#Terracotta Lipstick Collection

[haveyoulistenedtothisalbum-poll]

Tracklist:

40 Years Super Hot Body Ready for Party • Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra and Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces Fart Song • Butterflies Scared My Cat When I Was Burping in Your Face on Wednesday Morning • Drunk Log out with Spooky Music Settings on My Firm Tits Pictures • Grandpa Says Fuck While Grandma Screams What Repeated Several Times • Grumpy Trumpy Python Toddler Taxi with False News and Emotions • Hugging Blood Thirsty Vampires with a Transylvanian Accent and Slapped Butts • I Farted as an Official Statement Against Global Warming, Expressing My Worries! • I’m Handsome When Wearing a Bag on My Head, Said the Horny Motherfuckers Politely • Is That Cellulite or Just Your Ugly Face? • Kindergarten Farting Fanfare Discussed with Disgusting Asian Clay Warriors Terracotta Song • Leaking Ladies Xylophone Solo Learning with Lusty Lashes Song • Lisping on Penis Peyote Creaking Mirth Radio, Let’s Lisp! Song • Lowering My Filthy Boobs to the Height of Your Curly Chest Hair with Freckles • Mom’s Cleaning Closet Looks Like a Women’s Porn Stash • My Gay Expense Combination Password Gore Seeking Battle Was Sinning • My Hangover Got Hung over by a Hung Guy from Hungary • My Horoscope Sign Is Poop and Yours Is Farts • Nearly Touching Myself with Your Girlfriend’s Hands While Doing the Dishes • Peeing a Farting Swearing Shouting and Pooping in Different Languages Made Me Famous Song • Petite Girls Liked My Fat Farts in Skinny Jeans with Justice • Pooping a Masterpiece in the Little Boys Room on National TV Broadcast • Puerto Del Penis Summer Holiday with Topless Sun Bathing and Surfing Fun • Puking Girls Are Holding Each Others Hair While Selling Butter to Pregnant Vomiting Men • Real Sharks Was a Great Accessory for My Swimming Pool Party Massacre • Relaxing Music for Penis Boys and Vagina Girls, I Have Money Cash, Yes! • Rescuing My Penis from Your Vagina at the Last Minute, Whoah! • Scary Music and Naked Ladies Cemetery Collection Flickering Through Growth • Shaking Sausages in the Men’s Room and Dangling Coconuts • Short Temper Anus Removal with Lipstick on the Collar • Shouting Poopers to Girls While a Crying Man Is Pooping Poop, How Adorable Screaming Babies Are! • Silly Talking Childish Macho Man Thanking Prayers for God’s Food Yes Hello! • Skinny Bitch, Fat Bitch, Rich Bitch, Poor Bitch, All Bitches Poop! • Smelling That Pussy in the Air at the Private Night Club Farting Room • Smudging Chocolate over the Toilet, So Everyone Would Think I Pooped • Sneaking Beans into Your Butthole While U Talk to a Handsome Stranger • Snuggling in Satan’s Satin Sheets with Shattered Dreams and No Boner Song • Solitary Fighting My Big Toe with the Desolate Strangler • Spoiling Desert by Pulling Your Finger Thirteen Times in a Row • Strolling with Morning Wood in the Woods While Mourning to This Song • Stutter and Chinese Food Destroyed My Artwork in the Toilet Bowl Coffee Shop • Sunny Morning Boner at the Beach Gym Towel Rental Song • Surprisingly Soft Boobs on the Milf Statue in the Garden of Jugs, Oh It Was Your Mom Sorry! •

Taming My Daughter’s Boyfriend with Booze and Fists of Agony • Teleporting My Cock to the Urinals Hurts When Peeing Penis Action • That Penis Is Not Mine, Stop Accusing Me of Curing Your Cancer! What • The Brothel Cup Cake Dispenser Had a Variety of Chocolate Brownies Too • The Giggling Killer Was Invited for Tea and Mustard with a Former Laughing Idiot • The Headache Fuckers with Migraine Were Chopping Fucking Painkillers • The Itchy Vampire Vagina Was a Gothic Curse from Medieval Times Song • The Lying Bitch Hermit Ducking Group Was Insisting on Bitch Slaps • The Penis Teens Shouting Squad Declared War on the Vagina Milfs Departure • The Pussy Cock Was Meowing and Cock-a-Doodle-Dooing with Glance • The Singing Orgy Group Remembered My Fancy Birthday Party, Super! • The Sock on My Penis Shook the Genuine Spokesman While Crying Song • The Syphilis Motown Singers Were Blowing Deranged Adultery at Me Song • The Toy Collector’s Mature Attitude Otter Raised Homeland Security Breach • The Triangle of Pussy and Clipping Smoothies Burping Smootch • Typical Asian Food Poured into the Purse of an European Hooker Prostitute Igloo • Under Water Farting Wiz Nick Y Minaj Naked Twerking Shower Saloon Barf Thong • Updating My Profile Picture While Pooping Macaroni with Japanese Subtitles • Using Mother´s Panther Underwear Because of Broken Shopping Bag to the Store • Washing Hamburgers with Dirty Sauce in Leather Pants While Howling • What Ugly Shit on Your Finger! Oh, It’s Your Wedding Ring? It’s Very Nice! • Whistling and Farting a Heavenly Polyphonic Song for Dying Virgins • Violin Licking Sounds by a Hard Baritone Dick Song Licker • Young Girls Selling Old Men´s Boxers in Thongs with Soulful Tutti-Frutti • Your Butthole Swallowed My Telephone, Will It Come out from the Mouth Then? • Your Mom´s Butt Massage Seems Innocent at First, Before Handing out Religious Leaflets

Spotify ♪ Youtube

[komald]

Add Colorful Expression: 3 Lipstick Shades To Compliment Your Indian Skin

Lipstick isn't just a cosmetic product; it's a statement, an expression of personality, and a tool for enhancing one's natural beauty. However, finding the perfect lipstick shade can be a complex task, especially for those with Indian skin tones. With the diverse spectrum of hues available in the market, it's crucial to understand how different shades interact with Indian skin to achieve that flawless finish. In this article, we delve into the significance of lipstick shades for Indian skin, exploring the captivating combinations that elevate beauty to new heights.

Do Lipstick Shades Matter?

The short answer would be Absolutely. Lipstick shades play a pivotal role in accentuating facial features, complementing skin tones, and even influencing mood. While some may consider lipstick merely a finishing touch to their makeup routine, its impact on overall appearance should not be underestimated. The right shade has the power to brighten the complexion, enhance facial symmetry, and boost confidence levels.

For individuals with Indian skin tones, the significance of choosing the correct lipstick shade is even more pronounced. Indian skin encompasses a broad spectrum of undertones ranging from warm golden hues to rich caramel tones. Therefore, understanding the interplay between lipstick shades and these undertones is essential for achieving a harmonious and flattering look.

Understanding Undertones: 

Before delving into lipstick shades, it's crucial to decipher the undertones of your skin. Indian skin tones generally fall into three categories: warm, cool, and neutral.

Warm Undertones: If your skin has hints of yellow, gold, or peach, you likely have warm undertones. Opt for lipstick shades with warm undertones such as coral, peach, terracotta, and brick red. These hues complement the warmth of your skin, lending a radiant glow to your complexion.

Cool Undertones: Cool undertones manifest as hints of pink, blue, or violet on the skin. Lipstick shades with cool undertones like berry, plum, mauve, and cherry red enhance the natural coolness of your complexion, imparting a fresh and polished look.

Neutral Undertones: If you find it challenging to determine whether your skin leans warm or cool, you may have neutral undertones. Fortunately, individuals with neutral undertones have the flexibility to experiment with a wide range of lipstick shades, from soft nudes to vibrant berries, without worrying about clashing with their skin tone.

Popular Lipstick Shade for Indian Skin

Indian skin possesses a unique blend of warmth and depth. Here are popular shades for Indian Skin: 

Pink: Pink lipstick shades are a timeless classic that complements a wide range of Indian skin tones. For individuals with cooler undertones, opt for soft, rosy pinks that add a hint of freshness to the face. Warmer undertones pair beautifully with peachy-pink hues, providing a subtle pop of colour without overpowering the complexion.

Brown: Brown lipstick shades are a staple for Indian skin tones, offering a sophisticated and sultry allure. Rich, chocolate browns are perfect for deeper skin tones, imparting a sense of warmth and depth. Meanwhile, lighter shades of caramel and nude brown complement fairer skin tones, adding a touch of understated elegance.

Red: Red lipstick exudes confidence, power, and timeless elegance, making it a must-have for every makeup collection. When it comes to Indian skin tones, the key is to find a red shade that harmonizes with the undertones of the skin. Cooler undertones pair beautifully with blue-based reds, while warmer undertones shine with orange-red hues. 

In the end, finding the perfect lipstick shades for Indian skin involves a combination of understanding undertones, and selecting shades that complement your skin tone, Lotus Herbals offers a variety of lipstick shades to keep your lips hydrated and smooth throughout the day.

[bodyshopindia]

How to Find Perfect Lipstick Shade For Your Skin Tone?

Let's face it, choosing lipstick can feel like a gamble. You see a stunning shade online, only to discover it washes you out under the drugstore lights. Sound familiar? Let's unlock the secret to a shade that makes your lips pop and complements your beauty:

It is All About the Undertone!

Skin tone alone isn't enough. The game changer is your undertone, the subtle, cool, warm, or neutral hue beneath your surface skin. Here's how to get the right tone:

Cool Undertone

If your veins appear bluish or purplish, you are cool toned! Rock blues, pinks, berries, and purples that make your skin glow.

Warm Undertone

Do your veins lean green? Welcome to the warm side! Coral, orange, peach, and terracotta hues are your best friends.

Neutral Undertone

Can't decide? You are lucky! You can rock both cool and warm tones, experimenting with a wider range.

Shade Match

Now you have a better understanding of undertones and how they can guide your lipstick choices, you can find your perfect lipstick color. Let's dive into specific shades based on undertone:

Cool Tons

Nudes

Mauves, dusty pinks, and soft roses will enhance your natural lip color without washing you out.

Pinks

Try out baby pinks, fuchsias, and cool toned berries for a pop of color.

Reds

Blue based reds and wines add drama. Avoid orange reds.

Bolds

Experiment with deep plums, purples, and even black for a statement lip.

Warm Goddesses

Nudes

Peachy nudes, golden beiges, and caramel hues give you a warm glow.

Pinks

Coral, melon, and terracotta pinks add a touch of vibrancy.

Reds

Orange reds, brick reds, and fiery reds are power shades.

Bolds

Go bold with bronzes, burnt oranges, and terracotta tones.

Neutral Beauties

With a neutral undertone, you have the best of both worlds, allowing you to explore a spectrum of cool and warm tones. You have the freedom to explore cool and warm tones! Experiment with different shades to find your favorites. Here are some general tips:

Lighter Skin Tones

Go for sheerer finishes and avoid overly dark lipstick colors.

Medium Skin Tones

You can rock a wider range of finishes and intensities.

Deeper Skin Tones

Bold, creamy finishes and rich colors flatter you most.

Beyond the Basics

Remember, these are just the options. Play around, have fun, and don't be afraid to break the rules! Here are some extra tips to keep in mind while choosing lip shades:

Test on your lips, not your hand

The skin on your lips is different. A swatch on your wrist won't tell the whole story.

Consider the occasion

A bold red might be perfect for a night out, while a soft nude is ideal for work.

Ask for recommendations

Makeup artists and beauty consultants can be invaluable resources.

With a little understanding of your undertone and experimentation, you will be rocking shades that make you feel confident and beautiful. So, grab your favorite lipstick colors, unleash your inner makeup artist, and find your perfect match!

Check Out The Body Shop Lipstick Collection!

Finding the perfect lipstick shade for your skin tone is all about understanding your undertone and experimenting with different shades. Have a look at The Body Shop's range of lipsticks. From rich berry hues to soft nude tones, its cruelty free lipsticks are formulated to deliver intense color payoff and long lasting wear, while nourishing your lips with natural ingredients.

Enhance your natural beauty and let your lips do the talking with The Body Shop Lipstick. Visit its website to find your perfect lip shade today. 

[janegillespie]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: SCOOBY-DOO™ X GLAMLITE VELMA LIP KIT - new - Limited Edition.

[guernissbd]

Exploring the Spectrum: The Allure of Different Shades of Nude Lipstick

In the realm of makeup, nude lipstick holds a timeless appeal. Its versatility makes it a staple in every makeup collection, offering a subtle enhancement to natural beauty while complementing a wide range of looks. However, the term "nude" encompasses a diverse spectrum of shades, each with its unique undertones and suitability for various skin tones. From soft peaches to deep mochas, the world of nude lipsticks is vast and enticing.

One of the most popular nude shades is the classic beige. This neutral hue provides a seamless finish, effortlessly blending with the wearer's lip color to create a polished, understated look. Beige nude lipsticks are ideal for everyday wear, offering a hint of sophistication without overpowering the rest of the makeup.

For those with fairer skin tones, pink-toned nude lipsticks can add a touch of warmth and vitality. Soft pinks with hints of rose or coral can brighten the complexion, imparting a fresh, youthful appearance. These shades are perfect for achieving a natural, rosy lip look that enhances the lips' natural color while still providing a subtle pop.

Moving into warmer territory, peachy nude lipsticks offer a sun-kissed glow that complements medium to olive skin tones beautifully. These shades evoke images of summer days and tropical beaches, adding a touch of vibrancy to any makeup look. Peachy nudes can range from soft apricots to deeper terracotta tones, catering to a variety of preferences and styles.

For deeper skin tones, caramel and chocolate-toned nude lipsticks provide rich, sultry options that enhance the natural beauty of darker complexions. These deeper shades offer depth and dimension, creating a striking contrast against the skin while still maintaining a sophisticated, elegant vibe. Chocolatey browns, in particular, can add drama and intensity to any makeup look, making them a go-to choice for evening events or bold, statement looks.

In recent years, inclusive beauty trends have led to a surge in nude lipstick options specifically designed for diverse skin tones. Brands are increasingly offering extensive shade ranges to cater to individuals of all ethnicities and backgrounds, ensuring that everyone can find their perfect nude. From rosy mauves to deep espresso browns, there truly is a nude lipstick for everyone.

Ultimately, the allure of nude lipstick lies in its ability to enhance one's natural beauty while offering a touch of sophistication and elegance. Whether you prefer soft pinks, peachy corals, or deep mochas, the world of nude lipsticks invites exploration and self-expression. So why not venture beyond your comfort zone and discover the endless possibilities that different shades of nude lipstick have to offer?

[theshoegirldiaries]

LOTD: By Beauty Bay Matte Lipstick in Pinch with Dior Lip Maximizer in 038 Rose Nude. #Scentoftheday Oud Ispahan EDP by La Collection Privee, Christian Dior.

This week, I thought I'd try out lip products I haven't worn before; today is the lipstick. My first bBB lipstick, I actually bought a nude 4-pack (Pinch is 2nd from right above) and surprised myself by opting for this more terracotta-brown first (Freckle, Tea and Cola are the other shades, I'm thinking Freckle will be my fave). It doesn't have a flat matte finish, there is a very slight sheen. Terrific colour pay-off from one or two swipes and very comfortable on the lips, not drying at all. This rosewood gloss was the absolute perfect match. Packaging is cheap looking, but it is a cheap lipstick, what do I expect? It's functional which is all that matters. Unedited swatches below.

[museenkuss]

Don Son is a lovely, fresh, blooming jasmine. It has a petal-cool, slightly milky scent; the stylised, highly elegant impression of crushing a petal between two fingertips, of maybe collecting fragrant dew drops from the blossom. Very blooming, a little green. It’s lovely, but I could imagine it being a little too mature and strict on me.

Also, as a jasmine lover, I do already have Terracotta to keep me sated in summer, with its delicious, lush, solar-luxurious sugared jasmine.

Fleur de Peau is a creamy, sweet, luxurious. There’s a vintage glamour to it, but not the sequins and feathers sort — more the night creams and leather travel gloves, cigarette cases and well-tailored jackets sort. It could also go in that messy hair and cotton nightgown in a metal framed bed sort of glamour, too, however. In either case — It’s as necessary as well-applied lipstick. The finishing touch, the secret that you’re not supposed to guess on first glance.

As of yet, I’m torn about Don Son, but Fleur de Peu is as gorgeous as people say.

[growingsuccs]

My Echeveria agavoides a.k.a. Lipstick Echeveria. Repotted on 8-Aug-20 and watered on 9-Aug-20. If anyone has tips of how to stress this succulent so the tips are redder, message me!

[ichigopanhpff]

Sonata Ch. 1: Da Capo

[Masterlist] -- [Next Chapter]

Gauging interest for this since I'm editing future chapters at the moment. This is the first time in a while I've written this kind of mature content. Personally, I'm excited to be posting this, but not sure if it'll get traction.

Warnings: Sexually suggestive actions, crude and derogatory language, alcohol and drug consumption.

Note: If you see any notes messages being responded with ‘amaeichigo’, that’s my primary account name.

(/dɑːˈkɑːpoʊ/) Italian musical term meaning "from the beginning."

Lonely and empty souls all over Tokyo flock to the flashing lights of nightlife for some form of temporary comfort to numb the harshness of life. Wage slaves and the monetary elite gather to where women with painted faces pay lip service and superficial smiles, dressed to the nines listening to their complaints while pouring them expensive alcohol they know not how to fully appreciate and only caring about the brand name. The price of having their ears talked off by the clientele in hopes of hooking them a whale to profit off of and to elevate the their work status for the elusive number one spot.

This is one of the many aspects behind the thin veil of Tokyo’s nightspots in Kabuki-cho.

The cabaret hostess club.

Men and women attracted to the glitz and glamour with hopes of making a ton of fast money to buy themselves luxury goods, drink well and party. Though that may be the case for some, other unfortunate souls work in this field as a means of survival; some even willingly sell their bodies to their clients should they offer the right amount, even though it’s taboo and illegal for their business relationship.

But the club doesn’t have to know.

“You’re needed at table seven,” one of the front of house staff called.

“I’ll be right out.”

Making final adjustments to her lipstick, she smoothed out her burgundy sequined A-line strapless knee length dress before making her way out to the floor. The number one rule of a hostess was to always upkeep their appearances. Her tan coloured pleather stiletto heels clacked across the terracotta and ebony marble floor to her designated table.

“Good evening,” she serenely greeted like a songbird with a bow. “Thank you for requesting me. My name is Saori.”

Saori. That was her identity in La Reverie. It wasn’t uncommon for girls in this industry to take on an alias or two out of fear of stalker clients amongst other things.

“Aren’t you a thing of beauty then?” her client complimented as she situated herself beside him. “It’s nice to meet you, Saori-chan. I’m Nakamura.”

“Do you say this to every woman you meet, Nakamura-san?” she mused with a coy smile and playfully batted her false lashes. “Would you like to start off with a light cocktail?”

It’s the same sequence every night.

Hostess meets client, chats them up while pouring drinks to get to build a superficial relationship and to open up their wallets. In short, these girls had to be therapists and entertainers at the same time.

Some sharpen their wit to perfect the art of playful banter and conversation; others use their girlish and sexual charm to woo men to spend more. The night goes by in a drunken blur of champagne bottles with names no one can pronounce, airy laughter and underlying sexual tension. The more emotionally attached the clients get to the hostesses, the more frequent they'll return. Some would go as far to say they were in love with the hostess, even though they knew in their heart of hearts it was their money they loved.

Just as the last client left, the girls gathered back in the dressing room talking amongst themselves and greeting one another after a long shift.

“Is that the new Hermes purse from the Spring collection that just launched?!” one girl chirped up with excitement.

“Satoshi-san got it for me as a gift after I told him about it last time,” the other showed off. “Isn’t it so cute?”

“You totes got a whale with that one, Mayumi!” another hostess pointed out. “You’re, like, pretty much set. He’s been comin’ to see you every night.”

“He is pretty handsome, I’ll admit,” Mayumi remarked and admired her acrylic nails decorated with rhinestones. “Maybe I’ll even fall for him…” she giggled. “But I’ll have to see his size first. And I don’t just mean his wallet.”

The group of girls loudly guffawed while (Y/N) quietly sat at her vanity and removed her war paint before unclipping her hair extensions. The dressing room door swung open, revealing the manager with three men behind him. One had platinum white hair swiped to the side with sharp, black eyes adorning a red and yellow Chinese-style draped top and ankle length pants; the other two had dyed purple streaked hair, each respectively wearing a light green and purple dress suit. The taller one had short, side swept hair, the other a long mullet style. The one thing they had in common were the obscured tattoo etched on their necks.

“Endo-san! Is it pay day?!” one hostess happily beamed, noticing the stack of white envelopes in his hand. A hoard of hostesses quickly ran toward the other two men.

“Ran-kun~ You haven’t come by to see me lately,” one pouted in a faux cutesy voice. “Do you not love me anymore?”

“Things have been busy, my lovelies,” the man they called Ran replied with an almost mocking saccharine tone. “I promise I’ll come by soon.”

“Rin-Rin~” another called in a whiny tone and hung onto his arm. “Stop leaving me on read~”

“Get off. You’re annoying,” the man called “Rin-Rin” touted with a grimace.

“Rindou, be nice,” Ran kindly scolded. “You should be glad girls actually pay you attention with that personality of yours.”

Just as the commotion died down, each of the girls got their paycheck on top of the bonuses they raked in with their clientele. Quietly thanking the manager when he placed her envelope down, she already knew how much was in there and didn’t bother checking.

It was the same amount every two weeks.

Just as the hostesses filed out one by one for the early morning to unwind and go home, she found herself alone with the white haired man; the other two suits left with a girl on each of their arms.

“How much more do I have, Kokonoi-san?”

“Always straight to business with you, huh,” the man chuckled and crossed his arms. “N’ didn’t I tell you to just call me Koko?”

It’d been two years since (Y/N) started working at La Reverie, but her relationship with Kokonoi Hajime spanned longer thanks to her mother. Having worked several dead end jobs, her mother piled on debt through pachinko parlors, visiting host clubs, borrowing money from loan sharks and running high tabs in bars all over Kabukicho.

When it came time to collect, Kokonoi Hajime paid a visit to her place in Shinjuku with some Bonten grunts, only to find nothing. She came home to see her place ransacked with them waiting for her in the dark, one-room rundown apartment. She was unaware of her mother’s spending habits.

And honestly? She wasn’t surprised at all.

The moment she asked the amount her mother owed, all the blood drained from her face. 50 million yen. And that was with the interest already added in.

Out of all the people she could’ve borrowed and fucked with, it had to be Bonten, the most vicious and cold-blooded crime syndicate in Japan. And now here she was, working in a cabaret club owned by the very organization she was practically sold to the moment her mother disappeared without a trace.

Her very own daughter left holding the bag.

“How much more, Kokonoi-san?” she repeated with a flat tone of voice.

The silver haired man stared and huffed a breath, immediately sensing her mood. “You’re down close to half,” he finally divulged. “Depending on how much you earn here, you should be debt free in another three to four years. Unless…”

She glanced up with an arched brow at Bonten’s finance admin. Kokonoi placed a firm hand on her vanity and leaned in close to her face, his dark gaze leering deep into hers.

“Be my woman and I’ll make that debt disappear immediately,” he proposed with a slight bass in his voice through his smirk. Her expression remained dead and unresponsive.

“As I’ve said the last nine times you suggested this: no.”

“And I’ve given you this offer as an easy way out,” he reasoned back with a dry chuckle. “Why continue to work a job you hate when you can just be mine? We both benefit.”

“As your side piece, you mean,” she corrected and packed up her belongings. “Who is it tonight? Yuko? Sakura? One of the girls from the other clubs you own, I presume?”

“No one, actually,” he revealed. “Contrary of what you think of me, I have other business to attend to tonight.”

“Don’t let me keep you then,” she coldly noted with a bitter smile and grabbed her purse and phone.

Politely bowing to Kokonoi, she left the dressing room to head home for the day. What she needed right now was a can of ice cold beer, a soak in her tub, a light meal and sleep. As the finance admin left the establishment, he got into the car where the Haitanis were waiting; the girls draped around their arms were no where to be found.

"So she's the one?" Ran asked Kokonoi and took a Davidoff cigarette out from his silver case, dangling it between his lips. "Rare of you to not make any progress."

"She's been... rather difficult, I admit," he sighed and rubbed his temple. "A game of patience is needed here. This one has a brain n' her guard's up pretty high."

"Mikey and Takeomi's not gonna be happy to hear that," Rindou blurted out.

"Just say the word and we can speed things up, Koko," Ran calmly remarked and exhaled a puff of smoke, flicking some ash outside the half-opened window.

"I'll figure something out. I always do."

–

Another night.

Another round of men wanting the accompaniment of dolled up women to stroke their ego while they throw yen around like they’re false kings. From the corner of Saori’s eye, she spotted Kokonoi’s head of silver white with a short, white haired man wearing a baggy black shirt and white slacks; another with bright pink hair wearing a pinstripe purple suit on the second floor. A few girls got ushered in behind them a short beat later.

Work ended in the blink of an eye. She returned to the dressing room to pack up, only to find her mobile phone missing.

“Hey Ami-chan,” she called one of the other girls getting ready to head out. “Did you see where my phone went?”

“Who else would play these childish pranks with you?” the girl stated the obvious with a quirked brow.

“Mayumi,” they both said simultaneously and exchanged tired sighs.

“Seriously, what is up her ass?” (Y/N) rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. “It’s not like I’m gunning after her precious number one spot.”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” her co-worker shrugged. “How’s it out there for you tonight?”

“Pretty busy. Eko was in bad shape though. She was so hungover today.”

“That girl’s one drink away from cirrhosis, I swear…” Ami grumbled and rolled her eyes.

“You see where Mayumi went during her shift, by the way?”

“VIP.” The girl pointed up to the ceiling. “Dunno which room though.”

Thanking her, she made her way out and went upstairs to look for her phone. There were five VIP rooms on the second floor, each with their own theme. If she remembered correctly, there were only three parties who used the second floor tonight: Two were business moguls and Kokonoi’s group. She decided to search the biggest room first; the cleaning crew always saved it for last since it was a pain in the ass to detail.

During her tenure at La Reverie, she’s only been in the smaller VIP rooms. Slowly sliding the heavy oak door open, her eyes widened and marveled at the glitzy interior. Bright, luminescent silver filigree patterned wallpapers slathered the room with an over the top crystal chandelier dangling above her. The snow grey leather couch and dark oak table accented the parlor with its high end elegance. At the far end of the room, a baby grand piano in bone white with gold accents sat in its silent majestic presence. (Y/N) stared with nostalgia.

Slowly making her way to it, she opened the lid and found her phone sitting on top of the ebony and ivory keys. Just as she grabbed her device and turned her heels to leave, she hesitated for some reason. Reluctantly turning back to the piano, she walked up and lightly traced the keys on her fingertips.

“Probably not even tuned right,” she muttered.

Her right index finger hit middle A and to her surprise, it was the correct pitch. Seeing how those left were the front of house staff, it couldn’t hurt to play a little… right?

Setting her phone down on the lid, she adjusted herself on the bench before hovering her hands on top of the keyboard and locked in the muffler pedal to soften the notes so no one would hear. She steadied her breath and went through her mental catalogue of pieces.

What did she want to play? How was her mood right now?

Her hands started moving on its own, playing a somber melody for the intro before leading to the main one and closed her eyes, her heart feeling in the moment. Of all the bitter times in her life these past few years thanks to her mother, she felt this piece reflected her inner turmoil the best.

Her desperate ache for freedom, her murmured screams at the unfairness of life… Why was she the one paying for the actions of other people? What did she do wrong in her life? She tried her best to be a good person in a society that rewards bad behaviour…

Yet here she was.

The arpeggios of emotion to the swelling crescendos of the melody, she let all of her frustrations out on each note while keeping the delicate balance of grace and ennui. A lone, loud and slow clap roused her from a brief reprieve of reality, making her immediately turn her head to the source like a deer caught in the headlights.

Kokonoi continued to applaud her solo performance with the people she saw with him before; the other two men stared with interest. A foul sense of panic and bile bubbled in the pit of her stomach, making her swallow hard.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Koko remarked with a smirk and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I found my phone here,” she revealed, trying to stay calm. “One of the girls likes playing little pranks with my stuff every now and then.”

“So bullying then?” the pink haired man spoke up. His piercing blue eyes glared down at her behind his beautiful, thick lashes.

“Something like that.” (Y/N) abruptly stood from the piano and grabbed her phone. “Please pardon the intrusion.” She politely bowed and excused herself.

“That song you played…” the short white haired man softly spoke with a deep monotone bass, stopping her in her tracks. “What is it?”

“… “Moonlight Sonata” by Ludwig van Beethoven.”

“I see…”

Bowing once more, she hurriedly made her way out of the VIP room and down the stairs. Her heart was hammering a mile a minute against her breast bone. Feeling herself hyperventilate, she made her way back into the dressing room and closed the door with a soft slam, dragging her back down on the solid frame behind her, trying her best to calm down from that suffocating aura of death.

–

Transparent beads of liquid fell from the sky, staining the windows of Bonten’s headquarters that sat high above Shibuya. Blurred, flickering neon lights below attributed to the visual noise in attracting the masses to Tokyo’s nightlife like a moth to a flame.

“Boss?” Kokonoi called, drawing Manjiro’s onyx gaze from the darkened skyline and back into the obscenely large conference room.

It’d been a few weeks since they last stepped foot in La Reverie. Koko wanted him to see how the business was doing and if the girls were being treated well by his standards. The lithe man walked back to the couch where his admin was sitting.

His thoughts wandered back to the night he met that hostess, playing that deep, haunting melody that shook his very core. What was it about that piece she played gripped him so? His heart remembered bits and pieces of the melody, but he couldn’t piece them together; they were like fragments of misaligned jigsaw puzzles lingering in the dark trying to find their place.

Koko continued on with his reporting: their earnings are steady, which was nothing new and he found a possible new business venture for Bonten to dip into: the entertainment industry. Rumors of yakuza running teen idol groups behind the scenes was nothing new, but with the surge of Korean pop artists making the rounds into the Japanese market, he saw this as an opportunity to get into the good graces of struggling talent agencies and provide them monetary firepower to compete against their overseas rivals.

“As a matter of entertainment for the meeting with StarsLive…” his financial admin trailed off.

“Wanna hear it again…” Manjiro blurted out all of a sudden, drawing Koko’s head up from his paperwork with a questionable look. Bonten’s leader sat down on the dark leather couch and drew his head up to the tall ceiling, lost in his thoughts.

–

Lively chatter and soft music played in the vast room of La Reverie. It was another busy night at the club. (Y/N)’s clientele list steadily grew, several of them enjoying her company for her dependable aura and willingness to listen without judgment. As much as she despised this job of lies, she pitied the people who walked through these doors. They were lonely and had no one to talk to.

In some ways, she saw parts of herself in them; maybe that was why she was good at this job. While her client was in mid-conversation, one of the wait staffs gently tapped her shoulder.

“Kokonoi-san would like to speak with you,” he whispered in her ear. “He’s upstairs in the main VIP suite.”

“I’ll be with him after I finish up here,” she tersely replied. The man bowed and walked away as (Y/N) turned back with an apologetic gaze. “I’m so sorry about that. Please continue on about what your subordinate did with the new account.”

“You’re getting quite popular, Saori-chan,” her client playfully noted with a sad tone and sipped his whiskey on the rocks. “Next thing y’know, you’re gonna forget all ‘bout me.”

“I would never. You’re one of my first clients, Toho-san,” she reassured with a gentle smile. “If I’m to be honest, I rather enjoy talking with you.”

“Is that so?” he belly laughed. “I’m glad an old man like me make for good company for someone young n’ beautiful like you.”

“You’re nearing 45. You’re still young… ish,” she teased playfully with a matching grin.

Just as she finished up, (Y/N) slowly made her way upstairs to Kokonoi. She steadied her breath by placing her hand over her diaphragm, feeling her anxiety rising like the bile churning in her stomach. Was it about what happened yesterday? Gently rapping her knuckle on the door, she announced herself before sliding the heavy oak doors open and closed it. Her breath hitched in her throat the moment she saw a bunch of suited men with matching tattoos adorned on their respective bodies. The air felt heavy with menacing darkness, like heavy chains weighing her down.

“Do you always keep your clients waiting like this?” Kokonoi scolded with a glare.

“I… wasn’t aware you had company,” she finally found her voice and swallowed thickly before entering the den of lions. She bowed deeply. “I apologize for my tardiness. The client I was with—”

“One of your firsts, right?” the financial executive finished her sentence. “N’ you didn’t wanna leave him.”

“Yes.” She remained bowing, not wanting to meet the eyes of any of these predators. “It would not be good manners to abandon those who supported you from the beginning and would reflect poorly on La Reverie’s reputation.”

“She’s a good one,” one remarked and heard the flicker of a lighter go off. “Where’d you find this pedigree, Koko?”

“You can stop bowing now, princess,” another spoke with a silky voice; she recognized it as Ran’s from when he last came with Kokonoi. “And let us get a good look at you.”

Steadying her shaky, clasped hands, she took a shallow breath before standing up straight to face the executives again and rolled her shoulder back. Her hesitant gaze briefly raked across the room before looking down at the dark oak table in front. She could practically feel their eyes drink and disrobe her from her deep purple cocktail dress in their minds just as one wolf whistled.

It was sickening. She wanted to vomit from their perverse leering and immense weight building inside her guts.

“W-Was there something you need from me, Kokonoi-san?” (Y/N) finally choked out with a small stutter, not wanting to stay here another second longer.

“The boss requests your skill sets.”

“Skill sets…?” she asked in confusion. “Surely, Mayumi would be a better fit for—”

“The song you played last time…” The short white haired man cut in and lazily glanced up at her. “I wanna hear it again.”

Song? She took a beat to figure out what he was talking about and remembered.

“O-Oh… If that’s what you wish…”

Lightly bowing, she cautiously made her way to the baby grand piano. Sweeping the small train of her dress to the side of the bench, she opened the lid and steadied her trembling hands before going through her pre-playing ritual. Making sure the muffler pedal was set, (Y/N) took a soft breath and started playing “Moonlight Sonata.”

“Stop,” the man suddenly spoke. “This isn’t it.”

She turned her head, confused. “… Pardon?”

“This isn’t what you played last time,” he repeated with clear irritation growing on his face.

“Please excuse my poor playing,” she bowed apologetically. “I-It’s been a while… since I performed in front of people,” she meekly confessed.

“That ain’t it…” a man with hetero-chromatic eyes said. “He meant you’re not putting your heart into it.”

“Hard to do that when you’re all practically oozing out murderous intent,” she muttered to herself.

“Trust us, sweetheart. If we wanted you dead, you would be already,” the pink haired man said loudly with a chuckle, having heard her and flashed the gun on his holster with a toothy grin.

“Cool it, Sanzu,” Kokonoi interjected and turned back to (Y/N). “Can you try again?”

She was a human being, not a piece of machinery that can play on demand! she angrily thought.

All she wanted to do was keep her head down, do her job, pay the debt off and get the fuck out of Tokyo. And now, here she was, playing musician to entertain the very bane of her existence right now. Were they making a mockery of her?!

She couldn’t take it. This frustration to cater to their whims simply because they felt like it. Her fight or flight senses triggered, feeling her kneecaps begin to shake from the fear of her insides being painted on the walls of this room and no one would bat an eyelash to mourn for her. Her hands moved on their own, the soft tune filling in the room. The familiarity swell of the somber melody resonated inside Sano Manjiro.

Yes. This was it. This was what he felt then. This beautiful auditory declaration of suppression and resentment. Each struck chord with her hands strangled his heart, as if he was trying to find something to make him feel alive again.

And just like that, this fleeting emotion escaped the palm of his hand just as she finished the piece with the soft, muffled minor chord. She looked back up and locked eyes with the head of Bonten for a beat. His deep, charcoal gaze bore deep into hers, as if she was seeing his thoughts before she averted his stare down.

“Was it to your liking, boss?” Koko asked, with the man giving a slight nod. “(Y/N)-chan, you will perform at a Bonten function for us three days from now.”

Just as she was about to speak, the finance admin elaborated as if he read her mind. “The clientele is from the entertainment industry. You will be given a 30 minute window for your performance. The song list will be left to your discretion. A car will come pick you up at 5pm sharp. Wardrobe and makeup will be provided for you. Should you need anything else, call me and I’ll have it arranged.”

“You should be honored, girl. It’s not everyday we pick sluts like you to accompany us to events like these,” Ran sneered with a shit-eating grin.

“Is that how I look like to you?” (Y/N) calmly replied and stood from the piano, doing her best to maintain her dignity. The legs of the bench softly scraped against the lacquered wooden floor. “Contrary to what you think, not all of us sleep with their clientele.”

“Oh, this one’s got a mouth on her.” The tall man stood and towered over her frame upon approaching the small stage where she stood. His large hands roughly gripped her chin, making her look into his cold, violet orbs with quiet defiance. She bit back a yelp in her throat, not wanting to give him the satisfaction in having him hear how much his nails were digging into her flesh.

“Do you always go around with this condescending attitude of yours, whore?” he acidly spat out. “And what’s got you working here, hm? Fucked around too much with hosts? Drank more than your own paycheck’s worth at our bars? Looking for a sugar daddy to pay for that overused pussy?”

“Ran,” Manjiro spoke with a dark, warning tone.

The lanky man leaned in so she was face to face with his half-lidded glare under a calm demeanor. "Dirty little cunts like you just need to keep quiet, look pretty and be used as cocksleeves."

Shooting her another asinine glare, he roughly pushed his hand off her face and walked back to the couch. (Y/N) softly massaged her jawline from the man’s vice grip, gritting her teeth from the sting of his touch, her orbs fighting back crocodile tears. Manjiro's eyes followed his admin's movement as he rejoined his brother's side while adjusting his Alex Streeter double demon signet ring adorned on his right middle finger.

“Any questions?” Koko finally asked.

“What’s my compensation?”

“Always ‘bout the money eh?” the executive chuckled. “I’ll discuss that with the boss. 'Til then, practice when you can.”

—

Three days went by in the blink of an eye. Nerves slowly took over as she found herself keeling over her toilet, heaving bile into it. Anything she tried to keep down came back up moments later.

It was always like this.

In a past life, (Y/FN) was an aspiring pianist who dreamed of conquering all musical genres, from music to jazz to rock. Her instructors and teachers all praised the talent she worked hard on, putting her all into each performance.

All that came to a screeching halt the day she met Kokonoi Hajime.

Abruptly quitting her training lessons, she made herself disappear. Her pride couldn’t stand seeing those who supported her become disappointed with how she was now: a broken adult who only cared about money and survival.

Groaning and panting, she prayed to whichever God would help settle her stomach as her nose whiffed the vile acid in the toilet that came from her mouth. Gingerly lifting herself up with a soft grunt, she turned the faucet on to rinse her face and mouth after flushing, spitting out the remnants of her stomach fluids into the sink. Taking a swig of mouthwash, she gargled to rid her mouth of its rancid aftertaste and spat it out before splashing her face to wash away the cold sweat forming around the crown of her head. Just as she exited the bathroom, her mobile phone came to life with its melodious ringtone, making her audibly groan with exhaustion.

It was from an unknown number.

“H-Hello?” she hoarsely greeted and massaged her throat from the rawness of the acid burning her esophagus.

“This is Kakucho,” the voice spoke from the line. “We’re here to pick you up for the evening.”

“I-I’ll be right down.”

(Y/N) lazily grabbed her belongings before making her way downstairs to see a black, unmarked car. She saw a man with the heterochromatic eyes and scar running across the left side of his face waiting outside, looking up at her at the base of the staircase.

“Are you unwell?” he asked, making note of her pale complexion, dilated pupils and dry lips.

“Performance jitters,” she rasped out after coming down and entered the vehicle without another word.

Kakucho glanced over at (Y/N) every now and then from his phone, making note of her physical status with every turn the car made. She squeezed her eyes close and immediately clasped her mouth with her hand with a smack, feeling the nausea come and go with a muffled retch from her throat. Her light labored breathing could be heard between the pregnant stillness. The scarred man leaned forward and knocked on the privacy glass twice, feeling the car slow. Leaving without a word, she pushed a button to crack the window open for some fresh air. The humidity from outside stained her forehead followed with a cool breeze; the sensation gave her a small reprieve from the aches of her body.

The car door on the opposite end opened five minutes later; Kakucho entered, took out a cold beverage from a plastic bag and handed it to her. She lazily opened her eyes and found a can of seltzer placed in her palm.

“It’ll help with your stomach,” he suggested.

Using what strength she had to pop the tab open, she brought the cool aluminum vessel to her lips and sipped the carbonated liquid, feeling her body’s fluids being replenished. It was the first thing she had all day her body didn’t violently eject. The car started moving again.

“I also got some onigiri for—”

“No. No food,” she hastily answered weakly and pushed the bag away while taking another sip from the can. “It’ll just come back up.” Huffing a light sigh from the seltzer slowly settling her stomach, she spoke again. “Thank you… for the drink.”

Just as she finished it, the vehicle pulled up to the Park Hyatt Hotel’s entrance. The door on her side was opened by the bellhop outside and escorted her out. Kakucho placed a hand in the small of her back, moving her at his pace as they walked past the concierge desk. The color on her skin was slowly coming back. Swiftly entering the elevator, he pressed the button for the highest floor of the building. Feeling her ears pop from the sudden change in elevation, the lift dinged at their destination. Chaperoning (Y/N) out, he reached into his breast pocket and swiped a key card to enter the suite. Through the dark entrance of the room, the two were greeted with a sweeping night time view of the city skyline with glittering diamond-like street lights.

The living room was occupied with the two purple haired men, the pink haired man bent over the table, snorting a line of freshly cut cocaine and Kokonoi tapping away on his laptop.

“Took you long enough,” the purple shoulder length haired man sneered with his usual glare. “You two fucking?”

Her escort frowned with distaste at the choice of his constituent’s words.

“I got carsick,” she tersely fibbed, unconsciously holding her stomach.

“Guest room’s that way. Everything you need will be in there,” Kokonoi pointed to her.

Curtly thanking the scarred man, she made her way into the spare room and saw a wardrobe and hair and makeup artist already on standby. The two greeted her and settled her into the seat in front of the vanity. She wasn’t used to being waited on hand and foot like this since she did everything herself at the club. The small talk they made with her helped curb her anxiety and even made her chuckle with some of their stories.

Just as they wrapped up, the artists wished her good luck with the performance and made their way out of the suite. (Y/N) closed her eyes and placed her hands on her diaphragm, steadying her breath. Doubts started running through her mind.

What if she messed up? What if the performance was just a ruse to get her to do other despicable things? Just as her mind was racing, a soft knock on the door drew her back to reality.

Kokonoi peeked in and froze. His black eyes drank her in like the finest wine he’s ever tasted. Her hair was done up halfway with soft curls framing her slender neck; wardrobe decided on the draped silver fil coupe corseted dress from Vivienne Westwood paired with the Vince Camuto strappy black heels. Her makeup was light with a pop of soft red painted on her lips, compared to the harsh black eyeliner and gaudy fake lashes she always wore while working. The help he hired did a great job enhancing her natural beauty.

“You look… ravishing.”

(Y/N) stayed quiet and looked out the window, taking in the nightscape. The silver haired man approached her and softly ran his fingertip lightly across her shoulders. He then leaned into her ear as if they were lovers whispering naughty things to each other.

“Kakucho told me you were sick before,” he said with a tone of concern.

“I’m fine,” she stiffly replied and swallowed hard as Kokonoi continued with his feather-light touches on her exposed arms, wishing he would stop. “Stomach always gets like this before a performance.”

“When was the last time you performed?” His lips ghosted on the nape of her neck, inhaling the faint traces of perfume on her skin. He had always flirted with her only with words; this was the first time he was this forward with his carnal desires. She clenched her teeth in discomfort at the contact.

“… Four years ago.”

His hand landed on her wrist and languidly massaged the underside of her forearm with his index and middle finger as if he was giving a preview of what else he could do with his digits.

“Think you’ll be okay?”

She turned to him with an annoyed expression. “You’re asking me this now? After you practically cornered me to do this?”

Kokonoi held his hands up in a neutral manner.

“Fair,” he admitted. “Even if you mess up tonight, you’d still be pretty to look at, so it’s a win-win for us either way.”

(Y/N) shot him a venomous glare for that statement and was reminded women like her were just objects for these bastards to ogle, fondle and fuck. They were disposable pieces of meat like everything else in their empty lives.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Making her way out of the guest room, she stood in the hallway to collect herself. Steadying her breath, she put one foot in front of the other and made her way to the living room. Even without announcing her presence, the entire room’s attention trained on her. She politely bowed and bid everyone a good evening with a demure facade, introducing herself with her hostess name. If there’s one thing she learned about a crowd of men who think with their egos and the head between their legs, it’s that they love seeing anyone weaker than them present themselves as such.

“So you’re the entertainment tonight eh,” one of the music producers commented, eyeing her up and down salaciously. Kokonoi introduced him as Mizunori Daisuke.

“I’ll be performing some songs for you all tonight. I do hope you enjoy the selections.”

Making her way to the grand piano, (Y/N) situated herself on the bench. As much as she hated doing this, she had to suck it up and get through this; she hoped it didn’t show in her playing.

She started her set off with her rendition of Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” to set the mood. Her hands glided across the keys like a skater on ice, her nimble fingers lightly grazing each key with grace and precision. For a brief moment, every Bonten admin was entranced by her presence as she boasted her elegant and silent allure. After playing one more classical piece, her audience applauded as she made a transition into some jazz songs. She mashed up “Summertime” and “Blue Monk” together.

Changing things up, she played the intro to “Lullaby of Birdland” and started singing to the audience’s surprise. Her voice was soft and husky compared to her usual one, still feeling the burn in her throat from anxiety vomiting. As she struck the last note, she was greeted with cheers in the intimate space.

“For the last song,” she spoke softly. “I would like our esteemed guests to pick it.”

“Interesting…” Mizunori marveled her power move. “Did you run out of songs to play?”

“I like getting my listeners involved with the selection of music,” she explained with a thin smile. “Keeps everyone engaged like a conversation.”

“Kokonoi-san, are all the girls at your clubs this accommodating?” Bonten’s client complimented.

“We like to cater to a wide array of our clients,” the silver haired man easily replied.

The producer ended up requesting the classic “Plastic Love” by Mariya Takeuchi. While a popular song, (Y/N) felt he was testing her and wanted to see what she was truly capable of. In short, he was playing to her ego. Catching onto his game, the right corner of her lip quirked up ever so slightly and decided to tease him a little. Starting off with the song’s standard melody to catch him off guard, his eyes began drooping from boredom before she hit him with her improvisation at the hook into the second verse. She knew which parts to keep simple and which to embellish a little just to keep the guests engaged enough.

The song ended with a soft chord, followed with loud clapping from Bonten’s guests. She gracefully stood and bowed, wishing them a good evening and hoped they enjoyed her performance. Just as she made her way back to the guest room to change and leave, she felt a set of hands wrap around her waist, lightly jolting her shoulders.

“Stay,” a deep voice spoke in her right ear. She glanced over to see the long haired purple man hovering over her frame. “It’ll keep the producers talking and distracted.”

“… I didn’t get your name.”

“Haitani Rindou.”

“Ah…” she put two and two together. “You’re ‘Rin-Rin.’ Eko and Yumi talk about you non-stop.”

“I swear…” the man huffed an exhausted sigh. “I’m ghosting those two girls.”

“That’s not nice,” she tutted with a small smirk playing on her lips and crossed her arms. “Tell them directly if you’re not interested. They’re quite strong-willed and I know this first hand.”

“I only texted them ‘cus my brother didn’t wanna deal with ‘em,” he explained. “Now I can’t get ‘em off my dick.”

“Not my concern,” (Y/N) curtly responded and made her way back to the living room area. The younger Haitani called her.

“The songs you played before…” Rindou continued. “They were good.”

She lightly bowed her head as a way to thank the younger Haitani for his compliment. As the meeting went on, (Y/N) switched her brain to hostess mode and listened intently to Kokonoi’s clients drawl on about their up and coming idol group to rival AKB48 and TWICE as a sales pitch for Bonten to fund their promotional assets, recording and costumes. The Haitanis sat idly, bored out of their minds. Akashi left an hour prior with Mochizuki, claiming he had another meeting to get to. Mikey and Sanzu remained quiet, the latter standing behind the couch like a bodyguard with dilated pupils; he looked like he was still riding out his cocaine high. Kakucho stood behind (Y/N), noticing how uncomfortable she became as Mizunori snaked his arm behind to grope her butt.

She abruptly stood and flashed a polite smile to the group when her movement caught their attention.

“Please excuse me for a moment. I’m in need of some fresh air.”

“Kakucho,” the head of Bonten called. “Go with her.”

With a light bow of his head, the scarred man accompanied her out of the suite and took the elevator up to the rooftop. Walking alongside the indoor pool, the two made their way out to the patio, feeling the gust of wind blow in their face the moment the door slid open. (Y/N) took a deep inhale and closed her eyes before leaning on the awning. Slowly opening her eyes, she took in the silver glow of Tokyo’s skyline high above Nishi-shinjuku. His dual-colored eyes observed the curves and dips of her side to back profile, her skin illuminated by the cool glowing lights of the city as strands of her locks were caught in the wind from being so high up.

“You can go back if you want, Kakucho-san,” she spoke. “I’m not gonna do something crazy like jump from here.”

“I need a break from those assholes,” he confessed. “Especially from those producers.”

Observing her body language, he immediately saw her shoulders tense up the moment he mentioned them and hugged herself. Taking his suit jacket off, he draped it over her frame and stood beside her.

“You must be cold wearing only that.”

Quietly accepting his gesture, she adjusted the oversized blazer for her shoulder to snuggle into and felt the warmth of the material from his body heat.

“So why a hostess?” the scarred man suddenly asked. His dual coloured eyes scanned the scenery.

“What do you mean?”

“You clearly have the talent to be a professional musician. So why are you here?”

“A series of unfortunate events,” she vaguely answered with a bitter smile.

“I heard from Koko…”

“I take it you all know then?” (Y/N) sharply inquired and scoffed.

“Mikey asked him to look into your background,” Kakucho explained.

“Mikey?”

“The head of Bonten, Sano Manjiro. The one who asked me to accompany you,” he clarified. “Mikey is… a nickname. He wanted to see whether or not you were trustworthy for tonight.”

“You mean to say whether or not Bonten has a hook on me in the event I decide to try to pull a fast one.” She glanced up at her companion. The scarred man’s adam’s apple bobbed up and down when he swallowed before looking away with a hint of regret. “Am I wrong?”

“If it’s worth anything, you seem like a level-headed person to me.”

She let out a light breath from her nose and turned her attention back to the view.

“So, Kakucho-san. If I may ask…” she paused for a beat and tilted her head up to him with mild interest. “What brought you into the criminal underworld then?”

“A series of unfortunate events,” he parroted her answer with a small smirk. She huffed a small chuckle. “You finally smiled.”

“Not much to smile about in that suite, between you and me.”

Her stomach immediately growled loudly, making her put her hand over it with embarrassment. That’s right: she’s been on an empty stomach all day because of her anxiety puking.

“Wanna grab a bite?” the man asked.

“I could go for a giant platter of curry rice right now.”

“You’re in one of the most expensive hotels in Tokyo with world-class cuisine at your fingertips and you want… curry rice?” Kakucho stated in disbelief.

“Do I look like a girl who splurges or care about fancy dining?” she shot back with disinterest. “Besides, it’s all poop in the end no matter what we eat.”

“You don’t have to say it like that,” he grimaced with disdain at the sudden imagery.

“I’m not wrong though.”

Before he could respond, his mobile phone buzzed in his trouser pocket. He took it out and saw a message from Koko.

“We should head back,” he said with his eyes not leaving the screen.

“I guess ‘no’ isn’t an answer that’s accepted here.”

Making their way back to the suite without incident, the group slowly wrapped up their transaction and the producers said they’d be in touch with Kokonoi. As they made their way out, Mizunori wrapped his arm around (Y/N)’s waist and pulled her close to him, much to her discomfort.

“So, Saori-chan. What are you doing after this?” he asked with his eyes leering down her cleavage unapologetically.

Before she could make an excuse, she felt her body being yanked the opposite direction and turned to see Kokonoi to her left; she felt his arms firmly draped around her shoulder.

“Actually, I have some personal business to discuss with her,” he interjected with a slight glare, heavily emphasizing the word ‘personal.’ “Perhaps another time.”

“Another time it is, then,” the producer stiffly replied with a forced smile before leaning into her ear. “We’ll be seeing each other real soon, lovely.”

The moment the suite door slammed shut, (Y/N) pushed herself off and violently wiped her right ear with an audible shudder.

“God damn gross ass, hairy ass, lecherous walrus,” she uttered out. “If I had something on me, I would’ve stabbed his face.”

“Such vulgar language for a girl,” Rindou lightly teased.

“Should’ve said something sooner,” Ran perked up with a lazy grin. “I had a knife on me.”

“If you didn’t stab him, I would’ve,” his baby brother chimed in and pinched his nose bridge. “God, this dragged on a lot longer than it needed to.”

“Are we done here?” she turned to the long platinum haired man and asked with a quick shrug of her shoulders. “Or would you like to ogle me like a piece of meat a bit more?”

“You’re actually hotter when you’re not talking,” Ran commented.

“Too bad the same can’t be said about you,” she snapped irritably just as her stomach let out another audible growl, making her grimace and squeezed her eyes close in mortification at her body betraying her.

“Someone’s hangry,” the older Haitani sibling called in a teasing sing-songy tone. “Let’s get room service!”

Kokonoi grabbed the menu from the coffee table and scanned the list. While the majority of the group ordered the steak, (Y/N) ordered the nabeyaki udon, beef curry and their signature cheesecake; she needed comfort food right now and could care less about the company. A soft knock at the door 30 minutes later and sustenance was delivered right at their door. While the Haitanis and Sanzu were fighting over which steak serving was the bigger one, Kokonoi handed her a flute glass with champagne in it.

“To celebrate your performance.” He clinked the mouth of his glass with hers.

“Think they were more interested in seeing me naked than hear me play,” she noted and took a small sip before setting the glass down on the table.

“Possible. But for what it’s worth…” The platinum haired man sat next to her on the couch. “I watched you the entire time. And you did very well. You didn’t throw up.”

Rolling her eyes at him, she reached for her food and tucked in. For someone of her stature, the admins were amazed at how much she was able to eat.

“You’d be the same after being unable to eat for over 26 hours without having it come back up,” she pointed out before taking another big bite of her beef curry.

“I would’ve given you somethin’ for that if you asked,” Sanzu spoke up before scarfing down a piece of his steak.

“No offense, but I prefer to be lucid.”

“Your loss, angel,” the scarred pink haired man said with his mouth full. “Think it’d enhance your playing.”

“What did you think, boss?” Kokonoi asked before sipping his red wine.

“It was fine,” he flatly replied and took a small bite of his food, not making eye contact with anyone. “The clients seemed satisfied, so that’s good enough for me.”

As they wrapped up their late dinner, (Y/N) grabbed her things to change and get ready leave; she was suddenly stopped by the finance admin with a gentle hand wrapped around her wrist in the hallway.

“The boss requests your company tonight,” he leaned in and spoke in her ear.

She blinked stupidly.

“So I could’ve sworn you just said I’m staying the night.”

“I did.”

“This wasn’t the agreement,” she argued with a hushed voice.

“Well, we’re making a slight change to that, okay?” Kokonoi hastily replied with a tone of annoyance. “He wants to speak with you in private.”

“What’s he gotta say he can’t in front of his inner circle?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

He huffed a light sigh through his nose and traced his finger on the curve of her neck, making her flinch back and clasp the area with her hand with a defensive look.

“Shame… I wanted to take you out around Roppongi and show you off.”

“Oh, what a tragedy,” she deadpanned and crossed her arms over her chest before leaning on the door frame to the guest bedroom.

Watching the remaining admins leave the suite, she hesitantly walked back out into the living room area to see Sano Manjiro sitting on the couch alone, looking out of sorts. (Y/N) sat down a few seats from him and tensely clasped her hands together.

What did the head of Bonten want with her?

Taglist: @xngelsau

[foreficfandom]

Tag Yourself: Ace Attorney Aesthetics!

❁ Phoenix Wright: Collecting coupons. Hearty stew for a winter dinner. Homemade embroidered handkerchief. The clacking of an old keyboard. Coffee mug collection. Apple turnovers. Warm cardigans in the spring. Mint chapstick. The smell of maple wood. Children’s cereal. Watching the sun set over a concrete jungle.

☯ Maya Fey: Collecting cheap earring studs. Incense-stained fingers. Pirating movies. Dipping fries into milkshakes. Fairy lights. Temporary tattoos. Shiba inu puppies. Lilac silk. Fir needle tea. Neon headphones. Moss-covered stone. Tinted fruit lipgloss. Burgundy wood. The tinkling sound of tiny bells.

♕ Miles Edgeworth: Earl Grey at sunrise. Knit cardigans. Leather-bound classical literature. Crushed velvet. A crackling fireplace. Painting in oils. Crystal decanters. Linen parchment paper. Designer-brand silverware. Jazz standards at 2am. Wine-red lipstick. Mahogany and maple. Taking long baths. The scratching of a pen on paper.

☀ Apollo Justice:  Buzzing streetlamps. Midnight comic book binge. Character-themed shirts. Gummy candies. Vending machine stickers. The touch of fresh newsprint. Cans of cold beer. A field of summer grass. Quiet guitar ambience. Warm afternoon rain. Sandalwood and patchouli. Sipping coffee on the train at dawn.

♫ Klavier Gavin: Luxury skincare. Instagram pictures. Bulk bags of mini-sized Butterfingers. Black cold-brew coffee. Gunmetal crucifix earrings. 2am fast-food runs. Vintage polaroids. Sun-softened bedsheets. Malibu goth. Sophisticated old radio stations. Golden champagne. Overnight road trips in a luxury coach bus.

☾ Athena Cykes: Air Jordans. Mangonadas with extra lime. Nature hikes. Fruity-tasting tinted lip balm. Family movies. Wind chimes in the summer breeze. Eucalyptus and mint. Bubble baths. Vollyball on the beach. Painted terracotta flowerpots. Old scrapbooks. Pop songs from all around the world. Charcoal pencil stains. Fresh, warm bedsheets.

⤲ Simon Blackquill: Empty diners at midnight. Neon storefronts. Late-night Playstation sessions. Chilled bottles of artisanal stout beer. Framed ink paintings. Okazu bar food. Black leather boots. An autumn thunderstorm. Wasabi peas. Cast-iron pots and pans. The smell of nail polish. Dried lotus pods. Pure, undisturbed morning snow.

♤ Franziska von Karma: Dior lipstick. Concerto piano. Fountain pens. Almond trifle dessert in a five-star hotel. Clove cigarettes. Filled moleskin sketchbooks. Ten pairs of Louboutin heels. Bourbon cherries. Marble columns. The creaking of Italian leather. White onyx and silver chains. Loose-leaf tea. A delicately perfumed restrain order.

❀ Nahyuta Sahdmadhi: Bamboo broth during a chilly spring evening. Delicate embroidery. Echoing footsteps. An engraved elk antler haircomb. Artisanal wool tapestries. Rice water. A pale sunrise. Sparrowsong in the wind. Warm hands. Wooden chests. Stained glass roofs. Willow tree blossoms. Roast whole lamb with peppercorn and herb.

[kampashanate]

Lipstick is the primary cosmetic we think of while applying facial makeup. A poorly chosen lipstick can destroy your looks. Terracotta lipstick is mostly preferred these days and is chosen in many parts of the world owing to its uniqueness. These shades can make a huge difference to the facial contours.

[sensei-aishitemasu]

2020 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

2020 Black-Owned Gift Guide!

It’s that time again! Our SIXTH ANNUAL BLACK-OWNED GIFT GUIDE IS HERE!!!! This Black Friday, try and support a Black-owned business for all your gift-giving needs. For last years gift guide, click here. For the 2018 gift guide, click here. For the 2017 gift guide, click here. For the 2016 gift guide, click here. For the 2015 gift guide, click here.

Similar to previous lists, I kept every individual item listed under $100! Click on the links to be taken to the websites in order to peruse more yourselves: all businesses listed are Black-owned, and many are run by Black women, Black Americans specifically, manufactured here in the United States, and/or sustainably and ethically sourced with philanthropic causes attached to sales! Check them out. 

In addition, this year there are THREE NEW CATEGORIES! Check out items for the ‘Goth/Kawaii,’ for your ‘Activist Bae,’ and for the ‘Esoteric’ down below.

[As always, this guide has been split into categories to make it easier to get through, but feel free to mix and match for the person in your life that fits all of (or none of!) these categories!]

For the Homebody:

Lettie Gooch Small Safety Matches, $18 Lettie Gooch Amber & Moss Soy Candle, $20 Lettie Gooch White Concrete White Tea & Ginger Candle, $28 Lettie Gooch Planetarium Throw Blanket, $68 Lettie Gooch Soleil Throw Blanket, $68

Debra Cartwright ‘Bike’ Watercolor Print, $38 Debra Cartwright ‘Aura’ Watercolor Print, $87 Debra Cartwright ‘Astro Millennial Ladies in Quarantine’ Coloring Book, $5

Harlem Candle Company ‘Brownstone’ Luxury Candle, $45 Harlem Candle Company ‘Lenox’ Luxury Room Spray, $30 Harlem Candle Company ‘Langston’ Luxury Room Spray, $30

Jungalow Genie Vase, $89 Jungalow Handwoven Peach Planter, $49 Jungalow Azul Face Pillow by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $89 Jungalow Soft Mint Pillow, $89 Jungalow Aja Wallpaper in Green by Justina Blakeney, $5 (per sheet) Jungalow Tigris Wallpaper in Onyx by Justina Blakeney, $5 (per sheet) Jungalow Cream Looped Wool Rug, $99.00 Jungalow Silvia Teal & Berry Rug by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $69.00 Jungalow Striped Orange Outdoor Rug, $59.00 Jungalow Reindeer Games Hook Pillow by Justina Blakeney, $60.00 Jungalow Peace Vase by Justina Blakeney, $68.00 

Kashmir Viii ‘S is for Soul’ Print, $35-$45 

Galerie LA Rooted Incense Holder, $45

Duchess365 358 Art Print, $23.99 

Jeff Manning Art ‘Aplomb’ Art Print, $45 Jeff Manning Art ‘Pacific’ Art Print, $30

Kicky Mats ‘Get Naked’ Bath Mat, $30 Kicky Mats ‘Did You Wash Your Hands?’ Doormat, $50 Kicky Mats ‘Go Away, Come Back With Wine’ Doormat, $50 Kicky Mats ‘Did You Call First?’ Doormat, $50

228 Grant Street Candle Co. Tobacco + Patchouli Gold Travel Tin, $11 228 Grant Street Candle Co. Wild Blackberry + Absinthe Amber Jar, $21 228 Grant Street Candle Co. Oakmoss + Amber Apothecary Jar, $32

Shea Makery Strawberry Cheesecake Signature Candle, $40 Shea Makery Cinna-Bowl Signature Candle, $40

The Silver Room Cider and Cedar Leaf Candle, $34 The Silver Room Rose Water & Tea Leaves Diffuser, $28 The Silver Room Minnie Ripperton - Les Fleur Vinyl, $26

Rituals + Ceremony Anonomy Sculptures, $79 Rituals + Ceremony USB Travel Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser, $25

Handcrafted Ceramic Watering Cans, $64

Fill More Waste Less Natural Loofah Sponge, $2.50 Fill More Waste Less Food Huggers, $12. 99 

Ment Nelson Backwoods Baptism Print, $50 Ment Nelson Old Sheldon Print, $40

Quarantine Games!

Trading Races, $19.99

Winsults, $25

Cards For All People - Black Card Revoked (First Edition), $17.99

Trap Wars - The Urban Game Night Experience, $22.99

Lyrically Correct 90's & 2000's Hip Hop/R&B Edition, $24.99

Black Wall Street - The Black History Board Game, $49.99

Pull Your Card Music Trivia: Hip Hop Edition, $14.99

Spill It Card Game, $23

'Verified' A Party Game for Social Media Lovers (Original Edition), $19.99

For the Foodie:

Kashmir Viii ‘The Black Power’ Mixtape Coasters, $40 Kashmir Viii ‘Reclaim It’ Mug, $16 Kashmir Viii ‘I Slay.’ Clutch, $45 

Galerie LA Peak and Valley Balance Blend, $30 

‘The Cooking Gene,’ by Michael W. Twitty, $28.99 

‘From Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes From the Boss Dog’s Kitchen’ by Snoop Dogg, $24.95 

Essie Spice Signature Sauce Collection, $42 

‘Your Guide to Tasteful Manners’ with Love Cork Screw, $19.95 

‘Deliciously Vegan’ Cookbook by The Chic Natural, $28.95 

EAT Apron, $30

Midnight Reflections Crowned White Ceramic Mug, $19.99

The Spice Suite Utensils + Oven Mitts, $50 The Spice Suite ‘The Little Black Spice Book’ (E-book), $30

Rituals + Ceremony Circle Mug, $40 Rituals + Ceremony Agate 6pc Plate Set, $24

Blk + Grn Stainless Steel Tea Ball Infuser, $4

Fill More Waste Less Reusable Tea Strainer, $14.99

Good Thoughts Tea Co. Tea Spoon Set, $12

KazvareMadeIt Personalised Alphabet Mug Tile Print, $20.99 KazvareMadeIt Banananana Cushion, $55.80

Addie Rawr ‘Addie's Cocktail Collection’ (Cards & Prints), $3.75

For the Beauty Guru:

Lettie Gooch Blends Perfume: Earth, $30 Lettie Gooch Bloom Perfume Blend No. 586, $48 

Galerie LA Hand Sanitizer, $10 Galerie LA Cream Cleanser, $16 Galerie LA Citrine Sea Tropical Exfoliator, $18 Galerie LA Botanica Rose Roller, $14 Galerie LA Botanica Lavender Roller, $14 Galerie LA Aurora Superfood Elixer (Face Serum), $27 Galerie LA Jade Eye Mask, $44 Galerie LA Rose Quartz Facial Roller, $28.00 

Shea Makery Scar Healing Serum, $23 Shea Makery Cinnamon Bun Body Butter, $25 Shea Makery Glazed Donut Body Butter, $25 Shea Makery Milk + Honey + Syrup Bubble Bath, $22 Shea Makery Honeycomb Bath Set, $16

The Lip Bar Cheek and Eye Palette, $15  The Lip Bar ‘Goddess’ Lipgloss, $14 The Lip Bar ‘Bawse Lady’ Liquid Matte Lipstick, $13  The Lip Bar ‘4:00 Stuntin' Fast Face Kit,’ $99 The Lip Bar Limited Edition Easy Holiday Glam Collection, $25  The Lip Bar ‘Lip Bar Littles,’ $18.99 The Lip Bar Minimalist Lovers Bundle, $36

Auda B. Beauty Soy Polish Remover, $26 

Breukelen Polished ‘Paid and Full,’ $11 Breukelen Polished ‘Get Me Right’ Treatment Set, $25

Beauty Bakerie ‘Milk & Honey’ Highlighting Brush, $18 Beauty Bakerie ‘Coffee and Cocoa’ Bronzer Palette, $38 Beauty Bakerie ‘Black Egg-cellence’ Beauty Sponges, $18  Beauty Bakerie ‘Sugar Cookies’ Palette, $28 Beauty Bakerie ‘The Butter’ Hydrasilk Primer, $24

Mented Mini Brush Trio, $10 Mented Everyday Eyeshadow Palette, $28 Mented Brush Collection, $45 Mented Holiday Faves Trio, $50

Blac Minerals Highlight Bundle, $32 

Danessa Myricks Beauty Oil, $30  Danessa Myricks Waterproof Cream Palettes, $36 Danessa Myricks Luxe Cream Palettes ‘The Nudist,’ $44

Pear Nova ‘Holiday Essentials’ Nail Set, $90 

Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Voodoo, $18  Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Midnight Cowboy, $18 Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Black Orpheus, $18 Habit Cosmetics Nail Polish in Scarab, $18

Hunny Bunny Cuticle Cream, $4.50 Hunny Bunny Grapefruit Sugar Scrub, $20

Taupe Coat in Good Fortune, $11

More Brands To Try:

People of Color Beauty

Mischo Beauty

Suite Eleven

Brown Butter Beauty

Beija Flor Naturals

Plain Jane Beauty

Ancient Cosmetics

Hue Noir

Lotus Moon Skincare

For the Fashion Conscious:

Merit ‘Fate’ Bucket Hat, $20

Chris Cardi Signature TwistDYE Tee, $33

Lettie Gooch Black Mineral Washed Jacquard Leggings, $68 Lettie Gooch ‘Smiling On The Inside’ Mask, $28

Kashmir Viii Face Masks, $16 Kashmir Viii ‘Around The Way Girl’ Clutch, $45-$60

Galerie LA Hemp Tie Button Down Sage, $90 Galerie LA Gratia Jumpsuit Tumeric, $100 Galerie LA Red Zipper Wallet, $45 Galerie LA Dopp Kitt (Makeup Bag) in Navy, $40 Galerie LA Lunar Star Earrings, $100 Galerie LA Meria Sunglasses Coral Pink, $75 Galerie LA Oda Ring, $45 Galerie LA Sabbath Cocoon Tunic, $85

Tree Fairfax Keychain, $22.50 Tree Fairfax Lois Belt, $45

LoveCortnie Polka Dot Leather Key Chain Clasps, $15 LoveCortnie Small Leather Tassel, $17 LoveCortnie ‘Color Me’ Coin Purse, $30 LoveCortnie Envelope Card Holder (Black & White), $32

Rue 107 ‘Toni’ Bikini in XOXO Print, $98 Rue 107 Signature Pencil Skirt in XOXO Print, $68 Rue 107 Tied Cropped Tank in XOXO Print, $48 Rue 107 Tied Cropped Tank in Vintage Rose Print, $48 Rue 107 Signature Pencil Skirt in Vintage Rose Print, $68

Grant Blvd ‘Sustainable Shit Only’ Fanny Pack, $26

Ebony and Green Mindfulness Earrings, $10

For the Bookworm:

‘Daymares’ by Kenya Moss-Dyme, $12.99

‘Hood Feminism’ by Mikki Kendall, $26

‘The Source of Self-Regard’ by Toni Morrison, $28.95

‘Tar Baby’ by Toni Morrison, $15

‘The Beautiful Ones’ by Prince, $30

‘In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage’ by Alan Schroeder, $12.95

‘The Street: A Novel’ by Ann Petry, $15.99

‘Chasing Down a Dream: A Blessings Novel’ by Beverly Jenkins, $14.99

‘Rebel (Women Who Dare)’ by Beverly Jenkins, $5.98

‘Night Song’ by Beverly Jenkins, $8.99

‘Tempest’ by Beverly Jenkins, $5.98

‘Our Black Year: One Family's Quest to Buy Black in America's Racially Divided Economy’ by Maggie Anderson, $17

Rayo and Honey ‘Books Change Your Mind’ Pennant, $75

Jungalow Face Bookend Vase by Justina Blakeney, $98

Midnight Reflections Black Nerd Tote Bag, $18.99

Addie Rawr Book Club Dolls Stickers (Die Cut Stickers), $9.50

For the Kids:

Jungalow Leela Terracotta Rug by Justina Blakeney X Loloi, $89.00 Jungalow Pink Looped Wool Rug, $99.00

Galerie LA Kids Face Mask, $25

Duchess365 237 Canvas Print, $98.99 Duchess365 231 Tote Bag, $24.99 Duchess365 279 Art Print, $23.99 Duchess365 241 Framed Art Print, $47.99

Shea Makery PB & J Soap, $10 Shea Makery ‘Save A Life’ Mini Assorted Hand Soaps (Set of 12), $5

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, $16.99

‘Clean Getaway’ by Nic Stone, $16.99

‘Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid’ by Mikaela Ulmer, $16.19

ABC Me Flashcards, $20

IkdKids Rag Doll, $40

KaAn’s ‘Living The Dream’ Denim Jacket, $40

Yinibini Baby Badminton Playing Octopus Tee, $23 Yinibini Baby Fox Pullover Sweatshirt Jogger Set, $41 Yinibini Baby ROAR Lion Hooded Pullover, $45 Yinibini Narwhal Toy, $28

For the Masculine:

ALWD Signature DC PROPER Sweatshirt, $40

Chris Cardi ‘Bastards’ Tee, $30.03

Merit Flannel Shirt (Green), $65

Kashmir Viii ‘Everybody Eats, B,’ Tee, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘The Knockout’ Tee, $45

Galerie LA ‘Mister’ T-Shirt, $45

Jeff Manning Art ‘Overflow’ Art Print, $30 Jeff Manning Art ‘The Golden Age’ Art Print, $45 Jeff Manning Art ‘Overflowed Emotions’ Art Print, $50

Levi Fisher Beard Bundle, $39.99

Scotch Porter Face Care Collection, $28.99 Scotch Porter Journal, $9.99

Shea Makery Beard Oil, $15

Enbois Matte Lava Rock Bracelet, $40 Enbois Benji Matte Sunglasses, $45 Enbois Bracelets Collection - Cocoa, $50

The Silver Room Tourer Backpack, $95

Urban Profile Black Panther Shirt, $24.99

Solo Noir Starter Kit, $28.99

Bevel Shave Starter Bundle, $89.95 Bevel Skin Starter Set, $61.95

For the Tech Savvy:

Enbois iPhone Case, $12 Enbois Power Bank, $15 Enbois Grip Socket, $4

Chic Geeks Brown Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $75 Chic Geeks Brown Snakeskin iPad Case, $75 Chic Geeks Emerald Faux Crocodile iPhone Case, $50 Chic Geeks Grey Marble MacBook Case, $80 Chic Geeks Black Faux Crocodile iPad Case, $75

Khristian A. Howell Cava Melon Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99 Khristian A. Howell Cava Black Sleek and Chic Phone Case, $39.99

NSPRE ‘Inferno’ Bluetooth Sunglasses, $71.99 NSPRE Micro SD Card (128GB), $21.98 NSPRE ‘The Ombres’ Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses, $59.99  NSPRE ‘The Solars’ Bluetooth BlueTech Glasses, $59.99

For the Goth/Kawaii:

VickiBeWicked Vinyl Sticker Heart Drippy Mushroom, Laptop Decal, $4 VickiBeWicked Rainbow Unicorn, Black Girl Magic Laptop Sleeve, $30.99 VickiBeWicked AfroGirls Masked Up Laptop Sleeve, $30.99 VickiBeWicked Pastel Horn Face Resin Keychain, $12.99 VickiBeWicked Red and White Splatter Skull Dangle Earrings, $7.50

Kashmir Viii ‘The KeKe’ Print, $35-$60

Adorned by Chi ‘Goth Club Presidenct’ Unisex Raglan T-Shirt, $34.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Pro Black’ Unisex Raglan T-Shirt, $34.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Pretty Girls Like Anime’ T-Shirt, $32.99 Adorned by Chi ‘Awkward’ Iron-On Patch, $11.99 Adorned by Chi ‘I Need My Space’ Hard Enamel Pin, $12.99

The Colour Polka Dot iPhone XS ‘Creepy Cute’ Rainbow Phone Case, $40 The Colour Polka Dot ‘Creepy Cute’ Spoopy Ornaments, $12 The Colour Polka Dot ‘Kawaii Cute’ Face Mask Case, $16

Embrii Shop Blush Pink Laptop Sleeve, $36

Gothic Lamb Anti Social Goth Club Tee, $28 Gothic Lamb ‘FedUp’ Tee, $24 Gothic Lamb ‘Make America Goth Again’ Tee, $28 Gothic Lamb ‘Melanin Manson’ Tee, $24

For the Esoteric:

Behati Life Third Eye Vision And Prophetic Dreams Intention Oil, $22 Behati Life New Moon Bath Soak Herbal Mix, $22 Behati Life Lunar Goddess Moon Magick Intention Oil, $22

Lettie Gooch Ecuadorian Palo Santo Quartz Crystal Bundle, $18

Jungalow Chaya Wallpaper in Amethyst by Justina Blakeney, $5

The Silver Room White Sage Bundle, $6

Grandma Baby's Black Gold Lenormand Tarot Deck, $44

Pretty Spirits ‘The Truth’ Decks, $50

The Afro Tarot, $88

The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, $18.66

‘Rootwork: Using the Folk Magick of Black America for Love, Money and Success’ by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, $11.99

Rituals + Ceremony Palo Santo Pack, $7 Rituals + Ceremony Empowered Vibes Ceramic Incense Holder, $10 Rituals + Ceremony Adinkra Intention Candles, $23 Rituals + Ceremony Cleanse and Protect Ritual Kit, $34 Rituals + Ceremony Crystal Candles, $22 Rituals + Ceremony Crystal Bliss: Attract Love, Feed Your Spirit, Manifest Your Dreams Book, $14.99

Ebony and Green Raw Clear Quartz Earrings, $15

For Your Activist Bae:

Kashmir Viii ‘Kash’s Bacon Shack’ Clutch, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘Copy and Paste’ Tee, $45 Kasmir Viii ‘We Did It First’ Stickers, $5.25-$20 Kashmir Viii ‘Reclaim It’ Clock, $45 Kashmir Viii ‘The Black Family’ Tee, $45

Jeff Manning Art ‘MLK’ Art Print, $35 Jeff Manning Art ‘We Shall Prevail’ Art Print, $45

‘The Spook Who Sat By The Door’ by Sam Greenlee, $21.99 ‘The Black Panthers Speak,’ $20 The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975, $22.95 A Beautiful Ghetto by Devin Allen, $26.95 ‘Are Prisons Obsolete?’ by Angela Davis, $15.95

Angela Davis T-Shirt, $25

Legendary Rootz ‘Black Girls Are The Purest Form of Art’ Tee, $25

Alex Carter ‘BLACK BUSINESS OWNERSHIP’ Tee, $50

Rayo and Honey ‘Much To Be Done & Undone’ Pennant, $75 Rayo and Honey ‘Black Lives Matter’ Pennant, $75 Rayo and Honey ‘Joy Is An Act Of Resistance’ Tote Bag, $65

‘They Carried Us: The Social Impact of Philadelphia’s Black Women Leaders’ by Allener M. Baker-Rogers & Fasaha M. Traylor, $ 28.99

Midnight Reflections Black Radical Woman Tank, $25.00

The Colour Polka Dot ‘Fuck Racism’ Resin Heart Keychain, $8

Rituals + Ceremony Be The Change Scented Candle, $24

Grant Blvd ‘Disrupter’ Tee, $30 Grant Blvd ‘End Cash Bail’ Hoodie, $54 

Cards, Notebooks and Wrapping Paper + Holiday Ornaments:

VickiBeWicked ‘Skull Santa’ and Candy Cane Greeting Cards, $2

Harlem Candle Company Set of 10 Vintage Nightclub Greeting Cards, $30

Kashmir Viii ‘Nina En Printemps’ (Nina Simone) Notebook, $14 Kashmir Viii ‘Boo Yow!’ Notebook, $14

Midnight Reflections Wrapping Paper 3-pack, $26.97

Midnight Reflections Claus Ceramic Ornaments, $15.99

Midnight Reflections Emoji Black Santa Christmas Stockings, $24.99

Bylianarae Note Cards, $15

KazvareMadeIt Rap Lines Inspirational Coloring Book, $18.20 KazvareMadeIt Lemonade Notebook, $18.20 KazvareMadeIt Fried Egg Wallpaper, $4.88 KazvareMadeIt Diamond Retro Wrapping Paper, $4.88

Khristian A. Howell ‘Speak To Me’ Wallpaper, $12 (sample pack) Khristian A. Howell ‘Palm Springs’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Sonar’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Twinkle’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Ansley Park’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Rosy’ Holiday Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Long Weekend’ Gift Wrap, $8.99 Khristian A. Howell ‘Bonjour’ Card Set (10 pk), $18

GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ HOHOHO Gift Wrap, $7.50 GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ Do Not Open Gift Wrap, $7.50 GreenTop Gifts ‘Clarence Claus’ Candy Canes and Trees Gift Wrap, $7.50

Addie Rawr 2021 Planners (Preorder), $30 Addie Rawr The Great Gratitude Journal, $20 Addie Rawr The Great Gratitude Journal, $20

[catgrump]

"Do I look Okay?" Do you write friendship prompts as well? I'd love to see a piece of Kaede helping Maki get dressed/buy an outfit for a first date! It's been so nice to read through your work, I love it!

Yeah! Friendship!!! This is such a cute idea; tysm for asking for it.

We’re back in College AU for this one! Kaede & Maki are roommates ☺️

🌻🌻🌻

“Hey Kaede?”

She heard her roommate call for her from across their apartment. “Yeah?”

“Can you come here for a second?”

“Yeah, hold on!”

Kaede paused the video on her tablet and got up from the dining room table, shifting her slippers onto her feet as she moved across the carpet to Maki’s room.

When Kaede opened the door, she gasped with a bright smile. “Do I look okay?” Maki asked

Okay?! OKAY?! She looks stunning! Kaede had no idea Maki had this outfit in her wardrobe. A plaid mini skirt with a matching crop cami, sheer black tights, black high heels, and a leather jacket. “Maki, you look hot as hell. Like literally on fire.”

Maki barely smiled in response. “Can I... can I get your help with makeup? I don’t know what would look good—“

“Well you don’t NEED makeup but yeah, if you want,” Kaede made her way toward Maki’s small makeup collection on top of her dresser, “What’s the occasion?”

“I’ve uh, got a... date.. tonight—“

“A DATE!!!!???” Kaede clapped her hands together in excitement, “Maki!!!! You didn’t tell me you had a date!!”

“Because I knew you’d freak out—“

“I’m sorry!” Kaede knew Maki was right. She does get excited easily, but she can’t help it, “I’m just so happy for you!”

Kaede started searching through the makeup as she continued to talk, “Where are you going? Do I know them? You gotta show me a pic—“

“He’ll be here in like half an hour; can you just help me, please?” Maki didn’t want to sound rude or demanding, but she knew if she didn’t get Kaede back in focus, nothing would get done, “If it goes well I’ll tell you about it, okay?”

Maki was always good at compromising when Kaede got a little too antsy. “Okay, deal.”

Kaede pulled out an eyeshadow palette with warm pinks, bold reds, and subtle neutrals. “Okay, I do wanna know where you’re going, though. I need to know what lipstick to choose,” Kaede said

“He’s taking me to dinner,” Maki sat down in her desk chair and folded her arms, pouting to avoid wistfully sighing

“Liquid lipstick it is,” Kaede declared, and picked out a dark terracotta color from a brand she knew was long-lasting.

Kaede turned on her favorite playlist on her phone to jam out while she worked on Maki’s makeup.

Maki was tense the entire time. It’s not like Maki doesn’t like putting makeup on— Kaede just does it more often. “You must really like this guy,” Kaede said as she dusted highlighter on Maki’s cheekbones

“I mean... I dunno,” Maki tried avoiding the subject, “He’s fine, I guess.”

“He’s at least cute, right?”

“... yeah, unfortunately.”

Kaede couldn’t help but laugh, “Unfortunately?” She repeated Maki’s statement as a question, somewhat in disbelief

“I didn’t want to fall for him, but here we are,” Maki averted her eyes, “He asked me out so...”

“Well, I’m still happy for you,” Kaede replied, adding the highlight on Maki’s brow bone now, “I know you don’t go out with people very often, so it’s so sweet that you wanna look good. You’re already gorgeous, but this is cute.”

Ding!

Maki’s phone wasn’t on silent, so they both heard a notification appear. Maki snatched the phone from her desk before Kaede could snoop. “He’s on his way,” Maki said with sudden anxiety

“I’m almost done; don’t worry!” Kaede reassured her

Kaede finished applying the highlight and topped the look off with the lipstick. She grabbed the setting spray from Maki’s makeup stash and went NUTS spritzing. She waved her hands over Maki’s face rapidly to dry it.

“Thanks, Kaede,” Maki said during Kaede’s fanning, “I’m gonna fix my hair in the bathroom and brush my teeth real quick.”

As Maki stood up, Kaede wrapped her in a tight hug. “It’s going to be great! I can FEEL it.”

Maki chuckled. “I’ll text you if anything goes wrong. I don’t think it will, but our location sharing is still on, so you’ll know where to find me.”

Then, they left Maki’s room. Maki went into the bathroom, and Kaede went back to the dining room to resume her dinner and her video.

After a few minutes, there was a knock at the door. Since Kaede was right by the door, she decided to check the peephole to see who’s got Maki so worked up.

When Kaede peered into the peephole, she was flabbergasted. Kaito?? No way.

She opened the door for him and there he stood. The guy Maki constantly complained about and made fun of was standing in their doorway with one hand in his pocket and one hand holding a rose.

“Oh, uh, Kaede; hey, what’s up?” Kaito looked... nervous.

“Maki’s just finishing up getting ready,” Kaede replied with a mischievous smile

“Oh, haha, cool; thanks,” Kaito swallowed, and Kaede was delighted

“Kaede!” Maki called out from behind her, aggressively approaching, clutching a small black purse in her hands

All Maki could do was glare. But Kaede wasn’t phased. “Have fun, you two!” She sang as Maki pushed her aside to exit the apartment

“Shut up,” Maki scowled at Kaede’s cheesy grin as she shut the door.

Requests are open!

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[janegillespie]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: SCOOBY-DOO™ X GLAMLITE VELMA LIP KIT - new - Limited Edition.

[millenniumfae]

Ace Attorney! Aesthetics: Tag Yourself ...!

❁ Phoenix Wright: Collecting coupons. Hearty stew for a winter dinner. Homemade embroidered handkerchief. The clacking of an old keyboard. Coffee mug collection. Apple turnovers. Warm cardigans in the spring. Mint chapstick. The smell of maple wood. Children’s cereal. Watching the sun set over a concrete jungle.

☯ Maya Fey: Collecting cheap earring studs. Incense-stained fingers. Pirating movies. Dipping fries into milkshakes. Fairy lights. Temporary tattoos. Shiba inu puppies. Lilac silk. Fir needle tea. Neon headphones. Moss-covered stone. Tinted fruit lipgloss. Burgundy wood. The tinkling sound of tiny bells.

♕ Miles Edgeworth: Earl Grey at sunrise. Knit cardigans. Leather-bound classical literature. Crushed velvet. A crackling fireplace. Painting in oils. Crystal decanters. Linen parchment paper. Designer-brand silverware. Jazz standards at 2am. Wine-red lipstick. Mahogany and maple. Taking long baths. The scratching of a pen on paper.

☀ Apollo Justice: Buzzing streetlamps. Midnight comic book binge. Character-themed shirts. Gummy candies. Vending machine stickers. The touch of fresh newsprint. Cans of cold beer. A field of summer grass. Quiet guitar ambience. Warm afternoon rain. Sandalwood and patchouli. Sipping coffee on the train at dawn.

♫ Klavier Gavin: Luxury skincare. Instagram pictures. Bulk bags of mini-sized Butterfingers. Black cold-brew coffee. Gunmetal crucifix earrings. 2am fast-food runs. Vintage polaroids. Sun-softened bedsheets. Malibu goth. Sophisticated old radio stations. Golden champagne. Overnight road trips in a luxury coach bus.

☾ Athena Cykes: Air Jordans. Mangonadas with extra lime. Nature hikes. Fruity-tasting tinted lip balm. Family movies. Wind chimes in the summer breeze. Eucalyptus and mint. Bubble baths. Vollyball on the beach. Painted terracotta flowerpots. Old scrapbooks. Pop songs from all around the world. Charcoal pencil stains. Fresh, warm bedsheets.

⤲ Simon Blackquill: Empty diners at midnight. Neon storefronts. Late-night Playstation sessions. Chilled bottles of artisanal stout beer. Framed ink paintings. Okazu bar food. Black leather boots. An autumn thunderstorm. Wasabi peas. Cast-iron pots and pans. The smell of nail polish. Dried lotus pods. Pure, undisturbed morning snow.

♤ Franziska von Karma: Dior lipstick. Concerto piano. Fountain pens. Almond trifle dessert in a five-star hotel. Clove cigarettes. Filled moleskin sketchbooks. Ten pairs of Louboutin heels. Bourbon cherries. Marble columns. The creaking of Italian leather. White onyx and silver chains. Loose-leaf tea. A delicately perfumed restrain order.

❀ Nahyuta Sahdmadhi: Bamboo broth during a chilly spring evening. Delicate embroidery. Echoing footsteps. An engraved elk antler haircomb. Artisanal wool tapestries. Rice water. A pale sunrise. Sparrowsong in the wind. Warm hands. Wooden chests. Stained glass roofs. Willow tree blossoms. Roast whole lamb with peppercorn and herb.