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[abrushwithdeath]

@luckhissoul liked this post for a short starter!

"I had it under control, ya know..."

[tabletopresources]

Don't know if this is the right place to ask. I've been gifted DnD Castle Ravenloft for the holidays and I unpacked it last night... mother**** this thing is incredibly serious! Where do I begin? I want to teach my sons a love for DnD, but i can't afford R1900 just for the starter pack. Here in South Africa it is massively expensive.

How can I make this tabletop game into something they would like?

Thanks for the question! I’m so happy to see more parents considering D&D (and similar tabletop games) for their kids.

Honestly, I could go on and on forever on the many benefits of getting young people into the tabletop hobby but given you’re looking for guidance and not an entire treatise let me point you to some amazing resources, both for quickly jumping into a family-friendly game AND for more info for everyone on why to even bother.

First, I want to start with a few general resources that provide far more than I could (or probably should) here.

Level 1 Geek provides a whole article with info and resources on D&D for Kids. I was actually surprised to find they’d missed how effectively D&D (and similar) teach kids subjects like math without them even being aware they’re learning!

Wizards of the Coast provided a similar article of their own. They even provide free adventures with all you might need (including advice on best approaches for ages) called Monster Slayers: The Heroes of Hesiod. It was just the start of a great series.

DMing Dad has more resources and modules for you and your family as well!

I’m gonna rein myself in as that’s likely more than enough to get you and yours started. A few pieces of advice if I may:

Not all kids love combat and killing stuff. In fact, many don’t. So let them find animals they can befriend, help a goblin whose siblings are missing, gather wacky ingredients for a 50-story cake to celebrate an ancient dragon’s 1,000th birthday, etc. They love adventure. Let them eat cake, pet the displacer beast, and make some neat and strange friends.

Rule of Cool applies ALL THE MORE for kids. Let them use what rules they MUST (and those they like) to maintain some sense of structure and cooperation, but please at least consider encouraging and instilling in them an “anything fun for all is good for all” mindset. It’ll teach them the best part of D&D - we’re in this together.

Keep the statistics to a minimum. Use only the rules you need. The adventures sourced above use only the barest beats from D&D to tell a coherent story without it being bogged down in rules and the usual (admittedly) “character-stat-spreadsheet”. Keep it simple. Let THEM grow it outward from there as THEY see fit. And feel free to let them shrink it again when anything bigger or wider becomes unwieldy to them at all.

Start with excitement, keep it up, let THEM expand it. What you run for them CAN and likely SHOULD be simple and straightforward. Take cues from them when they want something to run deeper or get more complex. Your baddies don’t require complex gray morality. Your adventures can get by with few and even ZERO unexpected twists. Again, watch. Listen. Learn. Kids are very good at telling you, often and loudly, what they want.

Keep it short. Adults are better with longer sessions and adventure threads than kids usually are. Don’t be afraid to run a game no longer than an hour, or even less if they want to move on. Don’t take it personally. When they ask for another run plan a similar short one. If they beg for a little longer, reward them with just a teeny bit more. And repeat that as needed. Always keep them wanting more right?

Be kind and respectful. We’re all in this together. Manners can be learned and mastered around that gaming table and certainly shouldn’t stop there. This is true for adults too, but to each their own I suppose.

I hope that helps! Let us know how it goes!

And if this was interesting or useful to you at all, consider checking out Tabletop Gaming Resources for more art, tips, and tools for your game!

[celticcrossanon]

I’m so sorry for the rant. I just needed to clear my head and got compelled to do it in your inbox. 🙇🏾‍♀️

Not a question just some thoughts. Sorry I’m spamming you so much. I just read your latest reading about the wanna be“tour” and all I can do is SMH. I think to some extent we saw this coming but they are dialing it up and expanding. Conscious humans would’ve called it quits by now. The Remembrance Day pap walk, Going to elementary schools, “donations”, writing letters like they are world leaders, etc. On one hand I can’t see this becoming much of a “thing”. I don’t think MM and Jarry will go on doing this for long unless they can get some Hollywood to pay attention and acknowledge them. I think another reason with the more public European Royals work so well in their media is because their countries are relatively small, like California and Texas are on the large side in comparison, am I right? So much can happen on one side of the country that I only hear of thanks to friends back in California. I can’t see these two visiting any farm in Montana as “royals” if ever. They got a Clinton and Perhaps more big names and “engagement” is to come (oh god 🤦🏾‍♀️) I’m sure they and the sugars are just loving it but it all looks, sounds and feels so incrediblly STUPID & ABSOLUTELY VAPID AND INSULTING. etc etc. I cannot stand entitled people and the fact that these two cut off, trashed, and demand from their own families for a fleeting moment in the spotlight is unfathomable. That’s a testimony to how strong narcissistic delusions can be. It must be the best high I could ever ask for. 🖤Im new to “Royal Watching” if you can call what I do ‘that’, so I don’t really care about all the other indiscretions. I don’t trust the media and I think it’s just the BRF turn in the hot sun to catch hell. See Andrew, see the Clintons and all the others. Whatever drama is going on with Charles, see the rest of big business. I’m a narcissistic abuse survivor and I still study on the disorder. Now here I am watching these two who make my skin craw, this train needs to SPEED UP . I think I’m just looking for a bit of JUSTICE in the world right now. Between this administration, COVID, my job and all my other drama (I’m sure we all have some, if not BLESS YOU and pass it on 🥺) I’m flabbergasted and a little sick in my stomach at watching yet another set of people be able to walk through life seemingly so unbothered. It’s like the world is closing in and I’m suffocating. 🖤Like, your telling me that just because he was born a Prince and she married him and found a way to have children they get to get away with all of this?. The entitlement, the lies, the forced Wokery, using heavy and important subjects like mental health and racism for a PR boost all just to get a⭐️ on the Hollywood walk of Fame? For a couple of royals they sure know how to dump cold water on ya, they are the epitome of LIFE ISNT FAIR. And I’m sure that all depends on perspective, for example; their sugars who must be going diabetic RN. THEY think they have suffered as well. Look at the Cambridge’s who have not put a foot out of place yet have to deal with these tantrums from all over their family. All families have drama and I can see how the Harkles and the rest could be a payback of the Firm and family as a whole. The Queen covered so much and never really saw that Henry and Andrew and god knows who else were set straight. Look what having so much privilege can do. But is there a limit, anywhere?🖤

🖤Anyways, another thought I had was, this could be the end for any thought of reunion. This Narcissist has worked her magic and this clueless tone deaf fool has really gone and done it. I was driving and I thought of Prince William and the entire remaining Windsors & Mountbatten Windsor’s and the whole Aristocracy cutting the Harkles off entirely because the BRF called a wrap (or had to) and the UK became a Republic after Her Majesty. MM get the privlage in her narcissistic head that she’s the last ever to become a Duchess, Cathrine wouldn’t become the Princess of Wales and it all came down in part because of her and Henry’s actions. Yes Andrew and whoever else aren’t helping but these two made it exceptionally difficult. I think they would take pride in that especially publicly but only when they are praised for it. I think the Cambridge’s would have an easier time with moving on with their family, free to live as they please with no pressure to serve the public. Cathrine can be “lazy”, sleep in, & raise her kids and Wills is free to🖕 the paps who would surely still follow them. A La “where are they now”. The two that would have it the worse are the Harkles as they last bit of what they had to separate them from the rest of Hollywood is gone, no more Royal sheen but they don’t have much now. It would be stupid to use the titles after an abolished monarchy but they’d do it and expose themselves further.🖤 If you made it this far, one last thing. I got cut off while driving. That’s not unusual in this Miami traffic and usually i ignore it but with my mental state I couldn’t help but to compare. it was a packed road and I just really wanted to know where the heck the fire was. Why did this person need to rush so much on a busy road that no one else mattered even though we all have somewhere to go? That’s how I feel about the Harkles. What’s the point, where are they going? They went to New England for Christ sake to play faux royalty, in more trashy outfits might I add. 🤦🏾‍♀️

I guess I do have a question, DOES THE WORLD REALLY BELONG TO THOSE WHO JUST Get UP AND TAKE IT?

Thanks for humoring me and providing this space. ✌🏾

Note: My apologies for this very long post, everyone. I can't put a page break in and the writer needs to let it all out. I am sure a lot of you will be feeling somewhat similar to them.

Reply under the cut, so this is not any longer

Hi april14vc,

You are welcome to rant here.

It sounds like you have a lot going on at the moment and it is all becoming a bit much to handle, as there is no relief anywhere. Is there something fun and relaxing that you can do for you sometime today, just to have a break from it all? I feel like you need to tune out for a bit and do something that is just for you.

I am so sorry that you suffered from narcissistic abuse, and so glad that you survived this. I think the Harkle shenanigans must hurt you in a more personal way than those of us who have never suffered under a narcissist. It is very hard to watch the Harkles seemingly get away with all their entitled abuse without any form of justice coming for them.

I think the Harkles are suffering. They usually are unable to get any sort of attention from the media unless they pay for it, and even then they don't trend - it is a 'blink and you miss it' situation. Look at what happened with Meghan's 40 for 40 program - it was dead in the water before the day was over, and she spent a fortune on PR for that. Compare that to the natural (not paid for) hype that surrounds anything that the BRF does, especially the Cambridges or HMTQ. That hype and attention is what Meghan wants, and she is not getting it.

What the Harkles are getting, and what they hate, is mockery. Look at the response to their Times 100 cover. Look at the comments on this pseudo-royal tour. They are a walking joke, and no narcissist would like that. They tried to cull all negative press while they were members of the BRF, were unsuccessful in stemming all of it, and now have no clout at all to stop any negative media attention. The Harkles may live in a delusion of success, but to the vast majority of people they are no more than very risible z-list celebrities.

The Harkles also have serious money troubles. They may be ignoring them, but those debts will have to be paid, one way or another.

What we are seeing now is the slow slide of the Harkles into obscurity, and their desperate attempts to reverse the process, which never work. They are no more popular and wanted now than they were at the time of Megxit, and in fact their popularity has declined since those days. They may look like they are winning, but it is all an illusion, caused by the amounts of money they are prepared to pay to give the illusion of wealth and star-quality celebrity. The paid for events happen, and then nothing. The paid for PR happens, and then nothing. Their slide downwards continues, and nothing that they do is reversing it.

Yes, at the moment they are on a high and beaming put of every report on their activities. Wait a week and then see where they are. This is like the Oprah interview all over again.

My next reading is going to be on the consequences of this pseudo-royal tour for the Harkles, so maybe there will be some justice for you there.

Edited to add: As for taking down the monarchy, I can't see that happening. For starters, the British government would have to put the matter to the people for a vote, and even if they are insane enough to do that, I can't see the British public voting to remove a beloved Queen because of the antics of two people who are despised that that country. The logistics of replacing the monarchy are also staggering - you have to rework the entire government of not just Great Britain, but of all the commonwealth realms who have HMTQ as Head of State, and that is not an easy task or a light undertaking. In addition, those Commonwealth Realms can keep HM as their head of state even if she is ejected by the British people (which would never happen, but I am stretching the bounds of probability here). After HMTQ comes Charles, who will have a short reign simply because of his age and health, and then William will be king, and he is also loved by the British public. I just can not see all that thrown away for the Harkles, who are rightly hated by the British public.

[ohighwind]

MUN INFO

Hi. I’m Samichi or Sami for short. I’m thirty-two years old and love anime, video games, manga, and art. I’ve been roleplaying for nearly sixteen years and love writing a lot. I love coming up with my own stories or expanding a canon universe through various headcanons and drabbles. I also like coming up with silly little OCs.

I work full-time as a custodian and will be slow to reply at times as my muses can be fickle, or I’m busy playing other games. I will not give out my Discord to anyone unless we have interacted and clicked well. I wish to thank you again for taking the time to read my rules. :D 

THE RULES

HELLO! PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING POINTS. IT'S SHORT AND SWEET! I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOLLOW! HERE IS A LIST OF A FEW RULES!

A PRIVATE AND SELECTIVE BLOG. MUTUALS ONLY. OC FRIENDLY. MUTLISHIP AND AU FRIENDLY.CROSSOVERS PICKY.

GREETER POSTS

I’M NOT GOING TO DO GREETER POSTS ANYMORE. THEY ARE TOO HARD TO KEEP UP. IF YOU WANT TO ROLEPLAY THEN HIT THE LIKE BUTTON ON MY STARTER CALL POSTS OR REPLY TO MY OPEN RPS. THIS, OF COURSE, IS FOR MUTUALS ONLY.

SENDING IN PASSWORDS

IF YOU HAVE IT STATED IN YOUR RULES FOR ME TO SEND YOU A PHRASE TO CONFIRM I’VE READ YOUR RULES, I DO NOT DO THAT. I THINK IT’S USELESS AND NERVE-RACKING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I’VE READ YOUR RULES BUT I’M NOT GOING TO SEND PHRASES.

SEND IN ALL THE MEMES!

PLEASE SEND IN MEMES AND PROMPTS! I LOVE THEM. IF YOU DO WANT TO TURN A MEME YOU SENT IN AS A THREAD. PLEASE MOVE IT TO A NEW POST BECAUSE REBLOGGING ASKS IS CLOGGY AND ONE OF MY PET PEEVES. I ALWAYS DO THIS FOR YOU. THANK YOU!

SMUT & OTHER NSFW

THERE WILL BE SMUTTING ON THIS BLOG BUT YOU HAVE TO BE OVER THE AGE OF 18. I WILL BE VERY PICKY ABOUT WHO I SMUT WITH THOUGH. DO NOT LIE ABOUT YOUR AGE. I WILL INSTA BLOCK YOU IF YOU DO.

NOTE: I WILL NOT RP SMUT WITH MUSES THAT ARE MINORS.(17 & UNDER) THIS IS A NO-GO FOR ME.

Other NSFW elements, such as dark themes will be present on the blog!

I WILL TAG ANY NSFW ACCORDINGLY

OTHER STUFF

I TEND TO BE SLOW AT TIMES. PLEASE RESPECT THAT. IF I HAVEN’T RESPONDED TO OUR THREAD FEEL FREE TO SHOOT ME A MESSAGE. JUST BE POLITE. IF YOU NEED ME TO TAG SOMETHING. PLEASE JUST ASK. IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE. PLEASE MESSAGE ME SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT. PLEASE DON'T JUST BLOCK ME. TALKING IT OUT TO FIND A SOLUTION IS THE WAY TO GO.

I'M HERE TO HAVE FUN AND USE ROLEPLAYING AS A STRESS RELIEVER. ALL I ASK IS KEEP THE DRAMA TO A MINIMUM.

PSA: THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME 

(This applies mostly to people in the Final Fantasy Fandom) 

If you follow me and then unfollow/soft block me right after then I will hard block you. I don’t have time for petty games from rumors spread about me from years ago from a toxic party. Either follow me or don’t, interact with me or don’t but don’t play games with me. I’m too tired for that bullshit. I will INSTANTLY BLOCK YOU. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care if you think I’m a bitch or a toxic person. I will shape my own roleplaying experience and if you have to be purged, then so be it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you to those who still stick with me.

I’m going to get straight to the point before people who dislike me accuse me of stupid shit. I used to be part of this fandom a long time ago under the name FERREN and ARLUNA. I was part of the Final Fantasy fandom as a whole, making blogs for different series.  

I now go by SAMICHI or SAMI (SAMMIE) because it’s close to my real name. I have no intentions of hiding who I was. That being said; I’m a different person from back then, that's up to you all if you want to still interact with me or not. I’m done dealing with people with petty intentions and like I said in my other post, I will HARD BLOCK YOU if you try to play games. I don’t care about false rumors or what you all think of me because of those rumors. That is up to you. 

I’m here to roleplay, post screenshots and write metas and headcanons of my Warrior of Light. I’m not here to dwell in the past because a group of people back then wanted to slander me for the stupidest shit. I just wanted to get this off my chest because I had held it in for too long. 

For those who stick by me regardless of my tarnished reputation

[ftauriellas]

            chicago’s  very  own  auriella  yates  has  been  spotted  on  madison  avenue  driving  a  porsche  718  spyder  ,  welcome  !  your  resemblance  to  jasmine  tookes  is  unreal  .  according  to  tmz  ,  you  just  had  your  twenty - fifth  birthday  bash  .  your  chance  of  surviving  new  york  is  uncertain  because  you’re  guileful  ,  but  being  unadulterated  might  help  you  .  i  think  being  a  virgo  explains  that  .  three  things  that  would  paint  a  better  picture  of  you  would  be  the  lingering  scent  of  her  perfume  on  crisp  white  sheets  ,  the  soft  touch  of  short  satin  dresses  against  her  thighs  ,  and  the  soft  glistening  of  diamonds  during  golden  hour  .

            hi  again  ,  kitty  gorls  !  it’s  jin  showing  up  on  your  dash  for  the  last  time  with  my  sweet  peach  miss  auriella  yates  .  she’s  a  rendition  of  a  hailey  b  .  chara  that  i  have  ,  so  she’s  quite  the  mess  ,  but  as  lovable  as  ever  !  as  you’ve  probably  figured  ,  i  didn’t  have  much  muse  for  guiliana  anymore  so  i  decided  it  was  best  to  let  her  go  and  bring  someone  else  (  also  ,  i’m  really  sorry  about  not  fulfilling  that  starter  call  .  please  don’t  hate  me  🥺  )  .  my  muse  is  soaring  for  auriella  so  be  prepared  for  me  to  slide  into  your  dm’s  for  plotting  up  a  storm  !  that  being  said  ,  here’s  another  long  one  !

basic  information  .

FULL  NAME  :  auriella  kaia  yates  .

NICKNAME(S)  :  auri  ,  mostly  .

BIRTHDATE  +  AGE  :  september  9th  ,  1997  +  22  .

ZODIAC  :  virgo  .

HOMETOWN  :  chicago  ,  il  .

GENDER  :  cis  female  .

NATIONALITY  :  american  .

ETHNICITY  :  african  american  ,  brazilian  ,  west  indian  , barbadian  ,  and  european  .

HEIGHT  :  5′5″  .

LABEL(S)  :  the  harlequin  ,  the  trust  fund  baby  ,  the  vainglorious  ,  the  coquette  ,  and  the  sovereign  .

ROMANTIC  ORIENTATION  :  biromantic  .

SEXUAL  ORIENTATION  :  bisexual  .

LANGUAGE(S)  SPOKEN  :  english  and  learned  basic  french  in  high  school  .

OCCUPATION  :  socialite  ,  makeup  artist  ,  and  businesswoman  .

POSITIVES  :  impulsive  ,  alluring  ,  unadulterated  ,  facetious  ,  and  melodious  .

NEGATIVES  :  complaintive  ,  acquisitive  ,  guileful  ,  starry - eyed  ,  and  bellicose  .

biography  .

            auriella  yates  is  the  sixth  child  of  eight  ,  born  to  simone  and  joshua  yates  in  the  windy  city  of  chicago  ,  illinois  .  she  has  three  older  brothers  (  chance  ,  charles  ,  and  clark  )  ,  two  older  sisters  (  adriana  and  amelia  )  ,  and  a  younger  brother  and  sister  (  calvin  and  aurora  )  .  patrick  and  simone  for  some  reason  found  joy  in  naming  their  sons  with  c  names  and  their  daughters  with  a  names  ,  but  it  works  for  them  nonetheless  .  the  family  could  afford  such  a  grandiose  lifestyle  in  chicago  thanks  to  simone’s  lifestyle  and  wellness  brand  called  honey  &  lemon  (  goop  ,  who  ?  )  that  has  since  expanded  from  a  newsletter  to e - commerce  ,  pop - up  shops  ,  a  magazine  ,  and  a  podcast  .  patrick  ,  on  the  other  hands  ,  is  a  famous  vegetarian  chef  that  has  launched  three  cookbooks  while  also  having  his  own  cooking  series  on  the  food  network  along  with  a  cookware  partnership  at  target  .  together  ,  they  own  a  vegetarian  restaurant  in  downtown  chicago  called  lemongrass  .

            growing  up  ,  since  auriella  had  so  many  siblings  ,  she  never  had  an  uneventful  day  .  their  parents  strongly  believed  in  their  children  playing  outside  instead  of  being  stuck  in  front  of  the  television  all  day  ,  so  they  often  took  advantage  of  their  large  backyard  when  they  lived  in  the  suburbs  of  chicago  .  they  were  the  parents  who  let  their  rowdy  bunch  ruin  their  perfect  grass  because  they  wanted  to  play  in  the  mud  .  their  parents  may  have  afforded  them  luxuries  that  others  didn’t  have  and  while  their  parents  had  been  busy  people  ,  patrick  and  simone  refused  for  their  children  to  be  raised  by  nannies  .  they  were  heavily  involved  with  everything  that  their  children  did  ,  ranging  from  their  pre - school  graduations  to  their  high  school  proms  .

            auriella  had  always  been  a  rather  outgoing  girl  throughout  high  school  ,  and  she  knew  she  was  cute  so  she  started  an  instagram  page  when  she  was  about  thirteen  or  so  .  originally  ,  her  pictures  were  just  cringey  dirty  mirror  pics  and  photos  with  her  friends  ,  but  as  she  explored  the  app  more  and  more  ,  she  discovered  makeup  and  her  love  for  it  !  so  ,  despite  the  terrible  youtube - tutorial  makeup  that  she  tried  to  recreate  ,  auriella  never  gave  up  on  her  ability  to  do  better  .  as  she  moved  through  high  school  ,  her  makeup  skills  got  better  and  better  ,  so  once  she  graduated  ,  auriella  knew  what  she  wanted  to  do  in  life  !

            she  went  on  to  attend  make  up  first  in  chicago  ,  and  obtained  certificates  in  basic  makeup  i  +  ii  ,  media  makeup  ,  and  media: runway  ,  editorial  ,  and  fashion  .  once  she  was  finished  with  her  schooling  ,  auriella  went  on  to  grow  her  brand  and  get  her  name  out  there  .  she  used  instagram  a  majority  of  the  time  ,  and  thanks  to  that  and  word  of  mouth  ,  she  grew  a  significant  following  and  went  on  to  have  a  few  celebrities  under  her  belt  .  thanks  to  the  help  of  her  parents  ,  auriella  decided  that  she  wanted  to  get  into  the  makeup  business  entirely  ,  and  decided  to  stick  her  foot  into  makeup  production  .

            the  brand  originally  only  focused  on  her  favorite  thing  :  eyeshadow  palettes  !  the  palettes  were  originally  rather  small  ,  consisting  of  four  to  six  colors  as  they  perfected  the  formula  .  she  eventually  began  to  receive  rave  reviews  and  decided  that  it  was  time  to  expand  into  everything  else  :  mascaras  ,  lip  products  ,  foundations  ,  blushes  ,  highlighters  and  everything  else  under  the  sun  .  from  there  ,  kaia  beauty  is  now  being  sold  in  sephora  ,  ulta  ,  and  on  kaiabeauty.com  !  she  had  the  second  largest  foundation  drop  (  following  fenty  beauty  because  we  stan  miss  rihanna  in  this  house  )  .  

            that  being  said  ,  running  her  own  business  is  one  that  auriella  is  still  getting  used  to  despite  it  being  two  years  since  the  launch  .  she’s  thankful  for  the  expansion  of  her  brand  and  she’s  still  working  out  of  her  townhouse  because  she  hasn’t  found  the  perfect  space  for  a  headquarters  just  yet  !  it’s  one  of  her  biggest  dreams  at  the  moment  and  she  wants  to  expand  kaia  beauty  into  skincare  but  the  end  of  the  year  .  

personality  .

the  label  she  mostly  identifies  with  would  definitely  be  the  harlequin  .  she  can  be  really  loud  and  playful  at  times  ,  and  she  can  easily  get  called  out  for  not  taking  things  seriously  .  

at  the  same  time  ,  though  ,  she  can  be  pretty  sexual  in  her  speech  .  she  has  no  problem  with  people  looking  at  her  differently  for  doing  so  .  she  really  lets  a  lot  of  things  roll  off  of  her  shoulders  ,  but  she’d  be  a liar  if  she  said  that  some  things  didn’t  get  to  her  .

auriella  can  be  really  full  of  herself  and  simple  compliments  can  typically  leads  to  her  going  on  and  on  about  herself  ,  so  please  feel  free  to  shut  her  up  at  any  given  time  !  much  like  anyone  her  age  ,  she  can  be  found  prowling  around  on  instagram  or  twitter  and  can  never  go  shopping  without  taking  at  least  three  to  seven  mirror  selfies  .

headcanons  .

she  lives  in  a  beautiful  townhouse  on  west  fourth  street   and  she’s  really  proud  to  say  it  because  she  bought  it  with  her  own  money  !  she  likes  to  be  different  so  she  really  hates  range  rovers  and  instead  drives  an  audi  q5  !  sounds  kinda  dumb  since  she  lives  in  nyc  ,  but  she  likes  it  because  it  gives  her  freedom  to  go  where  she  wants  when  she  wants  to  .

she  never  leaves  the  house  without  a  purse  and  never  without  a  pair  of  earrings  on  (  she  thinks  she’s  ugly  without  them  ) .  she’s  obsessed  with  all  things  cartier  and  she  loves  to  accessorize  ,  but  not  to  much  .  she  keeps  scrunchies  in  her  purse  at  all  times  ,  so  if  you  need  one  just  ask  !

when  it  comes  to  her  style  ,  i  draw  a  lot  of  inspiration  from  instagram  if  i’m  being  honest  .  she  wears  a  lot  of  denim  shorts  ,  oversized  tees  ,  cropped  sweaters  ,  bodysuits  ,  chunky  sneakers  ...  honestly  ,  the  whole  nine  yards  .  for  some  examples  click  x  ,  x  ,  x  ,  x  ,  x  ,  and  x  .

she’s  been  vegetarian  since  she  was  a  kid  because  that’s  all  her  dad  ever  cooked  !  sometimes  the  scent  of  meat  makes  her  sick  and  sometimes  she  fakes  it  so  people  will  leave  her  alone  .  she’s  definitely  the  one  who  shows  up  to  the  function  with  her  fake  burgers  ,  but  you  know  she  has  a  bottle  of  vodka  along  with  it  .

finds  joy  in  doing  the  little  things  ?  she’s  not  the  greatest  at  art  but  really  enjoys  buying  a  canvas  and  trying  her  best  to  recreate  or  create  something  !  probably  gets  a  lot  of  art  ideas  from  tik  tok  (  those  kids  are  seriously  talented  )  and  really  likes  to  do  her  makeup  even  when  she  has  no  place  to  go  .  she  loves  laying  on  her  couch  and  doing  nothing  (  and  sometimes  she  might  be  kinda  naked  when  she  does  it  )  .

secret  .

okay  so  ,  auriella’s  secret  is  that  an  ‘  anonymous  ’  source  leaked  her  nudes  to  the  press  ,  but  her  parents  paid  off  publications  from  releasing  them  .  that  was  mostly  done  because  she  was  about  17 / 18  in  those  pictures  but  of  course  they’re  not  age  on  them  so  there’s  that  !  the  source  of  course  wasn’t  that  anonymous  and  it  turned  out  to  be  an  ex  (  which  is  really  gross  so  this  won’t  be  a  wanted  connection  )  ,  but  she’s  not  ashamed  of  them  by  any  means  !

[holyxvi]

* ( HOW I RUN MY BLOG.

tagged by : I stole it from @bloodfcst​ tagging : IDK who to tag, free game.

WHO AM I : My name’s Denoriel, but you can call me Den or Denny ( or dumbass ). I’m 22, I go by either she/her or they/them, and I will Not Shut Up About Final Fantasy II and you will never get me to Shut Up About Final Fantasy II on this blog as long as I live. I have all the free-time in the world and half of it is usually procrastinating or doing more worldbuilding than necessary ---- which means you can also freely contact me when you’d like, I don’t bite....maybe. Kinda. Sorta. ( I really don’t though, I promise. )

SPEED :This is the absolute worst question to ask, because if you’re expecting me to be speedy and jumping up on any asks / starters / replies / ect. at the drop of a hat, you are unfortunately half wrong. I am as slow as they come, sometimes you’ll get a reply right away, maybe it’ll take a few days, maybe never at all because I actually forgot about it ( which if that’s the case, you should probably DM me about it ). I have a lot of issues that fiddle-fucks with my focus, so that’s why things tend to be slow around these parts too.

REPLIES : It depends on my muse and the certain level of interest I have for it, and since I don’t use the Draft function like any other sane roleplayer, I end up digging through my blog or notifications for threads I may owe. I tend to forget, a lot, and sometimes our threads may drop unexpectedly --- if you want to continue those, just DM me please, my brain is very sporadic and I can only keep track of so many things ( and it’s why I don’t take on many threads on here in the first place! I just do a ton of asks with a thread here and there ).

STARTERS : Let’s get one thing straight that I’m sure all of you are going to relate with: I am not good at starters, I will only write starters if there is a plot we’ve talked about involved, I hate “follower starters” where you get an instant starter the moment you follow someone, and usually my starters are pretty low grade.

Interacting with characters outside of II and Final Fantasy in general can be really hard for me sometimes, especially if I know the character. I am very self conscious about my portrayal and sometimes I may just watch you for a bit before approaching and trying to figure out what we could do together.

INBOX : I do not get much activity in my inbox, but you have no idea how happy it makes me when I get an ask related to any HCs I have or just asking about Mateus in general, because I have a head full of ideas and all I want to do is spill. Now granted sometimes the inbox becomes a home for meme prompts I eventually forget about but....hey I’m trying here.

SELECTIVITY : When I first started, I used to be open-to-all and not give a shit about who came my way, I just wanted to roleplay like any other person. Of course, it takes a few bad apples to spoil experiences and long story short it’s why I’m private and HIGHLY selective ( although I might just end up following you regardless ) now. Crossover, OC, or even FF muse, I can all be picky with them sometimes because I want to follow people that I can either a) jive with or b) watch on my dash and we greet each other like neighbors at times. I somehow keep saying it, but I am very self conscious about how I play Mateus, so if anything, I also look for people ( or try to ) that I believe will be nice to me....I guess...?

Basically I just sit in my little corner, I’m just the Mateus blog that Exists.

WISHLIST :  Kinda Cracky DISSIDIA plots, Mateus discovering what stuff is, if the light in the refrigerator turns off. Prying open things like clocks or cell phones and scaring the ever-living hell out of the person next to him. Mateus trying new things and over-all being in a better headspace, even if for awhile. I don’t have a lot to put here, despite all the ideas I may have, because it’s hard to find someone who’ll partake in some ideas without wanting to turn it into a big romantic, overall fluffy thing and completely disregarding Mateus’ inner workings.

HONEST NOTE :  Shout-out to the fellas that deal with all of my weird OOC posts firstly, like I know you didn’t come here for that but I try not making OOC after OOC post I promise, I just have a lot on my mind that I can’t find the strength within myself dumping somewhere on discord.

I’ve been working on Mateus for....three years, expanding not only his lore, but the world around him as well and I very much enjoy it, it’s all I spend my time doing really. I don’t understand how 100+ of you can deal with my constant rambling and the ideas I spout off like a rocket, but I appreciate you sticking around all the same. I really like playing Mateus, he’s my outlet, he makes me feel good and I’m glad I can share that.

Now can 2020 be the year where I don’t have any issues with muns disregarding his sexuality or just trying to get down his pants in general? I’d like that thank you.

[rushitheworld]

Chocolate Revolution (part 2)

Fandom: Gintama Characters: Mutsu/Kijima Matako Rating: General Audiences Warnings: n/a Notes: you know i had to do it to ‘em

Summary: Matako does something for Valentine’s Day for the first time in her life and Mutsu begins to understand this Earth’s tradition.

Part 1 | Read on AO3

Ever since the end of the war, Matako found days to be tedious and way too long. Back in the day, during the time the Kiheitai spent on Earth she would mostly be occupied by watching Shinsuke-sama’s back and keeping the rest of the crew in check. On empty days, especially those spent traveling through space, she would kill time following Takechi-senpai around as he came up with and overlooked the Kiheitai’s strategies, or relax listening to Bansai-senpai’s music. But now she had almost nothing to do. There was no big ship to command, no men to guide. Just the four of them in a small house on the outskirts of Edo, having moved on from trying to destroy and burn it to the ground, to trying to help create a better future where past mistakes wouldn’t be repeated.

While helping manage the reconstruction required a lot of work and meetings with so and so, it somehow left Matako with more free time than she was accustomed to, especially once the other members of the Kiheitai started having their own affairs to tend without her, and she was running out of things to do. It hadn’t been until recently that she’d began to explore new interests, after Shiroyasha’s little brat had somehow managed to drag her and Imai Nobume around the city, telling them about all her friends in Edo and the adventures she’d had with the Yorozuya. Since then she had taken a liking to walking around the city and looking at all the different stores. And in a way she also considered the brat and Nobume as her friends, which had also opened the door to her getting to know others outside the Kiheitai.

It was while walking through the shopping district that a sign caught her attention. On it, the store announced its upcoming promotions for Valentine’s Day customized sweets. Maybe it was because just earlier she had been informed about the next meeting, but what crossed her mind after seeing the heart-shaped boxes with assortments of different kinds of chocolate was the face of the Kaientai’s vice-captain — or at least that’s what she told herself. Sure, that was not the first time Mutsu had appeared in her thoughts that day, but it was not the only thing she had been thinking about, and this was just a coincidence. There  was no correlation between this and Valentine’s Day, she didn’t even care about the festivity.

From what she could remember, Valentine’s Day wasn’t a thing back when she was a child. It didn’t even exist in the country before the Amanto first invaded, and it took many years for it to really catch on with the locals. By the time it became a popular celebration, Matako was already part of the Kiheitai, too invested in them to pay attention to silly foreign traditions. Maybe if she had been into it, her younger self would’ve made chocolates for Shinsuke-sama at some point, but that never happened, and those feelings seemed so far away now. She no longer saw him under that light, these days her heart sped up at the sight of… She stopped that train of thought before it moved any further, but then she noticed, she had already bought a confectionery book.

Well, nowadays it was common to give friendship chocolates as well, right? Not everyone giving things for Valentine’s Day had romantic interests in mind. A small treat for the rest of the Kiheitai would be understandable. Maybe she could also give something to Nobume and to the little brat, as a thank you for having been so surprisingly welcoming to her.

After finding a recipe that seemed appealing and buying all the utensils and way more ingredients than she probably needed (just in case things went wrong and she had to start all over again), she chose a free day where everyone else would be out of the house and focused entirely on her task.

On Valentine’s Day, the Kiheitai woke up to three small bags waiting for them on the kitchen counter — each with a handful of square-shaped bonbons. While their responses varied, Matako knew that her gesture had been well received.

Nobume’s reaction was harder to read, her stoic demeanor masquerading her surprise almost entirely. Matako suspected that, just like her, the younger woman had never celebrated this day before. On the contrary, Kagura had been loud and teased her as a response. Matako didn’t say it out loud, but the brat’s brightness was almost contagious.

After them, Matako still had a set of sweets to give, the one she had worked on the hardest. But the person they were intended for was now somewhere among the stars, which meant that for now Matako was left to wait. It had been while trying to follow the instructions on how to temper the chocolate that she finally came to terms with her feelings. Out of all the people she was giving a present to, these confectioneries were for the person she spoke with and knew the least. And yet, she had used the heart-shaped specifically for her.

Matako could barely remember the time she had first seen Mutsu. There were other more pressing issues going on at the time, and she didn’t bother giving Sakamoto’s crew a second glance. It wasn’t until the war ended and things settled down that she really became aware of the Kaientai’s vice-captain.

Her first clear impression of her was how she contrasted against Sakamoto. Matako knew that the latter, just like Shiroyasha and Katsura, despite being a very capable fighter had a tendency of acting like a fool. Meanwhile, Mutsu usually appeared calm and collected, and Matako almost felt sorry at how she seemed to be babysitting her captain everywhere they went. She was probably capable of running the Kaientai herself, but the more Matako observed her, the more obvious it became she genuinely cared for Sakamoto, and more than once she was left wondering how the two had ended up working together.

Mutsu was slightly shorter than her, and yet she never failed to notice her presence whenever she was around. She had a big appetite, and from what it looked like, she was a very strong fighter both in hand-to-hand combat and with the use of guns — Matako later learnt she was part of the Yato clan. Other than Sakamoto, she seemed to have a soft spot for Kagura, and her crew all seemed to think highly of her. Matako knew that getting respect and admiration to that level was not an easy task, which told her Mutsu was also very skilled as a leader. At the same time, while Mutsu wasn’t usually a conversation starter, she had no problem engaging with others, and even when she stayed silent, there was something about her that caught Matako’s attention again and again.

While dealing with Sakamoto, Mutu’s expression was usually a neutral or slightly annoyed one, getting more serious when the situation required it. However, she also smiled often — it wasn’t a big toothy grin, but the way her lips curved up and her eyes softened when she did never failed to make Matako lose her breath for a second. Looking at her had become a constantly dumbfounding experience. Sometimes it made her feel like she had taken a sip from a cup of tea on a snowy day, its warmth inviting her to dooze of and enjoy the distinct feeling of being home. Sometimes, it made the temperature of her skin go up, while her heart felt as if it had been replaced by a fireworks show that was setting off and expanding through her whole body. And then there were times when it was a mixture of both. The one thing that was constant every single time she looked at Mutsu was how she suddenly became painfully aware of each and every beat her heart did, and how the distance between them never seemed short enough.

Maybe it was the holiday spirit of the season hitting her by surprise, but despite all her attempts at hiding and ignoring her feelings, Matako could no longer deny them. She didn’t know Mutsu enough yet to be able to say she was in love, but the way her heart and her body reacted whenever she was around was surely not platonic in nature. She would have to get closer to Mutsu to truly find out how deep her feelings ran and how far they could take her, and for that she would have to take action.

Four passed since Valentine’s Day before Matako finally saw Mutsu again, and she had spent most of that time gathering courage and thinking of the best way to deliver her present.

She waited until almost everyone was gone before calling the other woman out, ready to launch her attack. But once Mutsu turned around and focused her brown eyes on her, everything went out of the window and the words she had carefully planned faded before she could say them out loud. Having to focus more on keeping her heart still than on what was coming out of her mouth, she could only manage to comment on the tardiness of her gesture and her inexperience with it. Starting to panic, she soon excused herself and hurried behind her team’s steps with her tail between her legs.

For the rest of the day, Matako found it hard to concentrate, her mind going back to that short interaction over and over. She had been so focused on trying to manage herself that she didn’t even pay attention to Mutsu’s reaction, leaving her with absolutely no idea of how her present had been received.

Matako spent the weeks that followed the meeting checking the calendar every morning and every night, counting down the days until March 11th, when they would reunite again. Every time Shinsuke-sama or Takechi-senpai called her name, she got hopeful that they would tell her the meeting had been pushed forward.

At the same time, part of her didn’t want the day to ever come. She kept wondering if her move had been misinterpreted, if not completely rejected. Either way, she was almost certain she would not be getting the positive response she desperately wanted.

Once the date finally arrived, she could feel her heart pushing hard against her ribcage.

The Kaientai were the last to arrive, something for which Sakamoto excused in between his loud laughs. Mutsu was focused on keeping her captain in check and didn’t seem to take notice of Matako, both to her relief and her despair.

The hour that followed felt like the longest in her life so far. Matako was barely paying any attention to the other people present, with her eyes fixated on the clock as she stood against the wall behind Shinsuke-sama and Takechi-senpai —her role was closer to being their bodyguard than to an active member of the small committee.

“Relax, you have nothing to worry,” Bansai-senpai whispered to her from his spot next to her. Matako almost wondered if she was being too obvious, but knowing him, it was more likely that he had just listened to her and figured out her mood. What she was unsure of is how much could he tell about what troubled her. Did he interpret her getting more impatient with each minute as just a bad mood and was trying to calm her down, or was he fully aware of the dilemma that had been eating at her for a while now? And if he did know, was he telling her not to worry because he already had an idea of what kind of response she would get, if any? There was also a chance he had seen her give Mutsu the box of chocolates and connected the dots.

Having considered all of these options, she was about to ask the man to elaborate when her focus was turned back to the meeting. Those sitting at the table were done for the day, and as usual, it was the Joui’s antics that transformed the mood from a serious strategy meeting into a casual encounter. This time, Sakamoto included his vice-captain and the new shogun into his drinking plans.

Matako watched the scene unfold, pleading in silence for Mutsu to look at her, even if just for a second. She needed to know if she meant anything to her at all or if it was better to move on before she got any more attached. At this point, Matako was almost certain that her feelings weren’t mutual, but maybe, if she could just see Mutsu smile at her, it would be a sign that she could still have a chance.

However, Mutsu seemed more focused on keeping her captain’s idiocy in check, and paid no attention to the pair of eyes that were fixated on her every move. With each tick of the clock Matako could feel her hope fade away, the indifference hurting her more than any direct rejection would. As everyone else exited the room, Matako found herself wishing she could fade into the wall behind her. The last one to leave was Bansai-senpai, once again telling her not to worry. But Matako didn’t hear him, as the growing pit in her stomach took all of her focus. If anyone were to walk in, they would probably find the sight of her looking at the floor in defeat to be quite pathetic.

Despite feeling almost depleted of energy, she couldn’t stay there swimming in her misery forever. On one hand, this was very far from being the worst thing that had happened to her, but on the other, she hadn’t been this hopeful or looked forward to something good happening in such a long time that it felt from another life, yet this had ended even before it even began. But maybe it was better for things to end this way, before she got her hopes higher. And as impossible as it seemed at that very moment, she had to keep moving forward. If she had learned anything during the past few months, was that the future was uncertain, and she would find the happiness her heart longed for, and if not, she would build it herself one brick at a time. Her past self from a year ago would have never imagined where her life was at now, just like her current self didn’t know where she would be standing a year from now.

Back on the streets of Edo, she stretched her arms up and looked to the sky. It was a beautiful day, and it would be a waste if she spent the rest of it sulking alone. The air was chilly as winter had yet to end, but she could already feel the first signs of spring. She could hear the birds sing, and the cherry blossoms would be blooming soon. There were many things to say about the fleeting beauty of it all, but Matako wasn’t much of a poet. Walking without any hurry, she focused on feeling the rays of sunlight kissing her skin each step she took. Edo was changing so fast, she had to make the most of the views it had to offer before they were gone.

Something caught Matako’s attention, making her stop dead on her tracks — she could see Mutsu standing under the shadow of a naked tree trunk, from what it looked like, waiting for her. As soon as she saw her, the shorter woman began walking towards her, not caring about the sun hitting her directly. Matako could feel her heartbeat getting faster the closer Mutsu got. Growing impatient and forgetting about her negative feelings from just moments ago, she also started moving forward. They both stopped once they were face to face and there was less than a meter separating them — though in Matako’s eyes it was still an unbearably long distance.

She opened her mouth, still trying to think of what to say, but Mutsu was the first to speak.

“I was waiting for you,” she said and extended her arms in front of her, offering Matako a gift box. Looking at it in surprise, she noticed it was almost the same as the one she had used the month before; the same size and shape, but in a different color. “I know it’s a little early,” Mutsu said, mirroring the words Matako had used the last time they had talked, “but I wanted to give you this as soon as possible.”

Matako accepted the box by taking it while giving a small bow. She could feel Mutsu’s eyes on her as she carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. The contents were also similar to what she had made, but the bonbons had been made using white chocolate instead of dark. Matako wondered if all the care put into almost recreating her own gift were due to Mutsu taking the description of White Day very literally, of if it meant their feelings for each other were mutual. Mutsu gestured for her to try one of the bonbons so she did. The sweetness of the shell matched perfectly with the tartness of the strawberry filling, and Matako was delighted by the taste. She looked up and bit her lip to hide the gasp that tried to escape her when her eyes met with Mutsu’s.

“Last month you left before I could say thank you,” the shorter woman began speaking again. Matako blushed and uttered an apology, but Mutsu rejected it. “I’m glad you did, it gave me the time to really think about what you were trying to say. I got your message, and I hope you also accept my response.”

“And your response is…?” Matako asked. Despite everything, she couldn’t help to feel nervous and think of different ways things could go that weren’t the one she was hoping for. As she waited for an answer, the world around her seemed to stand still in anticipation.

Mutsu’s reply was to place her hands on the sides of Matako’s face and pull her down a little. Matako closed her eyes by reflex, jumping up a little when she felt Mutsu’s lips on hers. The touch caused an electric shock to travel around her body. Tired of wasting time, Matako put her free hand on the back of Mutsu’s head and pushed her even closer, deepening the kiss.

Matako had no idea how much time had passed by the time they parted, as the world around them seemed to had stayed still while they kissed. The warm rays of sun were still hitting her skin, the same birds were singing their songs, and the cherry blossoms were still covered in buds ready to bloom. But now she saw it with different eyes. Just like spring was about to begin, she could feel something growing inside of her.

Mutsu offered her hand, and Matako’s face lit up with a smile and a blush. She took the other woman’s hand and intertwined their fingers, and the two began exploring the streets of Edo together. She wanted these moments to last an eternity, but before she noticed, the sky was getting dyed red as the sun started to set down. Mutsu took her to a looking point from where they could see the city change colors, but for Matako the most beautiful view yet was that of the light making Mutsu’s eyes sparkle as she smiled back at her.

Every time she saw them, she couldn’t hold herself back and had to kiss her again. More than chocolate, Mutsu’s lips were a treat Matako was getting addicted to.

[justorklifestyle]

SBS Spotlight: Inner Calling LLC

Our business relies on small business: that is why we came up with the small business spotlight where we select one small business a month to feature on our website and all of our social media platforms.  We like to find small businesses that have been looking for unique ways to stay afloat, businesses powered by passion and not profits.  The businesses where the owners are truly invested in what they have and only want to see their dreams prosper.  We want to support the real small businesses of America.  To be featured as part of our Small Business Spotlight, please reach out to us either by calling or texting 862-803-0225, by emailing us at sales@justork.com, or by visiting us on our website at www.justork.com.  Our own unique way of giving back to the community we serve; the spotlight is a free post to our website blog and social media channels, with additional paid marketing features available as well for extra promotion.

Justork Lifestyle is back with the Small Business Spotlight.  This Saturday we are featuring a self-inspired self-starter. We have the owner of Inner Calling, LLC based out of NJ. Who she is:

"Amanda Nafash is an intuitive career coach who counsels people of all ages and helps them both interview for and discover their inner calling. She believes in finding opportunities to pursue what you love while also bringing out the best in yourself."

You can find my bio and mission statement at our website, www.innercallingllc.com

1.  Hometown / state / country origins:

My hometown is Ringwood, NJ. We have some of the best hiking spots in the world if you ask me ;)

2.  Where are you located now?

I am still local! But I am looking to spend a lot of this next year traveling and working from the road.

3.  Enneagram number:

I never did an enneagram test, but I do see myself changing over the years as I grow and learn to love certain aspects of myself, so even if I did a test last year, I would probably see different results today.

4.  Zodiac sign:

Leo Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Capricorn Rising

5. Wake up / start your day routine:

I start my day with a cup of coffee (despite trying to kick this caffeine addiction.)

6. First job ever:

My first job was babysitting; I got CPR certified at 12 and started watching my cousin and sister and all of their friends.

7. Your best quality / skill:

My best skill is my ability to talk to people- conversation is how I built my business, grew my network, and established a reputation as a professional and student. I thank my Italian family for that!

8.  Worst habit:

My worst habit is the high expectations I have for myself- though they have led me to achieve great things at young ages, they have also been the cause of a lot of stress and negative self- talk. This next phase of my life is dedicated to being more present and being proud of what I have already accomplished.

9.  Introvert or extrovert?

An extrovert who values alone time

10. Business motto - influential motto? Mine is fall down 7, get up 8:

Sooo many favorite mottos, but something I love to remind my clients is "work smarter, not harder"

11.  3 things you love about being self employed:

TIME FREEDOM!! , getting to choose whose opinions get to impact the final business decisions, infusing my own values into every part of my business so I can truly see my mission in every day's work.

12. Favorite holiday:

Small Business Saturday!

13. Favorite small business you admire:

It's very hard to pick one small business, as I tend to surround myself with small business owners and young entrepreneurs,

14.  Favorite Instagram to follow:

My sister runs a page called @_runningonplants_ where she talks about mental health, physical fitness, and posts pictures of all the delicious food she makes. She inspires me every day, and her posts always put a smile on my face!

15. Favorite vacation / place to unwind and let off steam:

I love the beach- everything melts away when I am swimming in the ocean or reading a book on the sand.

16.  Next place you wish to travel:

I am hoping to go to Colorado and Louisiana in the next coming year!

17.  2021 personal goals:

My personal goals for the rest of 2021 are to absolutely live it up for my 24th birthday, and expose myself to more art, both man made and in nature.

18.  2021 business goals:

My business goals for the rest of 2021 are to host a vending fair and provide an outlet for other small businesses to succeed, to expand my listening network on my podcast, and to incorporate more networking events into my business.

19.  Best business related purchase:

The best business related purchase I have made was my rebrand and website, which I had done by an up and coming entrepreneur! Her instagram is @everythingbybreckel I highly recommend her for all of your web design needs!

20.  Ideal client:

My ideal client is someone who is open minded. When someone is willing to talk about their loftiest dreams and trust that I will be not only supportive, but also an asset to them achieving  their goals, that's when the magic happens.

21.  Your biggest business related failure:

I've come to realize that success is subjective. My old mindset is crumbling and a new one is taking its place, which I feel is much healthier. When things don't go as planned, I consider it a really important life and business lesson, and I analyze what I learned and how I can adjust from it. Failure is currently being phased out of my vocabulary.

22. A mistake that taught you the most / that you learned from:

A mistake I learned from was assuming that I could tell anyone and everyone about my intentions and plans for my business. I've learned after a year of business that it is sometimes best to keep your plans in a more private circle until they are completed or a little more concrete. Unfortunately not everyone has your best interest in mind. I never was one who understood the "move in silence" mentality, but this year I have definitely seen the positive aspects of it firsthand.

23. How / why you chose to work for yourself:

I chose to work for myself as I was finishing grad school in the height of Covid lockdown. While there were delays with the state in getting applications approved for the LSW exam, I decided to start my own business. Once I started, I couldn't look back. I don't think I'll ever return to a cog-in-the-wheel position.

24. Your entrepreneurial summary / journey to how you got here:

My whole adolescent life I was doing a bunch of odd jobs, so I made connections everywhere I went, and I ended up being the connection for so many of my loved ones to network or get jobs in different places. I love to be a listening ear and a mentor to those around me. I was a social work student from my second semester at community college, and every semester I changed my idea on what I wanted to do in the field. Right before graduating with my Bachelor's degree I was required to do some career readiness through our Career Center on campus, and thus began my love of career coaching and college counseling. I talk a lot about this journey in the first episode of The Inner Calling Podcast.

25. Your biggest win:

My biggest win is hard to pinpoint. I think the greatest feeling was on my one year anniversary with Inner Calling when I reflected on how many of my goals I achieved, and remembering that when I started the business I told myself, "I'll do it for one year. Next year if it doesn't seem like it's working out, or if I don't love it, I'll pack up shop and chalk it up to experience." Now I hit the ground running with plans for year 2. It's going to grow so much more, and so am I. I can't imagine giving up on Inner Calling now.

26.  Advice for new business owners:

New business owners, take those opportunities for help people are offering you! Barter your products and services! Making connections is how you stay alive and successful. We are not in this alone. "It takes a village. . ."

27.  Favorite recipe:

My favorite recipe is for snicker-doodles, I learned how to make them in my high school foods class and they are my favorite thing to make in the winter. They make the whole house smell like butter and cinnamon.

28.  Mac or PC?

Mac

@innercallingllc on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inner-calling-llc

website: www.innercallingllc.com

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Justork Lifestyle

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Justork lifestyle is a business consultant and financial advisor. We help small businesses from start to finish; from the funding stage all the way to product launch. One of our consultants is with you, every step of the way, to answer all of your questions and drive your business to success. For more information, please visit our website or reach out to us via email at sales@justork.com. We offer a variety of services, including but not limited to:

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https://www.justork.com/business-loan-application

[megacircuit9universe]

Cage Match

FRI SEP 18 2020

I really did want to keep my posting to just once a week or less. Every time I do one, I risk oversleeping and being late for work the next day.

And today, when I woke up and checked my phone, to see that Trump had announced he was going ahead with the TikTok ban, ordering it to be out of the app stores by Sunday... I figured that could wait until next week to talk about.

Users who already have the app installed on their devices will still be able to use it, and a full crackdown (the execution of which is legally murky) isn’t slated to begin until mid November, after the election... and thus might not happen at all, or... might only be a few months long, should Biden win.

But then, just around sunset, I received a notification on my phone that Ruth Bader Ginsberg had died.

We all knew she was 87, and had been in and out of the hospital battling cancer over the past few years... so this shouldn’t have been too big a shock, but... we all prayed to Jesus, Mary, and God that she would make it to 2021 at least.

Trump has already gotten two conservative justices into the Supreme Court... the first thanks to McConnell refusing to hold any hearings for Obama’s last nominee, Garland, in March of 2016, because a general election was happening in just eight short months... and the second, after Justice Kennedy retired unexpectedly, under shady circumstances.*

Even if it’s not true that Kennedy was pressured to retire by Trump, who had dirt on his son... you cannot say that blocking Garland was fair, unless you agree that it’s also fair now, to hold off on any hearings to replace RBG until after the current general election, which is only six weeks away.

But that didn’t stop Mitch McConnell from coming out only ONE HOUR after the death of RBG today, and saying the Senate will definitely hold confirmation hearings for her replacement as soon as possible.

In the second hour after her death, her body still warm, not yet stiff, Republican trolls went out on Twitter and all other social media, like hounds, released to justify the immediate confirmaton of whoever Trump nominates to replace her, calling to bypass hearings altogether... because look what a circus the Democrats made of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, right?

Democrats had to immediately strike back, rolling clip after clip of McConnell, and Graham, from 2016... still in their PRESENT TERMS expounding upon the public’s sacred right to have a say in any Supreme Court nomination, so close to a Presidential election.  My oh me... how could anybody disagree?

These are not clips of young Graham and young McConnell from 1996, arguing for impeachment... against their gray haired selves from 2019 saying impeachment is wrong... this was four years ago Graham and McConnell arguing against themselves from earlier in the self-same six-year term they were last elected to... for which both are up today, for reelection.

But the hypocrisy of the impeachment example only serves to magnify the hypocrisy of the moment for both of them. And in the present political climate... with Trump just having been exposed on Tape admitting to a caronavirus cover up, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives... voters are keenly taking note.

Both of these guys, two of Trumps top sycophants in the Senate, have enjoyed decades of easy congressional races in safely red states against weak, token opponents who stood no chance of beating them.

But in 2020, that’s not been exactly the case. Both these assholes have had to spend some real money, and sweat a little, as, for the first time in their careers, polls have been showing their opponents within striking distance of unseating them.  And that was before today.

I hinted in the last entry that Trumps exposure by Woodward justified his impeachment.  Why?  He was impeached for holding back despirately needed weapons to an ally, unless he got some falsely manufactured dirt for his reelection in exchange, and he did not care how many Ukranian lives were lost as a result.

But, GOP senators failed to remove him and, when Caronavirus came along a few months later, Trump witheld PPE and ventilators from American governors, and left all American citizens hanging out to dry, even on the basic informational level about the threat... again, for the sake of reelection.

They should have removed him, but they couldn’t, because they’d already removed their testacles and handed them up to him in a slavish offering of cult loyalty... and now, here they are... trying to fuck us over again, in the eleveth hour, to replace a Supreme Court Justice who... even as I write... is days away from having a proper wake... much less a burial.

But this is not just because of slave-ball oaths to an authoritarian spank daddy... the GOP has been salivating about overturning Roe V Wade since long before Trump joined their ranks, and now... like Golem, from LOTR, hissing and salivating over the One Ring... they see it within their grasp!

PRECIOUS!!!

This is why, an hour after her eyes went cold, the 2020 election turned into a no-holds-barred political cage match to the death, tonight.

Dust clouds are billowing... people are breaking kitchen sinks over one anothers heads... spitting out teeth after getting punched... then jumping up to go at it some more.

The big questions here are:

1) What happens to the nation if they do replace Ginsberg immediately?

2) How will this affect the voter turnout on November 3rd?

3) How will the shift in the balance of the Supreme Court affect the outcome of the election, should Trump sue to challenge the results when he loses?

4) How are we all not going to die?

The big answer is... it all depends on how big a win Biden gets on election night.  If biden loses... or it’s too close to call... or  only wins by a slim margin in one state... or only wins by a slim margin in two states... we are all royally fucked up the ass.

If that’s the case, then, even if Ginsberg’s replacement wasn’t already rammed through, he will be, and then the election results will go straight to the new Supreme Court, who will rule in favor of Trump, and then he’ll effectively be King.

Because... with the Supreme Court behind him, and with his second term a go, he’ll invalidate the House and Senate election results in the months before the new House and Senate can come in... and once he’s stacked congress in his favor, he’ll be invincible.

On the other hand...

If Biden wins a decisive victory on November 3rd... over 270 in the Electoral College, with all the states that gave him those electoral votes, having done so by large margins that can’t rationally be contested...

Then even if Trump has replaced Ginsberg, the Supreme Court will refuse to hear any challenges to the election results, and the Military will recognize Biden as President Elect.  The House will continue to resist, having potentially grown stronger, and the lame duck Senate... possibly housing a lot of lame duck Republican Senators, will stand down... taking solace that they packed one extra conservative Justice into the court before their ride was over.

And then, when the new Congress comes in, with Democratic majorities in both houses (because this would be the case if enough Democratic voters turned out to give Biden a decisive victory on election night) they’d expand the number of Supreme Court Justices from 9 to 11... or 13... to mitigate the nighmare scenario where Roe V Wade gets overturned, etc.

So...

Which outcome is more likely?  A solid win for Biden on election night?  Or a contestable win / outright loss for Biden?

Presuming that voter suppression, and foreign tampering are turned up to 11, in favor of Trump... can Democrats so overwhelm the polls that Biden still gets that decisive victory?

Well... in some other year, probably not.

But in 2020, probably yes.

Why?

Well, for starters, all the anti-abortion voters already always vote in every election.  You can’t scare up any more of them to get to the polls, because they’re already, always at 100% attendance... primaries, generals, federal, state, gubenertorial, mayoral, dog-catchorial. 

So, the long awaited (from their perspective) death of evil RGB, will not change that base line.

On the other hand, the long dreaded death of RGB, will bring out legions more young women, between 18 and 35, who do not want Roe V Wade overturned.

The banning of TikTok... which Trump also committed to today... will bring out legions of voters, 18 to 35, who are feeling very keenly the threat to their free speech and expression that this move represents.

And this is on top of all the voters, young and old, who normally don’t vote, who were already champing at the bit to defeat Trump and his junta for a thousand other contemporary reasons, from Covid19, to protest crackdowns, to calling all fallen soldiers suckers and losers, and on.

Very few extra right wing votes will be cast on election night, in comparisson, by crackdown supporters, or people who want to see more denigration of war heros.

In short, the cage match atmosphere that the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg has now created for this election... Doesn’t do much to help an anti-abortion turnout that’s already maxed out.  But it does motivate pro-choice turnout like crazy, especially among young women who are facing a life of oppression if they don’t get out there.

And that same dynamic goes for all younger voters, and all armchair liberals of older generations... for related reasons.

And these people are overwhelmingly white, and middle to upper class... meaning that voter suppression techniques, and foreign tampering won’t affect them.  They are a sleeping army, immune to such tactics.

Voter suppression targets minority people of color and the poor.  Foreign social engineering techniques target the poorly educated, and mentally ill.

That worked in 2016, when the electorate was snoozing... didn’t want any part of the drama... when Millenials were apathetic, and Gen Z was too young. 

The world has changed in four years.  A lot!

So, it’s time for bed again, but I do see a clear pathway for dramatic change on November 3rd... and the TikTok ban, and the death of RBG only intensify the potential for a sound smack down of Trumpism, and hyper-conservatism.

*Justice Kennedy’s son Justin, who became the head of real estate capital markets at Deutsche Bank, worked closely with Trump in the years before his presidency, swinging him billion dollar loans at a time when no other bank would loan to Trump.  

Such dealings were almost certainly criminal to some degree, and so it is speculated that Justice Kennedy resigned to avoid a scandal.

Calls were made for the Judiciary Committee to investigate, before the Senate held any hearings to nominate Kavanaugh as his replacement, but they were steamrolled.

[abrushwithdeath]

@marlenexalraune liked this post for a short starter!

"Um... ya wanna run that question by me again?"

[vivianrhopper85]

Most Unusual Restaurants in Toronto: O’Noir

Situated in the heart of downtown at Church Street and Charles St. (just south of Bloor Street), O'Noir has been keeping people in the dark for the past 8 years in Toronto and a decade at it's Montreal location. Not in any malevolent way, of course, it's just that patrons sit in the establishment eating their meal in the pitch black darkness of their dining room.

 O'Noir wall

The Blinde Kuh (Blind Cow) in Zurich started the trend of dining in the dark many years back courtesy of blind pastor Jorge Spielmann. This became a catalyst for a whole new dining experience, and similar restaurants opened up around the world, O' Noir among them. There are also locations in Montreal and Vancouver. The Toronto location's first owner was Moe Alameddine, while a chemical engineer turned entrepreneur by the name of Dr. J.R. Feng acquired ownership in 2011. Feng recalls:

I was looking for a unique business opportunity that provided fast productivity and O'Noir fit very well.

It has since partnered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and other community organizations to give the visually impaired mainstream employment skills. In any given week, 1000 to 1500 guests come through the door.

Decor

O'Noir is located in the basement of the Town Inn Suites hotel. Descending a bank of a couple of dozen stairs, one enters the restaurant through large wooden doors that pass through a foyer and a long hallway to the back where there is a large bar/waiting area for patrons to order their food and drinks prior to entering the 85 seat dining room.

Since the dining room is in complete darkness, ordering there would be quite impossible. In the foyer, soft lighting accentuates the wood surfaces of the bar and the tables and chairs, while a large bookcase holds a plethora of old volumes. The bar curves around two walls and large tiles on the floor add to the ambiance. A large display on the wall shows the braille alphabet, while on the opposite wall, the phrase "It's better in the dark" is displayed prominently.

Wine selection

Atmosphere

After placing my order for my food and a Coke (since I was driving), I was led into the pitch darkness by my server, Tracey, who like all the servers at O'Noir, is visually impaired. She is also quite personable, helpful and quick with a joke, lightening the mood considerably. Upon reaching my table, and being guided where to sit, I realized that I had forgotten to my chagrin, my watch glowed in the dark! I quickly took it off and put it in my pocket before anyone was the wiser.

Soon after, I got my Coke and sipped on it whilst familiarizing myself with the items on the table that Tracey had pointed out verbally in detail upon helping me to my seat. Plate with knife and fork in front of me, a glass of water to my right, also my Coke next to that. I even managed not to knock over the water or the Coke which I'll admit I was nervous about doing all through the meal. Tracey brought along a warm crispy roll, which was excellent. I even got some of the butter in packets already on the table opened up and actually on the roll (the rest ended up on my hand and the nearest available napkin). Being in total darkness is a bit disorienting at first, but it really does enhance your other senses, as cliched as that may sound. From the gentle hubbub of other patrons' conversations to the smell of the food and its taste, all seem to be magnified even after being in the dark for only a short time.

Menu range

O'Noir offers up a package deal for their food menu options, also known as prix fixe. For a three course meal (starter, main course, and dessert) it costs $39.95, while a two-course meal (starter and main course or main course and dessert) will set you back $32.95.

Something to study while you wait

Appetizer

I ordered the surprise appetizer, which came with a choice of meat, fish or vegetable. I chose the meat, and it was quite tasty. I'm guessing it was sliced pork atop some seasoned risotto. Feng emphasizes that the surprise dishes are quite popular with customers looking to add even more mystery and adventure to their dining in the dark experience.

Main Course

The main course I chose was the Filet mignon, with green beans and mashed potatoes. This is the most popular main course choice according to Dr. Feng. Thankfully any meat course you order, they pre-cut the meat for you so my steak was already sliced into manageable pieces, forgoing the questionable feasibility of trying to use a sharp knife in the dark. The steak was quite good, cooked to my specifications (medium) by Chef Ashrafi and his team, and the potatoes and green beans were also tasty and well done, in my palette's humble opinion. The only annoying thing was trying to spear some meat, potato or vegetable and occasionally coming up to my mouth with an empty fork. A small price to pay however for such an unusual and interesting dining experience.

In addition to the filet mignon, they also have Pesto Chicken breast with potatoes and vegetables, Cajun fish with white rice and vegetables, shrimp risotto with mushroom and garlic, Penne pasta with light tomato sauce or cream sauce and vegetables, Vegetable stir fry with rice and on this day, a Surprise main course labelled as vegetarian.

Desserts

I initially ordered the Chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream but was told they were out of ice cream and the fruit sorbet. While a little disappointing, I was still able to satiate the chocoholic in me by having the dark chocolate mousse with cocoa powder which was quite exceptional and did much to take away the disappointment of them not having any ice cream to go along with my first choice. They also offer up a surprise dessert option, in addition to the fruit sorbet, the chocolate cake with ice cream and the chocolate mousse.

The food looks tasty

Drinks options

O'Noir has a fairly good drinks list, featuring wine, beer, cocktails and harder liquors.

White wines from Italy, Australia, Ontario, and France will run you $6.50 to $7.50 a glass, or $30 to $57 a bottle. Reds from Argentina, Australia, Ontario, Italy, France, and California will set you back $7 to $7.50 or $33 to $58 a bottle. Their sole sparkling wine from France costs $57.

Beers, spirits, cocktails, digestives, and liqueurs run the gamut from $5 to $12 per glass. The wines and cocktails offer a surprise option as well. Their non-alcoholic options include soda pop (coke, diet coke, sprite, ginger ale, club soda, tonic water and iced tea), bottled water (Evian and Perrier), and juice (orange, apple, cranberry, pineapple, and Clamato), and cost from $3 to $3.75. I ordered from the latter, a Coca-Cola for $3, as I was driving. There are no free refills with the pops, water, and juices, so my drinks (2 Cokes) came to a grand total of $6.

Service

The service is very good, from the helpful hostess who confirms the reservation and provides us with menus, to the server Tracey, who does a great job from leading us into the complete darkness of the dining area, to bringing us food and drinks, and answering any and all questions I had over the course of the meal.

From O'Noir website

Feeling afterward

From the food, I felt satiated and not overly full and bloated which is always a good sign. Getting up to leave, I am once again helped along by Tracey back out into the waiting area, which is a bit of a rude shock to my eyes after having been in the dark for the past ninety plus minutes. However, after they adjust, I thank Tracey and the hostess and depart the premises. Overall, it was a good experience; an interesting and unusual way to enjoy a meal in the heart of downtown Toronto. Although there are no plans to expand to other cities at the moment, Feng asserts that they would do so if an opportunity presents itself. Until then;

We intend to make O'Noir a long lasting identity in a special way in Toronto.

Seatings for dinner are at 5:45 pm and at 9 pm, and reservations are recommended. O'Noir also offers their premises for group functions like birthday parties, business meetings, wedding receptions, etc. You can reserve by emailing or calling them. If you're looking for a gift idea, gift cards (in $50 denominations) are available by visiting the restaurant directly or by calling them with your credit card information.

You can get in touch with them at info@onoirtoronto.com, 416-922-NOIR (6647), or at www.onoirtoronto.com.

MR00KV

from News And Tip About Real Estate https://jamiesarner.com/toronto-restaurant-reviews/o-noir/