#I guess there can’t be any papaya rules now

[maxpadelchampion]

watched quali late today but I think the recap is: max continues to be homotron 3000, checo sleeper agent activated, CHARLES LECLERC POLE POSITIONNNN, and lando, as always, continues to be TRASH

[rehcciardo]

Hi guys! Its after the French GP and this means it’s time for my review!

As I didn’t write about the Qualifying on saturday, I will put it in first. To be honest I just didn’t want to put myself in front of my computer. It was so hot and I just want to do nothing at all xD. But anyways here it is:

Q1:

I was so so sad that Pierre got eliminated in Q1 at his homesoil. His free practice sessions were promising and I thought he could end up in the top 10! He must have been so dissapointed of everything.

Mick’s fastest lap was deleted for exeeding the track limits. Not again those damn track limits. It’s okay because its a rule everyone has to abide by and he clearly broke it. But it hurts. This car had much more potential as we saw with Kevin on P6 in Q1.

Alex had a spin which ended in a visit off track and would had cost his way into Q2 but he was the lucky one who has got benefited of Mick’s deleted lap.

Q2:

Both Ferraris were literally flying! INSANE!!!! It really looked like they could easily make a 1-2 finish if Carlos wouldn’t had a grid penalty for using new parts.

Speaking of Carlos. He. Was. A. Beast. Out. There! The gap he had in front of Max was HUGE! It’s amazing what he can do if there is no pressure on his shoulders.

I actually don’t want to talk about it but Daniel out in Q2 again ....it’s pain and I’m not sure how much longer I can handle it. And it was so damn close again. The gap between Daniel and making it into Q3 was just about 0.086. This is literally NOTHING.

Q3:

Guys, who of you had kidnapped Ferraris strategists and replaced them to people who know what they’re doing? There can’t be no other explaination for a working strategy! Charles got slipstream from Carlos to help him getting on pole. Now it makes sense that they wanted Carlos geting in Q3 even he had to start from behind. Charles owes him a lot. Thank you Carlos for beeing such a nice wingman!

Lando ended in a Merc sandwich on P5! Good job Lando! My little papaya heart loved it, even if I’d rather like to see Daniel in the top ten if not both of them. But of cause he actually ended in the top ten at the end due of two drivers getting grid penalties but I want him landing in the top ten without this kind of ‘help’.

As always, qualifying left me with mixed feelings. Is there any chance of feeling nothing but happiness after Qualifying or race? Likely not. I just like too many of the drivers and that’s why I have to life with a certain amount of dissapointment every race weekend. But is it too much to ask for a little bit of luck for Daniel or Pierre? But I don’t want to annoy you with this too much so let’s start talking about sunday. For me  racedays starts with the drivers parade and in France we saw a comeback of every driver getting an own car and someone who drives them around the track. Not the best start in my opinion. I already have told you, that I don’t like this kind of drivers parades and that I’d rather like to see all of the drivers on the truck. But there were two things worth mentioning for. Max signed his driver’s cap during the parade and somehow it made me happy. Max maybe isn’t always the kindest person and sometimes his temper is a bit over the top but in my opinion he really is a nice guy and things like this are proving it. I really liked it that they brought the local heros closer to their own grandstands. It’s always somthing special to race at home. And it was even cooler that Pierre gave his cap to one of the marshals at some point of the parade. It’s just a little gesture but I guess this guy will be smiling for a long time now :D. At least I would. Nothing could wash the bright smile off my face for a while :D. According to my notes we finally come to the race itself.

Daniel had a nice start. He gained a position already in the first seconds of the race! Sadly Lando couldn’t stay in his position but I honestly didn’t expect him to be able to do so. Mercedes have  made a big step forward and there was no way Lando could fight with them in his Mclaren.

Where the hell did Alonso come from? He was suddenly there on P4 or 5?I haven’t seen him but he must had a nice start as well. Esteban Ocon in the second Alpine caused a collision with Yuki instead and got a 5sec penalty for it.

Kevin had the best start I guess. He gained 7 positions in the first lap. It’s nice to see what the car is capable of.

Lap 18. Yellow flag in the third sector. Charls Leclerc in the wall. This can’t be true. Not Charles! Firstly i thought that it was the throttle pedal again and I wanted to burn this fucking shitbox of a car down. But after a short time it became clear that Charles made a mistake. But the worst thing was to hear Leclercs team radio after his crash. This scream full of despair and dissapointment was the most heartbreaking sound I’ve ever heard. And I pray to never ever have to hear something like this again! Poor Charles. He neded more than a hug after this. I was sitting in front of the tv and I wanted to cheer him up so badly. 

But of course the Ferrari shit show had more suffering to show to us. Charles crash leaded to a SC and Sainz took the oportunity of a free pit stop like most of the drivers.When his stop was finnisched, his crew sended him out unsafely and Albon almost crashed into Carlos in the pit lane. This sunday went extremly wrong at Ferrari. And Ocon was almost involved too. Carlos got a 5sec penalty for the unsafe release.

In lap 20 Yuki was forced to ritire the car. His car had massive damage. I would say this was a late result of his crash with Ocon in tthe beginning of the race.

I hadn’t much time to get some breath. In Lap 23 another yellow flag poped up and was caused by Mick Schumacher. Zhou went to box for a new nose right after it and I was sure that there must have been a crash between Mick and Zhou. At least Mick could stay out but he lost much time after spinning and getting back on track again.

Not the Ferrari crew telling Carlos wrong infos about his penalty and Carlos had to correct them? It’s hilarious somehow. But in a painful way.

There was another yellow flag in lap 38. Magnussen forced Latifi off the track and Kevin had to retire the car afterwards. Latifi had to retire at the end as well.

The fight between Carlos and Checo was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen during the French GP. I really enjoyed to see this amazing overtake. But have you seen his onboard during the overtake? The crew really told him to box DURING an overtake? Do those guys even watching the race? xD. And why did they boxed him after it? Were his tyres so bad? Even Carlos was wondering about this choice of strategy. I guess the original Ferrari strategists were back again after their day off in qualifying xD

George and Checo touched each other in lap 42. I don’t know who’s foult it was. None of them was innocent in my opinion but I would say it was more George’s fault. And he literally discussed over 3 laps with his crew about the incident? At the end Toto had to step in to end the discussion and he sounded slightly pissed. 

In lap 49 and with only 4 more laps to go, Zhou stopped his car off track and this caused a VSC. It was to short to let other drivers do a pit stop. Perez missed the restart after the vsc was ending and george took the oportunity to pass him. The last laps were so exciting to see because there was the possibility that Checo could get his 3rd place back before the end but Gorge made crossed the finish line at third after Lewis  and Max. First double podium for Mercedes after a long long time! Well done! Good drive boys!

I was a bit afraid when Lewis layed himself down on the floor at the cool down room. Especially after I heard that his drinking system was broken during the race.

One important thing: WHERE WERE THOSE MONKEY TROPHIES? I felt robbed! It was probably the last race at Paul Ricard for quite a time and they didn’t have one of the best and hilarious trophies in the whole season? Don’t do this to me! xD

The race was way more interesting than I would have thought. Congratulations to Max, Lewis and George! And both McLaren in the points again! Sadly they didn’t showed Daniels fight with Esteban. I have to watch it  on their onboards before we are heading into the Hungarian race weekend. My personal highlights were Carlos’ overtake on Checo and all the hilarious team radios. But it still hurts that Charles crashed out himself and max could gain more points in the championchip. I really would like to see Charles win it this year but this will be really difficult. Especialy with thios clown team behind him. And of course he have to stop making mistakes. But the team, the bad strategy and this unstable car costed him more points than his own mistakes. But I’ll keep my fingers crossed! But that’s it. Over and out until next weekend and maybe I will get myself to write my review a bit sooner next time XD See you at the Hungarian GP <3

[forasecondtherewedwon]

First 20

Thanks so much for tagging me, @hanuko!!

Guidelines: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20,  just list them all.) Choose your favourite opening line, tag some friends!

1. 3 Simple Rules for Dating a Centenarian (TFatWS)

Sam is almost completely still as the feelings rattle through him like a roller coaster’s last run on a derelict track.

2. Only in a Sitcom (WandaVision)

The snack selection is paltry to begin with.

3. Hex Life (WandaVision)

Even Thanos couldn’t stop her.

4. Our Names in a Heart (WandaVision)

“Wanda, may I say something?” Vision asks.

5. The Neighbour Never Rings Twice (WandaVision)

Believe me, Wanda thinks, because she needs it right now, Vision’s faith in her.

6. Gladly Be a Fool (A Discovery of Witches)

“Is this alright?” Marcus asks, despite feeling Phoebe’s calf wind around him like the heavy scroll on an antique gilt frame—the kind of thing they surely have in the vaults at her auction house.

7. How Luscious Lies (Dickinson)

“Emily,” a voice hissed.

8. Lonely, Handsome (Preacher)

“Did yeh ever feel, a bit, that he was, well, that he was like our son?”

9. One Papaya, Two Papaya (WandaVision)

“That settles it,” Vision determined, rearranging the pillows behind his wife’s back.

10. All the Belles and Whistles (Bridgerton)

Watching the man halt in the alley next to the press, Eloise felt a surge of true accomplishment.

11. Mailbox Blues (WandaVision)

Wanda twiddled her fingers, zipping the curtains shut as she pulled the door closed.

12. Shaibel’s (The Queen’s Gambit)

When the proprietor feels his unassuming coffee dive and chess den needs a refresh to keep up with the times, he asks his employees, Matt and Mike, for their youthful suggestions.

13. Do You Tree What I Tree? (Spider-Man)

“Wine and cider!” Peter announces, jabbing a finger at the car window as they pass a rustic-looking roadside sign.

14. Scuffed Souls (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

It’s the way he says it—“before I’m dead”—that has her twisting on the soles of her new shoes to turn back towards him with an equally twisted smile that can’t fully perk up to the uncomplicated amusement she usually feels when Lenny cracks a joke.

15. Schwarzenegger Holiday (Spider-Man)

MJ’s leg is jumping in the backseat of the SUV, the bop of her foot barely audible over the thickly-packed snow grinding under the tires.

16. The Fun (The Queen’s Gambit)

“You’re sure though?” Benny asks, as if her choosing to go to bed when tired is as seriously ill-advised a decision as that doomed jaunt of Napoleon’s.

17. With Zero Power (Spider-Man)

“I’m not saying it wasn’t beautiful,” MJ insists, “but think how much lighting a tree that size costs.”

18. Copenhagen Revisited (The Queen’s Gambit)

Benny travels like Van Helsing—staring out the window of the plane with an expression of feverish determination.

19. Strategies for the Advanced Player (The Queen’s Gambit)

She can’t take it any longer.

20. All Hope and No Pawns (The Queen’s Gambit)

“Go beat him,” Benny urges.

Favourite? I write opening lines like I take exits off the highway—they’re just the way in. Probably the line I think about least in the entire fic. I guess I’ll go with the one from Copenhagen Revisited. I love a metaphor.

Tagging: @spiderman-homecomeme, @eowima, @mjonesing, @i-lovethatforme, @awakening5, and @machiavelien!!

[softspideys]

Fruit Lover (Tom Holland x reader)

summary: you’re working as a cashier at the local grocery store. tom is a stranger who keeps giving you fruit.

warnings: none

word count: 2.6k

pairings: tom holland x reader

a/n: this is the first thing I’ve written in quite a while and I really am happy with it! just some cute, tooth-rotting fluff, I hope you enjoy:)

Being a cashier at the grocery store wasn’t exactly how you thought you’d be spending your summer. But you were home from college with nothing to do, and money was money.

Aside from dealing with impatient old people or bratty, screaming kids, the job wasn’t really that bad either. And, to make things better, your usual register was right next to your best friend Zendaya’s. When either of you had crazy long lines or were being berated by someone for not scanning their expired coupon, you could just glance up and find her already looking over her shoulder at you, rolling her eyes.

You were unlucky enough to be working the closing shift one Saturday night. It was 10pm, meaning the place was basically empty. You’d been standing at your register for hours by now and your feet were killing you. Despite the air conditioning in the store, the humidity outside still managed to find its way in.

You’d found a pen on the counter and were mindlessly doodling on the palm of your hand when someone in front of you cleared their throat. You jumped, looking up, and immediately thought oh.

The guy standing in front of you was about your age, and he was cute. He was wearing a white t-shirt and black mesh shorts, a baseball cap pulled over his head. You liked the way his dark hair curled over his ears and the bottom of the hat.

“Sorry,” you said guiltily, putting the pen down and starting to scan his items. “I, um, didn’t see you.”

“S’okay,” he said with a smile. “You looked like you were concentrating pretty hard. What were you drawing?”

“Oh, nothing. Just, uh . . .” You weren’t sure why, but you held up your hand so he could see the flowers you’d drawn on your palm before realizing how stupid that was. You swallowed and quickly resumed your scanning.

“Nice,” he said, to your surprise. “You’re lucky; I’m a terrible artist. No one ever wants me on their Pictionary team.”

You weren’t sure what to say to that, so you just nodded. “You must like fruit,” you commented, motioning to his groceries: a hand of bananas, some strawberries, a mango, and two kiwis. Oh, and some bread and milk.

He laughed and you felt your face get hot. Why did a cute boy have the power to turn you into a flustered, nervous mess?

“I guess you could say that,” he said. “But doesn’t everyone?”

You shrugged as you began bagging everything. “Sure. I mean, I don’t really like bananas, but mangoes and strawberries are good. I’ve never had a kiwi though.”

“Hmm,” he said, almost thoughtfully. He didn’t say anything else, and you’d never been good at keeping the conversation going with customers anyway, so you didn’t either.

After he paid, you handed him the receipt and pushed his bag towards him. “Have a good night,” you said, already starting to replay the conversation in your head and cursing your awkwardness.

Instead of answering, he reached into the bag, pulled out one of his kiwis, and offered it to you. “Here,” he said. “For you.”

You blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You said you’d never had a kiwi before,” he said, nodding at it. “So here. Try it.”

“I—I can’t,” you stammered, although you weren’t actually sure if that was true. There was a rule that employees couldn’t accept tips from customers, but you’d never heard anything against fruit.

“Sure you can,” he said. “It’s already been paid for. Just take it.”

Hesitantly, you accepted. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. If I can convert just one person into being a kiwi-lover, then my work here is done.”

You smiled. “Thank you.”

He grinned back, shouldering the bag and starting towards the exit. “No problem. See you around.”

You were still smiling when Zendaya approached your register, plopping a bottle of chocolate milk and a magazine on the belt. “Now that was interesting,” she said.

“He gave me a kiwi,” you said, marveling at it. She rolled her eyes.

“I wish hot customers would come to my lane and give me stuff. Well, there was that one guy who tried to give me a lock of his hair, but I guess that’s not the same thing.”

“I’ve never seen him around here before,” you said, carefully placing the fruit on your counter. “I wonder why he picked me?”

“He probably thought you were cute, duh,” Zendaya said.

You immediately shook your head. “No way. He probably just thought it would be funny. I doubt I’ll ever see him again anyway.”

* * *

A week later, you found yourself working the same shift. All of your other friends were out partying while you were bored out of your mind on a Saturday night. Even Zendaya had taken the night off. She’d tried to convince you to do the same, but you knew you really could use the money. Besides, a small part of you was hoping you’d see the fruit boy again.

You’d worked afternoons during the week and he hadn’t come back, as far as you could tell. You were just beginning to think you were right about never seeing him again when the doors slid open and he walked in.

Heart pounding, you craned your neck and watched as he went into the produce section. He disappeared past your line of vision after that, so you had no choice but to stand and wait.

Quit being stupid, you told yourself. He might not even come to your register. He probably gives fruit to everyone who checks him out.

You forced yourself not to look for him, or even look up, until a familiar voice said, “Hello.”

And there he was, smiling at you and looking soft in a gray hoodie. “Hi,” you said, clearing your throat. “How are you?”

“Good, thanks. Working the late shift again?”

“Yeah,” you said. You didn’t say anything else, concentrating on scanning his groceries, before you added, “I usually work late on Saturdays and Sundays, and afternoons during the week.”

“Gotcha,” he said casually, but he was still smiling.

“More fruit?” you asked quickly, nodding to the items you were currently bagging.

“Uh-huh,” he said. “You ever tried a papaya?”

“I can’t say I have.”

“What’d you think of the kiwi?”

You grinned at the memory. “It was really good. I had it with my breakfast the next morning.”

“Good.” He paid for his groceries and, like last time, reached into the bag and pulled out a fruit. “Here. Papaya next.”

This time you didn’t hesitate, reaching out and taking it from him. “Thanks,” you said, feeling your smile grow wider.

He returned it, and you noticed he had brown eyes. “Sure,” he said, already starting for the door. “Have a good night.”

And that was how it started. Over the next few weeks, you found yourself being gifted with not flowers or jewelry, but fruits. He came during the afternoon a few times, but as the store was usually busier then and there was less time to talk, he mostly stuck to late Saturday nights.

He always went to your register, even if you had a long line and Zendaya had no customers at all. He also made a point to give you fruits you’d never tried before. Some of them you’d heard of, like pomegranates, figs, and guavas, while others you didn’t even know were sold in the store, like jackfruit and kumquats.

You liked pretty much all of the fruits he’d given you so far, but your favorite was the figs, only because that was when you learned his name.

“It just seems unfair that you know mine and I don’t know yours,” you’d said as you handed him his receipt. “I call you ‘Fruit Guy’ in my head.”

He’d laughed, reaching into the bag and pulling out a fig to place on your counter. “I’ve had worse nicknames.”

He’d started to walk towards the exit, and you thought he was going to leave without telling you. But then he’d turned and smiled at you. “It’s Tom.”

Tom.

Zendaya insisted Tom had a crush on you—why else would he come to your register and give you fruits?

Even though the thought of it made your palms sweaty, you knew she was probably right. You also knew that you didn’t want Tom to lose interest in you, or worse: think that you didn’t like him too. You had to act soon.

So, you waited until you were working the next Saturday night. Four hours of your shift had already gone by, and you’d been a nervous wreck throughout all of it. Where was he?

Finally, the doors slid open and you saw Tom walk in. You watched as he went towards the deli, disappearing from your line of vision. You didn’t know how long it would take him to do his shopping, but all of a sudden it felt like you couldn’t wait any longer.

After a few more agonizing minutes, you finally thought fuck it. You placed a “CLOSED” sign on your belt and turned the light above your register off before going after him.

You wandered up and down the aisles before you found him at the very end of the store in the frozen food section. He had the door to one of the freezers open and appeared to be deep in thought, staring at the ice cream. He didn’t even notice you approaching.

“Hi,” you said. 

“Oh, hi.” Tom blinked at you before he grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen your legs before.” 

You forced yourself to not look down at them. “Oh. Yeah. There they are.”

“There they are,” he agreed. “What’s up?”

You took a deep breath. “I was just thinking that this whole time, you’ve been giving me stuff, and I never got you anything in return.”

His smile faded. “I don’t want anything in return. That’s not—that isn’t why I’ve been doing that.”

“No, I know,” you said quickly. “I just thought—well, I thought I’d give you these.” You reached into the pocket of your apron and pulled out—

“Dates?” Tom said, taking them from you and looking very confused.

“Yeah,” you said. “I’m giving you dates, and also asking you out on one.” 

Tom stared at the bag and then back at you. He didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Just when you thought maybe you had the wrong idea about all of this, he surged forward and kissed you.

It was like all of your senses had been kicked into overdrive and you were feeling everything at once. His hands were cool from being by the freezers for so long. His eyelashes tickled as they brushed your cheeks. His lips were a little chapped, but soft, moving gently against yours. 

“Oh,” you said when you finally broke apart. “Wow.”

He was grinning from ear to ear. “Dates. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. That’s genius, honestly.”

You smiled back, a little shyly. “Thanks.”

“I would really like to go out with you,” he said. “It’s probably time I got your number, right? So I don’t have to keep stalking you at your job?”

You exchanged numbers and he asked, “So, when are you free?”

“Well, I’m probably about to be fired for leaving my register without permission,” you said, only half-joking. “So really, anytime.”

He laughed. “Do you want to have dinner with me tomorrow, then? I can cook. Kind of. We can have a picnic somewhere.” 

“Sure,” you said with a smile. “I’ll even bring dessert. How do you feel about fruit salad?”

[michelles-garden-of-evil]

Episode 42 Review: Here Goes Peter Cottontail

{ YouTube: 1 | 2 | 3 }

{ Full Synopses/Recaps: Debby Graham | Bryan Gruszka }

At last, we’ve hit another milestone on Strange Paradise. A little less than a year ago, I discussed the third and final costumed flashback. Just under six months ago, we reached Episode 30, the first episode for which conclusive proof of executive meddling exists. And today we shall explore the introductory episode of a character particularly notorious among Strange Paradise fans. That’s right: this episode features the first appearance of the infamous Rabbit of Evil. The true face of evil has arrived on Maljardin, and it's soft with long ears and a fuzzy tail.

Because the plot has now split off completely from the Lost Episode summaries and I’ve already discussed the one for this episode, I’m going to ignore it for this post. I’m not even going to do much analysis this time. Instead, let us just lay out our beach towels on Maljardin, relax, and bask in the glow of the coming insanity.

Early morning on Maljardin. The unseen clock chimes three, and already Jean Paul Desmond is up sitting on the couch in the Great Hall next to the decanter of his favorite drink. Although it is the demon hour and almost everyone else in the château is asleep as far as he knows, he is already dressed in his brown velvet jacket, as one does when one is the richest man in the world on the coldest tropical island in existence. One would assume that he would at least loosen his tie to make himself a little more comfortable, but then, I’m not a fancy rich guy living in the 1960s, so what would I know?

Feeling the presence of his demonic ancestor Jacques Eloi des Mondes, he stands up and approaches his portrait as though in a trance. During their brief staring contest, Jacques begins to taunt him: “Come now, Jean Paul Desmond. Three o'clock in the morning and still you wander the house. Why?”

“Because your evil wanders here, Jacques Eloi des Mondes!” Jean Paul answers overly dramatically. “I sum-”

“Jean Paul, no oaths on your honor that you would be compelled to uphold. It might be the end of us both. And Erica might never rise to a new beginning.”

Jacques tells Jean Paul to go to bed because *he’s* tired. Could this be evidence that Jacques and Jean Paul are one and the same?

I like the way that Raxl's face appears on the screen just as the title card is fading.

Raxl paying her respects to Erica Desmond.

We cut to Raxl visiting Erica’s cryocapsule, when suddenly a little cockatiel starts tweeting. And who could it be but our mascot, the adorable Chalcko?

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<3

Quito checking on his beloved bird.

Meanwhile, Jean Paul visits the lab to find Dr. Alison Carr sleeping at her desk, Dr. Menkin’s notes next to her:

For the love of yourself, Jean Paul, do not disturb!

He wakes her up despite it being very early in the morning (because God forbid she not sleep in her own bed, I guess?). Really, there are only a handful of good excuses to wake someone up at 3 AM, including to ensure they catch an early flight and to kick them out of your bar after they passed out drunk with their glass shattered into a million pieces in front of the talking portrait across the room. Having fallen asleep at one’s desk while pulling an all-nighter that your employer deems unnecessary isn’t one of them, IMO. But, just like my cat who wakes me up around 3 almost every night crying for a midnight snack, he gets away with it because he’s cute.

Jacques has made cat-like faces before on this show, so now it’s Jean Paul’s turn to act like a cat.

That’s not to say that Jean Paul’s cuteness makes Alison any less annoyed with him. He asks her why she stayed up so late to study the notes, and she responds, “I can't sleep very well, anyway, and what else is there to do, since you keep us here as prisoners on this Island? Good night and please don't disturb anything.“ She leaves and he starts flipping through the notes.

Meanwhile, outside among the suspiciously Canadian coniferous trees of Maljardin...

Wait for it...

Quito finds a big, fluffy black rabbit hopping around the garden and brings the adorable, plump creature inside. His crush Holly happens to be in the Great Hall when he returns, and she falls in love with the rabbit at first sight.

“I didn't know anything as wholesome and innocent like that existed on Maljardin,” she coos. "Oh, he's so sweet! I haven't seen anything like him for--well, it seems like a whole lifetime.”

Then she remembers what Raxl said about there being no wild animal life on the island. “But Quito,” she says, “Raxl said like, nothing like this could exist on this island for three hundred years! I guess this little fellow disproves that, doesn't it?”

“What are you going to do with it?” she continues. “I mean, are you going to keep it?” Quito shakes his head. “You should. You should keep it for a pet. He’d make a lovely pet, something nice in this house of accident and death.” Because Quito is reluctant to keep the rabbit and has no way of expressing why to Holly, she offers to keep it as a pet.

“I wonder how he managed out there with all that poisonous undergrowth around?” she thinks out loud, as the rabbit starts to try to jump out of Kurt Schiegl’s arms, which I doubt was in the script. The rabbit they got to play the new embodiment of evil on Maljardin doesn’t always want to behave the way the plot demands. I suspect that, instead of getting a trained animal actor, someone just brought in their pet or bought a bunny on short notice at an Ottawa pet store or nearby farm. I like the rabbit. The rabbit does what it wants and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about following the script or doing what Jerry Layton wants it to.

Holly asks Quito to make her a cage so that she can keep the rabbit in her room, and he nods in agreement (I’m guessing just because he knows it’ll please her). He leaves. She sits down at the dining room table and rings for Raxl, who is not pleased when she tells her about the new guest:

Holly: "Hey, Raxl." Raxl: "Good morning, Miss Holly." Holly: "You know, everything I've heard about this island isn't the truth." Raxl: "Truth is a matter of seeing." Holly: "Well, I've seen. You told me that because of the curse, nothing could exist outside in that poisonous jungle." Raxl: "The Devil's evil is everywhere on Maljardin!"

Holly: "Well, just this once, Raxl, you may be wrong." Raxl: "It may be that demon wants you to think I am!"

Raxl instantly suspects that the rabbit is a tool of THE DEVIL JACQUES ELOI DES MONDES.

The bit about all the plants being poisonous on Maljardin, by the way, may be a retcon. In Episode 13, Jacques mentions that papayas are native to the island. I suppose that, because he didn’t say that they were picked on Maljardin, that they could have been grown on another island. Still, I’m not ruling out the possibility of Ian Martin and/or a ghostwriter retconning this detail.

This scene is followed by a cool shot where the camera pans along the side of the staircase and over to Jacques’ portrait (see the beginning of Part 2), then a short scene of Quito pulling out a huge wicker picnic basket for a makeshift cage while Chalcko tweets as though trying to warn him of the evil presence.

In the morning, Alison returns to the lab to find Jean Paul in a scandalous state of undress:

Ye gods! He took off his suit jacket again! I am SHOCKED and SCANDALIZED by this wanton display of nudity! ;)

Jean Paul must be even more stressed now than last night if he not only has his suit jacket off, but has also loosened his tie. Turns out he ended up pulling an all-nighter himself in the lab reading the notes, even though Alison doubts that he possesses the necessary knowledge to understand notes about cellular reconstruction. Jean Paul asks Alison if Dr. Menkin did any experiments on animals, but it’s not clear if he’s asking just out of curiosity, because of something mentioned in the notes, or if somehow he feels the presence of the rabbit despite not having seen it yet. Whatever his motivation, the screenwriter almost certainly added the line to imply that the rabbit may have belonged to Dr. Menkin.

Using such a line as a hint (or, more likely, as a red herring) is a very Ian Martin thing to do, so I’m thinking that he must have written this scene. For a while, I suspected that perhaps some ghostwriter hired by either Jerry Layton or Steve Krantz inserted the scenes with the rabbit into a later draft, but now I’m having second thoughts. While it is possible that one of the showrunners hired a ghostwriter to speed up the script edits, this line has Martin’s influence written all over it. The insertion of the evil rabbit isn’t his style, but this kind of dialogue certainly is.

Also note that the very next shot is of the rabbit again.

Hearing the bird tweet is making Quito anxious. It’s obvious that the bird detects some sort of presence.

Jean Paul and Alison go to the dining room and sit down for breakfast with Holly. Jean Paul reminds her that another séance is coming and she tells him that she wants no part of it. “The spirits will decide that, and the Conjure Woman,” says Raxl.

“Vangie said that the conjure cards--the Tarot cards--spoke to one person,” Jean Paul adds, flubbing his line adorably. “They may well speak to another, for or against.” I’m not sure what he’s implying, especially because he faces Alison (or maybe the Teleprompter) as he delivers the line.

More proof that Maljardin is no tropical paradise, but a dystopia. (”Rattled” = “Raxl’s”)

Alison tells Holly that Jean Paul will probably blame them if the séance doesn’t bring him into contact with Erica and Jean Paul glares at her before flouncing passive-aggressively. I’m so conflicted about Jean Paul at this point because he’s becoming more and more of a control freak (and therefore more and more unlikeable), and yet he’s so adorable. Take a look at the face he makes just before flouncing:

Foxy!

And this shot of him from earlier in the scene:

Never have I seen any guy look this cute after pulling an all-nighter.

Holly tells Alison about the rabbit Quito bought brought her (yes, there’s another creative line interpretation). “That’s impossible!” she replies, stunned. “I mean, nothing alive exists out there now.” There are so many flubs in this episode that it makes me wonder if the actors had less time to rehearse than usual.

An unspecified amount of time later, Alison catches Jean Paul arguing with Jacques’ portrait, then Quito feeds the rabbit a carrot to the sound of more tweets. (Anyone else miss the days when “tweets” referred only to the noise that birds make? God, I'm barely 28 and already I feel so old.) Alison warns Jean Paul that dabbling in the occult is bad for his mental health, but he doesn’t care because he needs to hear Erica’s voice so badly. He tells her he’ll buy her some animals for her experiments the next time he visits the main island just to shut her up. (Spoiler: He won’t.)

And then Quito arrives, carrying the rabbit in its makeshift cage. Like Raxl, Jean Paul is not pleased to see the animal. “Holly, where on Earth did you get that!” he asks.

“Right on this Earth, on this island, from Quito,” she responds innocently.

Jean Paul giving his best “WTF” face. He’s lived on the island long enough to know that the rabbit came out of nowhere.

He asks Raxl about it and she cries out to the Great Serpent to tell her what the Devil’s plans are for Maljardin, making the Sign of the Great Serpent with her hands. Alison insists that the rabbit is only an animal, but Raxl reminds her that no animals can survive outside on the island--meaning, by her logic, that it must be a demon or similar evil being!

Jean Paul asks Quito where he found the rabbit. Raxl interprets the signs he makes as meaning “on the path to the boathouse,” which leads Holly and Alison to think that the rabbit must have snuck aboard Quito’s boat and sailed there with him. Raxl’s response?

Raxl: “It is a creature of the Devil!”

Holly objects and insists that the rabbit is only an animal, but Raxl sticks to her belief that it’s actually a demon assuming the guise of innocence, most likely sent by THE DEVIL JACQUES ELOI DES MONDES himself! No one believes her, not even Jean Paul:

Jean Paul: "I must admit, Raxl, this is very unlikely." Raxl: "Not here. An animal here is an impossibility. Is that not true?" Jean Paul: "Until now, yes!" Raxl: "Then what force altered the impossible? There are forces at work on Maljardin as the hour draws near when the master will attend a séance and seek through purified mind and cleansed spirit to reach his Erica beyond the veiled curtain. What does the master say?"

Jean Paul does not respond. He looks like he is about to cry.

Raxl: "Quito! You will remove the rabbit. It is evil!"

Raxl: "It brings danger and wickedness and more evil than we will ever know! It must be destroyed and buried in the sea!"

Raxl: "If the master wishes to contact his Erica and hear her voice, he will be advised: that animal is evil!" Holly: "Mr. Desmond, please, no!"

Jacques’ commentary.

Coming up next: Raxl makes a horrifying--and mystifying--discovery when she examines the Rabbit of Evil.

{ <- Previous: Episode 41   ||   Next: Episode 43 -> }

[f1]

Piastri thanks Alpine for support after confirming departure to McLaren | 2022 Dutch Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri has thanked Alpine team members for their support after his move to McLaren for next season was confirmed. The dispute between Alpine and McLaren over Piastri’s services was resolved today by the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board. Piastri, who has been an Alpine junior driver since 2020, will make his F1 debut for McLaren. “I am super-excited to be joining the grid and with such a prestigious team like McLaren,” said Piastri on social media after the CRB’s decision was announced. “I have no doubt it’s a great place to start my career. It’s been a long road up until this point.” Alpine was infuriated by its reserve driver’s move, having announced him as Fernando Alonso’s replacement for next year. Team principal Otmar Szafnauer said last week “my wish for Oscar is that he had a bit more integrity”. Piastri thanked the team for the backing they had given him. “I’ve been racing for 12 years and this was my dream from the very beginning,” he continued. “So I just want to thank everybody who supported me throughout my journey, including my colleagues at Alpine for the past few years. “Also my family in particular, who have made a significant contribution to supporting my career from the very beginning. I can’t wait to be representing papaya. I’ll be doing my best to drive as quickly as possible and get some good results.” McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said they never had any doubt the CRB would rule in their favour having hired Piastri to replace Daniel Ricciardo alongside Lando Norris. “In terms of the Contract Recognition Board, to be honest for us, that was never a case,” he told Sky. “Therefore, I guess it’s better you ask the other party involved why they thought they had a case and therefore this is not really any surprise for us. “It’s important now we can look to the future. It’s important also to focus at the same time on the final eight races of the season, together with Daniel and Lando. We want to finish the season in a good fight with the Alpines and then focus on next year.” Piastr “has shown in the junior categories that he is something very special and has a lot of potential,” Seidl added. “Plus, I think also in terms of personality, I think he is a perfect fit into our team, and that should be the main focus of the news.” Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free 2022 Dutch Grand Prix Browse all 2022 Dutch Grand Prix articles via RaceFans - Independent Motorsport Coverage https://www.racefans.net

[rinovarka]

questions questions game:

rules are: if you get tagged you gotta say the rules, answer the questions, create your own questions (11) and tag 11 others so the cycle can continue. so I will tag people, but only answer if ya want!!

so the questions by @epoint25…

1. favorite scene from any movie

…I am racking my brains to remember BEST EVER SCENE but I cant?? Im at a loss??? Maybe the end scene in Dreamwork’s “Home” where Oh gives the “stone” to the Gorg, and explains why the Gorg wanted it so much?? I also love the scene in El Libro de la Vida where Manuel has to deal with the giant skeletal bull…any Cinderella movie the scene where Cinderella is able to leave her abusive fam forever…

Favorite scene in any text story (as I feel these more deeper) are

a)IDW Trypticon in Transformers:Salvation, his end…I only read this is TFWiki (as I JUST read the entire TFwiki on My Son just now) and…Trypticon across all Transformers series has been created for hate and destruction and has never had a say in his like…and the fact that he gets the opportunity to be free and…I cried….

b)scene in the book called “The Rapture Effect” where….basically, the AI, called “Core” in the story is trying to stop a war between an alien group and humanity, and eventually just…has an emotional breakdown and feels so bad about mistakes they made and feels alone and stressed, so two main protagonist humans help them out…and one of the humans have the same kind of insecurities and???? Its an amazing book okay, a recommended read, (though it has some rly drawn out tension and 0/10 female characterization,0/10 use of the diverseness of characters, needs a rewrite bc it has so much potential)

c)How to Train Your Dragon book series, not just a scene but…the whole arc with Furious, and Hiccup growing…aaaaa!!! (please read the series)

2. movie or tv show sequels or spin-offs that you think were a mistake.

…I am also at a loss again??? Can’t think of one rn sorry???

3. do you have siblings, if so do you get along with them?

I have an older sister and brother, I have an ok relationship with them, not as close as I suppose people “normally” have tho…

4. are you a city slicker or a farmboy (boy in this case being nongender specific)?

I live in the suburbs BUT if I had to choose…and its a close call…farm! I love to garden, ( I grew okra this summer, and am trying to grow kale, salad, and swiss chard!), and love the countryside nature. I love city too tho….

5. what was the best grade for you? elementary? high school? College?

Definitely college. In each grade, I ALWAYS had some existential crisis, especially in college, and social anxiety! BUT…I can deal with those crises better than I can with school drama and social circles. In college, aint nobody care about what you do! So, my last two years in high school, I WAS in college at the same time, and hOO boy I would make a storytime about senior year problems!

6. what’s your comfort video game? what do you play to relax?

…I don’t play video games, sorry!

7. who is your favorite actor, and what did you first see them in?

…I don’t particularly care for movies or celebrities tbh XD

8. which do you like more: marvel, dc, dark horse, other?

…dont murder me but I do not like either at all XD. I can not care for the superhero genre if my life depended on it! THOUGH, @eoscomic, @heartstoppercomic , @rejectedprincesses, and @iguanamouth sometimes makes cute comics that can be…weird? in a good way??

9. are you a fan of the transformers? if yes who’s your fav? if not, what is your fav robot\alien tv show-movie-comic-what have you?

…mmmm I have mixed feelings about Transformers…basically, I like certain concepts and characters in various series and know what generally happens in a good amount of continuities, but in no way would I sit down and read/watch a whole series…and I find it hard to talk to people in fandom and feel like people don’t like what I think, so I guess I am not a fan?? Maybe?? pseudofan??

Favorite characters….you cant make me choose just one…Trypticon, Metroplex, Astrotrain, Sunstorm, Skyfire, Starscream, Soundwave, Hound, Huffer, Tracks, Cosmos, Omega Supreme, Kappa Supreme…many I cant think on top of my head aaaa!!!

If you like having your feels ripped out of your limbic system, and sentient robots, watch Brave Police J Deckerd.

10. favorite yankee candle scent\flavor

I have SEEN Yankee Candles before, but I don’t buy candles. My sister buys Bath and Body Work Candles, and I think they smell good!! Dont remember the smells I like, though I remember there was a tomato vine scented candle and it smelled like hell…

11. can you cook? what can you cook? if you can’t cook what food do you like above all else?

I love cooking!! I am taking a culinary class next semester!! I CAN cook, but am not the best admittedly…I am allergic to dairy, egg, and abstain from high fat and pork…I wish I could bake decadent vegan desserts but ??? how??? (I settle for Cinnaholic cinnamon rolls and other rare vegan delectables…)

I like making Tinola (chicken soup with ginger, chayote squash…I add ripe papaya to it) and garbanzo bean coconut curry! If I can’t cook, I’d love to get chicken from Thai BBQ, sushi/poke bowl, or El Pollo Loco. Due to nostalgia, my top favorite food of all time is Beef Gyudon from Yoshinoya, which is sadly not in my state!

Questions for yall!

1) Nostalgic food?

2)What are two seemingly different YouTubers/artists/etc do you like??

3) Side dish: rice, pasta, bread, or potato??

4) 2d animation or 3d animation??

5) Song that is currently stuck in your head/on repeat right now?

6) What is one relatively unknown piece of media/story that you wished others would know about?

7) Steampunk or cyberpunk? (other punk?)

8) Are you inclined to science/math or social sciences/art/humanities?

9) Space or the ocean?

10) Cartoony art style or detail art style?

11) Giant robot friend or small robot friend?

@epoint25 @redacted-metallum @roboops @scotsdragon @bloodsweatandpreciousmetals @astro-femme @freeflighttemeraire @zerodestiny169 @phasesixes @brokeneisenglas @tracks-and-raoul

[chibipu]

Tagged by @aphnorsea !! Thank you so much for tagging me! It's been awhile since I've done one of these

Rules: Answer these 92 statements and tag people

THE LAST:

1. Drink: Coca-Cola 2. Phone call: my mama <3 3. Text message: one of my best friends  4. Song you listened to: Mr. Clean by Young Gravy  5. Time you cried: unfortunately yesterday during lunch 

HAVE YOU:

6. Dated someone twice: lmao yea, I kind of don't regret it 😂 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: I have kissed someone but I didn't regret it  8. Been cheated on: nope!  9. Lost someone special: I think that's about to happen soon. I can feel it coming but I'm working hard to keep it strong! Gotta have some faith!  10. Been depressed: this week I have been, some issues have been coming up lately  11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: nope. I don't plan to either! 

LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS:

12-14. I like all shades of blue, yellow, and red 

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU:

15. Made new friends: I've made a ton of new friends and gosh!! They're all sweethearts ;w; 16. Fallen out of love: yes 17. Laughed until you cried: Yes, I have! The joke was funny but I was also pretty sad so I started crying heheh 18. Found out someone was talking about you: I mean we all have, right? Usually they just say I'm quiet and don't talk much 19. Met someone who changed you: yes, and they are the person that's drifting away from me ;w; 20. Found out who your friends are: yep! They're the people who make me happy and look forward to a new day!  21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: lmao wtf no

GENERAL:

22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: I don't have Facebook lol 23. Do you have any pets: i have two smol chihuahuas, a smol yorkie, and a tol bulldog. I also have 3 goats, a pig, and a cat!!  24. Do you want to change your name: absolutely not! my name has meaning to my family and I wouldn't change it for the world!  25. What did you do for your last Birthday: I think I just hung out with the fam... I don't exactly remember  26. What time did you wake up: I woke up at 5:54am but then I fell back asleep for 5 minutes 

27. What were you doing at midnight last night: i was watching anything related to marvel or captain america... also procrastinating

28. Name something you can’t wait for: getting the fuck out of high school. I don't want to deal with any of these teachers anymore 

29. When was the last time you saw your mom: i’m sitting in the living room with her 😂 30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: my awkwardness 

31. What are you listening to right now: Glorious (ft. Skylar Grey) by Macklemore 

32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: nope!  33. Something that is getting on your nerves: my best friend has been avoiding me for a week. almost going onto 2 weeks.  34. Most visited website: Tumblr.  35. Mole/s: EVERYWHERE  36. Mark/s: Mostly on my arms and legs. Those are scars from being too rough in activities. I have one scar on the start of my eyebrow that goes to my forehead (there's also a little indent on my forehead from that scar).  37. Childhood dream: i have always wanted to be a superhero. The heroes that I aspired to be would be The Flash or Captain America. I thought they were awesome!! I started playing sports and running a lot so I could be as strong and fast as them. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a superhero to save people, to keep my family safe and “everyone in the entire universe” lol 38. Hair color: blackish/brownish 39. Long or short hair: long hair  40. Do you have a crush on someone: Yes... my best friend who is the one avoiding me.... who is the “"issue” of the week. He likes me or one of my best friends and I'm torn because she also likes him and I don't know what to do...  41. What do you like about yourself?: My fighting spirit and stubbornness? Like I get determined when I think of saving people and actually doing something for the world. If i get hurt, i tend to shake it off and get back into the fight and help my team out. My stubbornness could be a gift or a curse depending on the situation lol 42. Piercings: just ear piercings but i never wear earrings  43. Blood type: O- or O+. I'm not sure which one though  44. Nickname: My-My, MJ, Mya-Papaya, or Papaya  45. Relationship status: im experienced but I'm single rn  46. Zodiac: i’m a taurus  47. Pronouns: she/her 48. Favorite TV Show(s): Supernatural, Sherlock, The Walking Dead, South Park, Riverdale, Stranger Things, and pretty much all the basics i guess 50. Right or left hand: im right handed!!  51. Surgery: never had surgery  52. Hair dyed in different color: i wish i could! My hair is super dark so I don't want to risk ruining my hair by bleaching it ;w; ive always wanted pastel pink  53. Sport: LETS GO FÚTBOL  55. Vacation: i’ve always wanted to go to europe. Anywhere! It doesn't matter just take me there and I'd be happy! I'd also like to go to Japan!  56. Pair of trainers: my adidas are my life 

MORE GENERAL:

57. Eating: Canes  58. Drinking: Still coke 59. I’m about to: go do some homework  61. Waiting for: the journey of a lifetime  62. Want: someone to love! someone to care for and look out for! a shoulder to cry on!  63. Get married: aaa... I'm waiting for that day to come. I just want a happy marriage  64. Career: i want to be either and artist for disney (?), engineer, architect, or a songwriter if I can! I REALLY want to be a firefighter so I could help people but I don't think I'm physically ready for that ;w;

WHICH IS BETTER

65. Hugs or kisses: WHY NOT BOTH  66. Lips or eyes: eyes  67. Shorter or taller: lol I'm 5′1 everyone is going to be taller than me  68. Older or younger: older 70. Nice arms or nice stomach: AGAIN WHY NOT BOTH 71. Sensitive or loud: It'd be nice if they were a mix of the two but I'd prefer loud  72. Hook up or relationship: relationship! hook ups are a little sketchy  73. Troublemaker or hesitant: hesitant? troublemaker? which should I choose~?

HAVE YOU EVER:

74. Kissed a Stranger: nope!  75. Drank hard liquor: nope!  76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: many, many times... 77. Turned someone down: yes.... I regret it  78. Sex on the first date: NO  79. Broken someone’s heart: i think i did.... if I did recently then i’m truly sorry  80. Had your heart broken: going through that right now..... 81. Been arrested: I’VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH AUTHORITY (lmao no I've never been arrested)  82. Cried when someone died: who the hell doesn't?  83. Fallen for a friend: like the person who tagged me... #ATTACKED IM FEELING PERSONALLY ATTACKED 

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

84. Yourself: i try!  85. Miracles: 100% 86. Love at first sight: I'm not sure..... 87. Santa Claus: SANTA IS REAL  88. Kiss on the first date: lmao I actually had my first kiss on my first date so I guess it's fine if you want to do it 

OTHER:

90. Current best friend name: Nic, Vannah, and Ellie!! ;3 91. Eye colour: DARK AS HELL BROWN THAT ALMOST LOOKS BLACK  92. Favourite movie: ANY MARVEL MOVIE (they always make me feel badass when i walk out the theatre lol) 

Don't know that many people to tag but to my two smol beans @moody-gay and @anemischan

[vminisgay-blog]

Should We Know Us A Little Better

A “should we know us a little better” tag RULES: you must answer these 89 statements and tag 20 people

I know myself a bit too much already, but whoop here we go

Tagged by: @crescenticvmin <33 

THE LAST: 1. Drink: water, is important for hydration y’all 2. Phone call: home 3. Text message: my closest friends 4. Song you listened to: Like A Star - Corinne Bailey Rae 5. Time you cried: two or three weeks ago? 6. Dated someone twice: LOL NOPE 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: my lips are the most virgin part of my body 8. Been cheated on: they’d never dare 9. Lost someone special: yea 10. Been depressed: eat potatoes instead 11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: I’M UNDeraGE WHAT DID YOU EXPECT

LIST YOUR THREE FAVORITE COLORS: 12-14. Peach Puff, Papaya Whip, Light Steel Blue, Powder Blue (good luck imagining them)

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU: 15. Made new friends: I ACTUALLY DID :”” (aren’t you proud of me) 16. Fallen out of love: I’ve been a single bean this year and I have no regrets 17. Laughed until you cried: yea with my friends 18. Found out someone was talking about you: I wish, I don’t care either way 19. Met someone who changed you: uhhh??? yea, I guess? 20. Found out who your friends are: well I have limited friends so lol ain’t got time for y’all fake hoes. 21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: STOP MOCKING ME AND MY VIRGIN LIPS BACK OFF M8

GENERAL: 22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: most of them?psh, who uses facebook (my mum) 23. Do you have any pets: I. want. a. cat. 24. Do you want to change your name: Not really, I mean my usernames can be called changing names 25. What did you do for your last birthday: Got a “surprise” from my friends, ate a whole bucket of chicken wings 26. What time did you wake up: 10-12 yeah I don’t go to school (HAH) 27. What were you doing at midnight last night: reading yaoi mangas 28. Name something that you can’t wait for: Y’all to stop mentioning and tagging vmin on your stupid ship wars, my death 29. When was the last time you saw your mom: 2 hours ago

30: What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: For me to stop procrastinating 31. What are you listening to right now: Rewatching Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild right now 32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: kinda? 33. Something that is getting on your nerves: me, overthinking things. STOP 34. Most visited website: youtube

35. Mole/s: about five? my favourite one is the one on the base of my middle finger— palm side 36. Mark/s: three-four I guess 37. Childhood dream: so cliche but it was a performer lolololol 38. Hair color: black 39. Long or short hair: medium?? yeah 40. Do you have a crush on someone: NOOoooOPE 41. What do you like about yourself: Can forget things easily 42. Piercings: two, normal placed ones. We’ve been over this. 43. Blood type: A 44. Nickname: Kira, but call me anything you like. 45. Relationship status: single ALWAYS AND FOREVER WILL BE 46. Zodiac: Taurus 47. Pronouns: she/her 48. Favorite TV show: I don’t watch TV 49. Tattoos: I wish 50. Right or left hand: right 51. Surgery: Does wearing braces count 52. Piercings: My fucking god you asked this already, I have holes in my ears but no earrings 53. Sport: Basketball 54. Vacation: Somewhere in my country 55. Pair of trainers: knock off adidas probably idk MORE GENERAL: 56. Eating: mEAT 57. Drinking: water 58. I’m about to: sleep 59. Waiting for: slapping on some face product 60. Want: to eat 61. Get married: I want to get married to a hot guy with a big dick (?) 62. Career: Writing? idk man I don’t have my life sorted out

WHICH IS BETTER? 63. Hugs or kisses: My virgin lips says hugs 64. Lips or eyes: eyes, nose, lips~ 65. Shorter or taller: taller 66. Older or younger: younger 67. Nice arms or nice stomach: A healthy and happy body, thanks. 68. Sensitive or loud: Sensitive, I don’t really like noisy atmospheres 69. Hookup or relationship: relationship 70. Troublemaker or hesitant: troublemaker

HAVE YOU EVER: 71. Kissed a stranger: nope 72. Drank hard liquor: yo, I’m 16 73. Lost glasses/contact lenses: twice 74. Turned someone down: yep 75. Sex on the first date: no no 76. Broken someone’s heart: probably? 77. Had your heart broken: idk if that was an act or not…. 78. Been arrested: no 79. Cried when someone died: yeaaaa 80. Fallen for a friend: maybe?

DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 81. Yourself: I am the last thing I believe in 82. Miracles: mhm 83.  Love at first sight: probably yeah.. 84. Santa Claus: OBVIOUSLY 85. Kiss on the first date: I try not to, but then I Imagine vmin on their first date,,, then all my effort to be a reasonable being is thrown out the window 86. Angels: yea, I mean Park Jimin--


OTHER: 87. Current best friends: CURRENTLY, my moonchild-- Flo (@vmindaily) Let’s go for a long time<33 88. Eye color: black

89. Favorite movie: idk man I’m more of a series person but Harry Potter? meh

Every rule, I break. Every tag, I stop. Every chain, I stop. But I guess just this once I wouldn’t. 

Tagging: @taeqyung @whitetvlips @smolparkjimin @junghoseokstrashcan @jaskilon and yeah @/vmindaily  you’re it too, sweetie

OH, But feel free to do it if you want too. I mean you gotta get them friends interaction amirite :D. Just say I tagged you and we’ll sort it out~

[garamonder]

Trust Falls, a Spider-Man: Homecoming story

Trust Falls

Even after the Avengers reunite, Peter harbors doubts about his place on the team.

1608 words - General, Friendship

Peter Parker, Ned, Aunt May, references to the other Avengers.

AO3, Fanfiction.net, or:

“But…this is like the dream, right?” asked Ned, taking the gun turret and fastening it securely in place. “The gang’s back together and you’re part of it. You’re like, really an Avenger now, for real.”

Peter was not so sure. “I’m not an Avenger ’til I sign the Accords, and the Accords say no secret identities,” he said glumly. It was a point he hadn’t originally considered during his enthusiastic ‘probation’ period. He pawed around one of the neatly organized piles of Lego pieces until he found the next one.

There was a chance he may not have to worry about the Accords much longer, as the cataclysmic events that had brought the Avengers back together had also served to underscore how inadequate the legislation really was, and a protest had gone up anew. Even Everett Ross had done an about-face after some time in Wakanda, which surprised them more than anybody.

Not to mention, the UN had been happier when Tony Stark was footing the major bills.

“Still, though…you’re hanging out with Thor!”

In truth, Thor had mostly ignored him. Peter couldn’t really blame him; the guy was AWOL for the breach and had been totally bemused when a kid in red-and-blue spandex had swung into the fight. Somebody had wisecracked about spider monkeys and Peter felt suddenly like an asinine kid, even though he’d more than held his own.

Peter held up their half-completed Millennium Falcon while Ned fitted another piece.

The Avengers’ reunion was awkward but touching, the super heroes drawn inexorably together in the moment of crisis. During the battle Peter had the same breezy rapport he’d had with his teammates at the Leipzig airport, but when the dust settled he’d found himself in his usual spot, on the outside looking in. The fracture was tentatively mended, and it was nothing to do with him.

At least nobody had taken up the “Penis Parker” chant DJ Flash had made so popular.

“I dunno if I fit in,” he mumbled.

“Sure you do,” said Ned. “You’ve got superpowers. It’s kind of an exclusive club.”

It sure was, but Peter’s innate tendency to orbit the inner circle from afar apparently lent itself to even the Avengers. At the end, when they’d all drifted toward each other and reclaimed some lost unity, he’d lingered on the fringe. He yearned to join in but was held back by an inexplicable guilt, like he was intruding on someone else’s history.

Also, it didn’t do much for teambuilding that he did not take off his mask around them. He was hyper-aware of being the only one to stick stubbornly to keeping a secret identity, wandering around in his suit when everyone else was barefaced. The others either had bigger-than-life personas that eclipsed any alter egos they could play at and were indifferent to the idea, or they simply had never had the opportunity for secrecy. Surely Banner would have preferred it, given the chance.

He liked them, he even trusted them, but he knew they would not die to protect his secret.

Maybe he was just the substitute hero. He didn’t think he’d spoken aloud until Ned scoffed.

“Dude, give yourself some credit! At the very least you’re the honorary Avenger. Auxiliary squad. Is this one of those ‘never meet your hero’ things?” He took the Falcon model and examined it from every angle approvingly.

“No!” said Peter, which he meant. “They’re everything you’d want them to be. I don’t…maybe that’s the problem. They’re like myths. Larger than life. I go around giving old ladies directions to the G train.”

“Which they buy you churros for,” said Ned.

Peter did like churros.

“And it’s not like they go around getting ladies’ purses back. That stuff matters too, you know. They’re not better than you just because they save it for Loki or whatever.” Ned glanced up from the Falcon, knowing he’d hit a point.

“I guess,” Peter conceded. He liked doing the little things, like getting cats down from trees and recovering bikes. Maybe they didn’t keep the world safe, but they did brighten somebody’s day. And he felt good when he was there for the house fires and holdups, serious events that still rated somewhere below ‘world-ending’ on the spectrum of importance.

As if reading his thoughts, Ned set down the Falcon and said, “Besides, you can save the world and all but it’s not gonna stop some asshole from sticking up a bodega. You can’t let ‘em think they can operate below the radar.”

Ned was right. Feeling better, Peter took the Lego model and admired their progress. For once he was ahead of his homework and it felt great to spend a little time on geeking out. There was a little Lego Chewbacca you were supposed to snap into the co-pilot’s seat, but they mischeviously switched him to the first pilot’s chair instead. Han Solo got the co-pilot.

“Has Stark called you or anything since you got back?” asked Ned, leaning back against the bunk. They both were biding their time until Aunt May’s inevitable suggestion of going out for some Thai.

“Naw,” Peter said. “Probably busy reuniting. Doing trust falls and stuff.”

He wasn’t bitter about it. To tell the truth, he was kind of relieved. Happy was in contact every now and then, so Peter wasn’t worried there was a problem on Tony’s end, and he was a little glad to back off the fringes.

“That’s a lot of trust falls they gotta do. If I were you, I’d crash the party.”

“Uh-huh. ‘I’m not old enough to drink or order crap from late-night infomercials, but I can totally hang with you guys.’ They’d love that.”

Ned took the Falcon back. “This isn’t Midtown High. They’re grownups, you know? It’s not like you’re dealing with, I don’t know, Flash Thompson or whoever. It’s not a clique, there’s no homecoming king.”

Maybe not, Peter reflected. Maybe this was all in his head, and Mr. Stark was bewildered by Peter’s uncharacteristic silence and waiting for him to reach out first. He resolved to do it soon. Just, maybe not that day. Maybe the next. Or next week, after Peter had taken his driver’s test. Getting his license wouldn’t exactly place him on a level with Captain America, but it was one of those little things Peter still cared about.

It wasn’t like the Avengers were jerks. They were pretty cool, really. Noticing the youth fidgeting on the edges, wanting to join in but uncertain if he had the right, Captain America had even pulled him into a debate about the best delis in New York, each of them certain of their own burough’s superiority and ribbing the other. Sam Wilson had started an argument about the designated hitter rule after somebody explained to Barnes what a designated hitter was. And Bruce Banner was always glad to yakk with somebody about particle physics. Peter was pretty sure he was also a Trekkie.

Aunt May pushed open his bedroom door. “Grab your jackets, boys, it’s Thai time.”

Ned whooped and snatched up his hoodie after gingerly placing their Falcon model on a stand. Both of the boys stared at it lovingly before trooping out after May, debating happily which joint had the best papaya salad. May was shooting down Ned’s declaration that the corner place four blocks away overseasoned the shrimp soup when Peter, following them down the stairwell, finally admitted to himself his biggest and most private reservation about the Avengers.

They were heroes. They were also killers.

This, not age, was the fundamental divide between them. They weren’t murderers, not at all—well, not anymore, anyway, in some cases—but they fought with an understanding that sometimes lethality was inevitable, while Peter had never accepted that as a given. They chalked it up to his youth, probably, just some naivety he’d grow out of.

He’d never confronted Mr. Stark about the lethal mode originally installed in his suit, which had been magically removed before Stark returned it to Peter following his fight with Toomes. Nor had Iron Man ever volunteered any explanation for it. But Peter hadn’t forgotten.

It was in the name; they avenged. If he were really one of them, how long before he allowed a death to just…happen?

When he’d dropped everything and risked his neck to snatch one of Loki’s minions before the man could fall to his death, he’d seen their faces. Black Widow gave him a guarded look, Banner was sympathetic, T’Challa stonefaced. Well, Wilson and Barnes and Rogers had all been soldiers, they’d signed on for this a long time ago, they expected enemy casualties. Afterward Cap had murmured something encouraging to him in a tone he couldn’t decipher.

Mr. Stark had actually been really angry, and if not for the other distractions he would have delivered a blistering lecture made the more furious for masking his worry over Peter.

Peter worried they’d think of him as a liability.

“Dude, no,” said Ned later, out of Aunt May’s earshot. Though she was aware of Peter’s “extra credit,” as it was referred to in compromised hearing, Peter didn’t like to address it in front of her. She was stressed out enough. “They need you. Like maybe even more than you need them.”

Peter snorted. “Not a chance.”

“Seriously. Stark came to you, both times. You’re totally the cavalry.”

Maybe, thought Peter, when Ned had gone home holding his container of leftovers. They’d get used to each other sooner or later, they had to.

(Anyway, it wasn’t long before the Avengers had to call in the cavalry again.)

[plastic--hearts]

I was tagged by @thatfangirlingfreak, and I seriously love these things lmao any excuse to talk abt myself 

RULES: You must answer these 89 statements and tag 20 people.

THE LAST: 1. Drink: Water? 2. Phone call: my cousin 3. Text message: my friend Casey about god knows what 4. Song you listened to: Memories by One Ok Rock 5. Time you cried: this past weekend bc of Astroad 6. Dated someone twice: no 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: no? idk? 8. Been cheated on: no 9. Lost someone special: other than my dogs, no 10. Been depressed: it doesn’t really go away 11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: once

LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS (12-14): purple, blue, and black

IN THE LAST YEAR, HAVE YOU: 15. Made new friends: ye 16. Fallen out of love: no 17. Laughed until you cried: so many times 18. Found out someone was talking about you: I don’t think so 19. Met someone who changed you: I guess 20. Found out who your friends are: yes 21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: yes

GENERAL: 22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: the vast majority 23. Do you have any pets: two dogs!! 24. Do you want to change your name: no 25. What did you do for your last birthday: I went for dinner to a Thai place with my friend and her mum 26. What time did you wake up: like 11am 27. What were you doing at midnight last night: reading fanfiction tbh 28. Name something you can’t wait for: the new 5SOS album, my All Time Low concert, the start of college... Many things 29. When was the last time you saw your mom: a couple days ago 30. What are you listening to right now: K.O by SF9 31. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: maybe on twitter 32. Something that is getting on your nerves: FLIES 33. Most visited website: twitter or tumblr 34-36. apparently there are no questions next to these ones 37. Hair color: naturally a very dark brown, but it’s half green rn (and kinda pink too idfk) 38. Long or short hair: I have short hair rn but I like both (idk what this question is) 39. Do you have a crush on someone: well I’m dating someone so yes lol 40. What do you like about yourself: my language skills, my writing 41. Piercings: two in each ear, I had my nose pierced for a while and I’m planning to get it again 42. Blood type: O 43. Nickname: My college friends call me Miya Maya, and I occasionally get Maya Papaya (both of which I like v much) 44. Relationship status: dating 45. Zodiac: Libra 46. Pronouns: she/her 47. Favorite TV show: Doctor Who 48. Tattoos: the Deathly Hallows symbol on my right forearm and a little crown outline under my left ankle 49. Right or left handed: right 50. Surgery: never had 51: Current favorite albums: Last Young Renegade by All Time Low, Smile, And Wave by Sainte, and Dream pt. 1 by Astro 52. Sport: I really like watching football (soccer) 53. Vacation: I want to go EVERYWHERE 54. Eating: like right now? nothing 55: Drinking: I’m not drinking anything but I love juice (and Coca Cola lol) 56. I’m about to: work on a new desktop background 57. Waiting for: college to start again 58. Want: to get a job 59. Get married: idk I’ll go with the flow 60. Career: being a writer is my dream but music journalist is what I’m shooting for

WHICH IS BETTER: 65. Hugs or kisses: hugs 66. Lips or eyes: eyes 67. Shorter or taller: I don’t really care 68. Older or younger: still don’t care 69. Nice arms or nice stomach: ?? arms I suppose 70. Hook up or relationship: relationship 71. Troublemaker or hesitant: somewhere in the middle maybe?

HAVE YOU EVER: 72. Kissed a stranger: no 73. Drank hard liquor: yes 74. Lost glasses/contact lenses: no 75. Turned someone down: yes 76. Sex on the first date: no lol 77. Broken someone’s heart: idk maybe 78. Had your heart broken: maybe? 79. Been arrested: no 80. Cried when someone died: fictional or famous person, yes (I’m not heartless, I just don’t know anyone who died??) 81. Fallen for a friend: no

DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 82. Yourself: I try 83. Love at first sight: no 84. Santa Claus: no 85. Kiss on the first date: eh idk 86. Angels: sure why not

OTHER: 87. Best friend’s name: Jayden 88. Eye color: brown 89. Favorite movie: How to Train Your Dragon or Coraline

tagging: @you-look-beautiful-as-always @kissl-and (I don’t rly know anyone else so if you want to do it just go ahead)

[dawnasiler]

The Brightening Moisturizer That Made Me Break My “No Jars” Rule

Why do you come in a jar?!

You’ve guessed it. I’m not a fan of this type of packaging. It looks pretty, but it ain’t hygienic. Plus, some ingredients stop working when exposed to light and air – i.e. when you unscrew the lid.

Usually, I err on the side of caution and leave anything in jars on the shelf. But Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream is SO good, it’s the exception that proves the rule.

Here’s how it made me break my “no jars” rule:

Key Ingredients In Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream

Hyaluronic Acid To Hydrate Skin

Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet on steroids. Literally. Like a magnet, it attracts the droplets of water in the air and dumps them into your skin, binding them there. It’s so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water!

All that moisture gives your skin an instant plumping effect that makes your fine lines and wrinkles look way smaller. It brightens your skin with that translucent, glass-like glow Korean women are famous for. And it makes your skin so soft to the touch.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream uses two forms of hyaluronic acid: Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid.

That’s a double waterfall of moisture! It doesn’t get more hydrating than this.

Alpha-Arbutin To Brighten Skin

Hydration ain’t the only brightening trick Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream pulls on your skin. This moisturizer has 1% alpha-arbutin, a powerful skin lightener.

Like most skin-lighteners out there, alpha-arbutin works by inhibiting tyrosine, the enzyme responsible for producing melanin (the pigment that gives your skin its colour).

In case you’re wondering, alpha-arbutin works even at 1% concentrations. In fact, 1% alpha-arbutin works better than 4% kojic acid.

P.S. If you have dark skin, consult your doctor before adding alpha-arbutin to your skincare routine. It belongs to the hydroquinone family, which can cause side effects in dark skin.

Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type

Papain To Exfoliate Skin

Papain is the enzyme in Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream. Derived from papaya, this enzyme literally eats away dead skin cells.

It works sort of like a chemical exfoliant: it gets rid of old skin cells to expose the brighter, softer and smoother skin underneath. It fades away rough patches of skin and gives you your glow back.

Papain is gentler than chemical exfoliants (glycolic acid & co). It’s also more unstable. Putting it in a jar wasn’t the smartest idea.

Related: The Complete Guide To Enzyme Exfoliants: What They Are, What They Does & How To Use Them

Antioxidants To Fight Premature Wrinkles

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream has its fair share of antioxidants, like tamarind and cucumbers.

Antioxidants are your skin’s police force. They patrol your body looking for free radicals, the nasty molecules that destroy collagen, elastin and cellular DNA. All that damage inevitable leads to wrinkles and dark spots.

When antioxidants spot a free radical, they jump on it and neutralise it before it can wreak its havoc. Problem is, antioxidants don’t react well to light and air. As soon as you open the jar, they start to lose their effectiveness.

Let’s be clear: antioxidants don’t become useless the second you open the jar. It’s prolonged exposure to light and air that does the damage. As long as you use the cream every day and are careful to close that jar quickly, you’ll be fine.

But if you’re the type who leaves her jars open on your bathroom sink while doing the rest of your skincare routine, you’re not going to get their full antiaging benefits.

Related: What’s The Problem With Jar Packaging?

Let’s Put It To The Test: Personal Use & Opinion

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream has an unusual texture that’s a cross between a refreshing gel and a thicker cream. It sinks into the skin quickly without leaving any greasy residue behind.

This is hands down one of the most hydrating moisturisers I’ve ever tried. I remember the first time I usedd it. I woke up the next morning and my skin was softer than a baby’s. I couldn’t stop touching it!

When I looked in the mirror, I noticed the fine lines around my eyes didn’t look as noticeable. My skin was so plump, it was hiding them!

Plus, my whole complexion had taken on a glow of its own. I just looked healthy. Awake. It’s the sort of moisturizer you can slather on after a poor night’s sleep to look alive.

I can’t vouch for how well it fades away dark spots. I’m lucky I don’t have any now. But in anything else I can’t fault its performance. If only it didn’t come in a stupid jar!

Available at: $65.00/£60.00 at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Net-A-Porter and Sephora

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream is the most hydrating cream I've ever tried. It makes skin softer, plumper and brighter without leaving a greasy residue behind. I just wish it didn't come in a jar.

Beautiful With Brains

PRO

Watery cream texture sinks in quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind

Super hydrating, makes skin softer and smoother

Brightens the skintone

SHOP THE POST

Have you tried Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Ingredients: Water, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Tamarindus Indica (Tamarind) Seed Gum, Ethyl Macadamiate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer (and) Lecithin, Isododecane, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Lauryl Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Strelitzia Nicolai (Bird of Paradise flower) Seed Aril Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) seed extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Papain and Carbome 1, 2-Hexanediol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Algin, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Leaf Extract (and) Melia Azadirachta Flower (Neem) Extract (and) Amino Esters-1 (and) Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract (and) Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract (and) Lawsonia Inermis Extract (and) Ocimum Sanctum Leaf (Holy Basil) Extract, Pearl Powder, Fragrance, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Affiliate links.

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The Brightening Moisturizer That Made Me Break My “No Jars” Rule syndicated from Beautiful With Brains

[randrvstheworld]

The Bogotá Diaries, & a passage to Ecuador

So far, Bogotá had been extremely chill.

After a shopping day & a stir fry (home cooked by us; we have been eating extremely well especially since hanging out with so many vegetarians) we relocated from the Airbnb to a hostel, Lucy in tow as she cancelled her flight & decided to hang with us some more. Hooray!

We’re now back in a Fatima Hostel, the same as Santa Marta; one of the biggest we’ve stayed in & v nice too. You come to appreciate all sorts of trivial things when you don’t live in a house of your own - having plug sockets next to your bunk (this hostel has none), showers with nice hot water & good pressure (this hostel does indeed have these & they are worth a thousand plug sockets). 

Bogota passed in a bit of a blur - Lucy’s last days with us were very well spent but also involved a lot of drinking as we kept going out to celebrate her ‘last night’ & then every morning she’d change her mind & travel plans hahaha. I also wrote a long passage about our trip to the Museo Nacional but tumblr bungled it right up so I’ve only just realised that it did not post - CHEERS TUMBLR. I do enjoy writing about our travels but I’ve been a bit slack about doing it every day of late, too busy having fun but I don’t want to forget anything so I’m gonna try & be a bit more disciplined. Also need to cut back on the drinking & sobriety & being productive do make great bedfellows so I’m gonna get all my business back on track.

So. Bogota. We visited the Museo Nacional - I can’t tell you on what day because as I have learned it’s virtually impossible to keep track of days of the week when you’re unemployed & your life has no structure. But we did. It’s a museum dedicated to the history of Colombia, containing many interesting artefacts & info & art works from hundreds of years of history of the country; a history blighted by Colonisation, & conflict, drug wars & violence but also incredible resilience & art & traditional & a whole indigenous history of it’s own that makes for a truly rich tapestry. One of the things I am enjoying the most about travelling is learning about world history although it is highlighting that my current level of knowledge is embarrassingly poor. Anyway. The museum is housed in an old prison so the building itself is very cool, also slightly eerie, but housed a very varied & interesting collections of stuffs. We inadvertently ended up in some college students’ projects on account of being English. We participated in an interactive & collaborative art installation that involved writing words that we felt related to Colombia on the walls in chalk.

On our way home we attempted to stop for coffee but what we thought was a cafe was actually a Cuban inspired salsa bar that only sold alcoholic beverages & so I was tricked, TRICKED into drinking a very large gin. The bar was very cool, called La Bembe, it was like a 70s disco curiosity shoppe with mirrored walls & neon signs & disco lights & crazy colourful patterns everywhere & a life-size white tiger made of plaster guarding the bottom of a spiral staircase. Precisely my kind of place, a riot of colour & pattern & kitschy motifs.

The following day we took a daytrip out of Bogota into a small town called Zipaquira to visit El Catedral de Sal, a cathedral in an active underground salt mine & the only underground cathedral in the world. It was very eerie, I find churches & places of worship & religious iconography somewhat creepy at the best of times & the fact that it was all underground & spookily lit gave off a very Parisian Catacombes kind of vibe that freaked me out a little because I kept thinking we were going to imminently find ourselves in a horror film, however it was very interesting & a truly unique experience. There were all these corridors & pathways that wound around & further underground; along the way all these big stone cross sculptures lit up in different ways, sculptures of angels & also knaves where mass is still held regularly - they also apparently have weddings there. At the end there is a truly inexplicable light show. My favourite part was the Espejo de Agua, which is a pool only 10cm deep that looks 20m deep because the water inside is so full of sodium that it reflects the ceiling like a giant silver mirror. It was beautiful, like a pool of mercury. We all took turns blowing on it to create ripples to prove it was actually water. 

That evening was Lucy’s actual last night for real this time, so we popped to the hostel bar next door for ‘a couple of quick drinks’, met a hilarious guy from Chicago & before we knew it it was 3am & we were smashed on Aguardiente (a typical Colombian liquor that tastes like aniseed), trying repeatedly to make Chicago dude (real name: Emmanuel) understand the rules of shithead (”WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN’T PLAY A 4 THERE”). The next day we woke up with heads so sore we sacked off the hostel breakfast (fruit & toast) in favour of a hangover-curing feast at a cute place down the road, where we dined on veggie omelettes & croissants & papaya & fresh OJ & coffee until we felt slightly better, or at least better enough to laze about in the hostel TV room under blankets. Chicago reappeared & bought us all pizza & moaned with us. And then the moment we had been dreading - Lucy left us for Santa Marta. I miss her. She is one of the coolest people I have met & someone I clicked with much quicker than I normally do with people. I’m so glad she lives in London so I’ll be able to hang out with her on the regs when I finally, eventually go home.

Roxy & I were leaving the next day but managed to cram a trip on the funicular up to Montserrate into the morning before we had to leave. Montserrate is a ginormous hill overlooking the whole of Bogota - there’s a church at the top & a beautiful garden & a little market, you take a kind of hillside tram up there & a cable car back down. Needless to say the views were spectacular: Bogota as far as the eye can see on one side, beautiful green luscious hillside on the other. Colombia is truly one of the most beautiful, breathtaking & constantly surprising places I have ever been, my word. I am sad we had to go. I keep thinking back to all the places we visited & getting all emotional that we’re not there any more. It’s also been the setting of the start of many glorious friendships, we’ve met some really lovely people there & partied super hard. Our time in Colombia has been pretty wild so I guess like all good things it had to come to an end but I am quite sad about it. Whenever I start feeling sad about leaving a country it reminds me of how sad I was to leave the UK & all the people I love that live there & I suddenly get struck with a homesickness that aches my heart. I know I will be back at some point but I’m currently wrestling with the idea of whether or not to get a working visa for Australia to prolong the travelling for a bit & also hopefully not return home completely destitute. My only concern is what if I want to come home. I WISH I had enough money to go home for a couple of weeks & just spend 14 days hugging people. I can’t though.

And now, I am in Quito, capital city of Ecuador, where it is cold & I have no towel because I left it hanging on a tree to dry in our hostel in Bogota. We are staying in an AirBnB/guesthouse with very sweet hosts & eagerly awaiting the return of Gabby back into our lives tomorrow evening. Today was spent in my very best way to spend a first day in a new city - a free walking tour. It’s a great way to learn the lay of the land & a lot of history & cultural norms & traditional tips as well. Today I learned about the messy political history of Ecuador & also about the prevalence of blackberries in various juices & dishes which I am now obsessed with trying. Quito is extremely hilly & much prettier than I had expected, not that I was really expecting anything as we ended up here completely by accident due to a flight-booking snafu. But what a happy accident it has transpired to be.

Someone I care about very much said to me the other day that he suspected I may come back from travelling a completely different person. I hope if that is true that I will have only changed for the better. Travelling is certainly making me more confident & a little less uptight, also more humble, & I feel I now have a clearer mind about what I want out of the rest of my life. But I am still me, or at least I hope so. 

Anyway. It’s getting late here & I slept super badly last night on account of my bad knee which is getting worse by the day, keeping me up at night in agonising pain. It’s cold here so I’m wearing my warm clothes for the first time in 4 months. I don’t know what we’re going to do tomorrow, which is a first for me, not having a plan. I kinda like it though. I am naturally a planner - I like knowing what I’m going to do tomorrow, & the next day. But in a way I think it’s good not to know. The only thing that lies ahead is exactly what I choose in that moment.

[calacatia-blog]

This product has been kindly provided by Benton for free in exchange for an honest review.

Claims: Benton’s Papaya-S Sun Cream is Benton’s second physical & chemical suncream designed for outdoor activities. Papaya-S Sun Cream has the highest sun protection factor available in Korea, SPF50+ / PA++++. Mixed with chemical and physical sunscreen agents, the suncream effectively blocks both UVA and UVB, and helps to protect skin from external stressors. Also, niacinamide and adenosine in the formula help to achieve a bright and smooth complexion.

Ingredients: Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Water(43%), Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Octyldodecanol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Aqua (Water), 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Beeswax, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethicone, Propanediol,Hydrogen Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Carica Papaya Seed Oil(5000ppm), Glyceryl Caprylate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Panthenol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Beta-Glucan, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract(750ppm), Xanthan Gum, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Adenosine, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Bud Extract, Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate, Papain(100ppm), Algin, Glucose, Geranium Maculatum Oil

First impressions about this product posted on my Instagram.

Anyone even vaguely familiar with the Philippine skincare game know that papaya is the MAIN ingredient in whitening products since forever so I was kind of surprised to start seeing it in more international products recently.

The Benton Papaya–S Sun Cream SPF50+/PA++++ has 43% Carica Papaya Fruit Water, Carica Papaya Seed Oil, and Papain.

I’ve always had trouble with sunscreen. Those I’ve tried that seemed okay for even months at a time will suddenly break me out. I’m always on the search for my HG sunscreen. When I got chosen to review Benton‘s new suncream, I was excited but also wary because of a few ingredients that I’m on the lookout for. The full ingredient list is found above, if you want to run it through cosdna.com, but I have been using skincarisma.com purely because of it’s better aesthetics.

Out of the tube, the consistency of the suncream is more liquid than most cream-type sunscreens. I feel like it’s between the thick Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch and the runny Biore Watery Gel. It kind of feels like you’re spreading PVA glue on yourself for the first few seconds but it sinks in quite nice and even.

DAYLIGHT SWATCHING

Out of the tube.

Spread out a bit.

Sunk in quite nicely.

LED LIGHTS SWATCHING

I took out too much.

Spread out a bit.

Sunk in quite nicely.

It doesn’t leave a white cast on my arms if I put in a little extra time to make sure it sinks in good. However, when I use it on my face, it leaves a bit of a white cast. I’ll admit I might be applying a little bit too much, but once enough time passes, the cast settles in and it turns to a nice toning-up effect instead. It looks like I have a nice glow.

My face does feel smoother but that might be just the dimethicone. It might take more time for the niacinamide and adenosine to take full effect, if any.

Here is my lame attempt to showcase the sunscreen’s waterproof-ness. That’s water, that tiny sliver of wet thing.

I expected this suncream to be heavy but it’s not. It doesn’t leave a noticeable film against my skin and it holds up really well against my morning commute, which can be super sweaty especially in the humid Philippine climate. I would expect this would also hold up well in more physical activities, but I can’t attest to that personally because I rarely do anything physically-straining. I also expected this to make me super oily in the face but it didn’t. I even feel like I was less oily when I used this. I did trim down my AM routine to just hydrating toner and snail essence.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, I am very wary against sunscreens right now because everything seems to break me out. Physical sunscreens are recommended for people sensitive to sunscreens like me. This Benton suncream does have Titanium Dioxide, which is a physical sunscreen, but it also has Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, a chemical sunscreen that I’m guessing I am sensitive to.

(I am inserting this interesting blog post by kindofstephen about the preconceived differences between physical and chemical sunscreens. TL;DR: the two categories might not be so different after all.)

This is a common ingredient in the sunscreens that break me out, I am very wary of it especially because of the ratings.

I just generally don’t like products with silicone because I feel it doesn’t do anything for my skin but make it feel tight.

I broke out while using this sunscreen, but I can’t definitively say that the suncream is at fault because I am also PMS-ing and my breakouts are mostly along my jaw. I will continue using this after my period to rule out the cause of the breakouts.

  Lastly, let’s get into the packaging a little bit. It comes in a nice sturdy enough box with orange accents (like a ripe papaya!). I would prefer a matte white cap, a similar texture to the tube body, than a shiny reflective silver cap because it is a fingerprint magnet and can get very gross fast especially with this type of product.

Overall, I give the Benton Papaya–S Sun Cream SPF50+/PA++++ a 7/10. It holds up through sweating, sinks in nicely without a white cast, and provides sun protection while also providing a nice glow-up to the skin. 

Benton Papaya-S Sun Cream: A Review This product has been kindly provided by Benton for free in exchange for an honest review.

[kookiesat]

Yes ok I was tagged by @jinkistarlight (thanks for that Mel) and basically the rules are you have to tell 82 truths and then tag twenty five people (I’m not tagging 25 people I only follow like thirteen so I’ll tag about ten)

name: maya/malak (I have two names it’s a long story)

blood type: A+

nickname(s): kookie, papaya, kookie bear, any other nickname meadow has for me

zodiac sign: Aquarius

pronouns: she/her

favorite tv shows: um does any anime and kdrama I’ve watched count??

long or short hair: um idk I like both so I guess medium length hair is nice

height: about 5'5

do you have a crush on someone: no not really

what do you like about yourself: idk I’m pretty insecure about everything so I guess I like my personality and my eyes and hair are nice

right or left handed: right

list of three favorite colors: blue, black, and white

right now

eating: I’m eating some good ol’ p-a-s-t-a pasta!

drinking: water

i’m about to: watch something idk probably anime

listening to: nothing right now

kids: that’s a big no

get married: definitely!! If I meet the right guy

career: either a writer or a lawyer!!

most recent

drink: water

phone call: my mom (I’m lame I don’t have any friends yikes)

song you listened to: I think it was begin by jungkook?? I’m not sure though

have you ever

dated someone twice: that would imply I’ve ever dated someone

been cheated on: that would also imply that I’ve ever dated someone

kissed someone and regretted it: no

lost someone special: no luckily

been depressed: nope

been drunk and thrown up: I don’t drink so nope

kissed a stranger: nope

had glasses or contacts: no my eyes are good

had sex on the first date: definitely,,, not

broken someone’s heart: I don’t think so

turned someone down: that would imply I’ve ever been asked out

cried when someone died: I mean do fictional characters count??

fallen for a friend: nope

in the last year have you

made a new friend: @ meadow I love you

fallen out of love: nope

laughed until you cried: once probably

met someone who changed you: I mean no not really I don’t think

found out who your true friends were: definitely

found out someone was talking about you: yeah sadly

kissed someone on your fb list: nope

which is better?

lips or eyes: idk I mean I can’t look people in the eyes directly but I prefer them over lips

hugs or kisses: hugs definitely I’m a cuddler

shorter or taller: taller

romantic or spontaneous: ooo romantic I love romance

sensitive or loud: definitely sensitive I can’t stand loud people

hookup or relationship: relationship!!

troublemaker or hesitant: hesitant

first

best friend: nour

surgery: never had one before thankfully

sport i joined: does karate count idk

vacation: Las Vegas when I was a baby (I know)

do you believe in

yourself: most of the time

miracles: of course

love at first sight: I’m a romantic so ofc

heaven: yes!!

extras

how many people from your fb list do you know irl: I’m not even sure what a fb list is

do you have any pets: no my dad doesn’t like them

do you want to change your name: no my name has a really nice meaning

what did you do for your last birthday: i went to dinner with my friends and family

what time did you wake up today: 6 am I had school rip

what were you doing last night at midnight: sleeping what am I a teenager??

something you can’t wait for: summer vacation

last time you saw your mom: last night bc she left for work before I could say hi this morning

what is one thing you wish you could change about your life: I want to live on mars (either that or Japan)

have you ever talked to a person named tom: yes believe it or not we were in third grade together he wore bow ties (I’m not joking) and liked to read and I had a crush on him

what’s getting on your nerves: nothing really?? Rn I’m feeling really relaxed

Tagging: @fantasticveronica @buttercuplove19 @bridkid @redbird-zzz

And that’s it folks I don’t have anyone else to tag yikes

[type2diabetestreatments-blog]

Ask D'Mine: Treating a Diabetic "Junkie," and Considering "Insulinotropic" Foods

New Post has been published on http://type2diabetestreatment.net/diabetes-mellitus/ask-dmine-treating-a-diabetic-junkie-and-considering-insulinotropic-foods/

Ask D'Mine: Treating a Diabetic "Junkie," and Considering "Insulinotropic" Foods

Need help navigating life with diabetes? Ask D'Mine! That would be our weekly advice column, hosted by veteran type 1, diabetes author and community educator Wil Dubois. This week, Wil takes on the issues of doctors seeing "junkies" rather than patients struggling with addiction, and the insulinotropic effect of certain foods on PWDs.

Got your own questions? Email us at AskDMine@diabetesmine.com

Anonymous from Alabama, type 2, writes: I was diagnosed 5 months ago with type 2 diabetes. I assume I've had it for a few years, but I have no insurance and didn't realize how dangerous it really is. I'm now reading a lot more and I'm terrified. My feet and hands are numb most days. Fatigue is a mild word. I finally got in a community free clinic and I'm on 2000 mg metformin a day and was on 15 units of Lantus. I had to stop taking Lantus because it seemed to be making me have withdrawals from the methadone I've been on for five years. Extreme diet change has lowered my numbers a lot, but the doctor seems to be not as concerned as I am, and this really bothers me. And I can't seem to get much info about the methadone and the insulin. Any info you could give, or where or what to do next, or any insight into my situation? Thanks, I'm worried.

Wil@Ask D'Mine answers: It's OK to be worried. Fear can be a healthy emotion, so long as it doesn't rule the day. And, hey, I'm proud of you. You got yourself into a clinic—better late than never—you've made extreme diet changes, you're reading up on your diabetes and you're asking questions!

As to your doctor, well, I'm not so proud of him. I think you might have gotten one of the bad ones. Most docs at free clinics are pretty awesome people who are drawn to helping people in the greatest need. Let's face it, no doc works at a free clinic for the money—this kind of work is among the lowest-paying in medicine.

That said, and there's no delicate way to say this, so bear with me... I think he might see something different when he looks at you than what I see. I'll go first. When I look at you (well, at your email—but I can "see" a great deal in the words people place on a page), I see someone who's had a pretty hard road. I see someone who's suffering a great deal, but trying to improve her lot in life. I see a fellow PWD. Hell, I just see a fellow human being.

And that's good enough for me.

Your doc, however, sees something else. He looks at you and sees a junkie. Long-term use of methadone is sometimes used to treat chronic pain, but is usually used to treat opiate addictions. A methadone prescription is a red flag. In fact, just like your doc, I'm actually going to assume that's why you are taking it; but unlike your doc, I'm not going to judge you for it. For some reason, some really great docs get hung up over drug use and, like the Grinch, their hearts suddenly shrink. I've seen some pretty open-minded providers act really strangely around IV drug users. So when I read your email I found myself wondering if your doc was really listening to you or if he'd gotten hung up over your past with his brain stuck in a stupid loop about "so she had money for heroin, but couldn't be bothered to pay for her health care, I'm not going to waste my time..."

That's #@$%& BS! I say to your doctor: If you can't accept everyone, regardless of their faults, as worthy of the same treatment, then you don't belong in medicine. The door is over there. Please leave, we have enough real challenges to solve without those kinds of attitudes. I'm sure you'll do just fine in politics.

So I spent most of my spare time the last few weeks trying to see what's known and not known about methadone and Lantus. The answer: not much.

In fact, about all I could find were two reports of photosensitivity in women over 50; and one report of "chills" in a 60-year-old man. Now chills might sound a bit like your "withdrawals." And if it happened to one other person, it sure as hell could have happened to you, too.

The solution? Well, based on my field experience, I've found the various insulins we have to play with are a lot more different than apples and oranges. We tend to think of Lantus and Levemir like we think of Tide and Cheer: hey, the brands are different, but they both clean your clothes. And while it's true that the glucose response profile of the two basal insulins is pretty much the same, they couldn't be made any more differently. Hell, they aren't apples and oranges so much as watermelons and papayas. People who have some sort of oddball trouble with one often do fine on the other. And don't forget we have the old-fashioned NPH as an option, too.

My advice? Go back to your clinic, but ask to see another provider. Look the white coat straight in the eye and be honest about your past and passionate about your future. Be clear about your here-and-now fears. Then ask to try a different insulin, and see if it plays better with your methadone.

Oh, and don't vote for your old doc if you see he is running for Congress.

Paul from Georgia, type 1, writes: I have recently read about foods like milk and wheat causing increased secretion of insulin (insulinotropic effect) above the insulin needed for the carbs in the food. This fact is used to conclude that products containing these ingredients be used sparingly, if at all, in an attempt to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes. The reason being that these foods cause an overproduction of insulin that leads to storage of excessive carbs as fat. My question is as a type 1 with a negative c-peptide is: will eating these foods have the same effect? My guess is unless they cause a glucose rise above the carb content that I gave a bolus for, there will be no extra insulin unless I give extra insulin.

Wil@Ask D'Mine answers: Well, first off, you and I must be reading different journals, because I haven't seen nor could I find anyone worrying about insulinotropic foods causing weight gain. In fact, just the opposite may be true—they're being heralded as the next great thing in diabetes treatment, and some people think they may even help prevent obesity.

But let's back up and give all our readers some background. Then we'll dissect the issue you read about a little more and I'll take a crack at your question. As you said, insulinotropic is just a fancy-pants cocktail party word for something that causes insulin production. And it's been a known mystery for a number of years that different proteins have different "insulinotropic properties," meaning that they trigger insulin production independent of their glycemic index; the exact opposite of what logic would suggest. WTF?

Back in 2004, a team of Swedish researchers singled out milk as being the most unusual in this regard. After much study the smoking gun was proven to be whey protein, which makes up around 20% of milk's protein (but a whopping 60% of the protein in human breast milk, "food" for thought). Why whey kicks the body in the pancreas more than you'd expect, given its carb count, remains a mystery to this day.

But, but, but: just because it induces the body to produce more insulin than the glycemic index would suggest, doesn't mean it's making your body produce more insulin than it needs. In fact, the extra squirt of insulin from whey has been shown to greatly reduce blood sugar spikes after meals. So much so, that mixing whey into high carb meals has been shown to have a medicinal effect in type 2s. In other words, a natural insulin secretagogue. (One study added whey to a meal of mashed potato and Swedish meatballs, which I find ironic given the original whey discovery came from Swedish researchers.)

Over the last few years, there has been much ongoing research that, quoting another study, "dietary interventions represent a promising therapeutic strategy to optimize postprandial glycemica." Whey as medicine for all that ails you.

In a stretch, I suppose I could see your point about extra insulin moving the carbs into fat storage, but leaving the extra carbs in the blood moves the type 2 into the dialysis center. I don't think these foods are likely to cause greater weight gain because of the extra insulin, nor do I think type 2s should avoid them only out of fear of weight gain. I think anyone who is worried about weight should focus more on eating less, and less on what they are eating. And just to muddy the waters, I'm seeing a lot of research actually supporting whey as an anti-obesity agent, rather than a trigger for weight gain. This has led to whey becoming a popular food supplement, especially for the for body building crowd. It's seen as agent of muscle growth and fat reduction, but like many food supplements, we are lacking in solid science behind this particular claim.

But as to you, my insulin-deficient friend, you're right. An insulinotropic food will not bring your dead beta cells back to life. An insulinotropic substance needs an insulin-producing body to act on.

However, your question raises another: If the "normally" functioning human body produces more insulin for whey than you'd expect it to need... why is that? Frankly, the body tends to know what it's doing. Even though the glycemic index of foods with whey shouldn't demand more insulin, the body provides it, and apparently with good results.

Maybe we should all consider a whey bolus.

This is not a medical advice column. We are PWDs freely and openly sharing the wisdom of our collected experiences — our been-there-done-that knowledge from the trenches. But we are not MDs, RNs, NPs, PAs, CDEs, or partridges in pear trees. Bottom line: we are only a small part of your total prescription. You still need the professional advice, treatment, and care of a licensed medical professional.

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community. The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines. For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

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