagram Records.
Creeper released a new track titled “Ghost Brigade” after delivering a set at London’s Roundhouse. The band also revealed their new logo.
Magnolia Park released a new music video for their recent song “Radio Reject.” The song comes off the band’s debut album Baku’s Revenge, which is out everywhere now.
Set It Off released a video for their track “Dangerous,” which comes off their most recent full-length Elsewhere. The band recently released a new version of their track “Why Do I,” reworked alongside Hatsune Miku.
TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Paramore performed their new song “This is Why” live on The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. The band will be releasing their new album of the same name next year on February 10 and recently announced an arena tour.
The Wonder Years performed a live version of their new song “Laura and the Beehive” in a field of sunflowers. The song appears on the band’s new album The Hum Goes on Forever, which is out now via Hopeless Records.
Coheed and Cambria announced that they will be embarking on their second-ever S.S. Neverender cruise. The band will set sail from October 23 to 27, 2023 from Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic aboard the Norwegian Pearl.
Bring Me the Horizon announced they will be making their headlining debut at Download Festival next year. They will be joined by Metallica and Slipknot as headliners for the event.
OTHER NEWS:
Paramore’s self-titled album is now certified Platinum in the United Kingdom. Two songs off the album, “Ain’t It Fun” and “Still Into You,” also previously reached certification status.
Jeremy Bolm of Touché Amoré made a cameo in the new Weird Al Yankovic biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. The film stars actor Daniel Radcliffe in the titular role and is available now to stream on Roku.
Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz announced he will be working on a new graphic novel through Vault Comics as part of their Headshell series. The story is titled Dying Inside and is made alongside Hannah Klein and Lisa Sterle.
Palaye Royale secured their first Top 40 album in the United Kingdom with their latest album Fever Dream. The album placed at No. 37.
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Check in next Tuesday for more “Posi Talk with Sage Haley”!
#sage haley#posi talk#signs of progress#scene queen#nofx#avril lavigne#yungblud#nothing nowhere#ville valo#creeper#magnolia park#set it off#paramore#the wonder years#coheed and cambria#bring me the horizon#touche amore#fall out boy#palaye royale
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Publishers defend sensitivity readers as vital tool following author criticism
UK children’s publishers have defended the use of sensitivity readers following criticism from some quarters about alleged interference in the creative process, arguing the intention is to make books more inclusive and this should be “applauded”.
Speaking at Hay Festival last month, author Anthony Horowitz hit the headlines for claiming “children’s publishers are more scared than anybody” when it comes to so-called “cancel culture”, saying he was shocked when receiving the notes for his new work.
The author of the Alex Rider series said he “suffered” through the edits on his latest book for younger people, Where Seagulls Dare: A Diamond Brothers Casedue to be published next month by Walker Books, and claimed “what is happening to writers is extremely dangerous”.
Horowitz did not single out sensitivity readers, but the author seemed to echo concerns in the national press about their use. “I believe that writers should not be cowed, we should not be made to do things because we’re so scared of starting a storm on Twitter,” he said, although he declined to specify the publisher’s qualms.
Bloomsbury, Bonnier and Quarto all told The Bookseller they had employed sensitivity readers, saying the move was “important in inclusive, forward-thinking publishing” while rejecting any suggestion authors were being forced to make changes they did not want to make. None of the Big Four publishers responded to requests for comment.
Helen Wicks, managing director for children’s trade at Bonnier, said: “We recognize that this is a delicate balance, and that the authorial voice should be respected. However, we believe sensitivity reads can play an important role in inclusive, forward-thinking publishing. We have used them for many years, picking our partners very carefully and positioning them as peer reviews. Importantly, we believe our teams have both the knowledge and skill required to work with our authors and advisers to bring the best possible stories to the widest possible audience.”
READ MORE
#sensitivity readers#writers#writing#authentic voices#inclusion#peer review#librarians#booksellers#publishers#childrens books
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Bad Prosecutor Ep. 4 Recap
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Jang-Won's death has left Jin Jung stunned. All evidence indicates that his death was a homicide, but he is the only one who believes this. Jin Jung abandons all duties at the Civil Affairs Division to search for concrete evidence that could disprove Chief Prosecutor Lee's death as a suicide.
If you want to watch the series for yourself, stop reading! This post contains spoilers to the storyline.
Deputy Chief Lee's death was portrayed as a suicide, but Jung suspects it was a murder.
A-Ra investigates the case with Tae-Ho's approval while Jung and A-Ra search for evidence. Meanwhile Chul-Gi remains at the Civil Affairs Office, attempting to distract Jae-Kyung from Jung's absence with an awkward smile. However, Jae-Kyung quickly realizes that Jung is missing. Jung rejects the call from him. He believes that he will be scolded whether he answers or not.
To speed up the process, Jung asks Joong-Do to hack into Deputy Chief Lee's call history. He finds a friend of the victim in the call list and sets up a meeting. At the meeting, he discovers what the deputy chief has been searching for: an MP3 player.
A-Ra is waiting for the deputy chief's autopsy. Evidence of foul play was found upon initial examination of the body, but the offical autopsy report indicates suicide.
Jung and A-Ra regroup after receiving the results. A-Ra suggests they stop investigating since the official paperwork states that it was a suicide. They do not have enough evidence to dispute it. Jung persists and spends the night at his desk searching for evidence. Jae-Kyung offers him to ramyeon and questions why he continues to engage in behaviour that he knows will result in trouble. His answer is, "Because no one else will do it if I don't." When Jae-Kyung asks him to take out the newspapers to the trash, Jung discovers a headline stating that the medical examiner who worked on the deputy chief's autopsy has a history of fabrication or at least allegations of it. Jae-Kyung appears to be carrying some heavy baggage, particularly with Tae-Ho, despite regularly discouraging Jung. This may explain why he is discreetly assisting Jung. Additionally, Jae-Kyung reportedly met with the deputy chief shortly before his death.
Jung asked the deputy chief's daughter for a second autopsy, even though his family was angry with him. She agreed after he suggested that there might be foul play involved. To maintain secrecy, he decides to remove the body covertly and obtain his own medical examiner. Jung also reaches out to an anatomy professor to perform the autopsy discreetly, although he had to use his charm - even if it meant making cringey jokes.
Chul-Gi, Eun-Ji, and Joong-Do are entrusted with sneaking out the body, with Joong-Do playing the role of a corpse. They successfully retrieve the body, but in the chaos, Eun-Ji and Chul-Gi forget that Joong-Do is still inside the coffin. As a result, he is about to be cremated in place of the deputy chief. The crew rescues him, but almost burns him in the cremation machine first.
As everything is unfolding, the chairman of Kangsan Law Firm, Seo Hyun-Kyu is pressuring the justice minister to appoint a specific individual as the new chief prosecutor, following the recent murder of the deputy chief. Seo Hyun-Kyu is the driving force behind this. He first sends out his son and heir, Seo Ji-Han, to deliver the message. However, when it is not promptly followed, he confronts the justice minister himself and hits him hard to break his nose.
At the prosecution office, Do-Hwan faces jeers when his "ladder" suddenly dies. He approaches Tae-Ho promising to do whatever he asks and be his sword but Tae-Ho rejects him.
Chairman Seo has been pushing for Tae-Ho to become the new head. Tae-Ho has been hiding his ambition at work by portraying himself as righteous and unambitious. However, he is just like anyone else who wants to climb up the ladder. He has been collaborating with the chairman, and they are so close that he calls him "hyung".
Tae-Ho arrives at the prosecution office the next day and is greeted as the new chief. He maintains his unambitious and solemn persona. Meanwhile, Jung eagerly awaits the autopsy report. His hunch is confirmed when the second autopsy reveals possible foul play. Do-Hwan arrives with a warrant for Jung's immediate arrest. As he and Chul-Gi prepare to continue investigating, they must now deal with this new development. Jung is charged with the murder of the deputy chief. Unfortunately, Jung did get framed.
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Books I Read in 2023
#109 - My Abandonment, by Peter Rock
Rating: 1/5 stars
It sounded so interesting before I started, and fell so flat by the time I finished.
The plot wanders as aimlessly as Caroline herself does in the latter half of the book; I never felt like there was a point to anything. While I'm aware this is inspired by a true story, it is a fictionalization and is allowed to have a message or theme or even just some actual stakes and tension--I never got anything like that from this narrative. It is a series of events told in chronological order, with a few really good lines of prose sprinkled throughout, but it was never cohesive enough to me to feel like a story.
I'll give the author credit for his good taste in referencing A Wizard of Earthsea, at least.
But I never understood what this was supposed to be. If it's a bildungsroman, I would expect much more complete character development for Caroline. If it's a commentary on modern society through the lens of either capitalism or military service (both of which could easily be examined based on what's already in the narrative) then I would expect it to be more dystopian, or at least dystopian-adjacent, with a stronger focus on the drive for survival outside of the society Father has rejected. Even if it's merely an attempt to wring money out of a sensational headline story, I would expect the derivative work to be more, well, sensational, but it only ever vaguely alludes to possible mysteries lying in wait beyond the plot as presented.
I lost interest as the second half of the book wore me down with its lack of tension or direction, but I was hoping for some sort of closure that would make finishing worth it, which I did not get. The ending left me dissatisfied.
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