#why relos so hard for me
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im here to vent q lil lol coz idk who else to say this to but
idk rn i just feel soooo undesirable in both platonic and romantic way likei feel like an ugly duckling in my friend group but ik its not true like im literally on a girls trip with them but it's just like itd be more fun for them if i wasn't here.
and my bf has been making me sad not that hes doing anything wrong just that i see my friends relo with her bf and ik its different coz they aren't long distance but he talks to her all times of the day and all my bf does is make excuses on why he can't call. he hasnt even told me his full name and uts our three months tmr like r u serious. it feels like he doesn't care at all. but i don't want to bring it up because i hate even a little conflict plus all he does is just keep sayibsorry. its just hard and i wanna make us work because then all my friends would reiterate how they never thought it would work in the first place
n e way ilypoookie
omg baby kay, i love hearing you from you so much, and i'm so sorry you're not having the best time :(((
honestly, i think what i can honestly say is our brain is our biggest enemy, and it so often makes us feel inadequate and inappropriate and it makes us question and overthink even the most innocuous of situations (at least mine is). i really really doubt you are the 'ugly ducklin' of your friend group! i mean you are on a girls' trip, having a good time (i hope), with your friends, who i am sure cherish and love you. i feel like this a lot too, and i can honestly say i am really sorry because it's so unnecessarily unpleasant, but most often than not, it is just our heads trying to hurt us/sabotage us, because it's easier to think this way than fully immerse yourself in love and be prone to getting your heart broken.
also, you should never compare your relationship to someone else's, especially since the circumstances are so wildly different. you go at your own pace, and find what works for you - your boyfriend will do the same. i will say, though, it is weird he wouldn't share his name, and i do think it is worth communicating and just having an honest conversation about your thoughts and how you feel about the situation. i think it is important to set off on the right foot, because you are amazing and deserve the world, and you shouldn't settle for someone who isn't willing to give that to you! butttt, i will say, give him the benefit of the doubt, it may be that he's still learning the ropes of a long distance relationship and relationships in general! some people are worth sticking by xx but do talk to him if you can!!
i love you x i hope everything gets better
xoxo
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*re talon development LMAO WAIT A SECOND BOOK FOUR IS NOT CALLED MEMORY OF SOULS. CORRECTION.
but okay the kindness and support that the group gives each other in this one... losing it a little. cried over qown and sheloran and xivan and kalindra and teraeth and kihrin and janel as they went, you deserve love, you deserve care, and guess what, we're fucking here for you. the "that's the difference beyween Relos Var and us. he demanded you be on his side." "and you don't?" "why no. we're on yours." galen's poem for talon. galen and qown.... there is just so much tenderness and so much strength in a book that is all about something so buried in grief and pain and loss that it doesn't believe in love. shaking you. he was trying to get them to give up SO HARD but all he proved was that people can love each other and go after each other into the abyss, even those they hate, even in the worst of circumstances; all he proved was that the very thing he thought didn't exist was the thing that could change the entire fucking world.
Oh my GOD I love that line. "why no. we're on yours." we're not taking something from you, we're giving something to you. you already have it. you don't have to earn it. I wanted to bring it up in so many of the previous asks because it makes me feral but I knew you'd mentioned it here
there is So Much humanity in this one, so much connection and realizing you have people who are there for you and who strengthen you and you strengthen them. the end of the world really can bring people together, huh? and it does so in a variety of ways! the connections they develop aren't just romantic, though there are a few. there's familial and solidarity and so much more.
i'm trying to think of more to say on the matter but i'm just staring off into space thinking about them. all of their moments. everything they shared. how people who never would've met let alone cared were put in a situation where it was care or die and they chose to care. they chose the complicated option of connection and being known and trying and putting in effort. for themselves and for each other. thinking about them
#a chorus of dragons#the house of always#quil's queries#soryasongsaa#like xivan and kalindra#like talon#holding them all in my hands#my hands are not big enough for all of them but god I'm trying
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ch182
oh cheongryeo my little psychopath you really are a psycho
he's so red flag red flag im so in love alslkd i didnt expect a whole ass kidnapping scene but like damn thats good pay off considering the sprinkling of foreshadowing, building tension and bait with the fake de-escalating "im sorry" part
listen i like my ships as messy as possible. the more they bring out the worst in each other to the point it loops back into actually making them better is so Peak Ship Dynamic
warning: my opinions and some personal critiques on dod here
i think im gonna take a break on reading this though and just wait for manhwa updates instead because the novel is very ... slow? or maybe i should say its a bit too light hearted for me i dunno
i think it would have been a little more interesting if the other members of testar were also part of some other system or if there was just a lot more drama in genera. i dont know but considering what i know of irl kpop and the really messy fights that happened, the internal and interpersonal character conflicts here are just the slightest bit too tame for me personally and, while that isn't necessarily bad thing, its just not to my drama loving taste. also the external conflicts aren't all that spicy either to act as a counterbalance.
well tbh, i was already very worried when i saw the survival show format and the first debut or die mission because thats a very short term conflict. and the back to back missions, format and tension of the survival show is incredibly good for creating escalating high stakes and, combined with the death penalty, it has a natural development for consistently high tension and lots of potential drama and conflicts. and the novel hit those points very well. and while i think they definitely could have potentially made this arc a little longer and explore different aspects, it does end as a satisfactory first arc. but now there's the rest of the 600 chapter story which will have to match that level of tension. and so far i dont think it really has? at least until cheongryeo LMAO which is why i love him so much!! he makes things interesting and the novel isnt afriad to make him villainous and start shit up and do actual things that really fucks up moondae and has like some future consequences like oh no whats gonna happen to their relationship, whatll they do in the future when they meet, whats happening to the other members and their relo with this sunbae who they admired
i just feel the novel is really fluffy and light hearted for a death scenario concept. and even if it didn't want external conflicts to be too heavy, a way to keep the stakes might have been to shift focus onto interpersonal conflicts instead. like i really thought they'd continue to do that when the keun seijin and bae seijin arc happened. and then the chungwon arc too! but it feels like its been twenty small online conflicts in a row between them. i just want stuff with like actual group breaking, and potentially friendship destroying conflicts that they have to work through.
yes the testar members are wholesome and nice and they love moondae and...? that's about it right now for the last some chapters now. they dont have arguments, they dont even really properly talk to each other. i know moondae treats it like coworkers and professionalism but maybe bring up more of the other members perspectives. like i know we're in moondae's pov but like considering the consistent pov shifts, it wouldn't be too bad to at least make it so that we can flesh out the other members and their relationships with each other too?
but like what do i know?
maybe i should've seen moondae's easy rise to platnium and quick skill up as an indicator that this novel isn't really focused on drama and breaking the kneecaps of its mc like what i prefer. i dunno i just thought that was a bait or smth and things escalate hard later or smth HAHAH yeah i guess when i saw the death failure, i jumped to conclusions and thought this novel would be a really gritty one that might touch on and explore the messed up behind the scenes of kpop
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Squeaky Wheel
As I write, I'm listening to (courtesy of my musical and fraternal friend, Cerca) Thai Soul music from the 1960s-70s. Fun. If you're asking yourself why the Thai have soul music from the 60s and 70s, I'd hasten to remind you of the many military personnel who spent their "rest and relaxation" Bangkok during the Vietnam War era. This incredible collection of world music comes from the Seattle company Sublime Frequencies, and I recommend everyone skim through their collection. An entertaining education! I'm resting after a busy and eventful day. I woke at 5:50, for a 7 a.m. class, which I may complain about, but it's not hard for me to wake up then, and the sooner I get to class, the sooner my day is over. I taught two and a half classes. The early a.m. one is a Writing class with an energetic class, and I feel as if I've already won them over and it's going to be a good class. Another reason I don't mind getting up and out early. (Yet another reason is that it's cooler out at 6:45 a.m. than 9.) Malang is about 1500 meters above sea level, so when the sun goes down, it cools off beautifully. The evenings are delicious after the sun-pelting daytime. I wish I had more to do in the evenings, but sleep has been the priority! The rainy season is either approaching or arrived, so that complicates things a bit. I brought out and wore my boots today after a long night of rain. (No leaks in the house!) The main event today was a Zoom meeting with my Regional English Language Officers at the US Embassy in Jakarta. The American RELO officers is new on the job, so I hadn't met him before. I've been in contact with his assistant for several months. And we discussed the concern I have with my housing situation. It could have been an occasion for recrimination, but I preferred emphasis. They hired me as a professional, and so I'd like to be housed in such a manner as not to undermine my professional work. I believe I've detailed the problems with the house I'm in previously. That situation is improving, but I'm still rather flabbergasted that the standard one-bedroom (apartment or house) has been so difficult to obtain. So we had a friendly discussion and the officers said that we should look further into, and negotiate with, the best place I've seen so far. The hope is that they will bring the price down for a furnished two-bedroom on the other side of campus - a little further walk for me, but closer to my grocery - and certainly a more comfortable residence. So, as reluctant as I am to be a squeaky wheel, and as willing as I can be to endure less than the ideal, I have expressed my preference, and I'm hoping that the budget for my housing will be increased. No place will be perfect, but I want to find a place that I can settle into and unpack. I'm still living out of my suitcase three weeks in. I will keep my readers updated. As is, I'm cooking regularly in my house - all stir-fry - and doing laundry as well. So I've got a routine. I'll shop tomorrow. I communicate with my wife, Alice, daily, through WhatsApp. And I have the internet world, such as the aforementioned Sublime Frequencies collection, at my fingertips. So, the challenges remain, but a settled life is coming into view. In fact, I had occasion to discuss my vacation time with Ibu Yusnita yesterday, and we discussed both an itinerary and the ways which she, and Univ. of Malang colleagues, can help us make our plans, such as hiring a car and driver for our time in Yogyakarta. She concurred that Bali in Dec/Jan might not be as enjoyable as Lombok, so that seems like fun. My family will not each have the same amount of time in Indonesia, so some of us may go further afield than Lombok. It's exciting to consider the journeys we could make across this extensive archipelago. I'll keep the reader informed of that too! And maybe I'll figure out how to get photos into Tumblr too!
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i wanna cut off anyone who knows abt what happened bc i have so much shame instilled abt myself in regards to it,,, i am so ashamed and i hate that there are people who know the full story i hate it so much and i hate that they're still friends and you literally hugged him and didn't tell me even tho you knew it was bad. it even fucked up your relo and you didn't even tell me. just felt like you prioritised your fkn bf over me bc you started crying abt how "bad of a gf you are". what abt me? i got sexually assaulted by this man, you don't feel like a bad friend? why didn't you tell me? ik you have trouble facing your emotions but i highkey wanted to cut you off after you told me that AFTER A YEAR and it was only bc i asked. ik you were shameful abt it but you should've told me. i could tell u were spiralling but that doesn't make it any better and you kind of emotionally cheated on your bf 😭 ik you're in denial abt it and you're so ashamed of urself for it but pls you need therapy please idk if i should even be friends with you but i can't even talk to you abt it bc it's a topic that ive repressed so much bc it's too hard to talk abt, even in therapy
therapy is today . in 6 1/2 hours .
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Who do you think could be called Jaedo’s children, both official and unofficial? For me it is personally Jeno (more do then jae) and shotaro (newly adopted child for both). Shotaro was kinda pushed with jaedo in maw era and the christmas video had them as a trio so that is why i aligned sho with jaedo rather than yuta who seems more like a brother and less as a parenting figure. I did not put jaemin even tho he is supposedly jaes son because i dont feel they have quite a parent child relo, jaehyun seems quite apprehensive sometimes and they dont look the closest, thinking back to 2018 when jh avoided jms advances quite aggressively. Renjun i see more as what taeyong is to do, in the sense of their somewhat bickering relationship and i personally think why renjun struggles with do, although they try hard to connect is because do already has a taeyong in his life and when he tries to adjust a taeyong type person to be like a jeno relationship (adoring and doting) it is hard for renjun who is a more dominant character. Not saying tae and renjun are anything alike, its the way that they would act with do that makes them similar. Do alr has a tom and jerry type bestie and an adorable son so renjun needs to find another niche to fit into dos life. Also a couple of asks ago you talked about jaedo being more in sync than taedo. I think this is because as besties, taedo arent supposed to be completely in sync like a romantic partner is. They are opposing best friends that dont quite meet in the middle, but that is what is fun about their dynamic, they dont really have a give and take, its either both take or both give. They clash because they are independent minded and individualistic people that can risk arguing because friendship is more easily mendable than romantic relationships. Jaedo are in one mind because romantic partners complement each other in a way that they have the same general mindset and are willing to compromise. It is obvious that Jae really adores Don the way that he probably thinks that if he allows himself a bit of leeway to act affectionately with Do, he will go overboard and therefore risk exposing everything. Its either all or nothing. Do knows this and so doesnt push himself onto Jae like he does with Haechan or Taeyong or Jungwoo. Its not a scenario where one gives and the other refuses and thats kinda why i latched onto jaedo. It doesnt look like they hate each other but it seems kinda uncharacteristic for Do to sorta not give Jae much attention compared to other members he is close with given their history as mc hosts and long time friends.
Jeno.
Most of neos fall under "children" category but Doyoung goes out of his way to support and deepen his bond with Jeno. He makes sure Jeno is not drifting apart. Doyoung invites him to dinners, to guest in his vlives, calls him his son, makes him wear matching costumes for Halloween, gifts an electrical razor and a plush toy identical to his favourite (the polar bear), etc. I can't say I fully understand hyung-donsaeng system, but I know that hyungs are tasked with supervision of the younger, and this relationship often continues the whole life.
I think Haechan and Doyoung have a deeper relationship (living and singing together helps), however Jeno is a more traditional donsaeng. A younger person who listens and follows well. As for Jaemin, Doyoung sends money for his BD.
Shotaro is WinWin2. He was a helpless foreigner who needed help and guidance, so Doyoung took him under his wing. In addition to MAW and recording supervision he also treated Shota to dinners. If Shotaro is interested, there is a chance of him becoming Jeno2, I think. It will hardly happen without Shota and Do working together though. Doyoung is very busy right now to forge new deep relationships.
I can't say I know where Jeno and Jaehyun stand. Jeno likes Jae a lot, might even prefer him to Doyoung as a hyung (he dares to hesitate between the two, heh), but Jaehyun's bias is Chenle, and it shows in their interactions. They play basketball together, too. Jaehyun is like a cool uncle to Jeno rather than a second father, tbh. Or so it looks from what I've seen.
Jae helped Shota because Doyoung helped. And Shota is a nice guy like Jae. I haven't heard any more TMIs about them though. I doubt Jae will go out of his way and connect with Shota unless there is an opportunity for a chat and bonding (be it dancing lessons or video games). They look pretty compatible though. If they were to work in one unit Jae would teach Shota how to tease Do, heh.
Renjun wasn't in Rookies to imprint on Doyoung as a baby. And I agree with your thoughts and the comparison with Tae. Doyoung doesn't need a challenge in a younger neo, he has enough in Haechan. And he can't play the game of wits, he will win but only through hurting Renjun. Look how quickly Do took to making jokes about Renjun's shoulders. Taeyong takes Do's sarcasm and punches readily because it's a form of attention to him.
Agree with your take on TaeDo and JaeDo.
And it's not only Jaehyun. Doyoung needs to touch people, it's a way of connection, control and feeling the other people. His hands often work on their own. And give him a lot of bad habits. Like he can tuck a pack of MC cards between his legs and sit on them without noticing he does something not appropriate for a public event. Therefore, it's not normal that Doyoung restricts himself from touching Jaehyun, considering the latter is never opposed to it.
#Ask me away#he likes the night view#glee club conductor#Calf monster&Calf monster club president#Jeno is the crown prince#Haechan is a full star#Jaemin is a Cheshire cat#Shotaro is a wrecking ball#Renjun is a Hemulen
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can i tell you how i love her?
our love story starts with just an impression na:
"ow, she's kind."
"hmmmn alright she's innocent"
"i think i like her"
then days past I started to know her even more, tried to observe what she usually eats/drinks. Then ask her for favors (but I'm just asking her in order for me to give her what I want to) (hihi, un talaga ung trick)
after that my heart starts to pump real hard whenever we have this huddles, policy discussions, activities and so on. I started to realize,
"she's kinda intimidating and a snob"
then i found out na medyo masungit nga to and she doesnt socialize too much unlike her other friends.
(I'm on a relationship that time, and it's a rocky, roller coaster one, i'll tell you in a different post)
then i started my moves on her, asked her to have dinner with me, then fortunately she said "yes", that's one of the most nakakakilig yes ever in my existence. we ate at Greenwich, 'cause why not! chikahan about team at first and then nagdecide ako to punch some questions about her, by that another realization came in,
*mukhang mahihirapan ako dito 'cause it's only one way communication"
but then, i really like her that time and i'm really into her. so I start chasing her 😁
funny thing about it is that, it's never easy.
So inuman days come, we get drank at cubao, expo, marina and so on. She started throwing some attention and curiosity. (diinggg! a bright side)
I'll never forget those days, masaya and very nakakakilig. Lalo na kapag kami nalang, we talked about her most of the time, kasi di ko sure if nahihiya ba siyang tanungin ako or sadyang di lang siya interesado (ugh! so heeeer) but then she became interested about my life as well (another fruit of hard work)
let me just go a bitback to the time bago ang inuman sessions haha! i remember her 1st birthday with us her friends in manila. maeffort akong tao pero ung sa kanya, that's one of those in a other level. Well, first I planned on buying her shoes, but then hindi natuloy cause walang info on her size, as in magulo hahaha. Thanks to our friends who help me with that! (shawawt nga pala kay Josie, Bea and Divine) Then we jumped in to another plan, dahil observant ako kapag crush ko, nakita kong wala siyang relo, so I decided to buy one for her.
Her birthday came and ayun naaalala ko, we're not on good terms that day, are we ba? I forgot why. Ah oo, kasi pinapalayo mo ako sayo. Hahahaha! cause your kuya might scold you. But then ayun makulit yung stalker mo (ayan di ko sinabing suitor para walang magreact) I was able to give you my gift and of course cake (meron diba?) hahahaha! that day naaalala ko may potluck tayo para magcelebrate ng June Celebrants, fun fact! did you know na nagselos ako that day? kasi ayun yung crush mo pa si JP. Hahahha! well hilig mo nga naman sa JP.
--- To be Continued
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Why do I keep doing this to myself dude, I re-match with people on dating apps who already gave me some shitty excuse for why they weren’t able to keep dating me or why they couldn’t seriously date me, and then they unmatch me and I get my feelings hurt again. All it is is confirmation that they lied to me and actually just were too scared to be honest and reject me outright. It sucks extra this time though because this guy went out with me 3 times. I even waited until after the third date to tell my friends about him because I got sick of getting excited about someone new just to have to explain that it didn’t work out again. We laughed nonstop the whole time we were together. And then suddenly he’s like “I’m not looking for a relationship rn because I’m too busy.” And now here he is on bumble with his profile specifically saying he’s looking for a relo. So idk it just really sucks.
I don’t understand why I’m never good enough to be someone’s girlfriend. It’s like I don’t have enough value to be a girlfriend so I’m relegated to a hookup or some other stupidly cheap shit. I don’t even do that anymore because I’m sick of feeling used. Guys always try to make me think they want more, that they want to date me. And then once the guy realizes he can’t have sex with me right away and that I actually will demand more effort and commitment, he disappears. And the worst part is that some of these guys actually do end up with girlfriends a short time later, so it was obviously just me they were trying to use and discard.
I have worked so hard over the last 18 months or so to see myself as worth more. To have more value, to have better self-esteem. And yet to everyone else I’m worthless. And I know it’s because I’m fat. If I was skinny and pretty like those other girls I don’t think this would happen- or at least it wouldn’t be 90% of my experiences with men over the last 5 years. I can’t even count the number of dates and texts and new guys. I only really dated 3 of those guys, out of dozens and dozens. Being more selective just results in me being alone. I’m trying to be ok with the idea of being alone. I’ve spent most of my life trying really hard to come to terms with the fact that I will probably be single and alone for my entire life. It’s just really hard. I just want someone else to value me, truly value me as a person and a partner.
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Hey! You are legit my fave stelena warrior! I love them sm! I don't get why people say "delena is a mature relationship. they keep one other in track/balance with the ying yang theory while ameliorating each other" What, in your opinion, qualifies for a mature relationship with 'mutual balance/growth'? are there any examples of relationships (including stelena and any other ones) that hit every spot in being superior over delena in terms of "a mature relo" p.s. I love your gif threads!
Hi anon, thanks!
As you mentioned, Stefan and Elena:
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/156271893305/what-is-a-toxic-relationship
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/162678807080/stelena-wasnt-healthy-their-problems-are-worse
Tami and Eric Taylor - the epitome of a healthy TV marriage
I just added to my ‘actors’/directors’ quotes on chemistry’ list and it’s Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton discussing their chemistry and also the marriage between Tami and Eric because they both were on the same page of portraying such a fundamentally solid, loving, committed relationship where no matter what, there was never a danger of Eric and Tami getting a divorce or having affairs or any of the usual drama we see on TV and the writers said that it was hard to write that and keep things interesting, it was a challenging feat for them (and I do understand that) but everyone was committed to creating this marriage where sure, there could be disagreements and sometimes very big disagreements but communication, support, devotion, encouragement, growth, stability, vulnerability, respect would keep them together (Fun fact: Connie and Kyle had such great chemistry both off and onscreen, the producers/directors were afraid they’d have an affair).
Dan and Blair:
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/170092653630/i-feel-like-dair-was-too-much-about-dan-being
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/169387232605/dan-was-into-blair-much-more-then-she-was-in-him
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/188739005860/could-you-please-explain-the-differences-between
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/181709447500/how-would-you-have-written-dairs-story-if-you
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/172469233020/a-blog-said-that-season-1-lily-and-rufus-will-be
Jake and Amy:
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/167952576685/would-you-ever-consider-doing-an-analysis-post-for
Michael and Jane:
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/172174158505/i-love-your-blog-you-write-the-way-i-wish-i-could
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/172528339560/what-do-you-think-of-jane-faking-orgasm-for
Mickey and Ian (they start in one place and then develop and grow to another place, which is what DErs like to think DE does):
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/188937903460/why-do-you-like-gallavich
Oz and Willow
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/172801958565/loved-willowoz-and-would-love-to-hear-why-you-do
Buffy and Angel - Buffy and Angel are interesting because there are obviously immature aspects of their relationship in seasons 2 and 3 since Buffy is a teenager but fundamentally, they’re mature:
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/188379211300/as-a-bangel-shipper-how-can-you-justify-the-age
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/178010288015/bangel-is-toxic-from-the-beginning-twilight-esque
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/184113587690/top-5-reasons-to-ship-bangel-against-spuffy
Michael and Ash
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/184075535930/do-you-think-ash-and-michael-are-soulmates
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/183622209040/no-one-me-lets-do-an-ashburn-breakdown
Scott and Kira
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/144510123195/scira-or-scallison-stalia-or-stydia-and-why-who
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/137963794535/what-i-love-about-scira-not-my-gifs-when
Stiles and Malia
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/154939286975/there-was-nothing-developed-about-stalia-lmao-it
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/144553815720/hey-sorry-to-bother-you-again-lol-so-i-read-your
Jason and Tahani - and they weren’t supposed to be but I argue that they were
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/182210162275/do-you-like-janetjason-im-neutral-on-them
Robin and Barney (again what DErs want DE to be)
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/169308126295/do-you-think-barney-and-robin-from-himym-had-a
Ryan and Marissa - I’m not going to say that Ryan and Marissa were mature but I am including them to show a relationship where there’s a lot of drama and yet the two people aren’t bad for each other
https://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/186709023250/do-you-think-that-ryan-and-marissa-were-toxic
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The Name of All Things Book Review
The Name of All Things Book Review by Jenn lyons
I swear to God that I feel like I have been reading this book for my entire life. I can’t remember a time I wasn’t reading Jenn Lyons’ next installment in the A Chorus of Dragons Series.
And while I found the first installment, The Ruin of Kings, filled with jargon, confusing for a large portion, and sometimes over inundated with the many god-kings, characters, and places, I also found it action-packed, whimsical, and truly original with her use of POV and world building.
This unfortunately all goes to shit in the sequel.
I was excited enough about The Ruin of Kings to immediately pick up the sequel and read it with starry eyes and enthusiastic gusto. However, it was quickly established that this novel was not like the others for one dominant reason: the main character.
Now, I won’t get into the nitty gritty about why I enjoyed Khirin D’Mon as a main character in the last book, as you could simply read my review about it here, but to summarize, I found him witty, charming, engaging, and driven. Perhaps naively, although I truly feel like I was duped, Khirin is hardly in the second installment at all (even if the jacket cover makes you believe otherwise).
Instead, the main character of book two is a girl named Janel Danorak who has suffered at the hands of the demon Xaltorath (just like Khirin) and has manifested superhuman-strength as a result. It chronicles her life up to the current present where she is currently sitting in a tavern with Khirin three days after the conclusion of last book and is essentially telling Khirin every single fucking thing that has happened to her in her lifetime to bring her to the current moment.
It is beyond maddening.
If Lyons thought she was creatively manipulating the narrative by doing a paltry back-and-forth maneuver in which Janel and Brother Qown are re-telling their own stories to “bring Khirin up to speed” it failed. I didn’t find it clever, charming, or engaging. Instead I was irritated, bored, and indifferent.
Instead of getting more action, progressing the plot, establishing more of the world, building relationships that have already been established, and you know, advancing Khirin’s character and motives, a character we have entirely seen the world through up to his point, we instead get what comes across to me as the longest, most boring “filler” in the history of books I have ever read.
This whole almost-600-page book felt like a, “Oops. I wanted to include all this information earlier cause it’s important. Yeah. Important. I’ll just spend a whole book talking about shit that doesn’t matter and that already happened so that I can tell everyone how important Janel is. Perfect.”
I don’t remember the last time I was so frustrated finishing a book. This book did nothing, and I mean nothing, to progress anything that happened in book one except for maybe the last forty pages, and that’s being generous. Instead, it was essentially Lyons’ way of word vomiting exposition onto her audience without actually telling an engaging story or continuing book one in any fashion. Make no mistake, ladies and gentleman, this is the Janel Danorak show and nothing else.
Maybe I wouldn’t have hated it so much if I actually found Janel to be an engaging character like Khirin, or even like Thurvishar, Tyentso, or Teraeth, but nope. Hell, I would have taken Senera or Brother Qown over Janel any day, as they were much more interesting side characters than Janel could ever hope to be.
To me, Janel came across as the most generic crybaby who whined like a little bitch and pretended to be strong for the entire book when she was really just unintelligent, uninspired, and lacking in every way. Lyons tries very, very hard to tell you that Janel is amazing. She’s so cool, so strong, so authoritative, so different, omg. But no.
Unlike book one, where we learn Khirin’s characteristics through trial and error and are able to deduce them for ourselves, Lyons switches methods completely in this book and just tells us over and over again that Janel is super awesome hoping that it will stick.
It doesn’t.
And on top of that, why do Khirin and her get together at the end? Why does Khirin give one inch of a damn about her?? He has no reason to. He’s known her for three goddamn days as that is the duration of THIS WHOLE BOOK. It’s completely out-of-character for Khirin and frustratingly nonsensical. It simply serves as another example of how Lyons is spoon-feeding us how cool Janel is when all it really does is make me never want to pick up the book again.
I can’t even really say anything about the plot. Which, it being 600 pages is pretty pathetic. Bottom line: Janel needs to kill a dragon. She needs a special spear to do it. She spends a vastly inordinate amount of time getting this spear and dicking around and then goes to kill the dragon. Oh, and Senera and Relos Var are killing people like normal and Relos Var betrays everyone again.
That’s about it. That’s the whole book.
Hopefully now you can see why I’m so vexed. There was no reason Lyons needed to take this much time and this length to tell Janel’s story. Quite honestly, a chapter or two would have sufficed for her background and then her and Khirin could have set off for their adventure. That’s it. That’s what should have happened.
But it didn’t. It didn’t at all. And this poorly paced, poorly written, horribly executed sequel was the epitome of a disappointment.
Recommendation: I don’t even know. Read The Ruin of Kings and pretend it’s a stand-alone novel. When the third book comes out, check Google Pages to make sure the whole thing isn’t a flashback of Janel Danorak and I might be interested. Huge emphasis on the might. This is why I stick to YA, people.
Score: 3/10
#thenameofallthings#jenn lyons#the ruin of kings#book blog#books#book review#Book Recommendations#book rec#fiction#popular fiction#the name of all things
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Welcome to the Heart Pirates, Nami-ya Chapter 2: Check-Up
“I never agreed to this,” Nami insisted, hands on her hips as she stood her ground.
“You agreed the moment you signed onto my crew.”
“I agreed to work with you, not take off my clothes so you could ogle me like a pervert!”
It hadn’t even been a day, and the fiery thief was already regretting her decision. After finalizing plans with Haredas, ensuring the old man knew where and when to retrieve her in a year, Law briefly showed her around the Polar Tang before ushering her into the infirmary. It was nothing like Chopper’s sickbay; steel, sterile equipment gleamed ominously under the bright lights. The aroma of antiseptic and other cleaning materials hung heavily in the air, stinging her nose. Nothing looked warm or comfortable or pleasant, and she suddenly missed her reindeer friend. It was hard to feel nervous when a cute little guy like him was your doctor.
Unfortunately, instead of sweet, caring Chopper, she was under the penetrating scrutiny of the Surgeon of Death.
Slipping on a crisp, white lab coat and placing his hat on the counter, Law looked unimpressed at her defiance. “I’m both your doctor and captain now, Nami-ya; I have to ensure my newest subordinate is healthy, especially since we spend so much time underwater. For that, I need to give you a full examination, and for that, I need you to strip.”
Nami sniffed in disdain, then wrinkled her nose at the overpowering scent of latex and chemicals. Briefly, she wondered if Luffy had been just as disgusted by the smell. “A likely excuse. You just want to see me naked!”
Annoyance crept into his voice at the accusation. “I’m perfectly capable of keeping things professional. Surely this wasn’t a problem with your old doctor?”
“My old doctor was a talking reindeer!”
“…Maybe I should give you a psychological examination instead.”
Pink dusted her cheeks at his comment. It had been a long time since she’d considered just how unusual her crewmates were, but Law’s tone certainly made her feel like an idiot. “Oh, shut up. I’m still not stripping; you can easily check me over fully-dressed.”
Blue, latex surgical gloves encased his tattooed hands with a resounding snap. “I can also easily use my powers to remove your clothes without your consent.”
She blanched at the threat. Maybe he was bluffing, but she didn’t trust Law enough to believe he couldn’t and wouldn’t do it. Most of what she knew about him was through rumors and news articles, and none of them painted a pretty picture. Pirates—with the notable exception of her crew—were unscrupulous bastards, and the ones with Devil Fruits especially so. Besides that, men always seemed to find a way to use those weird powers for perverted purposes, so with how little she knew of Law’s particular abilities, it was better to err on the side of caution.
Teeth sinking into her lip, she hesitantly peeled off her shorts and top before kicking off her sandals, leaving her in nothing but her lacy white bra and panties. The infirmary’s cold air made goosebumps raise across her exposed flesh, or maybe it was the way the Dark Doctor studied her. It was at least comforting that his expression was serious and clinical; had there been even a hint of lust in his gold eyes, she would have slapped him, Supernova or not. “Try to cop a feel and I’ll not only bash your head in, but charge you 1 million belli,” she warned.
“Violent tendencies and delusions. Perhaps I’ve made a mistake recruiting you,” he said blandly, picking up a clipboard and beginning to fill in a chart.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she replied, “Then how about we consider the debt squared and you let me go?”
Lips curling upwards, he stalked forward, long legs invading her personal space in only a few strides. Brown eyes widening, Nami instinctively backed away, but soon found herself trapped against the wall with no choice but to look up at the imposing man before her. This close, there was no escaping his scrutiny, and she held her breath, waiting for him to attack.
“Unlucky for you, your pros far outweigh your cons. Now stand up straight; I’m trying to check your height.”
She blinked, then glanced to her left to find she was indeed next to a height chart. “Oh.”
With an amused chuckle, he backed off, jotting her measurements in his notebook. “You have nothing to fear in my infirmary, Nami-ya; in here, you’re my patient first and foremost. The Pirate Empress herself could be standing naked in front of me and I’d see her as nothing more than a body to examine.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she challenged, even as she released the air from her strained lungs.
Bruskly and efficiently, the tattooed doctor proceeded to check her vitals, peering into her ears and mouth, observing the dilation of her eyes, and pressing along her throat in search of any irregularities or swelling. Though she tensed every time his hands touched her, they never lingered or strayed anywhere they shouldn’t. It helped that, while she could feel body heat through the material, the latex gloves provided a thin barrier between his fingers and her skin, making everything more impersonal. His expression, too, never changed, remaining stoic and professional. There was no evidence of his hungry stare from earlier, and though trust was still a long way off, Nami slowly started to give him the benefit of the doubt. That didn’t mean she wasn’t on her guard, though; the first inappropriate touch or innuendo, and she’d teach the man why even the Straw Hats’ Monster Trio feared her.
Wrapping the strap of a blood pressure gauge around her bicep, Law asked, “What’s your blood type?”
“X.”
“Good. Mugiwara-ya and Jinbei used up most of my type-F reserves, so if you got injured and needed a transfusion, you’d be shit out of luck until I can restock. Type-X is far more common, but I’ll still ask you to donate a pint of blood as a precaution.”
Orange eyebrows furrowed suspiciously. “You’re not going to do anything weird with it, right?”
“Damn, you’ve caught on to my plan to use your blood to ritualistically summon a hell-beast to help me take over the Grand Line,” he replied sarcastically, not looking up from the little pressure gauge as he steadily pumped.
Her cheeks puffed in indignation. “Hey, I travel with a talking skeleton, room with a woman who can sprout body parts anywhere, and regularly watch my captain’s body defy the laws of physics thanks to Devil Fruit. I may not believe in any of that superstitious crap, but that doesn’t mean your abilities couldn’t somehow use my blood against me.”
Removing the gauge and writing on her chart, he snorted. “I assure you, the Ope-Ope Fruit can’t use your blood like that. At least, not in any way I’ve tried, and I’ve experimented extensively.” Taking out a thermometer, he motioned for her to open her mouth. “Its powers revolve around space manipulation. Once I activate my Room, everything inside it is in my control. For example, say you were pointing a gun at me; I could switch the gun with whatever I had in my hand and shoot you instead. That’s not really my style, though; so anti-climactic. I’d rather remove your organs and replace them with bombs. Or perhaps rearrange your limbs so your legs are on your shoulders and your arms backwards on your hips. And of course, there’s always the old standby; ripping out your still-beating heart.”
She let out a squeak of fear around the thermometer, which coaxed a chuckle from the doctor. A glint of his old sadism had returned to his eyes, though it quickly vanished as he resumed his work. “Lucky for you, I save such things for my enemies, not my crew or patients.” His brow furrowed as her studied her temperature. “You run a little hot, Nami-ya, but you don’t seem to have a fever, so I’ll assume this is your norm.”
Jerking her head back, she mumbled, “You do that.”
Moving the stethoscope to her chest, he sighed. “Your heart’s pounding. I’d hoped you would have calmed down by this point so I could check it properly.”
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have told me about all the horrible ways you could kill me with your powers!” she snapped. She was seriously second-guessing the doctor’s sanity; of course her heart was racing like a cornered rabbit’s, especially considering she now had terrifying confirmation that those horror stories about gruesome deaths weren’t just hearsay. The images he’d conjured sent a shiver down her spine. She’d always rivaled Usopp in terms of coming up with horrible scenarios, but Law’s sick creativity put even her worst nightmares to shame. She really hoped he was serious about not seeing her as an enemy.
“Please, that’s not even the worst of what I can do. But I suppose you have a point; I’ll endeavor to avoid such topics next time I give you a check-up.” Backing off a few paces, he made another note on his chart. “And now for the personal questions; any hereditary diseases or illness-related deaths in your family history?”
Nami grimaced, rubbing her arms. She really didn’t want to discuss her past with the likes of Trafalgar Law, but she understood the necessity of the question. “I wouldn’t know; I was found as a baby by a Marine in a ruined village. I have no clue who my birth parents are, and I’ve never really cared to find out. My adopted mother and sister were enough.”
That seemed to catch his interest, as amber eyes studied her closely. “Do you at least know what island you were found on?” When she shook her head, he made another note. “I’ll have to take a blood sample to run some tests on, then. It’s possible everyone was wiped out in a war or some natural disaster, I’ve also known of a city or two that the World Government that razed to the ground under the claim that the people carried infectious diseases,” he said, surprising her with the bitterness in his voice.
“You think I might be carrying something?”
“No, I’m just curious if you’re from one of them. If your village had succumbed to plague, I doubt any Marine would have risked relocating you and spreading it, baby or not.”
The scratch of his pen was the only sound between them for a few moments, the air tense—Nami could tell she’d stumbled onto a sensitive topic, and though she was curious, she knew better than to pry. Finally, the deep furrow on his brow smoothed out, professionalism resuming. “Your weather attacks—are those the result of eating a Devil Fruit?”
“No, I’m a normal human. If you don’t believe me, I’m happy to swim a few laps outside.”
“That won’t be necessary. Any notable past illnesses?”
“Nearly died from a Kestia bite.”
He actually paused, looking up from his clipboard. “Those went extinct over a hundred years ago.”
“Not on Little Garden they didn’t. Luckily Dr. Kureha still had some antibiotics for it.”
“Dr. Kureha? From Drum Island?” He sounded genuinely impressed, and Nami had to chuckle at how pleased Chopper would be to know that even the Surgeon of Death admired his old mentor.
“Yeah, she treated me and was the one who trained our ship’s doctor.”
“Well, you’re just getting more intriguing by the minute, Nami-ya,” he said with a small, sly grin, posture relaxing as he crossed his long legs. “A mysterious past, the ability to manipulate the weather in battle without a Devil Fruit, surviving prehistoric diseases, treatment from one of the most acclaimed and infamous doctors on the Grand Line—you’re definitely more than a pretty face.”
Unbidden, a proud smirk lifted the corner of her pink lips. “And don’t you forget it.”
“Oh, trust me, I won’t.” The amusement on his face vanished as he looked at the next page of his chart, his mouth twisting into a grimace. “In the interest of you not slapping me, you should know I’m about to ask some rather…delicate questions.”
“Taking the warnings of asking a lady’s weight seriously?” she joked weakly, rubbing her arms. For the most part, she’d gotten used to the infirmary’s chill, but Law’s gaze somehow continued to raise goosebumps along her arms.
“More like a rundown of your sexual history.” At her aghast expression, he held up his hands placatingly. “I need to know if I should check you for sexually transmitted diseases and what kind of birth control you take. Believe me, I’ve had to have this conversation with everyone on my crew, male and female. Now—and I’m going to need you to be honest—how sexually active are you?”
“I’m not.”
He raised a disbelieving eyebrow at that, making her blush. “I know I flirt and tease, but I’ve never let a guy get past third base!” Somehow, she found herself embarrassed and feeling defensive; there was nothing wrong with being a virgin, and she had plenty of reasons for it, and what right did Law have to judge her? Before she could stop herself, nerves took over, and she continued, “When you’re as good as I am, you don’t need to do more than bat your eyelashes to con a guy, so sex has never been necessary. It’s not exactly easy to have a relationship while travelling the Grand Line, either, and I’m not the kind of girl who likes one-night stands. Most of the guys that come onto me are gross, anyway. You ever have a creep with a lion’s muzzle sewed on his face try to force you to marry him? Stuff like that makes abstinence real appealing.”
“I’m not judging, Nami-ya; just surprised,” he said, interrupting her tirade. A severe frown darkened his face. “Though I now have to ask—”
Her fury cooled at his implication. “Sanji-kun saved me before anything could happen. I even had Chopper do an examination to make sure I wasn’t assaulted while unconscious.” She shuddered at the memory. Absalom might have been soundly trounced by the amorous cook, but that near-miss had been a stark reminder of how dangerous it was being a beautiful woman on the high seas. Not all her admirers were going to be good-natured, relatively harmless perverts like Sanji and Brook. Nor would she always find herself at the mercy of creatures who would never be physically attracted to her, like the Fishman Pirates.
So as proud as she was of her body, and as much as she loved using her looks to her advantage, the danger of attracting the wrong kind of attention was never far from her mind.
Nodding in confirmation, Law scribbled another note on her chart. “Are you on any form of birth control?”
“Chopper always made me some, but I couldn’t tell you exactly what he gave me. I haven’t been able to take it since Sabaody, anyway.”
“I’ve got a few options we can work with but notify me if you find yourself having any side effects or unusual symptoms. Once we know exactly what your body can handle, I can give you an injection that’ll last you at least a year; that way, you won’t have to worry about taking a pill every day or missing doses. You might not be sexually active, but a woman can never be too careful.”
Pleasantly surprised at how professional and forward-thinking he was being, Nami allowed herself to relax just the slightest bit. With his thinly veiled request for sexual favors up on the deck, she’d written him off as another creep, but maybe he’d just been testing her resolve? The Law she was dealing with now was far less intimidating, and while he was certainly cold and sarcastic, if he kept treating her like this, perhaps working for him for the next year wouldn’t be so bad after all.
The Surgeon of Death was dangerous, not just because of his abilities and status as a Supernova, but because he was, in his own way, quite attractive. Questionable fashion choices aside, he was the epitome of tall, dark, and sexy. His irises glittered like treasure, his voice was smooth and deep, and his perfectly groomed sideburns and goatee showed he took pride in his appearance. He was long and lean and walked with a sure, predatory grace. It was his confidence that pulled her in like a magnet, though; it was quiet assurance of his own ability, that easy smirk proclaiming he knew he was far above everyone else’s level as loudly as Luffy would scream about becoming the Pirate King.
Despite his appeal, Nami refused to let herself give in to physical desire. For her, rule number one was not to mix business with pleasure. Thus, she hoped his earlier flirting had just been a test, because spending a year under his command could end up being a test to her iron-clad control. If he managed to get under her skin, earn even a fraction of her trust, it would be so much harder to resist.
Another note was made on her chart before Law ushered her towards the center of the room. “Now that we’ve got that unpleasantness out of the way, turn around and touch your toes; I want to check your back for scoliosis and spinal irregularities.”
Instinct told her he just wanted to check out her ass, but she found it was easier for her rational mind to calm her nerves. Not that she wasn’t immediately put on edge when she felt his gloved fingers run down her spine, though it felt different from her usual fight-or-flight reaction. The shiver that rocked through her she desperately wanted to say was due to the cold, but the heat that lingered on her skin said otherwise.
“Spine looks good, Nami-ya, and I’m impressed at how flexible you are. I’m sure it’s advantageous in a fight or sneaking around.” The muscles of her back jumped as the icy head of the stethoscope pressed against them. “Take a deep breath.”
She did so, forcing her heart to remain steady. If she panicked again they’d be at this all day, and even if she no longer believed Law was looking to jump her the second she gave him an opening, she still had better things to do than stand around in her underwear.
“Glad to hear your heart isn’t about to beat out of your chest anymore. Good lung capacity, too.” Coaxing her to straighten up, she could feel his calculating gaze on her arm. “Who did your tattoo?”
“Dr. Nako of Cocoyashi Village, about a year ago.”
“Was he also the one who sewed up these cuts?” he asked, thumb trailing over one of the pale scars on her shoulder. The heat of his touch was instantly snuffed out as his fingers inadvertently traced the invisible pattern of Arlong’s Jolly Roger, and the Fishman’s cruel laugh echoed in her mind.
Flinching away, Nami grabbed her arm instinctively. “H-he did.”
Sensing they were straying from the comfortable bubble they’d built, Law simply nodded, again going back to his chart. She suspected he wanted to ask how she got such an injury; any decent doctor could tell it was self-inflicted just from the angle, but instead he stated, “I’ll assume the tattoo was done with sterile equipment, then, and I won’t have to check you for tetanus and the like. I’ve seen more than a few back-alley tattoos turn septic. I commend his work; very neat, and you could almost miss the scars if you’re not looking for them.”
“Who does yours?” she asked, eager to change the subject. Thoughts of her past were floating far too close to the surface for her taste. Hoping to banish her former captain’s ghost, cocoa eyes focused on Law’s fingers, easily imagining the bold, black letters beneath the blue latex. “Considering how a surgeon’s hands are his most valuable tool, I’m surprised you even took the risk. Was looking edgy really worth it?”
Leading her over to the table, he helped her hop up, smirking at the verbal jab. “Oh, it was absolutely worth it; the look on people’s faces when they see a doctor with DEATH on his hands is priceless. Ikkaku does all my tattoos. You’ll meet her soon; she’ll be your roommate during your stay. I think she’ll be happy to have another woman aboard.”
Nami sighed in relief. She hadn’t sailed with an all-male crew since entering the Grand Line, and she hadn’t been really looking forward to doing it again. Perhaps this Ikkaku woman would make her miss Robin a little less. “I certainly will be.”
“And here I assumed you’d want a ship full of men you could easily manipulate,” he said, grin widening.
Winking, she replied, “Oh, I do, but that gets boring after a while. I need someone who can talk to me without staring at my breasts.”
“What makes you think she won’t?”
That actually coaxed a small laugh out of her. “Then at least it’s someone I can hopefully borrow clothes from. I’m not looking forward to wearing the same outfit every day, and before you say it—no, I’m not wearing your crew’s uniform. They’re not cute, and bulky jumpsuits like that are terrible for sneaking around.” Secretly, it wasn’t even the ugliness of the suits that repelled her—it was the Heart Pirate’s Jolly Roger she’d seen emblazoned across the front and back. She may have agreed to a partnership, but she refused to wear another crew’s insignia. It made her think too much of Arlong, and how he’d forced her to walk around with that horrible tattoo. He might as well have branded her like cattle, showing how little he thought of humans.
It was one of the reasons she respected Luffy as her captain—he’d never even considered placing such a mark of ownership on his crew.
Nami had expected a fight, but the doctor merely thought it over before nodding. “I suppose I can give you that freedom; with your high internal body temp, I’d be concerned about you overheating. The sub gets pretty hot when we’ve been underwater too long, and Bepo certainly suffers for it. I’ll supply you a uniform for when we’re on islands with colder climates, but otherwise, I won’t hold you to the normal dress code.”
Pleasantly surprised at his leniency, she allowed him to gently push her back so she lay on the table, arms positioned above her head. Again, she blanched at how provocative the position was, but Law completely ignored the way her chest was thrust out, his hands instead poking and prodding at her stomach, carefully checking for any unusual lumps or organ placement. The muscles twitched slightly at his ministrations, and Law gave her a considering look. “Sensitive, Nami-ya?”
“Maybe a little ticklish,” she said, eyebrow raised, daring him to make an off-color comment.
A non-committal hum was her only response. Part of the fiery cartographer wanted to be insulted at how unaffected he seemed to be at having a beautiful woman like herself sprawled out before him clad only in her underwear. He hadn’t even given her a breast exam! She swiftly shoved that feeling down, though. How irrational could she get? Just ten minutes ago she saw him as a threat, and now she actually wanted him to lust after her? Clearly, the stress of the day was getting to her.
Upon finishing his inspection, Law held out a hand, helping her off the table. “Seems I can give you a clean bill of health,” he said, scratching a few more notes on her chart before handing over her clothes.
As she quickly dressed, the Supernova busied himself with filing her information away, giving her a small semblance of privacy.
“Just so you know, the majority of the crew knows basic first aid, but I’ll still expect you to report any injuries or illness to me. We’re in close quarters and sickness spreads quickly, so if you get so much as a cold, you’re quarantined until I give the all-clear. I take my crew’s well-being very seriously, so this is non-negotiable. In fact, most of my rules are. Uniform aside, I’m not in the habit of giving out special privileges without good reason. I want you to be aware that I won’t tolerate reckless defiance or ignoring my orders. As your doctor and captain, it’s in your best interest to do as I say without question. Do you understand?” he asked, turning to frown at her sternly.
“Absolutely,” she agreed, holding up her hands in surrender. She couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t argue if she found a rule stupid, or try to get around them, but she understood there were limits, and it was best to pick her battles. Once she had a better understanding of the captain and crew, she’d have more wiggle-room and loopholes to work with.
She was momentarily distracted by the sight of the Dark Doctor’s white teeth gripping the edge of one of his surgical gloves, carefully pulling the tight latex off his hand. It was surprisingly arousing, seeing the tattooed, olive skin slowly emerge back into the light, his lips lightly brushing the newly-exposed flesh.
An image of him taking her clothes off like that popped into her mind, and she nearly slapped herself. Keep it together, girl! Nami scolded herself. Remember rule number one!
Not noticing her staring, or possibly just ignoring it, he tossed the gloves into the trash. “Good. I watched Mugiwara-ya nearly undo all my hard work, running around like a madman after I’d spent hours saving his life. I’d like to think you’re a bit more sensible.”
“A rock is more sensible than Luffy,” she said dryly, which earned her a slight smirk. Shrugging off his lab coat, he led her out of the infirmary, chuckling when she took a deep breath of the antiseptic-free air in the hallway.
A large, warm hand rested on the small of her back, and Nami jumped at the contact, turning to look up at the Heart Captain. His grin was lazy but confident, gold eyes once more regarding her with interest. No longer contained by the latex gloves, the heat of his palm radiated through the thin cotton of her shirt, seeping into her flesh.
“Shall I introduce you to the rest of the crew, Nami-ya?” he asked, long fingers curling around her waist when she instinctively attempted to step away. As if she were no more than a misbehaving kitten, he pulled her close, leaving little more than an inch of space between them. “They’d be heartbroken if they thought I was keeping you all to myself.”
Nami swallowed, pulse quickening as she realized something; Law had promised she had nothing to fear while in his infirmary.
He’d never said anything about outside it.
#lawna#lawnami#lawxnami#law x nami#trafalgar law x nami#trafalgar law#trafalgar D. Water Law#nami#nami one piece#one piece#One Piece Fanfiction#fanfiction#opfanfic#Fic: Welcome to the Heart Pirates#nami-ya#Cat Thief Nami#cat burglar nami#one piece shipping#post-marineford#heart pirate nami#heart pirates#dr. heartstealer#Surgeon of Death
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Cosplay Mania 2019 - Stage Actor Fan Meeting - Digest
The Stage Actors fan meeting panel held during the 1st day of Cosplay Mania 2019 made every 2.5d fan girls come true.
Both of our guests are stars of "Haikyuu!" stage play. Allen Kohatsu played the role of Iwaizumi Hajime while Kousuke Asuma played as Oikawa Tooru, both from Aoba Jousai Volleyball Team.
The guest not only answered a lot of questions but also gave everyone a great time. To be honest, we really had fun as well. Here is our digest on what happened during the panel.
Please note that this report is based on memory, since recording was not allowed. We tried to jot down everything after we went out of the SP Hall so some translations might not be accurate and some questions during the panel maybe missing but we do hope you will get the feel of what we have experienced during the event.
The host gave a brief introduction of our guests and they came on stage and was greeted warmly by the audience.
Allen Kohatsu introduced himself and said "Kamusta kayo?" and "Mahal ko kayo". Kousuke Asuma introduced himself using few Filipino words as well "Kamusta, Kamusta! Ako si Kousuke Asuma"
Both actors were asked a number of questions:
-What's your impression of Philippines?
Kohatsu: I saw Manila Bay's sunset. It was beautiful. It's my first time in the Philippines and I want to enjoy it with you
Kousuke: Everyone is all warm and I want to comeback here again
-For Allen Kohatsu, how did you start as an actor?
Kohatsu: When I was in Elementary, I saw the movie Jack by Robin Williams and I got inspired.
-What manga and anime you are interested with?
Kohatsu: I like Haikyuu and I love Iwaizumi Hajime. I also love Kimetsu no Yaiba
Kousuke: Haikyuu! One Piece! I love Oikawa first but I love Iwa-chan second. Iwa-chan is my mother, right? In One Piece, I love Zoro.
-If given a chance to work again, what type of roles you want to play together?
Kohatsu: Since we are teammates in Haikyuu, I want to be enemies on the next one. I want to kick him
Kousuke: Yeah, I want to be enemies and I'll win in the end!
Kohatsu: No, I will win!
-If you are not an actor, what will be your profession?
Kohatsu: I think I want to be a pilot. I used to go to airport and see airplanes
Kousuke: I will be a Japanese baseball player! A pitcher! (proceeded on pitching at the center of the stage)
-What is your hardest role as a stage actor?
Kohatsu: Acting as Hajime was difficult because it was the 1st time I got a leading role. I need to learn the volleyball formation and such.
Kousuke: Oikawa! Because it was my debut role so it was difficult.
-Do you have nicknames when you are a kid?
Kohatsu: When I was in elementary, my classmates don't like carrots so I eat them instead so they called me "Carrots/Carrot-kun". You can call me Carrots Kohatsu
Kousuke: For me, they call me "Baka". My senpai called me Baka but I told them my name is Kousuke!
-Good theme song for yourself
Kohatsu: For me, Eye of the Tiger. It gives me power, boost of confidence. PAW PAW PAW!
Kousuke: For me, it's One Piece's "We Are" (proceeded in singing few lines of the song with the audience)
-What is your favorite scene/act in your stage play?
Kohatsu and Kousuke both agreed on fist bump between Iwasumi and Oikawa but then Kousuke added the scene where he thanked all his teammates while crying. They even acted out the fist bump.
-Describe yourself as an actor today
Kohatsu: I’m very nervous on stage when I was starting but now I became confident
Kousuke: When I was starting, I really did my best. I really did all my best that's why I’m here in front of you. I'll continue to work hard so I can comeback here.
After all the questions, they both did 2 rounds of Batsu Game. The 1st game was reading Filipino tongue twisters. While the host was explaining the ruels, they were also asked what Filipino food they have tried. Kouhatsu said Kare-kare and pansit (which he loved). Both actors agreed they love Jolibee and Chicken joy. Kouhatsu said it was their lunch and Kousuke said he ate Chicken Joy, fries, burger and rice.
For the tongue twisters, they need to repeat the word 3 times. They tried saying "Nakakapagpabagabag", "Bituka, Botika, Butiki" and "Ang relo ni Leroy ay Rolex". Kouhatsu really did his best speaking though not perfect but he did well. Kousuke, in the other hand, made some slips but was really funny. Th winner was decided on how loud the cheer was for each person and this was where Kousuke used his charm. It was successful and he won this round.
Second round was karaoke challenge. They need to pick a random song on the bowl. Kohatsu went again first and sang Sparkle by RADWIMPS. Kousuke kept on saying he is scared because Kohatsu had a really good voice. He sang the whole song with ease. He did mention that he knew the song and it's from Kimi no Na wa. After he finished the song, Kousuke keep on saying it was really good and now he is really scared. He went next and picked the song, "A Whole New World". He said it is difficult because it has 2 voices. The audience was shouting "DUET! DUET" so the host suggested that the audience will be Jasmine. As Jasmine's part comes in, Kouhatsu suddenly jumps in to sing it with Kousuke and they sang the song as a duet. The hall was filled with screams of happy fans. In this round, Kouhatsu won.
It was a tie so both of the guest need to do the punishment which was dancing "Baby Shark" with shark hat on them. They did their best on finishing the dance and asked if it was a popular dance here in the Philippines.
It was a fairly long panel but I’m sure everyone really enjoyed it, fan or not. Personally, this fan meeting is the one of my anticipated events in Cosplay Mania. We rarely get a chance to see voice actors and artist up close.
Anyway, that's how the Stage Actors Fan Meeting went during Cosplay Mania 2019 Day 1 - September 28th.
We hope you enjoyed this report.
photosrc: https://twitter.com/ko_suke_asuma
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ruby, sepia, indigo~
sending loads of warm hugs your way~ i hope you had a good day 💛
send me a watercolour ask!
thank you for the questions, ti! my day wasn't horrible. i will gladly accept those hugs!! <3
ruby; what does your ideal first date look like?
a dream <3 jokes i uh. idk. i guess it would depend on the person? i wouldn't go on a date with someone i'm not too comfy with (ie. they don't need to be a long time friend but i'd very much prefer to have actually talked to them for a while (even if its just online) and met them a few times (in the presence of others). mutual friends, kinda thing, or mutual mutual friends. something like that.
it'd preferably be something we both enjoy (or at least, something that we both agree to and not because they just wanna see the other person happy. like, something that both people are at least intrigued by). ngl, smth like the royal show or a fair or smth like that would be fun - kinda boisterous and exciting but followed by a calmer night??? not sure.. again, it would depend on on the person and what my relo with them is like. that being said though, not sure if that i've said is an ideal first date, or just an ideal night.
i am now questioning myself again.
hm. alternatively, a steady kind of night? i'm not big on alcohol but bar hopping (in moderation) sounds alright...? though depending on my relo w them, this might be a better second date. AHHHH idk thinking about anything that's potentially real is very hard. idk why im so insistent on night time. there's just something about it that feels better for bringing people closer together.
sepia; name five things that always make you happy.
characters from the shadowhunter chronicles (and what i will tell myself is their inevitable happy endings) // when i buy a new book, especially if it was the one i had come looking for or it was one i wasn't aware was out yet but.. it is // when i realise i'm re-engnaing and re-immersing myself in something (a book, a show, anime, etc) that i love and it makes me happy. that realisation is a separate happiness // knowing that the people i care for are genuinely happy // when i get guzmans or zambreros takeaway and it's still nice and not cold when i get home/eat it lol
hm this was a hard one to answer? in the sense that nothing will always make me happy etc etc. won't get too.. pensive about it.
indigo; what’s the best/sweetest compliment you have ever received?
someone called me endearing so very long ago. it was one of my first online mutuals (on another platform, not tumblr) and i miss them very much and hope they're well and they were always ever so kind to me and i am sad now HAHAH i'm not sure if they remember me/would want to talk again (i'm not even sure what we would talk about. i think they were a few years older than me so they've probably moved on a lot now. i just hope they're happy and safe. i have very good memories of them.)
in.. the grand scheme of things, it's probably not the best or the sweetest (its definitely up there, don't get me wrong) compliment i've been given (is being called endearing even a compliment?) but it's one that's stuck with me for .. heck, so many years. i don't think i'll ever forget it and how it made me feel :(
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