The Proper Way to Write Love (2025)
Sep. 2nd, 2025 05:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reviews_and_ramblingsThe Proper Way to Write Love was a nice one. Not really my favorite since it was a little too much heavy on the thrope of the misunderstanding, but as most of the Japanese drama, the production was very nice, the actors were good, in particular the character of Washizawa Natsuo was top notch. Natsuo is a simple man, very open with his feelings, or at least he is now. When Natsuo and Suzuki Hiroshi were at school together, Natsuo's attentions towards Hiroshi had seemed like almost bullying, and that is what Hiro remembers of those years. But yes, both actors were very good, and therefore move along a thrope that is not really my cup of tea. HEA. You can see it on GagaOOLala. Heat Level: 5/6.
Heat Level:
1/6: glances, caress, hugs, no kisses
2/6: kisses, closed mouth or camera angles
3/6: full kisses, clothes on
4/6: full kisses, some clothes off, hands above the waist, pants stay on
5/6: most clothes off, they have sex, but it’s masked, no sexy sounds
6/6: full nudity mostly hidden by camera angles, they have sex, sexy sounds
Code deploy happening shortly
Aug. 31st, 2025 07:37 pm![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
mark posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenancePer the dw_news post regarding the MS/TN blocks, we are doing a small code push shortly in order to get the code live. As per usual, please let us know if you see anything wonky.
There is some code cleanup we've been doing that is going out with this push but I don't think there is any new/reworked functionality, so it should be pretty invisible if all goes well.
Mississippi site block, plus a small restriction on Tennessee new accounts
Aug. 31st, 2025 12:28 pmdenise posting in dw_newsA reminder to everyone that starting tomorrow, we are being forced to block access to any IP address that geolocates to the state of Mississippi for legal reasons while we and Netchoice continue fighting the law in court. People whose IP addresses geolocate to Mississippi will only be able to access a page that explains the issue and lets them know that we'll be back to offer them service as soon as the legal risk to us is less existential.
The block page will include the apology but I'll repeat it here: we don't do geolocation ourselves, so we're limited to the geolocation ability of our network provider. Our anti-spam geolocation blocks have shown us that their geolocation database has a number of mistakes in it. If one of your friends who doesn't live in Mississippi gets the block message, there is nothing we can do on our end to adjust the block, because we don't control it. The only way to fix a mistaken block is to change your IP address to one that doesn't register as being in Mississippi, either by disconnecting your internet connection and reconnecting it (if you don't have a static IP address) or using a VPN.
In related news, the judge in our challenge to Tennessee's social media age verification, parental consent, and parental surveillance law (which we are also part of the fight against!) ruled last month that we had not met the threshold for a temporary injunction preventing the state from enforcing the law while the court case proceeds.
The Tennesee law is less onerous than the Mississippi law and the fines for violating it are slightly less ruinous (slightly), but it's still a risk to us. While the fight goes on, we've decided to prevent any new account signups from anyone under 18 in Tennessee to protect ourselves against risk. We do not need to block access from the whole state: this only applies to new account creation.
Because we don't do any geolocation on our users and our network provider's geolocation services only apply to blocking access to the site entirely, the way we're implementing this is a new mandatory question on the account creation form asking if you live in Tennessee. If you do, you'll be unable to register an account if you're under 18, not just the under 13 restriction mandated by COPPA. Like the restrictions on the state of Mississippi, we absolutely hate having to do this, we're sorry, and we hope we'll be able to undo it as soon as possible.
Finally, I'd like to thank every one of you who's commented with a message of support for this fight or who's bought paid time to help keep us running. The fact we're entirely user-supported and you all genuinely understand why this fight is so important for everyone is a huge part of why we can continue to do this work. I've also sent a lot of your comments to the lawyers who are fighting the actual battles in court, and they find your wholehearted support just as encouraging and motivating as I do. Thank you all once again for being the best users any social media site could ever hope for. You make me proud and even more determined to yell at state attorneys general on your behalf.
Searching for the Comet by Emi Mitsuki
Aug. 30th, 2025 02:39 pmreviews_and_ramblings
”I've been in love with him...ever since that day when he cried underneath the fake， starry sky. I didn't initially intend to confess to him. I only wanted us to be closer - to spend more time together... So how did things end up this way...?” Kawai is a member of his high school's Astronomy Club. He grows close to Ohara， his fellow classmate， when Ohara helps him out with his club's exhibit for their last school festival. After the two graduate， their paths begin to diverge， little by little...until one fateful day. So close that they can feel each other's breath， yet so tragically distant. A romantic tale of two men constantly just beyond each other's reach. Chasing after one another， like shooting stars.
My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/45WhlB3)
The Stranger in the Hoarding House by Joe Aruku
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:51 pmreviews_and_ramblings
After a traumatic incident at work, Kamakura locked himself away and let the trash pile up around him, resigned to his fate as a hikikomori... That is, until the day Katsuyoshi climbed in through his balcony.
At their landlord's behest, Katsuyoshi offers to help Kamakura clean his apartment, insisting that Kamakura stay with him in the meantime. Kamakura reluctantly agrees, wondering why Katsuyoshi would offer to help out a complete stranger. Turns out, Katsuyoshi has his own reasons— and his own trauma— to work through.
As they tidy together, the pair open up to each other and slowly begin to heal in this sweet slice-of-life romance about moving forward, one trash bag at a time...
My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/3JFEEYj)
The Kyogoku Family by Keiko Kinoshita
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:41 pmreviews_and_ramblings
"Marry me, just for show."
Seishirou Kyougoku, son and personal secretary of the incumbent Minister of Justice, found himself utterly baffled. First, his young half-brother Reo came to live with him! Then, an out-of-the-blue reunion with his old classmate Takeru Kyougoku led to Takeru finding out the truth about Reo!! And to top it off, now he's managed to get himself stuck in a sham marriage with Takeru!!! While breaking the news, Seishirou vows to put Takeru and Reo's wellbeing even above his own life, sham or not, but then Takeru pushes him down on the bed and demands a different sort of consolation prize for going along with this plan... Can real love bloom from a union born of lies?
My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/41rNfUG)
Sensei's Mail-Order Food by Asumiko Nakamura
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:32 pmreviews_and_ramblings
A Boys’ Love Story about Finding Common Ground over Delicious Food—the Manga That Inspired the Live-Action Drama!
When erotic novelist Enomura Haruka and shojo artist Nakata Miruku are brought together by their publisher to collaborate on a new manga, it seems like a perfect match—until the two meet in person and realize just how different they are! Haruka is a bit of a sadist with a cool-guy personality, and he immediately clashes with Miruku, who’s something of a masochist and doesn’t match his bright shojo style at all. There’s one thing the two have in common, however—their love of gourmet food, especially the mail-order variety. Can their passion for amazing food bridge the gap between them? Or could food be the catalyst that causes their passions to boil over? Includes reviews of real gourmet food items from Japan!
My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/4oXKiF9)
Natsume Wants to be Trained by Mamita
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:27 pmreviews_and_ramblings
One man’s desire to become better in bed leads him to an escort with quite the surprise in this Boys’ Love manga! From the creator of Wanna Be My Dress-Up Lover? and 10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40—both also available from Seven Seas!
Natsume has a problem that’s keeping him single and alone: He’s lousy in bed! Frustrated by his inability to keep a lover, he comes up with a plan--become a master of sex and shove his newfound bedroom prowess right in his ex’s face! The first step? Hiring a male escort to help him improve his skills. But when the escort, Kou, arrives at his home, Natsume is stunned to find that this man is no stranger. In fact, he’s Natsume’s own housekeeper!
My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/45SpZjP)
My Neighbor is Devastatingly Sweet and Selfish by Nanako Sakurai
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:25 pmreviews_and_ramblings
Masachika has been reunited with his childhood friend， and what’s more， he’s a model! Kiwa suddenly moves in next door， but he can’t take care of himself， so Masachika often looks after him. During one drunken night， Kiwa makes his move on Masachika and to his surprise， he relents?! Can they keep their relationship a secret or will they have even bigger problems to worry about?
My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/4oZOwMx)
My Instructor Won't Yield by Deme Kingyobachi
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:20 pmreviews_and_ramblings
Chiba's kind manner, clear guidance, and pretty face make him easily the favorite driving instructor of every female student at the school where he works. But, while he'll play up his charms to get good reviews, Chiba is diligent about politely but firmly rejecting all romantic advances. Yet his well-crafted persona will be put to the test when he's matched up with the mysterious Yaotome, a new student gaining a reputation of his own as the “Sharp-Suited Prince,” because he comes to every driving lesson way overdressed. Despite his cool looks and demeanor, Yaotome can hardly compose himself when Chiba begins their lesson. An after-hours encounter reveals that Yaotome is actually a manga artist…and that's not his only secret!
My Rate: 8 (amzn.to/47qpYWZ)
High School boy and Yakuza by Tarako Nekokawa
Aug. 30th, 2025 12:17 pmreviews_and_ramblings
Though the man in front of me wore a kind smile， he pinned me down， asked if I wanted him to come onto me and whether or not I would be his love plaything. Up until then， I， Saku Fujisaki， was just an ordinary student， but because of my mother's debt， I was taken away by the yakuza. Either I do backbreaking work indefinitely， sell my organs， or.... Right... With no other choice， I ended up as the young yakuza leader's love plaything. But is there something more...?!
My Rate: 7 (amzn.to/3UPP8Xx)