#HOWEVER. the pier with the ferris wheel and rides and stores in the middle of a dried up and cracked lake? THAT would be a good piece.

[0rionz-belt]

i should draw the places i see in my dreams.

[royallyfuckedocs]

all the muse/ship relevant symbols for... jaxson...

Your wish is my command.

💋 – Is your muse a good kisser? Would they consider themselves one?

Well, he did porn for a long ass time, so I’m gonna say yes. And he’s VERY confident in his ability to smooch.

💍 – What style engagement ring would your muse like best? What is their ring size?

Jaxson is very simple in his style, he’d like a nice silver band, and idk about ring size, he’s got yaoi hands I guess LOL

👶 – What are your muse’s top three baby names for each gender?

(In a human AU he’s a big family man so I actually have a bunch of names saved that he would pick LOL)

Girl: Maria, Adrianna, Selena Boy: Lukas, Joao, Rey Neutral: Iara, Amor

💐 – What are your muse’s top three favorite flowers? What would they have in their wedding bouquet/boutonniere?

Sunflowers, marigolds, and blue bells because they remind him of Chim

🎄 – What does your muse think is the most romantic holiday?

Quads day of course! Nothing is more romantic than making big gestures for his quads!

🍰 – What do your muse’s kisses normally taste like?

Honey and white tea

🍓 – Does your muse find any foods particularly sexy or romantic? Do they have any known aphrodisiacs that get them in the mood? Are they into food-play?

He... Is not into food play. He doesn’t think food is sexy tbqh. The hard part about working in the porn industry is a lot of the MAGIC of certain things lose their luster pretty fast when you’re taking a third take of getting chocolate poured down you chest, the first time the chocolate being heated up for the drama but it was too hot and burned his nipple. So. He doesn’t like food play. LMAO.

🍵 – Is your muse a gossip? Do they like to meddle in other people’s relationship business? Do they like to play matchmaker? Would they let someone match-make for them?

Jaxson loves gossip, him and his moirail are terrible gossips who used to whisper back and forth between shots and during makeup. But he’s not a meddler and wouldn’t ever want someone to meddle in his affairs, so match makers are big no.

🍭 – What are some thoughtful gift ideas to get your muse?

Make something for him. Give him little trinkets, hand made clay cups, sculpted cats, anything. He loves arts and crafts gifts. To him, store bought is a cowards gift.

🍷 – Describe an ideal date for your muse.

Ideal date is taking Chim to a carnival on the pier, winning them gifts, carrying them on his shoulder so people don’t touch them in the crowds. Sitting in the ferris wheel with them in his lap, listening to them purr softly and eat cotton candy. Having them squeeze his arm so tight when they ride a roller coaster. Holding their hand when walking through one of those dumb “horror houses”. Laughing with them while they both lay on the beach near the pier, leaning over to kiss them and whisper how much he loves them. 

🎱 – Does your muse believe in serendipity or fate, when it comes to relationships and love? Do they have good or bad luck in relationships? What have they done to try to turn bad luck around?

Jaxson has great luck with relationships, mind you, some of them were a little rough to get there, but he’s been with his quads now for over two sweeps and theres no signs of the love train stopping any time soon. Also he doesn’t believe in fate. He worked his ASS off to get Chim into a quad, fate didn’t help AT ALL.

🏩 – How long does your muse usually wait before having sex with their partner? What is their view on sex and intimacy?

He is not a waiter. He thinks sex is fun, and intimate, and a great way to show you love. It’s also VERY fun to do. 

⛪ – What are your muse’s thoughts on marriage? How long would they wait before marrying a partner? Do they want a big wedding, or something smaller? Who would be their best man/maid-of-honor?

In a human AU, you have to fight him to NOT get married. He has a large family so a big wedding is REQUIRED. And Soonmi is either marrying him, OR his best woman.

💌 – Is your muse the type to write love letters? What about accepting them?

Oh 100%. He leaves them on the fridge when he has to go into town and Chim is left alone for long periods of time. Reminders of love and affirmation are really nice! So he likes giving and receiving. 

✂ – How does your muse handle a break-up? Have they ever been dumped before? How do they break-up with a partner?

He handled all his break ups really well! He’s not a malicious person so he actually ends up still being fairly close to his exes! Heart break is hard, but keeping a friend is important and he’d work to keep that person in his life.

❤ – How affectionate is your muse? How do they feel about PDA?

Jaxson is made of affection, public or private. He’s dipped Soonmi in the middle of work dramatically to kiss her and remind her she loved and adored. Fuck the public! He’s in love!

💔 – How do you feel about writing love triangles? What about unrequited love?

I hate love triangles. I’ve lived with to many YA novel love triangles to put up w that shit in my content. It’s boring. And someone always ends up sad. Unrequited love however, I do a lot of those. I LOVE one sided pining.

🏳️‍🌈 – Does your muse have a gender preference for shipping partners? What is their orientation?

Jaxson is pan with a femme preference! Masc are fine! But... Wow... Soft femmes with gentle eyes, soft lips... skirts he can slide his hands under... Woaw...

[sterling-starlight]

Chapter 7: The Ocean is Home

Perhaps it was because he had spent the past fourteen years in Unova, but the world-famous Nimbus City ferris wheel had never struck Ingo as all that spectacular.  

He was certain he several other Nimbasa City locals felt the same way. White, on the other hand, was staring out of the carriage like the scenery was the absolutely greatest thing she had ever seen in her life. Grinning from ear to ear, clutching her Seel plush tightly against her chest, knees bouncing in anticipation as they ascended. He was almost envious at her ability to become awestruck at the simplest of things.  The carriage shuddered to an almost-stop as they reached the pinnacle, and White had practically pressed her face against the glass in an attempt to see further out.

“I can see the ocean!” She exclaimed happily, pressing a finger against the glass. “Come look!” She eagerly waved him over, never once tearing her eyes away from the view.  The benches were obviously meant for one person so the fit was cramped and awkward and, honestly, he could see more of White’s profile more than he could see the ocean when he tried to look.

“You like the ocean?” He questioned,  hoping to fill the sudden tension in the air with conversation.

“Of course I do. The ocean is home,” She replied as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “Don’t you feel the same way?” She turned her gaze towards Ingo, head tilted to the side in confusion. “…Or have you been ashore too long?”  There was something in the way she asked the question, an underlying tone of sympathy or pity that Ingo could’t quite place.  

“I don’t understand,” Ingo returned, brows scrunching together. “‘The ocean is home’. What did you mean by that?”

“I meant what I meant,” White placed her chin atop her plush’s head. “I was born and raised in the ocean. It’s home.”

“You mean on a houseboat?”

“What’s a houseboat?”  She looked back to him, confusion painted across her face. “You’re being weird. I was born in the ocean; is that really so strange?”

“Quite frankly, it is.” Ingo shot back, a bit sterner than he had intended. He shook his head and pressed on. “Fine, alright. I’ll concede to your logic. What region were you born in?”

“Ummm…” White put a delicate finger to her lips in thought. “Mama migrated from Orre, I think?… but Black and I were born after she left there, maybe?” She shrugged, “I dunno.”

“Your mother… did she?”

“Can we not talk about this anymore?” White said in a weak voice, squeezing her plushie tightly. “Please?”

Ingo nodded tersely in response. If there was anyone who understood not wanting to talk about dead parents, it was him. Hesitantly he placed a comforting hand on White’s shoulder, causing her to lean into it with a content sound.  The rest of the ride was almost completely quiet, and the silence allowed Ingo’s mind to go in ten different directions, all leading to a conclusion that made him feel like his stomach was being tied into knots.

A pretty girl whose mother had come from Orre, who had been electrocuted at least once in her life, and seemed to have been raised completely detached from the rest of the world. It was unlikely she ever had any official documents, or anything that would link her to her home region in any way. Was White even her real name, or a moniker someone else had given her?  It painted a grim picture, and Ingo felt… enraged at the injustice of it. He had always known that Orre wasn’t exactly the most moral region in the world, everyone knew, but seeing a product of that corruption somehow made it more tangible. The news reports he would hear every now and again about young men and women becoming victims of human trafficking had gained a whole new weight to it.  White had escaped that somehow, but…

“So, hey,” White spoke up, finally breaking the silence. “I’m glad you’re here with me. And that you got me my toy Seel baby,” she held up the plush to emphasize her point. “Elesa said that I might have been too… what’s the word? Vi.. vi-go-rous?” She nodded, “yeah, that. And that it made you uncomfortable. She told me you’re sensitive to things like that.” Ingo felt his eyebrow twitch in irritation. Leave it to Elesa to describe his  anxieties in the most patronizing way possible. “I like spending time with you. So I’ll try to be a little less… what did she say? Bold? Ad-ven-ter-ous?” She shook her head, “one of those things.”

“It isn’t as simple as Elesa might have worded it,” Ingo began, rubbing one of his temples. “However, I do appreciate the gesture. And I… do enjoy spending time with you, too.”

“You do? Yay!” White flung herself onto Ingo, wrapping one arm around his torso and snuggling her head under his chin. He sincerely hoped she couldn’t hear his heart rate accelerating.

The ride ended uneventfully, much to Ingo’s relief. He had half expected Elesa to be there waiting to bombard him with questions regarding how their ride went, but she was no where to be found.

“I’m going to go tell my brother about you,” White announced proudly once they were clear of the crowd surrounding the ferris wheel. “He gets worried if I don’t check in with him,” she continued, rolling her eyes. She patted Ingo’s chest and gave him a brilliant smile, “I’ll see you later. Bye bye~!” White all but skipped away from Ingo, vanishing into the crowd of people as she headed in the direction of the pier.    Ingo turned sharply on his heel and marched in another direction.  He had been planning on going straight home after his errands, but now he had a new destination in mind. ———

Eva Johnson was a woman whose presence commanded the room. She spoke, and people listened. Ingo had met her very briefly one before, and even then felt that she was a force of nature compressed into the body of a portly middle-aged woman.  Eva gave off the aura of “if you don’t have business with me, don’t bother me”, and Ingo found himself awkwardly glued to the spot as he watched her from the other side of the room.  She noticed him and, even with the distance between them, he could feel the judgmental stare she was giving him. Eva quickly wrapped up her conversation with her fellow volunteers and approached, arms crossed over her chest.

“I hope you’ve come here to do more than just gape,” she said bluntly. She shifted, placing her hands firmly on her hips. “Well? How can I help you?”

“I had some questions about White,” Ingo replied. Might as well rip the band-aid off as quickly as possible. Something flashed in Eva’s eyes, an Ingo suddenly felt like he was staring down a mother Ursaring.

“It’s uncouth to talk about our residents in public. Come on then,” she lead them into an empty room that seemed to be, for the moment, used to store extra, cots, chair and tables.  “Now then,” Eva continued, losing up at Ingo. “Normally I would tell you to mind your own business, but White likes you, so I’m willing to be a little lenient. Just bear in mind that I can have you thrown out of here if you cross any lines.”

Ingo automatically stood up a little straighter and he fought off the urge to make sure his clothes were perfectly in order.  “She has said something that have been… concerning. You know her better than anyone, so I had to know,” he took a breath, “before she came here, where did she come from?”

“Is this just to sate your own curiosity? She isn’t a puzzle to be solved and then tossed aside.”

“That isn’t- I wouldn’t do that to her!” Ingo defended hotly. He took in a deep breath, feeling like he was already treading an incredibly thin line. “She’s said some things that have made me worry. She’s my friend. If something happened to her before, then I want to know how I should approach any further line of questioning.”

Eva stared at him, stared right through him, for what felt like an hour. Ingo reached up and loosened the knot of his tie. She eventually relented with a heavy sigh, “let me guess: She’s told you she was born in the ocean? Mother comes from Orre? That she isn’t exactly sure where she’s from?” Ingo nodded. “Then you probably came to the same conclusion as I did: Her mother was a victim of human trafficking, and she and her brother were by extension. From a psychological standpoint, everything about the way she acts points to either her repressing the memories, or trying to make a horrible situation better. A sunny, naive disposition as a way for her to cope.”  Eva’s glare suddenly turned ice-cold as she continued to stare up at Ingo. “She doesn’t know when men want to take advantage of her. She trusts you, so if you even so much as think- if you even so much as try to betray that trust…”

Unwilling to allow Eva to finish the threat on his well-being, Ingo held his hands up placatingly. “That is in no way my intention, ma’am.” He said in an even tone. “You have been incredibly helpful, and I do appreciate your time.”

“…Don’t hurt her,” Eva said in a quiet voice. “She’s already been through enough. Don’t make it worse.”

“You have my word: I will never harm a hair on her head.”

[lindyhunt]

Amazing Bangkok

Bangkok claimed the title of “World’s Most Visited City” according to the 2017 Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index. No wonder almost 20.2 million international tourists flocked to the City of Angels. When it comes to wish lists, Bangkok ticks most boxes. Cultural attractions and rich history? Tick. Great food? No doubt. Good shopping? Yep. Fabulous spas. Nothing beats a Thai massage. Vibrant nightlife? A resounding yes.

Welcome to the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand where east and west, ancient and modern, exotic and erotic, calm and chaotic, clash and collide in the most delightful ways. Here’s how get the most bang for your baht. Note: all prices approximated in Canadian dollars.

The “you only live once” splurge list

Seduced by The Siam Arriving at The Siam hotel via the hotel’s vintage riverboat transported me into a unique and tranquil world onto its own in the middle of bustling Bangkok. My debonnaire butler, Paul, escorted me along a path past a swimming pool to the antique carved wooden doors of my villa where I had a courtyard with my own plunge pool.

The Siam is the brainchild of Bangkok rock and movie star, Krissada Sukosol Clapp who built the hotel in 2012 as a retreat and place to house his and his mother’s vast collections of antique Thai treasures. They hired American architect Bill Bensley who incorporated the clean bold lines of Art Deco, glass, water features and lush garden landscapes with the carefully curated art and antiques.

If you enter the Siam from the street you find yourself in a garden pavilion with a lotus-shaped fountain in the centre. The piece de resistance is the soaring central atrium where a glass conservatory-style roof brings light to a reflection pool surrounded by tropical foliage. Off to one side there is a library and screening room. Upstairs in the Vinyl room, complete with grand piano and vintage posters, you could well expect to spot Noel Coward tickling the ivories in this jazz-age setting.

The Siam offers some unique guest experiences. You could work with a trainer and learn the art of Muay Thai kick boxing (the national sport) in the gym. If that’s too demanding, head to the Opium Spa for a Muay Thai deep tissue massage. You can also opt to have a Sak Yant ceremonial sacred tattoo.

The hotel is located in the Royal Dusit district of Bangkok. Your butler will help you arrange your day and reserve a place on the hotel shuttle yacht for excursions along the Chao Phraya River. But chances are good that you won’t want to leave The Siam.

Spice of Life I joined The Siam’s sous chef, Thammarach, for a Thai cooking lesson. We started our morning with a tuk-tuk ride to a local market where chef pointed out the remarkable range of produce and bought some herbs for our class as we dodged shoppers on motor scooters. Back at the hotel we donned aprons in the private cooking class kitchen overlooking the river. Chef demonstrated how to tackle each ingredient, from bruising lemongrass to chiffonading kaffir lime leaves. He also explained that Thai food contains five major flavours: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, bitter. Each dish should have a least two of those tastes and the key is getting the right balance. Hence the need to keep testing as you cook and add more chillies, more fish sauce, more coconut milk or more palm sugar as your palette dictates. We concocted Tom Yam Goong soup, a fiery broth with jumbo shrimps topped with fresh coriander and drops of chilli oil. Then we tackled pork with red curry, a marvellous melange of all of requisite flavours. For our last dish, the green chicken curry, chef taught me to make curry paste from scratch pounding the toasted coriander and cumin seeds, garlic, shallots, coriander roots, chillies, galangal and lemongrass with a mortar and pestle. Hard work but worth the effort.

Star Spangled Bangkok The red Michelin Guide has published its first 2017 guide to Bangkok listing a kaleidoscope of dining options—from slurping street food noodles to enjoying a multi-course tasting menu in a five-star hotel or glitzy shopping mall. At the one-starred Paste, chef Bee creates dishes based on ancient recipes that once delighted the royal family. Among the highlights of her delicious repertoire is a Thai crab omelette with 31 flavours.

Smooth as Silk Thai silk is famous and now at the Divana Spa you may indulge in their signature Organic Golden Silk Royal Pampering treatment. Golden silk thread is rich in protein while the mulberry leaves, the feed for silkworms, contain significant vitamins.

My therapist used a web of silk thread stretched tightly between her hands to stroke my skin in a spinning motion to improve circulation and stimulate new collagen and elastin. Next came a body and face massage using a silk cocoon-stuffed, yarn-like ball, followed by a silk serum moisturizer. Then I steamed a room scented with mulberry leaves. More potions included a facial mask made with ginseng and silk cocoon extract. Finally, I soaked in a bath of milk, cocoons and rose petals Cleopatra-style.

Red Sky at Night As Bangkok’s skyline soars, rooftop bars abound. Red Sky atop the Centara Grand hotel and shopping mall is a stylish spot with panoramic views from its 55th floor. Imbibe some bubbles at the Cru Champagne Bar along with some caviar and oysters. We’re talking sky food, not street food—with prices to match.

Silk Road Jim Thompson, an American who revitalized the silk industry in Thailand, was a U.S. military intelligence officer who went on vacation in Malaysia in 1967 and mysteriously disappeared. But his silk legacy lives on. His shops sell beautiful creations, large and small. You will also dine well at Jim Thompson Restaurant and Wine Bar located in Jim Thompson House Museum.

The “cheap thrills” save list

Down by the River Bangkok River is a collaborative project by business partners to encourage visitors to explore the neighbourhoods and shops along the Chao Phraya waterway. I took an informative stroll with David Robinson who works with the Bangkok River group. We began at River City, a complex housing several shops, restaurants, antiques and photo galleries. Along our walk Robinson pointed out several historic buildings, including the East Asiatic Trading Building and Grand Post Office, now home to the Design and Creative Centre. At P. Tendercool we admired bespoke furniture made from recycled opium den beds. Housed in a building that looks like a temple, Thai Home Industries sells handcrafted cutlery, pottery and cotton shirts. In the Creative District, several warehouses have been turned into design stores and cafés. British graffiti artist Banksy would surely approve of some of the street art. Check out the River Bangkok’s excellent website and take yourself on an informative walk.

Culture and Hedonism Bangkok has more than 400 temples but if there’s one must-see it’s the Grand Palace, a square mile of gilded royal temples and palaces. The ornate Wat Phra Keo houses the famous Emerald Buddha (actually it’s made of jade). Take a tuk-tuk to the neighbouring Wat Pho, famous for its enormous Reclining Buddha and it’s ancient school of Thai medicine and massage, so you can combine culture and hedonism in one visit. A one-hour massage costs about $16. You can also enroll in various massage lessons and become immensely popular with your friends back home.

Trip the Night Fantastic For those of you who loved hunting for treasures at the night market in Lumpini Park, the bad news is that is no long exists; the good news is that there’s a new even better evenings only attraction called Asiatique The Riverfront open daily from 5 p.m. to midnight. Catch the free 10-minute ferry from Sathorn Pier (Skytrain stop Taksin) across the Chao Phraya River. The refurbished 100-year-old sawmill has more than 1,500 boutiques housed in nine warehouses. Shop for anything from hip new fashions to traditional Thai handicrafts. I got some aromatherapy oils, silk scarves and some funky jewellery for just a few baht. Plan to dine at one of 40 eateries serving a variety of cuisines, including Japanese, Italian and pub fare. There’s also the Joe Louis Thai Puppet Theatre, Calypso cabaret and a huge Ferris wheel from which you’ll have fabulous nighttime views of downtown Bangkok.

Getting Around Bangkok is plagued with heavy traffic and lots of jams. Your fastest mode of transportation is the Skytrain, offering a bird’s eye view of the city in clean and blissfully air-conditioned cars. English is spoken at the ticket stations. The underground or MRT is another option. Fares range from .50 to $1.40 for both trains, or you can opt for a tourist pass.

Tuk-tuks are fun and noisy and make good photo ops. However, a taxi might be cheaper. If you hail a tuk-tuk, agree on a price before getting in and prepare to haggle hard. Beware of a cheap trip to a tailor or gem shop. The fast and frequent ferries along the Chao Phraya River are a good way to visit the many temples and palaces. From the main Sathorn Pier you can head upriver and stop at numerous piers all the way to Nonthaburi. Buying a tourist ticket) gets you one-day unlimited travel plus a guide to some of the riverside tourist attractions.

Get your Kicks The normally gentle Thai people are passionate about their national sport, Thai boxing. Join the locals as they cheer for and gamble as the athletes pummel each other using most of their body parts. Bouts take place at Ratchadamnoen Stadium on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Cost for a ringside seat is about $40.