#(connection: murad)

[taylorswiftstyle]

The Eras Tour | Speak Now section | Version 6

Nicole + Felicia Couture custom

Besides debut having no section at all (as a debut stan, will I ever let this go? doubtful), I personally find it charming that the album with the shortest section as part of the Eras Tour setlist has the most amount of costume variations. A lot of people have asked me, “Why?”

It’s simple: It's extra. It's dramatic. It's couture. It’s for the fun of it. For the costuming of it!

It's a moment to deliver on frivolity and flights of ephemeral whimsy. For an album that's all about clinging to those last vestiges of girlhood, of innocence, of believing in fairytales and happily ever afters ... Why wouldn't you want to hold on to spinning around in a giant ball gown and relive those times when you last believed in the good in the world - right before being dashed at the foot of an ivory tower? These gowns are an embodiment and a fulfillment of those remaining hopes in true love. 

But back to this particular dress - the first on the final night of six in Los Angeles and also the final night of the U.S. leg of the Eras Tour (2023 Version). It was our first tip off that there was, indeed, a lot going on at the moment. And that makes sense to me because why not connect and segue her most recently released TV album with the next one set to be released. Creating a throughline for her projects through fashion? Yes - I am here for it. By doing this, it underlines the project while also reminding people of where she's at in the journey to reclaim her first six albums. Three down, the fourth to come.I’m personally a sucker for a high, halter neckline like this and the crystal embellishments here? Swoon-worthy.

Based on the comet-like embellishments that light up across the gown I had guessed that this designer would be Zuhair Murad, who designed Version 2 of this dress which featured similar details, but no! The intricate beadwork and 3D floral embellishments here are bespoke Nicole + Felicia who now take the lead in creating gowns for this section of the show - having created half of the six (Versions 1, 5, and 6).

[euroquision]

No, Iceland is not up to "dirty political tricks" and neither is Bashar Murad

Hey lovely people, spirits, souls, and ghouls of Tumblr! To those of you who don't follow me on TikTok, there's a video I made just yesterday concerning Iceland (the lil Eurovision Country that Could!), Israel, a certain Irish TikTok-er with impressively horrible media literacy, and our dearest friend Bashar Murad. If you're not on TikTok, that's wonderful and dear god you don't need to subject yourself to that app. Instead, I wanted to make a post that explains what's going on, what's being said, and why one (1) Palestinian is not responsible for the aforementioned "dirty" political tricks.

If you're following Eurovision or just Bashar Murad himself, consider giving this a read.

So let's begin! First: who's calling Bashar Murad/Iceland "dirty"? Where am I getting that word from and why is it in quotes? That's because: it IS a quote! Buck wild, I know. This is a quote from the TikTok account AllThingsAdam.ie, run by the Irish Eurovision...fan? Podcast-haver? Idk, I'm not saying "journalist" because if I wanted to have a laugh, I would just watch the Unicorn edit I made a couple months ago. Did I share that here yet? Just in case, here it is:

Never fails to make me smile. Great edit, Me! Anyway, back on topic: Adam McCallig is a person with a TikTok account that has half a million followers, he has a podcast where he's interviewed Eurovision and NF artists, so he's definitely a "known figure" to a certain point. I can't sit here and say he's some random troll, y'know? So, in a TikTok that has since been deleted from his page, he accuses Iceland of being up to "dirty political Eurovision 2024 tricks." I created a TikTok where I briefly show this video, and here's a link to that! You can watch that for my condensed version of everything I'm talking about here, but this Tumblr post is for those who like reading what I have to say in longer form. Here's that video:

Since Adam's video is now "gone," I will do my best and summarize what he stated with whatever journalistic integrity I have. First: you hear him open the video with the word "dirty." So no one can say I'm putting words in his mouth -- no no, these are lifted from the source material, honey. Next, he goes on to claim that Bashar "has no connection to Iceland whatsoever." As much as Adam wants this to be true, it just...isn't?? Like, let's ignore Bashar's longtime collaborations with HATARI. Instead, let's look at him literally performing on the Songvakeppnin stage in the 2020 NF season:

Additionally, the claim "Bashar has no connection to Iceland" rings very hollow not only when we know this claim is false, but it's not one Adam brings up about the many artists trying to represent a country other than their own in the 2024 NF season. Adam says he "knows that countries can let artists from whatever country represent them," but he hasn't made any videos about Marcus & Martinus (Norwegian) competing in Sweden's National Final. Tali (Israeli-born) is representing Luxembourg this year, and MEGARA (Spanish) are representing San Marino. "Foreign" artists representing any country in ESC is FAR from new, and if it were a punishable offense, Celine Dion would just have to settle for being Canadian.

However, as soon as Bashar Murad takes the stage and the colors of the Palestinian flag are visible, Adam is ready to take to TikTok and say "dirty political tricks" are at play -- before deleting it later, like I mentioned. In fact, not only did he delete it! Mere hours before writing this post, I used my second TT account to peep his page and he posted a video saying "One of these four songs should represent Iceland in Eurovision!" and showed snippets of four songs competing in the Icelandic NF Grand Finale, which takes place on Saturday the 2nd of March. However: there aren't four songs competing to win for Iceland. There's five. Which four did he show? The fours songs that AREN'T Bashar Murad. And yet, he's the one being dirty in all this? Adam, sweetie, the dirty call is coming from inside the dirty house.

Now, you might wonder if Adam has kept this kind of energy when talking about Israel's Eurovision participation, which at time of writing is still very much up in the air. But thing is: he doesn't. At least, not really. Adam has posted a video condemning the alleged song that Israel is trying to submit to Eurovision titled "October Rain." I won't go too deep into that -- please follow @/IsraelBreaksRules on Twitter for more details on this!! But basically, what Adam is attempting to do is play some sort of "political centrist" take on Eurovision, while simultaneously trying to say "Keep politics OUT of Eurovision!!" And at the end of his deleted video, Adam claimed that while "what happened in Gaza is terrible," Iceland is just as guilty for playing political tricks as Israel might be, and Bashar Murad's participation is just as bad.

Two things wrong with that statement, Adam. One: It's not what "happened" in Gaza. It's not past tense. It's on-going. It hasn't stopped. That's actually -- believe it or not -- WHY WE'RE STILL HERE. And two: JUST AS BAD?? REALLY??

If you watched my TikTok response that I shared the link to, you'll have seen the evidence I shared. But I wanna share them again just so you all can clearly see how the "political tricks" at play this year are not on the part of Iceland, nor would they be "just as bad." Where do we begin? Maybe we could begin with the fact that "Wild West," Bashar's song, has been spammed with negative reviews by anti-Palestinian ESC fans. This is mathematically observable when you notice "Wild West" has roughly THREE TIMES as many reviews as the other Icelandic NF songs on EurovisionWorld.com. You can check them out here and see the numbers yourself.

But it doesn't stop at bad reviews. Israeli ESC fans have begun a campaign to mass vote against Bashar, specifically for Hera Bjork, one of the four other competitors in Iceland's final on Saturday. This is really funny to me though because if Bashar doesn't win, it should totally be Sigga Ozk, right? GO TIFFANY!!! Anyway, I digress. A link to an article covering this voting campaign can be found here!

Not only is Bashar facing backlash, hate, and organized efforts AGAINST his participation, Israel is funneling money and resources into Facebook ads that look like this, claiming to shape the narrative:

...as well as filming "comedy" "sketches" like this "song" called...

*deep existential sigh* "Jews Pua" Link to that video here, if you can stand three minutes of awful propaganda containing just the right combination of shitty, easy rhymes and enough pinkwashing to put "Cops at Pride!" to shame. All of this should make it VERY clear to anyone observing this situation as a whole that the political tricks at play are NOT being done equally from everyone involved. Dare I boldly say: this shit is INCREDIBLY ONE-SIDED and we need to remind ourselves of the awful reality that is Israel's access to the money, ability, and audience of their "dirty political tricks" more so than Bashar Murad or Iceland ever could.

Lastly, let's just acknowledge the racism-shaped elephant in the room. Now, I as a white American am not here to play "Racism Police." That will never be the case. What I am about to say applies to the greater conversation, and it's not just an "Adam" problem. It's a problem we see happen when one (1) Palestinian decides to exist and write a song, and the way the world has been built around us conditions us to see that and scream "dirty political trickery afoot!!" Truly, ask yourself is this is "equal" in any way shape or form, as Adam posited. Adam and people like him will treat Iceland and Israel as equal, but that doesn't automatically make them "equal."

We are living in a world where Israel is currently being sued for genocide. That is not an exaggeration, it's just something we can all see and talk about. Israel is a country that has the money, platform, and bias of the most powerful countries of the world to not be held to the same standards of responsibility for the horrible things they're doing, nor is my own country being properly held accountable for PAYING for these things they're doing. Race is something used as a tool to identify oppressed peoples not just because it's discriminatory, but it tells people who aren't part of that group that people like Bashar Murad are simply political just by existing. Nowhere does Adam mention that Bashar and his song "Wild West" are about his journey as an artist having to leave his home and travel thousands of miles to the global "west" to even have a chance of representing Iceland (not Palestine, not Gaza, just Iceland) in Eurovision while the country responsible for the death of his people are facing MUCH less scrutiny from the Eurovision powers that be, let alone Irish TikTok accounts with re: shitty media literacy skills.

My final message to you is this: if you're someone paying attention to Eurovision and you maybe feel confused or overwhelmed by Israel, Iceland, Bashar, etc. etc. etc., here's what I want to tell you:

This is not an equal game. Iceland/Bashar are nowhere near on the same level as Israel and the money/access they have to GLOBAL levels of propaganda. Israel, in fact, verbally confirms how they want to use Eurovision to "shape the narrative" which is far dirtier, far more political than just the song "Wild West." Moreover, thinking that treating Eurovision as apolitical or that EVERYONE deserves the SAME level of EQUAL scrutiny only helps Israel at the end of the day. The things they've done, are doing, and hope to do are representative of tens of thousands of people they've killed in the last few months alone. Would you genuinely look at Bashar Murad trying to represent Iceland and say "Yep, these two things are the same"? My hope is that you wouldn't, but people like Adam clearly do.

Don't be like Adam. Don't play this weak-ass centrism card that ultimately helps no one and just makes it easier for people to shift blame, suspicion, or anger towards Bashar Murad. This is not the fight being had right now, and don't let it waste your time. Focus on what and who matters, which is obviously: the country doing genocide and wants us all to be chill with that.

PS. As a personal recommendation, "Wild West" and "Into the Atmosphere" are my two favs to win for Iceland, so def go gives those a stream. And while you're at it, let Bashar himself take you on a visual journey that might help you understand his message a bit better.

Much love you all. Thank you for being here. EuroQuision out.

[vixentheplanet]

heartbeat

“everything about you is speeding up my heartbeat.”

shuri x black!reader | 18+

Summary: You live a privileged life of luxury as the heiress of Esme Hotel. The majority of your time was spent partying and drinking all over the world. One night, at your father's request, you find yourself at a charity event where you meet the Queen of Wakanda. Your friendship was instant, but the love was unexpected.

Love was not a feeling you were familiar with, but as time passed, you realized you were in love with Shuri. Shuri meant too much to you to risk losing her by telling her this, but you weren't doing a good job of dealing with your new emotions.

word count: 5.4k

themes: heiress reader, falling in love because love is beautiful

warnings: excessive drinking, some drug use (y/n is a rich party girl having the time of her life), and insecurities.

hi- my first post lmaoooooooo i was going to add versace on the floor to this at the end BUT i can’t find the document 😩🫨

Life is a funny thing. 

If somebody had told you six months ago you would be meeting the love of your life, you probably would have laughed in their face. As the heiress to Esmé Hotel’s, a global luxury hotel and resort business, you weren’t interested in settling down because, in this life, it was hard to find genuine connections with people. Of course, you didn’t have a hard time making friends. People clung to you everywhere you went. That was your life, money, glamor, parties, and disingenuous people. For you, it wasn’t that bad.

Love was the last thing on your mind, but again life is funny. 

Tonight you returned to New York City from Ibiza; it was your best friend's birthday, and one day wasn't enough to celebrate her. You and a group of "friends" flew out to the Balearic island and spent a week fueled by drugs and alcohol with little sleep and many bad decisions, but you couldn't remember them to regret them. The fun ended when your father called to say he was sending the private jet to take you back to New York. 

Pepper Potts, the CEO of Stark Industries, was hosting a charity event in the ballroom of one of the Esme Hotels, and your father asked you to attend in his place because he couldn't. The company was auctioning an all-inclusive trip to any Esme resort in the United States. Usually, your brother would fill in for him, but they were both in Monaco on business, leaving you as the only option.

You opted for a piece from the Zuhair Murad Couture 2023 collection, a stunning pink sequined midi dress paired with a matching floor-length scarf. Your pink Giuseppe Zanotti Iride crystal sandals went perfectly with the dress. When walking the red carpet, you smiled and posed, trying to make it not appear as you’d rather be anywhere but here. You got through without any problems, and as soon as you entered the ballroom, you went straight to the bar. Was there anything else you were supposed to do? Mingle? Network? You didn't need any of that and intended to leave after making arrangements with the auction winner.

Of course, the staff knew exactly who you were upon your arrival, and the bartender quickly came over. “Marco, the usual, please.” Within seconds a French martini was in front of you. “Thank you, I’ll need another one in about five minutes.” You say, sipping the martini and scanning the crowd. 

There were many people here, some of whom you recognized as reputable business professionals in their respective industries, some celebrities, and government officials. Most were just nameless faces. If they weren’t in the tabloids or someone your father had introduced you to, there was no way of you knowing them. 

Suddenly, a man in an awful powdered blue suit approaches you and leans on the bar. "Hello, sweetheart. I'm surprised to see you here. Where is dear old dad?” 

This man, whoever he is, was a stranger to you, but he clearly knows you. As much as you wanted to tell him to fuck off, you were here to represent Esme in place of your father and didn't want to make a PR nightmare or accidentally upset a valued shareholder.

You flash your perfect fake smile before replying, “My father couldn’t make it. He’s stuck in Monaco overseeing the construction site for a new hotel.” 

“So I guess you’re being auctioned off?” He jokes. He's too preoccupied with the drinks to see the look of utter disgust on your face.

“Excuse me?” You say, completely appalled. If this person is someone your father knew and trusted, he would never dare to treat you so rudely and endanger the future of their business relationship.

This asshole has the nerve to seem surprised that you didn't appreciate his compliment. “Oh, come on. I’d pay top dollar to hit that.” He makes a humorous sound, and before you can react, someone else chimes in.

“That’s rather disrespectful, don’t you think?” In front of you is a figure you've only seen on television while news commentators discussed whether the world needed access to vibranium. You may have changed the channel repeatedly, but forgetting such a striking face was difficult. The Queen of Wakanda was stunning in a sparkling black jumpsuit, accompanied by two Dora Milaje warriors who stared down the man who had insulted you.

Who would have guessed Queen Shuri would be coming to your rescue? “You see a beautiful woman and lose your manners?” Her expression is fierce, and her gaze is harsh. Unable to answer her questions, the stranger stood there with eyes so wide you thought they could pop out of his head.

You smirk, taking a sip of your martini. Not so talkative now, asshole.

Her next words were a demand, not a request. “Apologize.” 

He turns to face you, and you can’t help but smirk with satisfaction, waiting. “I-I- I’m sorry,” the man stutters and is smart enough to walk away quickly.  

Once the man is out of view, Queen Shuri focuses on you. You place your drink on the bar and try to think of the proper way to greet royalty. You definitely can’t bow in this dress. You settle on a slight curtsy. “Thank you, I would bow, but this dress is too tight.” You explain. 

The Queen laughed and flashed a smile at you, "There is no need to bow, and I must say it is a very exquisite dress." 

You feel your cheeks warm. That must be the alcohol. “Finally, a normal complement,” you say playfully in light of the incident that had just transpired. “The jumpsuit is gorgeous. I’m Y/N Esmé,” you say, holding your hand out. 

She takes your hand in a firm grip and shakes. “You wouldn’t happen to have any relation to the golden Esmé hanging outside the venue?” She questions, raising an eyebrow. 

“That would be correct. Just the Heiress, nothing too exciting.” 

“Nothing too exciting,” She mocks. “An heiress and great sense of humor.” 

You prepare to respond when Pepper appears, looking a little frazzled, most likely running around to greet and show her face to guests. “Hi, Y/N. Thank you so much for coming.” She gives you a quick hug. 

“Do you mind if I steal the Queen away?” She asks. It was a question, but it was just for pleasantries. 

A little, you thought, but responded, “Not at all. It was a pleasure to meet you.” You tell Shuri, and she nods. “You as well,” and like that, she leaves as quickly as she had come, and tonight just got a little more interesting.

During the auction, you bid on a gold Steinway & Sons grand piano and paid $150,000. You thought it would look good in the lobby, and the money would go to a good cause. It turns out that you weren't the only one who felt generous. To your surprise, the top bidder for the vacation at an Esme Resort was the Queen of Wakanda herself, who bid $500,000. It was relatively high, given that the prize was only worth half the amount.

Later, you track down Shuri to find out where you should deliver the information for the trip. "That will not be necessary. I don't usually travel for pleasure." She explains, leaving you perplexed as to why she paid such a high price for a vacation she did not intend to take.

Your eyebrows raise. “Why did you bid on a vacation you have no interest in taking?” 

“It’s for charity. Besides, Money is no object.” 

Charming. You appreciated the way this woman was endearing and bold. Nothing like the dull, self-absorbed people you knew. An idea came to mind. “Follow me,” You say, bringing Shuri to the bar again. 

You lean over once you reach the hightop, getting the bartender's attention. 

“Marco, a pen, please.” The man behind the bar responds quickly, "Absolutely, madame," before scurrying to fulfill your request. He returned with a gold pen, the one given to the guest, and you grabbed a napkin writing down the digits of your number. 

“Here,” you said, holding the napkin out to Shuri. The Dora Milaje member accompanying her eyed it with suspicion. A business card would have been more appropriate, but the only card you carried was black with no spending limit. This napkin was the next best thing, “If you’re ever in New York and need a place to stay or a friend, text me.” 

That was the start of a meaningful friendship. Six months had passed since the Stark Industries event, and you and Shuri became inseparable. You spent time together whenever she was in New York, sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a few days. You took her to several restaurants, art studios, and museums. The Dora Milaje was just a little behind, but it felt like it was only you two in the universe. If Shuri visited for a lengthy period of time, she'd book rooms at the Esmé and frequently find her way onto your couch, where you forced her to watch almost every reality TV show known to man. She had a lot of catching up to do.

Those moments were when you were genuinely alone and often held deeper conversations in the safety of your living room and each other's company. She told you about her father's death, her brother's death, and the tragedy that took her lone surviving family member. All of this led to her bearing the weight of the crown and becoming Wakanda's defender. You recall hearing the events on the news, and a small irrational part of you feels guilty you couldn't be there for Shuri, even though you didn't know each other at the time.

You tell her about your upbringing. How your father was never present, preoccupied with working for his father and one day taking over the family legacy. Your mother had been a free spirit who had turned into a stay-at-home mom; she had your brother and then you seven years later. Having suffered from postpartum depression in addition to a long-standing sense of being trapped and ignored, she simply left.

Your Family was a difficult topic for you; life wasn't all sparkle and glamor. Since losing a loved one caused you so much distress, you realized you probably suffered from abandonment issues. The "friends" you'd gained stuck with you because they benefited from being affiliated with you. You knew those people didn't care about you as a person, and you were okay with it because it prevented anyone from getting close to you.

It was something you never opened up to anyone about because, truth be told, you never formed a connection deep enough with someone to open up the way you did with Shuri.

You're not sure when these feelings blossomed into love, but it hit you one day while you sat in the Esmé's empty Luxury Cinema. When you mentioned your favorite movie to Shuri, she said she'd never seen it, so you dragged her to the hotel's theater. Your living room's flatscreen wasn't big enough for a first-time movie experience. As Shuri watched Shrek, the two of you enjoyed an assortment of concession snacks.

Even though it was your favorite, it was difficult to concentrate on the film with Shuri's infectious laughter next to you. Shuri's laugh unexpectedly became your favorite sound in the world. She laughed at the TV every time someone said something witty. She chuckled at your jokes, even if they weren't particularly amusing. Always full of positive energy. 

In her company, you felt safe and valued. You couldn't stop thinking about her when you were apart, which was regrettably a lot. The time until you could see her again was something you counted down in minutes or perhaps even seconds when she left.

You were awed by every aspect of her. Her brilliance, heroism, strength, and bravery. It was that moment when her eyes lit up as she watched Lord Farquaad interrogate the Gingerbread man when you realize you love her.

Shuri was in town for a UN meeting on Thursday night; ordinarily, she'd let you know when she'd be in town so you could plan something together, but she didn't. You got a text an hour ago wondering whether you'd be home because Shuri was planning on dropping by before returning to Wakanda. It hurt a little to know she was here but didn't inform you. Did she start to get bored with your company? 

You cut those thoughts out before texting back. You'd be home waiting. 

She made it to your penthouse and was currently lounging on your couch watching a rerun of Real Housewives. Shuri pretended she didn't like the show, but you both knew it was her favorite way to spend quality time together.

Unlike the other instances, it was quiet and tense, but you knew it was your fault. Even though Shuri decided to come over, you couldn't figure out why she wouldn't tell you she was in town. You video-chatted and texted frequently, but you only had so much time together in person. 

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” You asked. The question sat heavy in your mind, so you finally decided to ask. 

“Is that why you’re being all grumpy?” She accused, poking you with a socked toe. 

You reached over to swat her foot, “Don’t call me grumpy. You should have told me.” You hated how needy you sounded.

“I got so caught up in my lab I honestly forgot about it,” Shuri admits. “It was very last minute. Also, I figured you wouldn’t be here.”

Your sensible thinking takes over, and you can only say "Oh" as you realize how silly you are behaving. It made you feel a little ashamed for some reason. Even though this was your home, you were never there. 

There had been enough late hours and shared stories for you two to know enough about one other's lifestyles. Shuri had been thrown into the role of Queen at such a young age and held immense responsibilities. On the other hand, you are a well-known socialite whose late-night antics frequently trend on social media. That way of life wasn't as appealing as it once was. Knowing what Shuri went through and her bravery and resilience made you want to be better than you were.

That's why you've been attempting to reconnect with your father nowadays. As you grew older, your father realized how careless he had been during your childhood and constantly made attempts to connect, which you rejected. 

“Actually, I was in Monaco with my dad.” The construction of the Esmé resort in Monaco was going well, and your father had asked if you wanted to visit the site. In the past, you would say no you probably would’ve been busy, but your free time had opened up a lot more since you weren’t going out too often. It didn’t attract you as much anymore. 

“That’s wonderful, Y/N.” she was genuinely happy to hear that, knowing how strained the relationship was with your dad. 

“Yeah, it was nice, but I need another vacation.” You groan, throwing your head back on the edge of the sofa. 

“You could always come to Wakanda,” Shuri says casually, just like your head snaps. “I would love to show you my nation. I trust you.” She adds. 

“Stop joking,” you say, trying to laugh it off and pretend those words don’t have your brain removing all the knowledge you’ve accumulated in your years on earth to ensure you never forget this moment. 

Shuri doesn’t know how much her words affect you. You’re in love with her but could never tell her that. It wouldn’t work. For once in your life, you were the one in lack. Truthfully you had nothing to offer. You hated it. 

“Y/N,” She calls out to you, but you’re not listening. The television remote has become more interesting than this conversation as you try to bring your focus away from the woman of your dreams sitting suddenly too close for you to breathe. 

Shuri sits up slightly and reaches for the remote, stealing your attention from her. Sometimes, she seemed to have forgotten her strength. Instead of taking the remote from your grasp, you find yourself being tugged forward. The unexpected shock throws you off balance and causes you to tumble sideways. Shuri reacts immediately, pulling you back with one hand and securing the other around your waist to keep you upright.

That’s how you end up on her lap, looking down at her as she says, “I trust you,” again—staring directly into your eyes so you can see the honesty swimming through hers. Your heartbeat quickens as you struggle to comprehend what has just occurred. She holds you close, your hair falling in her face, and you laugh because that’s what you do best when things are too much.

You move the hair out of your face so you can see her clearly, “Shuri-” The sentence gets caught in your throat. While the romantic feelings were there, the sexual ones were there too. There have been too many occasions when you've woken up from a vivid dream and found it hard to believe her hands hadn't been coaxing some of the most intimate sounds out of you.

The way she looked under you. 

Your resolve was breaking.  

Her eyes flicker down and then back up. Your delusional mind starts to take over, imagining what it would be like to have her lips on yours. You wanted that so bad, if only you dared to lean down. There was stopping you from crossing that line, and it was dangerous. 

As if sensing you were going to fail its test, the universe takes mercy on you. 

Shuri’s kimono beads begin to ring, interrupting the moment between the two of you. You quickly move from off her, the skin on your face feeling warm as you take in the fact that you just had Shuri right underneath you, her hands holding tightly to keep you stable. You tried to move your thoughts elsewhere, not letting them get too carried away. 

A holographic depiction of General Ayo appeared. “Panther, we’re prepared to head back to Wakanda.”

Panther. Why was that so sexy? 

The Wakandan Queen is a little out of it, blinking a few times as she takes in the message. “Enkosi Ayo, I’ll be out soon.” Ayo salutes, and the hologram disappears. Wakanda’s technological advances always leave you amazed. 

Shuri looks apologetic. “I’m sorry, I must go.” She stands up and moves to retrieve her jacket from the coat closet. You needed distance from each other to prevent any uneasiness from developing.

“Better hurry, don’t keep Ayo waiting. She'll know it was my fault.” You tried to lighten the tension from the moment you’d just shared. 

“Ah, please, Ayo adores you.” She puts on her jacket and shoes before turning to you. “Don’t watch any more Real Housewives without me. I want to pick up where we left off once I return.” She says. You have to stop yourself from saying you can pick up exactly where you left off now, not talking about the show. 

“You got it,” You tell her as you both step into the foyer. It's always difficult to say goodbye to Shuri because all you can think about while she's gone is how much you miss her. For a split second, you think she'll say something else. She'd hold you close and tell you she's staying if you had your way.

Shuri's gaze lingers on you for a second, and you swear it's quiet enough for her to hear the rapid rhythm of your heartbeat. “Goodnight, Y/N.” She hugs you, and just like that, Shuri’s gone. 

You were in a daze from the event that transpired minutes ago. Your cheeks were still hot, and you felt as if you were suffocating. Your anxiety kicked in as you were left alone in such an empty space. 

Although you had never experienced love before, you did not doubt that you were head over heels for Shuri. She cared for you on a human level and treated you as such. You couldn't think about anyone else but Shuri. You recognize your vulnerability, but it's hard to be apart from the one you love, even if they don't realize it. But, keeping your emotions in check was becoming increasingly difficult, and today proved that.

You were used to people wanting something from you when they came into your life. To go on lavish vacations on your dime, to be seen with you, and to improve their reputation. It didn't disturb you that you were surrounded by those who did nothing but take from you because, well, they were still there. Being alone has never worked for you.

You groaned dramatically, throwing yourself onto your bed. There was no doubt in your mind it would never work out. Shuri was too sophisticated and well-established, and yes, you were an heiress, but what did that mean to the Queen of the most advanced nation on Earth? Nothing. 

It was all so overwhelming. Something had to give; you needed to find a way to get these thoughts out of your head before they jeopardized your friendship with Shuri. You took out your phone and contacted a couple of your friends to ask if they had plans for tonight, and your friend Amaya texted you the information about an event starting at ten o'clock at one of her mothers' VIP clubs. Hanging out with Amaya was always fun and guaranteed a night of dancing, drinking, and getting high. You didn't want to feel anything, so you’d do whatever to numb your thoughts.

Deciding on an outfit was tricky, but you eventually decide to go with the green Attico Magnolia sequined mesh midi dress, pairing it with crystal sliver Rene Caovilla sandals. An SUV awaited you outside the hotel, and you were on your way. The night flew by, and as soon as you found Amaya, she handed you three shots and half a pill, and you shoved it down your throat. That was all you could recall distinctly as the night progressed; after seven drinks, you lost track and swallowed the other popper. You had a lot of fun on the dance floor but left when the talk became too suggestive. Why would you go home with someone other than Shuri? You need another drink.

The drinking and dancing cycle continued until 3 a.m. when your feet ached, and you needed to get into bed. The SUV returned you to the hotel, and security ensured you arrived securely at your penthouse.

You were back on your own, without a sense of direction, but you did know one thing: you missed Shuri. You want to see her, kiss her, and adore her. You reached for your phone and dialed her number without thinking. You placed your phone on the bed and stared at the ceiling, waiting for her to speak, but she never did.

I’ll leave a voicemail.

With the chemicals disrupting your mental state, you allow your emotions to take over completely. "Shuri, you are the most incredible person I've ever met... and I'll never meet somebody half as beautiful as you." Your words are slurred but honest.

“I need you to come back right now. I love you. I can’t not love you. I can’t lie, I can’t pretend, and I don’t want to. I love you. You’re all I want so much it hurts.” That is the last thing that left your lips before you inevitably drifted into sleep. 

When you woke up, the pounding in your brain was merciless. You have no idea how you got into your bed while still fully dressed down to your shoes. Fortunately, there was an Excedrin and a water bottle on the bedside table, thanks to your security guard. You take the pill with water before changing your clothing and preparing for a day of movies and takeout. There was no way you were getting out of this bed today.

You enter your walk-in closet, pull off your dress, and change into a ridiculous I LOVE NY tank top that Shuri had given you as a joke. You didn't bother putting on bottoms, it was your home, and you could go around in your underwear if you wanted to. You entered the bathroom through a door that connected to the closet.

Using the claw clip that was lying around, you clipped your hair. You brushed your teeth and reached for your face wash. The corded phone in your bedroom rings as you turn for the sink, the sound loud and piercing. Groaning, you return to the bedroom, assuming it's someone from the front desk.

Nothing could have prepared you for the appearance of a figure inside your room. Your brain recognizes the person before you as you open your mouth to scream. You believed you were hallucinating for a split second. 

“Jesus fuck, Shuri! What the hell!” You scream, grasping your chest, relieved you weren't abducted, but your heart is pounding.

The phone was still ringing. You moved past Shuri to answer it. Startled, hungover, and annoyed, what a morning you thought. 

“What?” You yell into the receiver, instantly regretting your tone as the person on the other line stutters out, “Madam Esmé, you have a guest coming up. I apologize we could not reach you on your personal cellular device.” 

The visitor must have been Shuri. Why had she returned? You looked at her curiously, trying to figure out what was happening. Last night you sent her off back to Wakanda; not even 24 hours went by, and she’s back leaning against the wall, arms crossed, and jaw tight. “Uh, sorry. I see that, thank you.” You hang up the phone and turn to Shuri, but keep your distance. 

“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but you scared the shit out of me. Why are you back so soon?” 

“You.” Your body tensed at her tone. 

“Me?” 

“You weren’t answering your phone. I called you multiple times. Do you know how worried I was?” Your heart sinks. Did something happen? Had she needed you, and you weren’t there? You couldn’t even remember where your phone was. 

"Oh my God, I'm such an idiot, Shuri. I must have left my phone." This isn't the first time you've misplaced your phone after a night out. You felt slightly embarrassed about being questioned about your whereabouts last night while wearing only your underwear. Even more, you felt horrible that you worried Shuri so much that she had to travel here to check on you. 

Shuri’s voice pulls you from your thoughts. “Y/N, what do you remember from last night?” She asks, changing the subject, even though you were clearly a little discombobulated. 

“Well,” you rub your temples while trying to recount the events. “I went out to a club in Manhattan, lots of shots, a few pills, and everything else doesn’t matter. I'm home.” Blacking out didn't bother you as long as you weren’t hurt or dead. 

The room was silent. “You called me.” 

The words make your blood run cold, “Oh,” is all you can say. What could have been important enough for you to drunk dial Shuri? 

“Oh.” You repeated as the hazy memories returned. With Shuri in front of you, attempting to restore your recollection of last night, the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place.

I need you to come back right now. 

I love you.

I can’t not love you.

Ironic. You went out for temporary release from your feelings for Shuri and instead ended up confessing. If it weren't for the weight of the situation, you probably would have laughed. 

Thoughts race through your mind as you struggle to find a way to make this right. Denial was the best option. “Whatever…” you start but trail off to find your words. “Whatever it is I said, just forget it. It wasn't me talking. I shouldn’t have drank so much.” 

Shuri shook her head as soon as the words left your mouth, “Don’t insult my intelligence.” She says, narrowing her eyes. “That doesn’t make your words any less true.” 

“I want you to look me in my eyes and tell me, sober.”

“I would have told you if I was sober.” You snapped back. You don’t know why you were upset, but you felt like an idiot. The vulnerability was a nasty feeling, your heart was laid bare, and moments from being broken, you felt the need to defend yourself.

“Why?” Shuri asks with so much sincerity it breaks your heart. 

“Why?” You repeat back. “Because, you’re so good, too good even. I’m used to knowing what I bring to the table for people, money, fame, and popularity. You don’t need any of that. You don’t care for any of that. What could I possibly have to offer you?” Tears blurred your vision and collected at your lashes.

Shuri pushes from the wall, her eyes filled with fire as she approaches you. "Stop doing that." Her order stops you from speaking as she carefully lifts her tattooed hand to your face, forcing you to look at her. "You have this awful habit of shutting down and shutting me out or speaking negatively about yourself."

She continues. “There’s so much depth to you, yet you hold yourself back from what you deserve.” 

Your heart flutters. That is the reason you adore her. She was a steadying presence, reminding you of your worth and letting you know that the world only sees a fragment of who you are. You allowed her in because you always knew you were safe in her care.

You felt secure enough to begin speaking about what you'd been holding back for so long. It wasn't a secret any longer. Shuri knew you loved her and deserved better than a drunken late-night phone call.

Fuck it. 

“I love you,” you confess. “You make me feel so cared for and protected and safe. I don’t know how to handle this. It's all new to me. You don’t have to feel the same way, but.”

You sigh to catch your breath. “I love you. And I don’t want to lose you.” 

Her thumb moves to caress the side of your face. “I wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t feel the same way.”

“As soon as I heard those drunken words of the woman I love telling me she’s in love with me, I returned to her as fast as possible. I needed to see her beautiful face light up when I told her she’s everything to me.”

The relief you feel hearing those words brings more tears to your eyes. “You love me?” 

Shuri brought her free hand to your waist, embracing you as she whispered, “So much, angel.”

You stare at her, overwhelmed by the adoration you find behind those beautiful brown eyes. She loves you. She loves you and came from Wakanda to confess. 

Before your brain can process what's happening, you rush forward, putting your lips to Shuri's. It’s just a soft press at first. You melted into Shuri because you could now – relief swimming through your veins as you nipped at her bottom lip. 

All you can think is how right it feels to kiss her, to be in her arms. Cliché enough, this is what life is all about. Love, being loved, being in love. Letting go and diving into it, you feel weightless. 

The kiss grows intense as Shuri leans in further. When she kisses you, it's like she's starving. Shuri pressed her way back in, kissing you with a desire that pulled the oxygen from your lungs. You're so desperate that you moan against Shuri's lips as she opens her mouth and passionately kisses you back.

“I had all my meetings pushed back. Unless there's an imminent danger, I’m all yours,” Shuri informs you. You like the sound of that. Shuri lifts you instinctively as you wrap your arms around her neck. You lock your ankles around her waist, gathering her closer and closer, wrapped up in each other. 

You pulled your lips apart to move lower, leaving a trail of kisses from her jawline down to the tattoo on the side of her neck. "Good, 'cause everything I want to do involves you in that bed." You motion to the bed beside you.

As you fall into satin sheets, you cling to her and won't let go. Now that she's yours, nothing could ever come between the two of you.

[chaos-of-the-abyss]

something fascinating to me about the show's portrayal (though this was probably also at least somewhat the case with the irl ottoman dynasty) is the weight of dynastic blood ties at the expense of royal children's blood ties with their mother, a "mere" consort/concubine/favorite/etc. like bayezid's mother just died on murad's orders (ok she killed herself and bayezid aided her in doing so, but this only happened because murad sentenced her to execution) and murad's way of comforting him... is to say he has no need to feel lonely because he has his brothers, he's part of the dynasty, and that they are his real family. when his mother just died. it's strangely reminiscent to me of hatice telling hurrem in the first show that hurrem's children are related to hatice and the ottoman dynasty first, and hurrem herself second. there's this real emphasis on a dynastic member belonging to and being part of the ottoman dynasty above all else, and their connection to their parent who's not part of it is not as important and not as significant. the show does already somewhat lean into the toxicity of this attitude and all the elitism and "us vs. them" mentality that results from it, but i wish it would explore it more tbh. and actually have something substantial to say about it

[girlactionfigure]

🟤 Thursday - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

▪️WHY REDUCED ATTACKS IN THE NORTH?  Hezbollah decides to be quiet on their holy days - it is the Shia Islam holiday of Ashura. The Israeli side is cooperating.

▪️POLITICS.. Shas party to PM: The Shas faction urges you not to fear the voices in the coalition who oppose the deal and strengthens you to continue to act responsibly for the mitzvah of prisoner redemption.

▪️WAR POLITICS.. the law extending reserve service - to meet IDF war needs - passed the Knesset.  It was noted that opposition National Unity members voted for it as well, but opposition leader Yesh Atid members avoided the vote.

▪️U.S. DRAMA.. (1) President Biden diagnosed with Corona.  We wish him a speedy recovery.  (2) The official announcement of Biden as a presidential candidate has been postponed.

▪️ELECTRICITY REFORM.. on July 25, the electricity reform will be launched. According to the reform, every consumer in Israel will be able to choose from which supplier he purchases electricity and enjoy a discount of 5%-20% of the electricity tariff. The move is expected to save each household hundreds and even thousands of shekels per year depending on the offers.

▪️RUSSIA FOREIGN MINISTERS SAYS.. "Israel is working to escalate the situation with Hezbollah in order to involve Washington in an all-out war with Iran."

▪️GAZA AID COMPLAINTS.. after aid landed on his tent, a Gazan complains: ‘We don't want any more help! The food is spoiled and the aid that drops on the tents is killing us.’

▪️AID PIER.. The US Secretary of Defense instructed the US military to end the "floating naval dock mission in Gaza”.

▪️DRUZE LEADER IN SYRIA KILLED, ISLAMIC JIHAD THREATENS ISRAELI DRUZE.. Syrian Druze commander called for external help to arm up against Hezbollah, he was killed yesterday by Iranian Shia Militias in the area.  Islamic Jihad threatened the Druze, accusing them of abusing Palestinian prisoners, and threaten revenge.

▪️HOUTHIS OFFER A DEAL.. Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi (a senior member of the Houthi leadership in Yemen) offers a deal for Israel:  "If you allow the introduction of aid to the Gaza Strip and first and foremost to the north of the Strip, we will allow you, to the same extent, to bring goods into the Port of Eilat... the ball is in your court."

♦️TARGETED ELIMINATION - HEZBOLLAH.. A targeted assassination in the Beka’a, a senior member of the Islamic Jama'ah, Ahmad Jabra, was eliminated.

♦️TARGETED ELIMINATION - ISLAMIC JIHAD.. The commander of the Islamic Jihad’s naval forces in the Gaza City region, Anas Murad, was eliminated in a drone strike.

♦️TARGETED ELIMINATION - ISLAMIC JIHAD.. The IDF says it eliminated Ahmed al-Masri, an Islamic Jihad member who participated in the October 7 onslaught and ongoing rocket fire.

♦️US/UK ATTACKED YEMEN.. attack on the Hodeidah airport.

♦️FEAR.. Gaza media influencer Abu Khader: "The occupation army (that’s what they call the IDF - without it occupying anything) is threatening Deir al-Balah... There are 3 battalions of Hamas in Deir al-Balah.  They say they want to bring in the 98th Division...the one that destroyed Khan Yunis.... Mom mom mom.  We are not holding out... every day we lose dear ones. Then some leader comes and says "the leadership is in good shape".. The people are victims... I swear... We are tired... we can't last.”

⭕ ATTACK ON AID CONVEY BEING COVERED BY IDF.. As a result of the RPG fire, a soldier with the Givati Brigade was moderately wounded.  Aid route was shut down following attack for some hours.

⭕ 3 rounds HAMAS ROCKETS at Nir Am Shooting Range - short range near-Gaza attack.  Overnight there was also an attack at Re’im.

[notetaeker]

March 25, 2024 - Sunday  | Ramadan Challenge 15/30

Day 15: islamic lecture series / podcast / book recommendations:

Lecture series: 1, Moments of the Qur'an (Miftaah Institute) - A month-long discussion every Ramadan about each Juz. I love it because the imam and mufti are actual brothers lol and they banter in a way only siblings can. Also It's very very reflective and makes you think of things in ways you haven't before. All the brothers are also great models of brotherhood and treating parents properly. I learn a lot from them. 2. Seerah of the Prophet by Yasir Qadhi - The best thing about this is that he brings out every single opinion that exists from the scholars. You really get to know the prophet as a person as opposed to just learning a bunch of events like you might do from a book. Honestly this series changed my life and gave me such a connection with the prophet. Before this, I had always wondered how ppl felt such personal love toward him. Honestly I also love it because it's like storytime lol I love hearing stories

Book: 3. In the Early Hours (By Khurram Murad) - This book is great honestly. It's not dense like many informational islamic literature tends to be. It wastes no time and speaks directly to you and unveils the truth of life and how to succeed to you lol. This is one of my fave quotes:

"Indeed the one who is unsure of his destiny in life, torn between this world and the next, like one standing with his feet in two separate boats, will be thrown off balance."

It's a great book for people who have decided to begin a journey to improve themselves Islamically. Usually those types of books are full of boring basics but this book is full of so many profound quotable things I def recommend it 10/10.

[tuituipupu]

this bop. reminding you of what could have been.

currently compiling a playlist of palestinian and pro palestinian artists. i will be promoting their music on saturday instead.

what i loved about uravishun was the ability to find new artists, often singing in languages i don't understand. how magical it was to connect with others all over the world and bond over our shared passion for them.

but we can do this ourselves. we can share our love for these lovely, lovely artists from all over the globe.

i'd love to see other people's music recommendations too (non uravishun obviously,) if you want to join me!

[palaceoftears]

I'm sorry for stepping in, but that last anon? WTF? Ignore it. The way you talk and analyze MC characters is incredible!

That's why I'm here! This is my first time seeing the series, and I'm fascinated by how complex Sultan and Ibrahim's relationship is. Knowing this, do you feel their relationship was mere platonic? Or does it also give you romantic vibes?

Thanks for your response!

Hey anon, thanks for the kind words! I don't really know what the last ask meant either so yep I'll be ignoring them lol. Subrahim it's truly so fascinating, I'm glad you're enjoying it and I hope it doesn't break your heart as much as it did to me on my first watch. I think your questions are a little bit hard to answer for me because yes, the show potrays a very profound platonic relationship between two men whose historical counterparts were recorded to even sleep together, keeping both of them as heterosexuals that see each other as friends or family, and yet I think as viewers we can interpret much more looking at their actions & dialogues. I even think a little bit of that ambiguity was intended, after all in mck, Murad, historically rumoured to be gay/bi, is potrayed with the same closure to his male-favourites, especially Musa that is a young Ibrahim 2.0, but ofc showing more than that was risky for a show that was already having legal problems and this is still from 2011 so... I think it's open to interpretation. I do see these "romantic vibes": after all, subrahim deliberately parallels the canon romantic hetero relationships both of them have (especially surrem/ibratice, but even firuze and suleyman or nigar and ibrahim as well) in the way they refer, idealize and look to each other, their bond being built in poems and music, being ready to die for the other, being possesive/jealous, etc. There's also a lot that could be said about how much of their relationship is based on exploitation, they're after all master and slave till the end of Ibrahim's life, let's not forget Suleyman has the "right" to execute him without a proper trial for this fact alone, and that that happens because Ibrahim stops playing the loyal dog role and has ambitions of his own. So yes, Ibrahim's case it's also very important to see how conditional Suleyman's care for their beloved ones is once he suspects their unloyalty, it's a big break in the show because nothing will be the same after his execution and the fact Ibro's going to haunt the sultan till his death it's the ultimate proof that their bond, no matter if platonic or romantic, is an essential part of what made Suleyman Suleyman in the past, an state he will never get back to but that lives in his memories of Ibrahim, that's how connected they are!

Random dump:

[nesiacha]

The problem of Magnificent Century: The screenwriters diabolize too much Hurrem, Mahidevran, Nurbanu. In fact they take up the cliché that the “evil woman” caused the fall of an empire or a country. For the empire of Rome it is the fault of Cleopatra (false), for the fall of Granada it is either the fault of Isabel de Solis or Aicha el Horra (equally false). And now for the Ottoman Empire it is firstly the fault of Hurrem (since the series almost entirely blames Hurrem or even Mahidevran, the sisters of Suleiman for the death of Mustafa even if fortunately Suleiman is not spared), Mahidevran for having killed Mehmed (another times false historically it is sure that she was relieved just as Hurrem was relieved of the death of Mustafa due to the fratricidal law but no proof for either of them of intrigues to kill the son of each other), Nurbanu is blamed for the death of Bayezid (once again historically false, Bayezid himself signed his death warrant). All this for not blame the real cause of the falls of Empires, for the Roman Empire I would abstain from the real reason because I do not really master the subject but it is 100% certain that Cleopatra had nothing to do with it , for the Ottoman Empire the main reason is that the jannissaries wanted to meddle too much in the affairs of the Empire and when the military meddles in the affairs of the country it is never a good sign and it can precipitate a country towards its fall ( for example you only have to look at Bonaparte's government, in the end the Bourbons returned to power and France lost practically all of its territory while during the revolutionary period from 1794 this country had managed to repel all its enemies that whether outside or inside even if there were excesses of the Terror it remained a democratic country and not a sort of military dictatorship for me or at least an extremely powerful authoritarian regime) , the fact that Suleiman made too many useless conquests and from the wrong side unlike his father (even if some historians think that the beginning of the fall was under Murad III especially after the death of his mother), etc… So no connection between theses womans and the fall of Empire Ottoman. It's frustrating to see this writing from Magnificent Century because there was the potential to make so many excellent, complex and very intelligent female characters (we see Hurrem's intelligence in MC but only for the plots and even if we see her charity, the screenwritters didn't show her diplomatic skills , her correspondence with Poland, her good political advice, the same for Mahidevran who was historically a very strong and intelligent woman, we could have seen something else from Suleiman's sisters if the screenwriters had respected their historical facets instead of playing the role of the "bad" step sisters even if I really like Hatice and Shah Hubban) I would have liked a historical series that didn't whitewash male leaders by wrongly blaming this country's problems on women. When will there be a series without sexism and which does not glorify aggressive military conquests (and I am talking about a series produced by its own country which would unreservedly denounce its own conquests)? I'm exaggerating and there are certainly works that do that like GRR Martin but I find it very little especially since it is inspired by many historical events.

[worldburnrp]

MARCH 2ND, 2024

A POLITICAL RENDEZVOUS at THE CLOISTERS

“Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” ― George Orwell

About an hour after the guest’s arrival, the auction finally starts. Some come to share the money they have no other use for — others, to establish some sort of status, seek connections, or simply watch this odd species in its natural habitat.

While politicians lay the groundwork for a successful campaign, the law and the media follow closely behind, all with goals of their own. Weaving into the crowd also, are those with influence in the underworld. If you think they don’t have something to gain by blending in — you’re sorely mistaken. 

OOC INFO

PART TWO. There is no need to wrap or drop Part One threads.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLOT with your fellow players what your characters will be up to during the event, as well as any plots and/or conflicts that may happen. For heavy conflicts, please do make sure to message the main about it first. <3

As always, should there be any questions or need of assistance with any plots, please feel free to contact the admins and we’ll be happy to help you!

AUCTION

THE AUCTION HAS STARTED, and it will be carried through a sideblog. Please follow @wbauction and keep an eye out as items are posted.

OOC CHALLENGES

You will be awarded 200 points for each:

OPEN STARTER [THE REMIX]: Write an open starter utilizing a location (within the event site) that hasn't been used in previous starters yet! 

THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY: Interact, on dash, with at least three characters you/your characters have never interacted with before this event. If you do more, it will be multiplied by each time it’s completed.

IC CHALLENGES

You will be awarded 300 points for each:

WIN AN AUCTION: What says on the tin! Score the highest bid and take an item home.

WAR OF WORDS: Spark a political debate with another character.

BIG SPENDER: Bid on 5 or more auction items.

RUMOR HAS IT: Start a rumor about any character.

COME TO THE DARK SIDE*: Try to convince an enemy to jump ship and join your crew instead. (This can be across different political parties, different gangs, or anything you can think of.) * [1/3 CLAIMED.] Please message the main page before using it!

Please post completed challenges to our #point-depository channel so the admins can tally your points.

PLOT SLOTS

To claim a slot, please message the main with your choice.

ARIA BOUGHTON and [MEDIA CHARACTER B] are in conflict with each other. [PUBLIC FIGURE 1] has conceded to an interview, but to one person only. This isn’t an opportunity to pass up — and both will fight hard for it.

[GANG CHARACTER A] overhears [ENEMY A] and [ENEMY B] speaking of gang plans — and quickly passes the info onto FELIX SECADA.

ANAÏS MURAD approaches EVA MOVSKA about a potential hefty donation to their party. However, ANAÏS MURAD has a list of demands that need be met first, in order for the donation to be made.

ARCHER BROOKS makes the rounds to ensure that there is no bad PR that could possibly come from this. Targets include LEV MOVSKA and ZED MOVSKA, who look like the type to start trouble.

[MEDIA CHARACTER C] has their hands full tonight, what with so much fact-checking to be made for all articles breaking tomorrow. Naturally, they approach [CHARACTER D] to run through the details with. (Read: trying to catch them in a lie.)

[CHARACTER E] had been hoping to shake hands with someone involved in the government tonight, and ALAN DIETRICH fits the bill. If they can just gauge out all government strategy and how it impacts their business, then it’s time well spent. Of course, [CHARACTER E] has their own agenda also.

[LAW CHARACTER A] had heard through a rumor that DAMIEN TOUSSAINT, while not a criminal themselves, knows more than your average civilian. If they enough questions, maybe some will get answers. 

[CHARACTER H] lets it slip that they know some hacking, and it peaks the interest of CALEB MORENO. Hey — knowing what their opponents are doing could be useful, that’s all.

[GANG CHARACTER C] has been avoiding EMILIO CARRASCO, until they cross paths. There’s an inkling or knowledge of their involvement with crime, and tensions rise.

MATHIAS CAIN gets a little too drunk and reveals a secret they weren't supposed to, and to the worst person possible: CLARK CAIN. What now?

KRISTEN PARRISH finds AVA M HOLLIS and VIA D’ANGELO talking in a room — and they want in on the secret.

[CHARACTER M] has their eye on a certain item up for auction, and they're determined to have it — the only problem is, [CHARACTER N] feels the same. Who will win the battle of paper and words?

IZARA LEVINE catches [CHARACTER P] stashing hors-d'œuvres in their pockets. Are they saving it for later, or are they up to something? Time will tell.

AXEL REYES and [ENEMY C] enter conflict. But they have to find a way to settle it without things getting violent — any slips, and they might just blow the cover of their entire operation.

ASK MEMES

While we don’t usually do them during events, here’s a list of approved ask memes that you’re free to reblog and use during this event, if you wish to! We ask that you only stick to this selection, and as always, be mindful of any spamming. <3

House of Cards sentence starters

Breaking Bad sentence starters 1 + Breaking Bad sentence starters 2 + Breaking Bad sentence starters 3

Newsroom season 1 + Newsroom season 2 sentence starters

The Blacklist sentence starters

HAVE FUN!

[silknoise]

⋆ ˚ ｡ ୨୧ ˚ 𝗠𝗜𝗗𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗙𝗠𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗢𝗡𝗘: 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗘'𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬｡

♡︎ part one. ﹙ 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 ﹚

age seven: her very first crush & on her babysitter's younger brother ricky who was around the same age as her. it was very much unrequited and mostly resulted in seonah teasing the boy for lack of a better way to channel her emotions, and him bragging about liking another girl his sister babysat. eventually, seonah got tired of doodling hearts on construction paper with their initials inside and moved on with her life. age ten: another crush, this time on a female classmate who was in her music class, named emma. she was actually nice to seonah, and played the flute a few rows ahead of her. seonah was far too cool about it and it was publicly unclear that she even liked the other girl, unless someone else caught her staring and teased her about it. her shyness simply got in the way due to how her first crush had ended, and nothing ever came of it. age fourteen: her first inkling of romance after the tragedy she had faced, and it was here that she experienced her first date with a boy from her class named theodore. he was surprisingly nice and respectful for a teenager, and they spent a good three months wholesomely 'dating' (it was mostly just them hanging out under franklin & delisle's watchful eyes, going to the movies or to a dinner on occasion) before ultimately losing touch over the summer after his family moved out of the area. age sixteen-eighteen: the first 'serious' relationship she ever had; a guy in the grade above her named murad. they attended homecoming and prom together, spent nearly every waking second they could with one another and eventually became each other's first in many aspects of their lives and experiences. they had plans beyond high school, but when graduation came around and murad was accepted to ucla, they knew trying to maintain a long distance relationship would only hold one another back, so they made the difficult decision to break up. sometimes, they will still exchange emails to this day and greet each other as old friends. he's now married to his college sweetheart with four month old twins. age nineteen: while attending manhattan's school of music, seonah began hooking up with a domineering rich girl named veronica. the other didn't want any strings attached, nor anyone to know of their rendezvous in her father's manhattan penthouse whenever he was out of the country on business. it was raw and exciting, but seonah liked her far more than the reverse. when the girl was through toying with seonah, she cut her loose. age twenty three-twenty five: definitely the most prominent and serious relationship seonah has been in, and very much a wanted connection for her! their memories still replay over and over again in seonah's head when she's trying to fall asleep at night. this person would have certainly left some sort of imprint on her soul, because she is finding it harder to let them go than any other lover she's had to say goodbye to.

[coffeewithcutcaffeine]

are there any parallels that fascinate you while working on voievod?

(missing you like hell my beloved lin, hope life's treating you well ❤️)

My beloved Lizzie, thank you endlessly for sending this question my way, it definitely made me sit down and think hard about it! I am not sure if I mention all the parallels (more will definitely appear with time), but I will try to elaborate on at least a few that occupy my mind at the moment. ❤️ I am sending the biggest hug your way, my dear, and I hope you are taking good care of yourself! I miss you so so much! 🥰️

Now that I finished reading Mehmed’s biography, I was struck by the remarkable similarities between his and Vlad’s personalities. Both were natural rebels, active and restless souls, brave visionaries. They both displayed a paradoxical blend of cruelty and generosity. What sets them apart are the subtle nuances, the different shades and hues of their personalities, that shape these similar traits into something uniquely their own. This is a fascinating thing to explore in writing because typically when two figures stand on opposite sides (as enemies, opponents, rivals, you name it), they are often portrayed as respective polar opposites. In media, the “hero” is typically portrayed as the antithesis of the “villain”, and vice versa. This is different because both men are viewed as heroes and villains simultaneously, their perception shifting based on the observer’s perspective. I also find it fascinating that, from their initial encounters, the tension between them stems not from their differences but from their similarities. Had they ever chosen to collaborate, their combined strength would have made them unstoppable. It is the core values they both strongly stick to that leave them no choice but to stand in opposition to each other.

There are delicious parallels in the family dynamics of both Vlad and Mehmed! This is so much fun to work with because the events within both royal houses show how we often unknowingly echo the missteps of those who came before us. Without giving much away so that I do not spoil the crucial moments, Vlad’s father was sent away from home as a small child. As a result, he retained few memories of either parent. When he becomes a father, he chooses to shield his children from such a life and consciously strives to be a more present parent. Nevertheless, circumstances compel him to send his two sons away from home, forcing him to retrace his father’s steps, no matter how much that decision torments him. When Vlad becomes a father himself, he is determined not to repeat the mistakes of his grandfather and father and also consciously strives to be a better parent, yet circumstances once again force his son to be sent away from home. The fatalism in this is so powerful because each generation tries to undo the wrongs they suffered in childhood and, while they do make progress and become better, life’s circumstances (though vastly different in each case) inevitably push them to do what they have sworn to avoid at all costs.

In Mehmed’s case, it’s the tragic deaths of the favourite sons. His father, Murad II, abdicated and left the throne to the then twelve-year-old Mehmed because he was so stricken with grief over the death of his son, Şehzade Alaeddin Ali (who died at eighteen), that he simply could not bear the burdens of ruling any longer. Mehmed deals with the situation in his own way, viewing his father’s response as a weakness throughout his life… until he faces the same situation and must lay his own son Mustafa to rest. Unlike his father, Mehmed did not abdicate, but Mustafa’s death reportedly wrecked him. It shows life’s cruel irony that is imposed on us sometimes — Mehmed could never connect with his father and scorned him for many things, only to finally sympathise with him when struck by the same horrible tragedy his father experienced.

As for more universal parallels, it is interesting to see how many of the themes I explore in Voievod are still present in our lives today. Six centuries later, we still witness nations bleeding just to carve out a path toward self-determination. Not all countries are treated equally, some people still face being looked down upon, while others continue to fight for the right to shape their future course and their destiny for themselves, without others dictating to them what to do and what not to do. The methods have changed, we do not live as violent times as the Middle Ages were (but Vlad’s methods must be taken into consideration through the context of that period), but it is not difficult to relate to Vlad’s dreams and objectives, to loving your country so much you would die just so the future generations can live in freedom of being able to choose, of being able to decide for themselves, of prospering on their own. Also, power continues to leave its mark on people’s character today, much as it did then — if not outright corrupt them.

[lune-de-miel-au-paradis]

OC Nina Cerasus deep dive part 2.

Meet my OC from my Star-crossed story. (She is a young woman living in her early twenties on Naboo. The time period is before the Phantom Menace.) I already made a short list about her. This is a little more deeper and collected. I hope you enjoy knowing her and like her as much as I do. Sorry for any mistype or bad English this is not my first language. I made a mood board about how I imagine her, the pictures are from Pinterest.

have they / would they dye their hair? she is a natural dark chocolate brunette, maybe she would add some colorful highlights 

do they maintain eye contact when talking? definitely

what is their tell for lying? a small movement, she picks her right pinky finger.

do they have an accent? she speaks in Nabooan dialect, also, she has a raspy seductive voice. People often ask her if she has a sore throat. Sometimes she sounds out of breath because of her illness. 

what languages do they speak? basic, binari (droid), kenari, 

what kind of music do they listen to? alternative/ acoustic/classic piano, also I think she would like Lana del Rey, Hozier and Mitski

describe them in one word. What could happen to make them the opposite? Abandoned. / Stay by.

do they have any ghosts? yes, her mom died, her dad left, and Maul broke her heart 

what is their worst fear? left alone, die alone, being forgotten

what is a secret they do not tell anyone? she has a few:

That her relationship was with Maul (in my Star-crossed fic)  

She was there when her mom died. 

She was the one who unveiled her fathers frauds and thefts and sent him to jail. It's her revenge. 

what motto do they live by? Ad astra per aspera. - Through hardships to the stars.

if they were a famous figure, who would they be? she was inspired by many characters from movies or books, also from my own life, but if I have to say some concrete examples it would be Amal Clooney's and Dakota Johnson's dressing style, a lot of inpo comes from Ellie Saab and Zuhair Murad gowns. And Sofia Bush's voice.

Also she got her name from my highscool bff called Nina. (She passed away a few years ago sadly due to a car accident.) So it's like a memorial thing to name my oc of her. A few of her personality traits, her freckles and silly moments also given to my character that remind me of my friend. And the green eyes my oc has is coming from me.

personality: the constant fear of being abandoned, having trust issues and the feeling of never being good enough. And she is trying to be the best version of herself by working hard and passionately. She fears to show out her real emotions or build connections, especially romantic ones. 

what great moment shaped them to be who they are? Have they lived through the moment yet? 

discovering her heart disease

when her mom got sick her dad left them and made his own family

Maul choose revenge over her and left in the Phantom Menace, she thinks he just left and used her, she never knew he was the sith assassin till my Heavenbound fic

her grandma’s first accident, then her hospital rest time

Wolffe’s love changed her, healed her and made her trust him and believe in love

what is their fatal flaw? fear of abandonment and trust issues makes her make bad decisions

how do they feel about jewelry? painted nails? she likes celestial themed or rare, personalized dainty jewelry

she gets her nails done soft almond shapes, and always decorated with stars and moons and use sparkly nail polish

what kind of art are they? astrophile as a hobby, art deco as a style, romanticism as paintings and mythological in sculptures and a femme fatale archetype in movies/novels

do they play a sport? weekly pilates lessons and dancing in clubs

do they have a speech impairment? how would that translate across paper? she is well spoken, and intelligent. Also her voice is raspy but in a seductive way.

what could you do to betray their trust? lying 

what makes them smile? acts of kindness and gentleness, paying attention to her little things, also the starry sky, and her loved ones

if you had to choose something to make them go all john wick, who would it be? to protect her loved ones

do they swear? in what language? yes in basic mostly

how comfortable do they feel around strangers? she tries to seem calm and collected being in charge of the conversation, but she usually assesses and judges their gestures and researches their back intentions

are they extraverted or introverted? introverted 

do they stand straight? what is their posture like? straight and hard like a ballerina's posture

what is their sleep schedule like? when she has time after work on mini power naps on rare occasions, she’s more insomniac workaholic

would they consciously invade someone else's body space? even a stranger's? always holds a decent distance, except when she flirts

how do they feel about contact with other people? do they flinch? she doesn’t like touchy people and only hugs her loved ones

are they the first to hug? never (exception if when she hugs Maul)

what would make them kill / stop them from killing? her morals, she wouldn’t hurt anyone on purpose and she avoids physical harm

how do they smile? do they have dimples? yes she has smaller dimples, and in her apples and on her chin, and it makes her diastema visible

what about their teeth -- braces? sharp teeth? dentures? yellow teeth? what about spots? hers are white and straight but she has diastema (a big space between her two front teeth)

how do they get others' attention? clear their throat? punch them? clears her throat,

do they talk with their hands? sometimes

what is their final goal? building her home, having a family and feeling safe

how would they describe happiness? being with the people she can trust and love, under the bright starry night admiring the comets

what is their biggest conflict? it doesn't need to be big for everyone else, only for them. 

she needs to learn to let others in and be open for love

it’s hard for her to understand that Wolffe is loves her and doesn’t have the intention to leave her

also letting go Maul, she never knew who he truly was and her ideal about him got shattered in my Heavenbound fic, she had a hard time learning the truth letting her feelings go and having a closure, after she meets him on Mandalore

how do they react to death? seel super sad, and isolate herself 

do they cry? how do they cry ? in silent tears, or sobbing and screaming in pain, but she is not a crybaby. she suppresses it and have “episodes” of panic attacks she refers to as“inner storms”

how do they react when someone else is crying? can they comfort a stranger? she tries to give some sort of solution or comfort, she is empathetic

how are they around pets? are they allergic to any? she is allergic to tooka cats, she loves wolves 

following up, do they have allergies? to some pollens, and tooka cats

do they take off their shoes going into a stranger's house? would they offer to do the dishes? she offers to help cleaning up

do they call strangers by their first name or title? she is a professional lawyer so she calls people on their title/ titled name or accost

how do they show fear? trying to hide it? shaking? etc. she tries to hide it and acting calm and collected, try to show out her fearlessness, her voice is tremble and she shake's lightly

what is their impact on other characters? she usually gives the impression of a beautiful, clever, well spoken intelligent women who is very elusive and cunning

how could any of these change by the end of the story? we can see her softened up and warm hearted true self in the end of Heavenbound, she heals her traumas from Starcrossed, lets go of her past and builds her own family. She learns to trust and she dies while she is defending others. 

Taglist: @hellhound5925 @cloneloverrrrr @stardustbee @the-chains-are-the-easy-part @firstofficerwiggles

let me know if you would like to be added!

[narrettwist]

free space for oc rambling. tell us more about your bone fashion designer (michi, right?) please

Michi!! So they started as a My Hero Academia OC but they have migrated into several AUs and other fandoms at this point.

Originally I wanted to make a character with what could easily be an OP quirk that they don't use in an OP way. Skeleton Animation works on all bone skeletons, even ones in living bodies, so very easily a big bad villain ability. However Michi only uses it on the dead, for personal reasons, and uses it mostly to create things to carry their stuff, make coffee, act as dress dummies/dress-up dolls, open doors, etc. Their real "villain" power is their attention to details especially in contracts. Manipulating business practices to create favorable outcomes for themself and their fashion design business, the typical white collar shady business practices. Basically, a shitty villain that's not worth the time of heroes to deal with. Or as I put in a few fics "a villain for the aesthetics."

They're an orphan, parents died in a car crash, and they were raised by their paternal grandfather Hamon. However because of Hamon's quirk, Spirit Summoning, Michi grew up knowing their parents. Hamon is head priest at a shinto shrine, where Michi grew up, with the family quirk line relating to death the place was known as "the spooky shrine". Michi was othered as a child and decided that they would be better than everyone else when they grew up.

I often pair them off with Tsunagu/Best Jeanist because the idea of two fashion icons who are both petty and dramatic is very entertaining to me. Also falls into the "villains and heroes are two sides of the same coin" thing. They both put forward a very specific public image that comes down completely around the other. They share history from being in the same first year class at UA, Michi was in heroics until second year when they transferred to business. Tsu was the first person who became friends with them. After graduation they both lean into the rival thing until Michi's redemption arc.

But because I love the dynamics of OCs with existing universes/fandoms ice brought Michi into several other fandoms and generic AUs. Sometimes I drag Tsu along, sometimes I leave him at home.

Common traits through all iterations:

Afro-Japanese (unless otherworldly fantasy au). Shinto. Raised by grandfather (shinto priest). Dramatic petty ho. Afab masc Nonbinary (there are a couple where they are transmasc). Usually some connection to the dead. A million walls to keep people from getting close because they become possessive over those they do like. Acts villainous but has very defined moral codes. The "Dating Catwoman" trope all day long. Does things for the aesthetics (and drama).

Fashion inspiration: Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Zuhair Murad, and general Burning Man vibes.

I love my fashion pseudo-villain.

[anaismurad]

THE MURAD FAMILY of New York City — as old as old money gets. Today, the Murads that the United States knows and remembers, is made of politicians (you might remember Governors, congressmen, or Cabinet members bearing the name), entrepreneurs, businessmen lawyers, investors. A tightly-knit family — perhaps too much so. 

After the death of his wife, Petros Murad raised his children with the notion that they are better, and thus deserve better, than the rest. Nepotism and hypocrisy surrounds them; and no decision is made without their best interest in mind. There is some philanthropy thrown in there, sure, but it’s mainly for show. Extremely family oriented, he defends the Murad legacy and the power they hold over the world. 

The Murads will always put each other first, and defend the name at any cost — morality be damned.

HER FATHER AND BROTHERS are wanted connections. Please message if interested. <3

[embroideryobsession]

Zuhair Murad Fall Winter 2017

ZUHAIR MURAD Look 28: White dress in nude tulle and lace entirely embroidered with white and silver crystals. A series of fringes, connected for a retro effect, enhanced with ostrich feathers. A creation that required around 250 hours of work.

ZUHAIR MURAD Look 28 : Robe blanche en tulle nude et dentelle entièrement rebrodée de cristaux blancs et argent. Enfilade de franges, reliées pour un effet retro, rehaussée de plumes d’autruche. Une création ayant nécessité environ 250 heures de travail.

(via Couture: the looks that took the longest to create | Vogue France)