#Sample sound review

[krazetv]

THE SCORE by Sonuscore & BestService | Review & Playthrough

[sampleaudiodeals]

Get DEALS Here: http://bit.ly/audioplugins

[t3tr0m1n0]

internet brainrot by tdstr is part really cool interesting hardcore techno and part memefest. and as someone who, i feel, has really engaged with meme-heavy musical compositions that still take themselves seriously, i kind of prefer the memeless side of music. i think the point of dariacore is to heavily use obnoxiously memetic samples on top of the general intense hardcore sound. i seriously like the high tempo, varied melodies, heavy bass & intense percussion- all the hardcore side of it. i like hardcore edm that uses lots of samples. and i like music that is just memetic samples into music (see neil cicierega's mouth albums). but with this album i kind of think that the hardcore edm side would stand better on its own or with less of the meme Culture bogging it down. it's when it starts leaning into irony stylings or reveling in some subculture/fandom's iconography that i think it loses me. another station was a really great track but then when damn right came on and i heard familiar sample after familiar sample bring me into something with no hablo americano as its leading sample i got pulled out. and damn right is a pretty good track, i like it a lot! it's just the swing of the focus kind of prevents me from getting into the right mindset to enjoy self-serious hardcore edm or bite-sized high-effort melodic shitpost-inspired music. in short, this album lives up to its title, and it's almost disappointing for that. it's like i went to someone's house and in order to make me feel comfortable they had their computer open to tumblr with my account logged in. like oh i wasn't aware that's how you decided to do things around here

[thethingything]

I absolutely feel you, I have samples coming of five different zoologist perfumes and its absolutely tragic they're so expensive.

if you're looking for a cheap(er) brand, my favourite so far is Imaginary Authors, and their full bottles are $95. at the moment a city on fire is my staple perfume, I even got a full bottle. (their packaging looks like a book its fantastic)

- 🪲

oh I remember you mentioning Imaginary Authors last time and I meant to look into them but forgot. that's definitely a more affordable price if we end up liking some of them.

City on Fire sounds really nice from the description on Lucky Scent, and I'm kind of tempted by Saint Julep and Fox in the Flowerbed too. also, I love the more unusual notes they have listed on some of them, like first kiss and stardust

[jowelhossen]

Sony WH-1000XM5 Review | The Best Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone 2024

Key features Sony WH-1000XM5

SPATIAL AUDIO HEADPHONES: Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones with spatial audio give you an immersive experience that makes music feel more real.

Read Full Review>>

[eyes-on-the-weather]

since i left you by the avalanches is such an album for everyone to listen to. like, if you’re only familiar with plunderphonics through the most memetic of mashups, or not even that much, you should really listen to this to get a great idea of just what can be done with sampling, the value of old samples, the skill involved in good plunderphonics/turntabilism. for people who are more in the mashup scene, listened to the mouth albums or follow some tourneys, this album is still really good to listen to because of its more experimental/house sound, like in live at dominoes, electricity, and stay another season. and some of the tracks are just plain good times- i have to mention the funky turntabilism of frontier psychiatrist & radio. if you don’t have in you a big love for Music with a capital m, maybe this is the album that’ll do it for you; if you already do, listen to something thoroughly unique to maybe awaken something more in you

[reckonslepoisson]

The Night Before the Death of the Sampling Virus, Otomo Yoshihide (1993)

Otomo Yoshihide’s The Night Before the Death of the Sampling Virus unnervingly assembles monochrome urban dystopia out of very real, present, recognisable audial environments. As an experience it is filmic and can be interpreted as flitting between scenes and spaces; rooms of the dying, of violence, of madness, of fucking and of serenity, environs still but for the monotonous drone of TV or radio. It is impossible to turn one’s ears away from. 

Pick: ‘Nintendo’

[kohakuhibiki]

I think she just want me to redeem her, not morally, but people deserves peace. Her son couldn't (not skill issue, the vibe is just like i mean...unless it's for jokes because they both are good but complete opposite approach (not in a lol country lol metal kind of thing. Ironically no, the problem with melodist metalers is that all believe their name is wolfgang or something, buf it's not and the kid would have been too angry to pay attention)

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

M.I.A. - Paper Planes 2008

"Paper Planes" is a song by British hip hop artist M.I.A. It was released on 11 February 2008 as the third single from her second studio album, Kala (2007). It samples English rockband the Clash's 1982 song "Straight to Hell", leading to its members being credited as co-writers. A downtempo alternative hip hop, pop track combining African folk music elements, the song has a less dance-oriented sound compared to other songs on the album. Its lyrics, inspired by M.I.A.'s own problems obtaining a visa to work in the USA, satirise American perceptions of immigrants from war-torn countries, and said that the issue was probably "them thinking that I might to [sic] fly a plane into the Trade Center".

M.I.A. had wanted to work with American producer Timbaland for the album Kala, but her application for a long-term US work visa was rejected. This was allegedly due to her family's connection to the Tamil guerrillas, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers, a claim M.I.A. denied. Her visa problems were also attributed to her criticism of the Sri Lankan government's discrimination and alleged atrocities committed against the Tamils, with whom M.I.A. shares an ethnic and cultural heritage. She expressed this on her politicised debut album Arular. The unexpected success of "Paper Planes" paralleled M.I.A.'s condemnations of the Sri Lankan government's war crimes against the Tamils, generating accusations that she supported terrorism.

The song received widespread acclaim from contemporary critics, who complimented its musical direction and the subversive, unconventional subject matter. It won awards from the Canadian Independent Music Awards and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and earned a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. The song has received praise in publications such as NME, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, each naming it among either the best songs of the 2000s decade or of all time. The review aggregator Acclaimed Music reports it as the second-most acclaimed song of the 21st century.

"Paper Planes" was used in the theatrical trailer for the 2008 stoner comedy Pineapple Express, directed by David Gordon Green, which catapulted the song to mainstream success in the US. "Paper Planes" and the DFA remix appear on the soundtrack to Danny Boyle's drama Slumdog Millionaire, released in 2008. The video game Far Cry 3 (2012) begins with "Paper Planes" used in the opening cinematic sequence.

"Paper Planes" received a total of 68,9% yes votes!

[beesmygod]

in an astounding twist of fate, im looking into what is actually going on with google adsense. they're in hot fucking water right now actually.

this summer, an enormous and scathing review by adalytics (an independent media research website) came out criticizing google for a myriad of things which could be politely summed up as "fraud". we're talking like. theye were taking money to serve ads on pages that got 0 views regularly. thats not what people pay for lol.

as a result google mysteriously issued some refunds (""credits"", because "refunds" sounds bad) but insists it was all normal. adexchanger has a summary of an adage.com article

Google vehemently denies the report’s findings and that the credits are in any way related. “Issuing credits to advertisers is not uncommon,” a Google spokesperson says, adding that “Adalytics used a flawed methodology to make wildly inaccurate claims about GVP.”

so over the last four or so months, google has been making core updates to its adsense network with, apparently, very little warning to the people using it. and everyone's numbers tanked. hard. oct 2023 appears to have been esp brutal. both the search engine journal and lily ray from amsive, apparently a huge name in marketing, released reports that are completely nuts. the lily ray one is esp detailed and has a timeline of updates

73% of overall respondents indicated that they have seen their Google Discover traffic drop to 0 during the past 3 months. Among websites that lost Discover traffic, the most common complaints were dramatic traffic declines; dropping to 0 impressions and clicks; extreme percentage decreases in clicks ranging from 50-99%, and massive losses in revenue from AdSense and other ad networks.

50 to 99%?! yeah that's a small sample size but that's a fucking hell of a swing and a trend.

according to the search engine journal google appears to be saying "well, we''ll see what we can do" the same way that you would say "let me look in the back" when you know full and well its not in the back. like this reads to me as "them's the breaks". which is uhh. i think a really big problem.

[krazetv]

AFTERMATH by All About Trailer Music | Review & Playthrough

[sampleaudiodeals]

Get Deal Here: http://bit.ly/vstdeal

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

compos mentis 2

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, age gap, chronic health issues, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: After a long court case, your mother stays attached to her lawyer, bringing even more contention into your life.

Characters: Andy Barber

Note: ookay here we go with this guy.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

The restaurant is buzzing with voices. It adds the disorienting ripple in your head. It feels like there’s something crawling over your scalp as you try to blink away the haziness. It’s just fatigue. That never goes away, only ebbs and flows. 

You sit on the leather cushion of the curled bench. The booth is lit by a small chandelier hanging above and the plucking of strings strums under the drone of patrons. The sconces against the wall are blurry and bright and the people all around are merely shadows. 

The server appears and doles out the food. You got the butternut squash soup with a French bread roll. With the weather turning chill, it sounded delicious. Besides, you don’t have the stomach for anything heavy. 

You glance over at Andy’s thick sirloin and your mother’s glazed chicken. Your hunger roars in your stomach. You shakily unwrap the cutlery from the cloth napkin and thank the server as your mother taps her glass. The man, in his pressed white shirt, smiles and pours her some more. Andy clicks his tongue but says nothing. 

“Anyone else?” The server offers. 

“We’re good,” Andy answers for both of you. 

You could laugh, if you had the energy. Anyone would look at you and know you shouldn’t be indulging. No, you have your lemon water and that’s good enough. 

“This looks delicious,” your mother chirps and takes a gulp of chardonnay, a hum at the flavour. “Oh, that is divine too.” 

“I hope you enjoy. Both of you,” Andy says. “I know you had a busy day.” 

His elbow touches yours, almost as if it’s intentionally. You look at his shoulder but no higher. You steady the spoon over the bowl and dip it into the soup. You lean forward to taste as your mouth jabs into one of the slices of grilled chicken. 

“Mm, the maple is nice but a bit much,” she complains after a sampling. 

Andy exhales slowly, measuring his breath as if to conceal his sigh. It’s strange. He seems annoyed by your mother more often than not and yet he takes her out for dinner and got her that fancy ring. You don’t understand relationships. Not past the shallow ones written onto the screen. You probably won’t ever know the real thing. 

You rest your spoon on the wide brim and take a piece of the bread. It’s still warm and it smells wonderful. You pinch off a morsel and dip it into the creamy broth. You nibble on it, resisting the urge to shovel it down. 

“You sure the soup’s enough?” Andy asks. Again. He questioned you when you ordered an appetizer over and entree. He even offered to get an appetizer for the table instead. 

“Oh, sweetie,” your mother swallows around her words. “You know she doesn’t eat very much. Her stomach is so sensitive. And look, that’s such a lot of soup. She probably won’t even finish the bread.” 

You nod. You could gobble it all down but you know better. You’ve been sick before from letting your appetite deceive your mind. She’s right. You’ll be full soon enough. Your stomach always starts to ache after a few bites. 

“Ah, sorry. I don’t mean to pester. I just want to make sure you have everything you like. If you wanted a piece of my steak, I think there’s a lot more than I need here,” he chuckles and cuts into the sirloin. 

“Oh, she can’t have red meat. Too heavy for her,” your mother tuts. “Really, Andrew, you are so sweet to offer though.” 

“Yes, thanks,” you murmur as you squish bread between your fingers. You’re suddenly very conscious of every bite you take. 

“So, any more doctor’s appointments?” He asks. “I could come along next time? Since we’re gonna be one big family. I’d like to help out if I can. All this work shouldn’t be on you, Danica.” 

“Oh, my,” your mother slurps more wine. “You really are a dream,” she touches his sleeve. “That would be wonderful. Nothing this week though. Just next month but she does need her script filled. If you don’t mind getting that, it would be a great help.” 

You want to shrink into a speck of dust. You hate it. You’re rarely ever included in conversation. Not for real. You’re only ever the topic of discussion, like you’re not even there. 

“Mom, I told you,” you insist and wipe soup from your oxygen tube. “I can go get it. It isn’t very far.” 

“No, no, no. I told you before. You cannot take the bus. It’s absolutely out of the question. You could get caught on something or worse, you could fall.” 

“Hm, that’s... she’s an adult, Danica, if she wanted to--” 

“Andrew, you don’t know the risks. I do.” 

He opens his mouth then shuts it. His lips thin as he holds back his retort. He saws into the steak. 

“Well,” he looks at you, “if you’d like to come along, I can always drive you.” 

“I can just do it myself,” your mom insists sharply. 

“Relax,” he warns. “She wants to do it herself, she can. She’s not entirely helpless, is she?” 

You chew your lip. Your mother has that look. The dangerous one. Andy’s never seen what it can truly lead to. 

“Whatever is less trouble,” you utter and focus on your soup. “Sorry.” 

“Sorry for what?” Andy challenges, “you did nothing.” 

You nod and take another spoonful. It’s really good but you can’t truly enjoy it. You just want to go home. Away from these strangers. Home where you can be alone. Where you can put some walls between you and your mom. You know you’ve already ruined her night just by being there. 

🩷

Your mother almost finishes the bottle. That’s not unusual but since she met Andy, it’s less frequent. As you leave the restaurant, she’s leaning heavily on him, her heels click unevenly as one shoe keeps slipping loose. You follow, clutching tight the handle of your tank. 

You stop by the SUV as your mother purrs and wraps her arm around Andy. She squeezes his butt and you look away, slowing as you try not to intrude. He flinches and pushes her away, clearing his throat. 

“Danica,” he girds quietly, “please, not here. You’re drunk.” 

“I’m not, I feel good,” she slurs. 

Embarrassment scalds across your chest and down your spine. You never wanted anyone else to see her like this. You know it’s not her fault. It’s yours. She’s stressed from taking care of you and gets a little carried away trying to unwind. 

“You’re all over,” Andy gets her to the passenger door as she staggers clumsily, “come on.” 

He angles her around with one arm around her back and opens the door. He gets her into the seat as she giggles and her hand flutters down his shirt. He pulls away as he catches her hand before she can get any lower. You linger by the back of the car and act like you’re not watching. 

He mutters but you can’t make out his words. He clicks the seat belt around your mom and slams the door. You wince and the wheel of your tank squeaks. He sighs and his shadow turns to you. 

“Hey, sweetheart,” he opens the backdoor, “come on. I’ll get you two home.” 

You nod and come forward, head and shoulders down. “Thanks,” you drag your tank with you, “sorry.” 

“Sorry, for?” He wonders. 

You sniff and shake your head. You don’t know how to answer. How do you explain the truth to him?

“Here,” he reaches for your tank as you say nothing. “Let me help.” 

You have to keep from crying out and reach to shove him away. You’re overly protective. You have to be. That’s what keeps you going and you’re just not used to other people touching it. He lifts it as he nudges you gently. 

You grab the side of the door and haul yourself up. You heave as you fall into the seat, light-head and he fits the tank in in front of you. He reluctantly lets it go and tickles your knee. 

“You okay?” He asks. 

You watch his hand. You nod and grab the seat belt, “fine.” 

“Hmm, I should probably look into some more accessible, huh?” 

“No, no,” you protest weakly. “I manage.” 

“Well, sweetheart, you shouldn’t have to just manage. You should be comfortable. That’s why I took your case.” He brings his hand up and surprises you as he brushes your cheek. You twitch. “You like dinner?” 

“Yes, sir,” you answer and flatten yourself to the seat. “Thank you.” 

He hums and tickles your skin before he recoils. He draws back and grabs the door. He gently shuts it as his eyes cling to you. Your heart is racing. You’re breathless yet that isn’t so unusual. 

He gets in the front seat and your mother babbles and reaches for him again. He swats her back and starts the car. She mutters and slumps into the door. 

“Danica,” he says. She doesn’t respond. He repeats it louder. She snorts. He curses under his breath. You’re happy she passed out, it’s worse when she doesn’t. 

You sit in silence as Andy backs out of the space. He looms rigidly as you shrink as small as you can. Usually, he’s nice. He has this way about him that you assume comes from being a lawyer. He makes himself approachable. But not right now. He’s agitated. You can feel it fuming off of him. 

“I’m sorry,” you eke out as the tension strangles you. 

“You don’t need to apologise for her,” he insists with another sigh. 

“But... she drinks because of me. I know.” You say. “Because I’m sick.” 

He clucks and squeezes the wheel tighter. “No, that’s a bad excuse. She’s an adult.” 

You don’t argue. There’s no reason too. For once, someone isn’t blaming you. Besides, how far did it ever get you. 

He drives on and you turn to watch the dark buildings pass outside the window. The moon is a sliver above and the stars a speckle around the wisps of clouds. You stare up into the expanse, admiring the streaks of dark blue, black, and grey. 

As the car slows, you tear your eyes from the sky. You blink in confusion. You’re not at your house, but Andy’s. You’ve been there once before.  

He shuts the engine off then sits back and spreads his hand across his forehead, “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I just realised I’m at the wrong house.” 

You stay silent. You thought your mom was asleep. He turns to look at you as he flicks on the compartment light. You squint at the sudden brightness. He means you. 

“Do you need anything at your house?” He asks. “Medicine or...” 

“It’s... in my pack,” you touch the belt bag across your stomach. “Tank’s mostly full.” 

He nods and looks you over, “I’m sorry. It’s been a long night. You don’t mind the guest room?” 

You shake your head. You don’t want to make his life any harder. And he should apologise to you. No one does that. They don’t owe you that. 

“Alright, again, I know it’s not easy for you. Probably a lot cozier at home,” he turns straight and shuts off the light. “Let me get your mom inside.” 

He unbuckles his seat belt and his keys jingle as he opens his door. You click the button on your belt and pull the handle. You push outward and the door is pulled from the other side. Andy appears in front of you. He helps get your tank to the ground and offers his hand. 

You don’t want to be rude so you let him help you down. You wheel around your tank as he shuts the door, the opens the passenger side. He ducks into the car and drags your mom out. He stands straight and shuts the door with his elbow. 

“Sorry to ask but could you unlock the door? Code is...” he gives you the numbers and you blink as you try to keep track of them. 

“Okay,” you nod and shuffle past him as he waits. You go up the walk and lift your tank up the low stone steps. You’re overly aware of him behind you. 

You get to the door and stare at the keypad. As you enter the numbers, you realise they’re familiar. It must be a coincidence. In a certain format, they would denote your birthday. The pad flashes green and the door clicks. 

You push down the lever and step back out of the way. 

“Go on,” he nods. 

“No, it’s okay,” you say. “Mom needs to lay down.” 

He looks down at the woman in his arms then at you. Even in the dark, you see his disappointment. Again, you can’t help but wonder why he puts up with her. You have no choice, as she has no choice in taking care of you, but he does. 

“You’re a good daughter,” he says as he slowly steps past you. 

You trail after him, your tank bouncing through the door, and you shut it behind you. You stand on the mat and roll your wheels back and forth, trying to get the excess dirty from them. Then you sit to take off your shoes. 

“You can turn on a light,” Andy chuckles as his shadow looms over you.  

You stare up at his silhouette. He’s close. He must not realise it in the dark. You turn and flip the switch.  

He smiles as he keeps a hold of your mom, “I’ll put her on the couch for now,” he says, “then I’ll get you settled.” 

You nod and bend to move your shoes onto the rack. You don’t look up again. You’re hot. Very hot, even though cool air flows from the vent just across from you. It’s just because you’re used to being at home. That’s it. 

[t3tr0m1n0]

since i met you by the avalanches is such an album for everyone to listen to. like, if you're only familiar with plunderphonics through the most memetic of mashups, or not even that much, you should really listen to this to get a great idea of just what can be done with sampling, the value of old samples, the skill involved in good plunderphonics/turntabilism. for people who are more in the mashup scene, listened to the mouth albums or follow some tourneys, this album is still really good to listen to because of its more experimental/house sound, like in live at dominoes, electricity, and stay another season. and some of the tracks are just plain good times- i have to mention the funky turntabilism of frontier psychiatrist & radio. if you don't have in you a big love for Music with a capital m, maybe this is the album that'll do it for you; if you already do, listen to something thoroughly unique to maybe awaken something more in you

[glass--beach]

hi do you like ok computer (1997)

because i really just don't get it (especially as the second-best album of all time) but i reeeally want to & i respect your opinion on that a lot

yea that album kinda changed the course of my life lol. wall of text incoming

first - don’t let rym or aoty or whatever tell you what’s good and what isn’t, everybody’s got their own taste & criticisms that go against the grain are very important!! i will say anything that’s that consistently highly rated across different websites & publications is probably undeniably significant and worth listening to. whether listening feels like discovering a new favorite or sitting through a history lesson is where taste comes in. it’s important to interrogate the canon too as there is an enormous amount of implicit bias in what even gets in front of critics and in the metrics they grade music by. review aggregate sites have democratized this process a bit & all the good and bad of democracy has come with that lol.

so, the album gets praised for a couple of reasons - its innovative production, its commentary on the historical zeitgeist, and the pop appeal of much of the songwriting.

production - the album makes heavy use of cutting edge effects units, digital editing, computer trackers, sampling, and even features little bits of voice synthesis. most of it is stuff that had existed in music before radiohead, artists like aphex twin (and much of the rest of warp records’ 90s catalog) and bjork were ahead of the curve in a lot of the aesthetic aspects of okc and had influenced radiohead a lot, which is even more evident on their followup kid a. radiohead was not breaking new ground in using these sounds, but they were among the first to put it all in a rock context, taking cues from the weirder cuts on the beatles’ white album, the experimental “krautrock” band can, and miles davis’ classic jazz fusion album bitches brew.

context - radiohead had grown up during the decline of much of the social democratic programs that had helped to facilitate the education and performing careers of much of their early influences such as joy division and the smiths. by the time okc was being written they had lived through the austerity of the thatcher era, the fall of the soviet union, and now were watching the labour party turn increasingly neoliberal under tony blair. there was a general sentiment in the west that the progress of history had slowed or even stopped in favor of the neoliberal order. at the same time, tech was booming and computers were starting to find their way into more aspects of daily life. the album imagines a boring dystopia, where machines are rabidly advancing but humans are stuck in stasis. a major connecting theme is infrastructure - the airbag through which thom yorke is “born again,” the “cracks in the pavement,” the family politics that separate romeo and juliet in exit music, the mechanical voice of fitter happier giving contradictory directions for maintaining the status quo. even the escapist fantasy of no surprises comes in the form of carbon monoxide. and then, the record ends with the “ding” of an appliance that has completed its task.

songwriting - the band’s previous album the bends really is a pop masterpiece. i recommend it to anybody who wants to get into radiohead but doesn’t vibe with their later work. okc expands that compositional style through, for one thing, the more apparent influence of classical music on tracks like paranoid android or the Chopin homage exit music; let down even features polymetric layering characteristic of Steve Reich. it also features some songs that are too good to even need to push the envelope much, like karma police or one of my favorites, no surprises, which seems to reference the beach boys’ wouldn’t it be nice or the velvet underground’s sunday morning.

to be honest, i like okc mostly because it really spoke to me at a formative time in my life, when i was like 15 and felt heavily disconnected from the world around me. the album deals with those feelings in a very different context but it’s a feeling many people can relate to for many different reasons - i was closeted in a conservative culture, not a depressed british rock star lol. it also was an excellent gateway into many of the bands’ influences, who are also favorites of mine now. most people who love the album don’t really go as deep as i like to with understanding it, but maybe what i said here will give you something else to listen for, idk. maybe you just gave me an excuse to infodump about an album i love lol :)

[koiiiji]

tourists

summary; your boyfriend loves traveling around the world with you, to explore new tastes, share new memories together and experience some local culture.

tw ; fluff, established relationships, chris being gentle giant and your pookie

— ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ —

just as soon as chris finished trainings and won latest championship, his sponsor offered him opportunity to travel to Korea - to evaluate some new possible team members and train them. honestly chris didn’t really cared about new people in team, real interesting fact for him was newfound possibility to visit another continent and try new, local cuisine, and oh, of course he didn’t forget that you also had an area where your enthusiasm went wild. so before agreeing to this trip Chris requested two visas permissions, including flight tickets and went home with a calm soul, in anticipation of telling you good news.

— ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ —

it’s been a while since you and Chris went somewhere on vacation. of course you followed him around on all his competitions, to show your support and assistance, if it was needed, but you honestly missed weekends when it was just you and your boyfriend. you missed time when you two explored new country through your own ways - Chris with his unstoppable urge to eat and endless stomach and you through the fashion. oh, how you like to explore new places with small shops that sells local handmade (bonus points for Chris if it's food, like homemade honey or jam, canned vegetables, local pastries or any kind of homemade alcohol), souvenir shops, shops of local brands, everything that is somehow connected with the new place where you just arrived and what it could be attributed to fashion or collecting!

there is a theory that if your energy doesn't match, or if you can't stand each other on vacation, then your relationship won't work out. well, you and Chris didn't have that problem. you have an idyll in this regard - all the places, and in general everything related to eating, were planned by Chris with special passion and trepidation. restaurants, cafes with good reviews and large portions, street food shops with the juiciest items, fairs where you can taste traditional dishes and see how they are prepared.

on the other hand, the cultural program was on you - museums, temples, exhibitions, where Chris obediently followed you as long as he was well-fed enough (you put an extra note in your head - to not leave a building if Chris hungry, pookie becomes really moody and whiny if he doesn’t eat enough… he is really dependent on food). and of course shopping - honestly, Chris shared your passion for souvenir shops. he could fill his stomach as much as he wanted, but you couldn't bring food with you as a memory, but collecting symbols in the form of animals from each country sounded fun. he has a separate shelf with a variety of animals that represent each country, and they all are in different styles - funny, realistic, cartoon, wooden, porcelain, stone.

— ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ —

the flight to Korea was long but filled with excitement and anticipation. as soon as you landed, the vibrant energy of Seoul enveloped you. the city was a bustling mix of modern skyscrapers and ancient temples, and the aroma of street food wafted through the air.

Chris had already mapped out all the best places to eat, starting with a famous street food market. you spent hours wandering through the stalls, sampling everything from spicy tteokbokki to sweet hotteok. Chris's eyes lit up with every new dish, and you couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm.

after a few days of indulging in Korea's culinary delights, it was your turn to take the lead. you guided Chris through the narrow streets of Insadong, where traditional teahouses sat next to quirky boutiques and art galleries. you found a shop filled with some local clothes brands, their vibrant colors and intricate designs mesmerizing.

"Chris, look at this one," - you said, holding up a beautifully embroidered piece of clothing "isn't it stunning?" he nodded, appreciating the craftsmanship. "it's beautiful. you should try it on."

you spent the next hour trying on different items, each one more gorgeous than the last. Chris snapped pictures, his face beaming with pride as you modeled each outfit. next, you visited a quaint shop selling traditional Korean pottery. Chris found a small, intricately painted tiger that he added to his collection of animal souvenirs. "this will be a perfect addition," - he said, placing it carefully in his bag.

that evening, as the sun set over the Han River, you and Chris found a quiet spot to sit and watch the city lights come alive. he wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer. "this has been perfect," - he murmured, pressing his lips to the top of your head "i love experiencing all of this with you." you leaned into him, resting your head on his shoulder. "i feel the same. thank you for bringing me here, Chris."

— ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ —

one afternoon, after exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace and wandering through Bukchon Hanok Village, a sudden downpour caught you both by surprise. laughing and soaked to the skin, you and Chris dashed into a nearby café, shaking off the rain as you entered. the cozy atmosphere welcomed you with the warm scent of broths and herbs. you found a small table by the window, the glass fogged from the contrast of the cool rain outside and the warmth inside. the café was quaint, with low wooden tables and cushions on the floor, traditional Korean paintings adorning the walls. Chris ordered two bowls of something traditional, hoping to warm you both up after the unexpected drenching. when the steaming soup bowls arrived, you eagerly took a sip, the rich, spicy broth spreading warmth through your chilled body.

Chris watched you with a tender smile, his heart swelling with love and admiration. he adored these moments with you, the way your eyes lit up when you saw something you liked, the small smile that tugged at your lips as you savored new experiences. you were his anchor, his joy, and seeing you happy made him feel complete.

as you continued to enjoy the soup, Chris froze for a moment, mesmerized by the beauty that surrounded him. your hair was slightly damp, your clothes clinging to your body, but your cheeks were flushed from the heat of the soup. your eyes were closed as you savored the wonderful spicy taste and the long-awaited warmth in your throat. Chris hung there for a while, admiring you, the spoon still halfway to his mouth and his mouth slightly open.

"you're so beautiful," - he whispered, almost to himself. you opened your eyes, meeting his gaze and smiling softly. "what?" - you asked, a hint of amusement in your voice. "nothing," - he replied, shaking his head with a chuckle. "i just love you so much" you chuckle, looking away from the bowl, and gazing at him through your eyelashes. "i love you too, Chris. this trip is amazing. thank you for bringing me here." he mischievously grinned at you, his eyes shining with mix of pride for himself, what a good boyfriend he is and genuine joy of sharing memories together.

as you finished your meal and the rain continued to pour outside, the warmth of the café and the love between you made everything else fade away. you were content, happy, and deeply in love, ready to face any adventure as long as you were together.

— ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ —