#Marylin chin

[crumblinggothicarchitecture]

Asking for advice anon here. So the poem I'm writing is a tribute for the death of a loved one. It's a free verse + imagery + metaphor. I've tried to incorporate the theme of finding solence in unexpected places, despite hardship. I'm ashamed to say I've been working on it for over a year. I'm running out of time and it doesn't seem right. What do you recommend?

No shame- I have writing's I've been working on for 5 years. It's okay.

First, I want to say my condolences to you. I hope that you find some peace in the aftermath of pain and loss. Grief is no simple subject with which to write. Please be careful with this advice- writing on such personal and traumatic topics can be sensitive- and much of this advice is about focusing in on the grief. If you are struggling, please reach out to someone who can help you.

Let’s talk about some poetry strategies 😊 I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to explain most of this by using an example poem. It might not be entirely related to what it is that you are trying to accomplish. But as I read your ask, it immediately reminded me of this one poem by Marylin Chin. This poem is also a tribute poem for lost loved ones and centers around using ordinary objects as metaphors for grief/loss/change. If I am off base- feel free to just ignore all of this. I'm doing my best on limited information here! 

Okay, So I usually tell my students, my friends, and literally anyone who will listen to me talk about poetry, that there are a couple of ways to remove the “thought-block” in pursuit of poetry. Depending on the issue at hand, and what exactly you mean when you say, “it doesn’t seem right,” start by going back to the basic blocks. 

 Do you mean the words on the page don’t fit right? Do you mean that the thematic backing to the poem doesn’t seem right? Do you mean that the longevity of the phrases doesn’t seem right?  

I would take some time to diagnose the exactness of the problem. Often, when I am working on my own poetry (or writing of any kind) I will feel as if I am not quite sincere enough. You know that feeling when you are saying what you want to say, but it’s just not as impactfully emotional as you would like? I will sometimes feel like there is just a little bit more I need to say- to express- but it is just out of reach. I think that sometimes I even try to hide the truth of the matter from myself. So, I spend some time with my thoughts, often while sitting outside in the sun. I find the most peace there. I read some philosophy and sit outside until I’m exhausted and focused. Something inspiring or thought-provoking, just to get your mind in the spirit of analysis. There is some part of me that views poetry as an analysis of some kind – it's a process of teasing out and pulling apart a feeling then trying to suture it into the most poignant use of language possible.  

Consider, where do you find peace? Go there and think about who you are in relation to what impression you are trying to imbue into the poem. What is your truth? How does it relate to your message/ thematic point?  Go a step beyond just what you want to see written on the page, but what feeling do you seek to illicit? Even if you can’t yet put it into words- focus on the feeling. Know what it means to you, and your own intentions with that feeling.  

Now that we’ve talked about the feeling internal to the poem. As you say, the theme is grief- what's your purpose with the poem? Are you attempting to comfort readers, and yourself, from the grief? To reassure that the sting of loss will pass? Or are you sitting with grief? Pondering on the ways in which the world moves despite the loss you so keenly feel? Define it- if you can.  

I know this is a complex subject, given that grief is difficult to deal with, so if you are struggling- be careful with how seriously you take this advice. Take care of yourself- first and worry about poetry second. Okay? 😊  

Or is it something else? When you cannot yet phrase your feelings into poetry- start by attempting to make it into a question. What desperation of the soul are you trying to reach out to?   

For instance, with grief, some people are asking: God, why? And some are asking to make sense of sudden loss. And some are just asking- was it peaceful for them? Some ask why we must suffer mortality at all- what does it all mean? Some ask about the connected nature of past and present- and grief associated with letting go of the past. Where do we go when we pass? How do those who remain move on? (won’t lie- nothing launches me faster into existential dread than grief and loss and mortality). 

 Use the question on your mind- and then try to answer it with the poem (when it all falls into place). Answer it with the images and metaphor that you pick out- do a free write, association, type writing activity, wherein you just ramble about how exactly this image (or metaphor) answers the question you came up with.  

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make it perfect- just ramble on. All good things in time- and there will time to edit, later. 

Let’s get into an example: Have you ever read “Alter” by Marylin Chin? She’s a wonderful poet, I highly recommend it if you don’t already know her. I’m thinking about this poem right now because it has a really interesting way of representing loss and change within generational momentum and cultural landscape.  

Poem: 

Altar  by Marilyn Chin 

I tell her she has outlived her usefulness.  I point to the corner where dust gathers,  where light has never touched. But there she sits,  a thousand years, hands folded, in a tattered armchair,  with yesterday’s news, “the Golden Mountain Edition.”  The morning sun slants down the broken eaves,  shading half of her sallow face. 

On the upper northwest corner (I‘d consulted a geomancer),  a deathtrap shines on the dying bougainvillea.  The carcass of a goatmoth hangs upsidedown,  hollowed out. The only evidence  of her seasonal life is a dash of shimmery powder, a last cry. 

She, who was attracted to that bare bulb,  who danced around that immigrant dream,  will find her end here, this corner,  this solemn altar. 

This poem speaks about an “alter” of the ordinary. Beginning with an allusion to the current state of the past generations - as extremely old and stagnant, Chin writes that now she sits "a thousand years old, hands folded, in a tattered armchair." Presumably, the poem is speaking about a lost ancestor, or perhaps a grandmother, though it remains unclear, she is certainly speaking to a past generation or her particular Chinese American experience. We know this because of the line “with yesterday’s news, ‘the Golden Mountain Edition.’” The ordinary then becomes extraordinary, in context of its representational value to the life of Chinese Immigrants. The phrase “Golden Mountain” is a common way many immigrants from China would refer to the mountains of California during the 1850’s Gold Rush. This phrase held significance as it indicates how people would hope to become prosperous during the Gold Rush- by seeking something as awe-inspiring as the Golden Mountain. The impact of Chin using the “Golden Mountain” to bring forth an image of hopeful and eager young immigrants coming to America for Gold contrasts with the later image found in poem of “the carcass of a goatmoth” as it hangs upside down- brilliantly ensconcing a thematic message of dashed hopes amid a slowly dying, and turning to dust, American Dream as the quest for Gold was often all for not. Many found nothing- most became impoverished in a New Land.

The poem, is thus, functioning as a lamentation on the death of those who have come before us and a recognition even still of their full lives- one in which they had hopes and dreams even if they did not all come true. Conversely, speaking to the tone of identifying mortality, but also recognizing how our predecessors live on through us. As Chin ends the poem with “this solemn alter” proclaiming her own need to keep a testament to their lives with her- always like an offering to the God themself. Intuitively, also, the word “Alter” holds connotations of Chinese religiosity- marking out yet another way Chin is using the ordinary to represent a metaphysical connection to the passing of her predecessor, her past in Chinese tradition, and the dashed hopes of the Gold Rush.  While the end is not precisely a solace of any kind, it does bring forth a brief flicker of peace- of knowing that life goes on and the older generations will be remembered.

If you wish to also use a particular image or metaphor- mark out the ways in which it is multifaceted as a representation of your own circumstances. Much like how the words "Golden Mountain," "Goatmouth Moth" and “Alter” for Chin represents so many other things- so too, I’m sure, you can find images of like value in your life. Think on it for a long while- if you already have things picked out, try to establish, maybe is a short reflection-style journal entry, what it is about these images that represents your grief/theme so well?  

The vehicle of these contrasting images also lends well to identifying quintessentially Chinese American struggles with intergenerational communication and the trauma of assimilating to a new culture. The dead moth becomes the main metaphor for grief. It’s specifically a goatmouth moth, in the poem, which is a massive, beautiful moth. The carcass lays where it died- untouched and unmoved. Suddenly, grief struck, a plain table with a dusty moth becomes an altar to her ancestors. The moth represents the ways in which we let grief linger. Chin refuses to clean or change anything about the altar- revealing her reluctance to forget the past. It’s a really Brillant way of representing loss- that uncanny feeling of unfinished, finished business, and a tenuous cultural connection growing evermore strained by the pressure Chin feels to assimilate to American culture even if it means further distance from who her ancestors were. 

Consider- how this poem enumerates ways the thread of grief weaves through our lives- who are you? And how does grief manifest in your life? does it linger like the moth? or are you moving on? is the grief like the rising Sun- present but you know that your loved ones are watching over you? How does it manifest in your personal history? What are the implications of grief in your life? You speak on including imagery and metaphor- these are excellent devices to rely on. Chin’s poem should help elucidate that. I hope.  

I sometimes will free-write every single word I can think of in relation to one single element of the poem. Say you wish to have the moth be your metaphor- write every single word you can think of that relates to the moth (put aside thought of all else, consider the physical). Then move to how you wish the metaphor to interact with the theme. Chin’s theme is grief, so her moths gather dust and rot in the corner. She uses moths specifically because they dry rot- and dust is only left.

My point is that if you are stuck still trying to find the words- free write about it. Don’t pressure yourself to find the perfect words- just find all the words. There’s always time to edit later- Chin for instance worked on this poem for a long time. Use your free write activity like a word bank and keep switching things around- until it feels right.

So try to think on ways in which you can use your images to layer in meanings- is there a difference between the connotative and denotive meanings? How can you tease apart the words you want to use- to match on to your thematic point? 

Feel free to ask more questions. I will take any excuse at all to talk about poetry. If none of this advice works out for you, then I hope you at least enjoyed the infodump. I cannot control myself, sometimes. Again, my condolences for your loss. In times of grief, I find writing to be a great comfort. Hopefully, it is the same for you.  

Also, I fear I have already written too many words and I did not even get to give advice on free verse or the editing process. So, if you want me to speak about that too, feel free to write back. I just don’t want to overwhelm you with a longer answer.  (It's already so much) (I'm So SoRYY, I Just LOVE poetry).

Lastly, I always recommend- when you don't know how to write something, or you are stuck- turn to reading. I don't know why- but it works like magic.

[lylianrae]

A list of all the things I have manifested ⋆˚⟡˖ ࣪

We manifest everything in our lives btw - the good and the bad which is why I will be including both to prove that the law does not discriminate. If you can successfully become poor, you can most definately become rich with the same ease because everything is just a state.

Long hair

AHH this is one of my favourite manifestations. Ever since I was young I had a weird bob with a fringe (often crooked) and I wanted long hair like all the other girls (lmaoo) but my mum was strict so she didn't let me grow it out. Although I didn't know about manifestation back then, every new year and birthday I would wish for long hair and I would pretend I was a princess with butt long hair. Guess what, somewhere along the line, my mum let me grow it out and now I have butt length hair (don't really know what to do with it tho </3).

As all kids do, I went through an emo phase where I chopped off like half of my hair like 4 years ago. I literally grew back 7-8" of hair within a month because my parents got too mad. I knew about manifestation here so I just assumed my hair always grows unaturally fast. Same with when I cut bangs, they grew past my chin within a couple of weeks.

Manifesting my way into a private school

Honestly this just shows that you dont need 2430430 hours of working on your self concept to manifest. Literally so many celebs, including Marylin Monroe (the queen), manifested their fame with awful self concept. Likewise, here I was possibly going through the worst time of my life back then. I would wake up at 8 am and start studying and end at 11 pm despite being only 10 at the time. I was so freaking stressed and envious of all the other children and went into a depressive spiral where my two options were pass or die. I didn't even have enough practice and I cried my self to sleep on most nights. Anyways, when i did the exam I was deathly calm and even after the exam I was apparently so chill so my parents thought I failed.

I literally left 9 questions on one paper but throughout the summer, everytime I found a dandelion I would make a wish and imagine digging a tunnel to the examiners room where I secretly change my answers into the right ones (lmfao my tiny 10 yr old brain - idek how it worked). Anyways my results were sent back to me a month later on a random October evening and I got a really high mark. Even after 7 years of going to this school I havn't met anyone who has gotten a mark higher than mine.

Curly hair / straight hair

Sigh. We always want things we don't have. When I was younger I had really straight hair like 1A asian hair but when I was like 10, I really wanted curly hair and I would try to curl it often. After a few months, I manifested a curling iron and my hair literally became naturally curly like right after a wash it would curly af when before it was dead straight. Naturally I grew bored of it and I wanted my straight hair back and for ages I began overcomplicating the law and struggled to manifest it. It was only recently when I actually let go of the 3D that I manifested the silky, shiny straight hair.

Social life?

This is also a funny one, just shows how easily you can manifest. So back in 2021 after lockdown I felt so lonely and felt so left out of my friendship group so after a few months I began stressing myself out and spiraling for like 30 minutes, sobbing to myself about how I was so lonely and how nobody loved me (💀). Anyways it became reality, I found myself uncomfortable in many social situations and found myself becoming forgotten far more easily. I don't really remember the details but it was so bad that I think I accidently manifested social anxiety (oh well we still up tho).

However I am a loa girly so I found myself listening to popularity subliminals and slowly (but surely) my mindset change from having no friends to being the most popular girl in the year. Like no joke I became friends with like 3 people from different social circles so at lunchtime we had to join up like 3 different tables so we can all sit together. Overall I got myself 20+ close friends and even my ex friends began to admire me although it had ended badly. Even now, when someone says something thats untrue - for example saying that they are dumb when they are not, they would be like "ahaha so its like when Rae (me) says she has no friends, the whole school knows who Rae is".

Clear skin

This was sort of in the beginning of my loa (law of attraction back then) journey, I just randomly found out what subliminals were and was still quite new to everything. Now I don't even understand how it happened but I had busted some capillaries under my skin and it looked like small red viens under my skin and bro I was freaking out at the time. One night I was like just, I had enough, I'm going to get myself better skin and so I listened to a sub once for 3-4 days and on like the 4th day, my cheeks began to heat up which was odd and the next day it was 90% gone. Just like magikkkk.

Desired university?

Guys. Feeling is the secret. Don't you ever forgot that - not feeling as in emotions but rather the feeling of knowing. I had 2 entrance exams to do to apply for my universities and it was a stressful time where I wasn't getting enough sleep and wasn't eating enough simply because I didn't have the time. Like I come home from school and would have 3-4 hours of homework, then I need to revise for tests and then the remaining time would be spent on the entrance exams. Each past paper took 2 hours and I have around 13s per questions and I was already struggling on time. Anyways, I began to hate them and I would often complain to my mum saying things like "My score got even lower!!" or "I hate it so much" or "My head hurts / eyes hurt".

Guess what? Not only did I see my score decrease over time but I also made such a silly mistake on the most important entrance exam which I needed for 4/5 of my universities. I left a question and completely forgot to mark on the answer so when I finished the section I realised I had one more space on the sheet with like 10s to spare. I didn't have enough time to go back and fix it and lemme say that I did so badly in the test. Even while waiting for results I was just like "ah it would be a miracle if I scored above this bla bla".

I got the score back and it was so freaking bad like I did not stand a chance at my university at all. However, I started to affirm for a place and to my utter shock and surprise my desired university reached out and offered me an interview. I knew people who had like scores which were 50% better than mine and they still got rejected pre-interview. Anyways I began stressing about the interview and the results of the whole thing and boom. I got rejected 3 days after my birthday lmaoo. But its okay because I'm reapplying and I learnt so much more. I'm redoing the entrance exam and my score is a loooot better than it ever was last year.

A key take away would be thoughts are the result of the state you are in. Your dwelling state manifests and I was focusing on the unrealness and the difficultly of getting into this uni and thats what manifested. At the time I was heartbroken and literally went through the 7 stages of grief and spent so many months trying to revise it only for me to focus on the 3D. Just know that everything is done in imagination and it appears in the 3D as a result.

Photographic memory

So this is also something I had manifested before I actually knew about loa but the takeaway here is that manifestation is always instant. I was around 11 reading a random book on my tiny kindle and the book was on how to develop a good memory and I was like ah that'll be useful. Anyways later in the car, I asked my dad about photographic memory and he sort of explained it to me. I just assumed that I have that and I told him I do. He just laughed at me and said thats something that you have to train for and I was not impressed lmao. Inside my tiny brain, I was just like nope, I already have photographic memory and I dropped that thought. Let me tell you, my memory is actually photographic and has helped me out on so many occasions like my brain just takes pictures of things.

Learning fast

This is also something I did before I knew loa, I was just always wondering why the other kids couldn't grasp concepts as easily as I did. Literally in every lesson I would be like ah I learn so fast and now I am actually blessed with the ability to grasp complex subjects so fast. A favourite example of mine would be when I was obsessed with music but to take it to a higher level you need to be able to play an instrument. I couldn't at the time and my teacher told me the requirements a week before the actual deadline. I have never actually played piano with both hands but one day I sat down and worked through the entire song (fur elise by Beethoven) which is a grade 5 (I think) and it normally takes people months / weeks to learn. I learnt the whole thing in 3 days and from then on, I could play piano like I had been doing for ages. Again the memory thing was so helpful because I never actually used any sheet music, I learnt it off a youtube video and I remembered every single note I needed to play.

Hourglass body + 22" waist

This was a couple of years ago when I actually didn't understand loa. Anyways long story short, I would do a 3 minute workout and then flex infront of the mirror all day (💀) and be like omg I have abs. Overtime, I actually got so skinny everyone around me kept pointing it out to me and my mum got so concerned that she took me to the doctor like 4 times. It was so funny, I would loose like 2-3kg overnight and my parents would have to buy better fitting uniform.

Bigger boobs

This was also back in the day (2021?) when I didn't understand how to manifest things easily af. I had an A cup but I wanted better boobies and I listened to like 2 subs for a week and I went to a B cup. But I just assumed I have a bigger cup size recently and I just skipped C and went to D+ (haven't measured in a long time).

I'm not done but I'm tired now bye bye

[wxth3r1ngflxw3r]

Trick or Treat!!! 🎃👻🎃

My request is Billy meeting a ghost!

Ask and ye shall receive!

Behind her, there stretched a field of poppies. The sun gleamed, the morning dew still fresh on the grass that Billy sat in. Billy could see, through her translucent torso, a bee flying about amidst the beautiful red flowers.

His gaze moved up, up, up, his eyes landing on her neck. The same striking red colour as the flowers they stood among, dripping onto the floor. The memory of a wound, of a pain from years past, dripping on the grass, yet leaving no stain.

He closed his eyes, hoping she was a mirage, a lapse in his eyesight. His fingers fiddled with the edge of his sweater, and he opened his eyes once more.

It dawned on him with a distant horror that he knew that face. His fingers twitched, yearning to reach for the locket resting against his bare chest, just below his shirt. But he couldn't dare to look. He couldn't dare to think it true. It would only be true if he believed it, if he confirmed it, if he let it be true.

"It's okay sweetheart," she beckoned, "you don't have to be afraid of me," he hand reached to cup his cheek, but there was no contact. There was no warmth, only a cold, faint breeze.

"Mama's here, Billy," she said, smiling softly.

The blood leaked from her neck at a steady rate, the tears trailing down her face and off her chin following. Neither could hit the ground. The dew began to drip off the blades of the grass, the tears in lieu of hers.

"You're not real," Billy pleaded, begging whatever god was in charge of this to stop tormenting him.

"I'm here Billy, can't you feel me?" Marylin's eyes glimmered with tears, and she stared down at her son with a hopeless look. She hadn't aged a day since he last saw her. She was still 26, but he was no longer 5.

"No, mama," he sobbed, reaching for her wrist, only for his hand to fall through the wisps, "I can't feel you."

Apologies for the angst, it's exam season so I'm in that mood™

[boiiswear]

Even Marylin Monroe had what modern beauty standards would call a “double chin”, and she didn’t need to stretch her neck out or be afraid of looking down and scrunching up, neither should anyone else, she is still hot and so are you

Marilyn Monroe in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955) dir. Billy Wilder

[nadjalensandtime]

I remember watching Marylin Minter’s Green Pink Caviar in another class and the feeling that went along with it vividly. The video is of a woman with lipsticked lips smearing green sludge around a glass surface with her tongue. Obviously it was at first super gross, her hair would get mixed in with the slime and she’d lick it all up, letting it run down her chin and onto the glass. The longer I watched however, the movements became hypnotic, and even beautiful. If filmed from a distance, it’d probably look like she was just licking her plate or something but being directly under her and seeing every smear of goo and taste bud made it unsettling and abstract. Similarly, makeup viewed from a distance may look like skin and flushed lips but up close can look almost dirty yet beautiful.

To me, doing makeup on myself or my friends is comforting, but after a while the cakey feeling of each pore and hair on my face covered in concealer and mascara is not. The feeling of things getting in your eyes, mouth, and nostrils is pretty unavoidable when doing makeup, as well as the gloopy wetness also found in Green Pink Caviar. Part of the discomfort in these photos comes from the disembodied features, not being able to see someone's whole face can be unnerving.

The location had something to do with my discomfort as well, my new roommate was supposed to be moving in that night and I was pretty nervous she'd walk in and find me like that in the dark. My discomfort from this and my eyes stinging allowed me to just hurry up and take the photos. I wasn't overthinking anything so I think they feel more raw.

[tomiokasensei]

hello marilyn!! it's been a while, it's your secret santa! 🎅🎅🎅 i apologize i'm sending this message more late of this week, i had to finish a project this week so it was a little hectic for me! how are you? did your week went well for you? i saw you changed for a new header!! 👀👀👀 god it looks even more cuter! i love how giyuu looks in that outfit, his santa hat hanging that way it is so endearing. how can be look always so adorable each time? xD super pretty marylin! i really enjoy traveling too, i was lucky enough to go to spain (well it's our neighbors it's more close hahahah), england and to italy! i so recommend to go to italy, it's really beautiful and it feels so magical! the art, the place, the people everything is just so awesome, i felt so at home there so i bet you will enjoy it as well marilyn when you get the chance! :D ohh to japan how i wish to go there too! i'm so happy they open the borders and you're able to go, wish you a great time, to enjoy yourself and have a safe flight marilyn! 🥰🥰🥰🥰 nice! i still have to watch blue lock, there is so many anime this season that you can't have the hang of it all but for what i saw it's been pretty amazing! i'm so happy you got interested in blood+ i really hope you enjoy watching it ^^ thank you marilyn! it's always a pleasure to make your days more better and bring you a smile with these messages and interactions! sorry for being so late messaging hopefully i will be more active these next week, not being overflowed by projects for now ^^ if you don't mind what are you studying? do you have a plan in mind for what you want to work on the future? what is your dream job? :D may you have an amazing week marilyn be sure to take care of yourself! see you next time.😘😘😘😘

hi, hello, secret santa~! ! ! 😍 don't worry about about late messaging we all have things to do in life and i hope you are going good on your end despite your hectic projects! 😅

thanks for the comment on the new header 💜 i always love how ufotable, as deadpan as he mostly is, still makes giyuu quite expressive! 💙 i noticed that sometimes he would have his hand under his chin deep in thought and yet still could look super adorable as the new christmas art shows that 🥰 

that's right! portugal and spain are neighbours and that is really neat to be able to see how the culture and people are there! i hope to get my chance to vibe there, the architecture there is like a whole work of art! and i can picture the festivities there!! 💜 you are so fortunate to be able to see italy!! wow i do want the opportunity and from what you said about it that it is like i dreamed about 😊 i hope that japan will be an unforgettable experience (it would definitely be an escape cuz it is literally anime central lol!!!) but i want to see the real japan for it's beauty...

i agree so many animes this season and kinda hard to consume it all, i also recalled that another part to spy x family was out at some point but i have yet to watch it ( i only saw the first 10 episodes or so i think lol) and blue lock instantly got my interest cuz i am a football fan and an anime about it seemed so fun! 😃and i love getting recommendations to anime because there are times i find it hard to start a new show and end up rewatching something like 5 times or so... so when my secret santa from last year (shout out to @anyaaforger 🥰) for telling me about blue period because its premise resonates with me so well i would have never heard of it until then lol💜 i will definitely start blood+ soon and i am excited to watch it!

btw i am majoring in graphic design 👀 and through it i am able to utilize most programs outside of photoshop, i have learned more about typography, logos, design concepts, and branding/ how to be more communicating though art... however, my dream job is in concept art/ animation... or just being a full time artist! i dream of being able to create works of art that i want to create rather than what is needed through a company, being able to draw what is fun rather than the "boring" stuff all the time lmao i respect artists like artgerm in being able to create licensed art and anything he wants for a business and i hope to be able to do the same sometime 🥰

thankyou for your lovely messages, secret santa! 🎅 i do mean when i say that they bring a smile to my face, i hope you are going to do great in this coming week! stay safe, hydrated, and have a ton of fun! unil next time!! ✌️😊

[various-stormsnsaints]

"Somewhere in the cosmos, our lies are reverberating."

from Solitary Animal by Marilyn Chin

[saddayfordemocracy]

Art at a Time Like This Inc., in collaboration with SaveArtSpace,

In George Orwell’s 1984, the Ministry of Truth is a Panopticon propaganda machine, engaging in cultural gaslighting and misinformation that undermines the very nature of truth itself. Nowadays, we just call that the internet. 

In October, Art at a Time Like This Inc., in collaboration with SaveArtSpace, borrows the moniker “Ministry of Truth: 1984/2020” to present 20 artists on 20 billboards around New York City, providing “a platform for artists to comment on the current state of US politics and increasing polarization just in time for the election,” according to a press release.

The project is sponsored by V. Hansmann, Jane Lombard Gallery, PPOW Gallery, Galerie St. Etienne, Guerrilla Girls, Broad Band, and Publicide Inc, with Hyperallergic as media sponsor.

Mel Chin’s billboard imagery for “Ministry of Truth: 1984/2020”

Marilyn Minter for “Ministry of Truth: 1984/2020”

Dread Scott for “Ministry of Truth: 1984/2020”

Images courtesy of SaveArtSpace

[springmachinery]

The super detailed eyebrow guide Part 1

Hello everyone, this will be my first post on this blog. Let’s cut to the chase, the first thing we will be talking about is eyebrow styling. There is no one “ideal” eyebrow shape that suits everyone and likely you suit a couple of eyebrow styles yourself. There is no absolute “wrong” answer when it comes to eyebrows, it greatly depends on what kind of vibe you desire to give off: cute, professional, sexy, mature, innocent, anything goes. These will just be some tips that might help you to figure out what works for you, just remember that it is very difficult to make an absolutely accurate guess without seeing your full face, this is ideally a self-help resource.

First of all, you will often see the basic styling guide that goes something like this:

However, I found that this wasn’t absolutely helpful to me. What about thickness? The height of the brow? How arched should I go? Some girls look amazing with perfectly straight brows, right? Is this the only arch that looks good? It’s hard to find info on all of this so let me start:

The thickness of the brows

Think of it this way: The eyebrows are supposed to accentuate what is already there or balance it, as such it is important to follow the lines of the face to create appropriate harmony. Faces are complicated and you may even suit a different type of eyebrows when you have more weight on you, I know I do. Along with that, when it comes to eyebrows, the eyes are the most important determinant, but not the ONLY determinant. Some faces need more softness/sharpness so you add the appropriate eyebrows, at other times, you want to play exactly into the type of features that you have. 

Would you say your facial features are more elongated, narrow and have a certain lightness? None of your features stand out, rather they all work together, no facial feature is too large. Then go for a thinner brow. Think of celebrities like Taylor Swift 

Or Charlize Theron

Heather Morris 

Hyuna ( kpop idols rarely rock completely thin eyebrows, but you can see that among them she has a thinner variant)  

Another point to present is the “chubbiness” vs “dryness” of your face. The more “dry” your face is, meaning the less facial fat and roundness you have, the more likely thin brows suit you. Let’s look at Halle Berry - the thinner her face became, the more she suited thin brows. 

And the midpoint:

One thing to notice is that her eyebrows were never TOO thick - her balanced features would simply never allow for it. Look at someone like Charlize with thick eyebrows, it just didn’t suit her. Her features are simply too delicate for that.

Are your features larger, heavier, more "in your face" - especially the eyes? Consider a much thicker brow like the following ladies. The brows need to follow the lines of your face, if your eyes are very “strong”, they deserve an appropriate assistant! Lucy Hale

Sofia Vergara

Sofia Loren

Lilly Collins

Aisha

Look how much better Beyonce looks with thicker brows, these eyebrows are not that thin to begin with, now imagine how much less flattering thinner eyebrows would be for her face:

The same can be said about Lykke Li, her face is much more balanced when she sports thicker brows due to her beautiful heavy features. 

Notice that many of these women have either rounder or wide cheeks, even if their faces may not hold onto more flesh, that’s the bone structure. That is a trait that suits thicker brows, on the other hand, the ladies in the “thin eyebrows” category often have slightly narrower lines and sharper bones. The thin eyebrows soften them up. 

However, there are some exceptions to this. If all of your features a very large or maybe even your forehead is smaller than you’d prefer, you may go the complete opposite route and take thin brows.

A youtube Anncy is a beautiful example of someone who made the right call going for thin brows instead of thick ones. Larger brows would wear down her face and perhaps take more space away from the rest of her features. When you have large features, sometimes it is difficult to juggle proportions: adding large eyebrows can take away either from eyebrow height or forehead length so if you recognize yourself in this, consider going for thinner brows even though your features are large. The only image of thick brows on her I could find offhand is this  but I felt it would be unfair to put them with the other ones, as I feel the lightning and angle isn’t equal or as flattering, but hopefully you get the point. 

Another example of this is Angelina Jolie. She goes for much thinner eyebrows than you’d expect from someone with features as large as those. 

Big eyebrows would simply be too much competition for the rest of her face:

However, many people don’t fit any type perfectly and that’s also perfectly fine. Most are in the hybrid category, so they have to pay attention to various features.

Kerry Washington is one such example. Her features are larger, yet her eyes are very delicate. Her face is narrow, but there is much fleshiness to it. She goes for a brow that isn’t too thick or too thin. They’re narrow to follow the longer line of the face, yet not too thin to harmonize with the roundness of her features, cheeks and chin. 

Megan Fox has fairly small features and yet she looks better with thicker brows? Why? Because her face possesses a certain sharpness, particularly in her features, that needs thick eyebrows to balance them out. This also has to do with her coloring and contrast, but that will be its own category in a following post. 

Also, while it may seem like blondes suit thinner brows and brunettes thicker ones, that may not exactly be it. I put the example of Lykke Li who shows that a blonde can perfectly rock thick eyebrows, and Hyuna and Halle, as an example that brunettes can also look beautiful with thin ones. I’ll go more in depth about this in the Coloring section. 

Arched vs Straight eyebrows

The arch of the brow depends on your overall features and the style you want to convey. A longer midface may suit straighter, longer eyebrows to add width to the face. Straight eyebrows also make you look younger and more cute. They can also help the forehead look wider. An example of this is Yoona, this girl has a longer midface and the brows add a vertical line that breaks apart the length of the midface. The straight brows also suit her cute and youthful appeal.

Mina from Twice is another good example of this. The straight brows add balance to the length of the face.

I would suggest straighter brows to people who’d prefer a cuter look usually, however many sexpots, so to speak, go for this look to balance out their features. Look how much width these straight brows, that extend far out, allow Jessica Alba’s longer face.

Straight eyebrows, depending on how dark they are, can also add drama and make the face seem more symmetrical and lifted, especially if the ends of the brows point up - that’s why they’re popular with models. Notice how symmetrical and compact, or even wide, a lot of these faces appear due to this effect. Additionally, these faces appear more dominant or modelesque and may even photograph better, which is why you may want to try them out. 

Let’s look at Nyane, her straight brows with a slight elevation towards the end point out the beautiful symmetry and sharpness of her face. When they are arched, there is too much sharpness. Even if they were shaped differently, the elevated arch would take away from a more balanced look.  

On the other hand, for the e-girl or cute girl look, the straight eyebrows don’t point up, rather, they point down. Look at the classic e-girl Belle Delphine for that. For the cute girl look, choose either an end that points neutrally or down. Beware that an eyebrow that point down may make your face appear less lifted, but many faces can handle it pretty well. It’s all subjective and not everyone wants the lifted look.

As for arched brows, they definitely bring up the sex appeal and make your eyes appear lifted. This is great if you want to go for enhanced sex appeal or have a negative canthal tilt (downturned eyes) that you’d like to change. Arched eyebrows are a classic and they add that “wow” factor to the face, in addition to that, it’s also a great choice for those who have a baby face and want to stray away from that. It’s great to add that arched eyebrows can break up a wide face and add “length”, it can also shrink the forehead and make the eyes appear larger, but that will be further covered in the placement section.

Gigi Hadid has beautiful eyebrows that make her eyes appear huge due to the high arch point. The eyebrows are her best feature and certainly add something to her look. Pay attention to how babylike her face would look without those eyebrows, if you’d cover them, her face would seem so much softer. The arched brows are exactly what make her face model like. It’s that extra something.

Aishwarya Rai is famous for her sex appeal and beauty and her eyebrows play up that aspect - she often lifts up one or both brows in photos to get an even more pronounced arch.

When her eyebrows are straighter, she loses some of that seductiveness.

Anne Hathaway has beautiful downturned eyes, however, in case one would like to “lift” the area up, so to speak, they could try out this type of style. The arch of the brow is exactly above where her eye ends and goes down, making for beautiful harmony.

Eyebrows can also be more sharply arched or have a more rounded arch. A sharper arch can add more dimension to the face, as well as sex appeal, while the rounded one can accentuate femininity (look Gigi and A,R, or someone like Sofia Vergara). Marylin Monroe, in tune with old Hollywood beauties, sported a sharper arch often, as did Olivia Wilde, to suit her sharp features.  

Naomi, is also an example of beautiful arched eyebrows, that mix up both the rounded and sharp aspect by going to no extreme. This can suit you really well if you have a mix of sharp and round features like she does (high cheekbones, elongated face + full lips, rounded cheeks etc.)

If you can’t decide which eyebrow to go for, consider the mix of the two: where the eyebrows bottom line is more straight and the top of it is arched. It is often seen on women with cat eyes that want to add softness but also show off that allure. Notice how the bottom of Barbara’s eyebrow here is straight and the top is arched - this is also great if you have difficulty with shaping your brows as it is forgiving for filling in + it looks very natural.

All of this said, it is up to you if you want to add sharpness or softness to your face - there is no right call and a lot of it has to do with what your style and taste is. Many of these women have tried out all types of arches and found that each look “sold” something, a particular essence. It is up to you to choose what you like, however, I hope this guide helped you in discovering which eyebrows suit what style. 

I wish to also address more finely tuned details of the eyebrow such as:

-Eyebrow placement (Low and High placed)

-The placement of the arch and its effects on the look you are portraying

-Having eyebrows compliment individual features (close set eyes, wide set eyes, broad noses etc)

-Coloring of the eyebrows

and perhaps some more. Stay tuned! 

[haikyu-hoe]

Love From Abroad

Tendou Satori x reader

one shot, fluff

this is one of my first times writing, so feedback is appreciated! dm for requests :)

hope you like it!

———————————————————————

You’re an exchange student in Japan and today is your first day at Shiratorizawa Academy. You’re a second year. You’re quite nervous but you’re confident that you’ll make friends.

When you get to class, the teacher asks you to introduce yourself to the class.

“Hi i’m y/k, i’m from [your country] and i’ll be joining for the rest of the year”, you say with a shy wave.

You sit on an empty seat beside a black haired girl with cute chubby cheeks.

“Hi i’m Elen”, she says with a timid smile.

You smile back at her and the lesson begins. This is harder than the classes you had at your previous school but you think you’ll get used to it. After all, you’ve always been pretty smart.

At lunch you sit with Elen and a few of her friends from your class and they’re all super nice to you and even offer to give you a tout after classes end. You of course accept this offer gladly since you kinda got lost this morning...

During the tour, they show you many things.

“Here we have the library, over there is a place where you can study and there’s 3rd years to help you and over here is the sports wing”, explains Lin, one of Elen’s friends, a short girl with brown, wavy hair.

“Thanks for the tour! I really appreciate it”, you thank them with a big smile.

They then leave to walk home but you decide to stick around a bit more. As you wander in the corridors you get to the sports wing Lin talked about. Curious about how big it might be, you walk down the main corridor. You can hear balls thudding and smashing on the walls inside one of the gym. You push the door shyly and go sit on a bench with other spectators.

“Their volleyball team is pretty good... Well i did hear it was what they call a powerhouse school so...”, you think, kinda zoning out.

One of the players, Ushijima, seems to be the star of the team. But he’s not the one you’re looking at. A red haired funky boy caught your eyes. He’s so charismatic and his bandaged fingers just look so hot...

You listen closely and finally catch his name: Tendou Satori.

After practice ends, you get up to leave but someone shouts behind you. You turn around to see a black haired boy with a choppy haircut and... TENDOU?!

“OI!!”, they say enthusiastically.

“h- hi?”, you ask, unsure if they’re really talking to you (even though there’s no one around anymore).

“I’m Goshiki and he’s Tendou”, says the black haired boy. “That over there is Shirabu and that, of course, is Ushijima. Are you new around here? I don’t think we’ve ever seen you around before.”, he says with a bright smile.

“Yeah i’m new I just transferred from [your country]. I’m y/k by the way!”, you reply, holding out your hand.

Goshiki shakes it while Tendou just looks at you with some weird smile that is somehow so attractive?

“Y/k huh... want me to walk you home?”, Tendou says while getting extremely close to you.

“Sureee”, you say. “But aren’t you tired from practice?”

“Don’t worry, it’ll replace my stretching!”, he says happily. He then grabs his bag, puts his arms around your shoulders and guides you to the exit.

“He sure is a people person huh”, you think. You’re kinda lost in your thought but you catch a few things he’s saying. He’s a 3rd year in class 2, and he’s a middle blocker. He then goes on about the other team members and fun facts about the school.

“Soooo tell me about yourself nowwww”, he says with that weird smile again.

You blush a bit and scratch the back of your neck and reply “Well i’m new to everything here, but i made a few friends in my class. I’m in second year, class one. The team was really amazing today by the way”, you try to be nice to him.

His smile widens at those last words and you walk in a comfortable silence back home. You thank him and walk inside.

“fuck...”, you mutter to yourself. It didn’t even take a full day for you to be completely in love with this strange volleyball player.

[time skip]

The next morning, you hurry up to school so you can look at the gyms before going to class. You catch a glimpse of Tendou, but of course he doesn’t see you.

At lunch, you tell Elen and the others all about last night. Lin is especially excited and Akira even lets out a little squeal. They convince you to go to practice again tonight.

When you get to practice, you quietly sits on the spectator’s bench but Tendou still notices you and smirks at you with a slight wink.

Luckily he quickly turns back to the game so he doesn’t see you blushing like a tomato. Watching him is fun but you can’t wait till practice is over and you can talk to him.

At about 5 pm, he finally gets out of the boy’s changing room and walks up to you.

“Heyyyy~ were you waiting for me?”, he says in a teasing tone while raising one eyebrow.

You blush a bit and lightly punch his arm.

“Why would i wait for such an idiot” , you say with a smirk. He pretends that your words are breaking his heart and then laughs. You had heard him laugh before but never that way... it was so carefree, so... adorable...

On the way home, he catches you staring at him, lost in the admiration of his perfect self.

“you ok y/k?”, he asks.

“ye- yeah sorry”, you reply quickly and start looking in front of you.

“soooo are you free tomorrow” he suddenly asks. You most certainly didn’t expect this. Does he mean as a date?? Maybe he juste want to hang out, i mean you barely know each other right?

He looks at you amused by the confused look on your face and his grin gets wider. He lets out a little chuckle before adding “yes, as a date y/k”

You blush heavily. It’s no use trying to hide it, you’re like a volcano about to erupt.

“yes! I mean um of course”, you reply nervously. You scratch the back of your neck, something you do each time you’re nervous.

“Great” he says happily, in a sing-song voice. “I’ll pick you up at 11 alright?” he adds.

You nod your head. God what will you wear?? Will you hold hands? Kiss even? What will you guys even do? All these questions keep you awake that night but you still fall asleep after a while, so happy about that date.

[at 10 the next morning]

You wake up, grab some quick breakfast and jump in the shower. You have to look perfect for this. After carefully planning an outfit and doing your hair and makeup, you hear the doorbell ring. Your heart starts beating faster.

You open the door to see a casually dressed Tendou grinning widly at you. He’s wearing black ripped jeans, adidas shoes and a hoodie that matches his hair colour. It’s so weird seeing him without his school or volleyball uniform.

“hey y/k~ you look...” he looks you up and down while blushing before continuing. “...great. You look great.”

You just blush as he takes your hand and drags you along with him.

“where are we going, Tendou-kun?”, you ask in a shy voice.

As a reply, he simply smiles at you and whispers “you’ll see”.

Impatient to know where you’re going, you try to get him to walk faster. But Tendou is not in a hurry at all, and since he’s stronger than you, you have to follow his pace. No matter how much you whine, insist and plead, the red-haired noodle boy refuses to reveal where you’re going.

After about 20 minutes you get to a 50’s themed restaurant. The inside is amazing with its vintage jukebox, checkered floor, coca cola adds and Marylin Monroe posters on the walls, retro booths and milkshakes on the menu.

You sit down on a booth by the window and order a milkshake. You share it with two straws, and when you both lean in to take a sip, your faces get so close they almost touch... Tendou’s breath feels warm close to your lips.

He then leans back and crosses his arms behind his head and just stares at you.

“Why did you agree to come today, y/k-chan?”, asks Tendou. He looks eager to receive an answer but he also looks like he’d rather not know in fear of being disappointed.

You give out a light chuckle before answering.

“because i wanted to, of course! You’re the nicest guy i’ve met and ever since I first saw you play i knew you were special.” you reply calmly before taking another sip.

He blushes like mad but then leans in to take a sip too. As you both let go of the straws, he lifts your chin with one finger and lightly kisses your lips. You’re chocked at first but you kiss back after a few instants.

He suddenly breaks the kiss and leans back. He looks out the window, nervously scratching his crimson hair. You start to wonder if maybe he regrets it...

“y/k i’m sorry that was so sudden i should’ve asked please forgive me i didn’t mean to-” Tendou starts talking saying quickly but you cut him off.

“tendou.” He finally dares to glance at you. “i’m glad you did. And i hope you’ll do it again” you whisper the last part but he still hears you. It’s enough to put a gigantic grin on his face. He leans in closer to you over the table and rests his chin on his hands.

“Then would you mind if we did something next weekend?” he asks while raising an eyebrow.

“i’d love that, Tendou-kun”, you reply.

For the following week, he walks you home each night but nothing really happens. You just talk and laugh, realizing how much you love him.

When the weekend comes, you get butterflies in your stomach as you get ready in the morning. Tendou should arrive soon, so you have to hurry.

When the doorbell rings, your heart does a loophole. Tendou is standing on your porch, in his cute casual clothes. He winks at you after saying a sexy “hey” and grabs your hand to bring you to another mystery place.

As you walk, you can only focus on his hand in yours... his fingers are so long, his palm so huge... but it’s their perfect temperature that makes them so wonderful. And god let’s not get started on his eyes and hair...

Time goes by so quickly when you’re with him, so before you know it you’ve reached your destination.

“we’re heeeereeee!” sings Tendou.

It’s a wonderful park with a small pond in which several koi fishes are swimming. A few ducks also swim around them and there’s lovely benches all around.

You sit on one of them and rest your head on Tendou’s shoulder. You can’t see it but his whole face lights up at this gesture.

“say, y/k-chan” starts Tendou. You turn your face to look up to his. He takes both your hands in his before continuing. “would you let me be your boyfriend?”

Your cheeks flush bright pink as you reply “of- of course Tendou-chan!!”

He smirks before kissing you softly. As seconds pass, he kisses you more and more roughly until you both run out of breath.

He looks at you like you’re the most beautiful thing in the world while you’re both trying to catch your breath.

He cups your face softly and puts his forehead on yours. You look tenderly in each other’s eyes, before Tendou finally speaks.

“thank you y/k-chan... i feel so comfortable around you, you make me feel so lucky, so... so... so happy. I hope i’ll feel like this forever and that it’ll be reciprocated” he says as his eyes fill with water.

You raise a hand to wipe his tears as you reply “I’ll stay as long as you need me, Satori. You’re so dear to me, i’ve never felt this way before” you sweetly replying.

He blushes at the fact you used his first name and closes his eyes to appreciate the moment. When he opens them again, he leans in close to hug you tightly and as he does so, he kisses your neck.

When you part, he kisses your lips tenderly and you can feel him grin slightly. You stay in the park until the sun starts going down. He then walks you home like a true gentleman, putting one last kiss on your soft lips.

~the end~

[horrorslashergirl]

How would slashers react if his s/o takes a serenade? i can request headcanons, please? :3

Ohh Lord this one made my day 💕 got a lot of songs for our slashers

Freddy Krueger

Song: Sweet Dreams by Marylin Manson

You made this serenade in your dream. When you began to sing and play the guitar he was stunned. He knew you could sing, but play The guitar. That's a first.

When he heard the lyrics he began to smirk. It fit him like a glove.

He pulled a couch out of nowhere and he sat down, crossleg and listened to your sweet voice.

After you were done you looked at him with a quizzed face. How it was? Did he liked it? He just smirkes and got up, stalking over to your form.

He pulled your chin up with one of the knifes of his glove.... "Sooo? Do you wanna be abused?" Ohhh God~

Jason Voorhees

Song: Man behind the mask by Alice Cooper

You two sat on a log next to a campfire and you pulled your guitar with you. Jason gave you a quizzical look and you tols him you wanted to play something for him.

When you started he keep looking at you listening closely to the lyrics he cocked his head to the side.

He loves music from his childhood, probably the only good part about his past.

When you were done he pointed the finger to him in a "Is this song about me?" gesture. You only smiled and noded your head.

From that moment he wanted you to play for him everyday. He adores your voice.

Michael Myers

Song: When the wild wind blows by Iron Maiden

When you started to sing and play the guitar he couldn't stop looking at you. He loves metal and rock music.

He loves your voice and The way you look him into The eyes when you sing the lyrics.

Your lips are pretty tempting, but stops himself so you can finish.

None played music for him so it was a big deal.

After you finished you waited for some reaction, then he pulled his mask halfway up to show his lips.

Omg you unlocked halfway unmasked Michael! But your shock was fastly pulled up when he pressed his lips to yours.

You gotta play more often for him.

[valkyriesryde]

“No, sorry, you laughed. I … I never saw it before. It’s — pretty.” B👏U👏C👏K👏Y👏 YES

He's fucking cackling. You're standing in the middle of your shared room and he's clutching his stomach falling off the bed laughing at this god awful hideous bridesmaid dress you have to wear for your friend's wedding.

Like okay yea he has a point you did laugh when you asked him what he thought but that you laughing through the pain okay. So when your face falls and you get all shy picking at the lace he stops laughing and pulls your back to his chest, his arms wrapped around you stomach and his chin on your shoulder.

"no, sorry, you laughed. I-" and he's looking at you in the mirror and pecking your cheek to get you to look up. "I never saw it before. Its...pretty?" Its kind of a question, he's walking on egg shells right now in a suit and tie but the corners of your mouth lift slightly when he punches your side.

"it's not that bad is it?"

"darling" Bucky spins you round and pushes the loose strands of hair from your face and holding your cheeks. "You could wear a potato sack and look drop dead gorgeous."

"Marylin Monroe did that once I think," his hands on your hips and he pulls your closer. Nothing in the world could make you feel as beautiful as Bucky makes you feel.

"she's nothing on you" then he's kissing you and you have to stop him from deepening the kiss because shit you're gonna be late and you have to try and get this thing in the car still fuck

[itsagraywcrld]

"You're really not helping the case. But fine. I guess I'll just ignore it. And I'm not jealous of Marylin Monroe. She's been dead for years." She scoffed pressing her hand under her chin with a huff. "I hate it when people make assumptions about me. Oh. Jesse are you alright? That man you're with is strange. Do you need help? It's okay to ask for help." She slams her hand against her desk.

Eloise jumps a bit when Jesse slams her hand down. She just went quiet, after all, was she not guilty of it too? Her instincts were on fire telling her something just wasn't right about him, but... Maybe that's wasn't really fair. Maybe DeVille was just eccentric, the kind of person every goth teen dreams they could grow up to be.

She gave a sigh after a long, quiet moment, "Jesse... My only point is you shouldn't let it bother you. I mean, if you're happy, then who cares what someone else thinks?" She shrugged, leaning back in her chair, "You are... In a pretty high profile relationship by societal standards. And Corvus is... Pretty intimidating. It's pretty clear to me why you get this attention."

[granddaughter-ogg-toshi-blog]

Toshinori/reader, a snippet

Sliiightly NSFW, I guess? One day I’ll fit this into a proper story that I plan to write.

You sat in his lap, leaned on his long gangly frame, the back of your head pressed into his chest.

His hands wandered, hectic, without a clear purpose, mapping the shapes of your body, as if still astonished by its very real presence.

There was an awkwardness to his actions. A noticeable lack of habit, fitting someone - long starving.

You could only guess why is that so. And the assumptions broke your heart.

Toshi palmed your breasts and squeezed a little (you gave out a small contented moan.) And then he froze.

“What is it, baby?” you asked, turning your head as much as you could to look him in the face.

He hung that golden mop of a head. You couldn’t see his eyes.

“I feel like such a dirty old man…for wanting you.”

You opened your mouth to speak, closed it - and opened it again.

“Well, excuse me for being young. Erm, young-er…” you murmured, wracking your brain for something more significant to say.

Something more meaningful. Think, dammit! Think!

“And maybe you didn’t notice, but I want you too. I’m crazy about you. What does that make me, Toshi? ”

“I don’t know. I can’t wrap my head around this.” A weird sound broke out of him; a raspy chuckle that felt almost like a sob.

But he lifted that pointy chin and his eyes met yours.

Such incredible eyes he had. Deep-set, always framed by shadow, but truly piercing. Even now, when the poor man was so haunted - they hypnotized you.

You held this gaze with all the resolve you could muster.

“Excuse me for being fucking blunt, but - you’re not dead yet.”

“That…was blunt”, he breathed, his small smile wavering, broken, as if he had just been dealt a blow.

You leaned in and planted a kiss near these quivering lips. And on the razor-sharp cheekbone. And another on his nose.

"It was very much needed. You never had those qualms when you met me as All Might, remember?"

Toshinori sighed and traced your cheek with his long, long fingers. Some would call them "spindly", but to you, they seemed elegant in their fragility.

"Well, All Might is a hero. He deserves all the good things."

You smaller hand covered his.  "Are you trying to tell me that he and you are two different people, Toshi? Don't do this to yourself. Don't pull on this Marylin Monroe shit."

He blinked, visibly lost.

"Marylin...?"

You went on, hoping that some conclusion will emerge soon enough.

"Not many people apart from the fans know this, but she kept her movie persona and her real self - the Norma Jean one - very thoroughly separated. She had different ways of talking and different body language for her civilian form and for the silver screen goddess form. The effect of this was such that she could never feel loved just as her plain, everyday self. She never felt good enough without the glitter. I think that's what finally killed her."

You watched those lightning blue eyes grow big in comprehension.

“ Just live, Toshi. No one’s gonna do it for you.”

[capjuby]

Love Story || Marilyn Chin

L’aérogramme dit viens     les photos montrent la liesse Une nouvelle union heureuse      un commencement tout frais Il est si incroyable gras    elle est si nouveau monde mince

Les enveloppes sont rouges       l’écriture vermeil Il va avoir un bon boulot    en fer un bol pour le riz ne se brise pas Elle a choppé un mec princier    un taiseux    comme son père

Sœurette colore en rose des œufs    Tantine fait bouillir des jarrets au cidre Le grand patriarche est content      Un petit fils plein d’entrain Un paquet de joie     venu d’un tube à essai du paradis

Merci pour vos bénédictions       pour votre lychee porte-bonheur Une jeune infirmière fait attention à elle maintenant     dans un petit hospice près de la mer Il est seul à Silicon Hill         c’est là où il est heureux

Les emails arrivent en silence      Instagram     négligent Merci pour vos gardénias blancs     ils lui caresseront l’âme Les bateaux en papier-encens      pour elle pêcheront des poissons dans le prochain monde        

Of her own poetry, Chin explained in Contemporary Women Poets: “I believe that my work is daring, both technically and thematically…My work is steeped with the themes and travails of exile, loss and assimilation. What is the loss of country if it were not the loss of self?” Similar themes inform Chin’s 2009 novel, Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen, a satirical take on both the coming-of-age and immigrant assimilation novels. Billed as both a “novel” and “manifesto in 41 tales,” Marilyn Chin described her book in an interview with the Boston Globeas “an immigrant tale with surreal things zigzagging through it. Immigrant novels are traditionally straightforward, linear; there’s not much play with realism and naturalism. I’m trying to contest that.” The novel was critically praised for its exuberance and tart playfulness. A reviewer for Time Out Hong Kong noted thematic similarities between Chin and other novelists of the Asian American experience like Amy Tan, adding “but Chin’s refreshing irreverence makes her book happily hard to categorize. Ultimately, the ‘manifesto’ promised by its subtitle is found not in its narrative, but in its inventiveness and pluck.” ---- https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/marilyn-chin  // http://www.marilynchin.org/ 

[okimargarvez]

IT’S JUST SEX

Original title: It’s just sex.

Prompt: sex challenge.

Warning: mention of sex.

Genre: romantic, smut.

Characters: Penelope Garcia, Luke Alvez.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: oneshot, part 16 of 365 pills of Garvez canon life.

Legend: 💑😘😈.

Song mentioned: none.

GARVEZ STORIES

IT’S JUST SEX

 -Why do we get along only when we have sex?- the question comes to point-blank, just as he has just finished dressing and threw himself on the mattress, perfectly satisfied and happy, only eager to remain silent embraced to her until the sleep will prevail.

Silence for a few seconds, maybe for a minute. She throws herself on his side and looks at him, waiting. - One: it's not sex, for me, we make love.- he starts listing. -Two: it is much easier to roll among the blankets, because there are no conflicts, you know that I desire you and I know that you want me. While when we are discussing something, you and me both want to be right, that the other gives up or thinks in the same way, from the first moment...- Penelope rolls her eyes, annoyed that he has managed to find fair words once again.- 

-Here's what happens when you git together with a profiler!- she comments, turning her back to him, pretending to be offended. He grabs her for the hips and turns her back in his direction. He caresses her cheek and then a breast. -Do you see, however, that you are obsessed with that?- she teases him.

-I never said I don’t love having sex- he says on purpose -with you.- he grabs her by the chin and kisses her. Penelope moans with pleasure but keeps her eyes open and he too. Challenge looks. -And I'm not at all obsessed.- she intercepts the hand that was about to reach the elastic of her panties.

-Ah yes? Do you want to bet?- Luke looks at her, thinking back about the last time they had been in the same situation. He had been very lucky.

-What you have in mind?- his girlfriend has that mischievous look that should make ring an alarm bell on his head.

-No sex. No physical contact. Not even innocent kisses. Let's see whoever gives up first. So, I'll show you're obsessed with!- but he knows isn't over.

-What’s a stake? What do you want me to do, in the very remote case that I lose?- she bursts into laughter. She passes her tongue over her lips and he catches it. Then he comes off, reluctantly. -The challenge hadn't yet begun.- he justifies himself.

-Well, for example, you could accompany me to that boring convention, dressed as Luke Skywalker. Think how simple it will be, you don’t even have to change your name!- it could be worse. Probably he will do it anyway, because it is however an occasion to spend time with her. And she, dressed as Princess Leyla, is so good to look.

-And if you lose?- theoretically he should decide it, but she had the original idea and he wants to see if she has something in mind. She is so convinced of winning, this time... and she still has to take revenge for the walk-run.

-Well, let's say I could do something that I would not do at all.- she grabs the small bottle on the bedside table, slowly. -Something you want for a long time.- she turns the cork and takes it off. -And that I have always refused.- she drinks, swallowing in a theatrical way. And Luke can’t help but concentrate on her throat.

-You mean?- he asks, feeling every part of his body vibrate.

-I mean.- she confirms.

 He should have expected that she would not play loyally. But she had on her side above all the fact that she was born a woman. Moreover, when she wanted, she could turn into the devil. Penelope doesn’t change clothes, because there is no need. On the other hand, it seems that she spent evenings looking at the entire filmography of Marylin Monroe. The first morning, just finished discussing the case, she put into practice the oldest of female seduction techniques. -Misery, I dropped the folder.- and she leans down to pick it up, shooting her backside in his face. Others can’t understand their strange behavior, but they sense that there is something going on between them. Until it interferes with the work, Prentiss is willing to tolerate.

Upon landing, when he calls her, she answers with a video where she starts to unbutton her blouse, so she has only her bra on, naturally one of Luke's favorites, the straps lowered. -It's really hot, here in the office. And where are you?- they have been together for a year, yet he seems to be back in time, at that time when she was not yet his and he still had to conquer her.

In the evening, from O'Keef, she takes a century to cross her legs. And how the hell she moves them! It should be illegal. He had forgotten how capable she was to be sensual. The routine had turned passion into habit, and it wasn’t bad. He wanted exactly what JJ and her husband had. But sometimes, some games could help. She does it on purpose to give him the necessary time to see her panties. But he's not falling for it. He is not so weak. But the eye falls there, after all, looking isn't touching. And it is at that moment that he realizes. Oh, fuck. She doesn’t wear any kind of panties. Anything.

-Penelope, do you know you're an asshole?- he says when he finds himself next to her in bed. -I didn’t think you would play so dirty.- in the dark, he hears her laugh.

-All's fair in love and war.- she reminds him. -You got excited, right? You would have liked to bring me by force in the bathrooms.- another laugh. -Well, you can give in, or to use your hand. Remember that I still have nothing on me. It's too hot tonight.- Luke swallows.

-Do you want it, do you want the war? And war you will have. Get ready to lose.- so he starts making his own game. From the next day, in the office. -What a dummy, I spilled coffee on my shirt. Now I'll have to change it...- he knows perfectly what effect on Penelope, his muscles wet with sweat. -I almost prefer to stay without. It's so hot... don't you think?- she is staring at him for a few seconds with her mouth open, and then she recovers.

Cheers. -Congratulations, but is there anything you can do, Newbie?- not her ass before his face, nor an almost striptease as a greeting, or her damn legs and even the knowledge that she was naked under there. Nothing had been enough to shake him, but a nickname that he didn’t hear for too long, only this can make him give up. He drags her into the bat-cave, he puts her against the wall, kissing her lips first and then her neck, while his hands run along her thighs and, damn, this time they encounter an obstacle. -Luke!- Penelope moans as he moves a few fingers inside her. -Do... do you know that you have... lost?- the answer is delayed by her, who is now nibbling his nipples and shoulder.

-Yes, well, I don’t care. Even if you were about to give up, I know. We lost both... or won. Depends on perspective.- he laughs as she tries to get settled.

-Ok, and what would you suggest?- he smooth the skirt.

-Uh, I could take you to your convention and you could, you know...- he winks. -I know that the two things don’t have the same weight. I am willing to accompany you for the rest of our lives.-

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