#You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment Review

[afabstract]

'You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment' Review

Netflix docu series 'You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment' explores the intricate relationship between food, identity, and livelihood, weaving together the stories of twins on a transformative diet experiment.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5. Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram) On a quest to determine how diets and lifestyle affect a person, researchers enlist identical twins to take part in a unique eight-weeks long study. In this 4-part Netflix documentary, titled ‘You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment,’ the twins are made to adopt two vastly different food habits for eight weeks while maintaining the…

[prentissluvr]

the impala, 4:00 p.m. — sam winchester

cw : gn!winchester!reader, fluff, hurt/comfort, sam & reader are twins, dean's implied to be dead/gone (you choose which time lol), unedited, 608 words. requested ! for my 800 followers event [ closed ] .

summary : sam lifts your mood with a book on a sort of somber day in the impala.

MOVED BLOGS TO @sammyluvr !! no longer active on this blog! all fics can be found there!

for months now, it’s just been you two. sort of like how it was when sam was at stanford. you moved near campus to be close to him at nineteen. the year apart beforehand had been hellish sometimes.

but these days have this odd liminality to them. there are no crappy college kid apartments or girlfriends or parties. just the impala, the road, monsters, and each other. you miss dean. some days you almost don’t.

lots of days you miss what you and sam could’ve had, but it feels too late now. it’s sort of nice, though, because you don’t hunt all the time. you and sam take breaks. you help where you can, then you visit southern california for a taste of hot weather and salty air. last week, you stopped for a few days in a midwestern national park. it was stunning, and perfectly suited to yours and sam’s tastes.

today is an in between day, no plans and no hunts on the horizon yet. you’re behind the wheel, your mixtape playing through the speakers. as for the way you feel, everything there is an in between too.

you’re tired, but painfully aware. mourning, and oddly at peace. it doesn’t quite feel bad, but you don’t feel good.

oftentimes, your mood aligns with sam’s. you guess it could be that cliche twine telepathy, but to you it feels more like a deep understanding of each other paired with so many sort of insane and mundane shared experiences.

but today, sam is good. he’s not great, because it’s sort of hard to be more often than not these days, but the two of you are slowly figuring it out. sam very easily senses the way you feel. today and every day. he thinks you’re teetering on the edge enough that he can steer you in the more pleasant direction.

he’s going to offer to switch to the drivers seat in a bit, but he’ll do a few other things first. before interrupting your quiet time with the music and scenery, he’s going to find a good place to eat. not an american diner, but somwhere with better food. he hopes he can find a thai place with good reviews.

then he pulls out a book. you don’t look over at the movement at first. you can see the book in his lap through your peripheral vision, and don’t blink because he’s always reading when he get’s bored in his passenger’s seat. but then he turns down the music and shows you the cover with an unspoken question.

the fellowship of the rings.

you had forgotten that sam carries the lord of the rings books around with him. it catches you by complete surprise, the sight of the worn copy you two shared as kids and the question in his eyes. you grin. he’s asking if you want him to read it aloud to you, to fill up a bit of the gaping hole in this car.

“i forgot you had that,” you say, eyes turning back to the road, but your smile sticking around. sam grins back at you.

“what, you think i go anywhere without a copy of this?” he says lightheartedly, half teasing himself by saying something so nerdy.

“as you should,” you shrug, shutting the music all the way off. “go on, then.” you hear the creak of the spine, and the rustle of pages. then sam’s voice, a sound that melds in perfect familiarity with the rumble of the impala.

“three rings for the elven-kings under the sky, seven for the dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, nine for mortal men doomed to die…”

[sammyluvr]

the impala, 4:00 p.m. — sam winchester

cw :gn!winchester!reader, fluff, hurt/comfort, sam & reader are twins, dean’s implied to be dead/gone (you choose which time lol), unedited, 608 words. requested ! for my 800 followers event [ closed ] .

summary : sam lifts your mood with a book on a sort of somber day in the impala.

for months now, it’s just been you two. sort of like how it was when sam was at stanford. you moved near campus to be close to him at nineteen. the year apart beforehand had been hellish sometimes.

but these days have this odd liminality to them. there are no crappy college kid apartments or girlfriends or parties. just the impala, the road, monsters, and each other. you miss dean. some days you almost don’t.

lots of days you miss what you and sam could’ve had, but it feels too late now. it’s sort of nice, though, because you don’t hunt all the time. you and sam take breaks. you help where you can, then you visit southern california for a taste of hot weather and salty air. last week, you stopped for a few days in a midwestern national park. it was stunning, and perfectly suited to yours and sam’s tastes.

today is an in between day, no plans and no hunts on the horizon yet. you’re behind the wheel, your mixtape playing through the speakers. as for the way you feel, everything there is an in between too.

you’re tired, but painfully aware. mourning, and oddly at peace. it doesn’t quite feel bad, but you don’t feel good.

oftentimes, your mood aligns with sam’s. you guess it could be that cliche twine telepathy, but to you it feels more like a deep understanding of each other paired with so many sort of insane and mundane shared experiences.

but today, sam is good. he’s not great, because it’s sort of hard to be more often than not these days, but the two of you are slowly figuring it out. sam very easily senses the way you feel. today and every day. he thinks you’re teetering on the edge enough that he can steer you in the more pleasant direction.

he’s going to offer to switch to the drivers seat in a bit, but he’ll do a few other things first. before interrupting your quiet time with the music and scenery, he’s going to find a good place to eat. not an american diner, but somwhere with better food. he hopes he can find a thai place with good reviews.

then he pulls out a book. you don’t look over at the movement at first. you can see the book in his lap through your peripheral vision, and don’t blink because he’s always reading when he get’s bored in his passenger’s seat. but then he turns down the music and shows you the cover with an unspoken question.

the fellowship of the rings.

you had forgotten that sam carries the lord of the rings books around with him. it catches you by complete surprise, the sight of the worn copy you two shared as kids and the question in his eyes. you grin. he’s asking if you want him to read it aloud to you, to fill up a bit of the gaping hole in this car.

“i forgot you had that,” you say, eyes turning back to the road, but your smile sticking around. sam grins back at you.

“what, you think i go anywhere without a copy of this?” he says lightheartedly, half teasing himself by saying something so nerdy.

“as you should,” you shrug, shutting the music all the way off. “go on, then.” you hear the creak of the spine, and the rustle of pages. then sam’s voice, a sound that melds in perfect familiarity with the rumble of the impala.

“three rings for the elven-kings under the sky, seven for the dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, nine for mortal men doomed to die…”

[moiteneia]

The Federation Children:

I would love if the QSMP admins connected the lore of the island's cubite residents to each other, especially q!Jaiden, q!Baghera, q!Quackitiy, and q!Cellbit. And I would love it so much that I even have a headcanon in mind :D

Well, let's review the lore of our cubite, who is stuck in Purgatory and suicidal, shall we? q!Cellbit doesn't remember much. Apparently his memory was erased, as the first memory he has is from the age of 12/14, when he was in the Hunger Games and had to eat bodies if he wanted to survive. A child who ended up in an arena and had to do everything to stay alive, seeing himself as a monster. So, after escaping from the prison from which he was sentenced after the war, he ended up in Quesadilha, already close to his thirties, he sought to redeem himself, but not only that, he sought to know what it was to truly live. And he found his own life in a family, q!Tazercraft, q!Felps, Richarlyson and, of course, his husband q!Roier, who showed him countless times that he was more than an investigator and was not a monster. q!Roier showed what love was, what it was to want the good of another person and who he was.

That is, until he discovered that the Federation was not only causing his life now, no, q!Cellbit discovered that his entire life could be different if it hadn't been for the organization that kidnapped him as a child and separated him from his biological family and his twin sister. As a result, revisiting memories, being overcome by trauma, tiredness and anger, he couldn't take it and succumbed to emptiness and despair. Now, after seeing what he thought was the death of his own son, q!Cellbit tried to kill himself in Purgatory, separating himself from those he loved who were left, trying to spare them and thinking that he only did them harm - that he it was bad for q!Roier (which we know is not true).

Now, let's move on to the lore of the other cubes.

What made the Federation arrest and take q!Cellbit was that he saw something he shouldn't have. Something so terrible that he wrote in his diary that q!Bagi, his sister, should run away and not trust anyone. Something so scary that a child tried to escape the island, even if it was by swimming.

Well, I think there is a possibility that at this point, we connect his story with that of the other three.

In the lore of q!Baghera, she discovered that she was an experiment by the Federation, being transformed or made to be a hybrid and even having her feathers plucked out in the tests that the organization carried out.

We also know that both q!Quackity and q!Jaiden have a connection to the Federation. Q!Quackity having a twin brother he was unaware of who personally plays the Federation's game, doing missions and filling in for his brother when necessary to accomplish what they want.

And q!Jaiden who talked amicably with Cucurucho countless times and has the specific nickname of Blue Bird, even having wings, like q!Baghera's.

(I would like to analyze more, but unfortunately I don't watch the three of them that much. I really apologize for that, because I love the rp of the three and their respective stories - if you want to analyze and connect them better, feel free! I would love to read it!)

However, I believe it is possible to think of little q!Cellbit, as a child, playing research while watching children from a distance, in the backyards of the Federation - a place his parents banned him from going.

So, alone and wanting to make friends besides his sister, he enters the building and sees q!Baghera being hurt. He sees q!Quacks taking tests and, upon failing, being taken to a pool to drown, as punishment. And q!Jaiden doing everything perfectly and receiving sweets that make her "happy" but unaware of where she is.

And approaching the glass, he meets the gaze of q!Baghera, who asks for help as she bleeds and, desperate, he just runs away, without noticing the security cameras that have always been watching him.

It's good to remember that Cucurucho always makes excuses for q!Cellbit and is currently and never seems to believe his confessions as a traitor to the Federation. It does missions personally for him. And as a child, q!Cellbit taught his sister about codes and messages, riddles and puzzles...

What if, the Federation used this moment as a chance to have another test subject? What if from the moment he returned to the island, being stronger, more dangerous and intelligent, the Federation just became happier? And if the "perfection" that the Federation seeks so much is in the cubits of Quesadilha Island and that's why it wants it, it fights for them to follow the Order, for them to follow what makes the organization happy? Because it's good to remember, Cucurucho's mission, at the beginning of the series, was always to make the island "happy", but the bear already said that it's not exactly for the island's residents to be happy, but his mission is for the Federation.

The happiness that is important to him does not come from them, but from the rules, from perfection, from the guinea pigs.

[twilightmalachite]

2wink Album Release Commemoration Solo Live MC Segments

Characters: Yuuta, Hinata

Translator: Mika Enstars

"Both Yuuta-kun and I’s solo songs have a strong message of “let’s keep on moving forward!”, but… Don’t you think both songs shine with their own individuality?"

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Time: MC①

Hinata: “Kuu! Chuu! Kuuchuusen!”

Yuuta: “Now is a free-for-all of rave reviews~! ♪ That was our first song, Twinkle Kuuchuusen!”

“Though I was a tad nervous about how the choruses would go since they were written specifically for the album—”

Hinata: “But there was no need to worry! Thanks to you all, it was fun to sing and it felt amazing~! ♪”

“Everyone here at the venue~! Thank you for coming to our commemorative album release live today!”

Yuuta: “Today’s live show will be ruled by 2wink from toe to tip!”

“To express our everyday gratitude for all those who support us, we will be doing “this and that” to show our appreciation~!”

“…Well, Aniki will be. ♪”

Hinata: What do you mean, “this and that”?! That’s way too much!”

“We’ll do our best to liven things up as we usually do! …Well, “usually” might not be the right word, but stay with us to the end, ‘kay~!”

Yuuta: “Now, our next song, Swee2wink Love Letter. With a love letter from us, we’ll a smile to your face…♪”

Time: MC②

Yuuta: “—That was our second song, Swee2wink Love Letter. Did our love letter reach your hearts?”

“…Huh, is it that shocking that I went out on stage by myself?”

“I took a shortcut and slipped on out while Aniki’s looking around for me. …Kidding~! ♪”

“No worries! I’m your scheduled MC appearing right as planned, here to introduce himself!”

“Anyhow, hello again! I’m Aoi Yuuta from 2wink!”

“What did you think of our latest album? Were you able to feel 2wink’s potential?”

“I made this album together with Aniki, with all sorts of our feelings and thoughts put into it.”

“I’d be happy if we could convey our growth through our songs.”

“But for this moment, please let me have you all to myself!”

“Next up is my solo song. A WAY OF LIGHT—Right now, please look at me.”

Time: MC��

Yuuta: “That was A WAY OF LIGHT by Aoi Yuuta.”

“The path you take forward on your own is steep. It’s uneven, and pitch black.”

“But I want to keep moving forward and to keep trying, without stopping. I don’t want to have any regrets.”

“Everyone, if you have a goal, don’t hesitate to take on the challenge!”

“It’ll be alright, if you work hard, surely, you will find your way.”

Hinata: “Uu~… It’s hard to come out when you’re saying something so “heartfelt”, Yuuta-kun!”

“Or rather, that’s on purpose, isn’t it? It has to be a strategy to monopolize the MC role! I can see right through you! ☆”

Yuuta: “You got me there! As a prize for seeing through my ruse, I’ll let you introduce the next song, Aniki.”

Hinata: “Hooray~! It’s not like I’m actually getting anything, but I like it when it sounds like I get a prize! ♪”

“Here’s our next song! Grasp victory, with Fighting Dreamer!”

Time: MC④

Hinata: “That was Fighting Dreamer by 2wink!”

“We performed this song around the time we held Twin Peaks.”

“How nostalgic, remember the Meat Bun Eating Contest? We ended up getting a buncha offers from big-eating programs because of that, you know!

Yuuta: “Yup. But apparently our agency said no, saying that we’re “not that type of idol”.”

“If we had accepted it, maybe there could’ve been a world where we were sold as the “big-eating twin idols”! ♪”

“...By the way, Aniki. You haven’t introduced yourself yet, have you?”

Hinata: “Oh, you’re right! I nearly forgot! Thank you, Yuuta-kun! ♪”

Hinata: “Hello, I’m Aoi Hinata from 2wink! Are you enjoying the live~?”

“…Ahaha, thanks! We’re starting to reach the homestretch, but let’s make things even more exciting!”

“Next up is my solo song, GO-AHEAD SIGNAL! Are you guys ready? Now, let’s jump on out together!”

Time: MC⑤

Hinata: “That was GO-AHEAD SIGNAL by Aoi Hinata! Did you guys like my solo song?”

“Both Yuuta-kun and I’s solo songs have a strong message of “let’s keep on moving forward!”, but…”

“Don’t you think both songs shine with their own individuality? My song is like daytime when the sun is shining, and Yuuta-kun’s song is like dusk when the stars begin to appear in the sky.”

“What do you guys think, comparing the two songs? If you liked them, let us know on social media!”

Yuuta: “And let us know how you felt about the live, too~! ♪”

Hinata: “Huh? What are you doing in that outfit, Yuuta-kun? Isn’t your turn over?”

Yuuta: “Heheh, we don’t get to wear our personalized outfits that often!”

“I figured it’d be a great opportunity to let everyone see us both wear our personalized outfits. It’s a special one-night-only service…☆”

“Now that we’ve received some huge cheers, let’s move onto our next song!”

“Please listen; Turbulent Storm by 2wink!”

Time: MC⑥

Hinata: “That was Turbulent Storm by 2wink!”

“Hmm? The venue’s going wild…”

“Oh, I get it! Surprised by our outfits?”

“This is the outfit we used for our Repayment Festival live. It’s a school event of sorts, so this is probably the first time a lot of you are seeing it live!”

“…We look nice in the calm vibes it gives? Ahaha, thank you~! ♪”

“I like the outfits we wore for Twinkle Kuuchuusen, too. We can wear all sorts of outfits now, compared to our debut.”

“Not just that. We’ve been able to release a new album, we’re now able to perform all on our own—”

“And we were able to have our long-awaited namesake program, 2×2!”

“And it’s all thanks to everyone for supporting 2wink. Really, thank you! ♪”

“Together with Yuuta-kun, I will continue to keep on moving forward. Thank you for all your support of 2wink~! ♪”

“Here’s our next song! 2×2’s theme song, Love×me⇄monsteR!”

“More selfishly than anyone else, we’ll shine on, peace…☆”

Time: MC⑦

Yuuta: “That was Love×me⇄monsteR by 2wink! Has everyone checked out our namesake program, 2×2?”

“Ahaha, that was our loudest cheer yet today~! ♪ Our viewership rating is 100% here! ☆”

Hinata: “Seems a lot of people look forward to seeing the “friends” Yuuta-kun and I call in each episode—”

“How about next time we do a “Making New Friends” episode? Onii-chan’s worried about your friendships, Yuuta-kun!”

Yuuta: “Eh~, don’t “onii-chan” me. I don’t intend to invite any friend other than Shinobu-kun!”

“Anyways, I feel those who watch our program get excited to watch each episode to see if I’ll invite someone else!”

“That’s why I firmly only call in Shinobu-kun. It’s called strategy! ♪”

Hinata: “Is that what it is~? I have a feeling you’re just making stuff up~…”

Yuuta: “You’re imagining it, “Onii-chan”. ♪”

“Well, let’s take the opportunity to all sing together! ♪ Mischievous Party Time!!, and Sugar Spice Houteishiki!”

Time: MC⑧

Hinata: “That was Sugar Spice Houteishiki! That’s it for today’s live! Everyone, did you have fun?”

Yuuta: “…Ahaha, thank you so much for all the applause! ♪”

“We’re so happy to have been able to see everyone’s smiling faces!”

“Let’s all have fun together again sometime. Goodbye~!”

Hinata: “Bye bye, seeya then~! ♪”

Time: MC⑨

Yuuta: “Thank you guys so much for the encore!”

“Everyone’s cheers reached all the way backstage! ♪”

Hinata: “All your passionate feelings reached us! We also felt we hadn’t sung enough!”

“If they want us to sing this much, we have no choice, don’t we, Yuuta-kun? ♪”

Yuuta: “That’s right, Aniki! ♪ Let’s all enjoy the final song together! Here’s 2wink, with—”

Hinata & Yuuta: BRAND NEW STARS!!”

Time: MC⑩

Hinata: That was BRAND NEW STARS!! Everyone, thank you so much for coming to our solo live today!”

“I’m so happy to have gotten an encore~! It really encourages me to keep doing my best! ♪”

Yuuta: “For us 2wink, today’s live is an unforgettable day for us.”

“We 2wink are still growing! We’ll keep shining even more, so please continue to support us, okay!”

“This was 2wink’s Aoi Yuuta…”

Hinata: “And 2wink’s Aoi Hinata!”

Hinata & Yuuta: “Goodbye, ‘til the day we meet again~!”

[ ☆ ]

story directory

[cherokeegal1975]

Lightbearer by L.C. Davis...book review...the story is crap.

This book did have a good beginning. A brother sacrificing himself for the sake of his twin sister. After that it slowly devolved into a gross erotic fantasy that went too far. I'm only continuing to read it because I bought the book.

The fact that the story is a gay romance isn't the really off putting part, though not my favorite thing. But I was exploring outside of my normal picks for books and really going out there. At least in the Degan trilogy by Rob Colton there was a decent plot that I enjoyed in spite of the overly descriptive bits about spurting that I thought went too far and didn't care for and though that kind of stuck in my mind, I was able to look past it.

Lightbearer....ugh. Just yuck. Even the very smutty Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series by Laurel K. Hamelton had more class when it came to describing sex. In fact, I'd be happy if sex was only strongly implied and then move on in a story plot no matter the sexual orientation and have the story focus more on relationships and the adventure the characters are having together. I don't mind sex in a story mostly, but most writers don't focus so much on big penises, spurting fluids, one personality dominating the other and one being submissive. Sigh. Being too descriptive about some things and not leaving it to the imagination of the reader can quickly become disgusting.

Generally speaking, I don't care how the story is oriented sexually, I don't care for stories that romance is the main focus. I did have an idea of what I was getting into when I bought this book, but curiosity and severe boredom won out over my better sense.

Why do so many writers do this, especially when there's romance involved and suddenly, they have to describe their lovemaking? It's not wrong, especially if there's a decent balance to the plot and the main focus is on the relationship and not the sex. And the descriptions I have discovered, must have some class and don't overdo the details. Especially the icky parts, which we all know is part of every primal thing humans do, even merely eating if you think about it. I don't want to know.

So, do not waste your money on Lightbearer. Parts of it are grose and don't make much sense. Some the plot is actually okay, but the icky parts really take away from the whole story. Just eeew!

It's much the same as the crap I all too often find here on DeviantART when I'm bored enough to look up stupid shit. But, such searches did lead to being inspired to write Unexpected Cargo. Which is not gay oriented as a matter of personal taste. Has barely any sex in it and the main focus is the protagonist's experience on his adventure with his family. It is an mpreg like Lightbearer, but there are no fetishes, no spirting, barely any mention of private parts at all...romance was just touched on and I moved on with the plot. There was an equality in the relationship of the two lovers in my story too. And even though my book is a bit odd and barely sells, it sells more often than my other books.

Anyway, I'm done with this genre. This story might have been alright if the too graphic sex parts were left off and not dragged out. But, I am so done and I'm never reading this story again. Just yuck. Don't waste your money on this book.

[rachelbethhines]

60 Years of Doctor Who Anniversary Marathon - C. Baker 1st Review

The Two Doctors - TV Story

I was so disappointed when this was the story that the randomizer chose.

Unlike most fans, I genuinely enjoy Colin Baker's time as the Doctor on tv. I would have gladly watched any other story, yes even The Twin Dilemma or The Mysterious Planet. Heck, I personally think Timelash is loads of fun.

But this....

Not only is The Two Doctors my least favorite C. Baker episode, it is perhaps my most disliked episode of the classic era. And quite possibly in the bottom ten stories out of the show's history.

However, fair is fair. This is what the randomizer picked and I haven't given the story an honest shot since my first viewing of it.

So is it as bad as I remember?

Yes.

It really is that bad.

Granted there are moments in the story that are entertaining, but these are few and far between and don't do enough to save the serial.

The first and foremost problem is that the story suddenly turns the Doctor into a racist!

These are Androgums. They're an enslaved race, born into servitude because they are deemed to be "less intelligent" then more "civilized" races.

The main villain has been experimented on by a mad scientist, used as a sentient lab rat, and has gained genius intellect and knowledge through her forced upon mutations.

She uses her brains to manipulate people, framing the time lords for crimes they, lets be honest, would have committed themselves anyways, and kidnaps the doctor to force him to teach her time travel so that she may free her people and conquer those that had enslaved her.

You would have thought that the Doctor would be at least sympathetic to her motives, if not her methods, but no!

The Doctor constantly repeats through out the story that Androgums are inherently evil. That it's "in their nature" to destroy everything. That they can never become better people no matter what, and constantly dismisses their plight.

Worse, the story goes on to prove this outlook as correct when the Doctor is forced to become an Androgum himself through genetic experimentation and briefly becomes "evil."

Like why the fuck would you write that into your story!?

Did you not stop to think at all that this might not be the best way to write your hero, nor the most appropriate message to put forth in your narrative?

Then again, this is the written by the same man who wrote The Talons of Weng-Chiang because he unironically loved Fu Manchu movies.

I don't place Robert Homes on any kind of pedestal unlike the rest of fandom and bullshit like this story is why.

Oh but there's more offenses to find here.

See, Homes is not only racist, he's also that smug fake leftist that pretends he's better than you because he doesn't eat meat.

His preachy, holier than thou, anti-meat arguments have popped up a couple of times on the show, but here is where it's at it's most overbearing and obnoxious.

See, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to adopt a vegetarian/vegan diet... from religious beliefs, to health and safety concerns in commercial processing, to personal dietary needs... but Homes never makes this argument.

No Homes believes that people who eat meat are no better then murdering cannibals!

Man what I wouldn't pay to see Robert Holmes in a debate with the current writers of the Poison Ivy comics.

But to add injury to insult, Holmes then decides that the Doctor and Peri must become vegans like him at the end of the story.... You know the two characters who are not his creations and have no previously established reasons to adopt his personal belief systems.

Peri has since been retconed into having always been a vegetarian in the expanded universe, and that works okay as there's nothing in previous episodes to contradict it. It also nicely ties into her being revealed as a botanist in the next story.

But the Doctor not only has never held this practice before, the story makes a point to establish that he does enjoy eating meat and has him fishing for fun at the beginning.

So this is essentially the writer forcing his personal beliefs on to the main hero of a long established running series that he himself has only been a part of for a brief amount of time.

Trying to morph a character that isn't yours into just another version of yourself, ignoring anything that came before to do so, is bad writing. Plain and simple.

It's not only disrespectful to the character and their creator, it's also just flat out boring.

If you can't write anyone but yourself and can't present anyone else's view other than your own, then why the fuck are you even writing to begin with?

This a personal pet peeve of mine in professional media, writing characters that aren't yours out of character cause of ego, and I truly think it's a waste of everyone's time.

What else...

Oh the pacing is poor, the direction is flat, and I truly despise the scene where Oscar dies with the passion of a thousand suns!!!

It is the most tone deaf, poorly directed, poorly acted, poorly written scene in the entire story with perhaps the stupidest dialogue in the entirety of the classic era.

I hate it!

At least we can only go up from here.

[greatbigbellies]

2023 PREGNANCY KINK ADVENT CALENDAR (DAY 4)

Esoteric Eats: McPreggo, Enjoyable Fast Food Fare That Kicks More Than You’d Expect!

Author: Veronica Greene

With a name like “McPreggo”, you’re probably greeted by a lot of questions. What do they even serve? How good are their lawyers that they can get away with a name like that? Why is it spelled with two G’s when the sauce brand only uses one?  While I can’t answer all of these questions, things will start to make more sense once I explain both the food, and this restaurant’s gimmick.

You see, much like the chain fast food restaurant that this place borrows its prefix from, McPreggo is a burger joint, serving a wide line of burgers, fries, breaded chicken items, and other side items. The wait between order placement and food delivery is very short, and everything is fairly uniform from one visit to the next. “So what?” I hear you saying, “It’s McDonald’s with a weird name?” and that, my dear reader, is where you’re wrong. McPreggo’s selling point, and the reason the place was so packed when I ordered my food for review, was that each entree item induces a sort of “quantum-phantom pregnancy”, and each side item, dessert, and special soft drink causes different effects on the pregnancy in question. The pregnancy persists for 6 hours on average, though they do have items (such as the mozzarella sticks, which I saw being eaten in abundance) to further extend the duration of an active McPreggo pregnancy. They also include a sauce that increases the duration further by a random amount, giving the experience an air of spontaneity if desired. These items can be eaten in abundance for a pregnancy carrying multiples, though they also include entrees that will take you up to triplets with a single sandwich. The whole experience really caters to embracing all of the struggles that come with pregnancy, with items that increase belly size in different dimensions, brightens stretchmarks, and even increases the activeness of the quantum babies inside. That said, if you ever overextend and bite off more than you can chew, some of their dessert items are great for pulling back the intensity. Items which I’m sure any parent-to-be wished worked on non-quantum pregnancies.

Once again, I know what you’re thinking. “Quantum-phantom pregnancy? Did they lace this lady’s burger with something hallucinogenic?” to which I say no. This stuff WORKS, and it’s one-to-one with the real thing. While it doesn’t usually come up, because this is a food review publication and the food critic’s personal life is typically irrelevant, I actually have two kids. A pair of twins, in fact. The relevance of this is simple: I’ve been pregnant before, the old fashioned way, which means I know what it feels like. So when I placed my order, spying everyone from the customers to the employees sporting (some excessively) round baby bumps, I almost scoffed a little. There was no way some little quantum science sandwich could simulate what it was actually like to carry life in your womb.

Sitting here, drafting this article with voice dictation software because my belly has grown so large I cannot comfortably reach my desktop keyboard, I am a humbled woman. I was so, so wrong.

The unfortunate fact of the matter is, their menu is well beyond what I could eat in a single sitting, which is why this review is going to focus on some of the major lunch items, some of the more outlandish side items, and wrap up with a milkshake. They have a full breakfast menu, as well as a list of sodas which are hand-mixed in house, and a myriad of sauces with their own effects. If this review gets enough attention, I’d be happy to dive back in for a part two, revisiting McPreggo for the other items. Until then though, lets get to the food.

My first item was aptly named “The Twinner”, a simple double stack cheeseburger with your standard fixings. I figured since I’d been pregnant with twins before, I’d skip the singleton and go right to what I’m familiar with. I must say, the burger was delightful. While by no means the most innovative thing taste wise, it doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel to be good. The meat patties were grilled to perfection and the vegetables gave it a lovely crunch! While the place is marketed to be along the lines of a speed-first fast food place, the quality of the food reminds me more of a small town, family owned diner. Just genuinely tasty, and fills you up!

And boy, does this thing fill you up. Nothing happened until I finished my burger completely. There was just enough of a delay that I had a moment where I thought I’d been duped. Like all the bumps there were fake and it was some elaborate prank… Then I felt something shift inside me, deep in my gut, and I started to fill out. The experience was… disarmingly non-invasive. It didn’t hurt, I wouldn’t event call it “uncomfortable”, beyond of course the discomfort of the end result. I pulled my blouse up and watched my belly expand right before my eyes, placing a hand on it to feel my palm fill with my own taught midriff. I wasn’t timing it, but I’d say once the process started it took about 45 seconds. The growth is wild, you would expect it to hurt, like something would bruise or tear, but no, you just… feel yourself growing bigger.

And then they kicked, and I found myself remembering a time not so long ago, wearing maternity overalls which barely wrapped around me, painting the walls of my kid’s room while they excitedly jostled around inside me. Take it from an experienced mom-to-be, the sensation is exactly like the real deal. It’s jarring how real it felt, and feeling it like I was full term again, no 9 month buildup, just BAM, PREGNANT, after a single burger, was insane!

With my doubts disproven, I moved on to the other entree item I intended to eat for the review, “The Labor Inducer”. This was a spicy chicken sandwich which promised to add one baby to my womb, and induce regular braxton hicks contractions. I knew going into this review I had to try this one, just to gauge the realism of it, and to tell you, the reader, just how intense it gets. That’s why I’m here, to jump into the deep end so you don’t have to!

I will say, much like the twinner burger before, I have no complaints about the quality of the food. The chicken was warm and tender, the breading had good flavor, and the pepper sauce did pack more heat then I anticipated. It takes a few bites to hit, lulling you into a false sense of security before it ramps up. I have a decent spice tolerance, and it was pretty heated for me, so those with less resistance to heat should be reasonably wary.

The process repeated, with my belly growing further out, filling with a third, just as big as the other two. The size of the quantum babies each feels like the size of a healthy singleton, so know that they ramp up FAST when going for multiples. As for the braxton hicks, they also felt quite real. I recall the ones I dealt with when pregnant with my own kids being a bit more intense, but even these were strong. I’m not sure why anyone would intentionally give themselves contractions, because they did indeed hurt like you wouldn’t believe, but if you want realism, it’s there.

While there remained a lot from the lunch and even the breakfast menu that I’d yet to eat, many of the other items simply ramped up the multiples. There were of course others, which included random numbers of additional babies, and even included some pregnancy-specific medical conditions for customers to experience (I’ll admit I had to google “polyhydramnios”). As mentioned before, those will have to be for another review. What I wanted to delve into was the sides, which promised everything from reshaping my belly to increasing the strength of certain pregnancy-based side effects. I started with the pickle chips, which I knew I’d enjoy since I’m a sucker for salty snack foods. They claimed to enhance the strength of pregnancy cravings, and generally make things taste better.

If any of my readers ever considers trying McPreggo, do yourself a favor, and have an appetizer of these chips. Even if you don’t like pickles, they’re worth it. The already tasty line up becomes sublime once you have active cravings for it. I know full well this is a marketing tactic, to get you to waddle in and buy more food, but when the food in question is so good, I’ll allow it. The chips themselves were crisp and had a nice crunch to them, and the salt content was on par with a good potato chip. Once the cravings hit, I moved to the fries. 

These were marketed as making a belly longer, creating a “torpedo belly” shape. I downed them quickly, (they were very, very good. Lightly seasoned with something I couldn’t place because I demolished them too fast), and while I couldn’t quite tell at first if they had worked, the sensation of the front of my now triplet heavy belly nudging the table I sat at, when I myself hadn’t moved an inch, was proof enough. At this point, I was starting to feel heavy and sluggish, and started to slow down a bit. I’d eaten two sandwiches and two large sides, and was now carrying multiples on top of it all, so I was feeling quite stuffed. Still, I had two more items I wanted to try. The spicy nuggets touted themselves as increasing movement of the quantum babies, making them more active. A claim that before eating anything I doubted, but now was fully willing to believe. After eating the six nuggets, which did pack some heat though nowhere near as much as the labor inducer, the once mostly dormant babies inside of me began to stir. It was slow at first, but once one was moving, all three were kicking and shifting like crazy. I once again was reminded of those sleepless nights, trying to get comfortable with rowdy twins in me, but now, there was a third. I only had one 6 piece order and felt a difference, so I can’t imagine how intense it would be if someone had 12 or even 18.

To wrap up the review, I had a large “Maternal Marionberry” milkshake waiting for me. It’d been out for the duration of my meal so I expected it to be a little softer after having melted some. I was surprised that it was still quite thick, and I had to work to get it through the straw. The marionberry flavor was really on-point, very fruity, very smooth. The shake claimed it’d widen my hips and give me the “pregnancy glow”, and while I’m not sure how you measure the “pregnancy glow”, the hips are definitely wider. Not only did they feel bigger, but once I cumbersomely hefted myself from my chair and waddled over to the mirror, I could visually tell they had changed. I did a slow, awkward 360 view around the mirror and I had to admit, it was crazy feeling pregnant again. I looked and FELT the part, and had to give credit where it was due, those cooks at McPreggo made the experience a tasty one.

So to summarize, McPreggo food is very good on its own, but the gimmick really sets it apart. The effects onset quickly and are painless, but they really do what they say on the package, so don’t underestimate them. I still have about 4 hours left of my quantum pregnancy as I’m writing the first draft of this review, and given how hard it’ll be to reach my keyboard to make edits as I am, I’m going to take some time to enjoy this. Overall, if you wanna sample pregnancy, easy 10/10. And if you’re just there for the food, definitely 8/10, but stick to the sides, or you’re in for a heavy surprise when you finish that burger.

[shummashum]

Zeus Brundle Happy Ending [17~21]

She decided to leave the final stop of this tour entirely up to him. So the place they went was…

oh… the library? it looks so gloomy and dreary and dismal put some proper lighting on it, it's okay if the place doesn't live up to its name so please…

well… it's kinda impressive though

Accidentally stumbling upon a book she had wanted to read for a long time, she grabbed it up and sat down at a nearby desk.

what do you think is the reason for the existence of library…… you know what a library is, right? you're just joking, right?

I bet he's going to use his textbook as a trivet

how can she get it back if he steals the book like that completely behind in reach guess he's about 186~188cm tall? he'd have long arms then she has no choice but to lose the book :/

woah stop what are you doing now in this sacred space of learning do that somewhere outside!! don't in the library behave fucking behave

okay what can I do, anyway what can I do but groan in pain through the screen just don't get caught please……

okay! I think a kiss is okay it would be okay if they don't go beyond that please I beg you I don't like public stuff,,,,,,,,

this guy is a glass canon… right? his attack stats is indeed high, but his defense stats is noticablely low we should take advantage of that he tends to be weak in unexpected situations… so the answer is a kiss in return break his guard down!!

ha you can handle it? you just say that but I doubt you actually have any experience, my instincts tell me so

well, whatever! if you once start, show me the end hang on a second, I'll get some movie glasses and some popcorn…

huh wait what wait!! what's that hairstyle what!! why did my twin-tail bishoujo become two-side-up this is not good

what what are you doing now in this sacred space of learning just do that kind of stuff in the dorm… do you guys really have to do the deed here? in a place where there is no bed, no sofa, and only a hard wooden chair and desk? in a public place?? is this how all Gen Z live these days……

that's right!! that mindset go counter attack go

oh… she really did it

I got the feeling they'll compete with each other to take the lead when the time comes a competition to see who can send the other person to climax first huh lewd

zako ww so bad at defense www he is definitely a glass canon creak!!

they say that if you think someone is cute, it's game over if you think someone is cool, that impression can be broken at any time; but if you think someone is cute, they look cute no matter what they do

trailer bgm on I really like it when they play this song in the ending scene, it sure makes emotion heightened…

wa!! happy ending!!

So the Zeus route, which started on Dec 11th, was finished on Jan 25th. I'll just overlook that the upload date is the 26th

Review

It was fairly fun! Solmare must have prepared a lot during the cataclysm. The amount of content has increased significantly compared to the previous season… It's a good thing that there are many delicious things to eat.

The biggest difference from the previous season is: regular characters with unique personalities showed themselves. In previous seasons, only the characters from each season received screen time, and the rest took a backseat. But now S6 comrades (Z H A C L) continue to appear in the story and build a bond with Liz. Then there will be no such thing as a kinda unrealistic story like "I revealed my dark backstory to someone I met less than two weeks ago and I was saved by them." Moreover from the player's perspective, there is a much higher chance of feeling attached to the characters. It kills two birds with one stone!

This Zeus guy doesn't have any special backstory, but therefore, his route was able to provide a solid foundation for outlining a preliminary explanation of how the story will flow in future seasons, introducing the personalities and settings of S6 comrades. As I said before, it felt like a pilot episode… but in a good way. Given the cataclysmic event, it was essential to provide an explanation of the unfolding events, and I believe Solmare did a good job of using his route. There were a few scenes that made me wonder why they existed, but overall it was a very enjoyable story! Quite delicious.

About the character Zeus… self-centered, childish, overconfident, impatient, hot-tempered, and reckless dumbass, but unhateable! like that. I like this kind of goofy and idiotic guy. I already had a high affinity for this character just by glancing at him a few times on Tumblr before reading the story. Honestly I didn't give him a good evaluation in the first two chapters because… it's obvious. I even slightly lost hope in some of his "behavior used for a certain purpose" and that kind of behavior in Ch5. But! A lot of extra points were added in his creaking scene at the end of Ch8. I like a glass canon. Still, I think he would be better as a goofygoofy vibe side character rather than as a love interest… I'm looking forward to the stupid things he does in the later routes!

Trivia

It takes longer to read one character's story than I thought… considering there was a gap of about a week in between, roughly 6 weeks. not short. I can write one post a day because it's vacation now, but once the semester starts, I can't guarantee that I'll be able to maintain that frequency…? Well I'll think about it later, anyway my goal is to play all Season 7 routes within this year.

Aaaannd, I'll start Klaus' route in February. His birthday is Jan 26th, so I was originally going to start on that day, but writing this took up more of my mental energy than I thought, so I decided to take a little break this month.

btw when can I see his normal ending and unhappy ending, there are too many routes to observe and I don't have time to look at the one I've already seen erm.......... time to use youtube power again I guess

[beyoncesdancers]

My (Review? lmao) Thoughts about The RENAISSANCE World Tour That No One Asked For

BITCH I WAS NOT OMFGGGGG

I am SO glad I stayed away from clips of the show (for the most part lol) truly made the experience extremely special. like this is really my GOAT. THEE GOAT. And I got to witness her live and in person for a second time. I'm sooooo grateful and hopefully I'll have another opprotunity.

BUT WE ALREADY KNOW SHE'S THAT GWORL SO IMMA FOCUS ON THE DANCERS!

Amari Marshall is a fucking STAR. That's all I could think whenever I saw her. Stage presense on 100000. She's impactful.

Les Twins were utilized very well! I haven't seen them dance much since i hung up my fangirl cape, lol, but their dancing felt soooo familiar and I really enjoyed them 🥰

DANCE CAPTAIN HANNAH DLAINE! Y'all like to try my girl, but I loved everything she was doing on that stage. She may look diferent next to other dancers, but those lines, technique, elegance, that CLEAN look makes her great and Bey's fave 🤭

Simone showed up and showed out for her hometown! Definitely took notice of that. Ai, Alannah, and Brianna really held it down like the OGs they are. Kyndall may be the baby on tour, but she definitely rises to the occasion! love ha. Trinity is so radiant! Truly. This is her first big gig and she's definitely not taking it for granted. a PROFESSIONAL. Lisa, Nerita, ans Aakilah are all sooooo STUNNING? Truly shook looking at the three of them. Ms. Aliyah Janell doeeeeees thiiiiiiiiis lmao she was eating it up!

The boys, Rob, Zavion, Jus, Konkrete held it dooooown. They were utiilzed so well, especially in comparison to the boys on OTR2, no shade chile 🙃

Darius is also VERY STUNNING. FACE. CARD. and he can dance his ass off some ppl really have it all 😌. I loooved watching Carlos lmao idk what is was but i always found him whenever he was on stage 💕💕💕 And Jonté! Male Beyoncé himself! an undeniable talent.

and a special shoutout to Cha Cha Balenciaga! ate that ball right on up!

BLUE IVY THEE CARTER. That is all.

As for the choreography, I love the direction Fatima took it in. I know there's been criticism over how much Bey is dancing, but I think its the perfect balance of dance and vocals. I don't feel like I'm missing anything. the choreo matches the vibe of the album, of the era perfectly.

MOVE is my fave choreo at the moment, but now that I can watch clips lmao, that might change! I just cant get that Move Your Body Girl/Free Mind mashup out of my head 😌

This was just me writing down my thoughts so I’ll always be able to go back and reminisce on how I felt. If you read this whole thing, just know...

I love you deep deep deep deep 🥰🥰🥰

[ashmp3]

no jeonghan pic SORRY. serious business time:

okay so i'm gonna write about DIVA for my music newsletter this week (i will send you the link when it's posted on sunday). but you said you'd translate some lyrics for me?? you can pick whichever parts/songs you would like. i am curious about the lyrics to Muškarac koji mrzi žene though. That song has like EVERYTHING in it I'm so fascinated with it. just kidding here is jeonghan :)

Okay OKAY i cannot wait for your review it’s always fun to me to read people’s thought on music & maybe the translations will play a part too… i am putting everything under read more because i know myself and i have lots to say 😌

First of all GREAT choice great song great taste! The title means “women-hating man” or “man that hates women”, you get the point. The start of the song is very ominous and it’s about a woman that has been assaulted (“she came across a wrong guy and since then she has lots of phobias and goes to shrink, but she is not cured”). The song is very vengeful and disturbing and talks how after meeting her he will become a man that hates all women. Favorite parts: “go ahead, i will be your final punishment, i love destroying your life more than orgasming”, “It’s better for you to be in a grave, than to be my slave” .

My favorite tracks are Krimi rad, Muškarac koji mrzi žene, Sodoma i gomora and So.

Krimi rad - What really makes this song is the rapper Teča saying most out of the pocket lines. The song is about mobs and criminal. Favorite Teča line that makes me laugh “When Teča Gambino arrives, cappuccino awaits him / the heart of lion, the balls of Al Paccino”. And personally i use this one for Mingyu “When rapper is fucking you, diamonds are flying” i just know he would eat that shit up.

Sodoma i gomora - You guessed it, sodoma and gomorrah. The song starts with a chant “Nose to nose, women with women, men with me, whores with whores, young girls with old men”. And then a funky rhythm. First line is “Here virgins don’t care about chastity” and the ending line is “We are both in hell together”. It’s the most fun song to dance to in a club from my personal experience, especially if ur faded and you feel like you are indeed in sodom and gomorrah.

So - So means salt btw. She says “there is only salt on my body, but to you this salt is sweet” I love the chorus of this one because he is literally just saying “You are insanely beautiful” (he Literally says you are as beautiful as God). You guessed it i use this song for Jeonghan a lot… sue me?

Mikrofon - She talks how she is holding a microphone and is imagining it’s Him (his…?). LMFAO horny song she started of with that…

Also side note but she has a song Casino where she says “Make me a son, underneath the casino lights”and what can i say… women fertile as fuck. I also yeah… Use this one SUE ME.

and last but certainly not least…. Jeonghan is my cutie patootie i don’t see a difference between him and miss my melody truly long lost twins 💘

[world-cinema-research]

Week 5: A.I Artificial Intelligence-Yanissa Agbigay

For this week’s film I chose A.I Artificial Intelligence. This film captures a robotic boy that is adopted as a test case by a Cybertronics employee and his wife. David (the robot) was programmed to love and is seen as part of the family. In his journey, he tries to be real like us humans and seeks to find a middle ground between humans and machines. The main message of this movie is for him to be able to be seen and loved as not just a robot but as their real son. Essentially, Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines.

The movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence was released in the year 2001. This film was directed by Steven Spielberg, with a costing budget of $90 to $100 million and a box office of $235.9 million. This film is said to be one of Spielberg’s most expensive films that had three different releases. These were done domestically ($78,616,689), Internationally ($157,309,863), and worldwide ($235,926,552). All a success for Spielberg and the cast.

Also, though Spielberg is the director of the 2001 film, the production began with Stanley Kubrick in 1983. It was actually Kubricks Idea for Spielberg to direct the 2001 film. The two met when Spielberg was in England making Raiders of the Lost Ark. Although Kubrick loved the idea of A.I, he abandoned the film for quite some time because, of the lack of technology and how it would play into the movie. When Spielberg came out with Jurassic Park, Kubrick felt hopeful of him to create this movie and direct it how he really envisioned it to be.

Within the same year, on September 01, 2001, Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger planes in the United States. Two planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both towers to collapse. A third plane crashed into the Pentagon, just outside Washington, DC. The collision caused a massive explosion that showered burning debris over surrounding buildings and onto the streets below. It immediately became clear that America was under attack.

https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks#world-trade-center

OPEC members decide to cut oil production quotas by an additional one million barrels per day. Secretary Abraham calls the decision "disappointing." OPEC's goal is to keep the price of a basket of crudes between $22 and $28 per barrel, fears production increases and passes in 2000 will lead to a glut of oil as world economic growth slows in 2001, reducing demand for crude.

I found these two quotes from the movie interesting, which is why I had to include them in this essay. The first one says “Human beings have created a million explanations of the meaning of life... in art, in poetry, and mathematical formulas.” I chose this one quote because I found it beautiful because it is true, that though we may not have the same beliefs or experiences we all share some sort of art though it be through music or many other forms of art.

David: What's for dinner tonight? Monica: You know you don't eat. David: Yes. But I like sitting at the table.” I also used this conversation between the two characters because I found it laughable and also very wholesome because David (the robot) is trying to fit in and find a way to be a real person and son to his so called parents.

Overall from what I have read, there are more positive reviews on the movie. Some say they were emotionally touched after watching and that Spielberg did a great job where viewers felt the love and emotion from each character. I’d say this movie is definitely one that is more pricey but it is a movie that is and will continue to have many viewers who enjoy watching and will recommend to other people.

[especialrentals]

Stay in Paris: Insider Secrets to Book Luxury Apartments

Ah, Paris! The city of love, romance, and charming cobblestone streets. Staying in France can be a delightful experience, especially when renting an apartment to explore the city like a local.

But it is important to know the ins and outs. In this blog, we will share some insider secrets for booking luxury apartments in Paris and making your stay as pleasant as the Seine at sunset.

Apartment Size Matters in Paris

Parisian apartments often prioritize charm over square footage. So prepare yourselves for a cosy vacation with many aesthetics and limited space.

While most Airbnb listings do not explicitly state the apartment size, you can ask the host. For example, Especial Rentals is a super host at Airbnb and also runs a property management company offering travelers luxury apartments.

We offer exclusive services under our luxury umbrella; space should not be a problem.

In other words, communicate the reason for your travel and how many people will accompany you and will suggest the best match for you.

One with ample space and sunlight!

Count Rooms, Not Bedrooms

In France, the property descriptions are based on the total number of rooms, not bedrooms, bathrooms, or living rooms.

For example, an apartment with 2 rooms means 1 bedroom and 1 living room. Similarly, a vacation rental in Paris with 2 rooms and 2 beds means 1 bedroom with a double bed and a living room with a sofa cum bed.

Hence, read the descriptions carefully.

Bed Sizes in Paris Apartments

Holiday rentals in Paris mainly have queen-size beds instead of king-size ones. In the city of love, the dimensions of a double bed generally are 160 x 190 cm (63 in × 74 in), while in America, they are 160 x 200 cm (63 in × 79 in). The twin beds measure approximately 140 x 190 cm. 

If a bed size matters to you, connect with the host before booking. If you wish to book with Especial Rentals, our 24/7 customer service will help you with all the details.

Once you have all the details, you can book your next home away from home and be on the flight to Paris!

Air Conditioners in Paris

Pari is trying to be environmentally friendly and does not have many air conditioners. Additionally, it can lead to higher rental prices. But the best thing is that Paris does not see much summer, allowing people to be comfortable even without the ACs. 

However, if you need an air conditioner in your room, check in with the host. Especial Rentals offers many exclusive services as part of their luxury holiday home bookings. Contact us today to know if we have an air-conditioned flat for you.

Location in Paris Matters

Do you want to wake up to a view of the Eiffel Tower, stay tucked away in the Montmartre, or have an entirely different location in mind? Where you want your apartment to be matters because that is the crux of your holiday.

Hanging around on the balcony, looking over the view and the Parisian lifestyle while having your morning tea/coffee, is the best way to feel like a main character in a movie. Why not use it to your advantage and be picky about where you want to live?

Property descriptions on Especial Rentals come with area descriptions. We are transparent about the apartment’s location, the nearby famous spots, places to eat/ shop and more. Feel free to stalk us until you find something you like, or get in touch, and our customer executive will help you find your next holiday home in Paris.

Read Reviews and Research about the Host

It is important to ensure your own safety before depending on someone else. So before contacting the host, read what other people say about the property and its host.

Additionally, many hosts are listed on Airbnb as superhosts. These are the ones you should generally strike a booking with. Especial Rentals is also an Airbnb SuperHost, trying to make travel accessible for all.

Check Amenities

When we book a holiday rental, we expect a well-furnished apartment that will see to our comfort. Before finalizing the deal, check for all the property has to offer regarding amenities. 

For example, do they have toiletries, hot water, stacked kitchen, quilts, etc.?

Especial Rentals has a detailed list of amenities available in 150+ Paris rentals, each listed with their descriptions on our website. 

If you book our luxury Paris apartments for your holiday, you will also find a caretaker living close to the property to see to your every need. Want to know more? Reach out!

When in Paris, Pack Lightly

Parisian lifestyle is famous for its fashion, charm, and chic atmosphere. Pack the basics and leave room for souvenirs, new clothes, and other exciting things you might find there. 

Immerse yourself in the French lifestyle and all that it has to offer - metaphorically and materialistically. 

Are You Ready to Book with Especial Rentals?

Paris is a city of love. You do not need hassle when you are there because there is so much to do. Especial Rentals will handle all your bookings while you bask in the romantic paradise. Get in touch with us today and plan your holiday! After all, it’s free to explore our services.

[percontaion-points]

Heartless chapters 23 & 24

Today's review might be difficult for some; reader discretion is advised

Click to see the rest of the snark & image descriptions

Click here for the rest of the series!

Chapter 23

But instead, it was Cyril Long, my grandfather’s enforcer, standing at the open door of an SUV.

Chapter 23 summary: Trey forces Vail to shift, so she does. And then the first thing she does is to attack Trey while he’s still in his human form. But seeing the scratches she made on Trey’s back brings back memories of how hurt Jasper is, and she pulls back a little. 

She then goes on the hunt and kills… something. It’s not important. She’s literally a wildcat; IDK what anybody is expecting. Trey is there, waiting to finish eating what she cannot. 

And for all of this book talking about how the animal and the human are a little like this Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde… But it’s honestly not like that in Vail’s POV. (Worth noting that we’ve never actually seen Reed’s or Jasper’s POV when they were actually wolves. Only talking about their wolves as if they were this other self living inside of them. It’s not like that with Vail at all.)

After having eaten her fill, Vail then somehow ends up in this super fancy, rich house full of animal trophy heads on the walls. She then attacks Trey again, but he moves at the last second so instead of hurting him, she “mates” with him. Which is beyond a shit move… And I question the validity of it all, seeing as how it wasn’t her intention to do so. 

Vail then transforms back, and tries to sneak out, but she’s naked. There’s this girl there, who Vail thinks might be the owner coming away to ski. However, the woman identifies herself as another werepanther, and gives Vail some clothes. She talks some about the history of the Barakat family… Which the clue was in the fucking name. They’re cats, who would live in burrows. She says that unlike the wolves and their worship of the moon, the cats are more about the winds. Vail thinks that it’s fitting, because there’s now nothing but dust between her and Trey right now. 

The woman goes on to introduce herself as Ada Barakat, Trey’s twin sister. She grew up in wealth and luxury with her mum, vs Trey wanting to move to the Horn to be closer to Vail when he was 8. 

Vail is desperate to get back to her actual mate, so she makes her excuses and leaves. But Cyril is waiting for her outside. 

Chapter 24

“I have an arrangement with Ada. Any wolves who find themselves in her territory, she lets me know.” I must have looked surprised, because he said, “This is her land. In the panther world, all property is held in the female’s name. The males tend to be the roamers, so it makes sense for the females to have a secure base.”

This somehow makes Trey’s insistence on becoming Vail’s mate that much worse. Because it seems as though this is a matriarchal society (aka one ruled by women). 

Like get the fuck out of here with this psudo macho posturing and acting like you own everything. You apparently don’t even own a proper house to take care of her. In fact, Vail is supposed to be the one to do all of the taking care of!

But his warning did the exact opposite for me. The talk of experiments, of the descriptions of my grandfather’s ruthlessness, put a painful knot in my belly. But why did he have to show me the lab to drive the point home? Couldn’t he have just come out and said this during the proof of life at the academy?

The meeting that all of the different wolf clans used as a political power play? Hell fucking no. 

“Of course, it is,” I muttered, and slamming the door shut, turned and walked towards the Clan Caves.

Chapter 24 summary: Vail obviously wants nothing to do with Cyril, but Ada tells her that it’s Cyril or Trey. She picks the scary dude who supposedly works for her grandfather. In the car, he tells her that he has an agreement with Ada to pick up “any lost wolves”. He gives her supplies to help her put herself together, including mouthwash and a comb; this ain’t his first rodeo, apparently. 

However, instead of taking her “anywhere you want to go”, he instead drives basically into the bush and shows her another wolf lab. He tells her that it belongs to her grandfather, and that she’d be wise to keep her head down and stay the fuck away from anything to do with the asshole. Vail obviously reads him loud and clear. The kind of people who use the labs are not the kind of people she wants to associate with. 

Vail knows that she could go literally anywhere at this point. But she needs to be with Jasper. Because despite having accidentally become the “queen of the panthers” last night, her actual mate is Jasper. 

[justfinishedreading]

A Bride’s Story, volume 5 by Kaoru Mori

Warning: Some Spoilers

In this volume we get a wonderful look into what a wedding in historical Central Asian would be like: the preparations, the food, the dancing and the different traditions experienced by the brides vs the grooms. However the heart of the story is Sami and Sarm’s (the grooms, brothers) patience and compassion for Leily and Laila (their brides, twins), sneaking them food and trying to console them as traditionally a bride would sit for hours with her head and body covered by a cloth, waiting for the Imam to arrive to perform the ceremony, in the meantime the rest of the guests (and the groom) celebrate by eating generous amount of amazing food, and by dancing.

After their big day Leily and Laila get depressed at their new home, not because of mistreatment but because the reality of leaving their home has only just hit them, Sami and Sarm try to cheer them up as best they can. But will these two marriages work? Leily and Laila are so wild and impulsive, and Sami and Sarm are calmer and gloomy. When Sami and Sarm get their wedding present from their father, (two fishing boats), the young men come alive with excitement and Leily and Laila mirror their excitement when they join them in fishing and realizes they can catch more fish than before and earn more money. All four of them are energetic, hardworking fishers, in their lives they will work together, the women will bring life and cheer to the men’s gloomy souls, and the men will bring calm and order to the twins.

The one of the last stories returns focus to Amir and Karluk, Amir finds a wounded trained hunting hawk, and looks after it while it’s wing heals, unfortunately the wing takes too long to heal and is warped, the bird cannot fly, although it greatly pains Amir she says it must be put down, Karluk shows great compassion and concern for Amir’s feelings and suggest keeping it as a pet, Amir replies

“Flying is a bird’s life. And to make it a pet, never to fly again, being fed by hand... even if it were still alive like that, it wouldn’t be living. No, that would never do. Before even considering that… it would be better to leave it here on the plains for the other animals to eat.”

It’s a very ableist attitude to take, an animal’s main drive is to survive, can we know for sure that if it was presented with the choice of being fed by humans and having to walk on the ground, never able to fly, or the choice to die, it would pick death? Add to that an attitude of human superiority, it is fine to keep a hawk as a trained hunting animal to assist its human owner, but it is not ok for a human to look after the hawk as it’s carer.

I don’t know the nature of hawks, having no experience handling birds of prey, perhaps Amir is right and their personality doesn’t allow them to be looked after, they are solitary hunters, not like more social animals that can learn to derive pleasure from constant human company, I tried to do a little research and one website wrote “domestication and captivity go against their nature.” Perhaps if we had seen a trial of keeping it as a pet and see how it adapted that would help the reader understand the correct thing to do, if it refused to eat, become lethargic (basically depressed) or aggressive and overly anxious, that could indicate that it couldn’t go on in this state.

However as a reader you have to be aware of two messages being convey, on hand this is a simple short story about a hawk that can’t fly and the right thing to do for the animal is to put it down, on the other hand: symbolism, it’s a story that conveys a general ableist attitude towards what is considered truly “living” and what kind of a life is “worth” living. As you can tell it was a story that left me with questions.

Review by Book Hamster

[azuisreading]

Ashley & Tyrell by Allison Wells

When Ashley Gloss hears his voice for the first time in ten years, all those old feelings come rushing back. Tyrell Harris was the love of her life until her parents and their snobbery broke them apart. A decade older, Ashley decides she won’t let them dictate her life anymore – but when she discovers that Tyrell comes as a package deal with twin daughters, is it more than she bargained for? In his youth, Tyrell allowed Ashley's parents to come between them, but now he's a decade older and wiser and he's not about to let them come between him and the love of his life again. Except, now he's got two little girls to think about - as well as their unstable mother. Can he stand up for what he truly wants?

Review

As the due date started to close in, I stopped believing I will receive an Allison Wells' review copy, but it arrived earlier in the month and I loved it! So, I'm doing its deserving review.

If you're looking for a short, lovely, wholesome, romantic story between two extraordinary characters, this is your book. Ashley isn't your average rich girl, and Tyrell is… a great man, a dream man. He is what all of us should be looking for in a partner. And what all of us should be, too.

Their story goes along their whole lives, even when they were apart, and here is true what they say about everything going worse before it gets better. But the things that are key to overcoming it… they do that. They stay together, and communicate, and prioritize. That's something that makes me like it even more.

The short this book is was a surprise, but every important detail is shown. The chapters are also short, and go back and forth between the two, which turns the experience in marvelous. You can make it last or eat it all up in an afternoon, but I suggest you… make it last 😉 It will taste better at the end.

Phrases that I liked so much that I marked them while reading

«I felt awkward, but I wanted to be friendly. No, what I wanted to do was grab her by the hand, pull her into an empty room, and kiss her. But I couldn’t do that at a preschool with my children only a few steps away, so I made uncomfortable conversation instead.» — Chapter 2.

«“Love is for the birds.” “That’s why they’re called lovebirds.”» — Chapter 2.

«“Why am I doing this, Trainer?” My cat, in all her infinite wisdom, did not reply.» — Chapter 3.

«Not to be arrogant, but I thought I looked good.» — Chapter 4.

«And once again, I wondered if I was worth losing everything for. I knew I wasn’t. That’s why I had walked away before. There was no way I would ever be good enough.» — Chapter 10.