#seriously like with each episode featuring these two

[mvlders222]

𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰

based off of the pixies song with the same name

pairing ; natalie scatorccio x fem!reader

wordcount ; 1.3k

summary ; while the yellowjackets team has plans to set up their own homecoming party, "doomcoming" if you will, natalie sneaks off only to find you. left alone with your thoughts and a bottle of alcohol, you have no choice but to confront each other about what was left unhandled before the crash.

warnings ; travis slander!!! alcohol, underage drinking, mention of nausea, angst, fluffy at the end. centered around episode s1xe9 "doomcoming." lowercase intended

"what are you doin' out here?" you looked up to see natalie pushing her way through bushes to get to you. you were sitting on the dirt close to the large tree that stood behind you. the roots were too uncomfortable to sit on properly.

you had previously held your head to your knees and away from the others, the world, and anyone who may've been watching. natalie glimpsed at your tear-stained cheeks in disdain, a sour taste left in her mouth as she tried to swallow it down.

you looked up to meet her gaze, quickly wiping the tears away. you didn't want her to see you like this. vulnerable. nothing seemed to have come from your efforts, however. lighter tears still emitting from your eyes. "nothing," you responded.

that clearly didn't work, as now she'd made her way closer. "doesn't seem like nothin'," her thick accent pushing through. it was one of the many features you had always loved about her. she sat down next to you, avoiding the tough roots that had grown their way underneath the ground and rock.

"i don't wanna talk to you right now," you sniffled a bit.

"you're not the first. i feel like everyone hates me right now." she looked down at the ground before her. her tone made it seem like she didn't care, but she had been hurt by your words.

you and natalie had had a past. it was full of hidden love for one another. skipping class to go makeout in the janitor's closets, having girl's nights whenever your parents were out of town. nothing had ever been official, and while you had feelings for her, you still believed that she had just been using you. but if this was the closest you two would ever get, you'd take that over ruining your friendship.

she was like a drug, though. you loved being around her, and the risk of getting caught was thrilling. but when you were apart, you were left alone with your thoughts and that was more horrifying than any boogeyman hiding under a child's bed.

everything changed after the crash, she had been going on longer hunts with travis and it had been hard to hide your dates. you started seeing her less and less and hated that she left you for a boy.

"what about travis?" you glanced at her slightly, secretly hopeful for her answer, although the thought of them made you want to vomit. "i thought you two were, um, together..?"

"i thought so too. actually, i thought i had feelings for him. he just thinks i'm a slut because i don't fit his perfect image," she laughed at this. "seriously, i don't know what i was thinking."

"he's a dick." that was all you could come out with. natalie laughed at the lone sentence. "he's more than a dick," she responded.

"do you remeber us? when we were happy?" you stared at her with those sad eyes. god, those eyes. she could never lie to you.

"yeah," she said without thinking. "i'm... sorry... about all of this."

it was silent after that. an eternity of awkward silence and you didn't exactly know how to break it. "just go back to the party, okay? i'm not ready yet."

"it was getting boring anyway." she pulled your attention to the bottle of what looked like cheap bourbon. "you want some?" she uncapped it and held it out to you.

without a word, you grabbed the bottle and took a swig. after a couple gulps, you handed it back to the girl and wiped your chin of any drink that dribbled down.

"jesus, do you have nothing to live for?" she teased while grabbing the bottle. her smile slightly dropped when she saw the look on your face. it was one of hopelessness, and your eyes, empty.

"not anymore." you rubbed your nose and sniffled. you turned to face her fully now. "i was gonna go to college, you know. i don't wanna be a housewife who hates my husband, dropping my kids off at soccer practice." tears started to well up in your eyes again at the very thought of this.

"you're overthinking. trust me, that's not gonna happen." natalie brought the bottle away from her lips and looked at you again.

after a couple of sips from the both of you, the bottle was now nearly empty. while that conversation was long forgotten by natalie, it still remained in the back of your mind, taunting you.

"how do you know?" it wasn't meant to be mean, it was a genuine question.

natalie had no idea what you were talking about. as her laughing died down from some stupid joke she made, confusion quickly took over. "huh?"

"how do you know what's gonna happen? after all this?" natalie looked deeply into your eyes and reached out to grab your hand.

"'cause giving yourself away to a man doesn't give you purpose. you're throwing your life away!" she was talking like you were out of your mind. and maybe you were, or maybe it was just the alcohol. because the next thing you did you would've never been able to have the courage to do.

you wrapped your hand around the back of her neck and pulled her close to you. your lips landed on hers and she kissed back without hesitation. in that moment, time stopped. the earth stopped spinning and you were the only two people on the planet.

after a while, you pulled back, much to her dismay, and rested your forehead against hers. she was left speechless at how forward it was. "i, um, wow..."

"tell me, how that one kiss was different than the thousands we've shared?" you teased her, filled with confidence knowing that you're the one that had left her flustered.

"it's been... a while," she finally pulled her head away from yours and stared at you earnestly. "you never know what you have until you've lost it, yeah?"

you smiled at her words. it may have not been the best thing to say in that moment, it may have been sort of dopey, but in that moment it had made your heart full again.

"i regret ever leaving you." natalie shook her head and she seemed ut of breath. "even if we never had anything before now. it hurts to think about."

"i love you," you startled yourself with your own words. now it was your turn to be flustered. "sorry," you laughed awkwardly.

natalie giggled, now feeling happier than ever. she kissed you deeply once more. she didn't have to say it back for you to understand that she really did love you back.

you didn't know what was going to happen next, or if you were going to remember this in the morning, but it didn't matter because she was all yours and you were hers.

#yellowjackets #yellowjackets x reader #yellowjackets x fem!reader #yellowjackets x female!reader #yellowjackets fanfic #natalie scatorccio #natalie scatorccio x reader #natalie scatorccio x you #natalie scatorccio x fem!reader #natalie scatorccio x female!reader #natalie scatorccio fanfic #fanfic

[thatfeelinwhenyou]

KINDRED — 40 (finale)

It’s your final year of highschool, and your only goal is to graduate top of your cohort, as usual. Except as student council president, your advisor can’t seem to leave you alone. What happens when you take Decelis Academy’s top student, their star athlete and put them in front of a camera?

written (2.7k words)

❥･• episode 40 — her entire being is lovable

The week after Jungwon’s competition, the two of you slip back into the usual programming of studying together after school, despite the documentary having ceased filming. It's a curious irony, isn't it? Now liberated from the suffocating grip of your mother's expectations, free to pursue your own desires, yet you find yourself still tethered to your books, for she was right when she says you can’t go anywhere without decent grades. 

You also don’t know what else to do in school besides studying. The library, with its quiet embrace, has become your refuge, a familiar haven and a place where you seek clarity amidst the chaotic excuse you call your current predicament. With your resignation as student body president, all that remains is the race against time until your college entrance exams.

"Y/N, sorry for being late!" Jungwon's voice breaks through the quiet murmur of the library as he settles beside you in your customary corner. You offer him a shy smile, basking in the familiar scent of his cologne that wraps around you like a comforting blanket.

"I finished a whole chapter waiting for you," you tease gently, knowing full well that he'll feel a twinge of guilt for keeping you waiting, only for you to feel bad for making him feel bad. And now you’re both feeling guilty and he’s demanding a kiss from you to make up for it.

"I never took you for the clingy type in a relationship, Yang Jungwon," you chuckle softly, playfully pushing a finger against his forehead to halt any public displays of affection in the holy vicinity of a public library.

"Yeah, well, I didn’t think you’d be rejecting my attempts at showering you with love when we’re a whole fortnight into dating," he pouts, his bag dropping to the seat beside you with a sullen thud. If one other thing did change aside from your relationship status, it would be the fact that Jungwon no longer sits across from you, but beside you. He insists it’s for practicality's sake, which to a certain extent you agree.

Truth be told, Jungwon just finds it distracting to be directly across from you, where he was in full capacity to be distracted by the beautiful features of your face. Not that the new arrangement helped anyway when he is still constantly reaching for your hand to hold, a silent plea for your touch that you gladly reciprocate.

“Why did the teacher hold you back anyway?”

"Couldn't believe my math grades improved so much; he thought I cheated on the recent quiz. Never thought I was doing so badly to make him doubt me that much."

"I mean… you were pretty horrendous," you quip with a grin, nudging him playfully. "Emphasis on ‘were’!" you add, teasingly, knowing he won't take it too seriously. He proves you right as he scoffs at your candid assessment of his past academic struggles. After all, deep down, you both know there's some truth to it...

"We have that final confessional with Producer Choi later today, right?"

"Yeah, can’t believe two months just flew by like that. Feels like just yesterday we were agreeing to only pretend to like each other." You snicker softly, sensing the irony in the situation now that you and Jungwon are in an official (not fake) relationship.

The irony is not lost on Jungwon as you catch his silent smile, knowing he, too, is lost in the memories of that pivotal moment, where pretence gave way to something real and profound.

"What's to say I'm not pretending right now?" Jungwon raises an eyebrow, eliciting an exaggerated gasp from you.

"Are you suggesting you still hate me?" you exclaim, feigning offence and playfully inching away from him on your chair. Jungwon's reaction is immediate, grabbing onto you as he pleads for you to stay, insisting he was only joking.

"So, you don’t hate me?" you inquire with mock seriousness.

"No, I would never!" He envelops you in a sideways hug, leaving you in a precarious position where, without his support, you'd probably topple off the chair, earning judgmental stares from every library patron within a half-mile radius.

With his arm around you, you gaze up at the finely sculpted features of his face, marvelling at how you ever found this man annoying in the first place. As Jungwon's fingers toy with the strands of thread hanging off your uniform blazer, a comfortable silence settles between you. 

“When’s your confessional?” Jungwon's question breaks the serene silence, prompting you to glance at the clock and realise the time constraints you're under.

"I'll have to leave soon if I don’t want to be late. Your confessional is right after mine, yeah?" you confirm, already mentally preparing to make your move.

"Yep, I’ll meet you at the gate after, and we could go for some snacks!" Jungwon suggests with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Is this another one of your tricks to feed me into a coma so we don’t have to study?" you quip, raising an eyebrow in playful scepticism.

Jungwon feigns innocence, his grin widening. "Who, me? Never!" he replies, his tone dripping with sarcasm. You chuckle, knowing full well his penchant for indulging in snacks whenever the opportunity arises. But as you gather your things and prepare to leave, you can't help but look forward to the prospect of spending some more time with Jungwon, even if it means indulging in a few too many treats along the way.

You arrive promptly at the confessional venue, positioned strategically in the field right by the entrance of the school so the logo can be seen clearly in the background.  This meant people, a lot of them, stopping nearby to watch and observe the commotion as it's not every day you get to see a whole camera crew in the front yard of your school.

Spotting Producer Choi among the crew members, you make your way over and exchange greetings. "Y/N! It’s been a while, hasn't it?" she exclaims with a warm smile.

"It has," you reply, returning her smile as you exchange pleasantries with the familiar faces of the cameramen stationed around you.

"It felt weird not seeing you around after having seen you almost every day for the last 2 months. Strangely enough, I kind of missed it," you admit, though you sense a hint of scepticism in Producer Choi’s eyes, as she knows damn well you were the most excited for this documentary to end. 

With a gesture from Producer Choi, you settle into the stool in front of the cameras, and the familiarity of the setting washes over you. It's strange how quickly this space has become a second home over the past few months, filled with the laughter of the crew members who have become like family. With that thought in mind, you mentally ready yourself to share your thoughts and reflections on the journey you've embarked on.

"First of all, thank you, Y/N, for agreeing to be a part of this documentary," Producer Choi begins as the camera lights turn red. You nod in response, feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement coursing through you.

"Let’s start by having you share with the viewers how you felt about this journey," Producer Choi prompts, her voice gentle yet probing.

"Well, it’s not easy, that’s for sure," you begin, your words flowing more easily now that you've found your rhythm. "It was an experience that urged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore beyond a routine that I was already used to. It was difficult, no doubt, but the friendships that I’ve made along the way made this whole journey worthwhile. If I were to go back in time, I would do it again."

Producer Choi nods encouragingly, her eyes reflecting understanding and empathy. "If that’s so, tell us the most important thing you gained from this documentary."

"This experience was precious to me in many other ways than one," you continue, your voice growing more animated as you recall the memories. "But if I were to point out the most important thing I gained out of this documentary, it would be myself. It’s a little cringy, I know. It still amazes me how much I managed to change in this short period of time. But you know what they say, the best discovery starts within you, and you best believe I discovered." 

The camera captures the sincerity in your eyes, the raw emotion shining through as you speak from the heart; a genuine reflection of your growth and transformation throughout the journey.

"Throughout the airing of ‘Kindred,’ the show has gained immense popularity among both domestic and global viewers, why do you think so?" Producer Choi asks, her tone shifting to a more analytical one.

"Honestly, the documentary was able to do well all thanks to Jungwon," you respond with a chuckle, thinking of your ever-charismatic boyfriend. "Without Jungwon, I genuinely think you guys would have produced the most yawn-bearing documentary to date. I acknowledge my lack of entertainment wits. There is also the whole strange pairing between Jungwon and I, even I admit that I’d be interested to find out how our very unique dynamics would work with each other."

The crew members share a knowing smile, having witnessed firsthand the magnetic chemistry between you and Jungwon that has captivated audiences around the world. It's a testament to the power of authenticity and genuine connection, something that can't be manufactured or scripted.

"Speaking about Jungwon, how has your relationship with him changed throughout the show?" Producer Choi inquires, her curiosity piqued.

"Jungwon is really special to me," you admit, a soft smile gracing your lips as you think of him. "I’m glad I got to properly know him through this experience. I’ll forever be grateful to ‘Kindred’ for bringing him into my life."

"Seems like there's something more to it, but I won't pry! But now that you’re graduating soon, what’s next?" Producer Choi prompts, her tone shifting to one of anticipation.

"Hmm… I’m not sure," you confess, feeling a pang of uncertainty creep in. "Ironic since you’d expect the girl with perfect grades to know what she wants to do. But I’m still working on that. Although, tutoring Jungwon made me realise how much I actually love teaching. May or may not consider pursuing it in the future, but we’ll see. I’m not in a rush anyway."

"Lastly, is there anything you want to say to the viewers of ‘Kindred’?" 

"To all the viewers of Kindred, thank you for all the support and attention you gave us!" you exclaim, genuine gratitude shining in your eyes. "I’m glad you found some sort of joy going through this journey with Jungwon and I. It’s an experience I’ll hold close to my heart forever."

As the final words leave your lips, you can't help but feel a sense of closure wash over you. This chapter of your life, filled with ups and downs, laughter and tears, is coming to an end. But as you look back on the memories you've created and the relationships you've forged, you know that the impact of this experience will stay with you for a lifetime.

"By the way, will Jungwon be doing his interview here too?" you ask, curiosity tugging at you.

"Why of course," Producer Choi replies with a smile.

"Can I watch?" you inquire, eager to see Jungwon in the hot seat for a change.

"You don’t see Jungwon here now, do you? We got to play it fair, Y/N," she says with a wink as she scurries you away from the film site, leaving you with a sense of anticipation for Jungwon’s answers now that you know the questions that were being asked.

"What was your answer to the question?" you grab onto his arms, shaking it relentlessly trying to get him to fold, even equipping your signature puppy eyes. Jungwon, however, continues to chew on his food that both of you bought off a random street cart, and is now seated at the very same bench where you shared your first kiss.

“I’ll tell you if you tell me,” you consider revealing your answers but decide against it when you think back to your responses and visibly cringe.

Jungwon, ever the enigmatic one, simply smirks, his lips curling into a playful grin. His eyes sparkle with mischief as he toys with you, taking another casual bite of his street food as if your inquiry were nothing more than a fleeting thought.

You roll your eyes, knowing damn well the game he's playing. This teasing banter, a familiar exchange between the two of you, only adds to the playful dynamic of your relationship. But deep down, you can't help but wonder what his answer might have been.

“I guess we’ll only know when they broadcast it,” you shrug, resigning to the mystery as you lean your head on his shoulders. The warmth of his presence beside you, and the gentle rhythm of his breathing, all serve as a comforting anchor amidst the bustling street around you.

As Jungwon reaches over to play with the strands of your hair, a comfortable silence washes over you. The sound of distant chatter and the occasional honking of car horns fade into the background, leaving only the two of you in your own little bubble of tranquillity.

With a playful smile, you reach up to gently swat at Jungwon's hand, feigning annoyance. "Stop messing with my hair," you tease, though secretly enjoying the attention. Jungwon chuckles, his warm breath brushing against your cheek as he leans in closer.

"But it's so fun," he counters, his voice a mere whisper. You roll your eyes playfully, unable to contain your grin. "You're lucky I like you," you retort, leaning into his touch despite your mock protest.

Jungwon's laughter fills the air, a melodious sound that resonates deep within you. His genuine joy is contagious, spreading warmth and happiness with every moment you share.

"I know," Jungwon replies with a smirk, tightening his hold around you. "And I'm lucky to have you." You smile to yourself, the warmth of Jungwon's words enveloping you like a soft embrace. His ability to express his feelings so openly still catches you off guard at times, leaving you feeling both exhilarated and a little overwhelmed.

"You know, you have a way with words," you tease, lifting your head to meet his gaze. Jungwon's smirk widens into a full-blown grin, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Only when I'm talking to you," he replies, his voice filled with sincerity.

The sincerity in his words touches something deep within you, stirring a gentle flutter of emotions in your chest. Despite any doubts or uncertainties that may linger, there's a sense of reassurance in knowing that Jungwon is by your side, ready to face whatever challenges come your way.

You never fully comprehended why you felt so connected to Jungwon in the first place. Sure, you could say that anybody in your position—forced to film a documentary 24/7 with a decent-looking boy (though you’d rather die than admit this back then)—you were bound to catch feelings.

To you, Jungwon is more than just a forced proximity crush; he's an anomaly in your otherwise stoic and academic-focused life. An anomaly that got you so frustrated trying to figure out why he’s such a constant pain in your ass. An anomaly that introduced you to the world outside of the one your mother delicately crafted for you—holding you to unrealistic expectations that she knew damn well you could never meet no matter how much you tried.

He helped you understand that this life is a journey that you shape. That no matter what, mistakes are inevitable. You can give your everything and still somehow manage to fuck things up along the way. Yet, the beauty lies in the way you get to decide how you’re going to fuck up. And there’s no one you’d rather navigate these missteps with than Jungwon.

And while many would assume that a student council president with stellar grades and a Taekwondo athlete who can't study to save his life would never go well together, these assumptions are proven to be false as you realise the many similarities you share with Jungwon. Like how either of you will do anything for the people you care about and for the things you wish to achieve. You could say the two of you are Kindred.

As you rest against him, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your cheek, you can't help but marvel at the depth of your connection, forged through peculiar circumstances. 

With him, it doesn’t matter who you want or need to be.

With him, life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile.

prev | masterlist | next

♡。·˚˚· ·˚˚·。♡

authors note: aaaaand that marks the end of kindred!! i have so much i want to say but i'll save it for when the epilogue comes out! in short, thank you so much to everyone who stuck till the end despite my super irregular posting schedule... 🫣 until next time!

perm taglist. @hajimelvr @s00buwu @urmomssneakylink @bubblytaetae @mrchweeee @artstaeh @sleeping-demons @yuviqik @junsflow @blurryriki @hueningcry @fakeuwus @enhaslxt

taglist! @uuzhanggggggg @aloloveswonie @jayhoonvroom @missingemobeomgyu @jiawji @ocyeanicc @s7noo @asterizee @nwjws @noascats @yunwonie @saturnmooonxx @enhaz1 @jiaant11 @clairecottenheart @i2lain @miumiuoi @zhounauts @neocockthotology @nanuer @yenqa @ahnneyong @chanhee-hee @yanqiiuver @yujmelon @keiisu @jaeyunniesimp @jiamini @jihanniee @lilriswife4life @i-yeseo @plutoslostagain @haqzm @ilovejungwonandhaechan

#enhypen #jungwon #heeseung #sunghoon #belift #hybe #jay #iland #sunoo #enhypen fluff #jake #niki #riki #enhypen social media au #enhypen smau #enhypen crack #enhypen angst #enhypen x reader #enhypen scenarios #enha smau #yang jungwon x reader #jungwon x reader #yang jungwon smau #jungwon smau #jungwon social media au #high school au #yang jungwon #tfwy kindred #tfwy smau

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

03/13/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Cast & Crew; Leslie Jones; Erroll Shand; Ruibo Qian; Dominic Burgess; Adam Wheatley; Kristian Nairn; Queerties; Fanspotlight: Cast Cards/Our Flag Means Fanfiction; SaveOFMDCrew /Billboards/trucks; Still Fighting; Max Madness; SchadenFreude; Articles; Watch Party Reminders; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

== Leslie Jones ==

Congrats to Leslie for her NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series!!!! SRC: Leslie's Twitter

== Erroll Shand ==

It's Erroll Shand's birthday! please pop over anywhere you can find him and wish him a Happy Birthday!!! Thank you to @youvebeenricked on Instagram for sending him so much love!

Erroll Shand's Instagram

= Dominic Burgess! =

Our dear crew-mate @iamadequate1 got a Cameo from our very own Jeffrey Fettering (Dominic Burgess!) It's absolutely ADORABLE. You get to meet his cats and fish, and he's just the sweetest man alive-- please give it a watch!

Wanna send your cat pics to Dominic since he shared his cats with us? If you have twitter please add them to the thread below. Thank you to @ouibek for this lovely idea!!!

Ouibek's Twitter post

Speaking of Dominic, he also recently posted an interview he did, please read it when you get a chance!

= Ruibo Qian =

Our pirate queen Ruibo posted some very lovely pictures today, and the message of: 🎼🎶♾️ SRC: Ruibo's Instagram

== Kristian Nairn ==

New music comes out Mar 22, you can pre save it here!

== Adam Wheatley ==

Production Designer and Supervising Art Director Adam Wheatley has dropped some seriously awesome set designs! OFMD Twitter has been having a blast. Check out the full catalog here. Thank you to @adoptourcrew for bringing it to our attention!

== Queerties Results ==

Our Flag Means Death and Vico Ortiz both received Runner Up for the Queerties! Thanks so much for everyone who voted!

== Fan Spotlight ==

Thank you to @melvisik for yet another cast card! This time it's Bronson Pinchot, our very own Ned Low! I totally forgot he was in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, I really need to go rewatch that! Thank you dear for another great card!

== Our Flag Means Fanfiction ==

Our darling crew-mates over at @ourflagmeansfanfiction have a new episode out, this time featuring Stede! On top of that, the #RhysDarbyFaction got a shout out 😭! Please check them out on Spotify or their Instagram!

== Save OFMD Crew / Billboards / Trucks ==

The AppleTV trucks were parked outside Apple today! On top of that, the SaveOFMD Crew sent some love out to David and the rest of the Cast & Crew for all the things they've done for us!

== Still Fighting ==

A lot of fans are still fighting the good fight. Even if we aren't getting OFMD s3, they're sticking it to the man, David Zaslav for stealing our Love, OUR JOY!

#FireDavidZaslav has trended two days in a row, and he's certainly getting some nasty press.

@screenjunkies made a call out to what a horrific job David Zaslav has been doing! Visit Honest Trailers | The Year 2023:

= Dont Stream On Max =

Are you still interested in causing Max some grief? There's a discord server where several fans are getting together to notify each other and make plans on how to polite menace max. Please reach out if you'd like a link!

= MaxMadness =

So today, Max thought it would be fun to post a really shitty bracket for shows and movies on their platform. They were pitching things like Citizen Kane to eventually be up against Shark Week. If you'd like to see the dumpster fire, feel free to visit their Twitter or Instagram.

Our crew-mate @iamadequate1 decided to make a Max Fan Favorites of our own! This time with cancelled shows! You can vote on this thread below on Twitter!

== SchadenFreude ==

WB is still having a rough time.

== Articles ==

Why is Wall Street Unimpressed with WBD Streaming Profits? Password-Sharing Crackdown Next in Zaslav’s Plans

== Watch Party Reminders ==

= Wrecked =

Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST. Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each. Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.

Hashtags: 

#WreckedPirates

#SaveOFMD

#RhysDarbyFaction

= Mar 15: Lube As A Crew =

Our dear friends over at @astroglideofficial are hosting one last Lube As A Crew, with all of Season 2 in one go! Starts Friday March 15th 12 pm Noon PST ( 4pm EST, 8 pm GMT)

Mar 17: Pirate Radio/The Boat That Rocked Watch Party! 

Sunday the 17th of March at 7:30pm GMT / 3:30 pm EST / 1:30 pm CST  Hosted & Graphics by @Tillychmo

Watch Party Hashtags:

PirateRadio 

AdoptOurCrew

SaveOFMD

OurFlagMeansWatchAlong

== Calendar Reminder ==

Tomorrow is #TheoryThursday! Our crew deserve a happy ending. Let’s give them one! Post and tag us with your favorite fics or art that have happy/feel good endings. They can be your own!

== Love Notes ==

Hey lovelies! How are you holding up today? Are things any easier this week? If not, that's okay. It's okay to still not be ok.

It's already hump day, and here we are, still kicking. I feel like I've been having lots of ups and downs. Distracting myself with silly things that make me laugh help a lot. Talking with you all on the crew really helps too.

What makes you laugh? Is it puns? Or goofy pictures? Is it unhinged comments, or maybe schadenfreude?

Whatever it is that makes you laugh-- please laugh today. Turn on a special (there's plenty of Rhys Darby specials on youtube or prime video). If that's not your speed, and you want to reach a goofy fic, look up something on ao3 with the weirdest tag you can think of.

Laughter can make us feel so much more alive when we're feeling down, and I hope you get some today.

Remember that you deserve to laugh, and enjoy life. Life will continue to get better, and even when it has ups and downs, you can always laugh, and there will always be bits of joy in the world. You all are my joy. Every day I get by with witnessing all the wonders this crew accomplishes.

You're awesome, and you're kicking ass <3, and you deserve the best. Night Crew. Sending hugs and love.

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Tonight's lovely gifs feature... more hand action! Darby is courtesy of @jodegg! Taika is courtesy of @ofmd-ann!

#daily ofmd recap #daily ofmd recaps #ofmd daily recap #ofmd daily recaps #ofmd #our flag means death #rhys darby #save ofmd #taika waititi #dominic burgess #erroll shand #leslie jones #ruibo qian #finish our stories #long live ofmd #kristian nairn #Adam wheatley #Spotify #Youtube

[saltydkdan]

Hello Salt man! You seem like an unhinged enough weeb for this question:

I’m going to be the president of the anime club in my highschool this year and have no fucking idea what I should do for activities and shit.

Any ideas? If not, that’s perfectly fine too!

(Also thank you for reblogging my Peppy drawing it made my day ^^)

No problem! I loved the art

I think it’s pretty obvious for an Anime club to watch Anime, however that shit is basic, and I have some unhinged ideas.

Trivia (the least unhinged)

—Make a trivia game on PowerPoint, or on Kahoot that feature questions based on various popular anime. Get specific and weird for the harder questions.

Anime Debate Club

—(be careful with this one because depending on the group it may get heated lol)

—At the end of a meeting, choose to random anime characters

—Tell members that they can pick sides on which of the two would win in a fight, then between meetings, bring together their arguments for why, they have to have actual citation and examples of the character’s powers, or reference specific canon material

—Bonus points if one of the debate teams puts together a PowerPoint slideshow on a character’s power set, or the other characters weaknesses

—Have a judge award points for valid arguments, but have them be cracked out of their minds about it (For example, awarding points to “Comedy” characters, like if an Osumatsu-San character surviving a Ki blast could be funny? That’s a point towards them. LMAO)

NOTES: Obviously the characters chosen cannot be Goku, Vegeta, Saitama, or in general overpowered characacters. Also, having completely fucking insane match ups, or wildly specific match ups is recommended. Like Bobobo VS Dio Brando from Jojo. Or General Tao from Dragon Ball VS Gojo.

If the fight is extremely one sided, just make a list of all the ways that one side would fucking dominate because that shit is fucking funny LOL.

Weekly Book Club but for anime

—This isn’t really “unhinged” but I recently did a manga book club with friends weekly and it was super cool to meet up and discuss the chapters of a particular series and such

—You can do this for anime and assign a set number of episodes, OR do manga and provide a way to read it online

—Rotate out series every so often so people don’t feel like they’re focusing all their attention to a single series the entirety of the year

—This could be a fun thing to do casually between meetings and to talk about a little at the start

Pitch your favorite

—Have people make a short presentation on PowerPoint to pitch their favorite series that’s 3-5 minutes each, or whatever depending on how many people you have

—If you wanna make it funny make it so they HAVE to include both Pros, AND Cons about it. (Like for One Piece: PRO would be the amazing worldbuilding, and a CON would be that Oda cannot draw women)

Make an Epic OC

—Force people to design OCs for a specific series for that week. If they can draw and want to, they can draw them. If they can’t draw? Make it a stick figure, or a shitty drawing a child would make. And have them make a small write up about the character and their powers.

—This can easily be taken seriously, or just have them make an overpowered self insert, all of it is fine

Anyway that’s all my ideas! Hope this helps or inspires some of your own unhinged ideas

#saltydkdan #salty asks #anime club #anime

[glasspunkart]

Bravern Radio Episode 1 TL (1/2)

Hi! Recently the web radio of BBBB came out on Youtube so I decided to do a translation for anyone interested!

As a key: Isami Ao VA -> Suzuki Ryota Lewis Smith VA -> Azakami Yohei Bravern VA -> Suzumura Kenichi For the purpose of this TL, I will be using character names (Isami, Smith, Bravern), and I'll put in bracket any time a name is mentioned or any additional info! So let's go!

Isami: We've started with a 'Bang'! Hey everyone, are you exploding with courage?! I'm the voice actor of Isami Ao from Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern, Suzuki Ryota! Nice to meet you all~ ("Yuuki Bakuhatsu" means "Courage Explosion", they will use "courage" a lot, they're referencing the title) Smith: I'm the voice actor of Lewis Smith from Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern, Azakami Yohei! Isami: Yup! This program, starting January 2024 will be broadcasted about Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern, featuring me, Suzuki Ryota, the voice of Ao and Azakami Yohei, the voice of Lewis as radio personalities. Sometimes we will bring in guests, sometimes just us, and with courage we have our Web Radio! I'm going like a factory here lol

Smith: Seriously, I can't catch up to you haha Isami: The main part of the show well, it's a story about Isami and Ao's growth and the bond between them. The two of us are going to show courage and roll through with the show, welcome our guests and hopefully inspire some courage in you all too! Smith: We will try to convey the appeal of this show from all kinds of angles for you, please listen on! Isami: Actually first I apologise, the opening is- it keeps going. Ah, it's amazing huh, gets the tensions high. Smith: Haha, BRAVERN! It's so cool

Isami: Going on about our first radio episode, we were just in the middle of searching and searching. For the first, well, somehow we have managed to call a guest who's way too amazing. Bravern: It's sort of like we got the last boss of guests here. Isami: Right! It's like 'is it okay for us to call them?' Smith: Sooo Isami: Is it okay now? Smith: Lets call now ?: Should I be called now? Smith: Its better if we call fast now. Isami: Time for introductions! It's this person! Bravern: Is your courage exploding?! I'm the voice of Bravern, Suzumura Kenichi! Nice to meet you~

[Applause]

Isami: Yaaayy Smith: Thank youuu. Truly, we searched and searched, please save us senpai haha Isami: Save us Braveeeern!! Bravern: But like with such an amusing setting, you two as the main personalities, it's hard to be in step with you! Smith: Truly it's hard to find such an amusing set Bravern: In most of the shows I know, they have a lot of experienced veterans who have been doing this for many years to try to keep in step with. But you normally don't see it that much- the difficulty to keep up Smith: Normally it would be like- me and Ryota-kun (Isami) will be opposing each other, and the guest gets to pick a side Bravern: Yeah, this is some kind of strange thing. It feels like an interview Isami: It's like we are the ones being called Bravern: You have it reversed!

Smith: Also, personally, you don't often see radios having a guest right from the first episode huh? Bravern: Yeah that's true Isami: It kinda feels like, lets just do it with the three of us Bravern: Until the end? I wish! Smith: Seriously, I wish! Okay firstly, as for how we're calling each other? How about we change it from our usual names? Isami: This too gotta be done with courage! Bravern: For each of us? Smith: Yep! We want to go with names that we haven't been called until now Bravern: What would I want to be called….well, if we decide it here it will be easier to call those on-site. Isami: Oh that's true

Smith: We also have names that we are called on a day to day basis too Bravern: Oh tell us about those too Smith: For me it's Azakami so…people call me Azi Bravern: Azi???? Isami: Azi…. Smith: Yep, Azi Isami: That's nice, it's easy to say too. Smith: Really? Anyway, we need to pick names that we only use here? Bravern: Oh, okay… Isami: What were people calling me until now? Bravern: Oh…there's a lot of them. Smith: Lol, a lot huh? Isami: Pick something that's not Azakami-kun Bravern: I've been calling you 'Azakami-kun' all this time but what should we call you huh? Smith: Other than that! Not something I've been called a lot until now Isami: I've also been saying Azakami-san this whole time…

Bravern: Usually at this time we have to search. When you know what's needed and talk about it with people, like 'what do i want you to call me?', there's sometimes a really skilled senpai, who will just suddenly pull out 'Azi' as a nickname. Isami: If I was just randomly called Ryota (his first name) it would make me super happy~ Bravern: I'm the type of senpai who can't really do that….I'm different from those kind of senpais Smith: Hahahaha Isami: So the one who needs to show courage is Suzumura-san, finally Bravern: Yeeaah that's true. Though now I want to call him Azi, after all that. It's just in here right? Just between us? Smith: You can call me that elsewhere too! Bravern: It's not like calling 'Sardine' or 'Mackerel' or something, like "Aji" (jackfish/horse mackerel) fish or something! Isami: Aji…lol Bravern: It's not like that! Next it'll become whale shark… Isami: That's so long! We are getting further and further from the point here! It's hard to understand!

Smith: Well then I'll be simple and say that I like being called by my (given) name. By my senpai, like "ah, Yohei", kinda Bravern: Yohei is nice! Smith: If you called me Yohei it would make me happy Bravern: Yohei, right? Yohei, huh…but now I like Aji lol, is it okay if only I call you 'Iwashi'? (Sardine) Smith: Sto- well, maybe just Isami: Just this time? Smith: Mm, just this time, you can call me Iwashi.

[lmao]

Smith: On to you, Ryota-kun… (Isami) Isami: Hmm Bravern: Normally, what are you called? Smith: By fans and such Isami: Well, fans call me "Su" (From "Suzuki") Bravern: Su?? Smith: Su! One character….lol Isami: Su.. Bravern: This is like, 'oh it's become that era already'! Isami: With this they're definitely bullying me Bravern: Ryouta-kun- it's the same as using 'ryo' or 'ri' Smith: Aahh yeah nowadays (the nicknames) are becoming shorter and shorter, huh? Bravern: 'Su' huh Smith: They've taken that lol Bravern: I've seen people use "Suzu" pretty often these days, I've been called so too Smith: Yeah I have too Isami: Ohh yeah I see Smith: But Suzu is kinda- well, if Suzumura-san is okay with that's fine but I don't like it, calling you "Suzu" since it's Suzumura-san's nickname ("Suzu" works for both "Suzumura" Bravern and "Suzuki" Isami) Bravern: Yeah that's true too. Then, 'Su', huh? Smith: Su…lol, Su… Bravern: Okay I know. Let's call you Miso (a type of soup) Smith: Hahaha, that fits perfect. The Sardines have assembled here (miso soup can contain sardine)

Bravern: The sardines. We've made it something you can taste, it sounds delicious. You guys should call your unit Namero (to lick/taste) Smith: Namero! Isami: Let's go with Namero Smith: Lets do Namero to show our gratefulness to Bravern (lets lick bravern to show our gratefulness) Bravern: If I was a woman first I would be concerned for you Smith: Hahahaha no no no our idolisation of you can't be stopped. So what should we do for you, Suzumura-san? Bravern: You gotta show courage, right guys? So, stuff like Suzu-san is not going to cut it. Smith: True Bravern: It needs to be something stronger Isami: R…rin-san? Bravern: Eh…well… Smith: No more, more than that Isami: Suzu… Bravern: Come at it strong Isami: Something which could come from Suzu… Smith: Mm…

Isami: ….castella, or something? ("suzu-castella" is baby castella, a type of cake) Smith: Hahahaha Bravern: Hahahah Suzu-castella, huh? That's amazing Smith: Castella! Bravern: Castella-san….we don't need -san, let it just be Castella Smith: Castella pfftt Bravern: Castella is… Isami: It's kinda dangerous, right? Smith: It's become a dangerous radio now Isami: It's not even courage anymore Smith: It's a dangerous radio now! Bravern: Noo, call me Castella please! Smith: Well then this time only, let's call you Castella Bravern: Castella, Miso, Iwashi (Sardine), huh? Smith: What even pff Bravern: Sounds delicious honestly Isami: What the hell…

Smith: What is up with this trio…well, that's done now Isami: I understand Smith: You understood? You got it? Bravern: I understood too Smith: I got it Bravern: Amazing, this is so ani-radio Smith: What we're doing now? Bravern: Whatever we're doing now, it's just like all the ones I've experienced till now Isami: Now that we've decided on the names Bravern: It's been a while since I've done something like this Smith: Yeah, and there's stuff you don't normally ask, so with this too we have to have courage- Isami: -and go to the questions Bravern: Yes, I'll answer anything you ask me Smith: Anything? Isami: …your annual income- Smith: Hahaha he said it! He said it… Bravern: There's some things I can't say you know Isami: Then how many castellas do you earn Bravern: Hahaha if you ask in terms of castella, it will be a lot Smith: Yeah it will be a lot Bravern: It's got to be Isami: Makes you curious right? Bravern: Amazing Smith: But I wanna become like that too

Bravern: It will be a building's worth Smith: Hahaha, a building full of castella?? Bravern: A building's amount Isami: This is difficult to ask but- Bravern: Mm, go ahead? Isami: Can you tell us your weight in terms of castella? Bravern: Mm, I see. Well if I have to answer it in castella then- uh, how much Smith: How many castella?? Isami: Pfff Smith: Are you lightweight? Bravern: I have no idea! Smith: When you're soaked, you know- your weight changes a lot right? Bravern: Um…then sixty….sixty….sixty five- sixty five castella?? Smith: Castella?? Isami: Isn't that way too lightweight? Bravern: I have no idea Smith: In terms of weight this measurement unit will make the numbers seem really huge and it's hard to understand Bravern: Yeah, it is hard to understand Smith: Though I'm sure its difficult to ask it like that- if you're going to answer it's okay to sugarcoat it Isami: Mm I see Smith: Yeah, round it off, it might be better that way Bravern: Gotta have courage…

Smith: This kinda conversation- we don't do this during the recordings (of the anime) at all Bravern: True, you can't Smith: At the recordings, Suzumura-san (Bravern) and I are often together- intensely working together, so this is the first time Bravern: Yep Isami: Yeah in radio you can kinda- Smith: You can say stuff like this Isami: There's also a certain impression of what recording should be Smith: Yeah at the recordings- hmm, well, we talked a lot about tokusatsu (live action JP shows with lots of effects, like giant robot shows, power rangers, etc) Isami: True lol, I was hearing a lot of tokusatsu conversation the whole time Bravern: Obari-san (BBBB director) is kinda rigid about that kind of thing Isami: Yeaaah Bravern: But Bang Bravern is sorta like, Obari-san's interests are bared and showing Isami: It's soooooooo obvious Smith: You can immediately point it out. But with this kind of passion it's easy to become super aware of it (Obari's signature genre and tropes), and even more so if you try to stray from it Bravern: It's blatantly written in the script! Smith: "Okay now this conversation is getting way too long so let's move to the next corner", sorry, the instruction was given to me so

Isami: Yes, I'm sorry for that…So then, Castella! Castella will be the guest Bravern: Mm, for first and second Smith: -two weeks in a row! Isami: We will be talking about a lot of things Bravern: We did it! Smith: Way to go, Castella! Isami: Yeah! Smith: Without further ado! Smith & Isami: TV Anime Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern Web Radio! Smith: Let's start with introducing the program, henceforth we'll be talking about the work, with courage we will tell a lot of stories, and with courage let's deepen our bonds with banter Smith: The other day, the first episode of the anime aired on TVS Isami: Let's start with a summary of what happened. Smith: The first episode, "I've made you wait, Isami" Isami: 'The representatives of the countries of the world have gathered in Hawai'i, The Airforce's Titano Strider, T.S. Pilot Lewis Smith, in the middle of a fight, meets Japanese Defense soldier Isami Ao. During the fight, Smith, having seen Isami's cut-above-the-rest abilities, challenges him to a 1v1. But on the promised day, suddenly they are attacked and destroyed by a mystery force and their peaceful days are at an end.' is what it will be.

Bravern: Right from the summary of the first one…the work is described like it's going to be so badass. Smith: The quality was soo high Bravern: Right? Isami: For sure Smith: Then again, with this summary, people will think 'it's totally different though' right? Bravern: Definitely true Isami: It is! It sounds like it's going to be a super real feeling army story Smith: Like some serious military thing…but for us it was laid out wasn't it? 'You can't say anything about this' Isami: Yeah, we were told Smith: And because of that I mostly wanted to observe…once the first episode aired I wanted to see what is the atmosphere everyone feels, and we were told to give our cast comments by everyone too. That too…felt kind of untouchable Isami: It did feel like a hard topic to touch Smith: They really wanted to deceive everyone and play it like 'No, it's a serious military thing, it's very dark, we're maintaining a suspense tone', they were writing it to us constantly

Isami: In the PV like…the vibe and the song did not match even a little bit Smith: It reaally didn't! Bravern: Hahaha Smith: Exactly, exactly! Hahaha Bravern: They kind of made a mistake there. If they're going to do this anyway, they should have tried to hide that song too Smith: Totally! Pfft, if they intended to deceive Bravern: Mm- Smith: I was thinking, if they're going to deceive then go all out and deceive us! Isami: For the listeners too, it would feel like "this is the start of something" Bravern: While we're talking about it being "hidden", I was the one who was hidden the most! Smith: Castella was- Bravern: The whole time- yes, the castella was hiding the whole time! Kakure-castella (Hiding is "kakure-teta" so he made a word mash "kakure-kasutera") Smith: Kakure-castella, huh? Bravern: There was a lot of stuff I wanted to say but I couldn't say! Smith: Must have been Bravern: There was

Bravern: Back when it was announced, once, if I had done something without thinking…like retweeting- Isami: Noooo Bravern: …it would have been bad! Isami: Scary, scary, scary Bravern: I was thinking 'Ahh it's been announced', and that i have to be quiet. Smith: Hahaha Bravern: And then Tachiki-san slipped up and retweeted. And i was thinking why did Tachiki-san do that?? (Fumihiko Tachiki, VA who appears in other mecha animes) Smith: Tachiki-san you shouldn't do that! Isami: No no no!! Bravern: Why did Tachiki-san retweet??? Smith: Seriously, why! Isami: That was a no! Smith: We can only wonder why… Isami: What kind of character do you think Bravern is? Bravern: Mm..well, there was an audition, and I auditioned for Smith and Bravern Isami: Ehh?? Smith: Euuuhh??? Bravern: Yep. And if I had to say, it was mainly Smith Isami: Really?? Bravern: I went to the agency, at the time of the audition, and then Suwa-san asked what will you take, and my company managers had selected some for me. Suwa-san said to take the audition for Smith, so I went there to take the audition…and I thought "Wait, there isn't any other voice actor who knows robots as much as I do." (I think it's Masahiro Suwa-san, animation director)

Smith: I see! Bravern: Obari-san means robots, right? And the document- there was also a role document for Bravern, so I said "Let me take the audition for this 'Bravern' too". So they let me take it for Bravern too (Director Obari-san is well known for mecha shows) Isami: Right right right Bravern: And I went to it resolved to win, so- but then at that one, there wasn't really much instruction in the role document, it was pretty much just "sound robot-like". But there was a script at the audition, and after seeing that it was kinda, probably, between the human characters, there's a rigidity…it's a show where the communication of thoughts doesn't go well Smith: lol Isami: So sharp! Bravern: That's why, the robot will be a robot but there's this…if I had to describe, this theatrical beauty, sense of honour. I've been watching hero shows for a long time and I've been a lover of robots since even before that. So if you say "robot", and then "a robot who talks" then it has to be this (specific) way. How do I explain, there's a certain way that a partnership should be done. That kind of thing between normal people- and then suddenly a robot has come, trying to have that with a person, it's a conflict in their way of thinking. I was going with that in the audition Smith: You're way too sharp! What a pro

Bravern: So I worked hard trying to be like all talking robots I've seen so far, but without fretting about the tiny details. One who is obsessed in the pursuit of honour. Isami: I see! Smith: Heeehhh Bravern: So then I went to the first recording and it really wasn't too far off from my imagination. But there too I had to consider the meaning between the things I had to do. I made it while talking about a lot of things with Obari-san (director), kinda. Smith: Ohhhhh Isami: Amazing- you're so overly reliable, it's like there's a warden within the cast lol Bravern: Warden?? Smith: I don't know if it's that extreme haha Isami: But at the recordings, it relaxes us too to have that reliability Smith: That's true, it fits perfectly…but it was a surprise, right? A talking robot Bravern: Yes! It feels like the first time that's been done Isami: Oh really? Smith: I thought "oh, it is?" Bravern: About talking robots, from our age of the hero shows, Hayami Sho-san's voice comes to mind Smith: Aah, a little bitter, yeah. Bravern: Right? So when a line with bitterness is required, I think I should approach it with a different feel. And sometimes a robot with a youthful voice is needed too. From that time, it's Matsumoto Yasunori-san or Nakamura Daiki-san's lines. Isami: Something a bit more energetic Bravern: Yep. For this line I have no choice but to go there! I really imagined a lot. Smith: Amazing!

This is only the first 15min 40sec ish ! If people are interested, I'm happy to translate the rest too :)

#yuuki bakuhatsu bang bravern #bang brave bang bravern #bang bravern #lewis smith #isami ao #bravern #bbbb #radio translation #glass text #glasspunkart

[stargazerlily7210]

Hello, and welcome to my TED Talk.

In this essay, I will demonstrate why I think Mrs. Flood is Susan Foreman (aka The Doctor's Granddaughter, aka The Unearthly Child, aka The Boss, aka The One Who Waits).

I know, I know. Not exactly the hottest take out there.

But buckle in, cause this goes deep.

Getting this out of the way first: I know this season has been billed as a bit of a fresh start (what with calling it Season 1, and all) and thus people are wary about assuming Mrs. Flood is a returning character. But let's be real. Just look at the 60th anniversary specials. Ya know, the massive 3 parter whose plot has set everything in motion for this next season.

They feature The 14th Doctor (aka The 10th Doctor revamped) with Donna Noble and her family (from the 2000's), Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (from the 2010's) who is both the current leader of UNIT (from Classic Who) and the daughter of The Brigadier: original leader of UNIT (throughout all of Classic Who), The Meep (from a Classic Who comic strip of all things) The Toymaker (Classic Who) and Mel (Classic Who).

And that's just the characters. Never mind the near constant references to both New and Classic Who.

They made it appealing and approachable to new viewers, sure. But they've already proven they're not actually interested in distancing themselves from the show's past.

So why do I think she's Susan, specifically?

Well, for starters, although the age of an actress doesn't really mean much in a 60 yr old time-travel show that's already had (MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVENT SEEN THE 11TH DOCTOR'S EPISODES!!) a parent-child dynamic where the daughter is not just played by an actress who's noticably older than the parents, but also canonically met the doctor first, despite her parents being the primary companions, (and each of them are played by both adult and child actors). But Anita Dobson is 74. Which would have made her 14/15 when the show started in 1963. Around the same age Susan Foreman is supposed to be/appear.

But again, that doesn't really mean anything in this show. So why else would I think she's Susan? And why do I think this means she's also The Boss mentioned by the Meep, AND The One Who Waits mentioned by The Toymaker?

Well, because I think it all falls into place with some of the big themes they've been pushing in the episodes so far, if she's Susan.

I mean, from what I know of Susan, she was a refugee from Galifrey, with her grandfather, The Doctor. As far as we know, he's her only family. He'd basically been raising her until she caught feelings for a human guy, so The Doctor decided she'd be better off staying on Earth. Effectively abandoning his very traumatized teenage granddaughter in 1960's London. It wasn't malicious, he was trying to do what's best for her. But he still left her there against her will and never came back for her.

So she's an orphaned teenage refugee, raised in a high-tech alien culture, stuck in the 1960's, with her first major crush as her primary confidant and caregiver. Let's be real. She'd have been deemed a mentally unstable minor, and at best institutionalized, at worst dissected/studied, in a heartbeat (or rather, two heartbeats (a surprise tool that'll help us later)).

So here we have a woman who's likely been drugged and tortured ("psychotherapy" in the 1960s, am I right?), gaslit, and desperately isolated for a significant portion of her life. With a massive list of reasons to both deeply resent and have seriously dissociated from The Doctor and the TARDIS.

And now we finally get to the new episodes:

The Meep says that creatures with two hearts are so rare that it can't wait to tell The Boss about The Doctor. So we have The Meep, who just happened to pick Earth to "crash land" on, answering to a nameless Boss who's on the lookout for 2 hearted creatures. Thus, we're looking for someone with both a connection to Earth and intimate knowledge of Timelord biology.

The Toymaker says even he didn't dare face The One Who Waits. Which says a lot, considering the importance and prevalence of people described as Waiting with a capitol W.

(MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE 10TH and 11TH DOCTOR'S EPISODES!!) Off the top of my head, I can think of Jack Harkness aka The Face of Boe who waited billions of years to see The Doctor again. We have Amy Pond aka The Girl Who Waited, and Rory Williams aka The Boy Who Waited. We even have Sara Jane Smith, who's first real conversation with the The Doctor after finding him again had her admitting she'd spent her whole adult life waiting for him to come back. So to be The One Who Waited, above and beyond all others? You'd have to have somehow waited more than the rest. And when you're already talking about Waiting upwards of 5 Billion years, that's tough to do. Unless you're looking at it from The Doctor's perspective. And the Granddaughter he'd abandoned 15 lifetimes ago would absolutely fit that bill.

So we have an individual who is intelligent/knowledgeable enough to be called The Boss by an alien kapable of mind control and space flight, who's searching for creatures with 2 hearts. Who's earned the title of The One Who Waits, above so many other candidates.

And we just so happen to meet a character who's being played by an actress the same age Susan should be.

Speaking of, we can finally look at Mrs. Flood herself. When I first watched the episode, it struck me just how angry she was at seeing the TARDIS. When it's far more normal to see people ignoring the thing. So her reaction is weird, both in general, and for a character the actress herself described as a friendly neighbor lady.

It's only after she's utterly shocked by the TARDIS disappearing in front of her that she starts acting different. As if seeing that unlocked her memories. From there on out, she's a different person who knows exactly what's going on. She even addresses the audience at the end and knows to call it a TARDIS. Which Susan of all people would know, as Susan claimed to have come up with the acronym herself, during her time with the 1st Doctor (whether that's technically canon or not, idk).

It's also worthy to note, that if you look at the houses during the scene where she's complaining about the TARDIS, you'll see that on the outside, her house, while the most extravagantly decorated outside, is noticably stark and empty inside, unlike each of the other houses where you can clearly see decorations through the windows. Not to mention, her door is the only one that looks like the TARDIS. The other doors are either the wrong shade, or style, or both. And her's is the only one that doesn't have stairs going to the second level. I don't know how much of this is just working within the confines of the location, and how much is intentional, or what it would mean, but we see enough wide shots of the house fronts, it seems potentially relevant.

So if Mrs. Flood is, in fact, Susan Foreman, she's exactly the right age, she'd have had more than enough reason to be triggered by the sight of the TARDIS, more than enough intelligence/knowledge to reach Boss status in her search for a rare two-hearted creature and being The Doctor's Granddaughter, could absolutely intimidate The Toymaker, and have more than enough claim to the title of The One Who Waited.

And if she turned out to be a future Big Bad, she would have the trauma, reasoning, skillset, and intelligence to truly challenge The Doctor and force him to deal with the repercussions of his habit of never stopping or looking back at his actions or mistakes.

We've never seen if Susan can regenerate as far as I'm aware, but we know she's a Timelord and significantly younger than The Doctor. So if she can, the actress has already suggested that Mrs. Flood will go through quite a transformation throughout future episodes. We might be seeing the birth of a new antagonist for a new generation of the show.

Honorable Mention: I feel like The Boss is right up there with The Doctor and The Master. And RTD would absolutely make The Boss a bada** boss babe.

Phew. That was a whole essay. If you've made it this far, congrats!! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

#doctor who #regeneration #tenth doctor #donna noble #amy pond #rory williams #river song #sarah jane smith #15th doctor #14th doctor #11th doctor #captain jack harkness #face of boe #susan foreman #dr who spoilers #doctor who 60th anniversary #doctor who spoilers #doctor who theory #the tardis #the doctor #the toymaker #lily thinks

[cinderella-ish]

Yuki, Kakeru, and the boyhoods they never had

So, I was talking with my partner the other day about how Kakeru and Yuki are always touching each other (one of many reasons they're the most popular non-canonical furuba pairing on Ao3). Anyway, it got me thinking-- if we don't read all this physical contact as necessarily romantic, what are some other possible explanations? An examination:

When Yuki first meets Kakeru, he immediately gets up in his face talking about his favorite Super Sentai character, then walks him out of the student council office with an arm around his neck, despite Yuki's obvious discomfort.

When Kakeru puts a hand on his shoulder soon after, he teases Yuki about his feminine features. Yuki bats his hand away and decides he already hates Kakeru.

In Kakeru's next appearance, he puts a hand on Yuki's shoulder, removing it when Yuki gives him a death glare.

When Kakeru stays behind that day to needle Yuki about Tohru, Yuki is the one to initiate touch this time. This leads to the two of them sharing a moment of vulnerability and the true beginning of their friendship. Kakeru putting his thumbs up on Yuki's shoulder is also a change to the way he's touched Yuki before - it's perhaps a bit more comfortable for Yuki, who's reacted negatively to all touch from Kakeru before this. Kakeru's communicating in his own way that he'll try and consider Yuki's needs from now on.

Next, we have the Kyoto trip, in which Yuki is still not fully comfortable with Kakeru (shown by his embarrassment when he tells Kakeru they wouldn't be friends anymore), but is starting to consider him a friend and spend time with him intentionally. We also have some sweet moments like this exchange between Haru and Kakeru, which Kakeru takes very seriously.

After this, Yuki finally learns (some of) Kakeru's backstory when he goes to help Kakeru clean up after Machi destroyed the student council office again. Yuki gets context for why Kakeru is the way that he is, learns about the successorship conflict, and then tries out some Kakeru chaos for himself. We also see Yuki initiate touch for the third time. I think this episode is where the real shift in their relationship happened. Yuki sees that there's a wisdom to Kakeru that he wasn't seeing without that context of Kakeru's oppressive childhood-- something to which Yuki can relate all too well. In a way, Kakeru's impulsiveness and sense of fun is his own way of either reclaiming or living out the childhood he didn't get to have, along with other traits like his love of Super Sentai.

And now, a brief aside.

We see pretty clearly that the other three cursed Sohma boys around Yuki's age are all pretty comfortable interacting with each other physically. Kyo will roughhouse with Haru and give Momiji noogies, Momiji will hug or lean on both Kyo and Haru. These sorts of interactions began when they were young boys, and are pretty typical of boys through adolescence. Yuki, being shut in a room with Akito or alone, didn't get to have that experience of boyhood. All his physical interactions with Kyo are negative, and his physical interactions with Momiji are neutral-ish (Momiji jumps on him at the culture festival, Yuki dabs his tears in Kisa's first episode, and Yuki scolds Momiji a handful of times). (Aside within the aside: while Haru sometimes reciprocates the affection from Momiji or rough play from Kyo, he clearly has a special way of physically interacting with Yuki in the T-shape and shirt pinch, or the stroking of his chin, etc..., and he initiates touch with Yuki much more often than with the other two, likely because he noticed that as one more thing Yuki was missing out on and wanted to include him in a way that would be comfortable for him.)

So when Kakeru tells Yuki about his childhood, and Yuki gets stuck in the storage room later that episode and has a flashback to his own terrible childhood, he's already primed to open up to Kakeru about his own childhood and to start looking at the world more like Kakeru does.

So, after that day, their friendship becomes much more physical. Yuki no longer bats away Kakeru's hand and even initiates touch more often. They roughhouse and Kakeru often puts his arm around Yuki in a gesture of affection. To me, it's a way of reclaiming those experiences they didn't get to have in their childhood-- especially the type of friendships neither of them got to form when they were younger.

#fruits basket #furuba #fruba #yuki sohma #kakeru manabe #kyo sohma #hatsuharu sohma #momiji sohma #furuba analysis #fruits basket analysis #friendship #childhood #boyhood #physical affection #touchstarved #physical touch #roughhousing #analysis #by cinderella-ish #my meta

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hello! So I'm righting a fanfic and I'm having trouble with my MC, he is generally a fairly apathetic person towards anything that doesn't directly involve him

And this is where in having trouble, I'm unsure how I should go about getting him involved in the main events and actually interact with the characters, I have one or two ideas based on canon but any and all advice would be appreciated<3

Anyways I hope you have a good night or day whenever you read this!!

Fan-Fiction: Finding Role for an OC

There are two ways you can go about this...

Depending on the format of the canon story (movie, book, TV show, graphic novel, video game, etc. -- and whether or not it's a series), there are potentially many conflicts to choose from. You might have conflicts for individual stories... each movie in a series, each book in a series, each episode in a series, each game in a series. And you also might have series arcs--conflicts that span the series from beginning to end. In a TV series, you often have season arcs as well as whole series arcs.

One way to find a role for your fan-fiction OC is to choose a particular conflict featured in canon and see how your character might get involved via that conflict. For example, if canon is a TV show, you might choose a favorite episode and see if there's some way your OC might get involved via the conflict. For example, maybe they're brought in because they're an expert in something the canon characters are dealing with as a result of the episode conflict. Or, maybe the OC is impacted by the conflict in some way.

Another way to find a role for your fan-fiction character is to look at the roles the canon characters fulfill... can you see any roles that can be duplicated? For example, let's say the canon story revolves around a news network and the canon characters are news anchors, reporters, weather people, and a producer. Could your OC be another news anchor? Another weather person or reporter? Or, are there any roles that could be supportive to these characters that your OC could play? A hair and makeup person? An intern? An assistant to the producer? Look at the recurring background characters... what roles do they fill? Random studio staff like camera people, sound people, lighting people, craft services people... can your OC fill one of these roles? And finally, do some research into the canon situation. What other staff might you find at a news network, for example? Different kinds of writers, producers, directors, editors, technical staff, researchers... lots and lots of opportunities to look for roles your character might fulfill.

Happy writing!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[meilas]

Socks’ Star Trek must-watch list

Socks’ list of must-watch Trek episodes

OG Trek

Welcome to the NCC-1701 starship, known as the Enterprise. The captain and crew follow rules when the plot says so, the captain is often on away missions with his top-ranked crew members leaving some unqualified guy in charge, and the captain gets to snog a lot of ladies. Like, a lot. Seriously. This series features lots of questionable fashion choices, including men’s heeled boots and miniskirts. 

Space Seed - our introduction to Khan Noonien Singh, played by Ricardo Montalban. Khan is the villain of the second Trek movie Wrath of Khan which is why this episode is on the list.

Taste of Armageddon - Do you remember the game Battleship? Two planets wage a war against each other. There is staggering loss of life, but no destruction. The Lottery in Space.

Mirror, Mirror - obligatory parallel universe episode! This parallel universe shows up later in Deep Space Nine which is why it is on this list.

Trouble With Tribbles - Clue in Space. Just a fun episode. Also shows up in Deep Space Nine!

A Piece of the Action - another fun episode. And the reason I don’t know if the proper expression is concrete galoshes or cement overshoes.

Let That Be Your Last Battlefield - two individuals who are the very last members of their races who were at war are still trying to kill each other. This episode was about racism and it is not subtle about it at all.

Next Generation

Welcome to the NCC-1701D, also known as the Enterprise! Not the Enterprise from the original series, but a younger, more advanced starship that is the successor to the Enterprise name. And since the Enterprise and trouble go so well together, the crew of this Enterprise find lots of adventures to keep them busy as they explore strange new worlds and seek out new civilisations.

Encounter at Farpoint - The very first episode. Not great, but it also serves as an introduction to Q, who will show up several times throughout the series. So that I don’t fill up this whole post, just go ahead and watch every Q episode (which will 99% of the time have Q in the title.)

Measure of a Man - Data is put on trial to determine if he is property or his own person, and Riker is forced to testify against him for plot reasons. This episode explores individuality and friendship.

Q Who - I said I wouldn’t fill this up and I won’t, but this episode is special because it introduces the Borg. There’s also a great moment between Picard and Q toward the end.

The Survivors - An elderly couple are the last survivors on a planet. Hard to explain why I like this episode without giving away the whole plot.

Sarek - This episode can be pretty sad as it deals with dementia and what it can do to people.

Menage a Troi - Any episode with Deanna’s mother, Lwaxana, is always a funny one. (Except the one that is sad, more on that later.) This episode is excellent because we get to hear Sir Patrick Stewart recite Shakespeare in the most over-the-top delivery possible.

Best of Both Worlds, parts one and two - THE CLIFFHANGER TO END ALL CLIFFHANGERS HOLY SHIT THIS EPISODE HAS ALL THE DRAMA

Family - A follow-up to Best of Both Worlds. Deals with family that is gone, family that can be A Bit Much, and family that is estranged.

Suddenly Human - This episode is similar to the Deep Space Nine episode Cardassians: a boy who has been adopted by others is discovered and found to have living family who want him back. Which family is the child supposed to stay with?

Darmok - An episode all about language and how ideas are communicated. Yes it has some flaws, but overall it is interesting from a linguistic point of view. By the end of the episode, you will understand how darmok=memes and inside jokes.

The First Duty - A good Wesley episode. This explores truth, loyalty, and doing what is right.

I, Borg - The Enterprise rescues a Borg teenager, who begins to develop individuality. He is named Hugh. Hugh is adorable.

The Inner Light - THIS IS THE BEST EPISODE EVER. IF THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING ON THIS LIST THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING PLEASE AT LEAST WATCH THIS.

Rascals - Picard and a few other randos (no seriously why is this bunch of people even on a shuttle together?) experience a transporter malfunction and are beamed aboard the Enterprise, except they materialise as pre-teen children! This episode is just pure fun. Contains: bby!Picard throwing a tantrum, and bby!Guinan jumping on the bed.

*Frame of Mind - This is a pretty heavy episode that deals with hallucinations. Riker is supposed to be performing in a play, but suddenly he’s in an alien mental institution and accused of murder. Riker repeatedly flashes between being on the Enterprise and being in the institution and he increasingly cannot tell which is real.

*Technically, this episode does not contain gaslighting even though it will seem like it. Please make sure you are in a good place if you decide to watch this episode.

**Dark Page - Lwaxana Troi is back! But something is up with her.

**I can’t explain why this is a serious episode without giving it away, so here it is: this episode deals with child death.

Deep Space Nine

By far my absolute favourite series, and the only one I have seen every episode of. Deep Space Nine is about a Cardassian space station that is now occupied by joint Federation and Bajoran forces. Deep Space Nine just so happens to be situated right by a stable wormhole that goes to another quadrant of space that would take years and years and years to travel to by starship alone. Naturally, everyone wants to be in control of the wormhole. The closest planet, Bajor, was until recently occupied by Cardassians. (Think of Cardassians as Space Russians.) The Bajorans are deeply spiritual people (literally every fucking Bajoran subscribes to the same religion) and they believe that their gods reside in the wormhole. (THEY ARE WORMHOLE ALIENS FFS AND THEY DON’T CARE ONE BIT ABOUT BAJOR OR CARDASSIA OR THE FEDERATION.) Because this series is set on a space station that does not go anywhere, we get to see that actions have consequences. If Next Generation was the fuck around series, this one is the find out series.

Emissary - A two-parter and our introduction to Deep Space Nine and the majority of the major characters in this show. 

Past Prologue - This episode is important because we meet Garak, a tailor and the only Cardassian still living on the station. What could he possibly be doing here?

Duet - A Cardassian arrives at the station, as they often do, but this one seems to be hiding something. This explores topics of colonialism, genocide, terrorism, and how complicated people really are. This was one of the episodes that made me watch the entirety of DS9. (The other was Take Me Out to the Holosuite.)

Cardassians - Another Garak episode. This one has a similar plot to the Next Generation episode Suddenly Human. Garak and Bashir discover a Cardassian boy is the adopted son of a Bajoran man. But since Bajorans and Cardassians kind of hate each other because Cardassions tried to colonize Bajor, there is a concern that the Cardassian boy is being abused by his adopted father. To make matters worse, Gul Dukat gets involved. (Gul Dukat is played by a native Wisconsinite!)

Shadowplay - Kind of similar to the Next Generation episode Survivors.

The Wire - Garak episode! This episode deals with the topic of addiction and friendship.

Second Skin - Kira might actually be an undercover Cardassian agent?!?

Crossover - Welcome back to the mirror universe, which we haven't seen since the OG series. Here we find out what happened after Kirk left that universe. Told you this was the 'find out' series.

Fascination - A fun Lwaxana episode

Past Tense, parts one and two - Time travel episode! This episode takes place August 30-September 1, 2024. The Bell Riots occurred in San Francisco, and were a turning point in earth history. These are pretty heavy episodes, and they deal with things that still resonate today: poverty, racism, classism, homelessness.

The Visitor - Similar vibes to The Inner Light. Sisko jumps through time at increasing intervals. Meanwhile, Jake lives his life with his father literally popping into existance for a short time only. Jake is older every time. Sisko is not.

Trials and Tribble-ations - The 'find out' episode to OG Trek's Trouble With Tribbles. This is just a really cool episode that blends footage from OG Trek with DS9.

Things Past - An interesting episode where some of the crew wake up in the bodies of people living on the station during the Cardassian occupation.

Ties of Blood and Water - Kira's Cardassian "father" (the guy from Second Skin) arrives on the station.

In the Cards - Jake and Nog do increasingly weird tasks in their quest to obtain a baseball card for Jake's father. Oh and that bitch Kai Winn is there too.

Statistical Probabilities - This episode introduces the Jack Pack! They're a bunch of genetically altered humans, just like Bashir! Oh, and they are extremely neurodivergent and would probably be tons of fun to hang out with.

Far Beyond the Stars - The crew, but what if they were science fiction writers in the 50s? Deals with the topic of racism.

In the Pale Moonlight - How far is Sisko willing to go to get the Romulans to join the war against the Dominion?

Take Me Out to the Holosuite - One of DS9's obligatory holosuite episodes. A Vulcan that Sisko knows shows up and in a very un-Vulcan-like manner boasts to Sisko that he and his crew are superior beings who have been trying Sisko's favorite sport and just absolutely crushing it. Sisko challenges him to a baseball game. The only problem is that most of his crew are not human and have never played baseball before.

Chrysalis - Have you ever read Flowers for Algernon? The Jack Pack returns.

#socks list #star trek #the next generation #deep space nine #star trek tng #star trek the next generation #star trek tos #star trek ds9 #star trek deep space nine #star trek deep space 9

[hwabang]

your jungwon x older reader posts had me thinking: jealous jungwon vs older idol who has admitted to having a crush on reader and every knows (even reader lol). and they both end up being pitied against each other in a variety show game.

how do you think jealous jungwon would react / act during the variety show game?

bonus: reader is a guest mc for it and sees jealous jungwon

(whether jungwon and reader are in a public or private relationship is up to you)

A Little Push - Yang Jungwon

Genre: slight angst + fluff

Warnings: fem!reader, idol!reader x idol!jungwon, '03 reader, friends to lovers, sad jungwon, jealous jungwon, mentions of SKZ's LeeKnow, two mentions of ITZY's Ryujin, use of the word Noona, brief description of kiss scene, cursing, slight aggression from Jungwon's side

Author’s Note: IT'S SO MUCH PLOT I'M SORRY LMAOOO! but this is such a cute request, thank you for sending it in! feel free to send in more and i hope you like this one <3

Word Count: little less than 3k

(gif not mine!)

There is not a single K-Pop fan in the world who doesn't know of Jungwon's crush on you.

They didn't even have to be a fan of your group or ENHYPEN's. Just being a K-pop fan, of any group, there are some industry things you know well. And this was one of them.

Jungwon had been basically infatuated with you since his I-LAND days. But he didn't act on it until this year, when he became an adult. Sure he's only a year younger than you, but he knew that if he wasn't also an adult when hitting on you, you wouldn't take him seriously.

However you were making it quite hard for Jungwon. Jungwon had confessed his undying love for you so many times in public; during lives, during variety shows, en o'clock; you name it. At first everyone thought it was a running joke between the two of you; maybe you guys just have that type of friendship. But that opinion was quickly changed when clips of Jungwon looking at you with love and adoration circled the internet.

Although he was constantly flirting with you and caring for you, Jungwon never outright confessed his feelings directly to you. Once, he said it during a variety show, but the whole point of the game was to raise your heartbeat. And so being the competitive person he is, he confessed to you on camera. But that definitely was no real confession that you'd accept.

You were always asked about this on variety shows or your own lives; whether you liked Jungwon back or not but you never gave a clear answer. You always said something along the lines of how much you appreciate Jungwon's attraction towards you, leaving your fans and ENGENES quite confused on your feelings. Sometimes you would comment how cute he is, or how hot he looks when watching some ENHYPEN related content for your lives, but that's about it. Nobody else knew how you felt for Jungwon.

Nobody except the one and only LeeKnow.

Being in a company where idols act like family, like in JYPE, you grew quite close to many idols and that includes the members of STRAYKIDS. As close as you were to your fellow label mates, you weren't planning on telling a single soul that you reciprocated Jungwon's love for, even if that single soul was one of your group member's.

You didn't plan on telling anyone, but that doesn't mean people couldn't figure it out.

Everyone who knew you well knew you had a thing for Jungwon. Did they know you liked him as much as he liked you? Well, some did. One of them being LeeKnow.

He was currently an MC for a newer variety show that was going crazy in Korea right now. His co-MC was Ryujin, but she got quite sick so he was scrambling to find a temporary MC for the upcoming episode and he remembered you were talking about wanting to try MC-ing for a while.

That, and this episode was gonna feature ENHYPEN.. and LeeKnow had a devilish plan.

You had joined him on set for a brief run-through of tomorrow's episode with ENHYPEN, when he told you his plan; he was gonna flirt with you and do everything in his power to make Jungwon jealous. "That sounds evil, Minho."

He nodded. "Yeah? It's my plan."

You shook your head, not believing the words coming out of this man, your sunbaenim's, mouth. "Well your plan has so many flaws. Why are we trying to purposely hurt Jungwon's feelings?"

"Because you like him?" he said matter of factly. "What better way to get a guy to confess to you than to push him to his limits? Sometimes a little push is all it takes y'know."

"... As much as I agree.. I don't wanna do that to Jungwon. And besides, who would I flirt with? If I flirt with his members, he's gonna be more hurt than jealous if anything."

"No no we won't stoop that low. You'll flirt with me."

You crossed your arms and giving him a look as if silently calling him crazy. "You're fucking kidding."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm in need of an MC, I ask the girl I'm close with even though she's never MCed a day in her life; why? Because I'm trying to spend more time with her! So I flirt with her! It's the perfect plot Y/N."

"You're not my type."

LeeKnow put a hand over his heart, feigning offense. "You're not my type either dipshit. Which is why it works perfectly. I pretend to flirt with you a bit, you fake shyness and play into it, you get the guy and our friendship stays the same."

"... I don't know..."

"Hey no pressure, but just think of it as some fun."

With a bit more coercion from your good friend, you agreed. And so you were just anticipating what would happen in a week from today, which came real soon.

It was now the filming day, and you were doing everything in your power to avoid ENHYPEN ever since they got here. You were busy and nervous for your first MC gig, yes, but also you were kinda avoiding Jungwon.

Not Jungwon, but the shift in his energy that would happen once Minho started "flirting" with you. But your tactics of avoiding him had come to an end.

"Noona!"

You turned around and saw Jungwon cheekily smiling at you. He jogged over to you and stood right in front of you, looking down at you with a glitter in his eyes. "There you are. Hi," he said cutely.

"Hi," you returned with the same energy. You turned back to your desk and started picking up your cue cards. "What's up?"

"Nothing. I've been trying to greet you ever since I got here, but I feel like you're ignoring me."

You could hear the pout on his face so you turned around and your thought was confirmed. "Sorry Jungwon-ah.. I'm just nervous to be an MC."

"Don't be nervous Noona. You're an ace, you're good at everything you do. I'll give you encouragement throughout the filming, okay?"

You gave him a genuine smile, your heart jumping at how cute he was, but it didn't last long.

"Hey gorgeous."

Both yours and Jungwon's heads whipped to the side where you saw Minho coming towards you guys with a playful smirk on his lips.

He walked up to you and leaned in real close, still smirking. "You look really good."

You eyed Jungwon before responding, who had a very confused look on his face. "I-it's just my makeup artist.. did a really good job today."

Minho hummed, pretending to check you out. "Nah, it's all you beautiful." Minho wrapped an arm around your shoulder, something you gave him the okay for earlier, before he looked towards Jungwon. "Sorry Jungwon-ah, did I interrupt your conversation?"

He looked a bit taken back before quickly shaking his head, but the scowl on his face was still there. "N- No Hyung, you're good. I just came over..."

Jungwon trailed off seeing Minho's hand slid down to your waist and pull you in closer. "Alright. Well I'm gotta get my makeup fixed. You two finish your conversation." Minho then turned to you and winked. "See you out there sexy."

After Minho walked away there was awkward silence between you and Jungwon for a bit, before he looked down and scoffed, chuckling a little. "Didn't know Minho Hyung had a thing for you."

You were a bit flustered, not knowing how to answer since you didn't want to necessarily hurt Jungwon. "Yeah I uh, didn't know either..."

"You look good together," he admitted while clenching his jaw.

You shook your head. "Jungwon it's not–"

"No, I get it. He's good looking, smart, funny, talented; all around a good guy."

"You are too," you defended.

"But he's older than you."

"Jungwon-ah–"

"You like older guys, of course you do. Why would you like someone like m–"

"Jungwon!" You interrupted him by cupping his cheek. You stared into his eyes, hesitating before making your next move. "We'll talk about this later okay?" You softly kissed his cheek and moved back a little to see his reaction, which was priceless. His cheeks were blushing a pinkish rose color, his eyes had that sparkle again, and his lips were pursed as if he's trying to contain a huge smile. Your hand lingered on his cheek before giving it a little pat and then you walked away, getting ready to start filming.

The filming was going very well. All of ENHYPEN seemed to be enjoying and were quite comfortable filming with you and LeeKnow. As for you, you were actually a lot less nervous once the camera started rolling. Maybe it's the idol in you? Sure. Or maybe it's Jungwon giving you sly thumbs ups whenever he could, encouraging smiles, quick winks that he really attempted to do.

Jungwon's mood quickly dejected once the games started. A heartbeat monitor was hooked up to you and the objective of this game was to see which team of the two could get your heart beating the fastest. They were allowed to come close to you, say pick up lines, do aegyo; basically anything but touch you.

Since ENHYPEN are an odd number of people, LeeKnow joined the team with less people. So now you had Niki, Jay, Heeseung, and LeeKnow on one team. The other team was Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Jungwon.

For Team 1, Niki went first. Your heart rate didn't go up too much with him, although you were a little flustered at his attempt at flirting. However he was laughing too much which in the end made you laugh along.

Jake was up first for his team, which gave the 2nd team all the confidence they needed. As much as Jungwon didn't wanna admit it, Jake was an expert at flirting so he knew you'd get flustered easily which is an advantage for their team. True to his reputation Jake was able to get you flustered, much to Jungwon's dismay. He quickly suppressed the jealousy he felt and continued on enjoying the game.

It was a close tie now. Jay and Sunghoon were up against each other; Sunghoon was able to fluster you while Jay ended up bursting out laughing. Same thing happened with Heeseung and Sunoo; Heeseung easily flustering you.

Now it was Jungwon's turn; the one you were anticipating the most. He smirked slightly before coming up to you and crouching down, getting really close to your face. "Noona, why won't you date me."

Your heart was rapidly beating but your heart rate didn't go up, shocking everyone.

"Eh?!" Sunoo exclaimed. "How come?"

You stuck your tongue out at Jungwon. "Obviously, you made one grave mistake in that Jungwon-ah."

Everyone knew that Jungwon instantly could tell what the mistake was, but LeeKnow decided to let him know anyways with a snicker. "Yah Yang Jungwon, do you really like Y/N? If you did you would know she likes older guys!"

Jungwon didn't have a reaction, trying not to start something with his sunbae while filming. "Ani, Hyung, she likes younger guys too."

Minho nodded while still laughing. "Yeah, but not when the younger guys call her Noona." He stepped up to you, unconsciously shoving Jungwon aside. "Let me show you how it's done," he smirked.

He did the same thing Jungwon did, getting real close up to you still holding his signature smirk. "Hmm, baby, you have some hair covering your beautiful face. Can I move it for you?" Wordlessly you nodded and let LeeKnow tuck some strands of your hair behind your ear. After he was done he let out a sexy chuckle and whispered in your ear but the mic picked it up; "Good girl."

Every one watched the monitor as your heart rate shot from 84 to 105, indicating Team 1's win. Heeseung and Niki ran around the set screaming in excitement while Jay went to collect the prize. The other team was sulking except Jungwon. Jungwon's jaw was tightly clenched and he couldn't move his eyes away from where you and LeeKnow were now standing.

The rest of the filming went smoothly, accept it was clear Jungwon was out of it. Poor baby tried his best, but he couldn't get the results of the flustering you game out of his head; how your heart rate increased that much with a man that wasn't him.

After filming was done, everybody headed back to their respective spots where they were before filming had started. You were talking to LeeKnow about how the show went when you heard someone clear their throat behind you two. You turned around and were greeted by Jungwon, who had an unreadable expression on his face. "Excuse me Hyung, if you're done talking to Y/N Noona now, I'd like to speak with her."

LeeKnow tried not to smirk and nodded instead, turning back to you. "Well, my offer still stands Y/N-ah. Text me when you come up with a decision. I'll see around the company." He gave you a side hug and said goodbye to Jungwon before leaving you two be.

After he left you walked a bit further to a secluded area so nobody could hear you two talk; you had a feeling this conversation shouldn't be for all ears. "Yeah Jungwon, what is it?"

"Y/N."

"Huh?"

"I'm gonna call you by your name now. No more Noona. I didn't think you'd mind anyways. That's fine right?"

Still quite taken a back, you nodded. "Y-yeah, that's fine..."

"What are you playing at Y/N?" he questioned.

You tilted your head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I thought we had something!" he exclaimed. "Every time I flirt with you, you never reject it so I thought you felt the same way! Then I come here today and see LeeKnow Hyung flirting with you too! You kiss my cheek, and then turn and let him flirt with you again!" Jungwon let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair and speaking to you in a much more calmer tone. "It hurts okay? I've liked you– No, I-I've loved you.. for so long now. You never hit on me but you let me hit on you, so I thought this was going somewhere. And now to see someone else flirting with you.."

"Jungwon..."

"No, let me finish. I'm afraid if I don't get this out now, it'll stay in me forever... I know I'm younger than you and you don't think I'm mature enough but I am! I can be exactly what you're looking for in a man. J-just tell me straight Y/N, please," he begged.

You felt absolutely terrible. What could you say now to make up for the trouble you put Jungwon through today? Nothing seemed to be enough in your head, so you decided to show him instead.

You were already by a wall, so you backed yourself into it and pulled Jungwon by his shirt into you, colliding your lips with his.

He was quite shocked but quickly recovered, closing his eyes and melting into the kiss. His left hand went on the wall next to your head and his right arm snaked around your waist, pulling you further into him.

After a few seconds of kissing you pulled away and rested your hands on Jungwon's shoulders. You looked straight into his blown out eyes, letting your gaze rest their for a bit.

"Y/N..." he breathed out.

"Why didn't you directly confessed to me before today, hmm?" you cooed.

"I-I don't know.. I think I just chicken out every time... y-you're too pretty and I can't handle it."

You giggled and cupped his cheek again just like last time. "Cute. I like you too Wonnie."

His eyes lit up at both the confession and the nickname falling from your lips. "You do? You actually do?"

You nodded. "Will you go on a–"

"Wait!" he interrupted with a bashful look on his face. "I-I wanna be the one to ask... Will you go on a date with– Actually no. Will you be my girlfriend Y/N?"

Your response was a kiss on his cheek before you wrapped your arms around him tightly.

Jungwon giggled and wrapped his arms around your waist too. You hugged for a moment before he pulled away. "Wait, what about LeeKnow Hyung?"

"Ah..." you blushed. "That "flirting" was an evil plan created by him to get you to confess to me?"

"Really!? So he doesn't like you?"

You shook your head in reassurance. "We don't have any feelings for each other, like at all. I promise."

"Then what was he telling you earlier? H-he wanted you to text him after coming up with a decision.. I thought he asked you out.."

You bursted out laughing at the absurdness. "God no! ITZY is going on tour soon and he needs an MC to replace Ryujin, so he was asking if I wanted to do it. That's it."

Jungwon sighed in relief and smiled, wrapping an arm around your shoulder. "Thank God.. hey are you free for the rest of the day?"

"Yeah why?"

"Let's go on a date today."

#i'm sorry this is so long lmaoo #enhypen #enhypen jungwon #yang jungwon #enhypen imagines #jungwon imagines #jungwon reactions #enhypen reactions

[gamerdog1]

Samurai Champloo Review

What the hell even is a 'champloo' anyways? Ever since one fateful Passover seder, where my older cousin told me about this series, I've wondered about it. Its certainly not English, and though a quick Google search could give me my answer, the mystery of it all kept this show on my radar for nearly a decade. Its not often that a show with a title as puzzling as this get popular, especially enough for my slacker cousin to recommend it to me. With a recommendation like that, though, I knew there was something special about it.

Samurai Champloo is a strange breed. Created in 2004 by Masaru Gotsubo, and animated by defunct studio Manglobe, the series follows a trio of miscreants on a journey to find a mysterious samurai. Along the way, they dodge the law, fight assassins, and discover how hard it is to be a minority in a changing world.

Champloo's biggest draw is it's style. The series features a modern-style Edo that keeps the historical dress and architecture, but adds a contemporary kick everywhere else. The opening alone sets the tone perfectly: sharply colored characters, juxtaposed onto paper-like backgrounds, moving to a hip-hop flow. Its stylish, like an old-school music video, and draws you in in seconds with its funky beat and striking visuals. Its the perfect opening, and things only get cooler from there.

The Edo of this anime features a mix of traditional Japanese and modern North American styles, presented in a way that sets it apart from the rest. Its a show where you might find a samurai sword fight set to record scratches, or characters wistfully embarking on a journey while hip-hop music plays in the background. Early episodes use these scratches in the soundtrack as editing cues, cross-cutting between actions at the sound to create a wholly unique experience. It can't be overstated how much the musical styles of this anime make the viewing experience shine.

On top of that, much of the content of the show's episodes takes pages from a more modern handbook. One episode has the main trio caught up in the world of graffiti, as two brothers compete to see who can 'tag' the most dangerous places. Another has them play against American traders in a overly-violent game of baseball. All the while, characters talk with modern slang, ditching formalities and keeping with the tone the soundtrack sets. All this combined creates a historical anime that feels surprisingly contemporary, despite the obvious.

Over the course of the show's 26 episodes, we follow a main trio of characters as they journey to find a mysterious samurai who smells of sunflowers. The trip is long, and each episode usually features the gang stopping somewhere and getting involved in a stranger's problems, usually learning some moral or getting a lead on their quest afterwards. Its not often for series as mature as these to be episodic, given how seriously they take their plots, but here, it works well.

Every episode feels like another step along their journey, whether it be an eating contest in a big city, or hunting down a pick-pocket who stole their wallets. The series also does an excellent job at making the journey feel long, often referring back to the places the characters have been so far to keep track of it. You could actually track the trio's journey with a real life map if you wanted, since all the places they visit are historical, and probably still exist. Maybe someone out there has even tried their journey in real life...?

An anime is only as interesting as its main characters, and this one certainly has an interesting cast. The series stars three characters, who together, always find a way to screw things up in the most hilarious ways. First, there's Fuu, a young woman who meets the other two characters when they burn her workplace down, and enlists them to help find the samurai who smells of sunflowers. The show pulls no punches with her, often having her be the butt of the joke just as much as her companions. She's loud, whiny, naïve, and often eats the most out of all of them. Yet, she's usually the one that stops fights, is the voice of reason in all this show's chaos, and shows kindness to everyone she meets, even someone who tried to kill her. Though the other characters might play her off as another nagging woman, Fuu's right more often than not, and is a valuable member of the team.

Next is Jin, a ronin with a cool attitude. He's the level-headed one of the trio, often keeping to himself instead of jumping into arguments like the others. His cold exterior hides some pretty deep traumas, which were exciting to learn more about as the story developed. Characters like him are often stereotyped as unfeeling swordsmen, yet beneath all the sullen glances and reclusive body language, he grows to care about his companions more than any sense of pride.

Lastly, there's Mugen, the wild vagrant. His reckless fighting style, love for battle, and unquenchable pride endeared him to me pretty quickly, making him an easy choice as favorite. Compared to Jin and Fuu, Mugen is an old-school tough guy, a shonen protagonist aged up a decade and thrown backwards a couple hundred years. Like Jin, he initially is quite guarded, but learns to express himself little by little, eventually revealing his tragic backstory. Though, to be fair, most of his self expression comes in the form of violence or threats, but I'm not here to judge him.

Together, these three form a simple comedy trio, and get into trouble at every turn on their journey as they learn to tolerate each other. From start to finish, the trio struggle to get along peacefully, but that's what makes their dynamic worth watching. Mugen and Jin's mutual hatred, balanced out by Fuu's persistence, is what keeps them going. Depending on what episode it is, they take turns being the 'straight man', keeping the dynamic fresh and free of stale tropes.

At the heart of this anime, though, is its theme of identity in a changing world. Throughout the series, the trio encounter various minority groups along their journey, and learn about their unique struggles. One episode has them protecting a secret Dutch immigrant, taking him on a tour of the city while they dodge immigration officers. When the man reveals that he fled his home country because of homophobia, it doesn't feel out of place or poorly handled. His queerness is just as much a part of his character arc as his foreign-ness, and though the show makes a few light-hearted jabs at his accent and obvious visual difference, it takes the rest of his identity rather seriously. This character, while only in the show for an episode, is just one of many minority characters in this series that is handled well, showing that a series doesn't have to be disrespectful to be historical.

Another major theme in this series is death, and the acceptance of it. Being an action series, its pretty obvious that a lot of characters die, but what's interesting is how other characters deal with those deaths. Many side characters who the trio befriend on their journey are dealing with loss in some way, whether it be a husband, sibling, child, or something else. We witness how their grief drives them, such as with Fuu, or various other characters in the series. In a world such as the one in this series, death is commonplace, but a healthy acceptance of it is unfortunately less so. Each encounter with death in the series opens up new discussions about it, and often had me pondering what these characters might do next, or how I would deal with their situations.

In the end, though, Samurai Champloo is a fascinating series that brings a unique blend of Eastern and Western styles to make a truly memorable viewing experience. It's hip-hop soundtrack pairs beautifully with flashy and quick-paced sword fighting, creating a simultaneous modern-historical vibe to it all. Its characters have an enjoyable dynamic that kept me coming back day after day for more, which inevitable led to disappointment upon discovering how short this series is. If we lived in a perfect world, this would have at least an extra season, but unfortunately, perfect this world ain't.

But hey, at least I can spend my Pink Halloween (read: Valentine's Day) knowing that Fuu is valid, Mugen is gender, and Jin defintely got pegged in that one episode.

#anime and manga #anime review #film critic #review #anime #anime critique #animation #animated series #samurai champloo #otakucore

[destielcowboy]

Musical Episode of Ted Lasso

I’m Still Standing, Elton John

Sung by Jamie, very dramatic obviously. I feel like he’d be singing while running through Richmond or something

Sway, Michael Bublé

Sung by Dani, complete with an insane dance number featuring his two girlfriends (?)

I’ll Make a Man Out of You, Mulan

Sung by Roy, featuring the team. No seriously go watch this on youtube and imagine it’s the team. Them walking onto the pitch to the intro?? So good. Anyways these parts sung by these characters.

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John/Kiki Dee

Sung by Jamie, Roy, and Keeley. I feel like Jamie and Keeley start it off singing to Roy/each other and Roy is like 😐 and eventually they sing “don’t go breaking my heart” together and Roy is like “I won’t go breaking your heart” 🙄

please add songs you think would be in it 🙏 i’m so curious

#ted lasso #jamie tartt #roy kent #dani rojas #keeley jones #jan maas #moe bumbercatch #isaac mcadoo #colin hughes #ted lasso headcanon

[kaedahana]

kazuha beach episode

rt by ; ngk.hyn on instagram. gosh i love their drawing. HAWT

Heyyo, this is my first fan fic . Genshin is a new territory for me, so i beg of you to be patient with me :3

CHARACTER : Kaedehara Kazuha (MY HUSBAND) - reader

FLUFF

beach episode, i wish i have someone to recreate this story :(

-unedited-

the breeze sweeps through the ocean, sending cool breeze off the shore. You smile as the breeze gently kiss your cheeks, reminding you that the

sunny days have come and it's time to enjoy it while it last.

"Kazuha! come on!" you laugh, letting the wind kiss your bare skin.Kazuha came as fast as he could with two melting ice cream in his hands, vanilla on his left

and chocolate on his right. The vanilla ice cream melts and trickles down his forearm. He handed you the vanilla ice cream and you smirked grabbing his forearm and licking the trickling cream before taking the ice cream from his hand.

"Delicious." you smirk, his face turns red and groans.

"Darling, don't do this" kazuha looking away, hiding away his growing grin

"Do what?" you said innocently

Kazuha laughed it off, "you're beautiful as ever" he says before giving you a peck on the lips and  finishing his ice cream off 10 seconds

He motions you to sit down on the sand. You sat down and quickly got up as it was burning your butt. "It's too hot" you said, frowning.

Kazuha smiled, "well lucky for you my darling, i just have the right solution," before gripping your waist and making you sit down on his lap sideway.

You grinned "perfect"

Kazuha gave you a kiss on your collarbone and make you rest your head on his chest, you interlaced your hands with his.  you listen to his heart beat

"this is getting boring, wanna do something fun?" you suggest, giving him a wink.

he smiles,taking the hint.

"and what is that something fun, love?" caressing your thigh, inching closer to your face.

"race you to the water!" you yelped before you got up and make a run for the cool water, kazuha let out a laugh and chased after you.

you reached the water first and splashed water at Kazuha who was pouting and tightening his swimming trunks.

You and him go deeper into the ocean letting the cool water swallow the lower part of your body.

With you in kazuha's arms while looking at each other's eyes. Oh gosh, you can't help but admire this man in all his glory.

You traced his face, his sharp jawline, nose, eyebrows all while kissing all of his facial features. combing his hair with your fingers. you traced the tattoos on his chest and scars on his arms, reminding him how much you love his scars as it’s a part of him.

and you love him

and he loves you

he looks at you with much adoration and love, never once losing his grip on your body. You silently wish you could stay like this, just you and him both on the beach alone,in one another’s arms, diving deeper into one's love and soul.

He brought your head closer to his chest with is hand and you can his heart beats so gently. "Do you hear that darling? my heart only beats for you." he kissed the crown of your head and whispers i love you so gently as if it’s fragile

You rest your head on his shoulder while murmuring i love you too. heart to heart, you enjoy the syncronisation of your heart beat with kazuha’s

as  both stand there in the water appreciating and relishing what the silence

offers. peace and love.

lastly before any of you two could whsiper a word, you hear loud laughters coming from a distance and simultaneously, you and kazuha groaned. you gave each other a look and laughed together.

"perfect timing" he muttered, resting his right arm on your shoulders.

he offered you a hand, kissing yours before guiding you back to the shore.

Before leaving, you challenged Kazuha to a sandcastle building. He raised his eyebrow then smiles. Accepting the challenge.

He thought of letting his beloved win, but over time he took it seriously with sweat trickling down his forehead and tongue sticking out.  1 hour later, your jaw dropped to see the castle half your height with two majestic towers  standing on each side.

you showed yours. Two connected domes emerging from the sand with a border guarding it.

"it looks like a butt" you admitted. Kazuha put a finger on his chin. Deep in thoughts, analyzing it.

"Well, i love it" he says before picking you up and spinning you around. "and i love you" he whispers so quietly you almost didnt catch that. You smiled and kissed him on his lips as he pulls you closer.

#kazuha #kaedehara kazuha #kazuha x reader #kazuha fluff #imagine #kazuha imagines #kazuhawholesome #kazuha kaedehara #x reader #genshin impact #kazuha x y/n #genshin #genshin imagines #genshin kazuha #genshin kazuha x reader #genshin kazuha x you

[mirrorhoppingdays]

not me and portrayal of twinship

Be forewarned, this is long as hell.

Normally when I think about writing about media depictions of twins (as a highly opinionated twin), two things stop me. One, nobody cares. Seriously, most people actively want to avoid understanding twins' point of view. It's my overwhelming experience. Two, it's just too much to delve into and I have thoughts about every little thing. I would digress until I became overwhelmed. But I think it might actually work to discuss this one facet. It might connect with a few people because fandom types are often actually interested in novel points of view and the emotional landscapes of others. And if I only talk about this one show that narrows things for me in a helpful way. So here goes.

As soon as Not Me starts with episode 1, there is an item on the balance sheet. We begin with the idea that twins can feel each others' feelings and feel when the other is seriously injured. We see this in Black & White's childhood and then again when White returns to Thailand after many years away. So, psychic twin connections. I'm both highly militant and oddly patient when it comes to twin depiction stuff. I don't love the psychic thing, but that's the variety of twinship media nonsense I'm willing to take on board *if* it's done well and it's worthwhile. When you begin a story about twins with a psychic connection and make it a central feature of your plot, you've essentially borrowed goodwill from me. If you squander it, then your balance will come due and you'll be left owing. If you use it well, I'll forgive the loan. So we start not on a bad note, but with higher stakes.

Pretending-to-be-one's-twin plots work okay for me. Why? Because as much as they might rely on twin resemblance, they can't work without the twins being different, whole people. That shouldn't be considered a positive because all characters should begin as whole people, but we know that doesn't always happen in general and it certainly doesn't always happen with twins.

We begin a whole big chunk of the story where the crux may be that White is sort of undercover as his own brother, but twinship isn't actually at issue much at all. It's about deception and risk, not twin connection or twinship. We do get constant reminders that White and Black are very different, and we get a lot of White trying and only kind of succeeding at pretending.

One thing that rings true to me is that he doesn't actually have to do all that great a job of pretending. If you don't know somebody has a twin, and to some extent even if you do, as a human being you'll default very hard to this-is-the-same-person. It's just necessary in every moment of our lives that we're not dealing with identical twins, so it's necessary to lean that way. Also, as a twin I know very well that the majority of people are highly unobservant about a great many things. And it's not like these guys have any reason to think this is some other guy, though it would have been a note of realism if at some point at least one of them had gone wait, is Black reporting on us to the cops or something because he's acting sketchy. They do point out that he's being weird, so that base is partially covered.

I did some Tumblr poking around before I was done watching, so I saw a few spoilery things. Thanks partly to that, I couldn't help but hope that Sean figured out comparatively early that White was not Black. That would have been kind of thrilling to see, honestly, as a twin. But I certainly understand how that might not happen, and I also see the efficacy (to the plot) of having him not figure it out too quickly. It's more interesting if he doesn't know right away.

Clearly Tumblr world loves memeing about how Black woke up from his coma when, possibly because, White hooked up with Sean (I'll be more coy in my wording than some). Twin-rep-wise, that's a wash to me, neither better or worse than the psychic connection trope. I'm already tolerating the psychic stuff, and I can't say it's not an interesting plot point. If you need Black to wake up, when else would it be? It probably borrows a little more goodwill, but again that's stakes rather than a deficit.

As someone who remains skeptical of the psychic twin connection trope, I will say this. The particular way Black wakes up kind of shows the absurdity of the whole conceit. I'm cool with it because this is melodrama and it *should* be bonkers, but it goes to show what you're playing with when you invoke that trope.

This is when stuff gets interesting, to me but I assume to everybody. White and Black are both running around in the world of the show, and crucially they're also interacting with each other. And some of what happens is honestly pretty great twin-rep-wise. I really have to hand it to writer/director Nuchy Anucha Boonyawatana—she must be a pretty empathetic, intuitive person. (Along with her cowriters.) She seems to have made an effort to put herself in both Black and White's shoes in a real human way. Like, well beyond what the story would require.

I wanted to avoid digressing too much, but I want to go back to the very first moment in the entire show. In that brief scene, White looks in a dark, foggy mirror and says these words in voiceover: “When you see somebody who looks precisely like you, every part of his body resembles yours, you must feel really strange. But for me, it’s special. I call that specialness ‘twins.’”

When I saw this scene, I won’t say I knew this would be a thoughtful treatment of twins. But I did find it promising. Part of what annoys me about being a twin is how non-twins, aka singletons, think that being a twin is great because on some level they think of their hypothetical twin as an extension of themselves. Your twin is not you, and your twin is not part of you. Your twin is a human being, and like any other human being in the world there are some moments and some ways when they can seem utterly unknowable, foreign, unfathomable.

Back to the point in the story where I left off.

There’s a big twin moment near the end of episode 9: White is confronted in Black's apartment by an unknown figure, only to find that it's his brother. White’s voiceover tells us what he's thinking, and he calls back to that brief beginning scene. Now that I’ve gone back to look at both moments, I can say that they’re very similar in length and rhythm. So I suspect our writer/director was not only deliberate about the echo but also exacting in how both moments play out.

White’s voiceover says: “I’d always imagined the day I’d see my brother again. It’s supposed to be a heartwarming moment. But now it’s happening. It’s surprisingly frightening. It’s as though I’m meeting my doppelgänger.” Of course this is a translation, but it’s worth noting that you can hear actor Gun Atthaphan saying “doppelgänger,” so you know there isn’t a ton of poetic license on the part of the translator here.

White and Black exchange some awkward pleasantries, and then Black echoes White, saying "You look so much like me, it’s creepy.”

If I hadn’t seen my twin in ten years (especially at that age), it would have been very surreal even if that person weren’t as menacing as Black seems to be. It’s just that there are dimensions to twinship that fade in your mind when you’re not actively engaged with them. I assume that regular degular siblings can experience this in partial ways or in flashes, but I don’t have any of those so I can only guess. Seeing your twin after a long time apart isn’t somehow magical in a good or a bad way. But your twin carries all the powerful associations of any close family member along with a similarly large number of associations to your own identity.

I chase catharsis in media, but I don’t usually experience it strongly. But there can be a catharsis in recognition of self, and that’s what I get from these moments. To be clear, I don’t feel some profound otherness when I interact with my sister. She’s a sweetheart and I feel very close to her. But the twin experience, for me at least, connects strongly and meaningfully to some very basic aspects of my human existence. The fact that one is a little bit alone even in the closest togetherness. The fact that other people are never fully knowable. The fact of my own identity and how its boundaries aren’t quite as firm and distinct as I might pretend they are. How much I need connection. The way so much about my perceptions and actions can be strongly influenced by others in ways I’m totally unconscious of. Some of this may sound hokey! But it’s difficult to express it any other way.

Moving on. White goes to meet their mother as Black, and just as their conversation is ending she makes it clear she knows who he really is. You might think that bit is meaningful to me, but it doesn’t strike a stong chord. Parents can tell their twin children apart, yes. Would it be harder after ten years? Assumably. What is it supposed to mean about her that she can? I don’t know; I’m not a huge fan of hers.

Black encounters Sean and is incredibly cruel to him, beats him, and it sucks. It annoys me to heap praise on actors for playing twins—actors play different roles all the time and that’s just doing two of them in the same project—but I have to admit that Gun Atthaphan not only does a great job playing dual roles, but a good job playing twins specifically. In a way it’s hard to understand now, having seen what we have as the audience, how Sean could fail to see that this isn’t “his” Black. But he doesn’t, because there’s no way anything else is possible according to what he knows about his world.

Sean sees White-as-Black again as White saves him from sketchy mercenary types, and then tries repeatedly to confront him. White doesn’t really explain and Sean doesn’t come to an obvious epiphany. But when Sean sees Black again, something has clicked. He attempts the trust fall White showed him and Black just stares on contemptuously. Black is smoking “again.” And we get to another big twin moment. This is episode 12.

Sean gets it. He says “You’re not the Black that I love.” He handcuffs himself to Black. They have an oddly realistic fight that involves various uncomfortable wrestling positions. And he says “You have a twin brother?” Black denies it, Sean insists repeatedly. And you see Black’s face change from contempt to anger as he says “Don’t you get close to my little brother again.”

This is a fun, climactic moment. It is, of course, adorable that Sean insists he won’t stay away from White, and honestly pretty adorable in an extremely grumpy way that Black is being protective. (Here again Gun is very convincing. For such a small, baby-faced guy he is genuinely menacing as Black.)

The moment is also true to my experience, though the only direct connections I can make aren’t exactly similar in circumstances. If your social world intersects heavily with that of your twin, there really are particular moments in many romantic relationships and even in many close friendships where the other person will sort of take a twin inventory with you. They don’t go on a spiel about how you’re cooler than your twin (unless maybe they suck as a person), they probably don’t even compare you exactly. But each person has to come to their own realization because (often at least) while they knew you and your twin are different people, they had to learn it all over again on another level. And they want you to know they perceive it.

There are smaller iterations of this phenomenon where people will emphatically tell you that while they have been able to tell you apart in the past, *now* they don’t even think of you as looking the same, now they can’t imagine how anybody *ever* confuses you. It’s not like this happens every single time I get to know every single person, but it’s so common in its broad strokes that I feel confident saying that the people around me and my sister share some common experiences in how they perceive us. And a change comes at a certain point that’s compelling enough that people are motivated to talk about it, try to make you understand.

Anyway, while this is a phenomenon that happens around me rather than to me, Sean’s insistence strikes a chord.

Sean finds White. White does a totally accidental trust fall, and it’s pretty cute.

White... decides to halfway drown himself to “remind [Black] of [their] connection”? Which makes some intuitive sense in the moment even if it sounds a bit silly. And is a little. Black finds him, they talk, Black concludes that he can’t stop White from staying with the group, going on their mission, and being with Sean. White stops Sean from going to the drug warehouse alone, at which point he says something that rings true for me as well. He explains why he hesitated to stay part of things, and says “I thought it wasn’t my place.”

When Black returned and demanded his phone, demanded White go away and not see the gang anymore, White went along with that because in a real way that was valid. White had genuine reasons for essentially stealing Black’s life, but that is what he did. White is an empathetic sweetheart so while he did get used to Black’s world he does feel guilty and out of place suddenly. But now he sees that things have changed, and he can’t go back to before all this happened. And of course he’s in loooove, so there’s that as well.

Then White tells the other dudes who he is (except for Gumpa, who knew the whole time) and it takes them a while to believe him. But when they do, they immediately do the twin inventory with him, saying how did I not see this earlier, etc.

They do their attempted heist, loads of shit goes wrong, they fall from various frying pans into various fires for a good while. They get away, things settle down. Sean does the twin inventory with White again and insists he’s completely able to tell White and Black apart now.

Then we have my final twin moment. White says he knows Black won’t be returning to the group. “Nobody wants to live in someone else’s shadow,” he says. “My brother sacrificed this role for me.”

This rings true for me. As a twin, you never want to think of yourself as interchangeable with your sibling. But at the same time many relationships and groups don’t have room for each of a pair of twins to feel comfortable. It’s not like you have to come up with some legalistic scheme for who “owns” a social group or anything like that. But at least in my sort of twin relationship, you’re never going to have a symmetrical relationship with a third person or a social circle. Even if you each have the same degree of connection to the same person, it’s different. And I can’t say it’s ever really been the same. One has always been closer, or more comfortable, or something.

Well, if you can believe it that’s not everything I could have said. But it’s a lot, and if you made it to the end I thank you. In case it doesn’t go without saying, I did find it worthwhile to indulge the psychic twin trope. What I got out of Not Me was worth the latitude.

#not me #not me the series #gun atthaphan #off jumpol #avoiding twin tags like the plague until i figure out which are not sketchy

[absolutebl]

Hi!!! I love your blog so much, especially your weekly summaries-- they are just so helpful! I was wondering if you know of any Bls with the military/policemen/fire fighters? I know military service is mandatory in thailand and south korea so I was wondering if there were any Bls that have one the main characters in the military (or police, firefighters etc.) Thanks so so much!

Hi!!! Thank you!

BL BADGE BUNNIES ACTIVATED!

Sure thing. There are a few, not many. Countries with conscription policies (e.g. Korea & Thailand) usually have a defacto ban on realistic/non-positive representation of military service in their media. In other words, BL by its nature (gay in military) stays away from this setting.

BLs in uniform (featuring military/policemen/fire fighter romances)

A Tale of Thousand Stars Thai 2021 YouTube (ranger) - With great casting and cinematography this drama nods at BL tropes but manages to elevate them (and itself) with a strong mature story concept about a spoiled rich kid who gets a heart transplant and becomes a teacher it order to pay out survivor’s guilt. On the way he falls in love with a local park ranger and contends with his own classism and escapist tendencies. Everyone seemed to perfectly suit their roles and GMMTV made the most out of its stable. Combined with excellent production (and post production) values, 1000 Stars is without question GMMTV’s most mature, charming, and smart BL series. I think it should go down as one of the top BLs of all time. I feel safe recommending this one to friends and non BL watchers. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

HIStory 3: Trapped Taiwan 2019 Viki (cop) - Basically the definition of enemies to lovers from Lin Pei Yu. This is a cop + the mafia man he is chasing but WAIT, they fall in love. Added bonus side couple: assassin and nerd cop ALSO falling in love. It’s great. All the leads are stellar. Its high heat, fun action, and a bit of a mystery drama but pretty about all of it. My only warning is that the main couple doesn’t entirely end up together, it’s implied, but… amorphous ending. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Your Name Engraved Herein Taiwan 2020 Netflix? (army, recent history) - This movie is fantastic but it is also seriously depressing, it’s a self acceptance journey, but if you wanna wallow in high quality acting and serious gay drama, this’ll do it. MIXED REC, NOT FOR SPECIFICALLY BL FANS

S.C.I. AKA SCI Mysteries China/Hong Kong 2018 YouTube? (censored bromance, cops) - This is a police procedural with a censored main couple of police investigators who live together basically as husbands, it’s just not talked about. This is one of the first BLs I ever saw (I found their relationship very confusing). RECOMMENDED

Guardian China 2018 grey (censored bromance, cop) - Episodic urban fantasy meets police procedural, one of the most epic long term pinings in the history of long term pinings. RECOMMENDED

Light Taiwan 2021 Gaga (cop) - Ironically titled movie about a street hustler (incest, rape, abuse survivor - all depicted on screen) who falls in (and in love with) an undercover cop. TRIGGERS

Shorts & Sides

A First Love Story Korea 2021 YouTube & Gaga (military service) - Strongberry are true masters of their craft and yet A First Love Story is still one of the best things they have ever produced. It’s the only microfilm ever to make one of my year end top ten list. It’s two episodes of about 8 minutes each that manage to perfectly portray the sweetest friends-to-lovers confession ever. It’s joyful, and gentle with its characters, and a little hot. How on earth do they manage to leave us yearning for more yet completely satisfied at the same time? It’s like the perfect amuse-bouche, that one finger food at that one cocktail party that you will never forget. You are a ridiculous human if you haven’t spent 16 minutes with these two boys. Go watch it now. Or go watch it again. It’s time VERY well spent. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Just Friends? Korea 2009 Gaga (military service) - Boyfriends, one of whom is on military leave, trying to decide on coming out and the future. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

(also one of Korea's first BLs, they would NOT stick to this style, it's way more Taiwan feeling.)

The Immeasurable Taiwan 2021 Gaga (cop) - Police officer falls in love with a student who turns out to be an anti-establishment activist. MIXED REC

DanYok side couple in Not Me (cop)

I've left out bodyguards and historicals (or both).

I've left out the super dark, unhappy, violent, rapey, and pinks, because... I don't like 'em, and you asked me... so...

Now you know why the BL adaptation I want more than ANYTHING is Decedents of the Sun, soldier+healer but GAY? Come on, it writes itself!

(source)

#asked and answered #military bl #police bl #bl badge bunnies #Thai BL #Taiwanese Bl #Korean bl #A Tale of Thousand Stars #earthmix #HIStory 3: Trapped #rakutan viki #gagaoolala #Your Name Engraved Herein #SCI Mysteries #chinese bromance #A First Love Story #Strongberry #DanYok #Decedents of the Sun but make it gay you cowards

[laurel-finch]

'I Don't Bite' S1.Ch09: Gamble

Summary: The reader learns more about herself with a new friend's help... Referenced Episodes: None. CW: Minor gore (hunting for food). Word Count: 4015 Recommended Song: Go Your Own Way -- Fleetwood Mac Previous Chapter -- Masterlist -- Next Chapter

I told myself it would only be a few days, that traveling with a stranger would just distract me. The first night I laid awake thinking was this really the best option for me? Two days with Calliope turned into three. Three turned into five. Five turned into a week. A week and a half later, the two of us were still traveling together – sometimes I had a hard time understanding why. 

"You know, you could at least smile for once," she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. She pouted from her place on a fallen tree, a fire whirling at her feet. I chuckled softly and leaned further into my backpack, stretching my feet out in front of me.

"I do smile," I countered playfully. I crossed my arms over my chest and stretched out languidly. It was chilly out and I brought my feet closer to the fire in the hopes of warming them.

"But only like that," she said, gesturing towards my face. I frowned and pulled my eyes from the fire, taking in her dower expression. "You never, like, actually smile. You know, where your cheeks hurt because you've been smiling so much."

I dropped my gaze back to the flames, eyes downcast. “I’m just tired, Cal.”

She sighed. We fell silent for a few moments and I enjoyed the sounds of the forest. It was late now and the moon was high in the sky casting a weak glow through the trees. Its milky glow splattered the ground like someone had dipped bunches of grass in white paint.

"Do you want to go hunting tonight?" she finally inquired. "We could hunt something together if you feel up to it."

I shrugged and nudged some tinder closer to the fire with my covered toes, using my boot to press the twigs over the edge of the stone pit and into the flames. The fire sputtered encouragingly as it devoured the kindling. "I'd rather watch you hunt again, if that's alright."

She huffed again. "When are you going to help me bring in the food, huh?" she teased, a smirk growing on her features. My brows twitched downward in a frown. This wasn’t the first time she had subtly pushed me toward changing forms.

"When you stop being so damn good at hunting," I quipped back. "Seriously, you make it look like art."

Her face flushed and she ran a shy hand through her dark hair, hiding her face from the light of the fire. Calliope had a unique way of hunting. It was more like tracking and then a sudden, swift attack. She could down an animal in one blow, and when she tore at its skin it was as if she was shredding a pre-existing seam. Nothing like when I hunted – blood always got everywhere, all over the fur of the animal and all over me.

She made it look effortless and minimized the mess. It was almost impossible to tell that there had been a kill in that very spot. It was even more impressive each time I saw it.

Despite her bulky, fluffy malamute form Calliope was incredibly fast. Hell, sometimes I thought maybe she could rival my own speed. She could certainly rival Marcus's and she wasn't even a pure-blooded wolf. I assumed that came from years of living on her own.

"Have you ever wanted to join a pack?" I asked her. She was caught off guard by this question, looking rather confused and shocked by it. She stiffened, bottom lip quivering for a split second before she broke into an uneasy smile.

"I mean... not really? I've never really thought about it, honestly,” she answered in a warbling tone. I turned my head to face her as she suddenly stood on the downed tree, walking up and down its length and balancing with spectacular precision. "I don't know, I've never met many others like me, so I've never thought about being in a big group of them." She turned around to face me, arms extended wide to keep balance. "What about you? Do you have a pack?"

I hummed contentedly in acknowledgement and leaned my head against my bag. "I do… you’d like them."

She paused as she met my eyes. My gaze was steady, expression unreadable. I believed my words, they would like her, and she would probably like them. If she wanted to visit… I wasn’t opposed. "What are they like?" she asked, hopping down from her log.

"They're... warm. And funny. I can count on them to be my family, my friends, and I have a sneaking suspicion that if I asked them to, they'd help me bury a body," I joked.

"Why are you away from them if you care about them so much?" She sat down beside me, the grass faintly crunching beneath her. She leaned forward and propped herself up with her arms.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek. Right, the question we’d both been dancing around. My skin prickled and I shivered at the feeling of a warm sensation on the back of my neck. Like warm breath fanning my skin, demanding my answer. "... I was hunting with a few friends," I finally answered uneasily as I rolled my shoulders and pulled my jacket around me.

"... Hunting?"

"Yeah," I mumbled back. I sat up and sat beside her, pulling my knees to my chest. My hooded gaze scanned the treeline, feeling as if I was being watched by someone other than the woman seated beside me. "Hunter friends. Humans. It was supposed to be a short hunt, but..." I cleared my throat and stared at the earth beneath my dirty shoes.

"Something happened?" I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, her blue eyes locking with mine. Her eyes never changed color, seemingly a permanent manifestation of her furred self. I wondered if maybe she always kept it right on the surface out of necessity. "It's OK if you don't want to talk about it!" she said hurriedly. "I totally get it, sensitive topics and all that." She fell backward onto the grass, her limbs stretched out and fingers groped, tearing at the little green shoots, a few old leaves getting tangled in her hair.

"I killed someone." Her eyes widened and she looked as though she wanted me to continue. She eventually grew frustrated with my silence and sat up with a groan. "A human. I just… I got scared and I lost control.”

She was silent and I could feel her eyes on my face, gauging my reaction and waiting for me to continue. I leaned forward, plucking at the blades of grass around my legs.

It wasn't necessarily that it was hard to talk about. It was just... if I told her about it that would mean I'd have to recognize what I had done. It was always in the back of my mind. How do I fix this? How do I stop it from happening again? What will I do if it does happen again?

I didn’t like the honest answer to any of those questions. Thoughts of my mother swirled, her panicked frenzy that drove her over the edge and led to her death. I didn’t want that to be me.

I pictured myself staring down the barrel of Sam or Dean’s gun.

So much had changed over the past few months. I had become something I never wanted to be, and now there were others dependent on me – me, someone who could hardly rely on herself. How was I supposed to lead my pack when I never had any intention to do so, and certainly no experience?

I envied Calliope. She was so... free. Unapologetically herself. She didn't have to worry about what a pack thought about her, or if she was doing it right. She wasn't scared of her wild instincts taking hold and potentially hurting someone she cared about... again. I wanted to be like that, free to be myself and learn who I was, as a skinwalker and a leader. That was the whole reason I avoided contact with others like me in the first place.

Maybe I cared too easily?

I jumped as I felt her warm hand touch my shoulder. I turned to her, expecting to see pity in her pale irises. Instead, I saw affection and understanding. I felt something warm slip down my face. I reached a calloused hand up and brushed my face, my hand coming away wet.

"Shit," I whispered as I frantically brushed away the stray tears. "Sorry, I didn't even realize-"

"It's OK," she interjected. "We’re all eggs sometimes. We crack." I tried to laugh, but my giggles turned into sobs. She wrapped her arms around me and I leaned into her embrace without thinking.

—

"Are you sure you're OK with me following you like this?" I asked the bouncy malamute standing before me. The sun had barely risen and my eyes were still sticky with sleep. Calliope yipped and bounced around in a circle before facing me and flashing me a doggy grin. I flashed a small smile back. "I'll take that as a yes."

She yipped again, bounced high into the air, and bounded off into the woods. I jogged behind her and she would occasionally check over her shoulder to make sure I was keeping up.

My human form was not as well-conditioned as my wolf form. As a wolf, I felt that I could run forever, as I was built just for that. As a human, I lacked balance and precision in my running. I felt clumsy and wasn't nearly as fast.

Calliope howled and dashed madly into the woods. I assumed she had picked up the scent of another animal. I couldn't blame her for leaving me. I smiled warmly and watched her fuzzy figure disappear into the woods. She would come to find me soon. Until then, I slowed my pace and buried my hands into the pockets of my jeans. The knees were scuffed and torn from a lot of wear – they were perfectly fitted to my wolf form, blending perfectly with my skin when I shifted, and incredibly comfortable.

I momentarily pulled my cold hands out of my pockets and drew my old jacket tighter around me. It was barely spring in Montana and still freezing.

I was ecstatic when I saw crocuses budding for the first time under a thin blanket of snow. The little purple and yellow flowers were so delicate. The fact that they could bloom in these harsh mountain conditions amazed me.

I heard an excited yip in the distance and my content grin widened. I suppose that meant Cal had found something to hunt. I wouldn't be surprised if she came barreling towards me in the next few minutes, keen on me helping her track whatever she had found.

I walked towards the distant yip, my feet falling on the dried leaves and pine needles that littered the ground. The Rocky Mountains were nothing like back home; there was little to no humidity here, and the temperatures always stayed rather low compared to Alabama. Here, you could step into the shade of a pine tree and feel the temperature drop ten degrees.

I heard a howl towards my left. It jarred me, making me jump. Calliope was still a ways off, but I hadn't expected her to have moved so far in a short period. Her howl wasn't the same excited whine I had heard before. This one was different, but I couldn't quite place it.

I wished I could be out here running with her. A race against Calliope would have been an impressive sight, with her speed and finesse matched with my raw power. I cracked a grin, imagining the feeling of my paws pounding against the forest floor.

I had tried earlier that morning to shift but to no avail. Granted, I had felt my furred form closer to the surface this time, but my hackles had barely protruded before I was exhausted. Despite Calliope's kind words, I still had that barrier, and I wasn't sure how to overcome it-

My skin chilled, save for the warmth at the back of my neck, like a puff of hot breath. I shivered. An unwanted image pressed into my mind and my brows furrowed, my head spinning. Divots in the ground, like claw marks.

The hell..?

I placed a hand on my temple, my head pounding now. It felt like something was clawing to get in. I stumbled and clutched at my face. This felt like… when I first met Marcus and Caeden.

I heard a whisper distantly in front of me. My eyes widened and, to my shock, I could feel them filling with that familiar molten gold color.

Come, it said, demanding this time whereas before it had been coaxing.

Come.

My golden eyes flared as I marched further into the woods, picking up the pace with each whisper. In a few short seconds, I was sprinting through the woods, chasing an invisible presence. This time I was going to find those damn whispers.

See.

I ran harder now at this new word, my feet pounding against the ground. I nearly tripped over a root but somehow regained my balance and plowed forward once more.

Go, it said. It sounded frantic this time, whatever it was. I could feel my hackles rising, the fur waiting to burst forth. I hardly took note of it. My mind was set on finding the source of this whisper.

The whispers got louder and more frantic until it felt like they were almost screaming. My head was pounding at this point, trying to understand what it was saying. It sounded like one voice echoing or distorted by water.

It really was screaming now, screaming the word 'go' over and over until that was the only word in my mind. Not the thought of finding it. Not Calliope.

Go!

I burst forth into a clearing and the screaming suddenly stopped. I blinked away rapidly forming tears, caused by the aching pressure in my head. It was silent for the first time in minutes.

Something was wrong.

I heard a scream mix with a roar, a ferocious, rage-filled roar that made my stomach curl and brought another shiver down my spine. My feet were moving again without my permission, carrying me in the direction of the not-so-distant scream.

Once more I heard a high-pitched wail, filled with terror. My eyes widened and suddenly my legs were carrying me faster than they ever had in this form.

I felt like I was flying again.

The trees thinned and I could see a river ahead of me. It had a shallow bank lined with thousands of small rocks and the occasional reed springing up from the water. The trees hung low over the bank, and a wide sand bar stood in the middle of the shallow yet raging water.

On the bank of the sandbar, I saw Calliope, a monstrous grizzly standing above her, one heavily clawed paw raised.

I howled and pushed my legs harder, passing massive, muddy paw prints on the bank that surely belonged to the grizzly. I sprinted through the water, my feet barely touching the riverbed before I was taking another step, and the water doing its very best to knock me off my feet.

The water rose higher, up to my mid-thighs, as I struggled to run through the coursing current. Calliope snapped her jaws at the bear, bullying it into distancing itself. The grizzly snarled in rage, curling back its black lips and showing three-inch fangs.

I screamed in rage, pushing forwards and practically swimming through the water shallow but turbulent at this point, my feet hardly touching the bottom. I trudged up the bank, the water sinking lower now and I took large, sweeping steps. Calliope's eyes locked on mine for a split second. The bear lunged at her, attempting to sink its sharp teeth into her shoulder.

I clambered up the bank as I felt the familiar feeling of fur sprouting along the ridge of my spine. My nails elongated to claws and my teeth grew to sharp points.

And then it all stopped. Fur bristled on my arms, thicker than my usual body hair, but nowhere near what I needed. I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes, ears deafening save for the constant roaring of the river. I struggled to ground myself, to keep hold of my instincts. I felt eyes crawling across my skin, watching my every move.

The grizzly whirled on me as I came pounding across the rocky bank towards it. It stood, reaching its full height as I collided heavily with its chest. My fangs sunk into its meaty shoulder in a way that was vastly unpleasant compared to my wolf form. I roared and dug my teeth further into the beast's shoulder, my fangs sunk into muscle and tore. The bear swiped a paw at me and snarled.

I jumped back, narrowly avoiding the raging grizzly's paw. As the bear righted itself, Calliope tugged herself to her feet and pounced onto its back. Her claws and teeth dug into the animal's thick flesh, too much for it to take out on her own. 

I shouted Calliope’s name frantically as the bear rolled, attempting to sink its broad jaws into the much smaller figure on its back. She fought to hold tight, blue eyes on mine and curled tail lashing. I backed into the water, rising to waist level quickly. She huffed as she clawed at the things skin and then finally leapt free.

Calliope’s paws skittered on the river rocks and she dove muzzle-first into the river. I followed as she plowed through the water, the bear roaring on the embankment behind us. We ran as far and as fast as possible from that scene, not looking back until the grizzly's roars faded into the distance.

—

My whole body curled forward as vomit sprang from my throat in painful waves. Calliope’s hands stroked my back in a soothing manner as I heaved into the grass of our small campsite. My body trembled in response to the sharp, sudden stimulus. My ears rang as whispers licked at the back of my mind. I choked and clutched my stomach as I felt the prickling sensation of fur receding into my skin and my teeth withdrawing into my gums.

Calliope’s frantic words finally reached my ears as the torrential wave of illness slowed. “I’m sorry, I- there was a cub, a- a baby, and she was really, really territorial, I didn’t know-”

I laughed, wiping my mouth with my sleeve. I'd have to wash this coat later – it was drenched with dirty river water and now with bits of vomit, though that wasn't the worst thing its fabric had seen.

Cal scoffed and swatted at my back, then smoothed the mark at my groan of protest. "You could have died!"

I laughed harder, cackling now, and threw my hands up into the air in joy. I fell backward onto a large patch of fluffy grass and held my stomach. Calliope watched me like I was insane. The sudden rush of endorphins in response to my vomiting and the sheer adrenaline of the chase had thrilled tears in my eyes and a smile on my lips.

"That-" I wheezed as I struggled to regain my breath, "- was awesome!"

"You and I have very different definitions of  'awesome,'" she grumbled as she flopped down beside me.

"That's the closest I’ve gotten in weeks!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in triumph, the oversized sleeves of my coat rolling down my arms. "Not only that, but I didn't kill the bear!"

"Did you want to kill it?" she questioned, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"No!" I laughed and flashed her a wide, confident grin. "No, I didn't!

—

"Do you really think they’d like me?" Calliope questioned in a soft tone, worry written across her delicate features. I clasped a hand onto her shoulder, now decorated with a small messenger bag that I had purchased for her in a small city. It was decorated with turquoise beads and a western style chevron pattern  – fitting for Montana tourism.

I lifted my head and furrowed my brows as I walked beside her through the edge of town. Her eyes were fixated on her dirty, worn out shoes as we plodded slowly down the sidewalk. Her skin was freshly cleaned and she smelled sweet, a mix of strawberry shampoo and her signature wintery scent. 

A single day in the small city had settled my nerves enough that I found myself willing to pursue true civilization again. Family, friends, hunting. Slowly, of course, but it felt like the first step of many. Maybe I could do this.

“My pack?”

“Yes.”

“They’d love you,” I answered with a small smile. I placed my hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. She fiddled with a strip of paper in her hands, a train ticket to somewhere in the Midwest. She frowned and ran her thumb over the city name.

“Could I… visit someday? Just to see what it’s like? To see you again?” she asked as she lifted her head to meet my gaze. Frosty blue glazed over with worry and fright. I placed my other hand on her shoulder as we came to a stop a few yards from the station. I held her at arm's length and fixed her with a firm stare.

"They'll love you," I said definitively, as if our minds were already made up. I trusted her, and I knew they would too. "If they give you any trouble, tell them to give me a call. I'll charge my phone up as soon as I can, just in case." I knew they wouldn’t, not when she smelled so much like me now. Not when I smelled like her. Her wintery scent, subtly melted to reveal the scent of warm earth and belonging. My rich earth blanketed in frost, like a warren built for comfort in the cold.

She looked up at me with pensive blue eyes, a slight nervous flush to her cheeks. “I wish you would come with me.”

“I will, eventually,” I assured, squeezing her shoulders. She dragged one hand from her ticket and placed it on my wrist. "I still have some friends I need to apologize to. But don't worry, I'll come home soon." This time I smiled reassuringly and she grinned back.

She hummed quietly in response,  swallowing nervously as the word home slipped from my lips. "... Don't be too long. God, I feel like I'm missing you already," she said with a laugh. She threw her arms up and beckoned me in, a hug I gladly reciprocated.

"Take care of yourself," I mumbled quietly to her. "And don't let Marcus mess with you too much. I have a sneaking suspicion that he'll love to pick on the newbie."

“I’ll try my best," she giggled. "I'll see you soon,” she said as she took a few steps back and waved shyly. Her hands gripped the straps of her backpack as she swiveled daintily on her heels and dragged her tired feet toward the train station.

I sighed as I watched her go and picked at my nails nervously. I buried a nail between my teeth, clenching down firmly with my teeth as the train approached. I wanted to go with her desperately. My lovely friend, soon to meet my family. A new addition to my pack. A ragged huffed escaped me as I pulled my nail from my lips and dusted my palms off on my jeans.

It was too soon. I had other business to attend to first. An apology deep in my gut that needed to be ripped from my lips. I clenched my jaw in worry as I began the long trek back to the familiar arms of Sam and Dean.

#supernatural #spn #i honestly dont like this chapter #no beloved dean in this one :( #maybe thats why i dont like this one #dean winchester #sam winchester #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester fic #fluff #angst #slow burn #it's not even simmering yet #let alone burning #supernatural x reader #x reader #female reader #cross posted on ao3 #cross posted on wattpad #supernatural fanfiction #monster reader #monster #original characters #original monster characters