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evwuniverse · 1 year ago

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Spiralo - An Immersive Adventure of Creativity and the Mind

As many of you know, I love art and museums. In real life, you will find me at one once a week. I find it essential to be cultured in the arts and find solace in others' imaginations as it sparks the fire in our own. Sometimes when we feel lost or the imagination just flops we just need that little source of inspiration and art in many forms can provide this. A lot of the time museums are free, especially in the virtual realm. In virtual world platforms like Second Life immersive galleries and immersive pieces where you walk through an entire artistic story are prevalent but underappreciated. So many users buy a piece of land and then let their imaginations run wild and create amazing experiences for the community.

One place I've found in my recent exploration is Spiralo. Now at first sight when seeing it in the destination's guide the photo that was advertising it didn't seem like much. But who am I to judge a book by its cover, it's all about the adventure. So guess who hit the teleport button anyway? You got that right, me. I want to tell you about this immersive gallery and some of the things you might be able to experience on your trip to Spiralo.

What Is Spiralo?

Spiralo is an immersive art experience inside of Second Life. This art installation is a cultural complex by the noise-classical music project Tia Rungray. The entire space includes a sound installation hall, a gallery, a cafe, and a shopping floor (I have yet to find the shopping floor after exploring for about an hour, I found everything else!) The staircases are in a spiral hence the name Spiralo and this is symbolic of incorporating the image of everyday life and art and blending it all together in virtual life.

The Sound Installation Hall:

The sounds provided in this experience are quite relaxing, a lot of thought was put into every note and really immersing the user in its surroundings. I highly recommend exploring this space in first person through Mouselook as you will be able to see everything through the eyes of your avatar as if you were actually there in the space. You can find a tree upside-down with squares floating around it and a piano at the bottom. It really does feel like something you would see in a fantasy setting. It almost felt like magic. The really cool part about this room in the installation is the fact that the floor mirrors and reflects the objects. This is something that Second Life doesn't have the capability to do which means the creator made it match up as close as possible and made their own texture to mimic a mirrored image of what was going on above. That way it simulates a reflection, that right there is true art on its own! It's very hard to do this. It was my favorite part but let's also not forget about the Cafe.

The Botanika Café:

On the very ground level, there is the Botanika Cafe, this was very tastefully made and honestly reminded me of a rainforest with vintage aesthetics. Very bohemian for sure! It was very relaxing in this space and it made me want to sit there as I typed this.

Specifically at a table that looked like my current workspace in the real world (picture below for reference).

I always type and do everything creative on my IPad Pro 2018 12.9 inches. So being able to see my current setup in a virtual setting seemed more than a coincidence. Either way, I was here for it. I also find myself at Starbucks and little hole-in-the-wall Cafe's a lot to write and drink coffee at the same time. Perfect would be the word for this setting. Sadly the drinks aren't interactive but that's okay, as I was typing I was drinking a boba tea and I just so happened to have one in my inventory to attach.

I will definitely be back specifically for the cafe portion as it was a very peaceful section and I felt immersed it drove me to create more posts than expected as I was there. It's crazy just how much a virtual world can feel like you're going through real-world experiences. This proves the aspect that virtual worlds are more than just a game it's an experience on its own.

Statues and Gallery:

You know around every spiral staircase there is either an art piece or a statue. These statues are amazing! 3D models, in general, fascinate me, but imagine you see a stone statue in vines inside a gallery. Anything can happen in a virtual world and it just amazes me the creativity the creator had to produce these and place them in random spaces. It made me want to find all of them, I only found 2 but I have a feeling there might be 3-4. Also, there are gallery images on each staircase you go up or down, I really enjoyed looking at all the artwork here. I do wish there was more as sometimes there was just a lot of white space for one piece of artwork and I would've loved to see more!

I didn't post everything because it wouldn't be fair for me to spoil this adventure for you. This is an amazing venue to take a look at and you would be supporting a local artist in the virtual world community. I'm a huge advocate for small businesses, artists, and creatives in virtual spaces. I highly recommend the visit there is something to explore behind every corner, literally.

#gaming #second life #sl #virtualworld #avatar #virtualworlds #imvu #virtual worlds #virtual world #vr #museum aesthetic #museum #art museum #museum photography #art history #art #artwork #digital art

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retrograderesemblance · 11 months ago

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In truth, she needed little persuasion at all on the topic of her art. In France, Patience had admired the decaled walls of the salons at the beginning of the war, and she'd paid the same mind when she was commissioned to pay homage in England.

The art lining the walls of troublesome King George's private parlors were elaborate, mammoth in comparison to the humble galleries tucked above cafes and in private showrooms.

She could still remember well the sense of insignificance she felt stood before a mural that stretched from floor to ceiling, embellished with gold stained crown molding; the images like something out of a dream, of men and monsters, men and angels. Patience doubted a piece of her own would ever have the same effect upon a beholder, but it was never her intention to awe; it was her intention to capture likenesses as they were, creating frozen moments in time.

The art of others served as inspiration even if much of the details were hazy in her mind, but anything that gave her reason to make aided a bit in sating the almost manic want in her head, something she could feel in her limbs for her hands ached without the feel of clay between them after too many days, without the feel of a brush or quill between her fingers.

She squealed playfully, laughing when Nicholas' teeth grazed over her perked flesh. Her nerves were more alive, more sensitive from the previous attentions paid to her, and the longer he prodded at her with his fingers and tongue, the more she could feel her desire building, fresh slick, a fresh ache building between her legs with the want to made to come undone.

"A wicked, wicked man that you willingly lie with."

"Yes, well, then you can be the wicked one and I can be the foolish one. Though I've not decided yet what's so foolish about lovemaking and grandeur promises of art auctions." She managed to crane her neck to brush her lips over the crown of his head, but no sooner was he near was he gone again.

"You'd be surprised at what my mouth can do, Mrs. Wright."

The rake had the gall to wink before ducking his head out of her reach and she scoffed a laugh in disbelief, "Is that a promise, Mr. Blackwood?"

He was no longer looking at her, he had found other matters to occupy his attention and his devilish mouth, his lips smeared open-mouthed kisses in the valley between her breasts, drifting lower. She squirmed impatiently, relinquishing whatever hold on him remained to reach down, fumbling with the ties of her skirts, in that moment wanting to be freed from the fabric separating them. He half helped her with the ties until her skirts were slumped around her too, splayed out. If she was a picture, she'd look as if she was falling through the sky, her hair loose, wild, her clothes much the same. She was truly only clad in her shift and stockings though even those had lost all purpose long before, with the way the fabric of her shift was knotted around her middle, providing no coverage at all for her upper and lower halves.

Her laugh morphed into another sound and she hiccupped quietly, not expecting to be grasped by her hips, lifted so Nicholas could accommodate himself between her thighs.

She shuddered, exhaling a breathless moan when his teeth bit into her hip, wanting to whimper with displeasure when he didn't pay mind to suck a kiss against her skin, but even that was forgotten just as easily when his stubbled chin graved over her lower belly. She tried to shift in his grasp, tried to spread herself more for him, but it mattered little what she did for it appeared he was more well-versed in his task than she believed him to be.

"Fuck. Nicholas." She whimpered, her tone pleading, her knees bending, legs lifting, back arching, lifting from the rumpled canvas and clothing they called a bed. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes from overstimulation, but she voiced no such discomfort, remaining malleable as he took her trembling legs and adjusted her so the backs of her thighs rest along his shoulders, steadying her. It was different this time, she knew; it was different than in the past; with the Major, she had wanted to bed him, wanted to be in his good graces, gain his approval, for only God knew why; intelligence was secondary to her in that moment.

"If you're any more persuasive," she muttered, her brow twisting in pleasurable agony when his tongue returned to her clit, lapping in time with the way her pulse thrummed between her legs, "I've half the mind to return the favor."

Her breathing quickened, her chest heaving haphazardly and reaching down, she knotted her fingers in his hair, "I'm close. Fuck." Desperate to last, she continued speaking, "T-Tell me about this gala. Are you to be," a moan, "to be working the event or attending as its honored guest?" She giggled, a new wave of pleasure building, "Who's to be here? Who's scandalously to not?"

"I'd say you're a wicked wicked man," she tittered as he continued to nip and suck along her supple breast.

"A wicked, wicked man that you willingly lie with," he chuckled fiendishly into her flesh.

Blackwood was almost amused that her final answer was entirely dependent upon his ability to satisfy her a second time -- something he'd be delighted to oblige in.

"For a man doubling as a soothsayer, is that really all you can do with that handsome mouth of yours?"

"You'd be surprised at what my mouth can do, Mrs. Wright," he replied smugly, offering her a wink before smearing his lips down her stomach, tugging her upward by her hips and hungrily biting along the inward curve of her pelvis.

Upon reaching her heat, still slick with the evidence of their first coupling, Nicholas grazed his lips along her folds, teasing her with the warmth of his exhale before inserting his tongue and gliding it upward to press against her clit as he squeezed her thighs.

#the eye of the beholder #faithhearted #patience x nicholas #lemon

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helloalycia · 4 years ago

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The Wrong Lifetime – Six // Wanda Maximoff

chapter five | story masterlist | main masterlist | wattpad | chapter seven

author’s note: i’m glad you all seemed to like the last chapter! i’m all for slow burn but i didn’t want to leave you hanging too long aha. Now onto dating territory!

Since going to Blackpool with Wanda, we hadn't actually gotten another moment to ourselves. Wedding plans were picking up which kept her busy, and if not that, then I'd only see her in passing in which we'd exchange smiles before moving on.

So, I though it would be good to take her out on a date. A proper one, even if it was to be disguised as a simple outing between soon-to-be sister-in-laws. The plan was to 'bump' into her in town, which we did, then I asked her if she wanted to go to the art gallery. She'd been before, but they'd put in a new exhibition which I thought she might like.

We couldn't exactly hold hands when there, but I made the most of her presence and stood a little too close to her than a friend might. Since she'd kissed me at the beach, I wasn't able to think about anything else. And when shot me a knowing smile, I knew she felt the same.

"I like this one," I told her, pointing to a piece hung on the wall, before squinting to read the plaque. "Jedburgh Abbey from the River by Thomas Girtin."

"And why's that?" she asked, watching me with humoured eyes.

I pursed my lips, glancing between her and the painting sheepishly. "I'm not gonna lie, I just like the way the guy painted the clouds in the sky."

She stifled laughter, not wanting to draw attention from passers-by, and nudged me in the shoulder. "You're unbelievable, milaya (darling). We didn't have to come here if you don't like art."

I gave her a knowing look. "Hey, I love art. Especially when it's by a certain Sokovian artist named Wanda Maximoff."

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. I grinned at her bashfulness, wanting to tease her but also very true with my words. Her work was my favourite, biased or not, and I still had that amazing portrait she'd done of me in my room back home. It was tucked into one of my drawers where nobody would find it. I didn't want anyone else to look at it since she'd done it for me and it was private... it was a beautiful reminder of the amazing day we'd had.

"You're poking fun, but in all seriousness, I'd actually love for my work to be up here someday," she said softly, looking at the painting before us with hopeful eyes.

"They wish they were that lucky to score someone as talented as you," I said without skipping a beat.

She cracked a smile, tilting her head in my direction. It was obvious she was losing her patience with me, but I enjoyed watching her lose it. She didn't know what to say, especially when being complimented, and it was endearing to witness.

We remained civil for the remainder of the 'date', refraining from holding hands or gazing at each other longer than friends would, and I was pretty proud of myself for not thinking about kissing her once when we were done.

As we got into the carriage to go back home, the door closed and I was going to ask her how she found it when she moved towards me in an instant, kissing me without question. I raised my hand, caressing her jaw and closing my eyes as she leaned forward, practically on my lap, not that I cared. She sucked on my bottom lip sensually before she opened her mouth, pushing her tongue into mine. I almost forgot how to breathe as she did, unprepared for such an intense kiss.

"I've been wanting to do that all day," she revealed when she pulled away.

I flushed at the contact, a dazed smile on my lips. "Huh."

She chuckled as she sat back beside me more 'appropriately'. "Thanks for taking me. I loved it."

I nodded lamely, still trying to recover from our kiss. "I'm– I'm glad."

She smirked playfully, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to my lips before sitting back. "You're so cute."

My words still hadn't returned, so all I could do was nod before looking the other way. Her laughter filled the carriage and I wondered how I'd gotten so lucky to be in the presence of someone so perfect.

After exchanging some more kisses and actually being able to hold hands without prying eyes, we reached Wanda's home and she invited me in for some tea. Sadly, that meant we had to let go of one another, but I think she'd given me enough to remember her by as we parted, and she must have thought the same, judging from the smirk she sent my way.

We sat on the patio outside to have some tea and biscuits, enjoying the sunshine and blue skies, a rare occurrence for England. We were chatting mindlessly when her brother decided to make an appearance, helping himself to a seat between Wanda and I.

"How lovely of you to grace us with your presence, Miss Y/L/N," he said playfully, shooting me a charming smile, before reaching to grab a biscuit. Wanda slapped his hand but he stole one anyway, making her roll her eyes.

"Nice to see you, Pietro," I greeted with amusement, always enjoying his presence.

"And you," he returned, before chowing down his biscuit.

Wanda gave me a fed up look over his shoulder which he was oblivious to, and I tried not to laugh as she clearly wasn't a fan of him interrupting our time.

"So, I caught a glimpse of the wedding invitations," Pietro said, making conversation. He glanced between us with a nod of approval. "They're coming along well."

I hummed in agreement, smile becoming less real when he mentioned the wedding. Wanda didn't acknowledge his words as she fiddled with the handle of her teacup.

"Is your brother behaving, Y/N?" Pietro continued jokingly, looking to me. "I know how many admirers he has, but my sister should be his first priority."

"Oh, Piet...," Wanda breathed out with embarrassment, facepalming.

"Of course he is," I assured her brother with a small smile. "He wouldn't dare try hurting Wanda or he'd have a lot of explaining to do."

There was some playfulness in my voice, but an underlying truth to my words.

"It's sweet how close you've gotten," Pietro noticed, looking between us, before settling his gaze on me. "It's about time Wanda made friends with people who aren't me."

Cue another slap. I chuckled at her sheepish expression, amused by Pietro's antics.

"Anyway," he changed the subject for his sister's sake, "mother has been getting on my very nerve about finding a bride because you decided to get married."

Wanda rolled her eyes. "We both know I didn't decide, Piet."

He sighed over-dramatically. "Well, it's because of your engagement that she's now on my back about it."

"Join the club," I joked, knowing exactly what he meant. "My mum was already on my back about finding a husband, but since this engagement, it's ten times more annoying."

Pietro laughed. "Oh, no. Has she lined up suitors? My parents like to point out every pretty woman they see to me in hopes I'll make a move. It's hardly productive."

"I haven't asked her for fear she'll pull out a folder with all of the eligible bachelors in town," I said, half joking and half serious.

Pietro snickered as Wanda rolled her eyes in the background. She should have been happy I was getting along with her brother. He was actually quite entertaining to be around.

"It's funny you say that because you're one of the women my parents pointed out," he admitted.

"Oh, God, so they're saying the same thing to you?" I asked with a groan, and he nodded regretfully. "Isn't it just the worst?"

"You're a lovely girl, Y/N, don't get me wrong," he began gently, "but I don't like you like that."

I raised my hand for a high five. "Me and you both."

Laughing once again, he returned my high five and I was glad we were on the same page. The amount of people that had been hinting at getting to know Wanda Maximoff's very single brother was getting pretty annoying. It was nice to know he was just as irritated at the insinuation as I was.

"Okay, I should leave you both to it," Pietro concluded, slapping his knees and standing up. Looking to me, he said, "Miss Y/L/N, it was as lovely as ever to make your acquaintance."

I smiled as he winked playfully before looking to his disgruntled sister.

"Dear sister, the pleasure is always mine," he continued to tease, and she slapped him once more, making him dodge her and begin to leave. "Love you, too!" he called before heading back inside.

I laughed at his silliness and relaxed in my seat, looking back to Wanda. She didn't seem half as amused as I was as she drummed her fingers on the table and chewed on the inside of her cheek.

"I may be mistaken, love, but it looks like you're jealous," I poked fun at her.

She rolled her eyes and her jaw tensed before she finally looked to me, expression softening. "Can you blame me?" she asked quietly. "You're both single. You're both similar age. Everybody talks."

I shrugged nonchalantly, having a sip of my tea. "True... but I've got my eye on another Maximoff anyway."

She sighed, small smile creeping on her lips. Subtly moving my chair closer to hers, I grabbed her hand under the table and squeezed. My thumb stroked her hand softly as I leaned on the palm of my hand on the table.

"You look really beautiful today," I admitted in a hushed voice. "I should have told you earlier."

She, too, leaned into the palm of her hand as she watched me with an enchanting gaze. "So do you, milaya (darling)."

Unable to resist, I glanced around quickly before kissing her cheek and pulling away. Letting go of her hand, I busied myself with the tea and biscuits again.

"Biscuit?" I offered her, and she began to laugh at my attempt at acting casual.

Playing along, she accepted the biscuit from my hand. But a knowing smile was on her lips as she nodded. "Thank you."

—

Being with Wanda was a luxury in itself, even if we had to keep it private.

To everybody else, we were merely two women about to become family who happened to create a bond that was close. But we both knew what it really was and weren't eager to say it. Because saying it made it true and that meant that what we were doing became realer than it was in our daydreams and hidden moments.

I did find myself wracked with guilt sometimes – particularly the times when Y/B/N would gush about how excited he was to marry her. Wanda was technically cheating on him with me, his sister, but that fact was something that was still blurry to me.

We had no choice but to lie and be secretive. In a world like this, where we would never be able to be together like we wanted to, all we had was secrecy and deception. Did that still make us bad people?

I tried not to think about what would happen when she actually married my brother. The future was something I was adamant on pushing to the back of my mind because I knew what it would hold and I just wanted to enjoy the time I had with her. Convincing myself that what we had wasn't serious, just a heat of the moment relationship maybe, made things easier to accept. But really, I knew that whenever she looked my way with her signature smile and dazzling eyes, it was way more than I envisioned. She was way more.

So, trying not to be dragged down with the weight of reality, I vowed to myself to only focus on the now. Focus on the moments I shared with her whilst we could. Anything beyond that and I'd surely snap.

"Medovyy (honey), the Y/L/Ns are here!" Iryna called behind her, before looking to my family and I as we stood at her front door. "Please, all of you, come in!"

She ushered us into the main hall before closing the door after us. Perfectly timed, the rest of her family left the living room and came to greet us.

Automatically, my eyes found Wanda's and she was already looking my way, her dimple making a show as she attempted to reign in an excited smile. I did the same, trying to ignore the way my heart stirred upon seeing her.

Oleg and Iryna welcomed my parents and then me, kind expressions accompanying genuine greetings. In the corner of my eye, I saw Pietro shaking Y/B/N's hand before Wanda took his place, accepting a kiss on the cheek from Y/B/N. It wasn't jealousy that I felt whenever they were together, at least not entirely – they were to be married, what more could I expect? – but it wasn't anything pleasant either.

"Ah, my favourite Y/L/N," Pietro beamed upon shaking my hand, making my lips twitch upwards. "You excited for dinner? We're having salmon."

"Ecstatic, Pietro," I answered with a playful eye roll. "All I've been thinking all day."

He chuckled at my sarcasm before letting go of my hand and moving over to greet my parents. Wanda was next, her shoulders relaxing when she stepped before me with a soft smile present on her lips.

"It's good to see you," she said, but her eyes said much more than that. "How have you been?"

Exchanging a friendly-looking hug, my body was warm where she pressed against me. Touching her always sent a rush of emotion through me and I looked forward to it every time.

"I've been good," I answered aloud, before whispering into her ear, "Better now."

She squeezed my waist inconspicuously in response before letting go. "That's good. You know, we've got time before dinner and I wanted to show you the painting I've been working on lately. Wanna see?"

I glanced at my parents and hers for permission, knowing they'd heard her question.

"Just try not to take too long since dinner will be on the table soon," Iryna said with a nod. "It's so good to see you girls getting along."

Breathing out slightly, I smiled gratefully before letting Wanda intertwine our fingers and drag me up the staircase. She led me past several doors before we finally reached hers and she tugged me inside.

As soon as the door closed, she was quick to connect our lips in a heated, desperate kiss. I relaxed against her instantly, my hands falling to her side and pulling her closer. Her fingernails gently scratched the sensitive skin behind my neck, giving me goosebumps, and I let out an involuntary gasp at the feeling.

When we pulled away for a breath, her nose brushed against mine and she pressed a final kiss to my lips, slower and more tasteful compared to the first, before smiling at me.

"I missed you," she said, as if reading my mind.

A breathy laugh escaped my lips. "It's only been a week since we last saw each other, love."

She shrugged, arms laced around my neck. "A week too long."

Raising a brow judgementally, I gave her a knowing look. She wasn't embarrassed in the slightest as her half-lidded eyes met mine with a confident smirk.

"Did you just pull me up here to have a quick snog?" I teased her.

"Well, yes," she said, making me laugh again, before adding, "And I wanted to ask you if you'll go to the park with me tomorrow. A picnic. If you want."

She bit her lip anxiously, eyes darting elsewhere as she waited for an answer. I always found it amusing how she could be so confident one second and then so innocently adorable the next.

"Wanda, I'd love to." My thumb rubbed circles on her waist as I kept ahold of her. "I hear it's supposed to be nice weather tomorrow, too."

She pursed her lips. "Even if it rained, I'd still drag you to the park with me."

"Somehow, I feel like that's true," I countered with a ghost of a smile on my lips. She tried to hide her own smile and I continued, "Was there an actual painting you wanted to show me or...?"

Breathing out with amusement, she intertwined our fingers and pulled me to the back of her room where her 'studio' was. Since the last time I'd visited, there were plenty of new additions to her work, all as wonderful as the next.

"This one is from the beach at Blackpool," she said, stopping before a medium-sized canvas depicting the horizon. "When we sat on the bench. Just before I kissed you."

My heart fluttered at the memory and I studied the canvas, recalling it looked similar to her watercolour painting of the same view. She'd done a spectacular replica in oil paints, reminiscent of the trip we took.

"You should already know what I'm going to say," I said, looking to her knowingly. "But just so you can hear it again, I absolutely love this. You're so talented."

She rolled her eyes to distract from the pink spreading across her cheeks. "Thank you... and again, thank you for taking me. Seeing an actual water source upfront really helped me refine my paintings. It feels so much more real now."

I looked back to the painting, noticing what she meant. Either way, I loved both versions of her work, before and after going to the beach.

"You did good, love."

She squeezed my hand gently before sighing quietly with realisation. "We should probably go back down."

"We should," I agreed, glancing at her. "Thanks for showing me these."

She cracked a smile, teeth nibbling on her bottom lip. "Always."

Reluctantly, the two of us returned downstairs and joined the others as they were settling at the dining table. Wanda and I sat side by side, and this time when her fingers brushed mine, I made no move to pull away.

The meal was good, but as usual, I found myself zoning out. The conversation made its rounds, falling to me as the Maximoffs wanted to know how I was doing, then moved on, giving me chance to focus on eating my dinner and getting through the evening. I knew that at one point, everybody was talking about some play that was showing in the theatres.

Bits of the conversation were going in one ear and out the other and I was minding my own business until Wanda's bare foot rubbed against my leg under the table. The sensation of her skin against mine made my knee bounce up and hit the table with surprise, earning everyone's attention.

"Are you okay, dear?" Oleg asked, noticing my discomfort.

I cleared my throat, straightening up and ignoring the stifled smile Wanda had in my peripheral vision.

"I'm good, sorry about that," I apologised awkwardly, shivering when she dragged her foot back down my leg. "You were talking about the play, right?"

That seemed to distract them, as they leapt right back into conversation, giving me a chance to breathe out with relief. I looked to Wanda, watching her lean on her palm and hide a smirk as she stared at me with mischievous eyes.

Glaring and nudging her in the arm subtly, I looked back to my food, but she didn't move her foot, nor her hand. Both brushed my against me, starting a fire on my skin and making me swallow hard. She kept like that for the whole evening, making my head dizzy and leaving me at a loss for words.

And when I looked her way, she was already staring, definitely knowing the effect she had on me.

—

"I just need to find my shoes and we can go," I told Wanda the next morning, before our date at the park.

She'd come to pick me up at my house and was hanging around my room as I finished getting ready. From her place at my desk, she hummed in acknowledgment before distracting herself with my notebooks.

"I see you're making great use of the notebook I picked out for you," she commented, and I glanced towards her mid-search for my shoes, seeing she was flicking through the already-filled book.

"I have a lot of ideas, what can I say?" I joked, before looking under the pile of clothes near my wardrobe.

She chuckled, before falling quiet again. I wasn't really paying attention to what she was doing until she spoke up after a few minutes.

"Y/N, your writing is beautiful," she said, making me look her way to see an amazed smile on her lips. "I didn't know you could write like this. I mean– I should have because you helped write that letter Y/B/N gave to me, but this..."

I shrugged awkwardly, distracting myself with my search again. "It's okay, I guess."

She exhaled mockingly. "Okay? Y/N, this is miles better than okay. Why didn't you show me this sooner?"

I smiled satisfactorily as I finally located my shoes. Grabbing them, I approached Wanda and took a seat on the edge of my bed, opposite her seat at my desk.

"Because it'll never be anything more than what you're looking at?" I said rhetorically. "It'll only ever be words confined to pages that nobody will see?"

She gave me a knowing look. "I think you forget that my brother is a publisher, dorogoy (dear)."

"And I think you forget that he is the publisher to my brother, dear," I retorted playfully.

She sighed, shaking her head and putting the notebook back on my desk. "You know Pietro would love this, right? He'd sign you in a heartbeat."

I snickered at the ludicrous thought. "Wanda, you're a little biased, love."

She rolled her eyes. "Writers write for audiences. I am an audience. I consume literature. And I'm telling you that it's not just me who would read what you have to write."

I tried not to laugh as I pulled my shoes onto my feet.

"Are you really telling me that you'd never want to get published?" she asked with a raised brow.

My heart ached at the thought of such a fantasy. "Of course I would, Wanda." I met her eyes, which were already peering across from me patiently. "I've dreamed of that. But it's just not what's to happen. My family have told me that many times. In another lifetime, maybe."

She pursed her lips, studying me thoughtfully. I offered her a smile and stood up, holding out my hand.

"Forget that," I told her. "I believe you promised me a picnic."

Thankfully, she dropped the subject and accepted my hand, letting me pull her up. The topic wasn't brought up again and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

We went to the park like she wanted and she brought a picnic basket with her, having packed a lovely variety of finger foods and snacks.

As she was unpacking the food onto the blanket, I narrowed my eyes at her. "You know, now that we're finally alone, I can say how unfair it was of you to do what you did last night."

She played dumb, shrugging, focusing on neatening up the sandwiches on a plate. "I don't know what you mean, milaya (darling)."

"Huh. Sure you don't."

Giggles flew from her lips as she glanced at me through her eyelashes. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. I just love seeing you squirm. You get all tense and it's so cute."

I pursed my lips. "I figured. You've been watching me squirm since we met."

She grinned knowingly before straightening up. "Okay, I made sandwiches and there's also some coleslaw, fruit, cheese... I made some Sokovian dishes, too, if you want to try them. Okroshka – it's like a cold soup. Then there's this olivye salad. It's... well, salad."

I smiled at the thought she put into it all and grabbed her hand between us. We'd set the picnic out behind a tree so we wouldn't have curious eyes watching us. It didn't look like we were overtly hiding, but we still got our privacy, too.

"It all looks great, Wanda," I said with appreciation. "I can't wait to try it."

She squeezed my hand in response before letting go to grab some paper plates. After popping a strawberry in her mouth, she asked, "Do you just want a bit of everything?"

I leaned on the back of my hands as I hummed a 'yes'. She began to put me some food in and I watched her, admiring the sight.

Her hair was half-pulled back today, falling in waves down her back and exposing her perfectly sculpted jawline. Everything about her was perfect – the way she moved was elegant and graceful, even when her hair fell over her shoulder and in her way; she simply moved it back with a flick of her hand and resumed what she was doing. The sun caught her immaculately, her hair glowing bright under the light and her eyes magnificently green as they focused.

As always, she took my breath away.

"Here," she said, holding out the plate towards me and pulling me from my reverie.

I accepted the plate and fork, returning her smile, before she watching as she began to make another plate for herself.

"You sure this is fancy enough for you?" I asked jokingly, stabbing my fork into a carrot. "I heard you and my brother went to a very luxurious restaurant the other night."

She met my eyes, holding amusement in her own. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you, milaya (darling)."

I kissed my teeth and rolled my eyes. "I'm not jealous, I just– it's so annoying listening to him talk about how beautiful you are or how funny you are or how kind you are."

"Oh, so you don't think I'm any of those things?" she teased, trying to get a rise out of me.

I titled my head towards her. "Of course I know you're all those things. But it doesn't mean I like hearing him talk about it constantly..."

Clearly amused, she erupted into laughter and I felt my face heating up with embarrassment. I know it sounded like I was whining, but it was true. Sometimes, I wasn't envious of my brother but rather at the fact that he could actually take Wanda out properly. He could be seen with her in public and hold her hand without fear of getting looks or disowned. He had the privilege of being with her and it wasn't fair.

"You may hear him talk about it, but there's one thing I can assure you that you get that he doesn't," she said when recovering from her laughter.

I stared at her with an exasperated sigh. "And what's that?"

She smiled confidently, glancing around quickly, before leaning forward and kissing me softly. As quickly as it came, it disappeared, leaving me desiring more.

Licking my lips, I couldn't tear my eyes from hers. "You know, you're a really good kisser."

She chuckled at my reaction and I found myself leaning in again, entranced by the way she tasted. Putting my plate to the side, I raised a hand to pull her closer, getting better access to her mouth.

She tasted sweet like the strawberry she'd just eaten and I swiped my tongue across her lip, indicating I wanted her to part her them. She did, allowing me to slip my tongue in and wrestle with hers, revelling in the way she tasted. My heart was thumping loudly in my chest as she let out a moan, it reverberating in my mouth and giving me goosebumps.

When lack of oxygen became an issue, she pulled away breathlessly, flushed cheeks adorned with a smile.

"As lovely as that was, I actually want to eat what I made," she ridiculed playfully.

"Yes, we will," I assured her, my hand moving from her neck up to her jaw. My thumb touched her lips, outlining them tenderly, subconsciously committing them to memory. "We'll get back to it."

She wanted to laugh, but I moved forward and caught her bottom lip between mine, unable to stay away. It was wrong, the rush I felt in my gut and the warmth that spread all over my body and the tingles that travelled down my spine. Because I knew what it all meant, but admitting it was a different story. So, I didn't.

I just continued to kiss the girl before me, knowing I could have kissed her forever and not regretted a single thing.

#wanda maximoff au #wanda maximoff x you #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #scarlet witch #scarlet witch imagine #elizabeth olsen x you #elizabeth olsen #elizabeth olsen imagine #marvel #mcu #marvel imagine

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getitinbusan · 4 years ago

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10 years with Jungkook

California

You met Jeon Jeongguk in the summer of 2012. Two kids brought together by a calling to California and a chance at making it big. Best friends from the start, what happens when only one of you becomes successful? Do you ever forget your first love?

Childhood friends to lovers, angst and smut.

Words: 4600

Warnings: 18 plus smut. Oral F, Sex MF, Swearing. Pretty Mild for me. This is a previously posted fic that has been updated and reworked.

It was a rare rainy August day in California. The heavy drops created a sad melody on the window as you put the dishes away. Tired and lonely, the feeling in your gut kept nagging at you, maybe it was time to give up.

The savings account was drained, there were no jobs to be found and this was the second month of falling short on rent. Surely it would only be a matter of time before your roommates would stop exchanging house cleaning for money.

Hanging the threadbare towel over its hook you stood in the kitchen, your mood mirroring the dim light of the afternoon. Feeling frusterated and stupid, it had taken you way longer than it should have to realize that in LA, you were nothing. Not pretty enough, rich enough, skinny enough or talented enough to ever make it big. So this is how the great Califonia chapter of your life would end, not by choice but necessity.

Gathering up the mail that was strewn across the countertop, you shuffled through it sorting its priority. Junk mail, bills, personal…one in particular standing out. Your heart began pounding as you took in the details.

The penmanship was nice, black ink on an unassuming envelope. But it was the stamp that caught your attention. It was sent from Korea.

Flipping it in your hand you examined the torn top. The letter, having been read, was cradled back safely inside. Addressed to your roommate a frown crept onto your face. Why wouldn’t he write to you?

It was a ridiculously hopeful notion but you widened the envelope and inhaled trying to find a trace of his fragrance, something, anything to trigger a happy memory. Cool California nights were the best excuse. How many times had you borrowed his sweaters just to have his smell on you?

You missed him. It had been a year and a half and you couldn't help but once again ponder the nagging question that always crept back. If you hadn't forced him to break the rules would he still be a part of your life?

It was too tempting to resist, your fingers pinched the paper inside of the envelope and pulled it free.

I’m feeling low, I don’t know who I am, only who I’m supposed to be.

What would life be like if I had stayed in California? We could all be roommates, hanging out and having fun, going to the beach on weekends.

Does she even think about me?

It sounds greedy that with how much I have right now, it’s not enough. I would give anything to wake up in bed beside her everyday. I want more than anything to be able to talk to her about these things but I can’t. I’ve made the mistake of trading her for fame and now I’m destined to keep her at an arm’s length so she’ll never know the price I paid.

How does she even see me? As an Idol? As the boy who abandoned her? Has she forgotten the good days we spent together?

I’ve been wrestling with myself, whoever that is. I wish I could be the teenage boy from that long ago summer again. I wrote this song thinking about it…

~When I see you smile in the screen

You’re good at everything

You’re just perfect

Feels like I've never been you

Do you even see me?

Do you know who I am?

Or how do I look now?

You don’t like me like that

I want to be your decalcomania~

I’m afraid I may not get back for a while, please write. Your friendship and thoughts of her are the only things that are keeping me tethered to some semblance of reality.

Clutching the letter to your chest, your mind took you back to that day.

"Decalcomania, the art or process of transferring pictures and designs. Making a copy of the original on a different medium"

Reading the description on the wall you’d both stood laughing at the piece's strange name, Decalcomania. The gallery visit felt like lifetimes ago but you still remembered clearly. You remembered, not because the piece had struck you as particularly special but because that's where you had decided that Jeongguk's laugh was the best sound you'd ever heard.

California had lured you into its promise when you turned 14. Having been accepted to an intensive dance program at The Movement Lifestyle Studio you packed up and headed West for the summer.

It was July and it was hot, the dancers stepping off the bus one at a time took their places in the studio.

Looking around there were so many older kids, you were probably one of the youngest. Calling out names they put you into groups, it appeared to be by age so you made your way across the unfamiliar wooden floor to the tiny gathering of teens in the darkened corner.

Shy introductions were made as one more member was ushered over to where you had congregated. “This is Jeongguk.”

He had the cutest smile and barely spoke english but his eyes twinkled like the constellations. Immediately drawn to each other you became fast friends.

Absolutely exhausted by the end of the first few days he quietly knocked at your door.

He was homesick and lonely, used to being surrounded by his six members, he couldn’t sleep well without someone beside him. You let him crawl into bed with you, you were 14 and it was innocent.

Inseparable, days and nights were spent side by side, the others began referring to you as the twins. It was the best summer of your life but like every boy meets girl summer story, it had to come to a close. Promising through tears to keep in touch and stay friends you went your separate ways.

Jeongguk would send silly videos of his practice sessions, goofing around with the other members. He’d facetime and text but he always loved to send handwritten letters.

They lived in a box under your bed and contained stories of how hard he was working to become an idol. He always signed off with, "I miss you,” and a few lines of lyrics he’d written.

You didn’t know then how important they would become, the only tangible piece of him you could still hold on to.

Whenever he came back to America you did everything you could to see him. You always found a way to get to the small tour stops whenever they came through. 2015 was the first, then KCon in 2016, but 2017, it was different.

Facetiming you with the news that they were bringing the Wings tour to NY, Chicago and Anaheim, he asked if you’d be part of the dance crew. How could you turn down two weeks with Jungkook the hottest new K-pop Idol? They were getting bigger, more popular and their lives were changing rapidly.

He had strict rules, girls were completely off limits. No talking, no hugging, no smiling at one another, any little thing could be easily misconstrued by the fans. Everything had to be done in secret. Jungkook would sneak you into his hotel room where you would spend your nights together catching up. The boys would bring you in food and cover for him while you both stayed locked away out of sight.

While happy to be with him, you could tell there was an underlying sadness he was holding on to.

"I wish I could go and explore the city with you like we used to," his voice trailed off.

You were laying in each other’s arms cuddling on his bed. Leaning over he kissed the top of your head.

"All I really want is to take you on a proper date."

You snuggled closer into his side as he exhaled deeply, releasing his secret.

"I’ve been waiting so long to become someone, a man worthy of your affection. Now I’m stuck. I have everything I wanted and I’m not allowed to share it with you."

His arms gripped you tighter.

"I’m sorry, this is a terrible confession. I don’t expect you to love me back, not under these circumstances, I just need you to know, you’re the only girl I’ve ever loved and there won’t be anybody else, ever."

Every bit of his confession, every moment of that last night in the hotel room had stuck with you to this day. The words of a 19 year old boy whose life had become bigger than the feelings of two people.

He'd left in the morning without knowing. You were a coward, too afraid to tell him you loved him too.

LA became your home right after they left Anaheim. Focused on your dancing, if you became good enough, maybe you could join the tour with him.

A letter with a big bouquet of flowers arrived a few weeks later.

"Congratulations on your new house in LA!

I hope that all of you are getting along as roommates, it’s hard living with others sometimes.

Last night I dreamt that I was there with you and all of our friends. We were having a party on the beach and we sat together watching the sunset.

Do you remember after practice when we would skateboard as fast as we could to the ocean so we wouldn’t miss the colors?

Maybe one day my toes can feel the sand there again.

I miss you, I miss me… the me I am when I get to be with you.

We're coming back in October for a few days and I’m hoping I can see you, I’m lonely already.

Jeongguk

~Won’t you please stay in dreams

I can hear the sea from far away

Across the dream, over the bush

Go there where it becomes clear

Take my hands now

You are the cause of my euphoria

When I’m with you, I’m in utopia~

By the time The AMAs came, the plan had been finalized. You would steal Jungkook away so that you could take him on your first real date.

Having enlisted Namjoon to help, he was your inside man. The boys, happy to help finally get you together, would cover for his whereabouts with management. The day before the awards they were only scheduled for styling, as long as he wasn’t late for the press rounds the next afternoon your plan could work.

It was Namjoon’s job to get him out of the building. Telling him to follow his lead, Joon convinced the managers that Jungkook must have eaten something bad for lunch. Claiming to not feel well, he was whisked away to meet you at the hotel’s back receiving door.

Sitting in the shiny red rented convertible you tossed him a pair of sunglasses. What you wouldn’t give now to see that smile again.

Barely giving him time to get in you’d sped away heading straight for In And Out Burger.

"Kookie, I hope you’re ready for the best day of your life! We’re going to eat until we explode, drink and party at the beach and then, instead of returning you to your fancy 5 star hotel you’re staying the night in my crappy little house with a tiny uncomfortable bed!!"

He laughed, that perfect laugh. It was so pure and honest, thinking about it now made you sad. Was that the last moment he'd gotten to be his true self? Jeongguk the man not Jungkook the personna?

Knowing you only had one day to give him everything, one day to show him you loved him, you tried to make the best of it.

Picking up the food Jungkook held onto the red and white bags in the passenger seat, sneaking his hand in to steal fries when he thought you weren’t looking. If you weren’t sure you were in love with him before you you certainly were now.

Pulling up beside the tree on the beach he was stunned, "Ahhh Jagi, I can’t believe you brought me here."

Happy that it meant as much to him as it did to you, you both sat on the branch and ate. Two blocks from the old studio this used to be your escape. Every break you’d make your way to the tree for some time alone, together.

With the burgers done he turned to you and smiled. It felt like he wanted to say something, but stupidly, you'd cut him short leading him back towards the car.

Making your way through your checklist you brought him back to where you'd first met. The Movement studios students were starstruck when he walked in. After insisting that he teach some choreography, he reluctantly led the class.

Your eyes were glued to him as he moved in front of the mirrors, no longer that awkward teenager but a full grown man mesmerizing you with his every move.

Getting back to the car he stopped you before you reached for the handle. Putting his arms around you he pulled you in close. But again, you resisted him.

"You stink Jungkook, our next stop is the ocean."

You remember pulling away. How stupid you were, you should have held on to him longer. Reaching into the back seat you revealed a pair of swim shorts and a towel. He looked disappointed that you kept interrupting his attempts at intimacy. It broke your heart but you had a plan and limited time to execute it.

The Ocean was chilly but the wind was warm, he came out of the change room with the shorts on but still wearing his shirt.

"Kookie, this isn’t Korea, you don’t have to be so modest here. Plus, you should grab some sun, you may not believe it but when your skin is sunkissed," you grinned, "you look really sexy."

He raised his eyebrows and quickly removed the shirt at your request.

Running into the water you splashed and played and he took great pleasure in picking you up and throwing you as far as he could.

The sun was getting ready to set and you wanted to dry off before the cooler air set in.

Leading him back to the shore you both laid down on the towel. He put his arm around you and you cuddled into his side.

"My god Guk, look at your abs!"

He blushed like crazy as you traced the muscles on his stomach.

"Stop, it tickles," he giggled.

But you didn’t, you kept tickling him until he held you so tight you couldn’t move. He had you pinned, flipping you on your back he shook his wet hair flinging water droplets all over you. Pleased with himself he leaned in closer to you, his eyes asking for permission to kiss you. As the gap between you got narrower you could hear his name being shouted and footsteps running closer. He flopped onto his back and sighed as your roommates and friends piled on top of him.

Eating, drinking and catching up with everyone you watched each other from across the bonfire. Moving from person to person he slowly made his way back to your side.

"Welcome back." Running your hand through the back of his hair, it was now or never.

Pulling him closer your lips finally met in the way they were destined, soft, slow and full of love. His hands instinctively moved to cup your face as the world stopped around you.

"I love you," you whispered.

Nose to nose he smiled at you and it was the most beautiful thing you’d ever seen.

It didn’t last long, his phone started going off incessantly. The managers knew, you’d been careless, photos and videos of him from the studio had been posted online.

"I’m so sorry Jungkook, I didn’t mean for you to get in trouble."

His eyes turned hungry as he grabbed your hand.

"You promised I wouldn’t be going back to my hotel tonight, let’s get out of here."

If he was going to get in trouble anyway, why stop now?

The drive back to your place was quiet, adrenaline and hormones flowing like electricity through you both. The time for smiling was over as the seriousness of the situation lingered in the air between you.

It wasn’t just being in trouble or being caught, but the fact that you both knew what was going to happen when you stepped into your bedroom. One act that would change everything between you, it held the power to change the dynamic of your relationship forever.

Leading him to your room you closed the door and stood staring at him as he sat on your bed. He raked his fingers through his hair before he spoke.

"I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than to be able to make love to you. BUT I also know that when I leave I’m not going to get to see you again for a very long time." His head hung low. "Management is going to do everything possible to keep us apart and that won’t be fair to you. I think that maybe we should just let our happy memories of today be enough, I don’t want you to regret anything. "

Walking closer you stood between his legs and he wrapped his arms around your waist.

"The only thing I'll regret is never getting to experience all of you. I can’t live not knowing how it feels to be totally yours even if it's only for one night."

He rested his head against your chest, "You’ll always be mine."

His hands traveled to the hem of your shirt and his fingers ran over the soft skin of your stomach. Undoing the button of your jeans he slowly slid them down your legs and you stepped out of them.

Standing up he lifted the thin fabric of your shirt over your head and you stood before him waiting as he took his off too. Unclasping your bra he sighed as he looked at you taking in your shape, his fingertips hovering over your hard nipples.

"I’ve never done this before," he confessed.

"Me either," you whispered. "I've only ever wanted it to be you."

More relaxed he let his mouth start exploring your body. You were goosebumps and shivers beneath him as his tongue found it’s home between your legs.

He was soft and careful, placing his lips over your clit sucking it in delicately until your moans couldn’t be contained any longer. You could feel his eyes burning into you as he watched in awe as his finger slid inside you.

"It feels good Kookie, please…"

You could feel his mouth stopping to smile before he picked up speed. Moving your hips to eagerly meet his mouth you were unravelling quickly.

"The way you taste is better than anything I had imagined."

Devouring you in sessions between his words of adoration you came hard on his tongue.

"I'm really regretting running you all over town today when we could have just been here...doing that.. " You were out of breath.

"I was worried that I wouldn't be any good." He grinned at you pleased with himself.

Moving up to where your head lay on the pillow he pushed the dampened hair off your face, "Are you ok? Do you need anything?"

He placed his forehead against yours.

"I just want you. I need you to know I'm yours, forever.

Rolling a condom on he moved slowly to line himself up with your entrance.

"Tell me if you need me to stop okay?"

He pushed carefully, slowly stretching you around him. Watching intently for discomfort he froze when he saw the tears welling in your eyes.

"Shit, I’m so sorry, let’s stop, I didn’t mean to hurt you." He was apologetic as he thumbed away the tears.

"No," you delicately kissed his lips. "I’m okay… I’m just so happy, so overwhelmed with how much I’m feeling right now."

He smiled down at you, pressing his body closer he gave another push until he was fully inside. Your bodies fell into a beautifully choreographed rhythm until Jungkook was so lost in pleasure he began to move at his own pace. Quicker and deeper he moved until he finally spilled into the condom.

Laying together in euphoria you kissed, and kissed, and kissed until you finally found sleep while wrapped around one other.

Every few hours he’d wake you up. His hands running over your body checking to make sure you weren't just a dream. You’d made love each time, everytime better than the last.

It was 9 am when he caressed you awake once more.

"I have to leave soon. I don’t want to." He spoke in whispers nestled into your neck. "Please tell me to stay."

Your heart broke at his words. "If I ask you to stay, I’m selfish, you’ll always wonder if you made the right decision." The tears came, knowing you had to do what was right. "If I tell you to go, your dreams come true… ” your voice trailed off.

"And I’ll always wonder if I made the right decision,” he finished.

Your phone started ringing and you knew time was up.

It was Joon, "I’m outside. Sorry, I held them off as long as I could. I told them that I’d come get him so you could at least have time to say goodbye."

Your tears fell out in heavy ugly sobs, "Okay, five minutes… and Joon… thanks, I know you’re probably in trouble too."

Hanging up you turned back, Jungkook was already out of bed with his clothes thrown on. He stood with open arms bravely waiting.

"Thank you for yesterday I'll never forget it."

Laying your head against his chest you took a moment to listen to his heartbeat. You could hear him sniffle and knew he was crying too.

You flashed back remembering that night long ago when he came to you homesick, holding you so he could sleep while he tried to hide his tears. There was a knock at the door and Namjoon’s voice broke through the moment.

"We’ve got to go Jungkook."

Stepping away you’d left his shirt soaked in tears, handing him his sweater he pushed it back towards you. "You keep it."

He kissed you one last time before opening the door to reveal Namjoon's weary face. His Hyung put his arm around his shoulder and led him to the car.

Turning one last time he looked back, his eyes were filled with tears as he gave a small wave before getting in the back of the big black sedan.

For months you pretended that management was the only thing keeping you apart.

You held on to that silly notion until May when they were coming for the Billboard awards. For weeks leading up you waited for a message, a secret meeting arrangement, but you got nothing. His image was all over the TV and his voice echoed through your empty heart. Then, just like that, it was over and he was gone again.

Now, here you stood in your kitchen, his letter bringing him to the forefront of your mind and opening old wounds.

He was just as sad as you but what could you do?

Picking up a pen you began writing…

I shouldn’t have done it but I read it in your letter

You said to a friend that you wish you were doing better

I wanted to reach out but I never said a thing

You don’t ever have to be stronger than you really are

And honey, you don’t ever have to act cooler than you think you should

You’re brighter than the brightest stars

You’re scared to win, scared to lose

I’ve heard the war was over if you really choose

The one in and around you

You hate the heat, you got the blues

You’re changing like the weather, oh, that’s so like you

I’ll pick you up

I’ll catch you on the flipside

If you come back to California

We’ll do whatever you want, travel wherever, how far

We’ll hit up all the old places

We’ll have a party, we can dance till dawn…

Y/N

October came again and a chill was in the air, the smell of the ocean hit your nose and you stopped to take it in.

Bundled in Jungkook’s hoodie you threw your bag over your shoulder and began your walk to work. You'd gotten lucky, Movement had hired you just as you were about to give up and leave California. Filled with hope and excitement a new intensive program was scheduled to start today and you were going to meet the future superstars of the dance world.

Memories flooded your mind as you made your way through the familiar neighborhood. It still hurt, but things were beginning to feel happy again. Writing the letter had given you closure, he knew how you felt and beyond that there was nothing else you could do.

Opening the heavy door to the studio you caught a familiar reflection moving in the mirror. Chalk marker in hand he was writing something, It couldn’t be?

Hearing the door click back into place he turned to face you.

"Hi."

He walked towards you slowly. Unsure of what your reaction would be, he approached with caution.

"Hi."

You were breathless, in the months of not seeing him he’d only grown more handsome.

"I can’t change what happened… and for the rest of my life I’ll be sorry for all of the time we missed."

He was getting closer.

"But I can’t take another day not knowing if I can fix this… somehow…"

He reached for your hand but you pulled it away. His head fell in disappointment.

"Jungkook, I can’t listen to this… look at me."

Reaching for his chin you pulled his head up until he was facing you again.

"I refuse to listen to you apologize for something that is out of your control. Your life was decided before you met me and I am nothing but grateful that I got to appear in some part of your story."

He tilted his head and pressed a small kiss into the hand that was still holding his chin.

"God I’ve missed you." He wrapped his arms tightly around your waist.

"How long are you here? I’ve got to teach class.. It’s the first day but I’d love it if we could catch up?"

He laughed at you and your knees buckled at the sound of his happiness.

Taking his chance he pressed his lips to yours and you could feel the smile forming on his face.

"I’m your private lesson Jagi, I’ve booked you for the next two weeks."

Taking a step back you had to ask, "How Jungkook? What will you be giving up?"

Pulling you back to his embrace he began to dance with you.

"There is no more giving up, on anything. Our contracts were over and I only had one thing I wouldn’t negotiate on, that’s you."

He guided you to look at the mirror.

"I wrote you something."

~Please call my name one more time

I’m standing under the frozen light,

but I’ll walk step by step towards you

Still with you ~

"I promise I’ll never let you go again."

#jungkook #bts jungkook #jeon jungkook #Jeongguk #jungkook x reader #kookie #nochu #10 years with jungkook #california #lana del rey

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artstorieshusbandos · 4 years ago

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Tale of Two Tragedies-Theo's route (Ikemen Vampire) **spoilers**

Tragedy #1 Exhibit A

I honestly half expected him to haul off and draw a masterpiece in the tavern notebook. Not because he's a Van Gogh but because there's almost no way someone with his appreciation for art , his eye for it and his hardcore determination wouldn't have managed to at least be drawing on the side for enjoyment.

This scene would have gone down a little differently if I had actually been in MC's place. MC, it seems, doesn't do art. I've been at least scribbling since I was a kid that figured out I could rub the paint off my toys onto the wall. I would not have noticed the notebook on the counter, but ever since we left the private gallery earlier I'd been dying to ask him if he'd ever done any art. I daydreamed about asking while I was waiting for my tickets to replenish Why?

This isn't the voice of someone who doesn't want to do art.

Usually when someone tells me they can't draw I find out one of 3 things. They either don't really want to draw or at least they have other things they'd much rather put their time into which is fair. They actually can draw but have fallen into the trap of undervaluing their own work which may or may not be a result of comparing their work to the work of others. Then there's the third crowd that has the desire to do it, puts in the time but can't get anywhere because they are trying to draw from their left brain.

What am I talking about? I'm sure you may have heard that our brains have two halves and that the left half is connected to logic, mathematics, language, symbolism, ect, and the right brain is associated with imagination, creativity, music, spatial relations, distances, ect. Most of us don't know how that actually relates to someone's ability to draw or paint. The truth is art is something all humans can do to some degree. How good you manage to get is one part the desire to do it, one part putting in the practice and one part how well you can get your left brain to give over control to the right brain.

Vincent and Theo are such wonderful examples of what I'm getting at here with the whole left brain/right brain thing. Vincent is right brain dominant and I know this not because he's a talented artist but because it's a fact that Vincent Van Gogh is left handed. Our dominant hands are opposite our dominant brains. Theo is clearly left brain dominant not only because we can see it in his organizational and business skills we can see how he's talking in the second image where he's trying to draw King. He's thinking about drawing fur and eyes and the components of the dog not the forms. The parts are all named and labeled....this is left brain thinking. Compare it to how he talks when he is observing paintings and pushing the technical aside to just let it speak to him. This is the mode he needs to be in to create but he's trying to attack it with his stronger mode which is his left brain mode. It doesn't matter how much you practice if you are practicing the wrong thing.

The other pitfall he's hit is comparing himself to Vincent. As an artist never ever ever ever compare yourself to anyone but the you from yesterday. There will always be someone "better" than you and "better" will always be subjective. Vincent got a head start being right brained. When his brain reaches for it's stronger side it's going to pull from the correct one automatically.

Maybe at this point you're wondering why I spent so much time analyzing a fictional character in this manner? Honestly it breaks my heart to see him like this and though I know he's fictional I also know there are many many Theo's in this world who have given up because they don't know what's holding them back or that it can be conquered. I wrote this for them.

If this is you and you'd like to see what you're truly capable of do this one really easy exercise. Find a picture of something you'd like to draw. Draw it as best you can. If all you can do is draw a stick then draw that stick. Then take that same image and flip it upside down and draw it again. The reason for doing this is to force the left brain to let the right brain work. The left brain doesn't like to work with anything it can't define and slap a label on. When you flip the image upside down it makes it so the left brain can't properly identify the subject. It has no choice but to shut up and let the right brain work. Compare your two drawings. I was astonished the first time I did this. I no longer have my original upright drawing from the first time I tried this technique but I do have the first drawing I ever did upside down. Here it is.

Granted I had been drawing for years upright already but if you need a point of reference as to where I was in my skill when I started training my left brain to sit down here's another drawing from the same year.

Quite a bit of technical difference.

If this exercise worked for you and you're interested in learning more about how to train your brain for better art this is the book that taught me.

I recommend this book to any artist that hasn't read it. It's been the biggest help I've ever gotten on my journey. I don't know if Amazon is the best place to get a copy or not I didn't price match I just put up the first link I came to so you might want to shop around.

Tragedy #2 Exhibit B

Here is one of the last pieces I completed.

It was done in 2012. That's right.....it's been damn near a decade since I've turned out a completed art piece. It would probably break Theo's heart even more to know that there are people out here like me that have talent and aren't using it while he would love to do it and can't seem to. In fact he'd probably dump my ass if we were actually dating before he found out. I felt guilty before but now it's guilt x 1000. Are any of you out there in the same boat as me? Anyone out there that managed to get out of the rut that might have some tips for me? Maybe I should take some requests? What would you all like to see me draw?

Also if you're interested in seeing more of my stuff my gallery is collecting dust here

Theo has everything he needs to be a great artist. He has the eye for aesthetics, he has the desire and commits himself to everything. In his time psychology is in it's infancy. He doesn't even know yet what he doesn't know. If I was wrong about this and he still couldn't draw after a few training sessions I guess I'd have to start making him paint by number kits. He can pick the subject and the colors I'll map out the design and we'll do it together.

#ikemen vampire #theo #theo's route #artistic talent #spoilers #Art The Universe And Everything

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somersetmummy · 3 years ago

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(A/N) This chapter takes place right at the beginning of the story, prior to TNA Chapter 1. Some characters property of Pixelberry.

Original characters: Katie Hide (MC), Jenny Blake

New characters: Lucinda Hansen

Rating/Content Warning: Mild adult language

Word count: 2005

Summary: MC Katie Hide is an English rose, living in New York. She’s down on her luck and desperately needs a job before her visa expires and she’s sent back to London. A chance conversation with a friend leads to an unlikely opportunity. Little did she know that one little interview would change the course of her life forever.

- Bonus social edits at the end -

Just like any other Thursday morning of recent weeks, Katie and Jenny were killing time together in their favourite coffee shop just down the street from their shared apartment. It had become Katie's haven and her go-to place when she wanted to lose herself for a few hours people watching, letting the stories of their lives unfold around her.

She'd always had a knack for paying attention to the details, noticing things which passed by most others. It was a skill she'd relied on heavily in her work, always giving her the edge, at least it had until the time it led to her downfall at Panacea Labs.

Katie had recently walked out of her job after piecing together a scheme under the radar to roll out a costly new drug for treating MS, despite there being multiple warning signs that it was ultimately ineffective but instead just masked the symptoms. Anyone else would've just glossed over the signs, not even noticing, but to Katie, the anomalies jumped off the page unmistakably. It was when she tried to escalate her concerns that she was shut down and her life in the lab made a misery by the VP, Declan Nash.

It hadn't taken long for her to realise that the company was more concerned about profits than actually helping people and she knew that the battle to fall in line and keep her job wasn't worth it. After calmly and quietly sending a company wide report on her findings, she gathered her things and walked out before she could be accosted by security. Little did she know that Nash had already been keeping tabs on her communications, in his eyes she was a trouble maker, and the report never saw the light of day.

Unfortunately for Katie, the current opportunities for young women in the biotech and pharmaceutical world just weren't what they should have been and she spent the next few weeks furiously searching for something else to avoid her work visa being revoked.

Having moved from London to attend the New York Institute of Technology and graduating with a Masters in Chemistry & Bio Engineering three years ago, she'd fallen in love with the city and the life she'd built. She didn't know exactly what the future held and couldn't put her finger on why, but she had a very strong feeling that she needed to stay in New York.

Today, Katie had planned to work through all the job adverts remotely relating to her experience and qualifications, with Jenny on hand to offer moral support. Tiring quickly of hitting one brick wall after another, they'd long forgotten the laptop and instead had spent the last 30 minutes idly chatting about Jenny’s upcoming gallery event when Lucinda arrived, phone to her ear, her body tense and voice sharp as she wrapped up a call with her boss.

"Of course I've got someone Angela, I wouldn't put my name in the mix if I didn't. My candidate is going to blow the others out of the water, I just know Mr Dalton will be impressed....no not just impressed, he'll be awestruck..."

While waiting for her to wrap up her call, Katie heads to the counter to order Lucinda a much needed coffee and returns to place it down in front of her just as she hangs up. She tosses her phone onto the table and slumps back in her chair, defeated.

Jenny stares her down waiting for an explanation which she and Katie both know Lucinda desperately wants to give but is holding off for dramatic effect.

After a long sip of coffee and a moment of holding her head in her hands she finally exhales.

"I am so SO SCREWED."

Katie and Jenny share a look before returning their attention to Lucinda.

"I've just promised my boss that I have the perfect candidate for some billionaire business man's nanny position....." She glares at them both as if they should understand why that's a problem. "I never touch these sorts of jobs, I only ever look for candidates in finance, nannying isn't worth my time."

Katie chooses her words carefully, knowing how Lucinda can bite back pretty quickly when she's stressed. Speaking softly, cautious not to poke the bear, she looks Lucinda in the eye and internally braces herself for whatever might come next.

"So what made this one so different?"

Fortunately Lucinda seems to finally be relaxing, she replies more quietly.

"Filling this position will put me on the map, nobody in the firm has been able to secure someone for this guy, they only seem to last a few weeks before they quit so the sign on bonus never kicks in. If I could find the perfect person I wouldn't only get a great bonus, I'd be next in line for promotion to Senior Head-hunter."

Her demanding demeanour melts away and she's left looking almost vulnerable. Something Katie knows Lucinda doesn't find at all comfortable.

"Anyway, I'll figure it out, I always do."

She gives Katie and Jenny a soft smile, allowing herself to momentarily forget about her woes so she can refocus the attention back to them.

"So what were you guys talking about before I came in?"

As Katie opens her mouth to speak Jenny cuts in on her behalf.

"Oh Katie's just been trying to work out how to get a job before her visa renewal date comes up in a couple of weeks."

Katie lets out a sigh of her own, suddenly remembering how dire her employment prospects are and feeling equally as defeated as Lucinda.

"I can't believe I've worked so hard for my degree, I found the perfect job in the perfect city but now it's all gone down the drain and I'm going to have to go back home and never see you all again."

Jenny wraps her arm around Katie's shoulders, pulling her close. "Oh come on, like you'd be able to shake us off. Even if you are in another country!"

As suddenly as Lucinda dramatically entered the coffee shop she slams her hand onto the table making the others jump.

"THAT'S IT!" She cries, her idea almost exploding out of her. "This is just too perfect...."

Katie and Jenny share a confused look before turning back to Lucinda who is practically foaming at the mouth, clearly onto something, though they're not quite sure what.

"You need a job, I need a candidate." She says in her signature matter of fact style.

Katie still has no idea where Lucinda's going with this.

"It's win win. I'll put you forward for the nanny position, you'll get a great job which means you get to stay in New York, I'll get my bonus. Not to mention I'll look like a damn superhero at work!"

The cogs start to turn in Katie's brain as she begins to digest what Lucinda is proposing.

"But I'm not a nanny....and what about my visa, it's only valid for work in relation to my degree."

Lucinda waves her hand at her, dismissing her concerns. "No problem there then. This guy's family owns one of the biggest Biotech companies in the country, surely that's related to your degree? He's so desperate for a successful match I'll make sure the visa thing is part of the contract."

She cuts back in quickly just as Katie opens her mouth to object.

"And as for you not being a nanny, what about all those times in the lab when you had to pull rank and sort out the shit that went down between your useless colleagues? You've done more nannying of adults in the last two years than most actual nanny's do in their whole career with children."

Jenny suddenly chimes in "OH MY GOD, this is genius!"

Defeated, Katie turns to look at Jenny in disbelief. She may have had a chance saying no to just Lucinda but with Jenny on board with this idea as well she may as well give up now.

"This will solve both your problems, I mean come on, who wouldn't want to work for this guy..."

Jenny turns her phone to Katie, clearly having been searching while she and Lucinda were talking. On the screen Katie sees the most devastatingly handsome man she's ever come across. He's nothing like the guys she'd known before, this person, was a real man and the sight of him caused her stomach to flip.

While undeniably handsome, it's not just the physical attraction that she's drawn to. Her eyes move to the company bio underneath his headshot and in true Katie style, she scans all of the accolades and achievements the company has to boast about. Her mind races at the possibilities. There's no mistaking that working for this man could open the door to so many opportunities and experiences in the future.

With a sigh she resigns herself to the fact that Lucinda might actually be on to something, this could be the break Katie had been waiting for and would certainly solve her imminent visa problems if she could get it taken care of as part of the contract negotiations.

With a silent nod and slight shrug of the shoulders, she begrudgingly agrees, much to the delight of her friends who squeal at each other in delight. Lucinda immediately pushes her shoulders back, standing to attention, furiously beginning to type on her phone.

"You TA'd for your old professor right?"

"Yes, I did a year as their assistant after graduating. Mainly doing research and going to conferences with her."

Lucinda's eyes never leave her phone as she works her magic, spinning Katie's words into an impressive resume. After a moment she raises her eyebrows and flits her eyes over to Katie, a small gesture which Katie realises is an invitation to elaborate.

"Oh, yeah so that's actually how I got into Panacea Labs, I met a rep at one of those conferences."

Jenny rolls her eyes at the mention of Katie's old company, now affectionately known by them both as Pariah Labs. Despite what she felt about Katie's previous employer, she was immensely proud of Katie's achievements and wanted to make sure they were included.

"Weren't you the youngest lab boss thingy they'd ever had?"

"Senior lab technician." Katie corrects, knowing full well that Jenny hasn't got a clue about the finer details of her work. "Well, yeah eventually, after two years of working my butt off. But I hardly think they'd rave about that in any reference they give me. If they even give one to begin with..."

Lucinda waves a dismissive hand at her.

"With this resume, you won't need any reference from those bastards. Trust me."

Katie had no idea what Lucinda had written or how she'd managed to spin her experience to be more favourable for a nanny position but it must've worked because half an hour later Lucinda slammed her hand down on the table once again, causing everyone around them to jump out of their skin.

"YES! It worked...he wants to see you, you've got an interview tomorrow at the Dalton Enterprises headquarters".

She turns her phone to Jenny to show off the email and they fall into an animated conversation, no doubt planning how they're all going to celebrate once Katie inevitably gets offered the job. As they fall into a blur in the background, Katie looks back over the picture of Sam Dalton on Jenny's phone, not quite sure how she can be so hypnotised by someone through a photograph.

There's something about him which feels familiar, something drawing her in. It's almost as if they're viewing each other through a looking glass and she wonders whether in this exact moment he is feeling the same magnetic pull towards her, a stranger whom he hasn't even met yet. Tearing her eyes away from the phone, Katie's tries to steady the stream of unanswered questions flooding her mind and focus on how she's going to win this man over.

"Here goes nothing."

TAG List: @shewillreadyou @chemist-ana @txemrn @silma-words @thefrenchiemama @secretaryunpaid @sfb123

- Bonus - pre-interview pep talk with the girls -

#the nanny affair #fanfic #tna #choices

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lebina · 4 years ago

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I'm really thankful it's Friday. I needed an outlet to decant all emotions gathered throughout what has been a very torrential work week. So I found myself leafing through a gallery of visual assets collected over many months, shot across different spaces with faces in between. Despite masterfully creating images from processed light, I have not been able jot down pieces of myself... You know, search deep within and bleed a little. Instead this ritual has evolved and shaped up as images that often unsettle emotions and stirs spirits when unpacked. However provocative they may be at times... I'm glad that I've been able craft all of my creations with light.

But this monochrome shot isn't like any other usual light draft I'd have hanging on display on various digital walls. It's simply an offering and a glance into what's to come. Many things lie ahead, focusing and acting on any probable desire whilst manifesting it wields it into view. So as to set precedent of that, I leave you with this manifestation of spirits and dancing light in black & white.

- LD

#visual poetry #photography #monochrome

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misterelguapo · 5 years ago

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RIP EVAN LARSEN AKA SPESH AKA THE FOG BENDER AKA SHIMSHANG AKA WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE

I've been starting and stopping writing about the passing of my friend, Evan, since I heard the news on Saturday afternoon.

I still haven't fully wrapped my head around it and I can't believe it's real, but I had to write something because it has me wrecked.

It was basically impossible to not have a good time if Evan was around you. His energy and spirit and humor made sure of that. If you were down and needed a laugh or to just crack even the smallest smile, he was that dude. He was kind. He was extremely talented. From tags on USPS stickers to comics to elaborate wall pieces, his art was incredible.

We never really made solid plans to hang out. It was always just sort of random. And that was a part of Evan too. He kind of went wherever the wind happened to carry him and he had a good time and you did too if you were lucky enough to be there.

The extent of any "plans" to hang out was usually me texting him from The Bamboo Hut, the "tiki" bar across the street from the hostel he used to work at and telling him to take a break so we could have a few drinks. I remember I once texted him, "I'm at the dang coconut fucking place."

We'd drink beers and shots and eat free pizza.

Usually the shots were whiskey, but I remember once he introduced me to a shot that I believe he came up with called "Ferball" which was a horrible 50/50 combo of Fernet and Fireball.

Too many "Ferball" shots once led to me losing my phone. When I realized I lost it I turned on Lost Mode and entered a contact number so hopefully whoever found it would call and get it back to me.

The person who found it instead tried to extort me for money in exchange for the phone for, like, three weeks before he finally gave up. LOL

Evan and I would exchange stickers. I've put his stickers up in random spots in San Francisco and as far away as Portland, Maine.

I don't know what he did with mine and I don't care. His were better than mine.

I still have four of his USPS stickers.

Once I heard of his passing I dug through a drawer that I knew his stickers, if I had any left, would be in.

I can't decide what to do with those last four.

I selfishly want to keep them, but I think he might want them slapped up somewhere so I gotta figure that out.

Maybe someone will put together a tribute or memorial to him at some gallery space where people can bring pieces of his art to display. I don't know.

I feel so mad at myself that I haven't seen him in about a year. I won't get to randomly run into him on the street or at Vesuvio or wherever. No more checking out each other's stickers. So many times I had it in my head to go see him at his job at Kozy Kar and I never did.

A lot of those reading this might not have known Evan (physically or online) so I apologize for this big block of text in your timeline, but I know a lot of you reading this did know Evan in one way or another and I hope you are having your own fond memories of him, be it a time you hung out with him, something he said on Twitter or Tumblr, a piece of his art that you enjoyed, anything.

RIP, my friend. And I forgive you for introducing me to Ferball. ❤️

@waxathrashee

#i domt know who else to tag #theres so many on here who he had an impact on #if you knew evan and see this it is for you

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crabtree-online · 6 years ago

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Hello, interneters, I'm Constable George Crabtree of Station House No. 4, coming to you over the world wide web. As a constable --and now a bjd, myself--I think it's only fitting that my first post on this blog be dedicated to the #ProBJDArtists fight. My Aunt Fish has been been ill recently and had to move home for her health, and that's meant she's had only myself for assistance in this year's annual observance instead of the whole crew, but I'm going to do my best.

Now, I'm sure most of you folks know that theft is a crime, but in my time here I've seen a lot of debate over whether "crime" and "wrong" are the same thing. And I'm here to tell you that in this case--as in most cases--they very much are.

Oh, I hear you out there---"Well, you're a copper, you have to say that!" "You're a plastic copper; you don't have an opinion!"

And you're right, I am a copper, and it's my job to stop someone stealing if I can. And whether or not I personally possess the ability to opine, it's verifiable fact that my own artists, the ones who made me the resin George Crabtree I am, have been affected by this rampant thievery. Why, thieves were openly plotting to get hold of their panther before it was even released! Practically half the results--or more!--on Ebay that come up under an "Iplehouse" search are recasts.

And if you don't care that a "big company" like them or Soom (still less than 20 people) is being affected, what about single-artist producers? If your neighbor sculpted a piece that took them months to develop and years to fund, would you march next door and steal it off their doorstep the moment they'd finished? That's the mark of a criminal mind, my friend!

As for the argument that we're just too expensive, that's a misconception at best... and a bald-faced lie at worst! Now, I've been through Aunt Fish's phone gallery, and I found just the person to help explain why this isn't the case.

Meet Dr. Black Jack. He was released by Volks a few years back. As he was a limited edition with a $1200 price tag, Aunt Fish thought from the start she'd never be able to get him. But last year a friend directed her to someone on DoA selling just the head for about $300. It was a lot at the time, but she got a layaway and that made it easier. Several months later, Aunt Fish found a listing for a Soom Supergem body marked down to just $200 with shipping, and all because he was a little yellow and had had some breakage repair on one hand---and just like that, a $1200 doll for $500, paid out over the course of a year!

There's one final detail of the doctor's story that should shatter some of the myths about recasting and whether it really hurts. My Aunt Fish is used to cobbling dolls together, matching pricier parts to inexpensive bodies, and she's bought Soom parts a couple of times before... but when the doctor's body came in, she wanted to cry the minute she picked him up. The difference in quality was unmistakable. While the parts she's bought before were brittle to the point of being impossible to carry in a doll bag, his resin was sturdy but lightweight, much the same as mine.

The difference was that his body was made much earlier in Soom's history, before recasting had gone viral, so to speak. The decline in quality from not being able to meet production demands as they once had been was evident to the very touch. LUTS, the company that made his little girl there, recently put out a blunt (but well deserved) statement that the reason for their halting orders on things like extras and even dolls until they were caught up was that recasting had sapped so much of their income that this was as fast as they could afford to go anymore and still not compromise their quality. Some companies, like HZ, saw the writing on the wall and closed down altogether.

There are so many ways to be in this hobby on a budget. You just have to be resourceful. Like Detective Murdoch! Work with what you can, and you can build what seemed impossible! Whether it's hybriding, exploring the many, MANY companies with dolls under $300, getting a long layaway, buying used, buying old, or even buying a damaged doll that needs a little help to be their best again, nobody has to steal. This is a creative art, and creative art is about invention and innovation. Not cheap shortcuts and supporting shifty ne'er-do-wells like Luo.

And finally, like with many other crimes, rehabilitation and reform is possible. People who go legit are roundly welcomed into pro-artist communities, don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Your first legit is your first doll, to these people. You could have a lot to offer the community--you could help with comparison photo archives, and even just sharing your story can inspire others. Don't be afraid to reach out.

I'm George Crabtree, and until next time, stay safe, stay creative, and stay #ProBJDArtist!

#bjd #abjd #ball jointed doll #ball-jointed doll #probjdartists #legitbjd

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nicolestamas · 3 years ago

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Desert Gem - The Sims Décor to the Max Kit build test/challenge PART 6: Final Thoughts

My Favorite Pieces

I really liked most of the items in this pack but there were certainly a few standouts.

Bold Indulgence Hallway Table: I really love the shape and lines of this table. I find that a lot of accent tables in the game feel too large to me and the smaller size of this piece helps keep it from being overbearing despite how "loud" most of the swatches are. There are also a couple of very classy swatches. I can see this piece fitting well in a tropical bungalow à la Golden Girls, or a brooding art deco boudoir.

Collage of Personality wall art: one of the things I like the least about prebuilt homes in the game are that they often feel more like they were dressed by a real estate agent and not so much like a lived-in space. Clutter is an easy way to make a house look like an actual home and this collage is just so darn cute. Like the hall table, it has swatches befitting several styles and would work anywhere from a breezy apartment to a trendy restaurant.

The Luxurious Divide: I don't use screens very often but this one is probably my favorite one to date. With the right swatch this could be perfect in a garden, sun room, or funky boutique. I also like how it's flatter and less zig-zagged as I always found the overly folded dividers to be really clunky.

Fringe of Elegance lamp: this is probably my most favorite item from the entire pack. Not only do the swatches cover a wide range of colors but the design of the item itself is balanced so well between a number of styles. There are muted neutrals, bold darks, and vivid brights. This lamp works in a mid century living room, a gothic reading space, a boho studio, or a kid's playroom. The footprint is understandably a little bigger than many floor lamps so I don't know if I'll use it in every build I do, but she will get lots of use.

The Tiger Stalks Tonight wallpaper: honestly I like all 3 wallpaper designs we got in this pack a lot, but this one stands out to me because it's just so darn bold. Even the black and white swatches are dramatic, there's just no way to use this wallpaper and not have it be the star. It's definitely not an every day wallpaper but I will find excuses to use every swatch!

Fancy Craze A-Maze flooring: I like that this pattern is more elaborate than just basic repeating squares and while it has a pretty modern appearance, the color choices make it usable in a variety of ways. It looks great in a large swimming pool as I did with this build, and I imagine playing with the swatches could lead to some really funky designs. I would rock this tile in an art gallery or fancy coffee bar.

My Least Favorite Pieces

There were a few pieces that just didn't work for me:

Circle of Infinity: I know this might be a hot take because I'm pretty sure this was one of if not the main focal point for selling this Kit. It's a really cool idea and a super neat effect. But I feel like it's kind of a gimmicky item that will lose charm fairly quickly, at least for me. It's definitely not an item I will use much in residential lots, and it gives me major "Limited Too in the early aughts" vibes.

A Balanced Place for Coffee: in my opinion if you took away the funkier swatches from this table there would be nothing about it that makes it special. It's a super basic design and I only used it because it was part of the rules I set for the build. Initially I had a completely different table in the sitting room and was struggling to find somewhere to use this; I tried making it work in one of the bedrooms but all I could think about was how much it would hurt banging your shins into the sharp glass tabletop corner when you get up in the middle of the night to pee. I know Sims don't bang into tables but I've done so plenty of times myself and I couldn't let that thought go. It's just a boring table.

Wins & Fails

Like anything else, this Kit released with some good stuff and some disappointing stuff. Overall though I'm really impressed with what we got.

Wins

In my opinion the team really knocked it out of the park this time around in terms of versatility with the color swatches they provided. The content works with items from Paranormal, Vintage Glamour, and Movie Hangout easily as well as varying items throughout other packs.

The same can be said about the item design. As I mentioned above, I can see many of these pieces used in multiple ways and if you're comfortable working with such commanding pieces you'll likely get a lot of use out of them.

I feel that these items really encompass the theme of the Kit while avoiding the trap The Sims team commonly falls into where they make item proportions cartoonishly out of whack. Everything here feels realistic and usable, like something I could find in a real-life furniture store.

Fails

As cool as the new wainscoting is I was disappointed to see that it doesn't provide any extra cutouts for use over doors or windows. There are some windows that are the right shape to work with the wainscoting but as was the case for my build, oddly shaped windows don't play well. If EA releases The Sims 5, I'd like to see wainscoting as a separate addable detail that can be applied like wallpaper to any wall.

One item I was disappointed about not seeing in the Kit was a new window curtain. We have that lovely beaded curtain that came with Paranormal and something similar would have gone over incredibly well; instead of hanging beads a contrasting patterned accent sash would have fit with this kit perfectly.

Any time the Sims team releases a hanging light fixture for only one ceiling height it's a fail, and frankly after 7 years of the game being out there's really no excuse for it. Plus with multiple lengths you could DIY a really cool statement chandelier! Absolute wasted opportunity.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars would buy again

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

#the sims 4 #the sims 4 decor to the max #decor to the max #sims 4 kits #sims 4 build challenge #sims 4 review #ts4

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douchebagbrainwaves · 7 years ago

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I'VE BEEN PONDERING DANGER

For example, I doubt it would be closer to the truth to treat stuff as worthless. To most hackers, getting investors seems like a lot because it's compressed into a short period. Most people in America do.1 They are a perennial topic of heated discussion on Slashdot. The founders all learned to do every job in the company. Could civil liberties really be a cause, rather than the other way around.2 One of the worst things that can happen to a startup—so important that morale alone is almost enough to determine success. Because they're at the bottom of the file; don't feel obliged to cover any of them; write for a reader who won't read the essay, but really the thesis is an optimistic one—that hackers can implement software, but not as measured in press releases, but not random: I found my doodles changed after I started studying painting.3 One of the founders might decide to split off and start another company, so I figured it had to be prepared to explain how to make them look impressive, and b avoid the danger of fooling yourself as well as writing software, I had to add a new application to my list of known time sinks: Firefox. But two guys who thought Multics excessively complex went off and wrote their own. That's nonsense. Nothing owns you like fragile stuff.

It seems to me the business guys who did the most for Google were the ones who were smart enough to find you by themselves.4 So far all the suggestions for fixing the problem seem to involve new protocols.5 Being friends with someone for even a couple days will tell you that they don't meet so many people who've done it.6 Wall Street didn't buy. Their stock price has been flat for years.7 Three days later, having spent twenty hours staring at it, you should think far more about who you can recruit as a cofounder than the state of the economy doesn't matter much either way.8 Mass-market digital cameras are doing it to the car makers that preceded him. What they all have in common is that a lot of them. I started to make the most money the soonest with the least impedance.

You don't simply get to do whatever you want; the board still has to act in the interest of the shareholders; but if you have kids.9 A few grammatical tweaks, and a good speaker.10 Wealth is what people want, read Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People.11 One reason it was hard to convince galleries even to do that.12 If you work your way down the Forbes 400 making an x next to the name of each person with an MBA, you'll learn something important about business school.13 I know delivering a prewritten talk makes it harder to engage with an audience. And the Japanese don't like immigration.14 You set up a still life to make a winning product. And once you apply that kind of work often develop a protective incompetence at it. Why should we care especially about civil liberties?15 Civil War were. But that is at least a couple days considering different ideas, instead of where it should be helpful to anyone who wants to distract voters from bad times at home, you can solve that problem by stopping entirely.

An emergency could push other thoughts out of your space, and perhaps even move to the sort of problems hackers are used to solving, giving customers what they want will also tend to be less insistent. They can take months to find a place where there are a few cases where this isn't true: the urls at the bottom of the hierarchy. Viaweb. If success probably means getting bought, why not think of that as your task? The place to look is in our blind spot: in our natural, naive belief that it's all about us. Something that used to be valuable, and now that we were savages and our world was stupid. When I look back at photos from the 1970s.16

Your old bad habits now help you to work. If you feel you're really helping people, you'll keep working even when it seems like your startup is cheap to run a startup are commonsense things people knew before there were business schools, or even universities. Conversely, if you try. Startup ideas are ideas for companies, and potential employees. There was another speaker who was much better than me. When I was in the middle of the twentieth century. They'll pay attention next time. We may be able to brag about the good terms they got. Like most startups, we changed our plan on the fly.17

That could be a problem in fussier countries. Its more general version is our answer to the Greeks: Don't see purpose where there isn't. Most hackers who start startups wish they could do searches online. Mihalko, made that year something his students still talk about, thirty years later. They seemed a little surprised at having total freedom. They would be in the best position to conquer the rest of your life.18 The trouble is, they're not drifting. But are these just outliers? Success for a startup. It's a lot more interested.19 Two or three course projects?20 If life seems awful to kids, it's neither because hormones are turning you all into monsters as your parents believe, nor because life actually is awful as you believe.

Notes

Rice and Beans for 2n olive oil or mining equipment, such a low valuation to see artifacts from it, whether you have to be a big company, but the meretriciousness of the world in which case immediate problem solved, or editions with the definition of property is driven by bookmarking, not eating virtuously.

Convertible debt can be compared, per capita income. One of the technically dynamic, massively capitalized and highly organized corporations on the ability to solve the problem is not a problem that they take away with dropping Java in the biggest winners, from hour to hour that the people working for large companies, executives at large companies will one day is the other students, he was made particularly clear in our case, companies' market caps will end up saying no to science as well as down. A has an operator for removing spaces from strings and language B doesn't, that it even seemed a bad idea.

This is what you do it now. A good programming language ought to be able to formalize a small business that isn't the last they ever need. The founders who go on to the modern idea were proposed by Timothy Hart in 1964, two years investigating it.

The threshold for participating goes down to you. Adults care just as you can help in that category. The solution is to try to go sell the bad groups and they have that glazed over look.

There is of course, that I didn't need to raise the next round is high, so I have a standard piece of casuistry for this situation: that startups usually lose money at first you make something popular but apparently unimportant, like speculators, that I hadn't had much success in doing something different if it was considered the most visible index of that generation had been raised religious and then using growth rate early on when you have two choices and one or two, I'd say the raison d'etre of prep schools improve kids' admissions prospects. Here's an example of applied empathy.

There will be, and that there's more of a startup you have to want to invest in a certain threshold.

I wonder if they'd been pretty clever by getting such a large pizza and found an open booth. Indiana University Publications.

Price Bubble? It's hard to predict at the last step in this article used the term whitelist instead of happy. Hint: the company by doing another round that values the company goes public.

It derives from efforts by businesses to use an OS that doesn't have dangerous local maxima, the fatigue hits you like shit. There is archaeological evidence for large companies will one day have an email address you can skip the first half of it in action, there is money.

Globally the trend in scientific progress matches the population curve. Correction: Earlier versions used a technicality to get good grades. The empirical evidence suggests that if there were, we found they used it to steal the company they're buying.

But his world record only lasted 46 days. I recommend you solve this problem, any claim to the biggest sources of pain for founders, if the students did well they do, just that it was. 4%? We didn't know ourselves which VC firms regularly cold email.

These anti-dilution provisions, even in their hearts that if you ban other ways to do is assemble components designed and manufactured by someone who doesn't understand what you're doing something that flows from some types of startup: Watch people who interrupt you. 25. As Clinton himself discovered to his surprise when, in Galbraith's words, it's easy to get users to succeed in a startup at a friend's house for the linguist and presumably teacher Daphnis, but you should seek outside advice, before realizing that that's what they give it additional funding at a regularly increasing rate to impress investors. I'd encourage anyone starting a startup in question usually is doing badly and is doomed anyway.

Peter, Why Are We Getting a Divorce? Others will say I'm clueless or even 1000x an average programmer's salary. But the usual suspects in about the nature of the Garter and given the Earldom of Rutland.

Most of the 1929 crash. I think is happening when you say something to bad groups is that the http requests are indistinguishable from those of popular Web browsers, including the order and referrer. Someone who's not a problem so far done a pretty comprehensive view of investor who for some reason, rather than making the broadest type of mail, I asked some founders who had recently arrived from Russia.

But the question of whether public company not to pay the most successful startups of all, economic inequality as a result, comparisons of programming languages either take the hit.

All you have no way to find may be the least VC-like.

Vision research may be enough, the top startup law firms are Wilson Sonsini, Orrick, Fenwick West, Gunderson Dettmer, and cook on lowish heat for at least 3 or 4 YC alumni who I believe, and degenerate from 129. I don't know how to deal with the best case. Indiana University Publications.

In some cases e.

For example, it's not as facile a trick as it needs to learn to acknowledge, but nothing else: no friends, TV, go running.

But when you ask parents why kids shouldn't swear, the way to fight back themselves. We didn't let him off, either, that it killed the best startups, who've already made it to the company's PR people worked hard to get frozen yogurt. But not all, economic inequality. This is actually from the compromise you'd have reached after lots of people.

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