#"Lady Marmalade"

[goodblacknews]

MUSIC: Happy Birthdays, Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight! GBN Celebrates Two Soul Legends On Their 80th

by Jeff Meier (FB: Jeff.Meier.90) Here at Good Black News, we’ve decided to have some fun and make up a new holiday. With Patti LaBelle (born May 24th) and her good friend and Gemini sister Gladys Knight (born May 28th) both turning 80 over this long weekend, we’re thinking the perfect date is May 26th. In much the same way that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays were lumped…

[b-e-l-l-a--l-u-n-a]

"She always thought no one could truly love a broken woman.. But he just thinks there are more pieces of her to love."

"...is it I who is broken?

Or you?

Could we find that we 2 fit our broken edges together then and soothe one another's souls?

If so... how divine the pain is when it has brought your pieces to fit with mine."

Edb

[azazelblake]

Cooper Howard qotues

Why, is this an Amish production of The Count of Monte Cristo or... just the weirdest circle jerk I've ever been invited to?" – The Ghoul after being awoken

"Well, what makes you think I'd give a good goddamn about that?" – The Ghoul to Honcho about a bounty

"Well, I tell you what, boys, whenever somebody says... ...they're doing one last job, that usually means their heart's not in it. Probably never was. But for me, well... I do this shit for the love of the game." – The Ghoul to the bounty hunters

"You right, friend, about one thing. This right here was your last job. My paycheck wasn't quite what you expected, but... well, you know what they say. Us cowpokes... ...we take it as it comes." – The Ghoul while murdering Honcho

"Now, last night a bounty came in through all six agencies. A hefty price on the head of a man that fits the description of that fella right there. Now, I may not know much, but I do know a bidding war when I see one." – The Ghoul about the bounty for Dr. Wilzig

"Well, now, that is a very small drop in a very, very large bucket of drugs." – The Ghoul after being shot at by Lucy

"You got to be fucking kidding me." – The Ghoul after seeing Maximus' arrival

"Well, I'd say come up here and get me, but... it's hard to walk upstairs when you're wearing a 12-piece cast-iron skillet set." – The Ghoul to Maximus.

"Well, I guess basic training ain't what it used to be. 'Cause you drive that thing like a fucking shopping cart. Rule number one: read the manual." – The Ghoul taunting Maximus

"Yeah, well, the Wasteland's got its own golden rule. [...] Thou shalt get sidetracked by bullshit every goddamn time."

"Well, Lucy MacLean, it ain't all canned peaches and marmalade left up here, sweetheart. Sometimes a fella's got to eat a fella." – The Ghoul while harvesting Roger's remains

"I'll bet that outfit makes y'all fell like a big man, don't it? Well, I know 'cause, well I used to wear one back in the day. There was only one problem with it. There was a flaw in the welding just below the chest plate. I wonder if they fixed that in this new model? I guess not." – The Ghoul confronting the Brotherhood.

"Oh, you want another autograph, young Henry? Feo, fuerte y formal." – The Ghoul to Hank MacLean.

"When your daughter said her last name was MacLean, well, I just couldn't believe it was the MacLean. Hell, this kid used to pick up my wife's dry cleaning. Now, I've waited over 200 years to ask somebody one question. Where's my fucking family?" – The Ghoul confronting Hank MacLean.

"War never changes. You look out at this Wasteland, looks like chaos. But there's always somebody behind the wheel. And that's who I want to talk to. That's where your daddy is headed." – The Ghoul to Lucy Maclean.

John Hancock quotes

Of the people, for the people."

"Plenty of folks wanna make life hard for people just tryin' to survive. I'm not willing to stand for that kinda shit."

"What kind of settlement requires a test for entry?" – Referring to Covenant.

"Whoa, the Downs. Hope we're not going anywhere for a while." – Referring to Easy City Downs.

"That kinda bull is the reason I became mayor in the first place." – Referring to The Big Dig

"Damn. Hey, look, if you wanna get outta here..." – If taken to Nate/Nora's corpse in Vault 111.

"If someone needs help, we help 'em. If someone needs hurting, we hurt 'em. It's not hard."

"Like it? I think it gives me a sexy, king of the zombies kinda look. Big hit with the ladies."

"Hey, does that play "Red Menace?" Love that damn game." – Accessing a terminal

"Looks like you can use a little pick me up." – Said when initiating dialogue with him as a companion (and him giving the player character a random chem)

"Whoa ho ho, I like you already! Walk into a new place, make a show of dominance. Nice." – referring to the Sole Survivor killing Finn

"Listen close. It's the last thing you're ever gonna hear." – When Sinjin tells the player character to stop speaking as The Silver Shroud

"Christ, it's bright in here. Clearly they didn't consider some folks might be nursing hangovers. " – Possible comment when entering Vault 81.

If completing The Big Dig with Bobbi No-Nose:

"How you doin' killer? Arms tired from all that digging? You know, my strongroom is surprisingly empty now..."

"Now if it was just the money, I'd rough you up, break a few bones, and then we'd be square once you paid me back. But you killed Fahrenheit. That means blood for blood."

When traveling naked:

"Hey Emperor, love the outfit."

"Let them stare."

"Don't mind me, just enjoying the view"

When committing Cannibalism:

"Suppose they're...beyond caring at this point"

"You...you do what you gotta"

"That one...all yours"

"At least you have the politeness to wait til they're dead"

When using chems:

"Two a day, keep reality at bay."

"Lean back and enjoy the ride."

"That's a good one, take it all in."

"Never trip alone."

When getting Addiction:

"You feel as bad as you look?"

"Wow, how much did you take?"

"'ay, you should slow down, and that's ME saying that"

When not responding while talking with him:

"Did I say something wrong?"

"You wanna talk? Make me a little nervous over here."

"What gives? I thought we were talking."

"Did your chems just kick in or something?"

"Like talking to a brick wall."

"Hmm, lights are on but no one's home."

"What? Mole rat got your tongue?"

"Uhm... You alright?"

"You check out on me?"

"Anybody in there?"

"That's right. Take it all in

After committing to a close relationship

"Words don't begin to do it justice. You, you're the best thing I got."

"Guess you're the piece I'd always missing...that and that toe I still can't find..."

"It's like I found a part of myself I never realized was missing... which happens sometimes when you're a ghoul."

"Nothing to lose but each other."

"Moments like this, I know all that karma stuff is bull. Because no one like me should be this lucky."

"You sure you wanna be stuck with this ugly mug?"

When Lover's Embrace is activated:

"Morning, sunshine."

"Well look at you. I must still be dreamin'..."

"Don't mind me... just enjoying the view."

Upon picking up junk:

"Careful! You don't know where that's been."

"That actually worth something?"

"If anybody could find a use for that."

Upon looting a corpse:

"Time to collect."

"To the living, go the spoils."

When the Brotherhood of Steel arrives in the Commonwealth:

"Holy shit." – When witnessing the Prydwen's arrival.

"Brotherhood knows how to make an entrance. I'll give 'em that." – When commenting on the Brotherhood

Cooper Howard VS John Hancock quotes these two has some good quotes it's hard to pick one for me I say both anyways you can use these for Headcannons, Edits, Memes, and so on I just put these here so it's easier for some people to use them I also tag people if your interested talk in the messages there open I have so many things I want to make but the next one is going to get Cooper Howard and John Hancock with Serena I was thinking doing a Picture Edit with some quotes and yes I do requests too.

[augustjustice]

can i have more Untitled Marmalade fic for wip weekend? 🩷🩷🩷

Absolutely, dear!!! 💕💕💕So happy you're interested in this one. This snippet continues straight on from the last one I posted.

“The mail man that left this,” Otis caught Ted’s eyes urgently, tapping the glossy cardstock, “what did he look like?”

“It was a mail lady,” Ted corrected, then held up a hand in demonstration, “and she was about yea high, I guess. Red hair, in a bob, and she had…brown eyes, maybe? Or green? And pink shorts. That much I remember, because they stood out. Why?”

He squinted at the postcard in Otis’s hand, now with obvious interest. Otis turned it over quickly, concealing the Babydoll’s writing.

“‘A heaven on earth have I won by wooing thee,’” Ted quoted, elbowing him lightly in the side. “Don’t tell me that was actually a message from a lady love, boss. Or…maybe even a secret admirer?” 

Knowing he had no better explanation he could actually offer, Otis’s reply was clipped. “Something like that.”

Ted shook his head, looking far too pleased for his liking. “And here I was, starting to think you were way too stoic and married to the job for affairs of the heart.”

[returntosaturn271995]

Tuesday, January 16th: Filling up

Read an old coquette quote today.

What fills us up when we are empty?

"First hope, then strength, then motivation, then purpose"

Reading: "Wow, No, Thank You" by Samantha Irby book 4/50 for the year, various poetry - 18 by Anne Sexton

Writing: At the heart of every journal entry, there's an attempt to be clever: "Either blackout a hero, or stay sober long enough to become a villain". God it would be fun to be like Dorothy Parker- or really anyone who can think of a couple sassy things a day and die an icon.

Cooking: Making Connor gnocchi with prosciutto, brussell sprouts, hot honey, and lemon tonight.

Political Awareness: Pod Save America is now three times a week, good for content, depressing given that we are a nation in decline. Also, um, Fuck Iowa?

Loving Relationships: No drama from this little mama. All the humans seem to be happy lately. Might allow myself to fuck around and develop feelings (TENTATIVELY).

Getting Outside: Spent a solid hour at the beach today, toes in the water, sneaker treads on the sand.

Dressing with Style: Purchased a cherry red pullover because this house is cold and blondes look good in red.

Cleaning: A pile of dishes that would make Sisyphus blush, two loads of laundry, and my nightstand is looking good.

Organization: Setting influencers up to shine every day all day.

Yoga: Pre-run stretches that gave me a war flashback from 8th grade gym.

Cardio: 21 minutes of intervals on the beach, my mile time is getting closer to 8 minutes!

Meditation: Found a bench and glowed in the sunlight for a bit. Balance.

Comedy: "No, we are not asking that woman for advice. She let me sing Lady Marmalade for my third-grade talent show."

New Experiences: New book, I've never read Anne Sexton before, I've never seen The Crown...ummm we might be running low on new stuff. Makenna is sick for the first time living here? Not sure that's to be celebrated, she is not a happy sick person and I'm not exactly a nurse. Not unless nursing someone is pouting at them while wearing a "Gay for Soccer" ballcap and going "Aww, sorry your sick!". I still argue that's better than what Hannah used to say to me, "Don't come near me!" while chasing me out of the hallway and into the loving embrace of my bed and Gay of Thrones episodes on Youtube.

Oh- Had an empanada from Trader Joe's! That's new (and fucking bomb I might add). Why is my life so dull? I should do something about that.

Home Decor: Got a plant in the mail from that tree-planting app I've been measuring my steps with! It's pretty cute. The coffee table has a buddy now.

[portanchor]

[forever-a-loner]

"Hmm, hmm, itchi gitchi ya ya da da. Itchi gitchi ya ya here. Mocha-choca-lata ya ya

Creole lady marmalade"

Lady Marmalade - Patti LaBelle

[sakuramidnight15]

-RSA OC Information-

Character Bio

Name: Ismene Yukimura

(Japanese: 雪村イスメネ)

Romaji: Yukimura Isumene

Quote: "Oh god- Please don't scare me, I've almost dropped the iron there..!"

V/A: Yumiri Hanamori (Japanese)

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Birthday: July 5

Star Sign: Cancer

Eye Color: Light Sky

Hair Color: Light Marmalade Orange

Height: 174 cm

Race: Human

Homeland: Summerville (The second country in the Island of Enchantment)

Family: Unnamed Father (Unseen)-(Deceased)

Unnamed Mother-(Left the family)

Unnamed Uncle

Unnamed Aunt-(Unseen)

Elvis Reynard (Cousin)

_______________________________________

School Status and Fun Facts

Dorm: Tenkiangelus

School Year: Third

Class: 3-B

Student no. 13

Occupation: Student

Dorm's Equipment Repair-girl

Well-trained Engineer

Medicine Maker

Club: N/A

Best Subject: Mathematics, History, Flying, and Potions

Dominant Hand: Ambidextrous (Mostly her right hand)

Favorite Color: Dark Grey, Light Orange, and Black

Favorite Food: Spicy Fried Food (Mostly Meat), Pizza with Hot sauce (Any Flavor but no pineapple), Dark Chocolate Desserts, and Milk Tea (Cake Flavor),

Least Favorite Food: Bittersweets, Pineapple (Allergic to it), White Chocolate Desserts, and Tasteless Food,

Likes: Hard-working efforts, Freedom (Mostly), Engineering, Inventing new Ideas, Taking a Break, Quiet Places, Getting New Ideas, Anime and Manga (Mostly- but in secret), Trying out her new invention, Taking a bit of a break, Castiel (Slight Crush),

Dislikes: Chaos (Mostly- from the brothers or the others), Castiel giving her a hard time, Getting Bothered, Vendetta's Endless Teasing, The past (Mostly not bothered by it), Getting Serious Demands from Others, Greed and Power (Mostly), Anyone mentioning about her mother (Mostly),

Hobbies: Inventing new things for the dorm (Mostly), Engineering (Mostly), Counting the Collected funds she earned, Comic book reading (Mostly on anime and super heroes in secret), Sketching Ideas, Math Solution making, Making Medicine, Being Resourceful,

Talents: High-Level Magic, Creativity, Technologist Thinking, Physical Self-defense, Weaponry, Gun-shooting, Slight Gymnastics, Flexibility, Iron Strength, Increased Image, Speaking Valid Statements,

Nicknames: Issy or Ismen (From her family and friends)

Ismene-senpai or Yukimura-senpai (From the freshmen students)

Issie (From Vendetta, Rainier, and Eliot)

Isa (From Hei-Ran and Xander)

Geek Girl or Nerd Bitch (From Castiel)

Isa or Mina (From Deangelo and Fenella)

Menia (From her dorm mates)

Other Nicknames:

N/A

_______________________________________

Appearance and Personality

Appearance: Ismene had a average but petite female body build but is a little bit slender but is covered underneath her baggy clothing of choice. She has long and straight light orange marmalade colored hair which she ties it up various times but her front bangs covers her eyes but can see through it just fine. Underneath those bangs, she has light sky colored eyes which no one ever saw them. Ismene is one of the human dorm members in the dorm, she's a little shy but tends to be rather a klutz but is also a mature young lady.

Personality: Born as an only child in the richest streets within the country of Summerville in the Island of Enchantment, she never had a good childhood after her unseen father had passed away in an accident after being born through her mother who became a single parent in the aftermath after the death of her father. Needless to say, she never liked her mother and her demands about her life and also including her wealth and power, as a child she often avoids her but is often pushed around.

Once she had reached to age ten, she started to being rebellious through rather of impulse against her whatever it was possible to be free from her own through of whatever her mother could think of at whatever means to gain more influence to the public eye, in additional facts she started stating the fact that she hates being someone living up to their expectations, of course this led between them fighting which led to have unpleasant evenings between them. Through one night after another argument, she found and met her uncle and cousin who had learned what was going on between them until he asked her if she wanted to leave with him, without any hesitation Ismene agreed and so left without her mother knowing it.

After escaping with him towards the city streets away from her tall building that she called 'home' and living to know of independence, she then learned about her love for learning about engineering and making inventories in the aftermath a week later while hiding away from her mother's sight, till then her uncle had decide to adopt her in secret and so on, Ismene had started to live happily as she grew older.

The current Ismene we're now seeing in the current timeline is now rather a little bit shy kind of girl towards others and can be rather clumsy a bit. She holds rather any typical nerd type of vibe thanks to what she wears throughout the day. She can be somewhat of a klutz though, despite some of the hardships she had to go through but she is also mature with her manners and also polite to the people she speaks to. Though many students finds her approachable, the thing is she rather avoid being in the center of notice and would go to secluded areas away from public eyes, she's seen by various of the scouted rift students that she'd often talks to aside from the angels within her dorm.

And of course through her adjustments of adaption of the school itself, she's also a little friendly and also would agree to some assistance as well if you get close to her in the end of the aftermath. And surely you'll might handle her otaku and mechanical loving side, which they looked rebellious and mostly inspiring throughout her works. And only if she has the courage to admit that to you which it takes rather time, so she needs some patience as well. In advanced, she can be much of a smartie according from Castiel, well mostly in math and medicals.

Despite her being a mechanical nerd, she seems rather distance and silent thanks to her arguments with her mother in the past before running away with her uncle. Surely you can't blame that but she still has it whenever when it comes to trusting someone. Ismene knows not to take others seriously which caused her to be distancing with it also adds quite the silent treatment as well, but as seeing her being implusive yet sometimes agressive and her personality switched is a whole another level which is why Ismene takes the note of being avoided but if things went under out of hand, she'll raise her head to shut things down.

This is girl knows how to handle things in the dorm and her life settlement after everything she'll be leaving behind the closed doors, just don't give her a hard time okay?

_______________________________________

Trivia

-The name 'Ismene' is girl's name of Greek origin meaning "knowledgeable". While her surname 'Yukimura' (幸村, 行村, 雪村, Yukimura lit. "snow town", "snow village") is a Japanese family and given name.

-She's based on Brief in the series but her personality is a little similar to the show but a little girly-like but more tomboyish.

-Tends to be very busy whenever she's working within the dorm but ca be distracted sometimes so she'll get startled easily.

-Hei-Ran and Xander sometimes offer her assistance whenever they are chatting together when it comes to ideas.

-Is a victim to Vendetta's endless teasing, so sometimes she get annoyed a few times.

-She and Rainier often rants over when it comes to creativity after imaging it.

-Sometimes she and Elliot would make bets througg card games but she'd mostly win than lose.

-She has a slight crush on Castiel. But given he's a little bossy towards her whenever she's around, Ismene doesn't mind it but finds the two brothers interesting.

-She seems to know about the half-myths since she lived in the Island of the Enchantment. Also that involves that she knows about Westyn and his group and including the conflict in the past.

-She's often seen with Fenella throughout the school campus. it appears that the two girls are in good terms. Fenella often helps her with dorm duties, it appears that Fenella is also teaching Ismene some slight and light gymnastics to help her to be flexible.

-Is a but yet definitely afraid of the demons Höllejigoku dorm thanks to the rivalry, so she's definitely backing out eventually.

-As mentioned from her personality, she never liked her old life of being rich and powerful and is often being pulled throughout for the rest of her childhood, including her mother who happened to be well-known to the public and but can get involved to scandalous acts within venomous rumours. She started to be rebellious in a implusive against to her but has resulted Ismene to endure her mother's emotionally and a near-attempt physical abuse, that is till she ran away with her uncle and cousin to start her new life as a normal person.

-She seems to change her mood whenever her mother is mentioned through a conversation, as a results she loathes and pitied her mother, as a result of an never-ending resentment.

-Her voice sounds pretty meek and quiet but the tones changes whenever she wanted to rebellious against someone. Which is why I chose Yumiri Hanamori to be her voice actor.

-Is well organized throughout her work since she's an engineer in quite a age.

-Often plays chess with Keisuke, both are fair opponents.

-A math collecting solution maker.

-Knows how to make medicine due to uncle having a staged illness but after gaining the though knowledge, she managed to cure him in the aftermath which led to Ismene getting adopted.

-Knows all about the SIDC company and their employees.

-No one knows what her face looks like since her eyes are covered from her bangs, including her dorm. But Fenella would know that she's pretty which Ismene isn't aware of.

-Definitely gets a slight stomach pain if she drinks too much.

_______________________________________

FINALLY- COMPLETED- *collapses*

[3vieg3ni3]

The Bad Guys!

I recently watched "The Bad Guys" and did some drawing but they are mostly before because when I saw the trailer drop I was so excited for it to come out but I didn't start drawing them yet until I watched the feature videos and the 6minutes of it on YouTube as well as DreamWorks TikTok videos of them so yeah!

Also please note that I do not draw anthro morphic animals/furry's? a lot and I'm still working on it.

I did doodles of them for the first time, trying to get there structures and features right

I also made an OC, her name is Roxanne Jones Retriever and she is Black Scottish (she is a chocolate Golden retriever and is sometimes mistaken for a Labrador Retriever, reasons for why I made her Scottish is because Golden Retrievers origin are from the Scottish Highlands and I thought it would fit her 😊)

She and snake have some bad history together, tension between them are thicker than icing on a cake. Even though it doesn't look like it on the drawings I was still figuring out her character and personality, I have some of it down, like with Snake and Her having this from Friends, to Enemies, to Friends, then Lovers.

I low-key think that they always have these old couple arguments that have sass, some petty insults with a dash of flirting/teasing from both sides lol

Yes I ship Roxanne with Snake. She's 3 years younger than him. Fight me.

She works along side with Governor Diane Foxington after she retired from the Navy, after the deal with Professor Marmalade and Wolf, she volunteered to be the Bad Guys parole officer to keep a close eye on them incase they step out of line. (Even though Chief Luggins wanted to Roxanne wanted to help her relax more)

Tyrese is the Blue Heeler (this is him in development phase as I thought he should be a Retriever to but thought I should change it and shake it up a bit), as I don't have a fully figured out name for the other one as a default I'll use Abed, who is my favorite character from Community and always shall be, he is Pakistani American! They are both the adopted sons of Roxanne and she loves them to death, and will hurt/kill anyone who harms her babies.

I see a good dynamic between them and the crew

Personal head cannons

Piranha being that chaotic big brother who get into trouble the most

Shark being the gentle big guys he is as the responsible, chilled out guy

Wolf showing them the moves and how to be cool, helping with popularity and etc. in school

Tarantula being that sister that just sits and watches stuff on her phone letting them do anything they want, possibly joining in (in my opinion)

Snake, I have feeling that he'd also be like Tarantula but knows when to get serious. Father-sons relationship.

I am still figuring out designs for Roxanne and Tyrese and still working on how to draw the Bad Guy and Diane better same goes for Officer Luggins and the News lady (I forgot her name sorry)

Also Spamton and Kris from Deltarune!

With Toby :3

Credit to the quotes/some of the writing is to my Best Friend Dani!

Hope you all have a great day/night!

[myrandomfandomramblings]

Making memories - a Chenford fanfic

For Chenfordficweek2021 - as described by @therookiebook

Instead of a fic a day for chenford fic week I decided to just write one incorporating as many prompts as possible. This is because when I read them a few just connected in my head and then I had way to much fun seeing how many I could kinda incorporate. Some of the quotes aren’t word for word but the lines are inspired by the original prompt.

*Note: my beach fic was also inspired by this prompt list but I got antsy and posted it early so if you haven’t read it, you can check it out.

Main prompt: Road Trip

Other prompts:

July 11th- 

"Is that you...singing? Since when can you sing?" 

"I wish we could stay like this forever." 

Fight 

"You're comfier than a pillow." 

July 12th- 

With Child(ren)- theirs or not

"I fucked up."

"Where have you been?" 

July 13th- 

"You're crushing me." "I can't breathe with you on me." 

"Stay here." 

"What do you want?" 

July 14th- 

"I'm calling the police." "We are the police." 

"Don't move." 

"That a new dress?" 

Sweet tooth

July 15th- 

Locked out (Car/house/station) 

"Stop hogging all the blankets." 

"Why are you bleeding?" 

"Make me." 

July 16th- 

Shopping together or for the other 

Getting lost

"Is that my shirt?" 

Under the stars

July 17th- 

Competition 

Tears 

"Why are you so late?" 

When Lucy arrives in role call and hears she’s partnered with Tim for the day, she’s excited. When she hears they are to wear civvies and take Tim’s truck to surveil a suspect, she’s confused. And when said suspect drives further and further out of LA and they are instructed to keep on his tail, she’s annoyed. If she didn’t know better she’d think some writer designed the assignment purely because it was convenient for their story. Nevertheless, this is her life: crashing at a random hotel nearly nine hours from LA, after finally being relieved of surveillance detail, by the local sheriffs department, at 2:30am. The plus side is she’s being paid overtime, not only for the late night but also for the commute back to the city tomorrow. The down side is despite being exhausted she twists and turns all night unable to get comfortable in the strange environment. So when Tim knocks on the adjoining door between their rooms at 10am she’s already been up for a few hours. She has written a journal entry in her notes, preordered drinks for them to pick up at Starbucks and spent more time than she’d like to admit on google maps and various travel sites researching their trip home. She has also found time to plunder the continental breakfast and is currently demolishing a strawberry danish and a cinnamon bun. This earns criticism from Tim, whose plate carries sausage, eggs and an orange.

By 11am they’re on the open road again, coffees in the console between them. The small talk they had been making since they left the hotel had slowly died out so now they sit in comfortable silence. That is until Lucy reaches over to turn on the radio. 

“You know how I feel about car radios Chen,” Tim warns in his best TO voice. 

“Even off shift?” Lucy scoffs, and continues to press the on button and turn the volume dial up. Nevertheless, nothing happens.

“Looks like it doesn’t work anyway,” Tim states as he continues to hold the volume down button on the steering wheel, unbeknownst to Lucy.

“Fine then I’ll be the radio.” “You like Lady Marmalade, right?” She’s referencing Tim’s LA CLEAR security answer but she doesn’t wait for his reaction or reply before beginning to belt out the opening lyrics.

As she sings his initially surprised expression, morphs to shock and then awe. 

“Since when can you sing?” he asks when she finishes.

She just shrugs, looking down at her hands as they begin to fiddle in her lap.  

“Now I wish the radio really was broken,” Tim states as he turns it on and music starts playing.

Lucy shoots him a quick death glare before turning her attention back out the window.

---

By noon Lucy’s singing quietly along to the music (causing Tim to reevaluate his opinion on car radios) when she suddenly sneezes then freezes as her eyes go wide.

“Ah, can you stop at the next place with a bathroom?” she asks bashfully.

“We haven’t even been driving that long can you hold it?”

“Find me a bathroom or your truck will be covered in blood,” Lucy says, her tone conveying urgency.

“What? Why are you bleeding?” Tim asks, confused.

“If you don’t know why I, a woman, would be bleeding and thus need a bathroom then the public school system failed you.”

 “Oh, ah, right, sorry,” Tim stutters, “I think there’s a small town at the next exit.”

“Thank-you,” Lucy replies clearly relieved.

“Do we need to find a drug store or do you have what you need?’

“Ya, if you could find a drug store.” She’s fiddling again, unable to shake the feeling of embarrassment even though she knows, rationally, she has nothing to be embarrassed about.

Several minutes later Tim’s pulling into the drug store parking lot and Lucy’s unbuckling her seat belt to run in. But as soon as she stands up Tim’s voice stops her.

“Wait Luce.” There’s a tenderness to his voice especially when he uses the new nickname that stops her more than the instruction itself. “I think we’re too late.” 

Lucy looks down at the seat she just vacated to see its center now decorated with a dark red stain. A matching stain is present on the butt of the long yellow dress she’s wearing. 

“Of course,” she spits as she tries to fight back tears that are already running down her cheeks.

“That a new dress?” Tim questions awkwardly, caught off guard by the sudden display of emotion.

Lucy lets out a choked laugh as Tim flounders to find something helpful to say.

“I ruined your truck, I ruined my dress and now I have to walk around the drug store with a giant stain on my ass,” Lucy sniffs.

“Hey Lucy, everything’s going to be okay.” He reaches across the console to put a hand on her shoulder. “Stay here. I’ll go in and get what you need.”

She stares at him surprised and unsure. The idea of him buying her tampons and pads and, she realizes, new underwear seems uncomfortably intimate.

“So, ah, what do you want?”  

Because she has no desire to walk around the store with a giant blood stain on her butt she gives him her order, eyes down, face turning redder by the second.

He just nods and returns a few minutes later with three grocery bags and immediately hands them to her.

Inside she finds much more than she requested. The first bag contains two chocolate bars, two bags of candy, and two bottles of water. The second holds 6 different packages of assorted pads and tampons.

“How much blood do you think someone loses on their period,” Lucy teases.

Tim gives a small shrug. “I didn’t know which kind you wanted.” 

Inside the third bag Lucy finds a bottle of Advil, a package of wet-wipes, a spray bottle of stain remover, a new package of underwear (simple white cotton), a pair of black tights and a box of black garbage bags. 

“What are these for?” she asks holding up the garbage bags.

“They didn’t have any shirts so I thought we could make some head and arm holes and-“ he stops talking when he sees Lucy’s unimpressed expression. “I know it’s not ideal.” 

“Good thing I already have that figured out,” she says holding up a plaid button up. 

“Is that my shirt?” He had taken it off as soon as he got in the car, since like usual he had a henley underneath, and thrown it into the back. Lucy must of retrieved it while he was in the store. 

“Please,” she says fixing him with those puppy dog eyes. “I promise I won’t get blood on it. Well, I’ll do my best. Please don’t make me wear a garbage bag.” 

He laughs. “I forgot I had that. I guess I didn’t need these.” He takes the garbage bags from her and is about to throw them in the back when Lucy speaks up.

“Actually I’ll take one,” she says ripping the cardboard and freeing a single bag. She proceeds to rip a hole in the top of the garbage bag and pulls it over her legs like a skirt. Then she puts Tim’s plaid shirt on overtop. Tim is watching her with raised eyebrows.

“What? It’s just temporary. I promised I wouldn’t get blood on your shirt.” She puts everything she needs in her bag and goes into the bathroom to clean herself up. When she returns Tim is just finishing cleaning the blood off the passenger seat. 

“I would have done that.”

 “It was no trouble.” “Here spray some of this on your dress before the stain sets,” Tim offers as he hands her the stain remover.

Lucy does then drapes her dress over the backseat.

“Ready to go,” Tim asks.

 Lucy nods and by 1pm they’re back on the road.

 ---

By 2pm they’re both hungry and decide to stop for lunch. The place they choose is a fast food joint connected to a gas station. It’s busy. Probably because it’s the only place to eat for miles around. While they wait in line to order, Lucy goes to use the bathroom, only to find another line just as long. She decides to try the gas station bathroom instead, telling Tim that she’ll be right back but if he gets to the front first he knows her order. He goes to argue but she’s already gone, which is probably a good thing since he has no rebuttal, considering it’s the truth. 

A few minutes later Tim has their food: a veggie burger with extra pickles and fries for her and a burger and fries for him, but she still isn’t back. He wanders over to the gas station to find her standing in line at the register. 

“Put the candy back Chen.”

“Make me,” she says shaking the bags as she holds them by her shoulders.

Tim reaches for them but Lucy moves to evade his grasp. “Too slow,” she teases.

“You’ve already had two pastries, one bag of candy, a chocolate bar and a frappa-cappa-crapacciuno or whatever.”

“It was a chai tea latte and you know it.”  

“It was more sugar than anything and we still have more candy in the car. You’re going to give yourself diabetes.” 

She shrugs. “It’s not a road trip without excessive amounts of junk food.” 

“It’s not a road trip. It’s a commute home.” 

“It’s whatever we make it,” she says as she taps her card to pay for the candy. 

They find a state park a few minutes up the road and unpack their lunch at one of the picnic tables. They talk as they eat, familiar banter flying across the table. As they near the end of their food Lucy is animatedly telling a story about a recent arrest. She has a french fry in one hand and as she gestures, a little too aggressively, a glob of ketchup flies off the end of the fry and right into Tim’s face. 

She sinks down a little in her seat and covers her mouth to try to suppress a laugh.

“Did you just throw ketchup at me Chen?” he glares as he slowly removes the offending condiment.

“Not on purpose,” she giggles.

“If you start a fight you better be prepared to finish it,” he says as he rips open a package of mustard and squirts it at her.

Although it has poor projectile power a small amount lands in Lucy’s hair. She looks back at him mouth wide. “That was on purpose. That’s assault. I’m calling the police.”

“We are the police,” Tim deadpans as he rips the top off another mustard package.

“You wouldn’t” Lucy warns as she opens a mayo.

Then words are abandoned as condiments fly. They go through 5 ketchup, 3 mustard, 2 mayo, 1 bbq sauce, 1 ranch dressing, 1 aioli and 1 pepper packet before they both surrender. In fact the only packets left untouched are the hot sauce and salt. Both their faces are covered in assorted condiments. Most that had been scooped off the picnic table and smeared directly onto their target when it became clear the packets could barely project their contents a foot. The only one that was truly an effective weapon was the pepper which successfully gave Tim a sneezing fit. 

As they sit back down to finish the last bit of their lunch Lucy picks up a fry and runs it along Tim’s cheek then throws it in her mouth. 

“Not bad,” she says as Tim makes a face of disgust.

When the last fries are gone they throw out their garbage, wipe down the picnic table, then turn their attention to themselves.

“It’s a good thing I bought these wipes,” Tim says as he passes one to Lucy. 

She laughs as she takes it and begins to wash her face. 

“Did I get it all?” she asks when she thinks she’s done. “Because you didn’t,” she adds as she reaches up to wipe the side of his mouth.

He’s startled at first then his expression morphs into something she can’t quite read but something that makes her linger just a little longer than strictly necessary. Then she steps away and climbs into the drivers seat and by 3pm they’re back on their way.

---  

By 4pm Lucy’s in the middle of a seemingly endless monologue about the bachelor franchise when she looks over to realize that Tim is fast asleep. She would be insulted but instead she sees it as an opportunity. She starts to take every turn she can. Whenever she comes to an intersection she turns on to the smallest street. By the time Tim wakes up, about half an hour later (of course he would have is body trained to nap the ideal more than 20, less than 40 minutes), they are in the middle of nowhere. She waits until he’s fully awake then slams on the brakes.

“I’ve been shot. Where are we, Tim?” she demands in her best Tim Bradford voice. He looks out all the windows to see nothing but ranches then back at her, confusion clear on his face.

“Did you get us lost just so you could prove a point?” His tone an odd combination of annoyance and amusement.

“We’re not lost I’m taking the scenic route.” 

 “I’m pretty sure the scenic route is supposed to run along the ocean not through the desert in the middle of no where.” 

“We’re not in the middle of no where we are North of Martinus Corner at the intersection of Cross Rd and and Lockwood Jolon Rd,” she brags. 

“Great you know where we are. Do you know how to get us back onto the main road?”

“It’s not all about the destination, you know, It’s about the journey,” Lucy offers. “When’s the last time you did something just for the fun of it.”

“We go for a hike or a walk along the beach with Kojo every weekend.”

“I know I’m fun to be around,” she teases, “but that’s an errand, Tim, the dog needs exercise.” 

“I see your point but what are we supposed to do in the middle of ranch land? You want to go cow tipping?”

“We won’t be in ranch land for long,” Lucy replies, but half an hour and at least twenty turns later they’re still surrounded by fields and livestock.

“Will you admit you’re lost now?” Tim asks.

Lucy sighs, “Fine, can you please google map how to get to Route 1”

“We were on 5.”

“5’s the freeway. 1’s the scenic route,” Lucy explains. “the one that runs along the ocean.”

Before Tim can bring up the app they’re emerging into a small city centre. As Lucy continues down the main street she excitedly points ahead. 

“Let’s go bowling,” she says indicating the bowling alley sign.

“I thought you wanted to go to the ocean.”

“We can still take the scenic route home, after we go bowling.”

Tim sighs.

“Come on let’s have some fun, make some memories,” Lucy encourages.

“You’re not going to take no for an answer.”

Lucy shakes her head and happily pulls into the bowling alley parking lot.

Several minutes later they have their bowling shoes on and their names entered in the computer on lane 4. Tim goes first and immediately gets a strike.

“You want to put money on this game Chen?” he asks cockily.

“Lucky shot,” Lucy replies. “I’m not betting money but if you win I’ll let you pick the route home but if I win you can’t complain when we take the scenic route.

“Deal,” he says shaking her hand.

Lucy goes next and gets two gutter balls in a row. “Why didn’t we get the bumpers?”

“The bumpers are for kids.”

On her third throw she throws the bowl with two-hands after swinging it between her legs.

“Speaking of for kids,” Tim teases.

“Don’t argue with results,” she counters as her ball connects with the pins.

They continue going back and forth, Tim using the classic one-handed bowling throw and Lucy trying a different technique each time. She tries sitting down and pushing it down the lane, pulling out the ball slide meant for toddlers, standing backwards and throwing the ball between her legs but eventually settles on the two-handed granny throw. 

By half-way through the game Tim’s score is double Lucy’s and he starts to get cocky. He throws with his eyes closed, on one-foot and after spinning in a circle 10 times. 

3 quarters through the game the black lights come on and they laugh at each others teeth glowing in the dark. The disco lights and music follow. Then Lucy who had been giggling and joking around all game suddenly becomes serious. 

“I have two more turns and I really want a strike,” she states. She has a couple spares on the board but strikes remain elusive. Tim on the other hand has three.

“Can I show you? he questions handing her a ball.

He initially tries to coach her through the throw but she isn’t catching on so he steps behind her, puts his hand over hers and leans into her back as he guides her through the motion. The ball knocks over all but one pin but Lucy almost misses it because she’s looking up at Tim. He lets go and steps back.

“You think you can do that on your own next turn?” he asks shaking the huskiness from his voice.

She nods. Tim bowls, then it’s the moment of truth as Lucy throws her ball imaging Tim’s arm along hers, guiding it. The bowl rolls straight down the alley where it connects with the pins and knocks them all down. STRIKE flashes on the computer screen as Lucy jumps for joy then right into Tim for a celebratory hug. He’s initially surprised but is able to catch her and himself before they fall over. He spins them around as she laughs and he’s suddenly really glad Lucy made him stop.

With that the game is over. Tim’s still ahead but the margin had narrowed. They return their bowling shoes and head out to the truck.

“Fine you win this time, we can go back to the interstate but I want a rematch. I’m thinking mini-golf or the arcade,” Lucy says as she pulls out of the parking lot. 

“Nah, go to the 1,” Tim says as he starts to read the directions off his phone.

Lucy looks at him quizzically but doesn’t push her luck. By 6pm they’re driving along the ocean.

---

By 7pm, although it’s not that late, it’s already dark. That combined with her lack of sleep the night before is making Lucy sleepy. When she yawns for the third time in less than 20 minutes Tim suggests they switch drivers. Lucy happily obliges pulling into the next rest stop. During the day it would have a beautiful view of the ocean but now all one can see is darkness. The only evidence of the ocean’s presence being the rhythmic, crashing of waves against the base of the cliff below.

They pull into the abandoned lot; Lucy takes her time backing into a spot, mostly just to annoy Tim and they both get out, reflexively closing their doors behind them. As they pass each other Tim holds his hand out for the keys. 

“I just left them in the ignition,” Lucy explains. Tim looks over to the truck then back to her a look of defeat on his face.

“Your doors lock automatically, don’t they?” Lucy asks rhetorically, “I fucked up.” 

They try the doors just in case but sure enough they’re locked. 

“Well it could be worse,” Tim offers much to Lucy’s surprise, “at least it’s not running.” “I’ll call Angela and see if I can convince her to grab the extra set of keys from my house and come meet us but its going to be a couple hours.” 

Lucy nods. “Thank-you and I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Tim shrugs, “we’re making memories remember.” Then without another word we walks away from her as he hits a button on his phone and puts it to his ear. The conversation doesn’t last long. Angela obliges but insists that Tim now owes her one. He thinks she still owes him a couple from everything he did as her man of honour but decides now isn’t the time to bring that up. When he hangs up he finds Lucy has lowered the tailgate of his truck, where she now sits. She’s shivering, arms wrapped around herself, but she’s smiling as she looks up at the sky. 

“You can see the stars here,” she explains hearing him approach, “away from the lights and smog of the city.” 

Tim climbs up into the bed of his truck and removes a stack of old moving blankets from the storage box he keeps in the back. 

“Angela’s on her way but in the meantime we should stay warm.” He wraps one around Lucy’s shoulders. Then lays the rest on the floor of the truck bed. 

“Good thing I left these in after helping Tamara move last weekend.” He shimmies his way in-between two layers then taps the spot beside him, inviting Lucy to join. She climbs in beside him eager for more warmth. With the sun gone the temperature had dropped fast. 

Lucy pulls up an app on her phone and hands it to Tim so he can identify constellations for them while her hands and arms stay hidden under the blankets. Then they lay down and look-up at the stars. Tim uses the app to find constellations, points them out to Lucy, then reads the story about them provided by the app. Meanwhile Lucy snuggles deeper and deeper into the blankets. Tim stops in the middle of the story he’s reading about the the swan constellation as the blankets are pulled off his torso. 

"Stop hogging all the blankets,” he complains pulling them back.

“Sorry, I’m freezing,” she confesses. 

He pauses for a second clearly debating something internally before opening his arm out to the side. “Then come closer,” he finally says. 

She hesitates for a second before slowly moving to snuggle against his side. The possibility of warmth far outweighing any awkwardness she’s feeling. She rests her head on his chest. She can feel his heart racing to match her own and can’t help but smile to herself.

“Better?” he asks once she’s finished squirming around trying to maximize her view of the stars and the amount of body heat she’s receiving from him.

”You're comfier than a pillow,” she confirms, nodding. 

Tim doesn’t respond just wraps his arm around her shoulders. He continues to point out constellations and read the stories in Lucy’s app. 

“None of the constellations actually look like their name sakes,” Lucy says after a while.   

“You have to use your imagination.” 

“I could use my imagination to name my own constellations.” 

He shrugs. “Go for it.” 

She finds a cluster of stars that vaguely resembles a duck. She points it out to Tim then makes up a story about a duck that joined the LAPD and saved the city from a gang of geese. When she’s finished she turns to Tim,. “Your turn.”

He gives her his best ‘not happening’ look but he’s met with those pleading brown eyes that hold more power over him than he’ll ever admit and caves almost instantly.

He points out an X made of stars. “That is where the space pirates buried their treasure.” Lucy looks up at him expectantly. “The end,” he finishes.

“That’s your whole story? One sentence.”

“I’m not as creative as you.”

“Then tell a real story,” she says, “here I’ll go first.”

She points to a jumble of stars. “That is Caligula’s toy chest,” she says then proceeds to describe in great detail all the filthy, horrid things she had seen the day he taught her the DEAR method.

“Why would you tell me that?” he asks when she is done.

“Now you share my pain.”

Tim laughs and points at four stars arranged in a rectangle. “That is the phone that was used too much at work.” He spends his entire story essentially mocking her for always being on her phone. Lucy would be annoyed or insulted but the amount of detail he remembers about the completely benign things she has done is kind of sweet and a little exhilarating.

She next finds a ’surf board’ and tells the story of a weekend getaway with some collage friends that ended with a black eye, a broken board and a lot of great memories. 

Tim follows suit finding a ‘football’ and telling the story of a particularly memorable championship game during his high school career. He’s half-way through his story when he interrupts himself. “You're crushing me,” he tells Lucy who is draped over his torso. “What are you even doing?” I can't breathe with you on me."

“I’m tucking in the blanket so our heat doesn’t escape,” she says as she pushes the edge of the blanket under Tim’s side along the length of his body. When she’s done she rolls off of him, cuddles back into his side then tucks the opposite blanket edge under herself. 

When Tim finishes his story they continue to go back and forth, learning more and more about each other each turn. Lucy tells stories from the time she spent travelling and working odd jobs, from her time as a psych major and her time in the academy. Tim talks about his family, his time in the army, and his early years on the force and with Isabel. 

He tells her about a colleague who despite being a great cop made the mistake of using his radio near an explosive and paid for it with his life. He is the reason Tim baby powder bombs every Rookie: so no other good officers will be lost because a critical piece of information was taught so dryly that it couldn’t possibly be recalled under pressure. 

She tells him about her ring as she twirls it around her finger. About how she found it in her grandma’s dress-up chest when she was six and it immediately became her favourite item. How every time she played dress-up the ring was part of the costume, whether she was a princess or a ninja, a cat or a witch, a clown or a police officer. How unlike her parents, who always thought she’d follow their career paths, her grandma always told her she could be anything she wanted. How when her grandma passed away she had found the ring again as she helped her parents pack up her things. How she had started wearing it to feel closer to her. How as she looked at the ring day after day she heard her grandma’s voice in her head:  “You can do anything you put your mind too,”  “the sky’s the limit,” “do what makes you happy.” How that made her realize she was not where she wanted to be and led to her decision to quit her Master’s program.�� How her parents had chalked it up to grief and tried to use psychoanalysis to convince her to return. How that had pissed Lucy off and led to her applying to the LAPD. How she had continued to wear the ring as a reminder and motivator during her training. How much it had meant to her to have it returned. How now it not only symbolizes her grandma’s belief in her, but also Tim’s and her own. How it continues to give her strength.

As Lucy talks Tim rubs circles on her back as if connecting the stars that constitute Lucy’s ‘ring’ constellation. 

Just as she finishes she excitedly points up. “Look a shooting star!”

“Make a wish,” Tim advises.

“I wish we could stay like this forever.” She surprises herself by how quick and confident that comes out. She hadn’t even thought about it, but it is true. In this moment everything is perfect. She is no longer cold. She is warm and happy in her little burrito with Tim: wearing his shirt, listening to the ocean, surrounded by stars. 

Lucy half hears Tim name a constellation “the best boot I ever trained” and start to tell a Coles notes version of their story but she’s already falling asleep.

She wakes up some time later to Tim shifting beside her. 

“Don’t move,” she groans still half-asleep.“

“Ange is here Luce. It’s time to go home.” 

“Am home,” she mumbles before falling back asleep.

Tim manages to free himself from Lucy and the blankets. He shuffles out of the back of the truck and walks around it to meet Angela who is just getting out of her car.

“Where have you been,” Tim asks. 

“Driving.” 

“I mean, what took you so long?” 

“I thought you might be enjoying your alone time with Lucy more than you’d admit, so I didn’t rush.” 

He wanted to argue but he couldn’t. “Thank-you for coming.”

She shrugs. “Honestly, when your baby refuses to sleep anywhere but a moving car a 4 hour drive is not as inconvenient as it sounds.”

As if to prove her point the infant starts wailing from inside the vehicle.

Before Angela can move Tim’s opening her car door and removing his god child from the car seat. He holds the baby to his chest and starts rocking him. As the baby continues to scream and Tim continues to rock, sway and bounce, Lucy emerges from behind Tim’s truck seemingly woken by the crying.

“There’s my favourite little guy,” she coos as she approaches. “You’ve gotten so big. Next time I see you you’ll be taller than your Uncle Tim,” she continues as she rubs the baby’s back. Despite all the attention the baby continues to fuss.

“He’s hungry,” Angela explains. “Give him this,” she continues handing him a full bottle, “I pumped on the way here.”

“You pumped while driving?”

“It’s called multitasking.”

Tim takes the bottle and offers it to the baby who immediately begins suckling. While the baby drinks Lucy goes back to Tim’s truck and grabs some blankets. She gives one to Angela, drapes another over Tim and the little boy and wraps herself in the last. 

Over the next half an hour Tim and Lucy work together to feed, burp, and change the baby before putting him back in his carseat, all while his mother watches with a very amused expression. When he’s buckled in they say their goodbyes, thank Angela again, then head back to Tim’s truck, which is now unlocked.

By 10pm they are back on the road. They spend the rest of the drive cooing over baby Evers and talking about their own theoretical future kids. While conveniently avoiding any mention of theoretical future spouses or co-parents.

By midnight Lucy is just getting home. As she walks through the door she sees Jackson on the couch watching TV. 

“Why are you so late?” he asks turning towards her.

“Long story.” 

“Is that Tim’s shirt?” 

“Longer story.” 

“Aha,” Jackson says giving her a knowing look.

She just rolls her eyes and goes to get ready for bed. She falls asleep almost immediately and dreams of sweets and stars, babies and bowling and a life with Tim.

[goodblacknews]

MUSIC MONDAY: "Nightbird Fly" - a Sarah Dash Tribute Playlist (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Nightbird Fly” – a Sarah Dash Tribute Playlist (LISTEN)

by Jeff Meier (FB: Jeff.Meier.90) On this week’s Music Monday playlist, “Sarah Dash: Nightbird Fly,” we take a closer look at the musical career of the late Sarah Dash, most known as one third of the pioneering rock/soul trio LaBelle.  Sarah passed away early last week at the age of 76. Six decades ago, at a time when young musical acts still formed from local friends getting together instead of…

[homo-sex-shoe-whale]

in your opinion, what moments were cultural resets?

When Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil Kim, and Mya released Lady Marmalade in 2001!! When I was a little girl, I thought music didn't get more iconic than that. And you know what? Sister was right. 

When Lady Gaga released the Bad Romance music video in 2009???? Pop music was never the same. Mother monster reset the entire pop genre as soon as she said rah rah ah ah ah 

In season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race when iconic drag queen Phi Phi O'Hara yelled "GO BACK TO PARTY CITY WHERE YOU BELONG"?? Having arguments was never the same after that. Sis fucking reinvented fighting. My favourite drag race moment of all time

In 2014 when Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj released Bang Bang. That song... fucking ICONIC

Just a quote: ROAD WORK AHEAD? UH, YEAH, I SURE HOPE IT DOES

[gowns]

the first piece of gay media i ever consumed was actually when i stole my dad’s howard stern book and it opened up with a few racy anecdotes of him taking calls about lesbian experiences and it turning him on so much he had to stop and jerk off. amazed that didn’t damage me as much as it did, altho i got really into quote unquote hot chicks after that. and i was like. 8 or 9 years old. like it was only a couple years later i saw the moulin rouge lady marmalade video and i was like. i do believe this is sexy and i will think about this every single night for some reason.

[star-puff]

miss meg!! please, how does it feel to be one of the most talented writers ever 🎤😌

but also for your asks: 🌍, 💡, 📒, and 🎁 please? <333 i hope you're having a lovely day!

miss mandy you are far too kind T_T every time i see you on dash i'm literally like "omg...its mandy <3333"

fave type of au to write: grrr.... honestly it would probably have to be fantasy aus... like royal aus, apocalypse, historical fantasy, you name it. the only thing is the worldbuilding is always so difficult to structure hsfsdflkd idk how ppl do it T_T

what inspires your fic ideas? usually i find myself attached to a concept that i see in a film or book or even a song lyric and i end up building an entire fic off of that one concept/scene :") but like ,,, fantasy aus have me in a chokehold i have like 3 in the backburner that are fantasy aus HSDFLKDF

any fics planned? So Many ... ofc i have plans to finish up marmalade but hmmm i have a soldier!ushijima fic planned set in an ancient china inspired universe, a goddess!reader x human!kuroo fic set in warring states japan, bed & breakfast au with osamu, this silly 5+1 fic with kuroo based on an irl experience i had with my friend, mafia boss!kita x detective!reader... i have more but those are the first that come to mind LMAO

have a quote from a WIP? HDSFLKFD ok this is a line very much out of context from chapter 3 of strawberry marmalade but:

Lady Margerie the Third deserved better than your roughhousing.

i'll be honest i have just been Thinking about writing and not Actually Writing as of late 😭😭

[studyingfairy]

How to Study History (at uni)

Hi everyone! Now that I’ve (almost) finished my masters and have thus been a history student for four years, I thought this would be the best time to make a post with four tips about how to study history. I studied in the UK, but hopefully these tips will be helpful wherever you are in the world!

1. Do. Your. Damn. Readings.

97% of the work for a history degree is individual. If you ask me to describe my degree in one sentence, it would be “me, alone in a room, reading”. If you study history (but I think this goes for most humanities subjects), you need to do your reading, cause otherwise, you will literally do no work at all. Whether it’s for an essay that’s worth 80% of your final grade or for an optional seminar, always, always do the reading- there have been countless moments when I’ve either been the only person in the seminar who kind of knew what was going on, or when I’ve gotten extra marks during an exam because I knew a random fun fact from some extra reading I had done. So please, please do your reading.

2. Go to all your classes, you won’t have many!

Over the past four years, I’ve had anywhere between 8 and 3 hours of class a week. If you decide not to show up to the few hours you do have to be at uni for, not only will you be extremely unpopular with your lecturers, but it’ll also be such a waste of the time, effort, and money you’re putting into uni. I always calculated at the beginning of the year how much I was paying per hour of class. Trust me, it’s a lot harder to skip when you know you’re wasting £100 every hour you don’t go!

3. Pick essay topics you genuinely like (even if the lecturers hate it)

I vividly remember a lecturer telling the class we shouldn’t write essays about witches because he had read so many that he absolutely despised the topic now. Me being me, I listened to him, and it took me four years to, eventually, write an essay on the topic. Which I loved. If it hadn’t been for that guy, I would’ve discovered this interest so much earlier, and I now wish I’d just trusted my gut and gone with the topic that spoke to me the most. Always pick an essay topic you like, otherwise writing the essay will feel more like a punishment than fun, which is what it should be. This is the time to let your personality shine! I’ve written two essays on Pocahontas because I LOVE the Disney movie and, let me tell you, I enjoyed those way more than when I listened to what the lecturers wanted. You do you boo!

4. Have some fun!

I’m notorious for making up the weirdest essay (sub)titles and/or introductions. The first essay I ever turned in (on the economy of marriage in Pride and Prejudice) contained the lyrics “girls don’t like boys, girls like cars and money” from a song by Good Charlotte. And, to be honest, my jokes haven’t improved much in four years, as is evidenced by the fact all the subtitles in my essay about pirates were quotes from Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Do I love thinking of those things? YES. Do I care whether others (lecturers/students) judge me for it? NO. Again: show your personality! My undergrad dissertation had chapter titles all taken from the song Lady Marmalade (the thesis was about prostitution), and guess what, my supervisor loved it. More importantly, so did I!

I hope these ramblings were semi-helpful! If you have any other questions or just want to have a chat about studying history (or scream about your fav historical figure I’m up for that too), feel free to message me!!

[faedawayyy]

50 QUESTIONS WITH YASMINE HERNANDEZ! //one more after her then i’ll quit LOL

THINGS YOU’RE NEVER ASKED

which song went to number 1 on your birthday? (find out here) "under the bridge by lady marmalade. i’ll have to listen to that one when i’m back in my hotel room.” 

if you could turn any scent into a candle, what would it be? “how has nobody said freshly baked bread yet? or freshly baked anything?” 

which element best suits you: fire, earth, water or air? “water. i cry a lot.” 

what’s the worst grade you’ve ever got on a test? “i can’t remember, i always did pretty well in school.” 

what’s the best grade you’ve ever got on a test? “i think an A.” 

how many countries have you travelled to? “not many. i lived in the states when i was really young, then we moved to england. i went on a holiday to spain with my dad when i was super young but other than that, just the ones on the tour.” 

who is your favourite disney character? “i really like jasmine.” 

what is one thing people believe that you don’t? “karma. some good people get so much shit year after year. some bad people seem to always get the best deal.” 

do you usually drink enough water in a day? “recently, yes! i started breaking out loads.” 

what’s your middle name? “elana.” 

PARENTS

do you know both of your parents? “not anymore.” 

are they together? “no.”

are you adopted? “no.”

what’s your favourite memory with your parent(s)? “my mum once took me to london during christmas and we looked at all of the lights, then got to go into harrods. window shopping was a lot of fun.” 

what did your parent(s) study when they were at the academy? “my mum was an actress, my dad dropped out of college and is now in jail. fun.” 

which project of your parent(s) is your favourite? “euphoria.” 

which parent is the strictest? “i don’t know my dad anymore, so mum, but she had to be.” 

which parent do you look most like physically? “my mum, i hope. she’s stunning.” 

which parent do you behave the most like? “neither.” 

are you close? “not so much anymore.”

THIS OR THAT

the titanic or the notebook? “titanic! are you for real?” 

dc or marvel? “i don’t like superhero movies...oops?” 

disney or pixar? “disney and pixar.” 

pink or green? “green, every shade is so fresh and natural.” 

summer or winter? “see, in theory i like summer but when it actually comes it’s sweat, it’s crowded fields and beaches, it’s wasps, it’s traffic. so, i’ll say winter.”

spring or autumn? “autumn.”

dogs or cats? “dogs! dogs, dogs, dogs.” 

rom-coms or horrors/thrillers? “rom-coms, i’m a scaredy cat.” 

nights in or nights out? “nights in, butnot on my own!”

early riser or night owl? “night owl.” 

GETTING PERSONAL

what age did you have your first kiss? “i think i may have been around thirteen.” 

have you lost your virginity? how old were you? “i was seventeen.” 

what’s your biggest regret? “maybe doubting myself so much. it’s something i still do and i’ve missed out on a lot because of it.” 

which song most reflects your life so far? “it’s one i’ve written called i won’t apologise, on my earlier albums.” 

what’s your biggest fear in life? “having my life controlled by someone else - trusting the wrong people, being stuck in relationships, stalked...anything like that.” 

do you want to get married? “i don’t think so.” 

do you want children? “maybe through adoption.” 

what is a cause you feel strongly about? “i care a lot about supporting children with life-changing illnesses. diabetes, for example. i think we forget about them too much.” 

what’s your sexuality? “i’m bisexual.” 

when in life did you feel the loneliest? “oh, a lot of my school life. i think...the girls i consider my friends now are literally my first group of friends ever.” 

10 TRUTHS

have you ever skinny-dipped? “i haven’t.” 

ever had inappropriate thoughts about somebody you shouldn’t? “maybe.” 

what’s the worst thing you’ve said behind somebody’s back? “...i’d like to say i haven’t said anything?” 

have you ever sent a sexual text? “no!” 

is there anything you dislike for no apparent reason? “daytime television.” 

what’s the most recent lie you’ve ever told? “...again, i’m not sure!” 

can you put your hand on your heart and say you’ve never complimented a project you didn’t really like? “yes.” 

the best advice you’ve ever been given? “i’m not sure.” 

a quote you try to live by? “again, i don’t know!”

where do you want to be in ten years? “healthy and happy.”