#I had a random hankering to draw them….

[microwavingfranky]

Sorry for being Frobin’s greatest and strongest enjoyer! Sorry!! Geez!!

[compo67]

a collection of random thoughts and goings on.

can't help but being anxious about my pal's MRI tonight. definitely waiting for a text from him that says, "i'm done!"

i finished an audiobook today, "Over My Dead Body." it's a history of cemeteries in the US. i don't think i learned a lot of new things, but it was good to hear someone talk about how segregated and exclusive cemeteries were (and still are).

i did an ABSURD amount of dishes today. then i vacuumed. then i showered. then i went to the post office to drop off patreon cards.

i need to start planning december's art. i'm so happy to be drawing again. the art tiles i'm using right now are much less overwhelming than the watercolor paper i was using before.

it's not that i'll never go back to watercolors, it's just that markers are so much easier right now. just like the tiles.

i would like to pick up my knitting again. maybe i can do that tomorrow while i'm at my dad's. but then i want to read more Wolfsong. and i think there's a game on. why don't i have three heads? *Amadeus laugh*

that's a movie i haven't seen in a while...

i have been so grateful to JB Pritzker these past few days. when he said something like, "you'll have to get through me," i teared up. i am so grateful to live where i am.

i am still hankering for a train ride somewhere. sigh. i will have to settle for writing about one.

there is a Big Gay Market in madison that i am so looking forward to. i'm thinking i'd like to see the drag show on friday night.

little by little, i have been feeling more like a person and less like a blob of emotions and dread. my pal has been super helpful making that happen. so have therapy and my friends. <3

i had my infusion therapy yesterday. it took 3 nurses 3 sticks before we got a good vein. >m<

i have been struggling to write, but i think it's because i'm writing for the wrong fic. i need to give myself permission to switch fics.

my new glasses arrived. they're a bit tough getting used to because my prescription changed. they're technically for screen use--i have another prescription for regular use. but i couldn't afford both and i hate switching them out.

maybe i will watch Singin' in the Rain tonight and knit.

still waiting for my pal. be patient, cal. patient.

[beastlyanachronism]

4, 5, 20, 27 for the... what was it called? Unrelated ask game???? The one with all the random questions 😂

Also, hope you are having a lovely day, old thing!

4. Mythical creature you think/believe is real?

Hmm. I have never got on the cryptid trend, but they are all real in my heart, at least the more animal-like ones. Especially griffins, which seem so awkward and non- threatening, somehow. When I was twelve, I had a bunch of mythical beast OCs that went to a school for magic. This school was better than Hogwarts because it was -- in Scotland! (Was subsequently disappointed to learn that Hogwarts was set in Scotland.) Actually, I still have a strong hankering to draw mythical beasts doing everyday activities. Need to improve my art skills first, though.

Returning to the idea of mythical beasts being real, though, it intrigues me that on other planets there could genuinely be large winged four-legged animals. I mean, if the first amphibians were hexapods instead of tetrapods, you could surely end up with dragons and griffins of sorts.

5. Favourite form of potato?

If I think about this too hard, I'll be paralysed by indecision, so I'll go with my immediate thought, which is curly fries. I still consider them a futuristic novelty, and they never disappoint. I don't think I've ever been unhappy while eating a curly fry.

20. Favourite Disney princess movie?

Mulan. I missed out on most Disney movies as a child, but as an adult, my friends sought to rectify this shocking gap in my education, so I am now reasonably well-versed. Of all the princess movies I've seen, Mulan has the most beautiful animation and best (i.e. least frustrating) plot. I love that Li Shang's only declaration of love is "You fight good".

27. What's your favourite or go-to outfit?

My go-to outfit is a woolly jumper and black jeans, which is suitable for almost all occasions (I think...) and requires no forethought. I have yet to outgrow the childish notion that Coordinating an Outfit is a dreadful and needless effort. Also, I have koumpounophobia (it's mild, thankfully, but. definitely a phobia.), which rather limits what I can comfortably wear. Also, genderless clothing appeals to me.

Thanks for the ask, @achilles-sulking-in-his-bunk ! Hope you are having a lovely day too!

[george-mackay-macfine]

Fight Club

Requested

Synopsis: George and Y/N used to date, then George got popular, now they hate each other, mostly. 

Word Count: 4,518

“Looking hot this morning, Y/N,” My pen stopped writing on the page of my book as I looked up to see George fucking MacKay. The left side of his faint red lips tugged upwards creating a smirk on his God-like face. 

“You know what MacKay,” I dropped my pen on the table and leant back in my chair, crossing my arms under my chest, “Normally if a boy who looks like you, smiled at me the way you did I’d be turned on,” George lent down on the table, his smirk becoming devilish. 

“Oh yeah?” His eyes darting down to the ample amount of cleavage I had on display. “What happens?” 

“Well, my heart starts to race, and my breathing increases.” I let my chest rise and fall quicker, my hand drawing across the exposed skin, his blue eyes locked on the polished nail that grazed my own skin, “I don’t know where to look, and I bit my lip a lot,” I bit on my bottom lip his eyes locked in on the flesh. “And I start to get hot,” I let the cardigan I was wearing slip off my shoulder. “And I start to feel these flutters, down low…” George’s eyes flicked to meet mine, his eyes had become darker. “And when you smile at me like that…” 

“Yeah?” He asked, breathless. 

“None of that happens.” I snapped, Picking my pen back up. “In fact, the opposite happens.” George hits the table. His head thrown back in laughter. He shook his finger at me, his smirk now a full-blown smile, It was no less gorgeous than his smirk.

“You almost had me that time,” His laughter slowed, “The whole slipping the cardigan of the shoulder,” He dropped down so he was squatting beside me. “And watching your hand move across your chest,” He grunted. “Fucking sexy,” 

“I’m busy MacKay,” I gestured to the table in front o us, my books scattered all over, laptop poised on the table the script I was trying to write open. 

“Don’t look too busy,” I rolled my eyes, moving my head to look at him, eyes turning into slits. “Alright, Jesus,” He held his hands up at chest level as if it’d keep me at bay, “Just stopping by because Chapman is getting numbers for the party before the fight tonight,” His hands dropped, 

“I thought I wasn’t allowed at your fights or parties anymore,” It was George’s time to roll his eyes, “Remember?” George shrugged his shoulders. 

“You were flirting with my opponent, friends don’t do that,” 

“Since when are we friends?” I raised an eyebrow at him, leaning onto the desk, hand cupping my head as I looked up at him. 

“You make a good point,” He stood back up, his hands rest on his hips. “You comin’ or not?” 

“Jane will be there, so I’ll be there,” He nodded his head, 

“See you then,” He tapped the desk with his knuckles before he walked past me. “Don’t forget to wear something sexy,” George’s voice whispered hotly against my ear, his hands running up my arms as he lent down, “Red always looks good on you,” 

And just like that, he was gone. 

Here are the facts about George Andrew J. MacKay, 

He’s the ‘it’ boy of our college campus, you know the guy who all the girls want to fuck. The guy that they all think that they can be the one who changes his ways - it’ll never happen,

He uses woman for his own desires, his own pleasures and the worst part is he’s upfront about this, the girls know that they're being used, but they don’t care. 

He’s a good student, all top marks… surprising, for the college bad boy. 

He’s the guy whose currently undefeated in the fight club on campus, 

He is the guy I lost my virginity too when we were fifteen, then he went to football camp, and when he came back he was the most popular guy in our school, and had no time for his first… unless teasing me counted. 

He’s the biggest pain in my ass and I still have the biggest crush on his idiotic ass.  

After a long day of classes and another long afternoon with my best friend Jane going insane and pulling our dorm apart looking for the perfect outfit to wear to the party at the frat house, I was sick and tired of hearing George’s name… in fact, I was ready to be sick. 

“You’re wearing that?” She raised her eyebrow at me as I walked back into the room, I looked down at my outfit, raising my eyebrow at her. 

“I was going too,” She pursed her lips and shrugged her shoulders, “What is it?”

“It’s nice…” She turned back to the bed, fiddling with her clothes she’d pulled out. 

“But?” She spun so she could look at me again. 

“It’s boring,” 

“Boring…” 

“My mum wouldn’t even wear that, especially if she was looking at getting laid…” 

“Who said I’m looking to get laid,” She gave me a pointed look. Her head drooping to one side. “Fine,” I threw my hands up, “What do you suggest I wear then?” Jane turned back to the bed shuffling through some things, thinking.

“Black jeans, your doc’s and this,” She turned rushing to the bag I’d carelessly dropped at the door three days prior when we’d returned from a shopping trip. “It’ll look so hot.” She wasn’t wrong, the red lace bodysuit would accentuate every curve of my waist while pushing my boobs up. “Trust me,”

“Fine,” I grabbed the bag from her, and grabbed my jeans, walking back to the bathroom. Changing quickly I walked back into the room. Studying myself in the mirror I decided to leave my hair how it naturally was, not feeling the need to apply any heat to it. “How’s it look?” She turned to me, her eyes widening, a big smile pulling at her lips. 

“George is going to cream in his pants,”

“Do you have to make everything so gross?” I huffed picking up my nearby red lipstick. “George and I are nothing, no chemistry… nothing… we fight all the time.” 

“You realize people like you and George are going to fight, right?" Jane laughed. “You’re both too hot-headed.” 

"You are officially fired. You are a terrible conscious.” I glared applying the lipstick. “Now, let’s go get drunk.” 

———————-

And we were drunk. Jane and I showed up to the frat house half an hour later and headed straight to the kitchen where the ‘bar’ was always set up. There we proceeded to skull three shots each in a row. Effectively creating a buzz. 

“There she is,” The all too familiar voice of George MacKay called from behind me, “Looking fucking beautiful, as always,” 

“How drunk are you?” I called picking up a beer, turning back to face him. 

“Not drunk enough to not recognise an angel when she’s standing right in front of me,” His eyes looked over my body, “Told you red looked fucking delicious on you,”

“Actually you said Red always looks good on you, nothing about me looking delicious,”

“Well you do look delicious, good enough to eat,” I rolled my eyes and turned back to Jane. “She left,” George’s voice laughed from behind me. “Dean told me he was hankering for a fuck, so they’re probably busy getting busy,” He wrapped an arm around me, “So you’re stuck with me,” 

“None of your girls? More chance of getting laid,” 

“No, got the only girl I need right here,” 

“I hope you get punched tonight, and whoever punches you wipes that cocky smile off your face,” 

“I never get punched babe,” I rolled my eyes and pulled myself up so I was sitting on the kitchen counter. “Unless I let them,” 

“I find it hard to believe that you only get hit when you let them hit you,” I rolled my eyes as George pulled himself up beside me on the kitchen counter. “In fact, I bet that you get hit tonight,” 

“Oh really?” George’s eyes sparked with excitement. “I’ll take that bet,” 

“What?” 

“What do you want if he gets a hit in?” George steamrolled past me, 

“George I wasn’t being serious,” 

“I was,” He brought the beer bottle to his lips, stopping just before they touched it. “Now, what do you want…” 

“You to stop having sex with random woman,” I blurted out. 

“Knew you wanted me,” He chuckled. “But fine,”

“And you have to publicly apologise for fucking so many of them, and not calling them back…”

“They knew what they were getting into,” It was my turn to give him the pointed look, “Fine, deal.”

“Get ready to lose,” 

“Wait, you haven’t heard what I want when I win,” 

“If,”

“When,” He cleared his throat, “If I win, you have to stay with me for a month worth of Friday and Saturday nights, and you have to come to my fights wearing a cute little cheerleaders outfit.” I weighed it up in my head, 

Pros    

George has to publicly apologise for his man-whore ways, 

George has to go a whole month without sex… something he has nearly every night.

Cons 

 On the off chance he wins I have to wear a cheerleading outfit, and     sleep in his bed, 

“Deal,” I extended my hand out to shake him. “Get ready for a month-long lesson is abstinence.” 

“I don’t think so sweetheart,” 

“So does this mean I get to come to the fight tonight?” I raised an eyebrow, George huffed and pursed his lips. 

“Do you promise to not flirt up a storm with my competition?” 

“Does your competition promise to not find me so desirable?”

“I don’t think anyone could promise that,” He smirked, “Now, do you promise?” 

“Yes, George. I promise,” 

—————-

“LISTEN UP MOTHER FUCKERS,” The Jonathan Carrington, the M.C’s voice boomed through a megaphone. “TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO REIGNING CHAMPIONS,” 

“You think he’ll win?” I asked Dean as we stood side by side near the front of the circle, “I hope he gets punched,”

“GEORGE MACKAY FROM SOUTHWEST.” The crowd went wild, “AND THOMAS WILSON FROM NORTHERN.” The crowd still cheered, it just wasn’t as big as when it was George’s. 

“He’s not going to get punched Y/N,” Dean called back wrapping his arms around Jane. “He never gets punched,”

“Fuck,”

“What did you do?” Jane turned to look at me, her eyes narrowing. 

“MacKay and I made a bet,” 

“On what?” 

“If he gets hit or not,”

“What’s the prize?” 

“He loses he has to stop having sex with random woman, and publicly apologise for fucking so many of them, and not calling them back…”

“And if he wins?” Dean laughed, 

“If he wins, I have to stay with him for a months worth of Friday and Saturday nights, and I have to come to his fights wearing a cheerleaders outfit.”

“Pack your overnight bag Y/N,” Jane laughed shaking her head. 

“ARE YOU ALL FUCKING READY?” Jonathan cried into the microphone. “Here they come,”

“Maybe I can distract him with my boobs?” 

“Just accept defeat, it’s easiest.” Dean chuckled. 

—————-

And defeat I had to accept. George hadn’t let his opponent lay a hand on him, not even when the fight was over, and the shit-eating grin he’d sent me when the fight was done… God the things that smile did to me. 

As I walked from the bathroom down the dark hall of George and Dean’s apartment, hating that I’d walked into this trap. Of course, George wasn’t going to get hit… he never did… for once I should have listened to the rumours. 

“Fuck, Y/N” 

I stopped still my breathing hitched as I peeked through the small gap in George’s ajar door, he was leaning against the wall, his jeans around his ankles his hand working his cock… his above average cock… His above average, angry, thick red cock… That I now had the desire to wrap my mouth around it coursing through my body.

“Just like that,” He groaned again his hand going faster, his back pushing harder against the wall. His eyes shut in pleasure. “So good, baby, fuck so good,” He grunted his hand gripping his cock tighter, his abdominal muscles tightening. “Wanna come all over those tits.” 

Fuck… He looked hot. 

“Gonna come…” He groaned through clenched teeth his hand working faster on himself… Even if I wanted to I wouldn’t have been able to look away, not with how he was working his hand over himself, his fist moving over the thick appendage he’d become so known for.  “Fuck.” He let out a final hiss through clenched teeth as he came into his hand, I could see from my spot outside the room he’d come a lot… His body expelling the thick white liquid. I found myself having the urge to push the door open and go help him clean himself up, but I wouldn’t. I’d walk back up the hall quietly and cough as I neared his bedroom, giving him the time to… fix himself. 

And that was exactly what I did… I walked back to the bathroom, slammed the door quietly, but loudly behind me and coughed as I walked down the hallway, trying to ignore the dampness that seeing George leant up against the wall, hand fisting his cock had created in my panties. 

“So how is this going to work?” I asked as I walked into the bedroom, “Are you sleeping on the lounge?” George looked up from his phone, his cheeks were still flushed from his activities, 

“You take the longest showers,” Thankfully not long enough, He looked up and down my body smiling. “Forgot how good you look in my clothes, But no, we’re sharing the bed.” 

“Firstly, I take the appropriate length of a shower, secondly don’t get used to it I’ll be in my own tomorrow night, and thirdly No way,” I shook my head. “I don’t want to wake up with your hand on my boob,” Yes I did, “Or you hand down my pants,” To be honest, I’d love his hand touching me right now, fingertip brushing my clit, pushing inside of me as I moan into the pillow… or his mouth…   

“I promise I’ll be on my best behaviour,” He held his hands up in defence before doing a cross over his chest. “No touching,” He smirked. “Until you ask.” He laid down on the bed, throwing the cover over for me to slid in beside him. When I laid beside him he pulled the cover over my body, leaning across to turn off the light. We laid in the darkness in silence, my mind going over how just minutes before George was wanking, and moaning my name… and fuck it had to be the hottest thing I’d ever seen. 

“Hey George,” I whispered unable to think of anything but his cock. 

“Yeah?” 

“I hate you,” 

“You’re going to hate me, even more, tomorrow when you have to wear the outfit to my fight,” I sat up and looked at him. Even with the minimal lighting, I could see the bright smirk on his face, “Something wrong?” 

“Since when do you double down on fights?”

“When I realised it would mean I get to see you in that itty bitty outfit that much sooner,” 

“I hate you,” I cried laying back against the plush pillows. 

“Sure you do,” He cackled. “Now, I’m going to sleep, please don’t feel me up in my sleep… I know you must be dying to see if the rumours are true, which they are by the way it’s grown since you last saw it, but my cock is on lockdown.”

 Oh, George, I was all too aware of just how much it’d grown. I’d never admit to him I want to do more than touch his cock… maybe put my lips around it… maybe a little cockwarming… maybe just touch it for a while… feel the heaviness in my hand. 

“You wish MacKay,” I groaned falling back into the pillows. 

—————-

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I glared at the small red cheerleading outfit George held out towards me, “I’m not wearing this.” I glared. 

“Yes you are,” He smirked

“No, I’m not, I won’t even be able to bend over without anyone seeing everything,” 

“Just let me know when you plan to bend,” George smirked walking to his bedroom door, “Hurry we leave in five.” 

“Fucking christ,” I screamed as George shut the door. I pulled my clothes off and pulled the outfit on, surprisingly it fit me really well. The skirt brushed mid-thigh, more on the shorter side than the longer side, and the shirt showed off my boobs spectacularly…. Who knows maybe Mackay was doing me a favour and I could get laid in this. 

“Fuck yes,” George groaned as he reopened his bedroom door, “Knew you’d look hot in that,” He spun his finger in the air. “Twirl for me,” I rolled my eyes and did as he said his eyes running over my body. “Brings back memories,” He walked towards me, his hand landing on my hip as he played with the fabric of my skirt. 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah.” He nodded his head, “To the time I fucked my first cheerleader at football camp,” Two can play at this game. 

“Well, Mackay as much as I hate this, you may have done me a favour,”

“Oh?” I nodded my head, biting my lip. 

“Yeah, this might help me find someone to fuck my brains out tonight, Maybe let me go for a bit of a ride.” I smiled innocently turning to go pull my hair into two braids. George had other ideas, he pulled me back against him. His strong hand laying across the exposed skin of my stomach. 

“The only person you’ll be riding tonight will be me.” His breath touched my neck, spreading goosebumps over the skin. “The only person who’ll be fucking your brains out tonight, will be me.” I turned to him, 

“We’ll see about that, I very much doubt you’ll be right,” His fingers pulled down my bottom lip, the pad of his thumb dipping into my mouth, I bit on it gently. “Maybe when I’m in the shower tonight you can fuck your hand again,”

“How did you…”

“You need to learn to shut the door properly G,” I smirked using the nickname I used to call him by. “Nice cock by the way,” I reached down and cupped it, patting it as I pulled away. “Let’s hope the boy who fucks me tonight has one the same.” I pulled away and walked to the door. 

“It’s going to be me, Y/N,” I turned back to him, smirking. 

“Don’t bet on it.” 

—————-

George had finished fighting again, another ‘renowned’ competitor, and I was here doing his bidding as his own personal cheerleader, I cheered when he punched the guy out and I screamed when he was announced the winner. 

“Like your outfit,” I turned as a guy grabbed onto my waist, pulling me back into his chest. “Look’s sexy,” I could smell the cigarettes and beer, and it was a real turn off. 

“Oh yeah,” I needed to find a way out of this situation. 

“Really fucking sexy,” 

“Don’t touch her.” I heard George’s bored tone come from my left, “She’s mine,” 

“Oh really?” The chuckled, “Why don’t we let her decide,” The guy released my waist, and allowed me to step away. 

“Ew,” I muttered under my breath as I looked at him. He was a stoner, long greasy hair that no man or woman would want to touch with a ten-foot pole. 

“Come home with me baby,” He muttered, his tongue wetting his lips. 

“Think I’ll stay with him, and his beyond average sized cock,” I smirked over at George who smiled back at me, “I don’t think you could even give a woman an orgasm without using toys,” 

“Why don’t you let me take you home and we can find out,”

“She’s mine,” George spoke again, “Look at her like that again, and I’m going to punch your eyes out,” 

“Look at her like what? I’m just looking at her,” 

“Like you want to bend her over and fuck her right here,” George grit out stepping towards the guy, I stepped in front of him, hands on his chest. 

“Can’t stop my mind,” His eyes moved down to my lips. “Those beautiful things would look perfect around my cock.”

“I’m going to kill you,” George stormed towards him, I managed to push him away, pushing him against the grimy wall. 

“George,” 

“I’m going back to punch his lights out.” George declared, nodding his head. “Going to punch him fucking out.” He pointed at the guy who was chuckling behind us. A crowd had begun to gather. 

“I’d love to see it, but it won’t help any.” 

“I’m going to kill him,” 

“George let it go,” 

“I can’t.”

“Why not,” I held onto his shoulders, “It’s just me.” His eyes met mine, his body stopped struggling. 

“Exactly,” He hissed. “He said it about you,” 

“He’s jealous,” I whispered, leaning up to his lips. “He’s jealous because he thinks that these lips wrap around you,” My lips brushed his with each word I spoke. 

“No one else,” He repeated. 

“No one else,” I affirmed.

—————-

“It’s kind of creepy when you’re alone,” I muttered as George and I walked into the apartment. Dean and Jane had gone to our dorm room for a private night alone, which meant the intended to spend the whole night fucking. 

“Yeah.” We both stood in the kitchen, looking over the dark apartment. “Your right it is creepy.” George laughed breaking the silence. “You can almost see the ghosts and creeps just lurking.” 

“Why would you say that?” I cried. “Now I’m not going to be able to sleep, George,” 

“Y/N, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”

“How do you know? Have you ever seen one?”

“No, and that’s how I know they're not real.” He smirked. I looked around the kitchen and groaned. “I forgot how much you hated ‘scary’ things,” 

“Remember when we watched house of wax?” 

“Yeah, you couldn’t sleep for a month,” He pursed his lips. “Are you sure it just wasn’t the acting that caused that?”

“No, I’m pretty sure it was because I was afraid someone would grab me in the middle of the night and turn me into a human wax figure,” I said as I sat myself up on the bench letting my legs dangle off the side. 

“No one is going to get you Y/N. Not while I’m around.” George laughed walking towards me. “I promise.” He whispered as he reached me. His hands held onto my hips, pulling me forward so he stood between my legs, the too-short cheerleading skirt bunched up around my thighs. 

“Promise.”

“I promise.” He whispered again. His head ducking down so he could kiss my cheek. I relaxed into him as he gently left a trail of kisses against my jawline, making his way to my ear. “I’m sorry I said anything, are you okay?” He had one arm around me, holding me close. The other was wound in my hair, gripping it gently but harsh enough I was feeling waves of pleasure from my scalp. 

“Yeah,” I nodded our noses brushing, his lips brushed mine ever so softly. Then harder, His lips attach to mine and I moan into his mouth giving his tongue the opening it needed and he takes full advantage, his tongue exploring my mouth. He brings his hand up to grasp my chin and holds me in place. “G,” I whimper as his lips move from mine down to my neck, as I pull the cotton shirt he had on up, “Off.” I pleaded pushing him away. His shirt was gone a second later. 

“Tell me it’s me you picture,” George groaned his hands gripping my skin, 

“What?”

“When someone’s between these fucking legs, tell me it’s you,” 

“Always you,” I nod, “Always picture you.” 

“I’m gonna fuck you,” George says matter-of-factly, pulling me off the bench. “I’m going to fuck you, and you’re going to see why none of those guys can do it like I can,” He spun me around and pushed me against the island, “And I’m going to remember why none of those girls were as good as you,” I heard the zip of his pants undoing, the belt clacking as it hit the tiles on the floor. 

“George,” 

“Did you enjoy it?” His hands went to the skirt, pulling it down slowly, “Them other guys fucking you while you pretended it was me?” 

“We weren’t together,” I cried out as George pushed inside of me, fuck his cock felt fantastic. 

“You think I don’t know we’re not together?” He gives a sharp thrust, causing me to suck in a breath. I look over my shoulder and I swear I nearly came from the sight alone, he was holding onto my shoulder, and my hip using me. “I think about it every fucking day.” His teeth gripped his bottom lip as he bottomed out inside me. 

“George,” 

“And it drives me insane. Do you think I like seeing you with other guys?” I push against George, managing to break free enough to push him to the floor, I sit on him, his cock back inside me, as I hold his hands up above his head while my hips circle on his beyond above average cock. 

“You think I like to see you with other girls?” I circled my hips faster, chasing my own release. 

“Easy solution then,” George slipped his hands-free, grabbing my hips and pounding up into me. “I won’t fuck anyone else if you don’t fuck anyone else?” 

“George,” I moaned as he hit my g-spot. “Need to come,”

“Say yes, and I’ll make you come,” 

“George,” His fingers dropped to my clit, pressing against it. My body shivering against his, “Touch me,” 

“Say yes,” 

“Yes,” I whispered as his hand began to rub, my body took over rocking back and forth on his cock, using him as I chased my own high. 

“So fucking perfect, always so fucking perfect,” He groaned his left hand gripping my hip. “Gonna come baby?” I nodded not trusting my voice to answer. “Wanna feel it again, feel you clenched around me,”

“I’m gonna,” I cried a tear falling from my eye as my head nodded uncontrollably as my body released. I cried out as George continued to fuck into me, “Need you in me,” I whimpered dropping down to his ear. “Need it.” 

“Gonna give it to you,” His grip tightened as he came, I felt it. Him inside me coating my walls with his come. “Fuck,” He pushed the hair off my face as we lay connected on his kitchen floor. “Give me five minutes and we’re fucking again,” 

[upstartcrow42]

Nandor for the character ask meme

I’ve done Nandor before, but I will do him again (lol, phrasing).

Sexuality Headcanon: Pansexual all day everyday, but had to hide it as a human. I feel like at times he thought he was hiding it well, but it was very obvious to other people around him. Maybe he was overcompensating by having so many wives and concubines, or maybe he just liked having a lot of choices and “vessels” for potential heirs.

Gender Headcanon: Cisgender male. I can maybe see him dressing up in more “feminine” clothing, especially for a roleplay scenario.

A ship I have with said character: Last time I talked alot about Nadja/Nandor and my Andrakis/Nandor stuff, so I’ll steer from that this time. I love Nandor/Guillermo of course. I love Nandor coming to realize he’s in love with Guillermo and then acting completely stupid around him. The whole big Fake Dating fic on Ao3 was so lovely and I think set up a lot of tropes other writers use (hello VCS). I also am a huge can of the SFAA AU where they’re married because of a political alliance, but it’s just as frustrating because Nandor won’t admit he’s actually in heart love with his human husband. Also, Guillermo has a lot of chutzpah in this version. He’s very confident and it’s so fun. I’m also a huge fan of “They’ve been a couple all along” fics, but are hiding their relationship from the cameras because it would be taboo or something.

I also have a hankering for Lilith/Nandor after I saw someone share some art of them. It was a WIP, but still, very nice. Also, I’ve been dabbling with Silvia/Nandor because the cursed thought came to my mind and now that I’ve written one chapter, I ship it, lol. (Watch this actually happen in the show as a joke since Nandor is looking for love. Guillermo would be so mad.)

A BROTP I have with said character: I talked about Colin last time, and that’s still my favorite. I would love to see him have some more vampire friends though. Maybe him and Laszlo having some “guy time” but it’s super awkward because Laszlo sees himself as an “in-tell-leck-tu-aaaalllll” and sees Nandor as a plebeian. Or maybe Nandor has some human friend he refuses to eat, like some cute little old man librarian at the local library and they just talk about books and such.

A NOTP I have with said character: I’ll pretty much read and ship anything, but I do have things that I don’t particularly care for.  Last time it was Topher/Nandor because of how much it would irk/hurt Guillermo. I would also not want Simon/Nandor because Simon is too mean and would be rude to Nandor and Nandor wouldn’t know he’s being mean (too trusting). This is totally unrelated to amazing Dark Gigi story where Nandor was a human familiar to Simon. The ship doesn’t squick me out or anything. I just want Nandor to be happy and I don’t think Simon would make him happy, if that makes sense.

A random headcanon: Nandor was not born to be a warrior-king, he was molded into it because of circumstance. He would have rather kept to himself, talked to his horses and dogs, read, draw pictures, and write than go out and fight. He just happened to be very good at doing all those warrior things. This could explain why he’s softened up so much over the years. He could finally leave that life behind once he realized it wasn’t the life for him.

General Opinion over said character: He’s a big old soft himbo who loves animals more than people and makes rules to make life make sense to him. He can break the rules, but other people cannot. I just love him so much and want to give him a big hug.

[azure-steel]

 Instructions: Always repost with the rules, answer the 11 random questions left for you and leave 11 more for the people you tag!

MY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

1.  What to you prefer while writing? Silence? Television? Music? If it’s television or music, what would be playing?

Music, whatever I’m doing be that writing, drawing, working, cleaning, you name it. I need music on in the background. TV tends to distract me and juices just don’t flow if I’m in silence, so the headphones are on and I’m away~

2. What is something specific that you always look for in your writing partners?

Just general friendliness really. I’ll talk to anyone and everyone and I’ll write with them too (even though I’m guilty of being a lil shy and easily intimidated but that’s by the by.) I like to have a good friendly foundation with my writing partners, and typically where there’s a ship involved just so I know what kind of vibe we have, to know my limitations - if any. I like to feel super comfy with the people I write with, and I love to gush about our muses and their shenanigans, without that interactions tend to fall apart for me, you know? And I’m very guilty of not attempting to try again in the future if I feel I can’t come talk to you :/ 

It sucks but it is what it is. 

3. What is your favourite season of the year and why?

I’m European so I LOVE heat. Summer is where I come alive baby~

4. How many blogs do you maintain across Tumblr? Do you roleplay on any other sites?

I have 2 blogs but I only maintain one at a time. I haven’t the patience or the brain to balance more than one muse at a time. I have no idea how you multimuses do it, I really don’t, I envy you ;o;

5. Tell me your favourite food. Least favourite food?

Cake. I love cake, if I could eat nothing else for the rest of my life I would just eat cake. I mean... I’d die but I’d die happy you know? As for least fave foods... sprouts, fuck I HATE brussel sprouts they’re just nasty, soggy horrible leaves and I don’t understand why people go nuts over them at christmas. You can keep em, bleh. 

6. Leave some kind words about one of your mutuals here! Maybe you’ll make someone’s day brighter or help others find a new writing partner!

lol, I’ll pass on this one. I don’t want to upset anyone by giving love to just one person. There are far too many that I heart so bad, even if they don’t heart me so much xD

7. Do you have a favourite ship that you currently write?

I have so many ships that I adore but there’s 2 that I simply cannot get enough of so I will write about both of them!!

Clerith: with my dearest friend @pulchralilium. This ship man... THIS SHIP!! Just, I’d avoided it for so so long and thinking back I’ve no real clue why because these two babs are just MADE for one another. There’s just so much chemistry between my muse and hers and it really doesn’t even matter what verse we plonk them in. They gravitate towards one another and the love they have is undying and so very pure.  I mean they have fun too, teasing each other and generally fooling around. But there is absolutely nothing Cloud would not do for her, he’d die for her if he had to, hands down!!

Cloud x Mercy (Clercy LOL): with the ever so fantastic @mercyxkilling. Okay, it’s difficult to know where to start here because so much has happened already and I am just HERE for this ship. Like, they were ENEMIES when they first meet. They don’t know one another but Cloud works for a rather infamous “Pirate Queen” who sees Mercy as a threat, so that initial footing is already off to a bad start. But things happen, trust builds and feelings develop and they are just... so INTO each other it’s disgusting~ Both of them have had real crappy lives up to this point and they find these missing pieces within each other they never truly realised they were missing until then and watching them come to care for one another, to falling in love, it’s the best thing.  For serious though, these two are the HOTTEST couple in the Milky Way and they damn well know it too~

8. Is there a character that you deeply wish you had a chance to write with one of your own? If so, who and why?

None really come to mind, but I would love to have some father/son interaction with a Denzel one day. I just adore that relationship so much and I always have hours where I hanker for some good wholesome family vibes ;u;

9. Pets! Do you have any pets? Bonus points if you send me pictures of them!

I have two moggies. A black male, Lord Shaxx. He’s an absolute monster~ and Yuni, my oldest best girl. I love my kitties, they are like my kids!

10. What’s your definition of a perfect self care day for yourself?

Playing vidya games, watching crap tv and just generally doing stuff I wanna do at my leasure~

11. If you could recommend a book or television show to anyone reading this, what would it be?

Hmmmm, I haven’t read a decent book for some time, but the A Story Of Fire and Ice series is just amazing. I know GoT got some bad rep for pacing issues and the ending to that show was just TERRIBLE, but the books are a whole different animal and I can’t recommend them enough. 

For TV: Stranger Things. FUCK. THIS SHOW IS SO FUCKING AMAZING YA’LL. If you haven’t watched this already I do HIGHLY recommend!

Tagged: I wasn’t. I stole it from @oflockharted

Tagging: just steal it and say I tagged ya if you want. I ain’t adding my own questions because I’m lazy. 

[loftec]

A Ship Tag Thing!

I was tagged by @captainjowl and I do not know how well I’ll do with this because I’m not sure what I’m doing with the whole shipping malarky but I will try!

List ten ships and then answer some Qs:

1. Ian/Mickey (Shameless)

2. Marcus/Esca (The Eagle)

3. Amy/Jake (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

4. Jack/Anne/Max (Black Sails)

5. Aziraphale & Crowley (Good Omens)

6. 007/Q (Don’t judge me this is my latest random fic-sand, I do not know what happened, I just woke up one day hankering for some 00Q) (Seriously I do not know why.)

7. Sophie/Howl (Howl’s Moving Castle)

8. Jake & Elwood (The Blues Brothers)

9. Troy & Abed (in the morning)

10. Moss & Roy & Jen (The IT Crowd)

1. Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6?

HAH like sometime last week? I don’t know. I think, maybe, because they were talking about Ben Whishaw on The Bechdel Cast and I was thinking about all the films I’ve seen him in and what an interesting career he’s had, and then I was like Bond? Then I rented Goldeneye on YT and realised it probably wasn’t as good as I remembered and then I started reading fic, rather than look up Skyfall and potentially be disappointed by it maybe also not being as much fun as I remember it. People are quite cross about Spectre, and I love it. Sometimes I think I love a cross fandom more than I love a good canon.

2. Have you ever read a fanfic about 2?

Yes. Quite.

3. Has a picture of 4 ever been your screen saver/profile picture/tumblr screen saver?

No... I have a screenshot of a Black Sails opening titles skeleton/statue on my personal computers, and a fan drawing of Flint on my phone. So, close but no cigar. 

4. If 7 were to suddenly break up today, what would your reaction be?

I would think it very silly and not expect it to last.

5. Why is 1 so important?

Can I copy/paste my fic into this answer? : 3

6. Is 9 a funny ship or a serious ship?

Very serious! Troy has the most consistent, interesting, subtle and well-developed arc in Community and his friendship with Abed is at the centre of it. 

7. Out of all the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry?

I probably have to say Ian and Mickey here, don’t I?

8. Out of all your ships listed, which ship has the strongest bond?

Jake & Amy, because B99 is so invested in them communicating and solving their issues. But with notable exception for 00Q, they’ve all got some intensely strong bonds (pun not intended? Was that even a pun?).

9. How many times have you read/watched the 10’s fandom?

I mean, IT Crowd is about this friendship and I have watched IT Crowd many many times, so... many many times?

10. Which ship has lasted the longest?

Lasted longest for them, or lasted longest for me? I was interested in Jake & Elwood’s dynamic loooong before shipping even was in my vocabulary, probably before we even had dial-up internet in my house. But in canon, probably also Jake & Elwood! I feel like I should explain this pick a little? When I was a kid, I loved The Blues Brothers (still do) and I didn’t realise that Jake & Elwood weren’t biological brothers until I was in high school and bought a sort of scrapbook with production design from the film. My headcanon is that they’ve naturally come to label their relationship as ‘brothers’, because it’s the easiest way to explain what they mean to each other. They’re family, they’ve been each other’s constant since childhood. Jake tries to have relationships with other people, but he’s rubbish at it. But he’s good at being Elwood’s brother. Elwood is seemingly not interested in finding anyone else with whom to spend his life. 

(Tiny confession. I originally wrote Sirius/Remus for no 5 and just now realised that I’d probably have more to say about Aziraphale & Crowley (since my interest in Sirius/Remus is entirely fic based) and this probably means that they’ve got Jake & Elwood beat by a few thousand years?)

11. How many times, if ever, has 6 broken up?

I don’t remember much of Spectre, but I don’t think they even flirted as much as fic will have you think. Long live fic!

12. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 or 8?

Hahahahahaha Marcus and Esca. Jake and Elwood would not last long.

13. Did 7 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason?

Only from themselves/each other.

14. Is 4 still together?

Going strong! <3

15. Is 10 canon?

Yes : ) Friendship!

16. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?

I might have to say Crowley & Aziraphale considering them being not mortal and whatnot. 

17. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 5’s ship?

Both heaven and hell. (And if I still had Sirius/Remus as no 5, my answer would be the author.)

18. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond?

I don’t know, defend? Ian and Mickey have certainly needed to be defended, but even they are married now. Mostly I think I’ve got a list of strong partnerships that don’t really need much defending. (Besides 00Q, is my embarrassed protesting a bit defensive? Possibly.)

19. Do you spend hours a day going through 3’s tumblr page?

No. Rare case of canon is enough. Also, I don’t normally stray from my own dashboard on tumblr, so I do not know what that life is like, going through someone’s “tumblr page”. Is that like searching the tag?

20. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all forever, which ship would you sink?

00Q because I still don’t know why I put them on my list, other than to have you laugh at my reading habits. 

This was fun, ta for tagging me! I tag @wideblueskies @the-rat-wins @grumblesandmumbles @beckyharvey29 @damnnmilkovich and anyone else who wants to do it!

[bjorkvespertine]

tagged by barney calhoun slut 2k20 @portaltwo

Rules: Answer 21 questions and tag 21 people you would like to get to know better

Nickname: bro even tho i havent used my birthname in years i still lowkey consider my names to be nicknames. tho one time someone called me “sculls” and then i never saw them again.

Real name: jesus meredith scully (fuck u)

Zodiac: virgo on libra cusp

Favorite musicians or groups: marina diamandis, portishead, unloved, akira yamaoka, fleetwood mac, lizzo, etc

Favorite sports team: that one that beats the other team to death with rocks

Other blogs: i only have sideblogs for urls. old ones that have historic properties and ones i want for the future but just havent gotten around to using yet.

Do I get asks: bitch?

How many blogs do I follow: 21

Tumblr crushes: @lilwaynk <3

Lucky numbers: 3, 5, 6, 7,  1,590,693,200,492,194.09

What am I wearing: nothing. just socks.

Dream vacation: ikea in which i can steal everything with no consequences.

Dream car: subaru crosstrek/subaru outback. i am a whore for reliable suvs

Favorite food: chees its :o)

Drink of choice: water but no matter how much i drink im still dehydrated Instruments: i have a violin. do not ask me if i know how to play it.

Languages: english, basic ASL alphabet, ive been learning french for 5 years and i only know voulez-vous AHA take it now or leave it AHA 

Celebrity crushes: nyle dimarco can smash my ass into a wall any time of the fucking day.

Random facts:

im a slut for survival horrors and would literally play resident evil for my entire life

im really good at driving in video games (unless its mario kart)

im ambidextrous! i use my left hand for eating, cooking, writing, painting, jacking it, and use my right hand for my mouse, drawing, applying eye liner, and the usage of scissors!

although im studying to go into healthcare and hopefully become a surgeon, i truly do have a hankering for acting.

i had a friend hangout week in september and spent a collective 73 hours non stop in calls w @lilwaynk and @mrswakeman

im ripped. my ass is big. my thighs are impeccable. my face was chiseled by the gods. my meat is bigger than yours. 

i’m insecure.

i will tag @bacongun and @fangswaste for this. thank u lilith my love for making me get on tumlr desktop to do this. wash your hands and vote for bernie :)

[madame-kiksters]

Have some Pikachus!!

I had the hankering to draw some cute Pikachus the other day and I finally got around to uploading them to the computer to color v.v

Cowboy Pikachu is thanks to @all-for-one-and-that-one-is-me both for the suggestion and the support! 

And a huge thank you to all my friends for supporting the random Pikachus I uploaded onto the Discord as I finished them xD

[mongolgnome]

Another 21 Questions!!

I was tagged by @laluneinprogress, so, here goes I guess

Rules: Answer 21 questions and tag 21 people you want to get to know better!

Nickname: None’s ever stuck

Zodiac: Tropical Aquarius, Sidereal Capricorn, Chinese Ram 

Height: 5′ 9″ or so 

Last Movie I Saw: Captain Underpants, and, defying all expectations, IT WAS AWESOME 

Last Thing I Googled: Serpents Mound Skyrim. There is no Serpent’s Mound in Skyrim. There is one, however, in my state. My wires cross sometimes. Often. 

Favourite Musician: God, I can’t chose

Song Stuck in my Head: None at the moment  

Other Blogs: ???

Do I Get Asks? I DON’T KNOW AND IF I HAVE I DON’T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THEM 

Blogs I’m Following: 142

Amount of Sleep: Six hours and eleven hours a night, alternating

Lucky Number: 4

What I’m Wearing: Work jeans, stained with paint, holy socks, mismatched, Zombie Tools T shirt, Plato’s Cave sweatshirt

Dream Job: Hermit, Vigilante, or firefighter. Perhaps bladesmith. 

Dream Trip: Finland. Tuscany. St. Petersburg during the White Nights. Maybe Japan, to see Funakoshi’s grave. Maybe some war zone or other to work. 

Favorite Food: I’m really, really not picky. Current hanker is for Dundee marmalade on toast

Play Any Instruments? I play with instruments

Languages: Just barely English 

Favorite Songs: God, I can’t chose

Random Fact: I’ve legally had my name changed. Also, I’ve had my face surgically reconstructed after I ruined it on a concrete wall fifteen years ago. I have a titanium post in my upper jaw, a bit of my lower jaw in my upper jaw, and a panoramic X-ray of my skull lying around somewhere. I used to draw; I haven’t in a long time. 

Describe Yourself as Aesthetic Things: I am a young child with old eyes, dripping blood, limbs flayed, bones broken, muscles sliced and cloven to shreds. I’m a figurine of a tarnished brass horse salvaged from a trash heap in a back alley. I’m a black nylon duffel bag hung from a chimney with care, instead of a Hanukkah stocking. I’m Arthur the Aardvark’s clenched fist, restraining a violent impulse. I’m a military surplus cot in an unfinished basement, a cold McGangbang, an empty bottle of whisky, I’m scrounging in other people’s ashtrays for a spare drag of forgotten tobacco. I’m a piss-soaked book with an uncompromisingly good story. I see the beauty in life, I’m in incredible pain and I just won’t give myself a break. 

I tag anyone who would like to answer these questions!! @gothicgallbladder, @gothicganja, @thanatopolis, whenever you get out of jail, @ratfluid and @ anyone who feels the need.  Postscript: I don’t know how to turn bold text on and off. It just sort of happens, Okay?

[isitkpop]

Unexplainable Emotion Game

So, I felt like  creating a new kind of game that would spark up my K-Pop writing spirit. ~ Admin Chas

So, the way how this will go is almost the same as my other games. Pick an emotions and let me know what member OR ship you would like for me to write!

I do have limitations for groups that I will do For this game specifically. THis is because some of the groups that I have on my Masterlist, are groups that I still don’t fully know. So, I’m putting a group limit on here. Please choose a member OR ship from the groups below (the emotion list will be below also.)

It’s under the cut since it’s lonnnnnggg

Groups:

A.C.E

BlackPink

BTS

Day6

EXO

GOT7

Infinite

Seventeen

Emotions! (W/Definitions. There’s 40 to choose from xD)

Onism - n. the awareness of how little of the world you’ll experience. Imagine standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die—and all because, as the arrow on the map helpfully points out, you are here.

Mal de Coucou - n. a phenomenon in which you have an active social life but very few close friends—people who you can trust, who you can be yourself with, who can help flush out the weird psychological toxins that tend to accumulate over time—which is a form of acute social malnutrition in which even if you devour an entire buffet of chitchat, you’ll still feel pangs of hunger.

Sonder - n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.

Hanker Sore - adj. finding a person so attractive it actually kinda pisses you off.

Chrysalism - n. the amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm, listening to waves of rain pattering against the roof like an argument upstairs, whose muffled words are unintelligible but whose crackling release of built-up tension you understand perfectly.

Altschmerz - n. weariness with the same old issues that you’ve always had—the same boring flaws and anxieties you’ve been gnawing on for years, which leaves them soggy and tasteless and inert, with nothing interesting left to think about, nothing left to do but spit them out and wander off to the backyard, ready to dig up some fresher pain you might have buried long ago.

Occhiolism - n. the awareness of the smallness of your perspective, by which you couldn’t possibly draw any meaningful conclusions at all, about the world or the past or the complexities of culture, because although your life is an epic and unrepeatable anecdote, it still only has a sample size of one, and may end up being the control for a much wilder experiment happening in the next room.

Ambedo - n. a kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee—briefly soaking in the experience of being alive, an act that is done purely for its own sake.

Nodus Tollens - n. the realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore—that although you thought you were following the arc of the story, you keep finding yourself immersed in passages you don’t understand, that don’t even seem to belong in the same genre—which requires you to go back and reread the chapters you had originally skimmed to get to the good parts, only to learn that all along you were supposed to choose your own adventure.

Liberosis - n. the desire to care less about things—to loosen your grip on your life, to stop glancing behind you every few steps, afraid that someone will snatch it from you before you reach the end zone—rather to hold your life loosely and playfully, like a volleyball, keeping it in the air, with only quick fleeting interventions, bouncing freely in the hands of trusted friends, always in play.

Vemödalen - n. the frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist—the same sunset, the same waterfall, the same curve of a hip, the same closeup of an eye—which can turn a unique subject into something hollow and pulpy and cheap, like a mass-produced piece of furniture you happen to have assembled yourself.

Kairosclerosis - n. the moment you realize that you’re currently happy—consciously trying to savor the feeling—which prompts your intellect to identify it, pick it apart and put it in context, where it will slowly dissolve until it’s little more than an aftertaste.

Vellichor - n. the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time—filled with thousands of old books you’ll never have time to read, each of which is itself locked in its own era, bound and dated and papered over like an old room the author abandoned years ago, a hidden annex littered with thoughts left just as they were on the day they were captured.

Rückkehrunruhe - n. the feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid just days ago—which makes you wish you could smoothly cross-dissolve back into everyday life, or just hold the shutter open indefinitely and let one scene become superimposed on the next, so all your days would run together and you’d never have to call cut.

Nighthawk - n. a recurring thought that only seems to strike you late at night—an overdue task, a nagging guilt, a looming and shapeless future—that circles high overhead during the day, that pecks at the back of your mind while you try to sleep, that you can successfully ignore for weeks, only to feel its presence hovering outside the window, waiting for you to finish your coffee, passing the time by quietly building a nest.

Dead Reckoning - n. to find yourself bothered by someone’s death more than you would have expected, as if you assumed they would always be part of the landscape, like a lighthouse you could pass by for years until the night it suddenly goes dark, leaving you with one less landmark to navigate by—still able to find your bearings, but feeling all that much more adrift.

Pâro - n. the feeling that no matter what you do is always somehow wrong—that any attempt to make your way comfortably through the world will only end up crossing some invisible taboo—as if there’s some obvious way forward that everybody else can see but you, each of them leaning back in their chair and calling out helpfully, colder, colder, colder.

Midsummer - n. a feast celebrated on the day of your 26th birthday, which marks the point at which your youth finally expires as a valid excuse—when you must begin harvesting your crops, even if they’ve barely taken root—and the point at which the days will begin to feel shorter as they pass, until even the pollen in the air reminds you of the coming snow.

Adronitis - n. frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone—spending the first few weeks chatting in their psychological entryway, with each subsequent conversation like entering a different anteroom, each a little closer to the center of the house—wishing instead that you could start there and work your way out, exchanging your deepest secrets first, before easing into casualness, until you’ve built up enough mystery over the years to ask them where they’re from, and what they do for a living.

Rigor Samsa - n. a kind of psychological exoskeleton that can protect you from pain and contain your anxieties, but always ends up cracking under pressure or hollowed out by time—and will keep growing back again and again, until you develop a more sophisticated emotional structure, held up by a strong and flexible spine, built less like a fortress than a cluster of tree houses.

Silience - n. the kind of unnoticed excellence that carries on around you every day, unremarkably—the hidden talents of friends and coworkers, the fleeting solos of subway buskers, the slapdash eloquence of anonymous users, the unseen portfolios of aspiring artists—which would be renowned as masterpieces if only they’d been appraised by the cartel of popular taste, who assume that brilliance is a rare and precious quality, accidentally overlooking buried jewels that may not be flawless but are still somehow perfect.

Fitzcarraldo - n. an image that somehow becomes lodged deep in your brain—maybe washed there by a dream, or smuggled inside a book, or planted during a casual conversation—which then grows into a wild and impractical vision that keeps scrambling back and forth in your head like a dog stuck in a car that’s about to arrive home, just itching for a chance to leap headlong into reality.

Keyframe - n. a moment that seemed innocuous at the time but ended up marking a diversion into a strange new era of your life—set in motion not by a series of jolting epiphanies but by tiny imperceptible differences between one ordinary day and the next, until entire years of your memory can be compressed into a handful of indelible images—which prevents you from rewinding the past, but allows you to move forward without endless buffering.

Gnossienne - n. a moment of awareness that someone you’ve known for years still has a private and mysterious inner life, and somewhere in the hallways of their personality is a door locked from the inside, a stairway leading to a wing of the house that you’ve never fully explored—an unfinished attic that will remain maddeningly unknowable to you, because ultimately neither of you has a map, or a master key, or any way of knowing exactly where you stand.

Anecdoche - n. a conversation in which everyone is talking but nobody is listening, simply overlaying disconnected words like a game of Scrabble, with each player borrowing bits of other anecdotes as a way to increase their own score, until we all run out of things to say.

Catoptric Tristesse - n. the sadness that you’ll never really know what other people think of you, whether good, bad or if at all—that although we reflect on each other with the sharpness of a mirror, the true picture of how we’re coming off somehow reaches us softened and distorted, as if each mirror was preoccupied with twisting around, desperately trying to look itself in the eye.

Anemoia - n. nostalgia for a time you’ve never known. Imagine stepping through the frame into a sepia-tinted haze, where you could sit on the side of the road and watch the locals passing by. Who lived and died before any of us arrived here, who sleep in some of the same houses we do, who look up at the same moon, who breathe the same air, feel the same blood in their veins—and live in a completely different world.

Mimeomia - n. the frustration of knowing how easily you fit into a stereotype, even if you never intended to, even if it’s unfair, even if everyone else feels the same way—each of us trick-or-treating for money and respect and attention, wearing a safe and predictable costume because we’re tired of answering the question, “What are you supposed to be?”

Monachopsis - n. the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place, as maladapted to your surroundings as a seal on a beach—lumbering, clumsy, easily distracted, huddled in the company of other misfits, unable to recognize the ambient roar of your intended habitat, in which you’d be fluidly, brilliantly, effortlessly at home.

Semaphorism - n. a conversational hint that you have something personal to say on the subject but don’t go any further—an emphatic nod, a half-told anecdote, an enigmatic ‘I know the feeling’—which you place into conversations like those little flags that warn diggers of something buried underground: maybe a cable that secretly powers your house, maybe a fiberoptic link to some foreign country.

Énouement - n. the bittersweetness of having arrived here in the future, where you can finally get the answers to how things turn out in the real world—who your baby sister would become, what your friends would end up doing, where your choices would lead you, exactly when you’d lose the people you took for granted—which is priceless intel that you instinctively want to share with anybody who hadn’t already made the journey, as if there was some part of you who had volunteered to stay behind, who was still stationed at a forgotten outpost somewhere in the past, still eagerly awaiting news from the front.

Daguerreologue - n. an imaginary interview with an old photo of yourself, an enigmatic figure who still lives in the grainy and color-warped house you grew up in, who may well spend a lot of their day wondering where you are and what you’re doing now, like an old grandma whose kids live far away and don’t call much anymore.

Fata Organa - n. a flash of real emotion glimpsed in someone sitting across the room, idly locked in the middle of some group conversation, their eyes glinting with vulnerability or quiet anticipation or cosmic boredom—as if you could see backstage through a gap in the curtains, watching stagehands holding their ropes at the ready, actors in costume mouthing their lines, fragments of bizarre sets waiting for some other production.

Avenoir - n. the desire that memory could flow backward. We take it for granted that life moves forward. But you move as a rower moves, facing backwards: you can see where you’ve been, but not where you’re going. And your boat is steered by a younger version of you. It’s hard not to wonder what life would be like facing the other way…

Kenopsia - n. the eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that’s usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet—a school hallway in the evening, an unlit office on a weekend, vacant fairgrounds—an emotional afterimage that makes it seem not just empty but hyper-empty, with a total population in the negative, who are so conspicuously absent they glow like neon signs.

The Tilt Shift - n. a phenomenon in which your lived experience seems oddly inconsequential once you put it down on paper, which turns an epic tragicomedy into a sequence of figures on a model train set, assembled in their tiny classrooms and workplaces, wandering along their own cautious and well-trodden paths—peaceable, generic and out of focus.

Jouska - n. a hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head—a crisp analysis, a cathartic dialogue, a devastating comeback—which serves as a kind of psychological batting cage where you can connect more deeply with people than in the small ball of everyday life, which is a frustratingly cautious game of change-up pitches, sacrifice bunts, and intentional walks.

Ecstatic Shock - n. the surge of energy upon catching a glance from someone you like—a thrill that starts in your stomach, arcs up through your lungs and flashes into a spontaneous smile—which scrambles your ungrounded circuits and tempts you to chase that feeling with a kite and a key.

Heartworm - n. a relationship or friendship that you can’t get out of your head, which you thought had faded long ago but is still somehow alive and unfinished, like an abandoned campsite whose smoldering embers still have the power to start a forest fire.

Xeno - n. the smallest measurable unit of human connection, typically exchanged between passing strangers—a flirtatious glance, a sympathetic nod, a shared laugh about some odd coincidence—moments that are fleeting and random but still contain powerful emotional nutrients that can alleviate the symptoms of feeling alone.

[blschaos3000-blog]

Its 5:00 pm humid/rainy

Welcome to “8 Questions with….”

For this edition of “8 Questions with….” I decided to take a different route,instead of finding my interview guest on FB,I decided I would select an interesting person from Twitter.  As I was scrolling my wall,I started noticing a handle called “!!Coby Creatiions!! and decided to check it out and see who this Coby was. My first instinct was Coby was a artist and I have been hankering to talk with another artist ever since I chatted with Louie De Martinis but artists are hard to pin down (yo,Meaghan!!) due to the nature of their work. So asked I asked Coby if he would be willing to talk about his work and himself,I wasn’t expecting such  a quick reply when he “Sure”. I found Coby to be a very pleasant and cheerful person to chat with and that while he is a very good artist as shown by two pieces in the interview,his main passion is writing. He is currently in the middle of writing a novel which is never a easy task and when it gets a little heavy,he pops out for a little California sun. Coby recently started a blog and has started posting his stories and updates there. I provided a link below.  But before you head for the blog…slow down and read my interview with Coby Crawford of Coby’s Creations.

  Please introduce yourself and tell us about latest project

My family calls me Coby and my friends call me Crawf(ord). Twenty-eight years old, living the slow life in Ocean Beach, California. I’m from the small town of Bethesda, Ohio. Moved to Columbus and then here to separate myself from distractions and really get into my work. My main focus is on writing, although I do some illustrations and teach a paint ‘n’ sip class here in San Diego. My most recent finished project is a short story titled “There’s Something in The Woods” but I’m currently in the editing stages of a novel I’ve been working on for a while now. It consumes most of my time.

What was it like growing up in your home? Were your folks readers/artists as well?

My parents weren’t very artistic. I have a feeling that my dad could be if he ever tried, but he’s a very proper man. Not a lot of expression—a bunch of grayscale clothes. But he’s very intelligent and likes all the greats like Lord of The Rings and Star Wars. My mom is the total opposite of my dad. We like to go out and have fun together. We like a lot of the same music, so we hit up concerts together. My older brother is a very good artist. He has great tastes in films and good stories. So, the fact that he loved my novel makes me confident.

Who were your favorite writers/artists growing up? Which came first to you…writing or drawing?

If I had to pick one, I guess I would say Dickens. But, my love for writing didn’t develop as traditionally as most. It started as a love for film. I would always watch these movies, but really get into the story—which ones had the most character growth or took me on an emotional ride? If someone died, and I felt heartache because the writer and, in this case the director, had somehow managed to make me emotionally attached to a character in two hours of watching a story he just made up—I think that’s amazing. My drawing came far before my writing, although it didn’t necessarily come before my story telling. I can remember sitting at my grandma’s coffee table, not old enough to be in school yet. I would draw things that I made up. Maybe a creature from another planet. Maybe a foe for Batman, from a Batman story I made in my head. That’s just a random example.

 Is there a difference between an illustrator and an artist? If so, what are they?

In my opinion, yes. Artist is a very broad term. Maybe I use it too generally, but I’d call anyone who creatively expresses themselves an artist. An illustrator is just a more specific type of artist that specializes in illustration. You don’t have to be an illustrator to be an artist, but you do have to be an artist to be an illustrator. 

 What scares you?

I fear never feeling like I succeeded as much as I could have, but it wouldn’t make any sense to have goals shy of the moon. I am striving for the absolute best version of myself. I am writing because I want to become one of the best. I don’t fear death, just not accomplishing as much in a lifetime as I could have. Sometimes it drives me, but it’s also a bad mindset. Sometimes I can’t enjoy things like going to a movie or to the beach, because I’m not revising a short story so another one can come sooner rather than later.

Where do you get your ideas from?

They come from all over the place. The idea for the novel I’m writing came to me when I was at the Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus. I was watching Ludacris with my brother and girlfriend at the time and I looked over and told them the most random thought for this fiction adventure. That was the seed, then the rest of the story came later. I don’t fish for ideas. I don’t sit around and think what a good story would be. They’re just somehow there one day. I could be driving down the road, see something on a sign that gets me thinking about a topic and then suddenly, I have a great story idea.

What is a typical day for you like, creatively wise? Walk us through a day when are you are working on a project?

Every morning I wake up and promote Coby Creations on my social media platforms from my phone. Then, once I’m alive and moving, I’ll be making a smoothie and coffee in the kitchen, shower and out the door. I can not stay at home if I want to accomplish a lot. I’ll be getting up and looking in the fridge or just creating ways to distract myself. I like to go to this local coffee shop, set up shop at a table and go to work for hours. There will be a pen and notebook beside my laptop. I’ll be typing and then a simple detail or sentence will pop into my head that would make the story better and I’ll write “go find where Chris said this and change it to that.” I’ll know when it’s time to stop. I’ll be forcing words onto the page, when before they would spill onto it. At that point, when I feel like the writing is done for the day, I’ll read and study the works of others for inspiration.

 How do you challenge yourself creatively?

I challenge myself to get weird with it. Stories are only crazy until they’re successful. I don’t limit my creativity. For the longest time I was afraid to show my work because I was afraid of what others might think of it. Some of the stuff I write can be out there, but it’s something special when I let go and write like nobody would see it. Then, I post it on the internet for everyone to see. It’s very freeing to express yourself in your work and show it to the world. I think everyone should be expressing themselves all the time. But you also must be brave enough to face the feedback and criticism. 

 Which is in a better place right now in your opinion: Horror novels or horror films and why?

I would have said novels for the longest time, but at this moment I’m going to say films. I’ve seen some great directors emerge recently like Ari Aster and Jordan Peele. There will always be the ones banking on the possessed dolls or a remake of a remake of some old slasher to sell tickets, but I’ve been very impressed with the originality in some of these horror films in the last half decade. 

 Which three artists/illustrators are tearing it up today and what makes them great?

I don’t know a lot of illustrators by name. They never get the credit they deserve. For an example—I was watching Into the Spider verse and couldn’t quit thinking about how amazing the artist behind that must have been. But unless you read the credits, you’ll never know. I don’t give my input on topics I’m not knowledgeable about. But, since you said artists, I’m going to use it as the broad term I talked about earlier and spin the question. Jack White just released new work. He’s one of the best musicians to ever do it. Tarantino’s new film looks like it’s going to be incredible. He’s pretty much owned the game for fifteen years. And how about George R.R. Martin having the world wrapped up in his story? They’re all original. They aren’t doing anything but being themselves. 

 The cheetah and I are coming to watching a showing of your work but we are a day early and you are now playing tour guide. What are we doing? 

Ocean Beach is the most down to Earth place you will ever step. We’ll take a walk up to Newport Avenue and hit up Hodad’s—the greatest burger joint ever! You’ll get a wave from 9 out of 10 people we pass. Then we can go to a crowded beach full of people from across the world, mostly in San Diego for the surf. Or we can go to one of the numerous secluded beaches around the city where there’s less noise and more relaxation. If your friends with me then you like to go out Saturday night. We might head down to the Gaslamp District. But if it’s a random Tuesday we might watch the sunset and waves from my patio and order a pizza from Poma’s. It’s fire!

  I like to thank Coby for his time,his talent and his words. I’m posting links to his Twitter and his new blog so you can keep up with this very talented young man.

You can follow Coby on his Twitter here.

You can also enjoy Coby’s creativity at his blog “Coby’s Creations“

Oh yeah,you can follow us as well on Facebook and Twitter.

Feel free to drop a comment or three……

8 Questions with……………writer/artist Coby Crawford Its 5:00 pm humid/rainy Welcome to "8 Questions with...." For this edition of "8 Questions with...." I decided to take a different route,instead of finding my interview guest on FB,I decided I would select an interesting person from Twitter. 

[flaggums]

tag tag tag

rules: always repost the rules; answer the 11 random questions posted for you; create 11 new ones and tag 11 people!!

followin’ up from @smallboyonherbike !

1. Favorite book of 2016? okay this is embarassing because i read a record low number of books this year -- like, three that i remember. but referring to my goodreads, i’d have to say the one i liked the most was od magic, but i also reread matilda for fun and that’s always a good time.

2. If you could go back in time and yell at one person to try to change all the bullshit that happened this year, what moment would you choose? i’m not sure. my first instinct is to go back to some point and knock some sense into archer (my ex) before things got really messed up, but i don’t think that’d help at all. so i honestly don’t know, i’d probably end up yelling at myself.

3. Dressing up your pets: cute or cruel? cute! 

4. Song that describes your year? half burn from hamilton and half wait for it also from hamilton because that’s who i am apparently.

5. Favorite scent? also probably a boring answer because i’m finding out i have chemical sensitivities and really can’t use much of anything scented anymore... but in the long history of my life, grapefruit has always been the favorite.

6. What was your first fandom? sailor moon!!!

7. Any New Years resolutions? yes and no. i’m doing some goal setting tonight and tomorrow, so i can’t say their clarified yet -- but i’m planning on taking better care of my self, particularly my mental health. i have already switched a provider and have lessened responsibilities to help with this. i also just want to be more active, not necessarily lose weight, but just be moving around more often.

8. If you had a reality tv show style catchphrase, what would it be? try hard & believe in yourself!!!

9. Do you check your horoscope and/or believe in it? And what’s your sign? (Moon and rising too if you know them) I am a gemini/cancer cusp with a virgo rising! I check it when I remember, and though I think some of it is true and often it does relate to me and my personality, I don’t let it determine decisions or relationships or day-to-day actions tbh.

10. Dream vacation? honestly i don’t know. i’ve been hankering to go to new zealand or australia lately, but i’ve also really wanted to go to the UK for a loooooooong time.

11. Favorite quote? “If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MY QUESTIONS FOR Y’ALL:

1. What is your favorite breed of dog? (If you aren’t a dog person, I can settle for favorite animal.)

2. What were the three favorite moments of 2016?

3. What is your favorite art form (music, drawing, dance, painting, ceramics, acting, woodwork, photography, etc.)?

4. Dollar Tree or Dollar General?

5. What is one thing you’ve always wanted to do in life?

6. If you were a vegetable, what vegetable would you be?

7. Minimalist or Pack Rat?

8. What’s some advice you would tell your younger self? If it’s very specific in age/time, what is that?

9. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

10. What is your favorite book? It can be your favorite book of all time or of this year.

11. What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

Anyone can answer, but I’ll tag these of my dudes: @tenebraetrash @alphacarrotein @hella-of-niflheim @starcrossed-fox @coalmind @vajeentambourine @abbeyamethyst @s0craticjunkiewannabe @bookishsnowwhite @thefabulousjulie @yoheyshea

[thatguysamaniac-blog]

Flame rounds lets us fulfil our yearning passion to be Frank Skinner, taking on his role as Judge, Jury, and Executioner in Room 101. We will be presenting a case for a particular Trope/Character/Item/UI element that pisses us off and then trying to justify whether this thing should go into room 101 (get flame roundsded?). Richie: Last time on Flame rounds we found a verdict was suspended, due to a creepy revelation.  Yo Cunzy, what do you got for us this time? Cunzy1 1: Right, we had a bit of a discussion already about what the collective name for these things are. This week, I want to consider those publisher 'Social Club' type websites that are annoyingly advertised on menu screens (even after you sign up) with the incentive being that your data will be harvested, sold or just leaked logging into this side app (link your Facebook, Twitter, Google and Insta accounts for no reason!) rewards you with 'icons', 'epic loot' and probably a smattering of one of the fourteen in game currencies. It's your Resident Evil. Net, Ubisoft Club, Rockstar Social Club and the fourteen different kinds of Nintendo ones currently out there. Now, here's why I want to Flames Rounds them, it's not the principle of them, it's that with rare exception they're all a bit crap. A bit half-arsed. Often they're completely unintuitive, requiring speculative clicking around to try to find where 'challenges' or 'unlockables' are. There's almost always an extremely limited social element to them as well that rewards Tribes/Clans/Buddies/Friends but ends up being just you and that one random person who requested you and then never logged back in. So why flames rounds them rather than just ignore them all together? Because occasionally, there's some really cool stuff buried in the dung pile of these social platforms or whatever you want to call them, and I imagine a lot of people miss out on them altogether. Richie: Maybe you are just too old to understand how websites work nowadays? Cunzy1 1: I wish that were the case instead I think the obfuscating UI on many of these is a deliberate attempt to mask how shallow they are. Richie: What "really cool stuff" have you missed out on, or had to fight to find? Cunzy1 1: Well in the pre-'share' button era these HADSCA were often the only way to take screenshots and unfortunately I think this is where all my artful photos of dead people are forever stranded thanks to a throwaway email address I signed up with now lost to the mist of time. Resident Evil Revelations 2 has a loot-box-lite thing that rewards you for logging in daily (almost not worth the effort). Although Nintendo have scaled back recently limited edition soundtrack CDs and other high quality merchandise was only available through the Nintendo S.T.A.R.S (not that one) catalogue and we've picked up more than one 'free' game with platinum/gold points points on the My Nintendo account. Then there's all the shiny legendary Pokemon International Tournament giveaways we keep missing on the Pokemon Global Link. You've been looking at Steam Cards and there's a whole Square Enix Members Club. There are some cool tracked stats buried in here, for example I know that my Splatoon 2 lifetime Octoling inking covers the same area as the CERN Large Hadron collider. And these are just the ones I know of/use! Richie: If you could improve one thing about video game microsites what would it be and why? Cunzy1 1: Tricky. It's a toss up between better optimisation for mobile, just general UI improvements or actually invest in them to genuinely have a compelling reason to come back to them. Richie: On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your experience in this blog post? Cunzy1 1: 3 Richie: As part of our ongoing satisfaction program can you please enter your card details? Cunzy1 1: Sure, do you want my Blockbuster card and expired Subway stamp card too? Can never be sure how much information to give you! Richie: As a cog in our machine what morsel of dopamine type of "epic loot" would keep you hooked be most appealing to you? Cunzy1 1: I'll have to answer honestly here and say probably something that I already have but with a bigger level/damage/rarity number on it Richie: For a chance to enter our prize draw, please let us know, your pet's name, your mother's Maiden name, the town you were born and your CVV number. Cunzy1 1: Oh cool, I've been hankering for a new forum icon since 1996*. Let's see. Robofish, Alexa, Raccoon City and L337. Richie: To reset your password please click here Cunzy1 1: I do need three more Advance Wars Dual Strike wallpapers**. Richie: 100% No brainier, of course these get flame-rounded! Linking your game to any additional site/microsite platform etc. beyond the already compulsory sign-ins is just going to spread discomfort and annoyance. Games don't last forever and these sites just end up poorly maintained holding a silly domain name for some reason. They are a underhanded scummy way to grab your details cuz someone in "marketing" says its important. It is pursued in the name of "engagement" is it bollocks!  Fuck these sites. Please also sign in to https://ift.tt/2TJuqdF and express your distaste for these sites, you too can get a wallpaper for your original iphone in a resolution that is no longer pertinent, best part is that its already a picture we used for promo art, but trimmed down to portrait, and called it exclusive wallpaper! * Secretly really glad these existed actually for the images on this post. Err thanks Resident Evil.Net actually. ** I don't. I still have a dozen from the good old S.T.A.R.S (not that kind) catalogue days and I've never used them. Because they're desktop wallpapers for Birkin's sake.

http://www.thatguys.co.uk/2019/03/flame-rounds-half-arsed-data-gathering.html

[eddiejpoplar]

Inside the Automotive Extravagance of the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours

Not far from the bustle of Paris is an idyllic, lake-encircled swath of old world opulence. Chantilly, France is home to a sprawling château, painstakingly manicured gardens, and the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours, which descends upon this haven of serenity every September (the 2017 edition runs this weekend), dotting the grounds with an abundance of classic automotive excess, from remarkably preserved turn-of-the-century relics and elegant sleds from the golden age of coach building to 20th century supercars and future concepts.

Chantilly challenges the world’s top Concours d’Elegance— think, Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este, Amelia Island—with an alternate spin on the celebration of classic and vintage automobilia. But does the world really need another high-end car gathering, and can the French newbie compete with the big boys? We embedded into the annual event and rubbed elbows with automotive aristocracy to get the scoop on this historic car gathering and find out.

Posh Proceedings

A world-class concours would be nothing without a strong sense of occasion, and Chantilly is no exception to that unwritten rule. In fact, the guidelines are practically spelled out in the printed program, which includes a rather explicit dress code: “A tight and/or short leather dress won’t make the woman wearing it the most noticeable guest,” the text advises, “neither will a deep cleavage nor nails painted in three different colors.” I witnessed a sloppily dressed fan turned away at the gate, proof that Chantilly’s dress code was not meant to be broken, much in the same way the U.K.’s Goodwood Revival adheres to its mandate of period-correct garb.

That said, Chantilly is closer in mood to Lake Como’s oh-so-Italian Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este than events like The Quail and Pebble Beach, which combine elements of dress-up with a certain sense of California casual. The delta makes sense; Chantilly’s backdrop is Domaine d’Chantilly, a centuries old château that makes Hearst Castle look like a quaint guesthouse.

As the weekend gets underway, cars fill the property by parading past the tranquil waterway and occupying various sections. From rows of natty car club stalwarts like evocative Mercedes-Benz convertibles and midcentury Jaguar sedans to auction offerings that include Bentleys, Porsches, Rolls-Royces and the like, the early arrivals are alluring yet relatively attainable.

However, the main attraction comes Sunday, when a head-turning array of classic exotica makes its way onto the impeccably manicured Le Nôtre Lawns for a dozen or so classes, including the Belles Voitures du Monde (“Most Beautiful Cars in the World”) Concours d’élégance. A black tie-clad crowd assembles on Saturday evening, and a quick survey will reveal familiar faces. In 2016, that crowd included Former Scuderia Ferrari and FIA boss Jean Todt and his wife, actress Michele Yeoh, actor John Malkovich, and sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, who had come fresh off his gold medal winning sprint at the summer Olympics. The glitterati is not surprising; after all, this is automotive event formed by a company that makes watches that can cost as much as half a million dollars.

Exceptional Automotive Eclectica

Chantilly draws a remarkably eclectic field of cars, one that reflects a broad swath of collectors and enthusiasts. Random samplings from last year’s lawn: A row of Schumacher-era Ferrari Formula 1 cars offset by a several 1960s-era Prancing Horse F1 examples; a smattering of Group B rally cars; pre-war beauties from Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Osca, and Talbot-Lago; a coven of Citroens including a gorgeous 1965 Citroen Henry Chapron-bodied DS19 Majesty Spécial; a row of Zagato-bodied road cars, which were part of a Zagato retrospective.

Manufacturers also peddled their not-so-ordinary wares: Mercedes-Benz Classic brought out its restored 540K Streamliner while the modern division showed off its outlandish Maybach 6 concept; BMW dusted off their Mille Miglia Concept Coupe and their fired up an evocative Bimmer plane with their logo projected onto the prop; Bugatti, McLaren and Rolls-Royce also showed off their latest and greatest.

Motorcycles were on hand too, including a smattering of classic and modern Beemers, the debut of the Zagato-bodied MV Agusta F4Z concept, and Midual’s imaginatively ambitious Type 1 naked bike.

While the spectrum of participants is varied enough to offer something for every classic motorhead, the serious contenders for the top spot are often the same players you’ll find competing at Villa d’Este, Pebble Beach, and Amelia Island—there are only so many places for these one percent of one percent cars to end up. Case in point: 2016’s winner, Jon Shirley’s stunning 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta by Touring, also took the top prize at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2008.

(Very Expensive) Watch Origins

Chantilly was launched in 2014 by watchmaker Richard Mille, whose horological creations have been worn by athletes like Felipe Massa, Bubba Watson, and Rafael Nadal. Mille’s wristwatches are wonders of advanced engineering that were developed using real world R&D: they are put through the ringer by athletes during training and competition until they break, enabling Richard Mille’s team to find the weak spots in the tiny movements and re-engineer the watch until they’re durable enough to sustain extraordinary forces like the swing of a golfer’s club, the violence of a Formula 1 driver’s track battle, or the snap of a tennis player’s racket.

“I love to do extreme watches for extreme conditions,” Richard Mille told Automobile. “Philosophically, my watches are very complex but they can be worn in any condition. They are not pieces to be put in the safe waiting for the next generation, they’re watches you put on the wrist and you live with.”

As such, Mille demands that a sponsored athlete doesn’t just pose with the watch for podium and PR photos; he or she must wear them while training and competing. Michael Schumacher famously wanted to partner with Mille until he was told he must wear the watch while driving. With that stipulation, the notoriously rigorous racer opted out and stuck to his tradition of only wearing gloves on his hands.

Richard Mille’s watch movements are remarkable exercises in form and function. Nadal’s timepiece, for instance, is so seemingly weightless, it can float in water and enjoys its status as the world’s lightest automatic wristwatch. In a business where the average mechanical (i.e. self-winding) watch is accurate to within 4 to 8 seconds per day, Mille managed to engineer a piece that keeps time to a remarkable 1.03 seconds per month. By using nanotechnology, ultra-low friction finishes, and techy materials like titanium and carbon fiber—many of the techniques you’ll find in a Formula 1 engine—Richard Mille’s watches are remarkably accurate while also being able to sustain as many as 5,000 Gs of force. They can also be dizzylingly expensive; prices for a Richard Mille wristwatch can easily reach into six figures, and offerings top out with three sapphire tourbillon models priced at $1.9 million apiece.

Room For More

Even if you’re a globetrotting bon vivant who regularly makes the rounds at the world’s top automotive events, it’s hard not to become intoxicated by the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours experience. Beyond the predictable champagne-sipping, pinkies-out scene, the beauty of being surrounded by exceptional vehicles in this gorgeous setting is seductive for virtually anyone with a pulse, let alone a hankering for automotive extremes. Add Chantilly to your concours bucket list, where you can witness one of the most elegant automotive events the world has to offer. But be sure to pack accordingly; those dress codes aren’t messing around.

IFTTT

[jonathanbelloblog]

Inside the Automotive Extravagance of the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours

Not far from the bustle of Paris is an idyllic, lake-encircled swath of old world opulence. Chantilly, France is home to a sprawling château, painstakingly manicured gardens, and the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours, which descends upon this haven of serenity every September (the 2017 edition runs this weekend), dotting the grounds with an abundance of classic automotive excess, from remarkably preserved turn-of-the-century relics and elegant sleds from the golden age of coach building to 20th century supercars and future concepts.

Chantilly challenges the world’s top Concours d’Elegance— think, Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este, Amelia Island—with an alternate spin on the celebration of classic and vintage automobilia. But does the world really need another high-end car gathering, and can the French newbie compete with the big boys? We embedded into the annual event and rubbed elbows with automotive aristocracy to get the scoop on this historic car gathering and find out.

Posh Proceedings

A world-class concours would be nothing without a strong sense of occasion, and Chantilly is no exception to that unwritten rule. In fact, the guidelines are practically spelled out in the printed program, which includes a rather explicit dress code: “A tight and/or short leather dress won’t make the woman wearing it the most noticeable guest,” the text advises, “neither will a deep cleavage nor nails painted in three different colors.” I witnessed a sloppily dressed fan turned away at the gate, proof that Chantilly’s dress code was not meant to be broken, much in the same way the U.K.’s Goodwood Revival adheres to its mandate of period-correct garb.

That said, Chantilly is closer in mood to Lake Como’s oh-so-Italian Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este than events like The Quail and Pebble Beach, which combine elements of dress-up with a certain sense of California casual. The delta makes sense; Chantilly’s backdrop is Domaine d’Chantilly, a centuries old château that makes Hearst Castle look like a quaint guesthouse.

As the weekend gets underway, cars fill the property by parading past the tranquil waterway and occupying various sections. From rows of natty car club stalwarts like evocative Mercedes-Benz convertibles and midcentury Jaguar sedans to auction offerings that include Bentleys, Porsches, Rolls-Royces and the like, the early arrivals are alluring yet relatively attainable.

However, the main attraction comes Sunday, when a head-turning array of classic exotica makes its way onto the impeccably manicured Le Nôtre Lawns for a dozen or so classes, including the Belles Voitures du Monde (“Most Beautiful Cars in the World”) Concours d’élégance. A black tie-clad crowd assembles on Saturday evening, and a quick survey will reveal familiar faces. In 2016, that crowd included Former Scuderia Ferrari and FIA boss Jean Todt and his wife, actress Michele Yeoh, actor John Malkovich, and sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, who had come fresh off his gold medal winning sprint at the summer Olympics. The glitterati is not surprising; after all, this is automotive event formed by a company that makes watches that can cost as much as half a million dollars.

Exceptional Automotive Eclectica

Chantilly draws a remarkably eclectic field of cars, one that reflects a broad swath of collectors and enthusiasts. Random samplings from last year’s lawn: A row of Schumacher-era Ferrari Formula 1 cars offset by a several 1960s-era Prancing Horse F1 examples; a smattering of Group B rally cars; pre-war beauties from Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Osca, and Talbot-Lago; a coven of Citroens including a gorgeous 1965 Citroen Henry Chapron-bodied DS19 Majesty Spécial; a row of Zagato-bodied road cars, which were part of a Zagato retrospective.

Manufacturers also peddled their not-so-ordinary wares: Mercedes-Benz Classic brought out its restored 540K Streamliner while the modern division showed off its outlandish Maybach 6 concept; BMW dusted off their Mille Miglia Concept Coupe and their fired up an evocative Bimmer plane with their logo projected onto the prop; Bugatti, McLaren and Rolls-Royce also showed off their latest and greatest.

Motorcycles were on hand too, including a smattering of classic and modern Beemers, the debut of the Zagato-bodied MV Agusta F4Z concept, and Midual’s imaginatively ambitious Type 1 naked bike.

While the spectrum of participants is varied enough to offer something for every classic motorhead, the serious contenders for the top spot are often the same players you’ll find competing at Villa d’Este, Pebble Beach, and Amelia Island—there are only so many places for these one percent of one percent cars to end up. Case in point: 2016’s winner, Jon Shirley’s stunning 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta by Touring, also took the top prize at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2008.

(Very Expensive) Watch Origins

Chantilly was launched in 2014 by watchmaker Richard Mille, whose horological creations have been worn by athletes like Felipe Massa, Bubba Watson, and Rafael Nadal. Mille’s wristwatches are wonders of advanced engineering that were developed using real world R&D: they are put through the ringer by athletes during training and competition until they break, enabling Richard Mille’s team to find the weak spots in the tiny movements and re-engineer the watch until they’re durable enough to sustain extraordinary forces like the swing of a golfer’s club, the violence of a Formula 1 driver’s track battle, or the snap of a tennis player’s racket.

“I love to do extreme watches for extreme conditions,” Richard Mille told Automobile. “Philosophically, my watches are very complex but they can be worn in any condition. They are not pieces to be put in the safe waiting for the next generation, they’re watches you put on the wrist and you live with.”

As such, Mille demands that a sponsored athlete doesn’t just pose with the watch for podium and PR photos; he or she must wear them while training and competing. Michael Schumacher famously wanted to partner with Mille until he was told he must wear the watch while driving. With that stipulation, the notoriously rigorous racer opted out and stuck to his tradition of only wearing gloves on his hands.

Richard Mille’s watch movements are remarkable exercises in form and function. Nadal’s timepiece, for instance, is so seemingly weightless, it can float in water and enjoys its status as the world’s lightest automatic wristwatch. In a business where the average mechanical (i.e. self-winding) watch is accurate to within 4 to 8 seconds per day, Mille managed to engineer a piece that keeps time to a remarkable 1.03 seconds per month. By using nanotechnology, ultra-low friction finishes, and techy materials like titanium and carbon fiber—many of the techniques you’ll find in a Formula 1 engine—Richard Mille’s watches are remarkably accurate while also being able to sustain as many as 5,000 Gs of force. They can also be dizzylingly expensive; prices for a Richard Mille wristwatch can easily reach into six figures, and offerings top out with three sapphire tourbillon models priced at $1.9 million apiece.

Room For More

Even if you’re a globetrotting bon vivant who regularly makes the rounds at the world’s top automotive events, it’s hard not to become intoxicated by the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours experience. Beyond the predictable champagne-sipping, pinkies-out scene, the beauty of being surrounded by exceptional vehicles in this gorgeous setting is seductive for virtually anyone with a pulse, let alone a hankering for automotive extremes. Add Chantilly to your concours bucket list, where you can witness one of the most elegant automotive events the world has to offer. But be sure to pack accordingly; those dress codes aren’t messing around.

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