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jean0farc · 8 months

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— Johan Liebert - NSFW Alphabet —

Discussion

Alright, so I finally made the decision to take on this challenge and put my creativity into work while making this.

Note that I am not very good with headcanons since I suck at character analysis myself (I lack basic comprehension skills).

I’m just relying on my luck hoping there’ll be people who can relate to these headcanons of mine.

Though I don’t consider Johan to be big or standing out on the topic of romance and sex, it wouldn’t hurt to explore how he’d be like if he ever succumbed to these feelings.

I headcanon Johan as aro-ace, but since sex or having sexual thoughts/fantasies are a part of human nature, I wanted to write this in the RARE scenario where he succumbs to these feelings.

Perhaps someone strikes his fancy in order for him to give two fucks about them—to a point where it starts to affect him physically, emotionally, and mentally.

The possibilities are endless.

So without further ado, here’s the NSFW alphabet indeed, and if Johan is quite OOC here, don’t mind it. I forgot most of the things that happened in the show anyway.

NSFW under the cut!

NSFW Alphabet

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

I personally have this headcanon that after sex, Johan is a pillowtalker at heart. By definition, pillowtalking is an act of exchanging private conversations, intimate and deep ones. Especially in bed.

When he’s not manipulating someone to committing suicide using guilt, he spends his time communicating with his partner about what he likes (and dislikes) about them, or what he feels about the world. He’s being fairly honest with how he feels, though he masks it as something humorous and lighthearted, but still frightening to his partner.

No, he doesn’t have dark humor, but he’d be the type to talk to you about something controversial and ask your opinion of it. Scenarios like that.

If his partner fell asleep afterwards, he would leave a short letter indicating that he catered to what they needed before leaving, and for some reason, write light possessive content that have this “I’d kill for you” type of vibe.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

His and their eyes. The eyes are basically a window to one’s emotions. Johan has high emotional intelligence, and can see through how people feel. Granted, he usually doesn’t feel guilt or remorse for manipulating orphans, so he’d probably use your eyes as an advantage to target you.

Also, this may be OOC, but hands. He doesn’t connect with many people besides his sister and Dr. Tenma, so being able to “connect” his body to yours mainly has to do with hands. He’s not big on physical touch, but at the rare moment, he probably is touch starved like any other human being would be, and will usually be the one initiating it.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

His cum is pretty thin compared to other thick liquids that come from other men.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He collects a stash of mementos (that remind him of his person of interest) to jerk off to. He’s personally fond of keeping memories and storing them in a secret drawer with a lock so people won’t be able to access them. He’s quite possessive in a rather soft way.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

I personally think he has little experience with sex. He doesn’t yearn for someone physically that easily, considering he isn’t easily swayed by external advances like seduction and flirting. Instead, he’d manipulate them back.

That being said, he might be a virgin.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

I’m sure whatever his partner wants goes. But if there was something he’d normally go for, it would be missionary. (I know, it sounds vanilla as fuck)

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

He keeps it balanced. He can be humorous when they’re trying things out, experimenting.

But when he’s close, I’m sure he gets serious in a rather calm way, murmuring sweet nothings on his partner’s ear as he’s about to bust a load of nut from deep within.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

He isn’t one to be conscious about body hair, but imo he does shave in case something between him and the person of interest happens. He doesn’t keep a purely shaved cock, however, perhaps just a quick trim.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

He’s not very romantic in a sense, but he occasionally dabs in with emotional support once in a while.

I personally thought of the “I was born to smother you with flowers” line and thought….maybe he could actually have a knack for sweet nothings and charming little messages, verbal and written.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

He starts jacking off slow and gently, but it soon evolves into something slightly rough in rare cases. Though he isn’t a rough, brute man with no manners, his patience can get tested if he doesn’t come faster.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

I don’t know if stalking is considered a kink but if it is then he has it, with his role being the stalker in this case.

Other than that, he doesn’t have much interest in unusual sexual situations making him quite vanilla.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

In his house, or his partner’s house. If he’s feeling lucky, then the library.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

People’s psyche.

Analyzing his person of interest is what turns him on, what makes him feral and craving for more.

The urge to manipulate and guilt trip drives him crazy to the point of wanting to ruin them, emotionally and sexually.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Being touched, kissed, or held without consent.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He mainly prefers giving, even though he doesn’t have much experience and skill. Just like how he initiates conversation smoothly, he’d be able to carefully analyze what you want, and give it to you based on your body language (he is very good at analyzing people’s thought and emotional patterns).

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Slow and sensual. Anything fast, stiff, or aggressive turns him off.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Johan doesn’t like them. He likes to take his time dissecting an individual if he ever plans on sleeping with them.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

He is game to experiment and take risks, but does it with precise control over his emotions. He doesn’t raise his voice and lash out if something goes wrong, but will do everything in his will to fix things.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

He personally goes for one to two rounds. Not because he lacks the stamina, but because he grows bored and doesn’t feel the need to pursue or fulfill his sexual needs. His sexual needs don’t last, and are very fickle. He can be subject to not continuing if he gets tired.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Personally, I don’t think he has the interest to pursue buying a toy.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Expect him to tease you in every way possible. He’ll edge you completely without regret, testing how much you can take before you can just give in and cum at his will.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

He moans softly like a young man would, since his voice is pretty high-pitched. He gasps on the occasional note, even going as far as to scream like that scene where he fainted in the library.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

He enjoys whispering filthy things to his partner’s ear, mostly backhanded compliments and talking about threatening them playfully. He enjoys adding fuel to the fire even when it’s highly unnecessary given the situation.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Basically nothing much, except for a boner that arises when aroused at a mentally stimulating situation.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Usually low. He doesn’t yearn or crave for sex like how I stated in the beginning, mostly refusing advances out of the many people who fancy him.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Barely. He would rather continue doing other things like reading a book, sending an e-mail, but he isn’t the type to sleep right after as he prefers to keep an open eye on his person of interest.

#johan liebert #johan liebert x reader #johan liebert x you #monster anime #naoki urasawa's monster #johan liebert headcanons #headcanons #fic writing #fic writer #hcs #monster hcs #x reader

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ariesjupiter · 3 years

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Mitski Birth Chart Reading

This is just my interpretation based on Mitski’s birth chart and what I know of her music. Let me know if you have any suggestions of someone I should make a post on next! If you’re interested, I offer natal chart readings, just check my pinned post!

Libra sun: In terms of basic personality and ego, Mitski is focused on creating balanced, harmonic relationships. Intimate, one-on-one relationships are a major part of her identity. Libra is ruled by venus which represents love and beauty. After all, she is known for her lyrics relating to her romantic relationships. The lyric “I love everybody because I love you” is so profoundly Libra to me. She is friendly and charming. She sees herself reflected and other people and people see themselves reflected in her (for better or worse). Venus also rules the arts and Mitski is a natural artist in every sense of the word. Her music sonically is very unique, inventive, and creative as she experiments with mixing different genres. This is influenced by her sun in the 11th house. Sun in the 11th house also indicates an emphasis on friendships and memberships of certain groups and communities. It also indicates an importance of her hopes and dreams. Her sun in 3° explains why she is such a talented writer, communicator, and lyricist. Peak libra sun culture: “Young adult romance is the shit” (a real quote from the queen herself). And let’s not forget her iconic quote from 2016: “I’m a libra so my sexuality is essentially “you can really be any gender as long as you treat me like a princes.” Truer words have never been spoken.

Capricorn moon: Despite how personal her music is, Mitski is a rather private and reserved person, particularly when it comes to expressing her emotions. Also, Capricorn is associated with the father and she has been known to be especially private regarding her dad’s career. She is serious and intense with emotions but can sometimes get detached. The emphasis is on having control over her feelings. She is ambitious and a practical person. Her emotions are connected to her career. Those who do not know her well may see her as cold. In temperament she tends to be melancholic. Emotionally mature and wise beyond her years. Straightforward and honest with her expression. She is dependable, loyal, hard working, & realistic. Emotional fulfillment is often tied to achievement and success. Her moon in the 2nd house and 2° suggests material comforts make her feel safe. With the 2nd house being associated with venus, she is able to express her emotions in an artistic way. Could be protective over material objects. Sentimental. Music has a big impact on her emotions and mood. Peak capricorn moon culture: “I didn’t really feel anything. I’ve stopped feeling things for a long time” - Mitski, The Fader Interview, 2017. In all seriousness, I hope my capricorn moons are doing good.

Virgo mercury: Mitski is practical and detail oriented when it comes to communication and matters of learning. She takes the time to choose the right words to convey her thoughts. She is clear and concise. Mercury is in its sign of rulership here. Her mercury in the 10th house suggests that she will be known for her communication style. Has a lot of thoughts but is also organized. Analytical. Mitski likes making lists. Loves to give advice. Mercury is in 16° (cancer degree) and she has a soft spoken voice. Talks about the past and her roots (cancerian themes).

Virgo venus: In love, Mitski will assume a caretaking role and will gladly help her partner finish mundane tasks and chores. A devoted and faithful lover. Love is about the mundane and routine details of life. Love is about service. Acts of service tend to be virgo venus’ main love language. She wants to help improve her partner’s life. She is patient and observant. Values love that is simple and authentic. Appreciates a partner with whom she can have intellectual conversations. May have a tendency to be too critical on herself when it comes to love. Venus rules aesthetics & style and she tends to have a modest fashion sense. Mitski has voiced her interest in astrology and how she has asked people she’s interested for their birth times lmao. Her venus is in the 11th house, she treats a lover like she would treat a friend. In fact, romantic love probably equates to platonic love in her book. She has her venus in 24° which is a pisces degree, which explains this natural interest in astrology.

Gemini mars: Could be impatient because she moves quickly. Efficient. Has a lot of goals and likes to keep busy. She thrives when she talks to others and exchanged ideas. Likes to multitask. Very versatile. Probably has a flirty, bubbly energy when she’s attracted to someone. Attracted to intellect. Desire to see things from multiple perspectives. Gemini rules the hands so she’s skilled with playing instruments and writing. Likes to try new things. Witty and humorous. Could have nervous energy or fidget often.

Leo jupiter: The planet of luck and expansion in Leo is a big indicator of fame. Her jupiter is also in the 9th house and in 7°. Jupiter in the 9th indicates being born in a different country from where you reside now. Mitski is biracial and has lived in multiple countries growing up. She loves to learn, particularly about other cultures and ways of life. She is open minded, philosophical and values freedom and being independent. She attracts good fortune when she travels (touring!) and also when she focuses on partnerships/intimate relationships (7°). Combining this energy, Mitski attracts luck when she acts dramatically, demonstrates/teaches her knowledge, expresses herself artistically, shows her warm hearted and sometimes stubborn side, & takes chances, shows her bravery, and takes the lead. Be the Cowboy is big leo energy 🤠

Capricorn saturn: Mitski is responsible, practical, goal-oriented, and cautious. With saturn in the 3rd house, she probably had to grow up quickly and become mature at a young age. Capricorn saturn people tend to be very successful people. Strong willed. Tendency to be quiet and is a good listener. Could also be outspoken. With saturn in 18° (virgo degree), she’s very hard working but she may need to learn how to take a break and let herself rest and recharge.

Capricorn uranus: This placement also indicates that she goes after her goals and is efficient and practical in achieving them. Uranus being in the 2nd house shows that she could make money from being unique and groundbreaking. 2nd house also rules the voice! Her values are unique and she could be resistant to change them. Her self esteem could be in a constant state of flux and be tied to money. Her income could rapidly change, like maybe she did not get paid much but then suddenly she starts making a lot of money. Uranus is in 5° which is a fame degree. She’s famous for being authentically herself and very much an individual in the industry that can’t be compared.

Capricorn neptune: Capricorn neptunes are most likely realists. She is skilled at going after her dreams. Her dreams are practical and connected to themes of wealth, power, and control. Neptune in 3rd house shows a dreamy, poetic way of communicating. A very creative placement. Dreamy vibes. Could be elusive in communication, open for interpretation. Neptune is in 11° so this gives aquarian energy. Idealistic with friends and always searching for ways to achieve her dreams.

Scorpio pluto: Her power lies in her ability to analayze human interactions and be introspective with herself since it’s in the 1st house. She is very self aware. Mitski understands that life is about going through changes and she welcomes the ability to grow and rebuild. She has intense, deep emotions but has control over them and how she expresses them. Pluto in 16° adds a cancerian energy. Her strength lies in her ability to nurture and be empathetic.

Scorpio rising: First impressions of Mitski can be that she’s mysterious and secretive. A powerful and intimidating presence. This explains to me why she loves dressing in black. She probably has a strong dislike for anything superficial. She likes to get to know people on a deeper level and connect with them. She likes honesty and is probably very perceptive and intuitive. Privacy is so important to her! She has a lot of layers and wants people to unpack them, but it may take her a while to open up. She is powerful and has endurance. Her presence leaves an impact on people. Loyalty and intimacy is important. She’s not afraid to talk about taboo topics or scary, heavier emotions. Passionate and even a tendency to get fixed on or obsessed with something or someone. Her rising is in 15° (gemini degree) so she’s clever, curious, and thinks quickly. a little more flexible than a regular Scorpio rising would be.

Leo midheaven: People might see her as dramatic or arrogant. In the public eye, she was meant to be a performer. At her concerts she’s known for putting on a good show & includes interpretive dance and choreography. She becomes herself more when she’s on stage. The stage is where she shines. Has a lot of pride connected to her career. Reputation for creatively expressing herself and being brave and taking risks. Wants to be admired, especially regarding her career. Her purpose is to become a leader. Mc in 22° (capricorn degree) shows that she is a very hard worker when it comes to her career. She won’t let anyone stop her when it comes to achievement and success in her field. Another indicator of being at the top of her career and being publicly recognized for it!

TLDR: Mitski is a natural born singer, performer and artist. She is unique, talented, and an introspective writer. Being earth and water dominant, she balances practicality & stability with sentimentality & raw emotion. With all of her Capricorn placements, she is grounded and doesn’t let fame get to her head. Her chart ruler is Scorpio pluto in the 1st which means that major transformations will be a big theme in her life, especially regarding herself & her identity. She is always reflecting and looking at herself on a deep level.

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oneboxofmatches · 3 years

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Hey there! I was wondering if I could get a matchup for mcu and both eras of Harry Potter? I'm a straight female so I'd prefer a male please!

Physical description - I'm 5'9 and I have long wavy dark brown hair and brown eyes. I have a fair skin tone, I'm slim and I've got full lips, slight dark circles under my eyes which make my eyes look slightly bigger than they are and I have a dimple on my right cheek. I've got broad shoulders and I dress mostly in relaxed suits, blazers and coats! I also love the occasional dress or sweaters layered over a white button down.

Personality description - It takes me a while to feel comfortable around new people but once I do, I get really talkative and outgoing. I'm the therapist friend and I love helping people out! People come to me to vent or for advice and comfort. I'm smart and ambitious, I love being the best at everything I do. I'm also a hopeless romantic and I love being in love! I can be quite dramatic and stubborn and I tend to be withdrawn at times. I get frustrated easily and I'm competitive.

Placements- I'm a ravenclaw, my mbti is infp and my enneagram is 4w3

Likes - I adore adventures, witty and playful banter, mischief, joking around and having indepth discussions on different topics. I daydream quite a bit and I can get lost in my own world for hours.

Hobbies - I love reading, my favorite genres are fantasy and poetry. I also love learning about new things and collecting knowledge! I'm very interested in psychology, history, mythology and folklore, and fashion. I adore all forms of art. I like cooking and baking very much and I also find cleaning up very relaxing.

What I look for in a partner - A sense of belonging and being loved first and foremost, I've always craved that. I'd love someone who is intelligent, intriguing and exciting, someone who makes me feel alive? I'd like loads of fun, humor, banter coupled with times of sincere intensity, passion and understanding! I'd also like to be able to talk and discuss different things, silly or serious

What I look for in a friend - Nothing very specific, some common interests between us, someone who loves having fun and is humorous, loyal and supportive.

Thank you very much!! I hope you have a wonderful day ❤️

Thank you so much for requesting! I'm sorry it's taken this long -- college just started up and it's been a beautiful mess haha.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy!

WAITLIST

--Marvel Cinematic Universe--

I romantically pair you with…

THOR ODINSON

There’s adventure after adventure in this relationship, and neither of you gets tired of it!

Thor has always been drawn to outgoing individuals, so seeing that side of you come to light once you warmed up to him had him smiling immediately and wanting to know more about you.

A big part of Thor’s identity is helping people, so you could say he values it. Seeing you do that in your day-to-day life convinces him you’re basically the best human alive (and yes, he tells you this many times).

Thor was raised in a place where chivalry wasn’t quite dead, so expect many of your outings as a couple to have some sort of romantic flair (he may not have been the most skilled in courtship, but his enthusiasm more than makes up for it, trust me).

One of your favorite topics to discuss together is mythology, and not just Norse. Thor himself always found interest in the tales he learned from other cultures, so exchanging interesting stories you’ve both heard and researched is an ongoing hobby within your relationship.

While your relationship is undoubtedly fun and exciting, Thor also knows when to dial it back a little for more serious moments. He’s one of the best when it comes to finding that balance between silly and sincere, so you don’t ever have to worry about only getting one or the other.

Overall, Thor adores you, and the conversations (of all moods and topics!) that you two share is what really defines this relationship.

As a friend, I think you’d best be matched with…

PIETRO MAXIMOFF

The banter? The adventure? The mischief? This friendship has it all.

A good majority of your conversations involve poking fun at one another. You both love to play up the banter, so it’s nearly impossible to go a day without it.

Pietro loves your competitiveness, ambition, and sense of adventure. In his eyes, these traits make you far more interesting than most of the people he knows. You return the favor, often thanking him for “actually being one of the fun people in this world.”

With a sister who’s known to be a little withdrawn at times, Pietro is actually the perfect friend to have when you feel similarly or even when you’re lost in your thoughts. His brotherly instinct makes him much more patient than you would initially think, and you basically end up becoming like a second sister to him.

Though it took some getting used to on your end, you both love messing around with his super-speed -- you can bet that he’ll carry you whenever you want. The adrenaline alone is enough to give you the heart-racing sensation you crave, and by the end of it you’re both a laughing mess.

Overall, you and Pietro can easily tease each other all day, but don’t ever forget about the endless support that comes out of this friendship too.

--Harry Potter--

In the Golden Trio era, I ship you with…

GEORGE WEASLEY

As talkative as George can be himself, he still doesn’t match up to the blabbing that Fred does. So while he’s definitely able to keep up with your chatty and outgoing nature, he appreciates that you can sometimes take the lead when you’re talking to others.

George is a sucker for anyone who’s a good person doing good things. Seeing you constantly help people out with a smile on your face the whole time puts him in a cheery mood, and he never hesitates to compliment you on putting forth some goodness in the world.

Knowing how much you appreciate the romanticism that comes with being in a relationship, George definitely knows how to go out of his way to do some grand act of love that will always leave you giggling. Just don’t be surprised when he insists you have to sneak out past curfew to see it.

As someone with a rather stubborn and dramatic twin, George knows all the tips and tricks to play off these traits of yours and get you back into a better mood before you have enough time to even think about what’s wrong.

While there’s plenty of witty banter to be found, you and George are also capable of talking about anything for hours. You’ll often start at one topic, and by the time you’ve reached the end of an endless stream of chatter, you’ve touched upon more areas of thought than you could count.

Overall, George is the epitome of the intelligence, intrigue, and excitement you’re looking for, but don’t for a second discount the unhidden passion and loyalty he proudly displays in your relationship.

As a friend, I think you’d best be matched with…

FRED WEASLEY

I mean, are we surprised?

While George has taken on the role of standing at his twin’s side in every situation, Fred is usually the one getting them into each situation in the first place. Let’s be honest, you’re probably his second-best scheming partner (after the aforementioned George, of course!!).

You and Fred bring out the most energetic personalities that either of you has to offer. The ambition to do anything is unmatched when you two are together -- and the possibilities are endless!

What’s also unmatched in the banter. It never ends. Never.

While you love having each other as friends, the competitiveness in both of you often makes an appearance. Be prepared for simple tasks to all of a sudden turn into serious competitions that have the power to intimidate anyone in the area.

While it’s admittedly mostly fun and games when it comes to your friendship, Fred will be the first to stand up for you if the need arises. No one messes with his friends. In fact, expect whoever dared to cross you to be suspiciously itchy for the next week, and that's getting off lightly.

Overall, the wit and adventurous spirit shared by you and Fred makes the world a much more mischievous place.

In the Marauders era, I romantically pair you with…

SIRIUS BLACK

This relationship can best be described as a whirlwind romance.

You and Sirius take the term “partners in crime” to a whole new level of mischief. It’s always in good fun, but there’s no stopping you two when you get an idea -- Sirius and you are the most prone to sneaking out at night just for the sake of sneaking out.

And you can bet all this adventure only brings the two of you even closer. Sharing a good laugh is the fastest way to grow fonder of each other.

Sirius is quite stubborn himself, but he manages to tone it down when he realizes you’re in this mindset as well. His pride yells at him for it, but he’s willing to put aside his pettiness to address whatever it is that got you to where you were in the first place.

If it isn’t too much, though, expect a lot of teasing from Sirius’s end for his own amusement. He won't push you past your limits, but that won’t stop him from finding those limits in the first place.

Sirius hasn’t always had the sense of belonging he found at Hogwarts, so you can bet he’ll be the one to provide that for you from day one. Sure, your banter sparked a connection immediately, but it’s the passion both of you bring to the relationship that makes it a lasting one.

Overall, your lighthearted approaches to life combined with the dedication you’re both willing to undertake for your relationship makes the bond you have with Sirius one of a kind.

As a friend, I think you’d best be matched with…

JAMES POTTER

Hey, someone needs to keep James’s pride in check, and you’re the perfect candidate!

You two will often exchange fast quips at each other as you pass in the corridors, though the real fun begins when you get to sit at a table together. You both always try to one-up each other, though it’s only because you’re so close that this even happens in the first place.

James especially admires your ambition. He’s always found it easier to make connections with people who want the most out of life, and he’s glad he has a friend to seek this out with.

While he probably won’t partake himself, James is always up for chatting with you while you cook or bake. Your banter eases to a crawl during these times, so while you still find ways to tease the other in some way, it’s a much more relaxed setting than normal.

James is the first person to tell you to go for something. He’s a big believer in the idea of “You’ll never achieve anything if you play it safe,” so count on him to be one of your biggest supporters.

Overall, you and James have much in common, and it’s because of this that you can understand each other almost better than anyone.

#matchups #fandom matchups #mcu matchup #marvel matchup #mcu #marvel #harry potter matchup #harry potter #thor odinson #thor #pietro maximoff #george weasley #fred weasley #sirius black #james potter

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diavolodigitale · 3 years

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The Hitchhiker's Guide to Andromeda Galaxy - pt.1 Aya

Okay, hear me out. I know nobody wanted this, but here it is: a fairly short story about m!Ryder/Evfra that consists of 4 parts and most likely will not have any continuation.

Beware though, this is the first piece of fiction I’ve ever written in English. I did my best to make it sound less awkward, but I’m still not sure about the results. But it will get better, I promise.

Genres: comedy, romance (vaguely), friendship maybe, nothing serious, really.

Pairing: m!Ryder/Evfra (be careful, it’s slash if you didn’t realize it yet).

Rating: PG

Size: around 5 pages

Pt.1 - Pt.2 - Pt.3 - Pt.4 ----- All chapters in PDF

Ryder entered the Resistance HQ accompanied by light clanking of his gear. Weeks of travelling non-stop and picking up challenging fights made him sturdier and more skilled, meaning he would usually carry more than just a sniper rifle and an asari sword. Less sneaky, yes, but who cared if he was able to survive in the wilds of unknown planets however long it was necessary.

“Evfra,” muttered he in an indifferent voice. Obviously, the office of the Resistance leader was always his one and only destination point on Aya.

“Ryder,” forwarded Evfra as inhospitably as he always did, seemingly not paying any attention to his guest. Ryder knew that he did it on purpose every time and tried to do his best to disregard this act of covert hostility.

“Why are you here?” asked the angara, realizing there was no way Ryder would leave after simple greeting.

“I had some business on Aya, so I decided to come by and say hi.”

Evfra’s face showed a clearly annoyed and dissatisfied expression similar to when humans roll their eyes. He sucked his teeth, becoming more and more aggressive with every second he and Ryder proceeded to be in the same room.

“There’s no need to be so unkindly, you know I never come without a cause,” said Ryder apologetically and awkwardly laughed.

“Actually, you always do,” said Evfra disapprovingly. “Intercoms exist for a reason, and that reason is communicating with other individuals remotely. I’d rather you didn’t come here every time you want to chit-chat.”

“Believe me, I have a whole crew available for that. Moreover, none of them is so incredibly unwilling to speak to me, which is a great plus. And also, they’re all on my ship at any time so I don’t have to fly anywhere. Oh, and—”

“Get to the point, Ryder,” rudely interrupted Evfra. “I don’t have all day to suffer through your chattery,” he added and started scrolling reports more furiously than Ryder had ever seen him do, appearing as if he was enormously busy. Most likely pretending.

“Right, so… About that favor you asked me for… You know, on Voeld,” mumbled Ryder, looking at his feet. “So… I did everything I could there. People saved, data found, a-and…”

“Mhm.”

Ryder stood awkwardly, not knowing what to say or do. He expected at least some kind of reaction to his words, but if his help really meant so little to this man, he struggled to think of what could really support the Resistance and its cause and, more importantly, give humans some advantages in negotiations with angara.

Realizing Ryder didn’t have much else to say on that topic, Evfra struggled to make an effort to continue their conversation.

“I’ve seen the reports. The scouts you rescued can become significant assets in the war with kett. The information they possess can turn out to be useful for all of us in the long run.”

“You’re welcome.” A self-satisfied smirk appeared on Ryder’s thin lips as he felt that at least something he had done was appreciated.

Evfra casted a long unemotional glance at Ryder, unintentionally forcing him to hide his barely visible smile in confusion.

After a few seconds of odd staring, Evfra finally broke the oppressive silence.

“Is there anything else worth discussing? As I said, I still have other matters that need sorting out.”

“Not really, but…”

Ryder was shuffling around, trying to think of a decent ground for staying and continuing the talk for at least a little longer when he noticed a fresh cut wound on Evfra’s arm.

“What’s that on your arm? What happened?” he asked, sincerely worried.

Evfra immediately pulled back his wounded arm when Ryder tried to grab it and took a step back.

“None of your business, human. Since we are done talking, I recon you should leave.”

Ryder, having by this time developed a habit of not obeying Evfra’s orders, was surely ready to start protesting, when SAM’s monotonous voice echoed in his head.

“Pathfinder, it is highly unadvisable for you to dispute with the Resistance leader. He is infamous for his wild temper and unpredictability.”

“Everything’s fine, SAM,” murmured Ryder, “just let me handle it.”

“That… thing in your head. What is it saying?”

Evfra looked interested and a little repelled at the same time. That wasn’t the first time the Pathfinder faced such a reaction to the fact that an AI had a free access to his body and thoughts. The majority of the people he met were more than sure that nothing good could come out of it.

“That your wound should be treated as soon as possible or else...” he responded mysteriously.

“Or else what?”

“Consequences.”

The leader of the Resistance frowned, but managed to calm himself down and just let out a loud sigh instead of giving way to his emotions and becoming rude again. He now looked composed, although the undertone of hostility was still in the air.

Ryder stood still only for a moment, and then, using Evfra’s unpreparedness, dashed towards him in a desperate attempt to get closer and check the wound himself. Being a trained and experienced soldier, Evfra reacted a little quicker than Ryder anticipated and managed to evade the intrusion into his personal space, causing Ryder to lose his balance for a split second.

The understanding of where the potential scuffle was going came immediately, so Ryder didn’t try to counterattack and instead darted into the direction opposite to Evfra’s. Angara’s puzzlement by Pathfinder’s behaviour, however, didn’t influence his combat abilities and tactical thinking in any way. He decided to attack before his opponent would try to take him by surprise once again. He clenched his fist and made an abrupt movement with his uninjured hand, targeting the belly of the human.

Ryder was thrown away for almost a meter just to dramatically land on the floor, generating a cacophony of noises produced by the whole array of his gear hitting a hard surface.

“Pathfinder, you could have dodged that punch without much effort. Your intentions remain unclear to me,” rang SAM’s voice in Ryder’s head.

Ryder ignored him completely and continued to lie on the floor with little to no motion. His stomach almost didn’t hurt because he had actually been prepared to take that blow.

Having not many other options, Evfra called out Ryder’s name to check if he was alright. He consciously chose not to punch with all his force, meaning it obviously couldn’t be fatal or even do much damage to a person wearing full set of armor.

Receiving no response, Evfra called out again.

Silence.

The Resistance leader, thinking about how many problems the human Pathfinder really brought with him, moved closer to inspect the injured. Harming him could possibly ruin the alliance between their species so it was preferable that the Pathfinder left safe and sound. Even if Evfra genuinely wanted him to suffer a little bit for how irritating and importunate he was.

He moved closer and knelt before the seemingly unconscious Pathfinder. He heard him breathe slowly and steadily which, from Evfra’s knowledge of human physiology, meant that he was most likely okay.

The moment Evfra started leaning to take a closer look at the fallen opponent, he noticed a slight movement of Pathfinder’s hand. This time his instincts didn’t serve him so well, and Ryder suddenly hit him hard in the forehead with his own head.

Evfra’s vision flickered and, disoriented, he brought his hand up to his head to cover the damaged area.

Using the advantage he now had over his opponent, Ryder made a few maneuvers with something that he took out of a tactical compartment on his leg piece. Before Evfra realized that he did something to his wounded arm, Ryder had already rolled away, out of his reach.

“I’m done! I’m done!” yelled the human Pathfinder, raising his hands up in the air as if surrendering. He knew perfectly well that in a real fight with the Resistance leader he had almost no chances, so tried to pull out of it as soon as possible.

Evfra stood up abruptly, still touching his aching head. He was somewhat dizzy, but the wish to make the intolerable creature pay gave him strength and determination to act at once.

Seeing that his words had little influence on Evfra’s perception of reality, Ryder pleaded once again.

“It was medi-gel! Just medi-gel, I swear!”

Confused, Evfra looked at his injured arm. The cut was indeed covered with medi-gel that was slowly absorbing into his skin.

“Just wanted to treat it, that’s all,” muttered Ryder, finally rising from the floor. “A simple thank you would be enough.”

Lost for words, Evfra groaned and rubbed his temples.

“I better leave. Hope the next time we meet you’ll be in a better humor.”

The Pathfinder turned around and headed for the door. Only moments before his exiting Evfra addressed him one last time.

“Ryder!”

“What is it?” The Pathfinder stopped, intrigued.

“You have your whole species at your disposal… you have asari, turians, salarians, crogans… You have this whole galaxy with all the angara inhabiting it. Tell me, why, why do you have to infuriate only me all the time?”

“There’s one reason you’ll find out about later, just hold on for now,” answered the Pathfinder and grinned. “Oh,”—after making only one step, he stopped once more—“I also hate it when everybody always calls me Ryder. I have a name, you know. It is not very polite, especially since I do use your name in conversations.”

Evfra raised his head and took a deep long breath, feeling fed up with everything that happened during the last ten minutes.

“Ryder…” he started in a voice full of weariness.

“It’s James. For you it’s James.”

#Mass Effect #Mass Effect Andromeda #Andromeda #Fiction #Fanfiction #Evfra #m!Ryder #Ryder/Evfra #Ryder x Evfra #HGTAG

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maddiesbookshelves · 3 years

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Cinderella Boy - Kristina Meister (August 2020)

Sixteen-year-old Declan is the perfect son… except for one tiny issue. When his sister Delia comes home to find him trying on her clothes, he fears her judgment, but she only fears his fashion choices. One quick makeover later, Declan is transformed into Delia’s mysterious cousin Layla and dragged to the party of the year, hosted by Carter, the most popular boy in school.

When Carter meets Layla, he fumbles to charm her. He adores her sense of humor and her poise. But when she vanishes in the middle of the night, he’s left confused and determined to solve the mystery of who she is.

As their school year begins, their high school embraces a policy of intolerance, both Declan and Carter know they must stand up. Carter is tired of being a coward and wants to prove he can be a knight in shining armor. Declan is sick of being bullied and wants desperately to be himself. If they team up, it could be a fairy-tale ending, or a very unhappy ever after.

Would I recommend it to anyone? Yeah, if you don't want to think too hard about the plot while reading a very simple YA romance.

Level of (dis)satisfaction based on the summary and my expectations? I was disappointed but also... not ? In the sense that I didn't really have any expectations for this book and yet it was still less good than what I was hoping for.

My thoughts on it? It's a no brainer, quick read with some interesting themes like self-discovery or discrimination and harassment at school. Declan is trying to find the right balance between "Declan" and "Layla" but I think it's a shame that we couldn't see more of his journey. However, there was a lot of dialogue where these characters (all under 18) end up having phylosophical rants about love and society that are not quite in tune with the overall tone of the book. Eventhough it was a quick read, the long rants and internal monologues make it seem much longer than that.

I feel like the author tried to address a lot of serious topics in a Cinderella retelling, which maybe isn't the best of setting for that. But well, it's not a bad book I don't think, just one that had too much ambition.

French version under the cut

Declan, 16 ans, est le fils parfait... sauf pour un petit détail. Quand sa sœur Delia rentre à la maison et le trouve en train d'essayer ses vêtements, il a peur de sa réaction, mais elle a simplement peur de son sens du style. Après un rapide makeover, Declan est transformé en Layla, la cousine mystérieuse de Delia, et se retrouve entraîné à la fête de l'année, organisée par Carter, le garçon le plus populaire du lycée.

Quand Carter rencontre Layla, il s'efforce de la séduire. Il adore son sens de l'humour et sa prestance. Lorsqu'elle disparaît au milieu de la nuit, il est dérouté mais déterminer à percer le secret de son identité.

Alors que l'année commence et que leur école adopte une politique d'intolérance, Declan et Carter savent tous deux qu'ils doivent réagir. Carter est fatigué d'être un lâche et veut prouver qu'il peut être un preux chevalier. Declan en a assez d'être harcelé veut désespérément être lui-même. S'ils font équipe, leur histoire aura peut-être une fin heureuse, ou une fin tragique.

Est-ce que tu le conseillerais à quelqu’un ? Oui, si on veut pas trop se prendre la tête en lisant une romance YA un peu bateau.

Niveau de déception/satisfaction par rapport au résumé et tes attentes ? J’ai été déçue et en même temps non ? Dans le sens où j’avais pas vraiment d’attentes pour ce livre mais il était quand même moins bien que ce que j'espérais.

Avis sans spoiler ? C’est une lecture rapide et sans prise de tête avec des thèmes assez intéressants comme l’exploration de soi ou la discrimination et le harcèlement en milieu scolaire. Declan essaie de trouver un juste milieu entre “Declan” et “Layla” mais je trouve dommage qu’on ait pas plus l’occasion de l’accompagner dans sa réflexion. Par contre, y’avait énormément de dialogue et très souvent ces personnages qui ont pas plus de 18 ans se retrouvent à avoir des tirades philosophiques sur l’amour et la société qui sont intéressants mais pas en accord avec le ton du livre. Et même si c’était une lecture rapide, les tirades et monologues internes donnent l’impression qu’il est beaucoup plus long que ça.

J’ai l’impression que l’auteur a essayé d’aborder beaucoup de thèmes sérieux dans le cadre pas très adapté d’une réécriture de Cendrillon. Mais bon, c’était pas un mauvais livre. Juste un livre qui a visé trop haut pour ce que c’est.

#cinderella boy #kristina meister #YA books #YA romance #books #book review #book recommendations #cinderella #cinderella retelling #booklr

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e-luxion · 5 years

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Why I think Johnny Suh’s Rising is...

Scorpio.

I don’t know why I had the need to make a whole damn post about it but I am cos I feel strongly about it, and I welcome people to come argue with me about this. ok that sounded semi-threatening, it wasn’t I promise. Please do interact and share your opinions, I love to hear them!! This is a completely useless post but here you go. Also, I didn’t go in too much depth in some placement and kind of kept things a bit superficial and did not talk about every single placement that he would have.

First of all,

the way he just looks makes me nervous. That’s all.

Let’s look at the basics of having a Scorpio Ascendant:

The most prominent thing about Scorpio risings are their eyes.

They are usually piercing, intense and it stands out. Another thing that is common with Scorpio Risings is having “bedroom eyes” and/or “tired looking eyes”*

Sharp looking profile. I am not going to talk too much about actual physical appearance of risings cos I think it is more complicated than that, like there is a lot that goes into it. But i can make a post about it if requested ;)

Even if the person is outgoing, they are very observant and really good at “reading the room”, and just picking up emotions

Scorpio Risings are the mfs who just stare at people, they make intense eye contact for like no reason (whether is conscious or unconscious it depends on the person but in Johnny’s case, he 100% does it on purpose, does no one else remember that time he said he makes direct eye contact with people on purpose to make them nervous/uncomfortable??? (that's peak Scorpio AC culture right there)

Very strong-willed individuals who can overcome a lot of hardship

Values privacy a lot and absolute kings of keeping secrets

Scorpio Risings also have a magic way of making everyone open up their secrets to them. You probably won’t even realise, they just have that vibe that makes you open up

s a r c a s t i c

it does not matter who you are, what you are, what you’re into. Everyone is attracted to Scorpio Risings and you want to f**k them. I don’t make the rules, we just have that power. You can hate them or love them but you cannot help but be attracted to them.

also fun fact for y’all, most celebrities have fixed sign risings (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo and Aquarius)

*reminds me of this one thing I saw on twitter once about how he hated when people asked him if he was tired when he wasn’t because he has a natural “sleepy” look or something along those lines

Now onto the fun part, looking at how his chart would look like if he had a Scorpio AC and why it somehow makes sense:

Leo Midheaven: For those of you who might get Leo vibes from Johnny, this might be why. The Midheaven is your “public persona”, the person your co-workers see and strangers see in public/work settings, and well Johnny’s job is being an idol so that is why he might act more like his Midheaven at first glance, and with his Mars also being in Leo, I believe it only heightens this. So Leo Midheaven is a midheaven that you’ll often find amongst performers/entertainers/singers/actors because people with this placement tend to be insanely charismatic, charming, creative and natural leaders. They also come across super confident, in their place of work they are loud and full of pride, you’ll just notice them no matter what. Naturally, they have a talent to inspire others, and sort of have a regal quality to them. The only thing bigger than their ego is their heart (very kind people), but it is their ego that helps them get far ahead in life, they’re also very ambtious and because they are so ambitious, they only aim for the best of the best (i.e. being famous). Great at storytelling, presenting, acting and possess an insanely creative mind, at the end of the day they just want to be seen. Seriously, Leo MCs seem to be those people that were just born to shine, they stand out wherever they go.

Sagittarius on the 2nd house cusp: Lucky with finances and doesn’t worry much about money or their belongs (not @ Johnny throwing his fucking iPhone like it costs $5), even if you grew up poor (which he obviously didn't, he is a middle-class suburb lil bitch and it shows) you don’t worry too much about money. For some people, it seems like you spend your money a bit recklessly and just buy shit, and like to spend your money on experiences and travelling. Fun fact, I also have this placement I can confirm all of these are FACTS and I- mmm i dont want to talk about my spending habits cos yikes :)

Pisces on the 5th house cusp: Two words: hopeless romantics. To the point where it’s slightly unrealistic, but that’s a different story. They really want the whole fairytale, the glass slipper and the spotting someone in a crowd and falling madly in love kind of thing. But also they express their love in a selfless, unconditional way, these are the kinds of people who love blindly and accept all your flaws. Can be very sentimental.

Cancer on the 9th house cusp: With this placement others have an affinity for you as an authority figure who has a strong nurturing or protective feel, very supporting and encouraging. It can be an indicator for moving away from the place where you grew up and finding comfort in foreign places. People with this placement also find it easier to adapt to different cultures.

Virgo on the 11th house cusp: The helpful friend, looks out for everyone, they will always be there for you and great at giving advice. The type that remembers the little things, truly the parent friend cos they look out for you and the kind of person you usually love spending time with and make plans with. Actually only has a few *close* friends.

Sun in the 3rd: People with this placement are usually known for their intelligence and way with words. Sun in the 3rd house people hate to be bored and are always willing to try new things and experience new things (they also adapt very well to any situation), they’re also pretty light-hearted with a great sense of humor and can be mischievous. It also really balances the fixedness of his Aquarius sun. With the 3rd house of communication falling in the Sun, it gives the person a lot of confidence in their speech and pride in their communication skills. It is also said that people with this placement travel/move around a lot. Friendship, and again communication, is very important to them, they make friends easily and have a way of relating to others, also very open-minded.

Moon in the 7th: This is definitely a people-oriented kind of placement, their emotional security is achieved through others, they have a strong need to be around people. (some astrologers also say that these people are the kind to always be in a relationship of some kind, it doesn’t necessarily mean an official “relationship” but A relationship, be it platonic, romantic/committed or literally just casual dating but they need to be with someone because they hate to be alone = feel unstable without someone) These are also the kind of people who fulfill their emotional needs per se through others, so by making others happy.

Mercury in the 3rd: This is honestly such a perfect placement for Mercury, since it falls in its natural ruling house so the planet feels comfortable with this, especially being in an air sign (Aquarius). One of things that Johnny is known for is his “communication” skills, hence why he has a whole YT series: JCC or Johnny’s Communication Centre so this placement is the one that makes the most sense. Mercury in the 3rd house just boosts everything that Mercury represents, it might make someone have a short attention span or get bored easily but they pick up on things very easily, they are very good at multi-tasking and have a very active mind. They are usually the type that know a bit of everything, always have fun facts for you and can have a conversation in literally any topic with anyone, somehow know everyone and are friends with everyone, natural charmers. They LOVE to talk and talk a lot, they excel at any form of communication or writing, this reminds me of two things: (1) The translator at the Mexico concert said that Johnny asks a lot of questions, is very curious and excited to learn (spanish) and also talks A LOT. (2) I heard somewhere that Johnny was in a debating club in school. To sum up Mercury in the 3rd, are great at talking, communication comes easy to them and are huge social butterflies, a good sense of humour, very curious like a child and also like books. boom, jOhnny.

Also to expand on this communication talk: He’d also have Capricorn in the 3rd house, which usually makes someone careful, these are the kind of people that think before they talk and unless they know what they are talking about, they shut tf up. Their voice can sound quite intimidating and authoritarian, but there is something comforting about it. Also tends to make someone very sarcastic, their humor is a bit dry, very dead-pan, the type to make jokes with a serious face and expect you to get it? Also tOO mANy dad jokes.

Venus in the 2nd: Another Mr. Romantic placement that just fits Johnny way more than I want to admit. People with this placement are big old-timey romantic, they don’t fall in love easily but when they do they do fall hard and are completely head over heels, even if they don’t “fall in love easily” they secretly just want to be in love. They live for the pleasure, the romance and the beauty of it all. The type to send you a 100 roses with a card saying “to my one and only, from your one and only”, or buy you a huge teddy bear that smells like him, do the whole wine & dine you, picnic at a park and then take photos of you. It really isn’t about the huge romantic gestures, rather the small and cute ones, it’s about making memories and creating mementos, but also about the cheesy yet classy romance. They can also be super touchy, very physical. Another thing about them is that they really like to buy people stuff, and shower people with material things, it’s (one of) their love languages I guess. I can’t remember right but I am pretty sure I heard somewhere Johnny always buys members shit, like he just buys them stuff all the time.

Mars in the 9th: I said I wasn’t going to talk too much about appearance here, but more energy/vibe instead but I can tell you this much, legend goes that people with Mars in the 9th either have a thing for thighs or have t h i c c thighs* or both so.... Very experimental people, lighthearted yet passionate, really turned on by languages and laughter/smiling. This is the kind of person that will debate anything to do with beliefs, and if you question their beliefs they’ll be like “:) :) :) ok cool ur opinion is valid, everyone has their own opinion :) :) :) except urs sucks :)” you know they secretly love intellectual fights, cos they’re opinionated as hell and have strong opinions, they’re super straight-forward and open-minded (regardless of the fact that they have very strong opinions) and are always willing to learn. Not the best at sugar coating things, kind of blunt whilst still remaining kind and humorous. But since his Mars is in Retrograde, the more aggressive sides of his mars will be very internalized. But their desire in life is to spread joy and laughter, they are very good at making others laugh and being playful. Fun fact: people with this placement tend to move is a very bouncy kind of way, very clumsy. Another fun fact: I heard once that people with this placement may or may not have a teacher kink, and a sex abroad/while traveling kink, also having sex outside.

*skip to 5:26

Jupiter in the 1st: First of all, I have seen a few Nctzen-astrologers type Johnny as a Sagittarius rising and this would be my explanation for that. Having Jupiter in the 1st will give you similar features and energy as a Sagittarius rising, people with this placement tend to have a larger than life presence, your presence is felt before you even walk into a room. Planets in the 1st house kind of go in pair with your rising (because well, it falls on that house duh) so it has a huge influence on how you carry yourself, how you present yourself at first sight, the kind of vibe that you give off and with Jupiter falling on your first house you just exude this optimism, enthusiasm and honestly? Just happiness and positivity. Also people with this placement tend to have big smiles and a large bone structure, Jupiter is the planet of expansion so it makes “bigger” everything that it touches so in the first house it will make your physical features “bigger”: big smiles, soft cheeks, thicc body, etc. This placement also makes people have a certain child-like quality, a permanent youthfulness because of the way they carry themselves (positive vibes y’all), they are also very driven and persistent people, with this fire inside that makes them succeed in anything they set their mind to, maybe it is because of this blind optimism that they eventually succeed. I don’t even have to go on about how this fits with Johnny because I think it speaks for itself.

Saturn in the 4th: out of the many things Saturn represents, your fears is one of them, in the fourth house there could be a fear of losing family, also fear of being unloved (even if you are a very loved person, it is always in the back of your mind), also a fear of not being safe, and not belonging. Belonging might be quite important to him and above all, with this placement: family is taken seriously. People with this aspect value family a lot, and feel responsible for their family. And I think anyone that stans NCT can agree that Johnny definitely seems to take family quite seriously.

Pluto in the 1st: LMAO ok so Pluto in the 1st, is one of the most intimidating placement a person can have. Even if you are the biggest cinnamon bun in the planet, people will be intimidated by you and lowkey scared of you at first glance. You will just naturally give off major alpha intense vibes, no matter what you do. This truly contradicts his (possible/hypothetical) Jupiter in the 1st, I can see it creating this extreme duality (that is very Johnny ngl) of being this intimidating ass man but also being a ray of sunshine that literally oozes positivity. With Pluto in the 1st, you also tend to rub people... a special way. When you have this placement in your natal chart, people either hate you or love you, there is no in-between whatsoever, but regardless of that everyone wants to f*ck you and if they say they don’t, they are lying to themselves. People with this placement tend to be insanely magnetic and people tend to be attracted to them, if they are in a room, you’ll notice them for sure cos their aura is just so intense. QWLL SHAPED LIPS

I’d like to add this here to back up my theory: How Yuta said Johnny was the scariest hyung, and they all fucking agreed and Ten SHOOK his hand like “finally someone said it, that bitch is terrifying” and then there was that time (I couldn’t find it sorry) where Doyoung said that they were all watching a horror movie and everyone kept chatting and Johnny was like all of you shut up and Doyoung said that in that moment Johnny was scarier/more intimidating than the horror movie. Also, I have this theory that idols show probably would show their rising signs more in airports, cos you know they are just walking, minding their business with their “external self” faces on so I can see how their AC would show more in those situations. And like have you seen Johnny walking around in airports? That tall bitch is intimidating as hell, he has that stare and bitch face down to a T and then I remember he has the personality of a teddy bear and I am like ???????? how

Note: for him to have these placements he’d have to be born at around 0:30 am.

so HMU if you want me to do other members and I’ll do some research about it and do a post like that. I am not sure about some of the other members but I do feel strongly about Lucas, maybe Ten, maybe Taeyong (not too sure about him yet)

from your local hoe, Lulu xoxoxoxo

#nct astrology #nct risings #nct birth charts #nct johnny #nct #nct 127 #johnny #johnny suh #johnny seo #seo youngho #suh youngho #ascendant guesses

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beneaththetangles · 4 years

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Teasing Master Takagi-san, and an Easter after Lent

Teasing Master Takagi-San has been a joyful surprise for me. This slice-of-life school comedy about the excessively self-conscious Nishikata and his clever and humorous female deskmate, Takagi-san, is full of color and light and small moments in which I could find myself—and God—went much further than I thought it would, and really pulled me along for the ride.

And very appropriately, as this is a twofold story about gradual change for the better in the midst of daily life, about heading in a direction and being able to see more clearly as you grow. It’s about being guided, which requires hope, and about what seems a messy cycle of everyday chaos at first glance, but is really a path. After all, our everyday life may be, in fact, a series of miracles, and one day I will join Japesland and write about why Our Lord probably likes Nichijou.

Takagi-San may not have the crazy originality and brilliance of that series, but it has strongly reminded me of how I felt watching it as well as other favorite comedies of mine like the Haruhi Suzumiya series, Toradora, OreGairu, Barakamon, and Ore Monogatari, all fish-out-of-the-water stories of a sort.

Enduring the crazy status quo, half-knowing that something is growing and solidifying at the other side, as in all romance, as in Christian life, and as in Lent too, which is like a small parable of Christian life, I must confess Takagi-San has rapidly become one of my favorites, and has also taught me a great deal.

On the surface, Takagi-san seemed like a well-paced mix of the similarly named Tonari no Seki-kun (which I also enjoyed a lot) and Tsuki ga Kirei. There are the seemingly endless variations of the same basic premise, each done in a wildly inventive way. There is the absurdist character comedy centered in small moments. There is the indirect connection through a feeling of “but I can´t help but be interested.” There is the recreation of the school ethos, with all its small pleasures and small torments (Get yelled at in class—the horror!). And on the other hand, there is also the attention to detail, the small moments, the side characters, the luscious colour and detail and developing relationships of the second. Yet, too-cute shows usually push me away (it ended up happening even with Tsuki ga Kirei, despite its other virtues), but here, the teasing, the constant battle of wits, the slow reveal of new aspects of our characters, did the trick: I was invested in them from beginning to the end.

Part of its appeal for me is that I remember, and can still imagine, how nightmarish it would have been to be sit next to a Takagi-san as a kid. I would have died. At that time, I was a good student, I practiced a faith that few around me practiced, and I did read a lot of books that nobody else read, so it was only natural for me to model many of my attitudes on those books. Sometimes this was helpful, and I’m glad I did that instead of finding other models. Oftentimes I was more or less socially awkward and self-serious, a time-traveler from the Victorian era or downright ridiculous, bordering on having the infamous 8th-grade Syndrome. In time, my demeanor at school became that of a Hikki (more so around girls). I would go in my school suit as if it was armor. While I changed at university (not without a not-so-little help from my friends), I was still told once by a classmate that I was the most serious person he had ever known, and I’m intimately familiar with all species of Phariseeism you can think of, and maybe more.—Luckily, my parents are wise and dealt with all my antics with patience and a good sense of humor, and God played the role of a Takagi-san in my life. That is, He teased me, threw me off balance, told me who He was, and patiently guided me so I didn’t become completely trapped in my own defense mechanisms. Like Norman in The Promised Neverland, He was the one who told me something like, “Come with me, and I´ll show you something cool.”—That being so, I really appreciate how without fail, Takagi-san teases Nishikata in a way which subtly helps him mature and develop, while also making herself known to him. Her jokes are never separated from her appreciation for him. It is truly an art. She pays attention to him, to how he thinks, to what he likes and dislikes, to what he seeks and to how he reacts, and uses all that to play him. She has the courage to make herself comical and compete, and seeks the occasion with delicacy and cunning cleverness, again and again. She searches for the weak spot in his defenses, and for the correct word and the correct time. She patiently waits, and when the time comes, she takes him out of the frontiers of his small world like a rollercoaster, showing him a ray of intimacy he did not know she knew (or even that existed) and places him again in the floor of a broader world, shared to a greater degree and more open to the true meaning, to the joyful surprise, to the deep adventure.

And now I will discuss more specific aspects of the plot, so spoilers ahead.—Nishikata may or may not have realized, but Takagi never humiliates him for the sake of humiliation alone. She does it to let him know when he is being ridiculous; to make him acknowledge what he likes and dislikes; to strengthen their bond; and to encourage him to try harder. She offers him a way, and asks for him to choose to go on at the crucial times. She trusts him. God has acted like that many times in my own life, and in that I see the fatherhood of God the Father, the intimate knowledge and loving wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and the humanity of Christ, Who told the Apostles, “Let the children come unto near me.”—Just as He approaches in the Bible and the Gospel to each person at His own pace, to John and James through the Baptist and a day of hanging out, to Peter through the miraculous catch of fish, to the Samaritan by asking her for water and discussing Jew-Samaritan issues, to Zacchaeus by requesting he host Him at his house, to the sickly woman by letting her touch Him in a crowd, or to the Canaanite by debating and testing her, He has often chosen to approach me and make my head spin with His unique sense of humor, and offered me a way which certainly takes control out of my hands in many situations, but that I would not change for any other. And I am very grateful.—The path of the Christian, for me at least, feels very much like that of Nishikata sometimes. After all, God knows everything, and if I am being dumb, evil, or infantile, He sees it at first glance. Yet, He is kind, and interested in develop a personal bond, an alliance. So He speaks to me every day while everyday life goes on, challenging me, putting up with my antics, leading me further, showing me my folly, forgiving me, taking the effort to get me to feel that He really understands. And from there, it is a strange and sometimes downright embarrassing world full of crazy situations where I find myself confessing my blackest sins to a guy I just met; asking for a McFish for the first time in my life because it is Lent; returning at once forty books I had been taking out of the library during the years; engaging in practices, prayers and devotions that only in time come to “unblock,” so to speak, their meaning; trying to love in some way the cartoonish teacher whose philosophy and manners with which I violently disagree; the cheerleader-like classmate who constantly shows off how rich her family is or to the man trying to rip me off twice with the same story on the street; discovering that I am crying at the Passion; singing at the Church with the very elderly choir; letting Christ wash my feet or sharing all this in an article at Beneath the Tangles. And this is not even the crazies part. It is being a long and strange journey.

Takagi’s trust in Nishikata has another aspect I like: It highlights how chaste he is. Nishikata is often dumb, very much immature, believing everything he sees on TV and would die before admitting that he enjoys a romantic comedy show, but he is remarkably noble and respectful in dealing with Takagi-san. Chastity as a virtue is not a popular topic outside a Christian context, and may make him sound like a loser. Yet, he is not losing. He is fiercely competing with a girl who teases him all the time, yet he wouldn’t take advantage of her, respecting her space and her intimacy, refusing to risk hurting her feelings even at the cost of the game and the joke, and rushes to protect her whenever she is in danger. He will not tickle her, even though she tickles him. She can be alone with him, flirt with him, close her eyes in front of him, or make herself vulnerable, knowing that she is safe, that he would refuse to take advantage of her.—He wants to trick her (and so badly!), but never to humiliate, use, or demean her. He chooses to interpret Takagi’s teasing as a challenge to become stronger, both physically and in cunning, and he does, everyday. It is meant as effort, as he is being teased and they are always competing, and more so as their bonds grow. Of course, giving his immaturity and the context of romantic comedy, his barriers on this matter are sometimes excessive and even an obstacle, but I cannot help feeling that he puts this embarrassment to good use.

As Takagi-san, I admire that: I´d rather be cool than uncool, but I´d rather be as chaste as him when dealing with girls and women, who are the precious daughters of God. The life of St. Joseph’s example (Medieval Otaku commented on this here a few years ago), for instance, is one of trusting God, taking care of Our Lord and of His Virgin Mother and dealing with major inconveniences at a maddening pace: the duty under the Law to reject his betrothed, carrying out with a love which would have taken the fault before the world; the sudden change of plans and the courageous faith required to accept God´s design; the edict of the Emperor and the rushed voyage to Bethlehem; the birth of Jesus in a barn; the flight to Egypt; and Jesus lost in the Temple at twelve. All of it unplanned, and probably a mess in the eyes of those who knew him. And through it all, he exhibits the chastity, the respect, and the paradox of being the guardian of St. Mary, who he always loved and always respected. His relatives and contemporaries may not have admired him, but I certainly do.

Returning to shame is described in the Bible as being a result of the Fall, of the end of Edenic innocence. Man and woman, both being now broken inside—unclean, with their sins ingrained in the heart—in a suddenly hostile world where the inner ugliness was present and the gaze of fellow human beings was not warranted to be one of love, became ashamed. They needed clothes to hide, and a path to communion with God and with others, sometimes full of hardships, in which both maturing and cleansing, purifying our intentions, play a part. They tried to do it with leaves, and God gave them better clothes.

Shame, like a guardian, is intended to protect our intimacy and that of others to let us share ourselves with purity, with respect, in a way that helps and enriches us and others. We need to overcome it to achieve communion, but it helps us realize that, in sharing ourselves or entering the space of others, we are dealing with something valuable, something that must be protected. I think we must understand what our shame tells us, not merely deny it. Like Nishikata, we need to gradually learn to be vulnerable, but also to love with all our strength, and to be faithful.

Every time Nishikata is foolish, he is also vulnerable in a way he cannot help, as he is exposing his true self. There are aspects in which we all behave like idiots, in which our silliness is exposed to others. We may not think anymore that having a two-storied house with one story dedicated to manga and other to video games is a sophisticated and mature thing, but we believe things which are equally ridiculous. We become comical, and it is easy to make fun of us. But even the dumbest can do that, to laugh at others: The real challenge, the interesting, helpful thing, is to make them enjoy the joke, to bring them to smile even so, as God does with us and Takagi-san does with him.

That´s why gossip, slander, dirty humor, frivolity, and cynicism are repugnant: to take advantage of the weak spots of others, real or imagined, to have a laugh. The foolishness of man shows something of the inside in a way beyond his control and perspective, and thus becomes hopeful when looked at with a hopeful view, with compassion, joy and tenderness, reflecting the view of God. Our friends and our loved ones are like messengers of God when they do this: They are godsends. And humor is precisely one of the biggest challenges that every tyrant pretending to be God will face: It will reveal that, despite all his might, he is in some way ridiculous.

Which leads me to the final episodes, and the connection with both Lent and Easter. Having endured the constant teasing for more than a year, Nishikata has grown, and he and Takagi-san are closer and closer. Through all this embarrassment, all this effort, all this training, all this hard-conscious guidance, all this hardship (and what may seem trivial to us may be a world to a middle school boy), he has changed. He is able to bring comfort to Takagi-san when she is sad, and when she leaves an open spot, also to triumph over his shame and ask her to the festival, where they will be together in public.

And there, after the final separation and reunion (Our Lord, when He was twelve, also used the separation and reunion during the feast to prophesy His passion to St. Mary and St. Joseph), she tells him the secret: Whatever he thought, he was not losing at all. Every part of it is now a part of their valuable future, a sign of the triumph achieved through them, not by sheer force, nor in the sense he expected: The triumph of having freely chosen to follow an uncertain path, and to have letting himself be guided, enduring the proof, confronting the obstacles. He has come to see what he could not see at the beginning, a whole new world.

The road for Nishikata and Takagi-san is ahead, but they already have a joyful sign of hope in this first triumph. Likewise with us and the Lord: I hope you will let this Easter celebration be the conclusion of your Lent, rest in the bond between you and Christ, and prepare yourself for what lies ahead. I assure you it will be worth the wait.

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Teasing Master Takagi-san can be streamed in Netflix and Crunchyroll.

#Anime #Christianity #Karakai Jouzu no Takagi san #Teasing Master Takagi san #Lent #Holy Week #Comedy #Easter #God #Articles #Author: Gaharet

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queen-scribbles · 5 years

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The Good Stuff

Prompted by @storyknitter, though not exactly in keeping with the prompt she pointed me toward(which just means I get to do it later :3)

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One of the biggest downsides to a career like the military or Intelligence was that sometimes your bad days were so spectacularly awful they made the news and were common knowledge before you even got home. Which was why Briyoni detoured past a liquor store on the way back to her place. And why she dropped half paycheck on a bottle of Corellian Whisky. She had a feeling they would need the good stuff tonight.

She left the bottle on the table before heading back to her room to change into something more comfortable--in this case, shorts and a shirt emblazoned with the fading remnants of her favorite gravball team’s logo. Once comfortable, she returned to slouch in a chair and try to focus on the stack of datawork Garza had given her until Jonas showed up.

She didn’t have to wait long. She hadn’t even finished reading the first report when the door slid open. Jonas stepped inside, running one hand through his hair as he tapped the door controls with the other.

Bry dropped her datapad on the table even as she stood. “Hey, Jo.” He looked awful; disheveled, drained, with a beaut of a bruise coloring his right cheekbone.

“That bad, huh?” he tried to joke, flashing a lopsided smile. It didn’t reach his eyes, though, and faded quickly as Bry stepped forward to hug him. He leaned into the hug his arms settling around her shoulders as he rested his unbruised cheek against her temple. “Guess you saw the news, huh?”

“Yeah.” She rubbed his back. “I know this is a dumb question, but how’re you doing?”

Jonas inhaled deeply and hugged her tighter. “Been better,” he admitted, letting out the breath in a rush. “Also been worse.” He hesitated. “I know we had dinner plans, gorgeous-”

“Already canceled the reservations while I was changin’,” Bry cut him off. She reached up to carefully cup his jaw with one hand. “Figured you’d rather spend the evening in.”

A tired but genuine smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “I love you,” he said, quiet yet emphatic, before kissing her forehead. He didn’t fully disengage from the hug when he started for the couch, pulling her along with him. Bry bit back a smile and grabbed her along with him. Bry bit back a smile and grabbed the whisky as they passed the table.

Rather than just drop onto the couch like she expected with how tired he seemed, Jonas sat slowly, pulling off his boots before he leaned back. It made her wonder how many other bruises he’d picked up in the course of today. Bry sat next to him, resting the whisky bottle on the floor as she settled in close enough to twine an arm around his shoulders and play with the hair at the nape of his neck. They sat in silence for several long moments, but she only felt his exhausted tension ease slightly.

“Full blown gang war’s been inevitable for a while now,” she finally said. “Everyone’s seen it comin’, and that the SIS even tried-”

“Not in the mood to talk about it yet,” Jonas muttered, leaning his head back against the wall.

Bry slid her hand free, tickling the back of his neck as she did. “Sorry, sure.”

“Not something you need to apologize for,” he said. He squeezed her knee affectionately. “Just a topic that needs to wait until at least tomorrow.”

“That’s fair,” she laughed wryly. “You wanna watch a trashy holovid and get pretty damn drunk?”

Jonas snorted. “And people wonder why I love you.”

Bry grinned. “It’s my charm, of course. And my excellent taste in booze.” She picked up the whisky bottle and balanced it on his knee.

He lifted his head up and leaned forward to read the label, wrapping his hand over hers around the neck, then shot her a disbelieving look. “What made you shell out for kriffin’ Corellian Whisky?”

She shrugged. “I had a feelin’ you’d need the good stuff after a day like today.”

“Thanks, but this is a little too good to waste on drowning out a bad day.” He smiled crookedly and squeezed her hand. “This is the kinda thing you save for something special.”

“I dunno,” Bry said breezily, trying to play casual. “My man walked away from a mess most wouldn’t’ve and some almost didn’t, that seems pretty special to me.”

That got an actual laugh(good, her plan was working) and Jonas wrapped his free arm around her shoulders to pull her in close enough for a kiss. “Thanks, gorgeous, but I really do think we should save this for something a little more widely considered a special occasion. What else d’you keep around here?”

“Alright, handsome, if you insist.” She winked and made a show of extricating herself to carry the whisky over to the cabinet where she kept its like. “We do have other options...”

“What’ve you got?” he asked, leaning back again and rubbing at a spot on his chest she would bet serious credits was another bruise.

“Let’s see...” Bry opened the cabinet, slid the Corellian Whisky in, and looked over the other beverages already stored there. “Got the old standbys; rodian ale, juma juice... half a bottle of Old Janx, uh, Deltron spiced wine...” she leaned around the edge of the cabinet to shoot him a sly look. “I have an almost untouched bottle of daranu in here if you you’re interested, Jo.”

Tired as he was, Jonas lifted his head enough to shoot her a dirty look--before actually seeming to consider it. “Y’know what, after a day like this, I could use something that hits like a kick in the face...”

“Haven’t you had your fill of that already?” she raised a brow pointedly at his bruised cheek.

“This?” Jonas gestured at the large purple-blue mark and waved dismissively. “This is from the butt end of a scattergun, not someone’s foot.”

“Oh, yes, that’s worlds better,” Bry said dryly as she took him at his word and poured two glasses of daranu. This would make whatever they wound up watching far more entertaining. “Exactly the mental image I needed.”

“All the more reason to get it out of your head as quickly as as possible,” he countered with a tired smile.

“Touché,” she laughed as she carried both glasses and the bottle back to the couch. “So, whaddya want to watch?” she asked, sinking down next to him and handing over one glass. “Doesn’t have to be a trashy holovid, or even a holovid at all. We can watch a gravball match or somethin’, if you’d rather.”

Jonas took a sip of his drink and shook his head. “Nothing with a chance of cutting to the news. And for once, nothing... action-y. Beyond that... “ he rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “I’m too tired to pick, so, your call.”

Bry smiled sympathetically and rubbed his arm. “We don’t have to watch something, you know,” she pointed out. “We can just sit here in silence and enjoy a good stiff drink.” Not her preferred way to spend the evening, but if it was what he needed, she’d do it.

He shook his head again, taking a longer drink of daranu this time. “Watching something is fine, it’s just your call what.”

She pursed her lips in thought, swirled her drink before taking a sip. “Mm. We could drunkenly trash talk our way through the sappy romance Sayna’s been buggin’ me to watch.”

Jonas let out a soft laugh. “That’s not nice, Bry.”

“Well, then I’m gonna go with rewatching last season’s gravball championship match. We know who won”--she plucked at the front of her shirt with a smirk of lingering triumph--”so we don’t have to pay attention, but it was a good match if we do decide to pay attention.” She took a swig of her drink. “An’ drunkenly commentating gravball is always good.”

He snorted, but there was something forced about his casual tone. “Fine by me.”

“Gravball championship it is,” Bry crowed, and pulled up the recording she’d made of the match. As the familiar opening statistics scrolled across the screen, she settled back in, tucked under Jonas’ arm with her head against his shoulder by sheer habit. Jonas flinched ever so slightly, but settled his arm around her shoulders nevertheless. Their free hands sought each other out by equal habit, fingers intertwining as they rested against Bry’s shoulder. They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, as the sportscasters ran through the pregame chatter and the referee stated the game, then through the initial back and forth until Bry’s team scored.

“Right there,” she said, motioning toward the screen with her glass. “That right there is when I knew they were gonna win.” She took a large swallow, knocking she didn’t have long before the effects hit her, but savoring the sweet burn for the moment. “B’fore that was all team loyalty and bravado, but I knew right there that they would win.”

“Confidence has never been a weakness for you,” Jonas muttered, sounding distracted.

Bry shot a concerned glance in his direction. She couldn’t help wondering what the source of that distraction was, but she’d said she wouldn’t ask, so she wouldn’t ask. Instead she squeezed his hand and kept watching the game.

They watched mostly in silence, and even the breaks in that were mostly her muttering admiration for clever moves or longshot goals she’d known were coming. Daranu was a strong drink once it kicked in, so they nursed each round, but the bottle was still over halfway empty(less than half full, Bry thought tipsily) when the game entered its third quarter and she felt Jonas finally truly relax. Maybe it was that, maybe it was the booze, maybe she was just turning into one of those worrywart fianceés she always rolled her eyes at in holovids. But she had to ask.

“Hey, Jo,” she began hesitantly, brushing her thumb softly over his knuckles. His hm? of acknowledgement was so faint she first wondered if she’d woken him up and then if she’d imagined it, but she pressed on. “Are... have bad days always been like this?”

“Nah, gorgeous.” He shifted and she faintly felt him kiss the top of her head. “I used to do my drinking alone.” A wry snort. “Occasionally with smuggled goods in a medcenter room.”

It was good to hear an edge of his usual humor creeping back into his voice. Even if the implications of his words made her roll her eyes. “Jonas.”

“Hazard of the job, Bry.” Jonas slipped his hand free of hers and withdrew it enough to run his fingers lazily through her hair. “Even if it’s nowhere near the risk factor of yours, stuff does still happen.”

“I know...” Her words trailed off, distracted by a cheer from the vidscreen. When she looked back over, he was watching her, one side of his mouth tugging up in the faintest hint of a smile. “What?”

“Right there,” he said, nodding toward the replay of the absolutely beautiful goal that had just been scored. “When we watched this live, you got so excited at that score, you almost elbowed me in the face.” His smile widened, the flickering light of the vidscreen casting his features in sharp relief with pale blue light. That was one of the first moments some part of me realized we weren’t just another nothing serious. I almost got elbowed in the face on my own couch, and all I could think was how damn happy you looked your team was winning.”

Bry smirked. “I’ll hafta remember daranu makes you sappy as hell, Balkar.” She leaned in to kiss him.

“Daranu, the long hard day, the good company...” His fingers grazed her cheek. “Take your pick.”

“Or maybe you’re always this sappy and just can’t hide it once there’s enough of the good stuff in ya?” She waggled her eyebrows and nudged the bottle.

“If I say yes, is daranu going to become your new weapon of choice?” He stole a slow, lingering kiss.

“Oh, darling, with you, it already is,” she laughed, reaching over to cup his jaw and curl her fingers around the back of his neck to pull him into an even longer kiss. “Well, one of many,” she corrected herself as she resumed her original position. “Glad I make the hard days a little better in return, at least. You know, for all the teasing about sappiness.”

“It’s more than a little,” Jonas murmured, gratitude and relief oozing from the words. “You’re much better company than I ever expected to have.”

Bry simply hummed in reply, and they returned to silence for the rest of the game, then sat there still after it was finished. But it was comfortable silence, and he’d finally relaxed, so not a bad end to the day, even if it was long and hard enough they both drifted off on the couch, still nestled together.

#queens fic #briyoni nerai #jonas balkar #otp: better company #brykar #swtor #swtor fic

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ctl-yuejie · 5 years

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I know ur on a semi-hiatus rn but I was wondering on ur thoughts on the fact that after jack kissed Zhao Zi (I believe) the next time we see him is when Tang Yi wants to beat up De for what he did. I’ve only currently watched the episode once and I feel like in that scene J looks pretty somber (especially in comparison to when TY was beating up the other guy) and you’d think due to j dislike of De he’d be enjoying it more (I also understand he is close to TY) but I kinda hope 1/2 😶 AK

He’s reflecting on his actions and (Ik what D did was worse but it’s on the topic of consent) and I hope that the next scene we see of J and ZZ is J a least trying to apologise regardless if ZZ has came to terms with it. What’s ur opinion? And hope for their next interaction? 2/2 😶AK

hello 😶 AK!! so lovely to hear from you ^^

i have to laugh at myself for still lurking about despite my hiatus but you are always welcome to send me asks any time, my response might just be slower than usual!

to be honest I am not quite sure? the overall pacing of the show so far was very good but sometimes their cuts between scenes confuses me.

before running of ZhaoZi said something about noodles and I don’t know whether they went through with it, but I think it is possible that they just had lunch together afterwards.

which might explain why ZhaoZi googled his problems because I’d be confused too if someone had kissed me like that out of the blue only to pretend that nothing had happened.

I mean we can only guess but at least 2 days have gone by like that and maybe Jack has apologized but if he had I think it would’ve been important to show it.

I haven’t written their relationship off but at the moment i don’t appreciate that ZhaoZi got treated like that and is left hanging and we haven’t seen enough of them for two episodes. They missed a big chance with TangYi calling Jack for help but not giving him screen time and a scene with ZhaoZi.

My wish is, that once we get the next scene with them that they just won’t gloss over the kiss but that they clear the air.

side-bar in which i get horribly side-tracked

maybe that is why I am not happy with Ah De’s storyline and ZhaoZi’s kiss.

because it is one thing to want to incorporate topics of sexual assault into a story, and yes it might be important to deal with sexual assault within the community, but in my opinion the tone of the show isn’t made for that.

at the least you cannot have Jack kiss ZhaoZi in that manner and leave it unchallenged while trying to make a point out of Ah De attacking TangYi.

this series is about a gangster and a cop falling in love but it seems to me that they were a little bit undecided with the tone. because some of it is just silly, fluffy nonsense even though the premise is quite dark and there are some violent aspects. of course it is possible to have humor in a proper thriller and elements of suspense within a comedy but sometimes it feels like i am watching two different shows because they couldn’t decide on a concept.

which isn’t something i’d terribly mind, it would just mean that i would end up nit-picking at some character arcs and not much more. however when treating topics like sexual assault you have to do it right and be consistent in how the show judges those acts. and in my opinion they have dropped the ball a bit with Ah De’s storyline. to me there was much more serious exposition needed to not only explain his behavior but to set the right mood to deal with this topic. but showing Jack and ZhaoZi’s kiss in a positive light (or at least without showing any repercussions in two whole episodes) in juxtaposition doesn’t convince me that the Ah De scene was 100% done because it was necessary for the story and educational and not because they needed another dark element to add to the general suspense.

while i am happy that there’s a female writer/director duo pushing for more queer content and that they’re voicing very progressive thoughts, I am not sure that it is their call to say what is an appropriate way to handle sexual violence between two non-heterosexual men. i’m not saying they shouldn’t write about it, i just have the feeling that they didn’t think it through properly and were let more by what that scene adds in terms of drama than actually trying to tackle the topic.

I hope they get Jack and ZhaoZi sorted out properly because I don’t want to judge the show by this new moral standard they’ve set.

because if i do that, then not only isn’t the kiss by Jack not okay, any moral footing of TangFei’s relationship will crumble as well. because if you think about it with the seriousness they want us to treat Ah De’s scene with, then ShaoFei is not only constantly breaking police protocol and jeopardizing any investigation but TangYi’s involvement with the underworld would leave him quite unredeemable. because in reality trading with drugs means being responsible for exploitation in the countries of origin, causing harm to the public, human trafficking etc not to mention the acts of violence he has committed.

i liked the twist with tangyi growing up into a life of crime and trying to untangle himself from it because it made it easier to know that despite the either very silly or very sinister set-up that is a cop & gangster romance they gave some moral leeway and told us with the element of slapstick to not take everything too seriously. but adding in Ah De’s storyline disrupted that balance and i am not too fond of it, as it gives me the feeling that they treat not all parts of the show with the same morale measure which isn’t a great position to tackle sexual assault in the LGBTQI+ community.

#ctlyuejie writes #longpost #😶 AK anon #😶 AK #i got horribly sidetracked sorry #idk if anyone can make sense of this :"D #don't get me wrong i love this show #i just had a lot of thoughts #cw: assault

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comicteaparty · 4 years

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December 30th, 2019-January 5th, 2020 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from December 30th, 2019 to January 5th, 2020. The chat focused on Reading Days by Sergio Ragno.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Week Long Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on Reading Days by Sergio Ragno~! (https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Remember, though, that while we allow constructive criticism, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic. Below you will find four questions to get you started on the discussion. However, a new question will be posted and pinned everyday (between 12:01AM and 6AM PDT), so keep checking back for more! You have until January 5th to tell us all your wonderful thoughts! With that established, let’s get going on the reading and the chatting!

QUESTION 1. What has been your favorite strip in the comic so far? What specifically did you like about it?

QUESTION 2. Of the ongoing strips connected by the same characters or themes, which one do you like the most and why?

RebelVampire

QUESTION 3. At the moment, who is your favorite character? What about that character earns them this favor?

QUESTION 4. Which of the jokes related to literature, novels, and/or libraries caught your attention the most? What about that strip in general stuck out to you in how it was executed?

Eightfish

1. Unfortunately, even if I've heard of or read the books referenced in this comic I'm not sure I really "get" the strips. I feel like most of the punchlines are going over my head. But I liked this once: https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/comic/judging-a-book-by-its-cover-the-dragon-and-the-george/ It reminded me of me and my friends making fun of the trashy action and romance paperbacks at the free books section of the library. Those campy titles and detailed art have a lot of charm and character to them.(edited)

RebelVampire

QUESTION 5. What has been your favorite illustration in the comic so far? What specifically about it do you like?

QUESTION 6. Which of the pop culture joke strips was your favorite and why? In what ways do you think this comic succeeds in using pop culture for humor in general?

RebelVampire

1) My favorite strip so far is probably this one. https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/comic/what-science-goes-there/ Not only is it a sneaky callback to a very famous sci-fi story, but anything with science cat entertains me. I also like just the...kind of weird dramatic tone this comic has until the last panel where its flipped to deliver the comedy. 2) My fave ongoing series is definitely Science Cat's. I'm just...really biased towards cats. Plus, I really just love the combination between having something education, something comedic, and also something with hints of both science and cat behavior. I love both topics, so for me it's a match made in heaven. 3) Science Cat is my favorite character. Legit, how can you not love a science cat? 4) I actually really like the Judging a Book By its Cover series. Such as this strip for example. https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/comic/judging-a-book-by-its-cover-the-last-dark-elf/ Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of great references and such to literature that I adore (such as my fave strip), but I really like this series focusing on covers. I've personally always thought a lot of book covers, while well illustrated, and really, really weird given the title and contents of the book. So I'm really tickled pink by this series that's kind of pointing that out. Plus, it really does kind of demonstrate the impression a book cover gives us and why it's kind of important to consider the first impression book covers give. Which is why I think it works since it's based on these strange first impressions we might get.

5) My favorite illustration is definitely this strip. https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/comic/dr-science-cat-cat-scientists-tour-of-the-elements-berylium/ Besides my bias for space, I really love the lighting on this one. It really sells the location for me and gives it a nice sense of presence. Not necessarily needed, but I do love interesting lighting so I'll take it. 6) There are a lot of great pop culture jokes, but I'm gonna go with this Peanuts joke one https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/comic/every-time/ Besides the fact it's a classic, it was not the direction I expected it to go. Plus, that Lucy face just really sells it for me. Like its so horrifying in some way, which just makes it all the funnier to me. As for in general, I think this comic really just kind of knows how to balance the elements of pop culture while taking it unexpected directions like this. Where it makes sense in the universe/kind of fits in, yet exaggerates and plays on how ridiculous it could potentially be.

Tuyetnhi

1. I'm fond of the space odyssey parody like lmao. I'll post the link when I find it lol. I think it's just something as midwesterner that likes dry humor, it's a given lol.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 7. Which characters do you enjoy seeing interact the most? What about their dynamic interests you?

QUESTION 8. What was one educational thing you learned from Dr. Science Cat? Overall, what do you think we can learn from the comic in regards to combining education and comedy?

snuffysam

I find the interaction between Reginald and Gina to be really fun. I love the strips where Reginald tries his best to teach everyone meaningful life lessons (e.g. "reading is good") and then Gina comes with an attempt to loudly and completely undermine it. e.g. https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/comic/reginald-powers-in-the-root-of-all-yachts/ But, like, the interaction between them inadvertently teaches other lessons - that not everyone who shares your interests will do so in the same way. Gina and Reginald both like books, but they act on it in very different ways (like, Reginald would not likely break open a water main due to something he read on the spine of a book).

RebelVampire

QUESTION 9. What sorts of art or writing details have you noticed in the way the comic is crafted that you think deserves attention?

QUESTION 10. In what ways do you feel this comic stands apart from other gag of the day style comedy comics? Also, how do you feel the comic succeeds in making everything feel part of one thematically connected series?

RebelVampire

7) I probably enjoy seeing Science Cat interact with anybody really. I don't really have a particular preference where this one is concerned. Though I do somewhat enjoy more science cat interacting with other scientists, cause that allows science cat to be the silly one a bit more than usual. 8) The educational thing I learned was definitely the strip on Beryllium https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/comic/dr-science-cat-cat-scientists-tour-of-the-elements-berylium/. Beryllium is just an element I never really see talked about at all, so off the top of my head I don't know much about it other than it exists. I think this comic does show that comedy and education don't have to be enemies though. The more fun you make education, the easier it is to swallow. Plus, education doesn't have to be serious and boring all the time.

9) There isn't a specific detail I appreciate so much as the overall effort in so many pop culture references. There's a huge mix of books, anime, movies, video games, and so on. Despite how much we consume on a regular basis, it's still hard to know things so in depth to make jokes about them (since most people move on and consume more, which is totally fine of course). So I just appreciate that effort to store enough knowledge that these scenarios can be created. 10) I think this comic stands apart from other gag of the style days in terms of its variety. While there are certainly gag a day style comics that can be pretty varied, I feel this one kicks it up a notch more than usually with just how much it covers. I also think it succeeds more than a lot of other comics due to the sort of thematic connection the whole comic has. Though I can't put it into words, there's a real sense of writing style that is unique and present in all the strips. So in the end it makes the entire theme feel like a really cohesive comedy comic despite only some of the series being connected by the same characters.

Tuyetnhi

8. me answering questions out of order since I think rebel kinda cemented how I feel about the comic in general and Science cat but lmao. Me too about the Beryllium strip. It's kinda funny that a lot of folks who aren't in the education field don't think it's mutually inclusive to have humor and education content together. Yet a lot of educators are calling this connection to help with memory retention. rip speaking as a future educator, it's important to have these works.

science and art, they're closely related than most people think lol.

Tuyetnhi

10. Reginald's Character design for me stands out compared to other gag comics (tbh I wouldn't expect an octopus pop up frequently so kudos for it same for science cat lol). On terms of books read in my high school days, references in pop culture, and overarching moods about reading books and lit. is done well. I think it's just reminding me of the days I'd think about when I was a school kid, and it's kinda nostalgic that way imo.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 11. What do you think are this particular comic’s strengths? What do you think makes this comic unique? Please elaborate.

QUESTION 12. Overall, what do you think we can learn from the comic in regards to comedy writing and how to take inspiration from real life? In other words, how has your perspective on comedy been changed (even if only a little)?

keii4ii

11. I agree that this comic has HUGE variety going on. It covers so much stuff. Admittedly that's a barrier to entry for me, as most of the stuff that's being referred to, I am not familiar with. But even if I don't get it, I honestly think that's admirable and unique. It's a core part of its identity, and it's quite something to see how much fun the comic/author seems to be having, exploring all these different interests!

RebelVampire

QUESTION 13. What are you most looking forward to in the comic? Also, do you have any final thoughts to share overall?

QUESTION 14. What other topics or themes are you hoping to see addressed in the comic? Why do you think it would suit the comedic style the comic is going for?

RebelVampire

11) I think, as I've said before, it's the variety plus the knowledge that's going into the jokes. Want pop culture? It's there. Want literature? It's there. Want educational science stuff? It's there. There's just so much this comic offers in general that I think it adds to the overall charm. 12) For me, as ties into above, this comic kind of reminds me that you can have successful comedy even if not every joke connects with you. I am personally not a huge fan of comedy as a genre, as most stuff just isnt too my taste. However, with comics like this, it's okay if not everything was to my taste. Because of the variety, there were still strips I really liked. So at the end, the comic as a whole did not need to connect with me to be, as an overall thing, something that succeeded as comedy for me. And I think that's a good takeaway for comedy writing in general. Comedy is probably the most divisive of all genres, so it's nice to see when that doesn't really hinder someone making it.

13) Science cat. I need more science cat in my life teaching me about elements. Cause goodness knows I haven't had a good refresher on the periodic table since high school since it isn't relevant to my life. 14) I really hope to see more of the judging book by its cover series, because there are so many great book covers to choose from. Literal interpretation is a comedic form I'm also a fan of and since this comic already has a lot of that, I think it fits right in.

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- WEEK LONG BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about Reading Days this week! Please also give a special thank you to Sergio Ragno for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked Reading Days, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: https://thirteenthchild.net/readingdays/

Sergio’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SergeXIII

Sergio’s Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/sergexiii

Sergio’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/sergexiii

#ctparchive #comics #webcomics #indie comics #comic chat #comic discussion #book club #bookclub #comic tea party #ctp #reading days #sergio ragno #studio sergexiii

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rootbeergoddess · 5 years

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Besides Avatar, I think the original animated Justice Leauge cartoon came to a good conclusion and to this day, I still think it’s one of the best-animated shows ever. This was the show that got my interested in comics. This is what made me more of a DC fan.

It managed to balance humor, romance and action perfectly. It took on serious topics but it never talked down to kids or diminish the heaviness of said topics. And when it ended, I think it ended perfectly. For those of you who don’t know, Lex Luthor, as he does, fucked shit up so bad that the heroes had to team up with the villains. At the end, the villains are given a head start and we end with a final shot on the heroes as they run out, the last frame being Wonderwoman, Batman and Superman. It doesn’t end in a traditional sense. We don’t get more episodes but we know that the Justice Leauge will always exist and continue to fight the good fight.

I feel like people could learn from Avatar and JL on how to end a show effectively.

#Avatar: The Last Airbender #Justice League #animation #cartoons #shows

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gfriendjp830 · 3 years

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marjaystuff · 3 years

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Elise Cooper Interviews Catherine Bybee

Changing the Rules by Catherine Bybee is the first in a new series that takes readers on a thrilling ride. If people believe in the saying ‘the best is saved for last,’ then they have something to look forward to because this one is fantastic. There are bittersweet moments, plot twists and surprises, with a lot of emotion. The characters are strong yet have a softer, gentler, more vulnerable side. The plot has the perfect balance of action and suspense intermingled with a little romance.

Readers familiar with Catherine Bybee might recognize some characters from past series. In the last book of the “First Wives Series,” Say It Again, the characters were Sasha Petrov Hoffman and Claire Kelly, the Richter Military School runaway who helped solve a murder along with Cooper Lockman. Now, both Claire and Cooper work for Neil McBain’s security company. This story has the security firm hired to fish out human traffickers who are targeting high school students. Claire, Cooper, and Jax, Claire’s best friend who also works for the security firm, go undercover at two high schools as seniors to try to find the people involved, while Cooper will be a substitute teacher and assistant track coach at the same school as Claire. Everyone is a suspect both students and faculty.

The banter between the characters is not only funny and entertaining, but also lightens the very serious topic of human trafficking. The romance has Cooper realizing he had feelings for Claire, but she was too young for him then. Neil, the head of the security firm, regards Claire as a daughter, and firmly suggests that Cooper work in the London office. Now, six years later, Cooper was brought back to work with Claire on the case. Both realize there is an attraction between them that cannot be ignored.

This story is a page turner filled with heart-wrenching and heart-warming scenes. The characters are strong but also vulnerable.

Elise Cooper: Why human-trafficking?

Catherine Bybee: When I sat down to write this book, I wanted to highlight a real problem in this country that is being swept under the rug. I have a friend who worked with a division in the FBI, some neighbors who are District Attorneys, and a friend who is a Vice-Principal in a high school. They all talked about human trafficking that had my eyes opened. Someone who has low self-esteem or wants to be popular might hang out with the wrong crowd. I really wanted to highlight this in the story. My Vice-Principal friend would literally tell students to stay away from others because of the real threat of human trafficking.

EC: Did you exaggerate any of the atrocities?

CB: No, I did not. The majority of the time when teenagers are involved with human trafficking it starts out as a local crime. There is a local organized gang element that target those teenagers. I took the liberty of taking it out of state to make it a bigger situation. I did not encompass all the reality including farming out these teenagers into different countries or some who are forced into slavery to be domestic workers. What is true is how the teenagers are put into a situation that they do not know how to get out of and how they are manipulated with the threat of being harmed or killed.

EC: You had the high schools open without virtual learning?

CB: I did not have the book take place in 2020. I really do not think people want to read about what they are currently going through. Maybe, in the future we will be able to reference it. We have all been living it, so nobody wants to read about it. I think this book is a cross between “21 Jump Street” and “Charlie’s Angels.”

EC: How would you describe Claire?

CB: A surprisingly grounded orphan. She is smart, driven, loyal, kicks butt, caring, adapts well, adventurous, rebellious, and at times sassy. She is the Mini-Me of Sasha who is like a sister to her, but not a mother figure.

EC: How would you describe Cooper?

CB: He is ex-military that would defend people to the end. Loyal, capable, one of the good guys that people are always searching for.

EC: What about the relationship?

CB: It is a slow burn. First it was a friendship, then lovers, then in love. In the beginning he was more infatuated with her. As she matured, she became ready for this relationship. She opened her eyes to new possibilities.

EC: What about the Richter Military School?

CB: As the series progresses readers learn more about the backstory. It is a military type boarding school in Germany that is completely fictitious. They did it in secret, training spies and those in law enforcement.

EC: In this book you mention Algebra?

CB: Yes. I wrote that about Claire knowing the answers because that is what I wanted to do when I was in high school. A friend who Sasha was based upon, a PTA mom told me how she spoke French and Arabic. She was recruited by the CIA. She thought the American school system is really behind. After all, Algebra is one of the most useful math subjects.

EC: What about the scene with Shakespeare-that was hilarious?

CB: I am a frustrated Thespian. I came to California to be an actress but changed my mind to become a nurse. You must be referring to the scene where Claire says about Romeo and Juliet that it is “a stupid teenage drama.” My youngest son took this class and came home and said that. I also referenced how Shakespeare only left his wife a bed in his will. I found that tidbit piece of knowledge and put it in the story for everyone to learn.

EC: The series before this, “The Fire Series,” was also very compelling?

CB: That was a true trilogy with similar themes. I had the characters throughout each book. I have a hard time letting my characters disappear. I like to find out what happens to them. I had to write these books because it was such a traumatic time in my life. There are a lot of me in the characters: snarky, sarcastic, with some humor. All strong women.

EC: Can you give a heads up about your next book?

CB: It is the second in this series, titled, A Thin Disguise, and will be out in July. The heroine is the assassin, Olivia. She is Jason Bourne, female style.

THANK YOU!!

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ethanalter · 7 years

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'Saturday Night Live' Recap: It's not just a New York thing

Generally a source of timely and topical humor, last week’s episode of Saturday Night Live made headlines for which jokes weren’t in the telecast — namely the absence of any reference to the Harvey Weinstein scandal, which broke 48 hours before Gal Gadot emceed the second episode of SNL‘s 43rd season. Eventually it emerged that Weinstein-related jokes were written, but cut before the show went live. When questioned about the absence of the most topical story of the moment, Lorne Michaels offered a cryptic, unsatisfying non-response: “It’s a New York thing.” Since the scandal has only grown bigger over the past week, and the ramifications spreading far beyond New York, that excuse clearly wouldn’t fly. So SNL devoted a full sketch to the Weinstein fracas, turning its most popular star, Kate McKinnon, loose on the story, making it absolutely clear where the show stood. (It’s similar to the way they used her post-election appearances as Hillary Clinton to reposition SNL as belonging to the Trump-era Resistance.)

Reviving Debette Goldry — the batty Hollywood veteran she debuted last year — McKinnon used Aidy Bryant’s leading questions, and the straight-woman reactions of Leslie Jones’s Viola Davis and Cecily Strong’s Marion Cotillard, to riff on the charged topic of sexual assault in Hollywood. She even jokingly included herself amongst Weinstein’s victims. “I had one meeting with Harvey. He was naked, hanging upside down from a monkey bar. He tried to trick me into thinking his genitals were his face. It almost worked — the resemblance was uncanny.” But she wasn’t joking when she delivered the sketch’s pre-punchline parting shot: “Violence against women doesn’t just happen to famous actresses. It’s everywhere, dammit. It’s about time we take it seriously. Pandora’s box is open now, and Pandora’s pissed.”

The episode’s host, Kumail Nanjiani, also had some serious subjects on his mind as evidenced by his opening monologue. This past summer, the Silicon Valley star co-wrote and starred in the hit indie comedy, The Big Sick, which told the real-life story of his romance with his wife and collaborator, Emily V. Gordon. Born in Pakistan, Nanjiani caused a stir in his tradition-minded family when he wound up marrying a white American woman, and he addressed the topic of interracial love head-on. “I read a guy who said, ‘I watched the whole movie; I just don’t like race mixing,'” Nanjiani remarked incredulously. “First of all, nobody good ever uses the phrase ‘race mixing.’ The other thing, why did you watch the whole movie? Did you think at the end, I’d rip my mask off like, ‘Ha, ha it’s me — Chris Pine!'” Not for nothing, but Pine addressed a timely issue when he hosted SNL last May: the fact that there are way too many Chris’s working in Hollywood right now.

Second-Best Sketch: “Kellywise”

On a generally lackluster night for live sketches, the Debette Goldry showcase stood out as the night’s most vital and important five minutes. This pre-taped It parody, on the other hand, earns points for sheer entertainment value and the increasingly rare chance to see McKinnon’s mostly-retired Hillary impression.

Worst Sketch: “Nursing Home”

News flash! Old people have sex. And also get STD’s. Maybe forget what we said about SNL‘s humor always being timely and topical.

Trump Watch

Blame it on the Weinstein news — and the collective anticipation to see if and how SNL would address it — but the obligatory Trump-related cold open felt particularly obligatory. Any other week, POTUS’s latest actions would be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. This time, though, Alec Baldwin’s barbs about Eminem, IQ tests and the Veep’s penchant for walking out of football games seemed like ancient history.

Best Weekend Update Joke

After McKinnon got her licks in, Colin Jost and Michael Che took their shots at Weinstein as well. “He doesn’t need sex rehab. He needs a specialized facility where there are no women, no contact with the outside world, metal bars, and it’s a prison,” Jost opined. For his part, Che acknowledged the tricky balancing act of finding comedy in such horrific news. “It’s so hard to make jokes about sexual assault, but it’s so easy to make jokes about a guy that looks like this. He looks like chewed bubble gum rolled in cat hair…Your name is a verb now dude, as in, “If this guy tries to Weinstein me, I’m going to cut off his little Harvey.”

Best Use of Kumail Nanjiani: “Office Halloween Party”

Given that he’s a big ol’ nerd (and proud of it) off-camera, you can bet that Nanjiani was beyond thrilled at the opportunity to wear a life-size Groot costume. His obvious geek glee helps the sketch’s bitter pill of a punchline — everyone has Hepatitis A! — go down a bit easier.

Episode MVP: Cecily Strong

Strong got the chance to play both “First Ladies”, Ivana and Melania, and easily outshone Baldwin’s POTUS in each outing. Do Marla Maples next!

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 on NBC.