#a good use of my time of courae

[b1adie]

Lt. Yanqing chokes on vape

[waywardpersonapaper]

Trust - Pedri

A/N : where pedri wants to start dating but the girl he like y/n is not looking to date anyone after her ex cheated on. Can pedri change y/n mind ?

…….……………………………………………………………

Y/N POV :

Today was a beautiful sunny day when I woke up in the morning I saw a good morning text from pedri. It is really sweet how pedri sends me these good morning and good night messages it always make my day ten times better

As I was doing my skincare I received a message from pedri, “hey just wanted to know that if you are free and would like to have dinner with me tonight”,

I obviously said yes because when THE pedri message’s you asking to have dinner you obviously don’t reject the offer and I anyways didn’t have anything else to do so after I had my breakfast and all I decided to pick out my outfit for the dinner……………….

FAST FORWARD TO THE THE TIME OF DINNER

I had decided on a black off-shoulder bodycon dress with some simple black heels. For my hair I decided to go for beach waves and decided to put some neutral makeup on. By the time I was finished I heard a doorbell indicating that pedri was here.

I quickly went and opened the door, as soon as I opened the door and I saw pedri giving me his infamous smile. “How are you doing precioso ?”, I felt myself smile and replied, “ I am good. How are you doing ?”. “I am fine, you ready to leave ?”. I grabbed my bag and we both left my apartment.

We both sat in his car and went to the restaurant. As we both sat at our table we started to talk about the upcoming football season, our lives, just about life in general.

In the blink of an eye we were already over dinner after he paid the bill we left the restaurant and for some reason as we were on our way back to my apartment there was some kind of tension in the air.

It just felt like he was holding back something. As I was stuck in my own thoughts I looked out the window and realised that we were now in front of my apartment.

“Thank you so much for the amazing dinner and a free car ride. Do message me once you reach your house.”, as I was getting out of the car suddenly pedri said something that I wasn’t expecting,

“I like you”, i suddenly felt my heart racing as I turned around I looked at pedri.

Pedri seemed to be very nervous as he said again, “I like you y/n. I know you were not expecting me to suddenly say this to be honest I wanted to say this over dinner but I couldn’t find the courage to. I want to start a relationship with you, I want you to be my girlfriend.”

I was shocked to say the least. “I don’t know what to say or do pedro but I just ummm you know you are an amazing guy but don’t take this the wrong way but I don’t know if I can trust you to be faithful to me. You know I am also on instagram and TikTok and I see all the girls you go out with and they are all ig models and personally I look nothing like any of those girls…”. I told him truthfully.

“Y/n you are the prettiest person I have ever seen and trust me all those girls are pure plastic and I just go out with them because I just need to pass time and please believe me when I say that I am ready to be in a committed relationship, I am ready to be in a committed relationship with you. Please y/n give me a chance I swear I will not mess this up.”

“Pedri I just need some time to think you know that because of my previous relationship i don’t know if I am ready to be in a relationship yet.”

“Y/n take all the time you want but just know that no matter what I will be here for you and your ex was a total douche bag and he didn’t deserve somebody like you.”

“Pedri I just need a little time to think though until than I don’t want you to contact me. Please I just need some space.” And with that I just left me car and entered my apartment unsure of what the future holds for me, for us.

……………………………………………

A/N

Well hello there! First of all thank you so much for reading, it means so much to me. I had written this halfway long time ago but I didn’t have the courage to publish it until today. Please do let me know if you want me to publish part 2 of this story and do like and reblog if you enjoyed this. I do want you to know that my requests are open so do feel free to give me some ideas for future writings. Once again thank you for reading. Until than have a great day\night.

[the-firebird69]

Seal - Crazy (Official Music Video) [HD]

we build not have to see it.  these psuedo at the waterones we at the land have a head start.  and we  go now do it. and then they are the top of them probably.  no the one her upside down we see it.  are on one the hugest and oh my ok.  oh my.

bja

we suck under water tons will fight.  tons of forrg and asians.  and we see they like it not good. true he says but ok macs are seals and ok lol hahaah lol

trump

Olympus

i hear hm.  we are little booys and girls. we can fight. yours do. we see. we must and take courae in it he is a baby adn is small very small.  teh giant monster downtonw pg the animatron, is mb half his hight and twenty times less size wize but he cannot grow now..not that big we see he is smart. lol.  we saw his face ohno i will horrify people. true too and he saw heard it.  and mac yelled  and told him post and we heard this.  those aredeomson we are not need us ok and we shall and to mvoe lift excavate and tons asy it need them to think too and we rooll now

JSeal aka garth and no no your not mili ahahah are but he took over

[shaky09]

Exploring the 7 Facets of ICT : Real Life Scenarios

Good day, Smart heads!

Today, we will be exploring the seven facets of ICT by providing you different real life scenarios.

We all know that ICT plays a vital role in our everyday lives especially in the way we interact with other people. It enhances our quality of life. ICT also essential in education as it supports and create an effective teaching and learning process.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's start and embark into this journey.

SOFTWARE

Whenever we are asked to have a teaching demonstration, we always use Microsoft word in making our teaching learning plan because it is easier for us to encode, create, and edit our documents there. If we also want to have quality outputs and PowerPoint presentation for our teaching demonstration, we use Canva so that it will become creative. Another example is that, for us to motivate while doing our activities and assignments, we watch our favorite movies on Netflix. And lastly, if we want to download and listen to different music while cleaning, then we can use Spotify.

HARDWARE

Whenever we have an activity or our teacher sends us files about our next topic/lesson, we print it using the printer for us to have a copy of the document/file. During the teaching and learning process, we connect the laptop to our television using the HDMI so that we can display our presentation, audios, and videos on the screen. And lastly, if we do not have enough storage, we use hard drives for us to transfer and store our files, documents, pictures, videos, and applications.

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Whenever I want to communicate with my family, friends, and relatives out there, working abroad, I always use different social media for me to share my time with them in sending and receiving information such as messenger, Instagram, Facebook, etc. Even though I cannot see them personally but with the help of those applications, I was able to bond with them and share some information. And during the pandemic, we were not able to go to school, so our instructor decided to set up a zoom meeting for us to meet and conduct classes online.

DIGITAL DATA

Whenever we are asked to make a poster slogan, instead of drawing, we can also make digital poster slogan so that we can integrate technology tools and develop our creativity. Another one is that, if the teacher wants to have an engaging teaching and learning process, they can also use Kahoot for game purposes and for them to create, share, and play quizzes.

TRANSACTIONS

Yesterday, I ordered a dress from Shein for the Paulinian Soiree, and I paid for it through G-cash. We also go to Bantay to see the apartment that my friends will be staying in, and the owner said that they need to deposit an amount of 6000 and pay 6000 every month. And one day, me and my family decided to book a trip to Boracay. Another example is when my mom told me to go to 7-eleven to pay our current bills.

CLOUD COMPUTING

When there are documents or emails that we need to send to the teacher, we always use Gmail because here, we can store and easily access our emails, contacts, etc. We can also access or log in to our Gmail account from any device and send messages with our friends. All the information will be restored and accessed on any computer.

INTERNET ACCESS

Whenever I want to search something, watch videos on TikTok, and open my social media accounts, I always connect with wifi for me to be able to open or access all of these from the internet. When I go somewhere and I don't have a load, I always open my data so that I can chat and call my friends and my family. And then, if we need to search something from the google, my classmate always hotspot my phone. When I am at home, we also use cable for us to get and access more channels.

“Technology will never replace great teachers but technology in the hands of great teachers is transformational.” – George Couras

Thank you for spending your time reading my first blog. I hope you enjoy it! ☺️

[and-but-so]

Deflated

The day began as any morning before an exam: with anxiety, feelings of unpreparedness. I sloshed some cereal into my mouth while gulping iced coffee and frantically scrolling my notes for chance nuggets of information. As prepared as I might ever feel, I slid into the car and drove out on 76 towards the suburban Jefferson campus to sit for an exam that would be immediately followed by a day-long intensive. My body tightened up as GPS took me winding down Lincoln drive, a narrow parkway with a 25 mph speed limit that sees an average of 40 mph. I managed clueless mergers, reckless speeders, and regular pedestrians walking the sidewalks of Mount Airy with their dogs. At last, I turned onto Stenton Ave escaping the dangers of the parkway when I noticed a flapping sound. Unsure if it was the souped-up Dodge Charger in the lane to my left with a loud muffler, I went another block or so. I pulled onto Willow Grove Avenue on the next turn, still in denial about the possibilities and stopped to check out my fender which, perhaps was just flapping the wind. The fender and front tire appeared normal. Then I glanced back and saw my left rear wheelrim and flaccid tire tread in touch with the ground. I groaned audibly, got in the car and looked at the GPS: 8.2 miles of suburban road to reach my destination. Test start time 9:35, current time 8:44. I could never make it on the flat. Even the sound of driving a short distance had me reeling. I pulled over in a panic on the next block, a quiet, tree-lined paradise, aptly named Pleasant Street. 

After a few seconds of figuring I remembered how, in undergrad, I was heading to a suburban clinical site with a classmate when she got a flat tire on the same stretch of road where mine probably occurred. We ended up getting a tow to a nearby auto shop where we sat and waited for a flat fix while our instructor threatened that we would have to make up the whole clinical day if we didn’t show up soon to feed the retirement village residents their rice pudding.

I looked up a Lyft and decided to book the most expensive option, a rapidly arriving $33 ride to Jefferson’s Dixon campus. I cursed, let the appropriate people know my status, and stood on the humid summer roadside with my bag awaiting my chariot. Nestor pulled up minutes later in a black Toyota. 

I got in and sighed audibly, 

“Thanks a lot for picking me up, I have a test this morning and I just got a flat tire.” ”Wow, that’s something. You know, everything happens for a reason.”

I pondered that as I sat in the car listening to the morning broadcast on 106.7 K-Love, a Christian devotional radio station. I gazed around the car, seeing his phone slanted in a horizontal orientation providing GPS instructions that read sideways. On the inside of his windshield was a decal, mostly worn off that said “B- Str--- Coura--”

At one forking intersection, Nestor asked me almost rhetorically which road he was supposed to veer right onto. I shrugged as if as the passenger I was supposed to know. We got to the nursing school satellite campus with time to spare and I thanked him again. He wished me good luck. At 4:15pm, after the dizziness and claustrophobia of my sardine-packed intensive school day settled, I got back to the car with assistance from my classmate Madeline, making panicked moves to contact State Farm the whole way there. They were not responding and their online form led me continuously into a digital brick wall. “Policy number not found”, “VIN not on file”.

I got there with the intention of just doing it myself at this point. I unloaded the hatchback full of useless junk jammed in a milkcrate to uncover the spare tire and found the only real gift of the day: my missing pair of vice grips that I had all but given up on finding. One good thing from all of this.

I gratefully used the vice grips to forcefully yank a 4cm triangle of jagged, pointed metal out of the tire’s tread.

Next, I removed the lugs and jacked up the vehicle, but when I went to unseat the wheel, it wouldn’t budge. I yanked, I pried, I lubricated the hub with motor oil, leaned on it, spun it, kicked it. I dripped sweat onto my shorts, my shoes, my eyes as I awkwardly tried to land a blow with my foot that would make the wheel move. I pried with the tire iron and at last, it came free. I sat on the curb for a second before thrusting the spare into place and tightening it down. I lowered the jack and sank into the driver’s seat, enjoying the one sip of water that remained in my bottle.

I remembered all the while that yesterday I opted to take an offered escape pod home from my scheduled 12-hour clinical shift. With that graciously given time I studied, I breathed, and I enjoyed a short respite at Mike Vee’s Name-That-Tune quizzo to top it off. I’m left seeing the many squandered opportunities and blaming myself. 

After I change my tire, on my way back down Cresheim Valley Drive, towards home, I saw on the shoulder a miserable-looking, sweaty family sitting on the roof of their car, its front left tire obviously flat. I breathed out. Not 200 feet later, another car was on the shoulder with a flat, and within sight, a third vehicle disabled with the same. “Everything happens for a reason”, I thought.

[acertainsomeone]

Surrendered-EdSer OS

Eda did not know what she was doing, or why she was doing it. This was the first time in 25 years of her life that she had felt defeated and helpless. Caught in a series of unfortunate circumstances, and life’s treacherous ploughs, she was once again left alone. Her parent's untimely death had left scars on her soul, she could not escape the demons of her past. When Serkan entered her life, she believed that life would be easier. She will finally have someone, who will help her to breathe in the confines of a dark, closed room.

Little did she know, life does not work according to our beliefs. Destiny had plans for her, thrilling yet gruesome. She had imagined getting graduated, with a degree in landscape architect with hope and happiness in eyes. She did graduate, but there was nothing instead of anguish, and loneliness in her eyes.

Not even in her wildest dreams she had imagined to lose Serkan, her first true love. She was so used to be pampered by his love and affection that for once not being on the receiving end broke her into pieces.

It had been eight months since that fateful day. They heard that his plane went missing, they were supposed to get married. Once she had waited for her parents to come and take her away, but they never came back. This time she waited for Serkan to come and make her his lawful wife but he never.

If this trauma wasn’t enough already, she was met by another volcano that hit her so hard that she couldn’t believe she had managed to survive that pain.

He forgot her.

He didn’t have any memories of her.

He hated her.

Serkan Bolat was no longer her Robot Bolat.

After his arrival to Art Life, Eda had imagined it would be difficult to revive those memories he had forgotten but she hadn’t imagined that it would be nearly impossible to win back his love. It was as if he had returned with a stone instead of heart.

Her numerous attempts, pleadings, actions, could not move him. She wondered what was missing that he could not see her as his soulmate anymore.

She tried and tried and one fine day, Eda gave up, for his sake. It took a great deal of courage for her to accept the fact that he was not in love with her, and he won’t fall for her again. It was useless to torment him with her forceful behavior.

He wanted the holding. Of course

It was exactly why he had borne her existence around him for six months otherwise, he would have kicked her out of his life the moment he back to Art Life that day.

Yes, she was giving up on love. Not because she was a coward but because she was selfless, and she chose his happiness over hers. His happiness lied with his work and Selin.

Selin was his logical decision. She was the one, who fitted his lifestyle.

After the failure of her attempts, Eda decided to accept the job proposal from a renowned architect company in Paris, Alcmea.

She had been disregarding it for his sake but eventually Eda decided that it was meant for her. She was longer meant for Serkan or Istanbul. She had to leave for his peace and her sanity. There was no point of living in Istanbul after selling her shares to Serkan, there was no point of breathing the same air after losing him to Selin.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

One last time

She breathed nervously, wearing her silver earrings gifted by Aydan Bolat herself as a graduation present. Ferit and Ceren had thrown her a part before her farewell party, there was no excuse to avoid for otherwise they all would have thought that she is leaving with a sad heart.

Not that they were believing her otherwise.

She had to wear the mask of a jubilated Eda, who finally got the chance to work abroad, and make her dreams come true. She had a long way to go and Eda had decided that she won’t allow her failed love story to come in the way of her career. That’s something she was assertive of.

Clad in a long black evening gown, she looked breathtaking like always.

Yet he won’t notice. Neither her dress nor the charm bracelet she was wearing tonight. Not as a hope but as a way to get rid of some memories.

If she had decided to move on, and leave everything behind, she had to let go.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Eda arrived late at the party; it was her way to avoid him. She wanted to meet everyone one last time for few minutes and leave as soon as possible.

He was looking for someone, her heart did not skip a beat because it wasn’t her. His eyes immediately caught Selin’s and she could tell his eyes only searched her.

Ferit announced everyone to get on the floor with their respective partners for a dance. Well, she didn’t have one so he offered her his hand immediately. Probably to save her from the embarrassment.

“You don’t have to, I’m fine.” She muttered shyly.

“Oh, come on! By the way, I wasn’t going to invite Selin, Ceren insisted because then it would’ve been odd.”

“That wouldn’t have changed anything! There’s no way he’s coming back even if Selin isn’t around.”

“He’s brainwashed by her Eda-”

Eda cut him off immediately, “Don’t- Ferit please Don’t. Have you brought the ring? Ceren is anticipating the proposal, if you’re late this time she will probably fly to Paris with me.” She joked, hiding the pain behind her eyes.

“All’s set. It will be soon, and you’ll be the first person to hear about it.” He winked and twirled her.

He caught her.

She was in his arms just like old times.

Breathe Eda. Not Anymore.

She held her head high in defiance, acting unaffected by his touch. She didn’t blame him for anything. It did hurt her though that he didn’t keep his promise of falling in love with her hundred times.

He had said that if he was born a hundred times, he will fall for her. He couldn’t live up to his words in the same life. Yet, she had no complaints, she accepted this as destiny’s decision and decided to remain determine in her stance.

She was acting good enough, not even for a second he could feel her nervousness or accelerated heartbeat.

She remained silent, closely following their twirling feet, and entwined hands. Acting as if perfecting this dance was the only thing she was interested.

He broke the silence by clearing his throat. “When is your flight?”

“Tonight” Her reply was simple, devoid of any emotions.

“have a safe flight Eda Yildiz.”

“Sao” She passed an awfully professional smile, avoiding to look at him in the eye. Though she could feel his gaze on her. His eyes hadn’t left her face for a second.

Why does he want now?

He placed his hands on her waist, his masculine hands perfectly fitted her petite waist like always.

Her arms were entwined around his neck securely. One last time, she wished to touch him. There were boundaries by inhaling his wood scent was more than enough.

Gladly, he pulled her closer by himself. She didn’t have to struggle. There was nothing intimate about that gesture. He was just dancing.

‘You look beautiful.’ He uttered silently. Eda knew him enough to tell that his compliment escaped his lips without taking permission from his mind.

It doesn’t matter.

“You too.”

“Beautiful? Me?” He raised his eyebrow in curiosity.

“Pardon if you don’t appreciate to be referred with a feminine adjective.” He was trying to be funny but Eda was beyond exhausted to indulge in a friendly conversation. She was not going to surrender.

‘I- I didn’t mean that.” He attempted to explain himself. “Where would you be staying in Paris?”

Eda wanted to tell him that she had chosen the apartment that he had bought for them few days before their wedding. She wanted to tell him that their apartment in Paris was waiting for them but she decided against it.

“Deniz arranged a place.” Something inside her pushed her to say that.

“His place?” He asked incredulously, tightening his grip around her waist.

“You need not to know.” She denied him simply. A part of her knew that he wasn’t affected by these childish jealousy stunts but yet her impulsive self couldn’t from being so open about it.

“I’m sorry, it wasn’t my place to ask you about it.”

He waited for her to say anything but she remained awfully quiet. He was not used to this. He was not used to her ignoring him.

Eda began to feel suffocated, the tips of his fingers were drumming against her bare back, synching with the music of piano. She had to let go or she would faint in his arms or breakdown into tears immediately.

“Excuse me.”

She distanced herself from his embrace, they hadn’t realized in the darkness of the room that they had been barely inches away from each other.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This place was special, they had their contract right at this spot, fought, expressed love, he broke up wit her here, and the last beautiful memory was, when he gifted her that charm bracelet.

She was wearing it tonight.. Of course, he hadn’t noticed that too.

Eda was staring at the stars, this was her last night in Istanbul. She didn’t plan to come back ever.

“It must be hard for you eda hanim” Her thought process was disrupted by Erdem. Their bond had strengthened over the course of eight months.

“You know very well that I have seen experienced something even harder than this Erdem.” She replied in misery but both knew that Eda was talking about something. Something that was known by him but not anyone else in that office.

“Don’t you think he should know?” Erdem said, scared of her reaction

“There is nothing he should know, as if what he knows already had made any difference”

“I always wonder if I had told fifi about my feelings in a much serious manner, she might had stayed.” Erdem sighed. This side of Erdem was only known to Eda, even she was amazed that this one existed.

“We can't stop the ones who want to leave”

“But he deserves to know- at least- about the baby” Erdem hesitated, he did not want to bring this up but considering this as her last night in Istanbul he wished she’d listen to him.

“Erdem git.” Eda looked at him surprised. Her eyes brimmed with tears and pain. She wasn’t mad at him but surprised that he chose to remind her of that night.

“I’m stupid, an absolute fool but I do know one thing that no father deserves-” He wasn’t stopping, he mustered the courage to finish his sentence.

“I’ve already burdened him with the forgotten memories of our love. I can’t make him think about a baby who died before coming to this world.” Hiding her pain behind her mask, she took a sip from her wine. Showing as if talking about this wasn’t shattering her soul into a million pieces.

“Erdem, You and leyla are the only ones who know about my miscarriage. You have kept your word till now, I expect that both of you will keep your word and continue to hide this truth from everyone.”

“Till my last breath, Eda hanim.” Erdem’s voice broke, he hugged Eda instantly. She led out a chuckle and hugged him back.

Erdem was indeed annoying but he had been there for her at a very crucial stage of her life. His support helped her through the most difficult phase of her life.

She had kept her pregnancy as a secret. She was not in the condition to come to terms with the fact herself.

It was only leyla and erdem, who knew. They were there, that night when it happened.

“I have to go.” She sniffed.

Erdem bid her goodbye and turned his back to find a stumped figure of none other than Serkan Bolat himself.

They froze.

What do you know about pain?

It never ends

What do you about healing?

It takes time

What do you know about realizations?

They arrive when it’s too late

[aplaceforthesoul]

Anonymous submitted:

uni and stuff.

Hello. I hope you reply. What’s your advice for all the people who is at a part of their lives where they don’t know where to take a leap towards somethong, whether they should take that step, if it’s worth it. When dhould they know that they should take the risks and do what it takes, at the same time, keeping in mind that not because they will take that risk, doesn’t mean that it will all be good from then on; - knowing that they’ll probably start from scratch, which isn’t a big thing anymore, since they’ve detoured already, traveled the other side of the road…at the same time being realistic and practical about this situation…work. etc. to survive. 

What if they just need to find out whether that path they wanna take, for years, for so long, is for them, bearing in mind that it might not be — but better say, (from a video i once watched) ���oh well” than ’“what ifs forever’.? I just don’t know what to do. Maybe some will think that, I’m still young and i have a long time. But for lack of better word, i don’t have the luxury of time. Gosh. I just want to forget all the times, until just this moment, all the times I’ve thought that why cant my parents helo me rather than, dictating me what to do. Im starting to have these evil thoughts: during my time, they werent even this supportive and they dont event agree so easily. (and the thought that maybe becaude i am a girl always pisses me off, but i dont think it is the reason) eversince my second or third year of highschool, ive dreant of studying another course. For me education is a big deal. Thats why until now, i am so sensitive when it comes to this topic. Before, i out so much effort, although lacking - because i havent had honors or awards since third grade. (grade 1-6 is primary, 1st-4th year is highschool) gosh. And my mind is now starting to have these thoughts. How its so unfair. Before i wanted to go to a concert, as a graduation and birthday gift in combined, and i asked. And my aunt just said that there were way too many people at the line. And i felt sad. And of course there were going to be so much people. During college applications, i wanted to go to this certain university in our province, i didnt even dream of going to a university in another region, hours and hours away, — because i know they wouldn’t let me, and i don’t think i can —or maybe i just thought of that because they havent really discussed with me about my college plans. I just sort of just applied and all. And i got accepted to that school i wanted to go to, because it has the program i wanna study. I even was qualified to be interviewed for scholarshio. And i submitted my papers. And my father even went with me. Then my documents was sent to the school. Day of the interview, i wasnt able to, i didnt go. I dont know which one honestly. I wasnt prepared, and there something i did that day, and maybe in my heart i felt that my parents didnt want me to study there. I honestly think up to that day is the reason, why i wasnt even able to tour that uni, to even step foot and see what my uni for the next four years would be. Gosh. This is all so childish. I even remember telling my classmate that id try out for the scholarship, and she even told me to live in the dorm where they would be staying at… Four years later, shes graduating in that courae i also want and here i am, trying to accept, everytime, sometimes, i still would cry. For the most part, ive tried not to regret anythinf. But im in my fourth year now. And i realized that i wouldve dropped everything if only my parents helped me and showed me that they support me, that they also want what i want. I even wanted to shift to my second choice (i got accepted for my first choice) and they didnt allow me. Maybe if they did, i wouldnt have regret it so much. That at least its one of my top choices to study. God. And now. I feel like they just support my siblings. Gosh. I wonder if all those years, i looked sincere whenever i say i want to study another course. (im sorry this is all so confusing.) if they wouldve told me that they will lend me college money, and id have to pay it back after graduation, jist to study the course i really want, i wouldve. If only it was a year earlier, that the new course in my current uni, was introduced, i wouldve dropped everything, even if im in my fourth year, id rather spend another 3 years, studying what i want than graduate next year. I dont ever see myself working for this field, this course, because all these years, ive realized, my motivation was to study the course i want after i finish this course, which im currently studying. At the first half, yes, ive thought of transferring. We asked for details and such. It just didnt work. Its what i want right now. So bad. Its what i need. I never have ever joined competitions exceot maybe until my early years of pirmary school. Never joined competitions or contests that they need to support me in, why cant they just support me. And with all that they say, just based on the things they say, i think its a blurry, unclear chance that id be able to study it. Just now, she said to me ‘ah, too bad, your sibling wasnt able to reach the required grade for *thiscourse i like that sibli ng chose as second choice* I WONDER IF ITS POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER THERE. ’ i then said its what i want. (to study that course) this last part, really, really, ticked me off. When it was my time, they were set on not letting me choose that course. I know i did well. I did my best. Did they not see that. They couldve just supported me. Told me the truth. I hate all the false truths they say. Almost nothing reactions. Heck. I wish these were all just a dream. 

(its totally fine for me if you guys post this, (like make a post and then write your reply, if thats not too much, so others can read this too) it’s a long shot but i hopee this reaches you guys. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help. Always. Reading your repsonses also helps me with similar problems i encounter, since 2013 i think. Thank you thank you

hi there <3 that’s a lot to think and feel all at once!

in short? I think the best way you know whether to take a leap or not, is to make sure that you’re making an informed decision. write down a pro / con list! write down all the reasons why you want to take this leap and all the good things that could happen, but also write down some of the risks and negative things that could possibly result in you making this decision too. 

writing down the list of “cons” or negative things that could happen isn’t to scare you! it’s to encourage you to use your critical thinking skills, it’s to encourage you to problem solve :) so take me for example, I made the massive leap to move to the other side of the world to live in London! and for a long time I was unsure about my goal, I wasn’t sure how I could make it happen, there were risks involved and a lot that could go wrong. so I wrote a pro / con list: I wrote down all the things I thought would be a good thing about me moving, I wrote down some of the risks involved in making this decision, and I took it one step further and wrote down some possible solutions to those risks (should they ever occur). and in doing that? it made me a lot more sure and confident about my goal in moving to London, and I was able to make a choice and say yes, I’m going to do this, this can happen. 

people sometimes underestimate pro / con lists? but I really think it’s such a good way to untangle confusing thoughts and to encourage critical thinking and problem solving, it makes it a lot easier when it’s laid out on paper in front of you. and if other people doubt you, like your parents? do it anyway! if you’ve done a lot of thinking about this goal and you want to take a leap and you’re informed about the risks, then it’s you who gets to make the decision about things. sometimes people are never going support you because they don’t have that desire for that particular goal and it makes it harder for them to believe in it, but that’s ok. if you want to take a leap and if you have goals that you want to achieve, then set out a step-by-step plan of how to get there and don’t let anyone get in your way. take care xxx

- tash

[spongeguyandlelouchvibridankia]

The Milo Murphy’s Law Wiki Guy AU: Balthazar Cavendish Vs The World: Chapter 2: Prologue: The Best/Worst Almost Decision of His Life

“Put your hands up, fair citizens!”

 Green foliage, tall shady trees, bright sunlight, and clear blue skies…

 Yep.

 This DEFINITELY wasn’t boarding school.

 “Stick ‘em up! Come on!”, a young boy with fair brown hair and light freckles aimed his water pistol at a bunch of giggling boys, of thin and thick build, who stood in a line with their hands now raised up.

 “Oh no! Whatever will we do?”, a tall stick like kid named Marcus asked with a laugh, struggling to mean it.

 The bank robber, pacing up and down with a potato bag he had drawn a dollar symbol on, tried his best to glare at them, even though he too couldn’t take it seriously.

 “Shaddap!”, he yelled, in a pretend grown up voice, still stifling giggles.

 An air of anticipation permeated the area, everyone awaiting the truly fun part of the game.

 School uniforms lightly floated in the wind, a few leaves sticking to their trousers, as breaths were bated for the arrival of the hero of the game.

 “Come on, man! Come out!”, Kevin, a small sniveling kid with glasses yelped, and he got whacked by the muscular well built boy named Ronald.

 “Knock it off, Kevin!”

 “Sorry, sorry, the wind blew off my hat!”, a spirited young voice could be heard from behind the bushes, and finally, the game could be continued.

 “I give you by the count of five to give me all your money!”, the bank robber announced, and he waved his water pistol around, an attempted commanding tone to his voice which failed since he sounded so young.

 Leaves crunched under his black polished shoes as he pointed the water pistol at the boys.

 “5… 4… 3…”

 A leap in the air could be heard and some boys began prematurely cheering as a figure soared through the air.

 “2… 1…”, the robber said, tightening his hold on the pistol, preparing to shoot.

 “STOP, THIEF!”

 The voice was loud and heroic, echoing across the forest plain, and as he landed with a resounding thud, hip hip hurrahs were sounded by the “hostages”.

 The robber turned around, and despite this being out of character, he couldn’t help the wide grin on his face as he said…

 “Balthazar Cavendish…”, he uttered in pretend resentment, his pupils dancing with glee.

 “I say, it’s time for you rapscallion to head to the nick!”

 Clad in his school uniform, with the important addition of a flowing red cape that blew in the wind magnificently, Balthazar Cavendish, aged 10 years old, less dick headed, more obsessed with his father’s love, and somehow as confused about everything, stands tall in the grass, his honey blond hair and thick black framed glasses complimented by a heroic grin.

 He readied his fists of justice, a cowboy hat tipped just over his eyes, giving him a mysterious aura.

 He was happier than he had ever been in his short 10 years on the planet Earth.

 The Bank Robber and Cavendish circled each other, determined yet giddy grins plastered on their faces.

 “You ready to fork over the cash?”, The Bank Robber asked.

 “In your dreams, which you will have in jail!”, Cavendish retorted.

 The other kids crowed “OOOOH!” at the two combatants.

 “So, you actually think you can stop me?”, asked the Robber.

 “I don’t think…”, Cavendish started, posing fabulously.

 “I know…”, he almost whispered, but loudly enough for The Bank Robber to hear.

 The Bank Robber cocked an eyebrow and gathered up some spit, but he failed to spit on the ground properly.

 “You’re doing it wrong!”, Ralph pointed out.

 “Raise it from your throat!”, Edward instructed.

 “Really put your back into it!”, Liam advised.

 Finally, The Bank Robber let out a spit that pleased the audience, and he scowled at Cavendish, a twinkle in his eyes.

 Cavendish started to approach, his steps like those of giants, colossal and all important.

 “Oh! You’re approaching me? Instead of running away, you’re coming right to me?”

 Cavendish continued to approach, his face smug and brazen.

 “I can’t beat the stuffing out of you without getting closer!”

 The Bank Robber laughed “evilly” and grinned at his opponent.

 “Oh ho! Then come as close as you like!”

 And so, the two boys walked up closer and closer, silly smiles on their faces as time seemed to slow down.

 “Fight! Fight! Fight!”, the “hostages” cheered on, hoping to get in on the fight after the “main event”.

 Cavendish and The Bank Robber kept walking until they finally met, faces mere breaths from each other, foreheads touching, eyes up close and personal.

 “Give me your best, Balthy!”, The Bank Robber taunted, but he did so from a friendly, encouraging place.

 “Would I ever let you down, Ollie?”, Cavendish said, almost lovingly, before the two finally collided, “punches” and “kicks” exchanged in a scuffle of epic proportions.

 The other kids could barely contain their excitement, and soon, they all started to engage in the battle, mostly just laughing as they missed terribly.

 Over the top calls of “Hwah!” and “Take that!” and “Ora!” and “Muda!” could be heard as the boys showed a complete disregard to the conventions of combat.

 Their teachers and parents would not be pleased, but, really, when were they ever?

 Here, away from the stuffy classrooms and strict guide rules, away from the suffocating conventions and crushing expectations, they were able to be something so incredibly special…

 Themselves.

 Soon, though, they grew tired of the game, as kids do.

 However, they refused to end the fun they knew was short lived as it is.

 “C’mon, mates!”, Collin called out from the madding crowd. “Run to the trees!”

 “They’ll never catch us alive!”, Ryan boasted.

 “I’ll make sure they catch you dead if you don’t shut it, Ryan!”, Terrence chided.

 Still, the boys ran like animals, crowing and laughing and shouting as they spread out in the forest of Yews, climbing the ancient trees like agile monkeys.

 Cavendish tried to climb one, but unfortunately, his cape got stuck between his feet, and the rushing onslaught of hyperactive children obstructed him from reaching his intended location.

 “I can’t climb like this!”, he complained, annoyed by the constraints of his situation.

 Suddenly, he heard a loud whistle from the tree tops, and he looked up, his eyes darting around for the source of the sound.

 “Up here, Balthy!”, Ollie, or, well, Oliver, The Bank Robber, motioned for him to climb up to the branch he was on.

 But try as he might, Cavendish just couldn’t reach the first branch, it was just too high for him.

 Oliver’s hand, however, was not.

 “Thank you for taking Oliver Turing lifts! We lift, you join the ride! Going up!”, Oliver announced, and a less than amused Cavendish was carried up thanks to his friends arm.

 “I could have done it myself.”, Cavendish protested as he sat on the branch and pouted.

 “Cheers to you too.”, Oliver sarcastically replied as he punched his friends arm, making Cavendish smile just a little.

 “Careful with that arm! I need it!”, Cavendish fake protested, and he punched back, making Oliver blush.

 The two boys sighed and sat on the branch, the sun now beginning to set, its dark orange colors painting the sky with marvelous results.

 “This has been a good day.”, Oliver stated, and Cavendish nodded in agreement.

 “I mean, we broke a ton of rules and they’re going to murder us, but still.”, Cavendish added, and Oliver shrugged.

 “I don’t know. My dad’s pretty cool about this kind of stuff.”

 Oliver then added a little quietly, a little privately, like he was hiding a treasure…

 A secret…

 “He’s pretty cool about my stuff.”

 Cavendish didn’t really know what that was about, but he was too busy dreaming a familiar dream.

 As ever, he was a little too focused on himself to see the forest for the trees.

 He stood up on the branch and pointed at the horizon.

 “Oliver…”

 Oliver raised an eyebrow. “Oh, boy. First names… This must be important, Balthy.”

 Cavendish smiled back. “Of course it’s important. I’M saying it, after all!”

 Oliver rolled his eyes humorously. “Whatever you say, Balthy.”

 Cavendish resumed his sentence. “No, seriously, listen!”

 He pointed at the horizon again, his eyes sparkling with hope. “One day, Ollie, I tell you one day, I am going to be the GREATEST hero ever!”

 Oliver couldn’t help but laugh. “Balthy, you say that every day, and every day you fail all your classes.”

 Cavendish frowned, not wanting to be reminded of that. “It’s only the physical ones…”, he muttered sadly.

 “Yeah, as if your dad wants you to be behind a computer.”, Oliver joked, but Cavendish wasn’t.

 “Ollie! I really mean this! I really do want to be a hero!”

 His eyes were pleading, and Oliver knew that he was being serious.

 So he stopped joking and took on a sympathetic smile. “Sorry mate. I know you are.”

 Cavendish forgave him with a soft smile and he returned his gaze to the sun.

 “Just imagine it, Ollie! Real bank robbers, real villains, bowing down before my presence! Fear in their eyes! Respect in their surrenders!”

 Cavendish posed on the branch, nearly losing his balance but regaining it.

 “I’ll be the very best, like no one ever was! I’ll kill all the monsters and aliens and maniacal overlords!”, Cavendish boasted and promised with childish enthusiasm.

 Oliver grinned back. “Don’t forget us bank robbers!”

 “Them too!”, Cavendish nodded.

 He then resumed his speech. “And then… Then I’ll meet the queen! And I’ll get knighted!”

 He bowed slightly and then, with a quieter, more hopeful voice, whispered “…I’ll finally make my Dad proud…”

 And then he shouted out. “And I’ll be loved by ALL!”

 His voice echoed and echoed, his declaration of universal adoration for himself reverberating across the trees.

 Cavendish then almost slipped and Oliver caught him, setting him back on the branch.

 “Careful, Mr. Hero! Don’t want to die before the first day, now, do you?”

 Cavendish laughed sheepishly, and soon the two boys sat in silence, observing the setting sun, peaceful.

 Well…

 Almost.

 Oliver kept stealing glances at Cavendish, as if…

 As if he wanted to tell him something.

 “Balthy…”, he finally roused the courage to open his mouth. “…You say you want to be loved by all… But…”

 Cavendish didn’t need him to finish. “I know, Ollie, but my mind keeps changing!”

 He complained, his hands waving to all sides. “My Dad says it makes me weak and soft, but at the same time I can’t help but feel like it would be totally fantastic to be loved by everyone! You know?”

 Oliver smiled shyly. “Personally, I only need one person to love me.”

 Cavendish nodded. “Mums are pretty wicked.”

 Oliver shook his head, Cavendish missing the point as ever.

 Cavendish then put his arm around Oliver.

 “Thank you for being such a good listener, Ollie. I feel like I can tell you anything.”

 Oliver suddenly schooched a little closer, hands a little clammy, voice a little shy.

 “Balthy…”

 He was uncharacteristically quiet.

 Cavendish looked back at his friend with a cheerful smile.

 “Yes, Ollie?”

 Oliver took a deep breath and closed his eyes, bracing for impact.

 He had been preparing this question for months, ever since the two had met in boarding school and hit it off immediately.

 He had rolled it over and over and over in countless math classes, physical education classes and sleepless nights.

 God knows how many times his lips had uttered the unspoken question!

 And now, he was going to belt it out.

 What’s the worst that could happen? Untimely rejection, eternal pain and the small matter of depression?

 Well…

 Here goes nothing.

 “Balthy… Are you…”

 He gulped.

 “…Gay?”

 His heart skipped a beat as Cavendish’s face turned curious.

 “…No… No I don’t think so.”

 Oliver wanted to bury his face in his hands and burn all those teen magazines in the doctor’s office, when suddenly…

 “I mean… I’m not sure.”

 Oliver gave him a curious look in return.

 “Not sure?”

 Cavendish nodded slowly, thoughtful now, the still setting sun reflecting off of his glasses.

 “I guess… I mean… I honestly don’t know.”

 Suddenly he returned the question.

 “Are you?”

 Under any other circumstance, with any other person, Oliver would have denied.

 Only his dad knew, and he was sure that only he would understand.

 But here, in the shaded grove of the yew tree, with his best friend by his side, his face not judging but just wondering, he felt brave enough to say…

 “…Yes.”

 Cavendish smiled simply. “Oh, ok.”

 Oliver wasn’t sure why he was so worried. In fact, he knew that most of the world was quite more accepting these days.

 But perhaps it wasn’t Cavendish who was close minded…

 But his dad.

 “You don’t think it’s… Weird?”, Oliver asked, and Cavendish shook his head.

 “Nope! The world has changed for the better on that, Ollie!”

 Oliver smiled, but Cavendish frowned as he continued.

 “My world, though… Hasn’t.”

 Oliver was sure he knew what he meant, but he decided to let Cavendish explain himself.

 Cavendish’s eyes turned distraught and his body language resigned and melancholic as he talked.

 “My world smells of boot polish and gun powder. My world tastes of baked beans and disappointment. Its sounds are loud and disapproving, it’s closed and limiting like a cage with no exit. My dad would lose his mind if I told him anything like that.”

 “He doesn’t have much of a mind to lose, Balthy.”, Oliver joked, and Cavendish couldn’t help but laugh.

 The two boys grew silent again, only the wind breaking said silence.

 “…I think I might like both.”

 Oliver looked back silently and Cavendish looked back speaking.

 “I fancy Maura for example.”

 Oliver nodded, knowing this to be true.

 “But Mark’s pretty fetching too.”, Cavendish admitted quietly, feeling strangely ashamed, despite being next to his freshly out of the closet confidante.

 “So… You’re Bi?”, Oliver asked, twiddling his thumbs.

 Cavendish considered this, and shrugged. “I reckon.”

 Oliver nodded, but for different reasons. “Cool word.”

 The two kept staring at the distance.

 “…I want to be loved, and maybe by a man.”, Cavendish concluded, and he half laughed half sobbed.

 “My dad would kick me into the middle of a warzone for that.”

 Oliver turned to Cavendish, a little bolder. “Then… Fuck him.”

 Cavendish was startled by the rude language, and he turned to Oliver reprimending

 “Ollie! Watch your mouth!”

 “Why?”, Oliver asked, his bravery overpowering his insecurities. “We’re our own people, not the tiny soldiers marching to your Dad’s fife.”

 Oliver grasped Cavendish’s hands, making the young lad blush.

 “Balthy…”, Oliver started, his heart in his throat. “You said you’re not sure if you can have love. But your Dad’s wrong!”

 He got closer. “If that’s what he thinks, then he’s clearly a brain dead zombie with… With… With no brain, because life is all about love!”

 He neared Cavendish again, his eyes deep and his breath warm.

 Cavendish could feel it on his face and it steamed up his glasses.

 Most weird of all?

 He wasn’t totally against it.

 “Balthy… Balthazar…”, Oliver whispered, his fingers caressing Cavendish’s, making the spectacled boy warm.

 “Life… Is about giving and receiving love. It’s about…”

 Oliver implemented the message to himself for once.

 “It’s about accepting that you love others… And that they love you. And that you want to make others feel loved… And that… You deserve to be loved…”

 “I… I don’t know if I do deserve it…”, Cavendish admitted, but Oliver hushed him as he neared ever closer, lips almost touching.

 “…Well… You’ve got me fooled.”

 The two boys giggled, and, inches apart, closed their eyes.

 Lips pursed, hearts stopped, breaths bated…

 They got closer and closer…

 Until…

 “BALTHAZAR. T. CAVENDISH!”

 “Uh oh…”, Cavendish whispered, and he looked down to meet the absolutely furious face of his father, disappointment and disapproval knitted all over his face.

 Cavendish’s father didn’t need to say another word.

 His cold, hard stare said it all.

 Cavendish started to disembark the tree, and as he neared the ground he extended his hand to help Oliver down.

 But before Oliver could take the hand, it was pulled away as Cavendish was grabbed by his father, who tried to restrain the squirming child.

 “Dad, what are you doing?”, Cavendish asked, but Chief Cavendish wouldn’t say anything as he forcefully held his son, who kicked and swung wildly all over.

 “Dad, wait, I want to say bye to Ollie…”, Cavendish started, glasses now crooked on his head, confusion reigning supreme in his eyes.

 “You are.”, was the chilling answer, as the car doors were swung violently open and Cavendish was shoved in, the back of his head bonking the top of the car.

 “Ow!”, he rubbed his sore head, but clearly his father didn’t care, as he slammed the door, silencing poor Cavendish immediately.

 He then gruffly entered the seat, the thud of another slammed door making Cavendish jump in fright, a little too much in Chief Cavendish’s mind.

 “Settle the fuck down, boy!”, he shouted, and the car revved up, spewing out smoke that obscured Oliver from view, still on the branch, still reaching out his hand, in the blind hope it would be taken by Cavendish, who stared hopelessly out the car window, tears in his eyes.

 Cavendish would never get another chance to hold that hand.

 1.  Some of you will note that this chapter (and chapter 3) do not feel like they’re in the future. I delve deeper into this in the next chapter, but to clarify, the reason for all this is that Cavendish lives in a bubble of the past, and he doesn’t get to live in the future, unlike his B.O.T.T time travel companions.

2.  There is a definite contrast between this chapter and most. The rest are very depressing, while this one is almost relaxing. This is a lot because until the end of the story, these are perhaps the only moments where Cavendish is himself.

3.  Some might find the game the kids play to be pretty dumb and not very fun sounding, but there is a good reason: These children are boarding school attendees, ones who are forced to live traditional lives. In other words, any freedom is good freedom.

4.  The floaty, almost magical tone is quite fun in this one! In general, I liked making this chapter a lot, though it really began to flow when we get to the tree.

5.  There is an intended vibe from the opening scene of “Toy Story”.

6.  Cavendish, thanks to this story, has only become more complicated. He is egocentric, stuck up, pig headedly sure of himself, abject to criticism, averse to love and in general kind of a dickhead. However, his heart is good and he does mean well and deep down, he really wants to save people. He just needs some guidance and if he accepts the real Cavendish, he’ll be well on his way to becoming a true hero. I must warn you, it will take some time in this story for Cavendish to truly become a good guy, but don’t worry! He is a hero in the end!

7.  I don’t think, I know, is easily one of the main themes of the AU. Confidence is key to anything, and these deeply unconfident people need to learn this.

8.  “You’re doing it wrong” is a reference to Hermione saying this in “Harry Potter and the Philosophers/Sorcerer’s stone”.

9.  I really tried to get this slice of life British movie tone out of this scene. It was definitely different to my usual fare.

10.                   A yew tree is the oldest tree in the UK. Basically, symbolism of Cavendish still being held back by tradition and living in the past.

11.                   Cavendish getting stuck and needing help to get up (and complaining about it) is basically his whole arc: It’s not that he isn’t any good, it’s not that he has no skills. But no man is an island; If Cavendish wants a good life, he needs to accept love.

12.                   Oliver’s last name is a tribute to Alan Turing, another homosexual British man who suffered due to who he was deep down.

13.                   I must confess that I was thinking of making Oliver young Dakota for a while. However, not only would it be dumb, but also, Dakota has a… VERY tragic backstory, and let’s just say he could never go to England. Bits of this backstory are revealed here, and in future stories, you will find out all of it.

14.                   POKEMON REFERENCE IN ONE OF CAV’S LINES!

15.                   Monsters (Pistachios), Aliens (Duh) and Maniacal Overlords (The Master)

16.                   Notice that again, despite his heart being in the right place, Cavendish cares more for the honor and respect and adoration of being a hero, rather than the act of helping someone else.

17.                   Cavendish’s biggest conflict in the story is rather he should be loved or not. Thanks to his father, he is a toxic male, sure that he needs no one but himself, sure that emotion and kindness are weaknesses. The story demands that he learn to accept love, or he’ll lose.

18.                   Some might find the casual conversation about sexuality weird, but personally, I think kids are less particular about this kind of stuff until society or their families make them think it’s weird.

19.                   Reckon

20.                   I hate saying this, but as much as I like Oliver, he never comes back. This is one of the tragedy’s that shape Cavendish, and some scars never heal.

 If you thought this chapter was heavy… HOO BOY, WAIT FOR 3!

[ticklygiggles]

Kids gotta be kids | Corazon, Law

A/N: Oh, hey! I'm alive. Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy this, sorry for the long wait!

Okay, just in case you are not in the One Piece fandom, but you want to read this, I'll give you a quick explanation (warning of spoilers): Law has a serious illness and Corazon takes the responsibility to find a cure for it, so he takes Law to hundreds of hospitals to find help for the kid, but all the doctors are scared of said illness so Corazon ends up burning up all the hospitals they go to. Literally.

Also, Corazon uses a weird make up.

Summary: Law is upset because doctors keep not wanting to help them up, but Corazon is there to make it him feel better.

Warning: Law is a kid during his time with the illness, so this fic has a kid being tickled. I know some of you don't feel comfortable reading about it, so you've been warned!

This is not a pairing!

Words: 1k+ (under the cut)

Corazon sighed when he found Law sitting right where he left him, with his knees up, hiding his face between them, and his arms embracing his legs. Corazon balanced all the fruits in his arms and approached him, making sure to step carefully to not fall.

He still wondered if that would make Law feel a bit lighter.

He placed the fruits in front of Law, but the kid didn't budge, instead, he tightened his arms around his legs. Corazon sighed again and he let himself fall beside Law.

"Law?", he didn't respond. "Law, I'm sorry. I know you are tired of this", he makes a pause, just to see if there was any reaction from the kid.

He was just a little happy to see his thin arms relaxing a bit. "And I know it embarrasses you that I keep burning up every hospital we go to", Law actually lifted his face to that and looked at Corazon, rolling his eyes and showing he was, in fact, embarrased. Corazon chuckled. "But just give me another opportunity, yeah? I'll definitely find a cure to that illness of yours"

Corazon placed a loving hand on top of Law's head. "Just trust me, please. Keep trusting in me"

Law hid his face again and Corazon quickly took his hand off his head, not wanting to make him angry. He waited, for an answer or a punch, he didn't know, he just waited and waited and waited until Law finally looked up at him again.

Corazon was kind of expecting a nasty look from him, even after saying all of those nice things, so he was not ready to find Law's eyes shining brightly in a way he had never seen before, and see a big child-like smile pulling at the corners of the kid's mouth.

The first thing that crossed his mind was that he was probably dead and he was seeing an angel in the form of Law.

He didn't want to be dead, the kid needed him and-

"Stupid, Cora-san", oh, that's not something an angel would say. "I'll trust you", Corazon gasped and placed a hand on top of his chest, relishing into Law's words.

Law simply rolled his eyes, not expecting anything else from his companion, and with a soft smile still plastered on his face, he looked at the fruit in front of him and extended his arm to took one of the reddest apples his eyes had ever seen.

Corazon, on the other hand, was still astonished, looking at his little companion happily take a big bite of the apple.

"Law?"

"Yes?", Law cleans up the juice falling from his chin as he looks up at his guardian.

"Law, do that again?"

Law tilts his head, just adding cuteness into Corazon's heart, and looked to the apple in his hand, then to Corazon, and then back to the apple.

"Okay", he says and opens his mouth widely, going for a second bite.

"No!", Corazon quickly says, stopping Law with his teeth a few millimiters away from the fruit. "Not eating! Smile! Smile again like you did one minute ago!"

Corazon nearly had a heart attack when Law's cheeks quickly dusted with a pink blush and his grey eyes opened a bit wide.

"You are stupid, Cora-san", he says, turning his head to avoid Corazon's gaze. "I do not smile", he bites his apple again.

"C'mon, Law! You just did! And you looked so cute!"

That made Law choke on the juice and the piece of apple filling his mouth, Corazon hit him in the back, scared that he might die.

"I don't look cute!", he gasps when his coughing fit dies. "Stop saying such things and just let me eat!", Law hugged his knees again as he angrily eats his apple.

"Please?", Law turned his face around. "Please, Law", Corazon got closer to him, just wanting to push his limits. "Just a little smile", he moved just a bit closer, almost touching Law. "A little smile?", he moved his arm, elbowing Law in the side a few times, noticing how the boy tensed for the invation of his personal space. "Please, Law?"

Law hid his face on his knees again, hiding his apple between his body and legs. Corazon decided to just keep elbowing him until he heard a muffled sound coming from Law.

A muffled sound... that sounded like a giggle. A giggle.

"Did you-

"Stop poking me!", Law lifted his face, looking at Cora-san and regretting it as soon as Corazon's face lighted up with realization.

It tickled him and he knows it did tickle by that muffled giggle and the way the corners of Law's lips trembled, trying to stop a smile from forming.

Corazon was amazed, speechless and surprised. His hands worked faster than his mind and before he could stop himself, his fingers latched into Law's sides, squeezing up and down the length of them, making the kid shriek and fall back as he giggled and kicked.

"You are ticklish!", he truly can't believe it. "Law, you are ticklish!"

"Dohohohon't tell mehehe!", tickling will not stop him from being a sarcastic little shit, apparently.

Law squirmed and tried to push Corazon's hands away from his sides, but he was just a kid and his strength wasn't enough, even worst when he's laughing against his will.

"Well look at you, you can really laugh, can't you?"

"Stohohop!", to Cora-san's surprised, Law was laughing nearly in hysterics as his back arched and his legs kicked trying to hit Corazon in the face. "Cora-sahahan! Don't tohohouch me!"

"Tell me, Law", he starts as his fingers brushed against a very sensitive spot on Law's sides, right under his ribs, Law let out a bark of laughter, his head throwing back and his body bucking up. "Your sides are a good spot for tickling?"

He smiled when he saw Law's cheeks slowly turning a soft pink. He looked adorable, he had never seen such big smile stretching his lips. His eyes were closed and the laughter pouring out of his mouth was so childish, so genuine and happy. It seriously made his heart melt.

"Corahahahazon!", Law yelled, squeaking when Cora's fingers moved to his child-like tummy.

The laughter died down a little, Corazon noticed as he clawed his fingers, which were long enough to cover up all of Law's tummy and part of his lower ribs, and the kid's laughter turned into giggling.

"C-Cora-san! Stohohop doing this!", Law giggles, trying to push Corazon's hand away. "I'm dyihihing!"

Corazon looked fondly at Law, this kid was very special to him now and he can't stop himself from making him laugh. He really wants to see him happy, but he probably needs to rest now, his face is a bit too red.

"Just one spot", Law giggled hysterically when Corazon's fingers climbed up from his tummy, past his ribs and up to his chest like little spider legs.

"No please!", the stubborn child finally begged. "Plehehehase not there! Not thehehere!"

Corazon chuckled. "Not there? Where? Here in your neck?", Law squeaked and quickly scrunched up his shoulders.

His hands tried to stop Corazon's, but it was useless. Corazon easily wiggled two fingers under Law's chin and lifted his head with no problem, exposing Law's neck to his mercy.

"Ahahaha! C-Cora-san! Wait! Wahahahait!", Law was already laughing loudly, even snorting a little.

Corazon laughed a little too. "I haven't done anything, Law", but he did as soon as those words left his mouth.

He held Law's head up with one hand as the other wiggled around his sensitive neck. Law shrieked and fell into hysterical laughter, his arms and legs flailing around.

"Tickle, tickle, tickle, Law~", Corazon teased. "What a ticklish neck you have here!"

"Nohohoho!", Law laughed out, his head shaking from side to side as much as Corazon's hand left him, his hands curling around his attackers wrists, trying to push him away. "Not thehehere!", he begged again.

"Too ticklish here?", Corazon sofly wiggled his fingers against the soft skin, not wanting to hurt Law. "Are you enjoying yourself, Law?"

Besides all of his bucking and shrieking and begging, Law was, somehow, looking happier than ever. There was no expression of pain in his features and he let his laughter pour out of him without holding it back to look strong and mighty.

Corazon thought that, from the first time in a long time, Law was actually enjoying being a child. He was letting himself be the kid he was, he was letting himself forget about his illness and his hard past and the scare of dying.

And Corazon felt happy that he was helping him to be free, even for a little while.

Law didn't respond to that accusation, of courae, but his cheeks flushed even more and that was enough for Corazon.

"Oh, you know what should I do?", Corazon stopped, letting the kid catch his breath as residual giggles made his body shake. "It'll probably drive you nuts, thought"

Corazon was suprised when Law started to giggle in anticipation. "Dohohon't raspberry mehehe", Corazon laughed.

"Oh no, you discovered my plan!", he easily moved Law's head up, not that he put much of a fight, and leaned down, making Law shriek with laughter. "I haven't done anything, Law", he says and blows a little bit on the exposed skin. "But here I go"

Corazon really didn't need to actually blow the raspberry, as soon as his lips pressed against Law's neck, he was thrown back into hysterics, so the whole raspberry thing was just finish up the game.

"You okay, Law?", Corazon helped Law up back into his sitting position.

"I'm fihihine", he breaths out. "Don't do that ever again!"

"Oh c'mon, you loved it"

"Did not!", he blushed.

"You did"

"Did not", Corazon chuckled and ruffled Law's head.

"Okay, sure. Whatever you say"

Law hugged his knees once again and Corazon got worried that he might misunderstood and Law actually hated it. He was going to apologize, but Law opened his mouth to talk.

"It was- it was fun", he mumbled, his cheeks turning red again, Corazon's heart melt inside his chest.

"I'm glad you think so, Law", he says. "It was, in did, really fun"

Law just nodded and they sat beside each other, enjoying each other's company and waiting for Law's breathing to finally become normal.

"Hey, Law?"

"Yes?"

"I think I painted your neck a little bit... I'll have to clean it up", Law started to giggle again and before Corazon could attack him, he got up and run away from him.

"You gotta catch me first!"

Corazon will let him be a kid for as long as he wants to act like one.

[antmfunny]

3. Beauty Tips with Patrick Starrrrrrrr

Ashley Graham enters the house, but this time she doesn’t bring any pesto pasta. She’s here to talk about accepting your own body and blah blah blah… it’s really hard to pay attention because Ashley’s boobs are on display in a major way.

But, sure, I agree, big is beautiful, particularly when it’s DD.

Ashley prompts the models to talk about their insecurities and who they’ll represent with their look. Jeana’s not just doing it for the alopecia sufferers, she’s also looking forward to repping for bald men. Yeah, she really said that. I don’t know how many men with receding hairlines have been waiting for a bald lady to make them feel good in their own hairless skin, but let’s go with it!

Coura says she’s cried in cab rides home from modeling agencies (cabs? did she also drop out of driver’s ed?) that have called her “too masculine.” Coura, you bitch, that’s Brendi K’s [the K stands for Ken doll] insecurity, you can’t steal it.

Christina is more confident in her look, which Ashley acknowledges. Christina says, “I don’t want to have that I’ve-been-there-done-that attitude, but…” Nope! Stop while you’re ahead Christina. “… but like I do have the experience.”

So she doesn’t want to say she’s been there, done that, but she also wants to say that she’s been there, done that. Christina, this is supposed to be about how you’re going to be relatable to people, not come off as obnoxious.

Next she claims to be more “professional” than the other girls… in what fucking world, Christina? She’s come off as a brat since moment one.

Ashley isn’t the only guest to visit the house. Next through the door is… Oh my god! It’s… whoever that is.

I don’t watch Youtube personalities nor do I wear makeup, so I had to google Patrick Star… which is apparently a Sponge Bob character.

From there I learned that the challenge’s special guest is actually named Patrick Starrr with three R’s. That’s more R’s than Kyle’s first love, Starr, even. I’m tempted to call that stupid, but if he’s brave enough to wear that outfit, he can have all the R’s he wants, I reckon.

It makes me feel better that we don’t get any evidence that anyone aside from Rio knows who Patrick Starrr is either. I mean, I guess Tyra did, too, since she appeared on his channel, but I watched the video and it’s clear to me she did it an attempt to plug her cosmetics line more than anything. I mean, she’s snapping on her gum like she’s too good to be there.

Rather than watching the full video, I suggest you watch this compilation of Tyra testing Patrick’s patience:

Anyway, Starrr is here to shoot beauty videos with the girls for a social media challenge. The girls get some unusual items to work with in their videos, like hardboiled eggs, scotch tape, shaving cream, and condoms. There’s also “chicken cutlets,” which I’m pretty sure is of the bra padding variety, but in my head, I’m pretending the models were rubbing their faces with raw chicken because that makes the segment that much more exciting. Salmonella, here we come!

The worst two performers, as far as we can tell, are Christina and Coura. Christina is too slow at pulling tape off the dispenser (hey, sometimes it gets stuck, we’ve all been there) while Coura talks way too fast to be understood. Too slow and too fast? No wonder they end up in the bottom two. I can hear Tyra’s speech already: “You each have what the other one needs…”

Erin also seems a little lost because she’s 40-whatever and doesn’t understand social media. She’s still waiting for all her fellow contestants to accept her Friendster invites.

As for the standouts, there’s Rio, who acts a little extra if you ask me, but that’s probably not a problem for viewers of someone like Patrick Starrrrrr.

The other stars are the team of Sandra and Shanice. Sandra can’t stop laughing that she got assigned the condoms because, I don’t know if you’ve heard this, she’s a virgin. If she’s not going to stuff a cock in it, I hope she at least stuffs a sock in it, because it’s really not that big of a deal.

Shanice, though, is out to prove that she’s every bit of the freak we assumed she was since that acting challenge. She says she has three personas: Sha-Nice, Sha-Mean, and Sha-Nasty, and while handling condoms, it’s Sha-Nasty who is out to play. She tells us that she likes “hard” condoms, and that she likes them on her face. Why would you want a condom on their face, though?

Unfortunately for Sha-Nasty, that’s just a little too vulgar to win the prize unless Law is judging, so her scene partner Sandra gets the win instead. Sandra’s video will appear on Patrick’s channel, misinforming viewers that rubbing condoms on your face is a good form of beauty treatment. 

4 Funniest Moments of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 24 Ep. 5

[2amwarrior]

My sister-in-law asked me yesterday, how old am I. "25", I said. " 2 more years and you can get married and have your own kid." She replied. And I smiled. Another friend who overheard us butt in and said, "Do you have a boyfriend?" "No, i dont. And i dont wanna have." Then i laugh. "Why? I mean, just have even one kid.Its really great to have a kid of your own." My sister-in-law said. "After hearing all your labor stories?? Oh no! Not for me!" I jokingly replied. "Yeah, its painful but its really worth it when you got to finally see your kid for the first time." She said. "Uh huh.." i replied paying attention to the baby i was carrying. I honestly like kids. Theyre the purest little things on earth. And they also did liked me. I knew it bacause everytime i visit there, they would hug me so tight i cant even move. Im not talking one or two kids. Im talkinh like a dozen kids hugging me all at the same time. They would play around me like i was their age. Having a kid wasnt a problem. Giving birth and getting married was. 3 or 4 years ago,i came to a point in my life when i wanted all of those. I really wanted all of those badly that time. I wanna start a family an my early 20's. Cause i wanted to see my kid grow.i wanted to be 60 and my kid being in his 40's. I wanted to see him build a family of his own. I honestly wanted a grandkid. Not only that, this guy who was im MU with was 40 years old already. ( yeah i know, judge me if you want but i love him that time) just think about it. Do the math. He would turn 50 by the time i was 30. That couldve been his grandkid. And how did a man of 50's supposed to make a living by that time? I mean, he once told me, woman can still get pregnant at 40. So it means he wanted to have kids with me when im 40??? And he was like 60??? Seriously?? I mean, he was supposed to be a grandad not a dad!!! And another thing, while taking care of the baby, i would also be taking care of an old man. Thats a disaster! He was clearly not doing his math. And btw, he already had a daughter, was 7 yr old from his previous relationship. And thats another reason why he wasnt rushing to have a kid with me. Cause he already had one. And thats really unfair to me. And then there was my parents who doesnt like him cause he already had a kid and of courae he was 20 years my senior. He couldve been my dad. I tried and defend him but they wouldnt budge. They told he was just trying to play around with me. And btw, im an only kid. My parents and people got REALLY HIGH EXPECTATIONS from me since i was born And thing got really ugly. Like REALLY UGLY. To the point where i couldnt sleep or eat thinking about that. My parents were also getting sick cause of that. My father almost had a diabetes cause he was so stressed out by that event. I got so thin that year. I was praying and praying and praying that God would change their hearts and give us the blessing already. 4 years later and things have changed. No, i wouldnt marry that guy. No, i wouldnt be having my OWN kid. And yes, the lineage ends with me. Im so tired of thinking about the what ifs of this life that i forgot to live the moment. And from now on, i decided to build the walls again. Im shutting me feelings down. No more tears from now on. I'll be on my own. "That wouldve been sad, you'll grow old alone.." my sister-in-law broke my thoughts. "I dont think so." I sighed. Cause i dont think i"ll be alive by then. I know within me that i'll die young. Honestly i wasnt taking good care of myself. And im just waiting for cancer or any life threatening disease to kill me. I dont want to live anymore. I dont wanna be in my 40's sitting alone in wherever place and blaming myself for being alone.

[antmrankings]

id love to hear the order of how you think elimination is going to be!! But Id say Jeana is going to win or at last top 3, and the other to Kyla and Khrystyana

Umm, this cycle is a bit more difficult to read than last cycle. I remember I knew within seconds of seeing Tatiana and India’s interviews that they would be the final two, but I didn’t get any such vibes this time. The only thing that was painfully obvious was that Maggie would be the first one eliminated (none of the judges liked her, she had no real story for reality tv, and the “white homegirl” thing was such bs).

If I had to guess how it’d go down, it’d be something like this (though it’s probably horribly off):

Khrystyana - I go back and forth on her. There was a moment in this episode where I felt she was getting the Allison edit, but she’s literally the only contestant I can see winning. The winners are always obvious, and Khrystyana seems the obvious choice to me given she’s not stick-thin and she’s over 30, and also shows modeling potential.

Kyla - Her edit is just the right mix of boring and interesting to make her the obvious runner-up. I think her modeling abilities will carry her far, and the judges will use her to justify whoever they want to win, as Kyla is too much of a typical model to represent this cycle as its winner.

Rio - Seems to represent just about everything they want from this cycle, so I think she’s a possible candidate for the win in the eyes of the judges. However, I get the vibe that she cracks under pressure. Top 3 seems about right for her edit to me, so far.

Jeana - I think she’s the fake-out frontrunner. The one that’s meant to distract us from the real winner that is hiding in plain sight. Top 4 is usually the shocker elimination, so I think it’ll be her.

Christina - I think she’ll wind up being this cycle’s villain. She’s mild-mannered for now, but as the weeks go on she’ll definitely crack. Plus, she’s a decent model so the judges will be able to use that as reason to keep her around.

Erin - I think she’ll go far purely based on her age, as it’s sure to eventually cause drama in the house (Baby Boomers tend not to get along with Millennials or iGen for extended periods of time).

Coura - Seems like the frontrunner right now, but I guarantee that’ll change. She doesn’t have a reality tv personality, and she doesn’t match the message they’re trying to send this cycle. Too much of a legit model for this cycle.

Liz - At one point I would have said that Liz would win, but that walk…lol. She has the personality they’re looking for, which will keep her on for a good while, but eventually the judges are going to crack down on her. She’ll probably be in the bottom 2 a few weeks in a row.

Sandra - I think Sandra could land here, or maybe switch spots with Erin. She seems like she’ll have a few good reality tv moments, but none of the judges seem to be taking her seriously as a model. If her edit stays as bland as it is now, she’ll probably land here, but if she become the source of drama she’ll probably be more where Erin is on my prediction.

Shanice - She’s one of the ones I’m least sure about. The judges seem to love her for whatever reason, but I also get the feeling that they’ll cut her the second they don’t like something she does.

Liberty - The Trump supporter that they obviously cast to have a feud with activist Kyla. I assume they’ll keep her for a bit for the drama, but then promptly eliminate her because they don’t want to risk her becoming the likable villain. They’ll probably disguise her elimination as her being too “bland” or whatever, though.

Rhiyan - Who? No, but really, her edit is non-existent. I’ll be shocked if she makes it further than this.

Brendi K. - It seems like clients love her, but the show refuses to give her any positive attention, so she’s probably an early out.

Ivana - She’s super insecure and the show is throwing it in our faces. I don’t think they’re likely to give her many more chances.

Maggie - Obviously this already happened, but I would have guessed her as first out even before this episode because her edit was so dry.

Let me know your thoughts on this prediction, everyone!

[nolimitsongrace]

November 8: Jesus Has Overcome the World

…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. — John 16:33

What good news that is to know — Jesus has overcome the world! John 16:33 has been a source of strength and encouragement to Christians for nearly 2,000 years — and it still speaks to us today as we face difficult periods in our lives. Jesus assures us, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Think about that! Regardless of what challenge or trial you or I face in the days to come, Christ declared that our correct position of faith is to “be of good cheer” because He has overcome it already!

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

You may say, “But you don’t understand the difficult time I’m facing right now. Has Christ really overcome everything that I will face in life?” Yes, everything — including the most diffi- cult moments of your life!

To make the point, John 16:33 uses the word “tribulation.” Let’s look at this word “tribulation” to see exactly what Jesus was saying to us. In Greek, it is the word thlipsis, a word that describes distress, affliction, or trouble that is very intense. Jesus declared that He had overcome all of these. However, by using this word, Jesus recognized that times would not always be easy for those who choose to follow Him. Yet regardless of what the world or the devil tries to throw at us, Christ soundly declared — and still declares today, “…But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!”

The words “good cheer” come from the Greek word tharseo. A more accurate rendering would be “take heart!” — and it also conveys the idea of “be courageous!” It is a word spoken to strengthen someone who was facing a hardship or trial. If you translate the verse more literally, Jesus said, “In this world you will go through some distressing times, but take heart and be courageous….”

Then Jesus went on to assure His disciples, “…I have overcome the world.” The word “overcome” comes from the Greek word nikos, which can be translated to overcome but is also the word for victory. However, the grammar used in this verse doesn’t imply a single victory; rather, it denotes a continuous, abiding victory both now and in the future. Therefore, the idea presented in Jesus’ statement could be interpreted, “I have overcome the world; I am overcoming the world; and I will always be overcoming the world.”

Let the memory of these words provide great encouragement and strength to you whenever you face difficult times. Even if it seems like the entire world is trying to wipe you out, you can hold on to the promise that Jesus has overcome the world; He is overcoming the world; and He will always overcome the world. So regardless of what you are facing today, you can hold fast to that knowledge by faith: Jesus has already overcome the world — and He is with you to help you enforce the victory you possess in Him in the midst of whatever you are facing.

So instead of letting the devil discourage you with thoughts that there is no hope or that you cannot overcome the struggles that seem to be attacking you from every side, grab hold of the truth and declare that Jesus is with you and that you will — with Jesus’ help — overcome the world too!|

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You that You sent Jesus — and that Jesus has overcome the world in every respect. Regardless of what the devil tries to do, Jesus has already overcome it. I do not have to lose heart or be discouraged. I can lift my head, throw my shoulders back, and rejoice, because Jesus has overcome the world and deprived it of its power to harm me. I am more than a con- queror through Jesus Christ, who has given me His overcoming power to make me triumphant in this life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord over all! Jesus is Lord over every foe and every enemy I face in my life. Jesus didn’t partially overcome the world; He completely overcame it. And because I am in Christ, I share in this glorious victory! Jesus said to take heart and to be coura- geous, so today I take heart and face the future with courage. I am not a victim to my circum- stances because Jesus died on the Cross, defeated the enemy, and rose from the dead victorious over all. He has literally overcome everything that needs to be overcome, and now He shares that glorious victory with me!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

In what areas of your life are you overcoming right now?

Have you ever pondered the truth that Jesus already overcame everything you will ever face and that He will give you His overcoming power? Do you know how to receive that overcoming power? If so, how?

In what ways did the Holy Spirit speak to you as you read this Sparkling Gem?

[topmodelranking]

Cycle 24 Week 3

Hey guys, I am so excited to start this episode. It is going to be great to see who will work their makeovers, and my prediction of Ivana going home is still in force. But lets see if I am right.

Okay, still loving the intro, especially Coura and Liberty. Ah poor Maggie, so many high hopes based on her promo shots. Still think she was kind of robbed. Ugh, still don’t get Coura’s win. It just looks so awkward. It is honestly growing off me. Yep, Coura is getting overhyped, she is probably going to faulter.

Yay, time for makeovers. Already seen all this though, but the ones I am excited about are Khrys, Liberty, Rhiyan, Rio, Jeana and Liz. Sandra, Kyla, Erin and Shanice sound a bit mediocre. Ivana, Brendi and Christina...poor you guys. Then we have Coura getting the Coura...so we have no clue what is happening there.

Definitely playing the whole Trump thing this episode, I am expecting drama from Kyla and Liberty. Hoping Liberty doesn’t come off too bad.

Jeana looks absolutely gorgeous in her confessional, but I don’t know what she is worried about. Her bald head is gorgeous, and we have seen the wig in some other photoshoots, so we know it comes back. But still, definitely going to be a transformation moment for her.

Really, are people saying Liberty is offending ginger people? Like seriously, that is taking the sensitivity to a whole new level. I’d be worried if I was told I was going red, ginger people suit ginger, but she isn’t getting proper ginger hair so it doesn’t really matter.

Oh god Christina causing drama with Sandra, this is even more idiotic than the apple incident last week. Totally on Sandra’s side here, she is just so gorgeous, how can someone not love her. Ooh, now Brendi and Christina. These guys are going at it over such stupid things. Though Christina did look absolutely radiant in the confessional though. Wow, Brendi doesn’t want to be called Brendi. Maybe she would yell at me too, cause I am going to forget to add the K.

We are at the salon, wooh. Ugh, Law is there. Bring back Miss J. I want him back, he is just the best at makeovers. Finally to find out what the Coura is...and it is absolutely nothing. Wow, all that excitement over nothing. But they are definitely overhyping her, poor Coura is not our winner this season.

Oh my got...poor Brendi, it is just tragic. Her face is gorgeous, but no one deserves a buzz. Rhiyan is gorgeous, love her hair. Also loving the makeover shots, totally going to rank these. Kyla is...basically the same but straight.

Awww, poor Jeana. I am getting more in love with her each time she appears on my screen. Okay, wow, Law is actually being sweet. What a surprise. She is still so gorgeous, Awww, Law has a heart. Though he is totally stealing Jeana’s moment. She is so stunning, I am honestly in awe with her beauty. She is easily up there with Anchal as one of the most gorgeous girls.

Sandra looks amazing, as expected. Christina looks...awful. Her hair is so depressing. Liberty the makeover well, though I wished it was a bit more vibrant. It feels slightly lacklustre. Not a fan of Erin’s, forced wavy just looks awwkard to me. Rio looks amazing. Ah, Ivana is our crier without justification for the episode. I don’t hate her makeover, but I loved the full big hair, so I think this was another bad episode. WOw, Liz is being Liz. She is the only one that could work that hair...which looks like some cheap wig. Khrys is stunning, love her hair.

Finally we have Shanice, and oh, another condition. Poor Shanice, that explains why nothing seemingly changed in promo shots. Kind of sad Shanice didn’t get that dramatic makeover, this is so sad. Tyra is such a bitch, why did she want to make us cry. This is not fair. I feel so bad for her that she doesn’t want to be the crier, but who cares, this is totally understandable. THis girl is growing on me completely.

Some drama with Brendi, maybe she is being set up for another bottom 2 appearance. Though I totally understand her worries, though she needs to own her masculinity.

Love the look of this high fashion music video, the breif clips of Jeana and Coura look stunning. Reminds me of the extravagent outfits of the Las Vegas video, without the cheap moments.

Why is Law always here, I want Mis J. The outfits look so stunning, I am really in love with all of them. Most of the girls seem to be doing well, but Coura’s is still easily the best I saw. Rhiyan doesn’t seem to be doing well, not great. Jeana looks gorgeous as expected. She is clearly getting first call-out this episode.

Ivana is up next, her movements seem a bit awkward, her facial expressions are so dramatic. Awww, Shanice doesn’t do well. Another awkward performance. Rio looks stunning, Christina is gorgeous, Khrys looks great, same with Sandra and Kyla, and Liberty too. She is coming off as the real surprise of the cycle, so excited, even though she is never going to win.

Brendi is flopping hard, and Rio is calling her out. Loving Rio so damn much. Also looks like Kyla isn’t bottom 2 this week, and I think Brendi, Shanice or Rhiyan will be there instead.

Oh yeah, also meant to mention looks like Tyra is just filming the Tyra mails after the panel, so at least we get some variation I guess. Time for panel, and again Tyra is not looking great in her outfit. Ugh, this forced transformation of the judges. Law looks so much better without his cheapo long hair. And then Drew...wow, that is actually a moment. Amazing.

Okay, like last week I’ll leave the critique of the videos and the judges comments for the weekly ranking. But my instant faves are Liberty, Coura and Jeana, but on the other end, Ivana, Rhiyan and Shanice stood out for the wrong reasons. Another strong week though, this was a beautiful set.

Oooh Liz and Brendi coming out of nowhere, I am so damn confused. Liz is so annoying, that is just rude. Ugh, she is so frustrating. Hope she goes home soon now. 

Liberty deserved best performance, she killed it. Glad they didn’t give it to Jeana just for the stuff she went through, but I would have been happy if she got it. Coura was robbed of a higher spot, seems I just don’t get the judges with her. Bottom 3 as somewhat expected, with Shanice and Ivana in bottom 2. And Ivana gone as expected.

Definitely a great episode, even if the drama felt a bit forced. Still the music video was gorgeous. Ivana deserved to go home, her video was the weakest, but I am sad to see her go. She came into the competition with such a fire, and I wanted to see her rock it.

Next week we have the horror shoot. Looks like a good shoot, and the drama again looks strong. If I had to make an instant guess of who was going home, I think Liz could be in trouble. Sandra I feel will be the fake-out eliminee. But pretty much everyone else has been seen at another point in the promo...so bye Liz I guess, whether it is for quitting or elimination. Well, those two or Rhiyan are our real options here.

[panda-luminary]

Not Quite Skinny Dipping Pt. 2 (Marauders Era)

Pairing: Marauders + Lily x Female, Gryffindor Reader (Platonic)

Word count: 1,956

A/N: So, I got myself a little carried away while writing and that’s why it took so long, but here it is. This focuses more on Remus, because I feel that he is what keeps the Marauders together and this is story is about friendship, so, yeah.

Anyway, tell me if you find any mistakes or if you think the characters seem too OOC. Don’t be scared to give any feedback since this is my first story and I will gladly recieve suggestions.

You can read Part 1 here  

Enjoy your reading!

Settled during the Marauders and Lily’s fith year.

“And the best you can do is fill your head with good memories”

Remus Lupin wasn’t the most confident guy when it came to his body. So, when his brothers told him that they would go swimming in the Black Lake or they otherwise “melt from the heat”, he was a little more than hesitant. 

    Well, it was one of the hottest days of the year, he admitted to himself. And, because of this and the fact that classes were almost over, most students were in their common rooms hanging out or in their dorms having a nice nap, so he wouldn’t have to worry much about many of them being around the grounds or the lake. 

    He kept reassuring himself that one would see them. That no one would see him. But, of course, leave it to James Potter and Sirius Black to be their oblivious and impulsive selves to make him nervous all over again.

    It wasn’t intentional. And both boys were known to be persuasive and easily excitable. So, when Peter proposed inviting Lily Evans and (Y/N) (Y/LN) to accompany them to their swim to the Black Lake, Remus couldn’t find the strength to tell his best friends about his insecurities and nerves, not wanting to spoil their fun. 

    They had managed to convince the girls to go with them (obviously), and now they were making their way to the Black Lake. 

    As said lake came into view, James, Sirius and Peter broke into a run and, at the same time, struggled to discarding pieces of their clothing. After, Peter falling on his face, James hitting himself while taking his shoe off, and Sirius taking his shirt off and pulling his hair by accident while doing it; the three jumped into the lake laughing like maniacs. 

    “They are so energetic! It tires me just to see them. How exactly can you handle them Remus?” said Lily sceptic. 

    “I don’t. After sharing dorms with them for five years, you find ways to zone them out when they’re being annoying or loud. Usually, the library is a place they would never step a foot into.”

    “Well, I admire your strength, mate. If I shared a dorm with those dorks for five years, I’d probably only have few hairs left on my head and no sanity at all in my being.” (Y/N) said with a defeated face, making the two prefects laugh. 

    When they reached the lake, they put their stuff under the shade of the beech tree they usually used as a hanging out spot. At this, Sirius and began waving and yelling at them to come over. Remus looked amusedly at his best friends, but couldn’t calm his heart, which was beating a hundred miles an hour. He tried to hide his nervousness and turned to the girls with a smile. 

    “You two can go ahead, I’ll go in a minute. I'm just going to gather their stuff and leave it with ours” he said as an excuse to gain more time before he had to go in the water. 

    Lily gave smile at him and nodded, and (Y/N) was looking a bit suspicious but followed the red-head’s lead to go to the lake. 

    Remus looked at their backs as they walked further away, and sighed with a barely noticeable frown. He scratched his neck and began gathering James, Sirius and Peter’s garments from the ground, instead of just using Accio. As he gathered more and more clothes his mind was flowing with so many thoughts. He could go swim with his shirt on, but then he remembered how his shirt is long-sleeved and he hadn’t brought an extra one. That wouldn’t be comfortable at all, and one of his friends was bound to bring this up which would make things awkward. “Nice one, Remus,” he told himself sarcastically with a small eye-roll. 

     He noticed he had finished gathering the clothes and went back under the tree. At the same time, (Y/N) left the water and headed towards Remus, who, she noticed, was looking fidgety. 

    “Hey, you okay?” the girl asked with a title of her head.

     Remus cleared his throat. “What? Yes. Of course. Why wouldn’t I be okay?” He mentally cringed at himself for sounding so unconvincing, and (Y/N) seemed to notice this fact too since she had an eyebrow raised and was giving him a disbelieving look. At this, the werewolf gave a sigh. It had never been easy to lie to his best friend because he’s either feel guilty or she would see right past his lies. 

    “I- don’t really feel, err, comfortable going to the water,” he told her. He could practically see gears working inside of her head as she tried to figure him out.

     “Do you not feel comfortable because of the water, or do you not feel comfortable because you have to take your shirt off?” 

     There it is. She had said it so casually, and, as always, she could read him so easily. Much so that she saw past his lies and insecurities. Remus swallowed the lump in his throat and opened his mouth to say something, but opted to stay quiet as he looked at the floor ashamed. 

     He didn’t even know why he felt shame. Deep, deep inside himself he knew it was nothing to be ashamed about, but as he looked at himself in the mirror every morning, he couldn’t help but compare himself to his friends and everyone around him. How there weren’t deep scars on their faces, on the skin of their arms, backs or chests. Unlike him, they weren’t given looks of disgust whenever they walked in public places. He loathed the looks of fear and scorn people would give him and how even some parents held a little tighter to their children as if he would pounce at any moment

     Hideous. He would always think to himself while staring at his reflection on that same mirror and had to force himself to look away and continue with his day. 

    Sometimes, he would wonder what would have happened if Fenrir Greyback had never attacked him all those years ago. What would have happened if his father hadn’t spoken ill of the werewolf, or if his parents had heard his screams earlier and arrived just a few seconds before he was bitten to stop it from happening? 

      He was so lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed the tears running down his cheeks until he felt a warm hand wipe them away gently. He looked up at the warm eyes of his best friend, who was giving him small smile. 

      “Come here, Rem” she muttered and held him in her arms as he cried on her shoulder. 

      (Y/N) mumbled words of comfort to his ear and ran her wet hands through his hair, attempting to soothe him. 

        After he had calmed down, he pulled away and wiped his eyes. “I would apologize for getting your shirt wet but it’s not like it wasn’t like that before” he chuckled weakly and (Y/N) smiled. 

      “Even if it wasn’t like that before I would tell you that it doesn’t matter” Remus gave a half smile at this and there was a moment of silence between the friends.

      “Listen, Remus.” (Y/N) broke the silence. “I’m not the best at comforting people and you know this. So, I will just tell you what I think, so sit down.” This made the boy let out a snort but did as the girl told him. 

     (Y/N) inhaled and seemed to be thinking the be choosing the best words to tell him. 

       “When I was younger, my dad would always tell me this story about a man that had been cursed by an evil witch to never be able to see himself as beautiful again. No reason in particular. Just out of spite. She was an evil witch after all. Anyway, for this reason, the man would always cover himself up whenever he left his house. 

 In the village he lived in, he was known for his kindness and selflessness. He would always help the elders and would give away toys to the kids in the town’s orphanage. He wasn’t prejudiced or shallow. Because of all of this, everyone loved him. But they hadn’t seen his face and were rather curious to find out what he looked like. So, one day, the town’s pranksters gathered and began planning how they would unmask their hero. They didn’t even stop to think of the reasons why the man wouldn’t want to show his face and how he would feel if they unmasked him. They were blinded by their curiosity. 

 The man arrives in town at noon like every day, he is greeted warmly by everyone and greets back as usual. He hadn’t noticed how the mischievous teens that were usually causing trouble were missing. He was in the crowded market buying bread. As he handed money over to the baker he felt his cape being pulled back and taken away from him, exposing him to everyone. Everyone went quiet. And I’m not going to lie, some people held fear in their eyes as they looked at him. The man tried to cover himself and screamed at everyone to look away, making them back away a little, but that didn’t stop them from staring at him. 

 The man felt like crying. He wanted to curl himself up and stop existing at that moment. One of the teens came up to him and looked him over, making him uncomfortable. Then he smirked at him and turned to everyone else and began telling them how they had finally unmasked their hero and how great the man was. This seemed to make the people snap out of their thoughts and began to smile and cheer for the man. Because he was still loved. And even looks would never be able to beat love.” She finished her story. Remus waited for her to continue since it appeared she had more to say. 

       “My dad is better at story telling than me,” she chuckled. “But the message is the same, Remus. We love you and we will never judge you because of your scars. And those who do, well, they will have to deal with a crazy stag, a huge dog, a cunning rat, two very angry girls and half of Hogwarts, because we all love you, Remus. And your scars would never change that. In fact, what I see in your scars is courage. To deal with this every month is more than anyone would be able to handle, and that makes you strong, Rem. Stronger, than any of us.” She finished with an awkward smile and a blush covered her cheeks. 

      Remus was at loss for words. He wanted to tell her everything he was feeling at the moment. Wanted to express how he was so grateful to have her and Lily and James and Dumbledore and Hogwarts in his life. But the words seemed to be caught in his throat, so he pulled her into a tight embrace, which the girl didn’t see coming as she gave a small yelp, but returned it anyway. They were like that a few seconds and then felt wet bodies around them joining them on the hug. 

  “You guys, I don’t say it much but I really love you all.”  Said, Sirius, as he pressed himself tighter to Remus. 

 “Ugh, you’re getting us wet!” exclaimed (Y/N).

 “Oh, but you love this” replied James. 

 “Stop talking, you’re ruining the moment!” said Lily. 

 “Peter, your hand is on my arse” commented Sirius casually and a flustered Peter moved his hand away. 

Remus gave a loud, joyous laugh at his friends’ antics. 

 Even if sometimes they could be too much to handle, he would never trade them for the world.

“Thank you.”

[bolachasgratis]

Vodafone Paredes de Coura 2019: the review

Sometimes it’s hard to be objective and unbiased when writing about a festival that is such a big part of your life. Except for two (very) unremarkable lineups that made me stay home, since I was old enough to go to college all my summers involved a trip to Paredes de Coura (and a painful trip back, too). When you’re a kid, they say you’ll eventually get older and boring, in a process they call “becoming an adult”. This usually comes with amazing perks such as ceasing to listen to any new music whatsoever, stopping seeing your (also ageing) friends, having great conversations about changing diapers with your remaining friends (yes, the other couple with kids you always go vacationing with to some shitty beach full of other couples with kids and the odd mother-in-law). Obviously, a multi-day, non-kid friendly, rural music festival such as Festival Paredes de Coura seems like one of those things that are amongst the first to drop from your newfound “adult life”. Except you don’t have to be that person; and is there anything better to remind you of that than going there and finding all your friends in the same place, same month, year after year, all over again? (Well, other than imagining the smell of those diapers.)

That does not mean the festival itself is perfect. The lineup itself is arguably the best amongst Portuguese generalist indie festivals, with a carefully picked mix of artists that appeal to a young, college-aged crowd that is the heart and soul of the festival - although we have missed some of those fast, hard pounding guitars that were always amongst the top moments of the festival - and more contemplative, “adult” artists that appeal to an ageing demographic who has chosen Paredes de Coura to be the soundtrack to their summers for the past ten to fifteen years. And this seems to be the main issue for the organization to tackle in the years to come: How can they better accommodate a fanbase that is growing older and craves a level of comfort that is a few degrees above the needs of a camping 18 years old kid?

For starters, the beautiful green amphitheatre we can find on Wednesday – the real headliner of the festival, every year – is rapidly gone as soon as you get used to it, at least in some areas of the festival grounds where there is more movement, and especially after two sold out days. A less than ideal scenario, unless you love the feeling of having your nostrils taken over by dust. More frequent extreme weather conditions in the future will likely worsen this problem. As elitist as this sounds, and although this has not been a source of extreme queues for food and drinks, a cap on the number of tickets sold per day would be appreciated by most, even if a ticket price hike is needed as a trade off. The lack of sufficient, suitable accommodation in town (and nearby villages) may also become a problem in a scenario where more and more 30- and 40-somethings refuse to trade the highlight of their summers for a painfully boring conventional lifestyle. On the bright side, it is refreshing to see that the food options in the festival keep improving, with the traditional junk food slowly being replaced by tastier and/or healthier alternatives, in line with the excellent food lineup NOS Primavera Sound boasts every June; the press area has a great ambience and provides an excellent view over the stage, with an added sidescreen; the staff, and especially the security team, is miles ahead of any other festival we usually attend in the country.

KOKOKO!. Photo: Hugo Lima

As for the music, the first night was saved by the superb polyrhythmics of the Congolese ensemble KOKOKO!, who certainly deserved better than a 2am slot in an after-hours stage that, unfortunately, cannot comfortably hold enough people that can properly listen to and enjoy a show like this. Julia Jacklin’s songs are perfect in any situation, but they felt slower than usual and I wouldn’t hold it against people that thought it wasn’t the most attention-grabbing set of all times. For a festival set, we could have used a bit less slows and a bit more energy. Boogarins sounded unlike everything we think a tropicalism-inspired Brazilian indie rock band should sound like and their set was a major letdown; local rockers Bed Legs are not the most interesting band in the world, but at least they sound like they give a shit (in fact, they played their hearts out, and fair play to them). In a prime time slot, Parcels seemed to entertain those who could see past the idea that they are were brought up in a lab, tailor made for indie music festivals and commercials. The National were up next.

The National. Photo: Hugo Lima

We do not want to sound like people who advocate alcoholism, but it was a bad omen to see Matt Berninger entering the stage with some Coca Cola instead of the wine bottles we were used to in the golden days around the release of Boxer and their shows in the Sudoeste and Alive festivals and their shows in Lisbon and Guimarães. Berninger might look healthier than his younger self, but the 2019 version of the National is tamer, more predictable (how many new songs with the same drum beat can they possibly write?), less interesting, and equally anthemic, but in a worse way. It’s not during “Mr. November”, the only song rescued from Alligator that night, that Berninger does his typical first row freak out; that song sounds quite graceless now. (Yes, this isn’t a good pun at all, he did that trick during “Graceless”). “About Today”, one of the greatest songs the National have ever written, also sounded a bit dull. Or was it because we knew that the cheesiest moment of the night, that a capella “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” chorus was about to come next, and we were already dreading it?

It wasn’t all bad, though. Despite the shameful absence of two handful of great songs off their pre-2011 life, their top songs released in this decade are amongst the best they’ve ever recorded. “Bloodbuzz Ohio”, “Day I Die”, new tracks “Rylan” and “Light Years”, and especially “Pink Rabbits” were the highlights of the show. The other songs off the new album are competent at best, and the musicianship is certainly there. Deep down, we know we might still see some spark in this band in the future, but not now. Berninger might have seen Nick Cave (who told him to fuck off) in this very stage fourteen years ago, but apparently he learned nothing from him. The National is a pretty decent band in a desperate need of a long break.

Stella Donnelly. Photo: Hugo Lima

Shamefully, we were working during one of our most anticipated sets of this year’s edition of the festival, but we heard only good things about Khruangbin’s show on Thursday. Of course they had to steal everyone’s hearts. How could they not? Same as last minute replacement Stella Donnelly, who ended up being one of the major highlights of the whole weekend. Donnelly and her five piece band had the best energy, played some of the songs with the quirkiest and poignant lyrics, did the best synchronized dances, and she deserves to be crowned the undisputed queen of Vodafone Paredes de Coura 2019. At least for the diminutive crowd that was there at 7pm - was everyone else working, too? Only time will tell if this is the next case of a singer-songwriter who will start playing two shows in Portugal per year until everyone’s tired of her but we sincerely hope the first part of the sentence is true. Later on, Car Seat Headrest made up for their lukewarm show two years ago and provoked the strongest bursts of energy in a crowd that seemed thirsty for some guitars, singing along to every single song, from the new "Can’t Cool Me Down” to the absolute anthems “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” – one of the greatest songs added to the indie rock canon in the past few years – and “Destroyed By Hippie Powers”, off Teens of Denial.

Car Seat Headrest. Photo: Hugo Lima

But the night belonged to a New Order rare apparition in Portuguese stages. You just have to check a couple of 80s and 90s New Order live shows on YouTube and do the same for contemporary gigs to know they're a totally different beast, and in a good way. They may still not be the best live band ever, and Sumner's vocals sound quite hilarious at times. But, at this point, they're a very oiled machine - and some of the best sounding songs were the ones off their most recent LP, such as "Tutti Frutti", "Plastic", or opener "Singularity". We would prefer, though, a few forgotten New Order classics ("Ceremony", "The Perfect Kiss", "Age of Consent"...) instead of that four song long tribute to Joy Division ("She's Lost Control" and "Transmission" in the beginning, and "Atmosphere" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart" in the encore) that made them look as a band that would prefer to have never existed. The crowd didn't give a flying fuck about my eye-rolling reaction to that encore, as it provided the biggest sing along moment of the festival. 

New Order. Photo: Hugo Lima

Our Friday opened with a laidback, seemingly endless (in a good way, they should have gotten a 2 hour long slot anyway) Jonathan Wilson show. Featuring ex-The Mars Volta drummer Deantoni Parks on drums (what an amazing extended solo at the end of “Dear Friend”) and Jeffertitti Moon on bass guitar, Wilson’s band smooth sailed through the early afternoon. Playing mostly Rare Birds material, taking us straight to LA along with album art-inspired visuals in the background, there was still time for a single foray into Fanfare (the abovementioned “Dear Friend”) and two picks off his “official” Dead Oceans debut, Gentle Spirit: the classic “Desert Raven” and traditionally set closer “Valley of the Silver Moon”. Jonathan Wilson will be back in Braga for a solo show next November but he’s apparently only going to play Frankie Ray tunes in my dreams.

Jonathan Wilson. Photo: Hugo Lima

One of the most expected shows of the festival was Black Midi, the most likely band in the lineup to make the kids go wild. And they did. The London boys might be young and a bit inexperienced, but they’re already masters of the whole tension and release thing, to the point that they’re comfortable with not releasing at all at the most obvious moments for that grandiose firework effect. Doesn’t matter: the kids still won’t be quiet, the kids are hungry for movement, the kids are loving it. This band is a blessing, and we hope they stay with us for years to come.

Black Midi. Photo: Hugo Lima

Deerhunter played possibly their most interesting set of their long history of boring me around 9pm in every single festival I go to, but the moment we were waiting for (and we waited for some 15min longer than supposed - thank you Jonathan and your extra long set, we love you) was for Spiritualized to take the stage. In a format of a six piece band complete with a three voice choir, Jason Pierce refuses to take center stage – as always – and sits on his chair by the far left of the stage as the band bursts into “Come Together” and proceeds into a more gospel-y phase with Lazer Guided Melodies’ “Shine a Light” and the miraculous, anthemic “Soul on Fire”. The straightforward rock and roll Amazing Grace cut “She Kissed Me (It Felt Like a Hit)” gave way to an almost complete performance of their latest record “And Nothing Hurt”, with the song titles written in the big screen on morse code to keep with the album artwork. The combo “On the Sunshine” (complete with a long outro filled with strobe lights) and the post-rock-like crescendo of “Damaged” were amongst the highest points of one of the best shows Spiritualized have performed in the country in recent times, before closing off with an ecstatic “Oh! Happy Day” version where the choir shone even brighter than those strobes.

Spiritualized. Photo: Hugo Lima

It’s a very tough job to follow up a Spiritualized gig, but it’s simply impossible for Father John Misty and his band to play a bad show. With a heavy focus on latest record God’s Favorite Customer but especially 2015′s I Love You, Honeybear (the same record that fueled that marvelous show in this very stage four years ago), at this point, about five out of every five songs he plays live are above average, to the point that there’s really not much to say about it. I would like to use this opportunity to tell the kid that was singing all the words behind me during the whole set to frantically listen to Fear Fun, since those were the only moments (“Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings”, “This Is Sally Hatchet”, “Nancy From Now On”) I could hear Tillman’s voice – the kid didn’t know the lyrics. Thanks man, you can learn them now. Unfortunately for Peaking Lights, there’s really nothing we could do to pay attention after Spiritualized and FJM, but a few of us really tried to fit Macarena’s lyrics into your beats.

Father John Misty. Photo: Hugo Lima

There’s always a dark cloud looming above us in the last day of the festival, and this time it was threefold: a certain sadness because we knew it was time to go, a cloud of dust in certain parts of the festival grounds due to too many people walking above holy ground, and a proper giant cloud threatening us with that classic Paredes de Coura rain we all know and hate. The Lisbon six-piece Ganso opened the main stage with their slow, pastoral brand of indie rock reminiscent of Capitão Fausto, who closed the main stage after the New Order show two nights before. Elsewhere, Alice Phoebe Lou was experiencing problems with her mic (and her sore throat), and the audience celebrated like a goal the moment her voice finally echoed through the Vodafone FM stage. A crystal clear voice that we cannot help but think it was cloned off Angel Olsen’s vocal chords. The up and coming singer-songwriter was presenting her new album, Paper Castles, from which she drew two of the highlights of her set: the marvelous ballad “Nostalgia”, “Galaxies”, and “Fynbos”, a song evocative of her homeland of South Africa. Looking forward to explore a record that, somehow, fell through the cracks and did not cross our radar in the first half of 2019.

Mitski. Photo: Hugo Lima

"I played three songs”. Those sharply pronounced four words, said while laying on top of a table, were the only words uttered by Mitski Miyawaki in between songs, sending away the photographers from the pit. On one of her last shows before an already announced hiatus, the Japanese-American songwriter brought us the unusual stage antics we were still looking for in the shape of unsettling dance moves that might have come straight from a 90s instructional fitness VHS. And tons of great songs covering all her albums, with a focus on latest Be the Cowboy and the brightest jewel in her discography, Bury Me at Makeout Creek.

Sensible Soccers. Photo: Hugo Lima

But the biggest moment of the night, and probably the festival, started taking place before Mitski even left the stage. We had already pointed out that Sensible Soccers was our top pick for the day and our favorite Portuguese act in the lineup, and they did not disappoint. On stage, the trio turned into a five piece that sounded tighter than most bands with extensive continental and overseas touring, despite their touring consisting of shows far and between, and almost always in their home turf. We like to believe the only reason for them not to be consistently touring and playing sold out shows all across Europe is simply because they have their own jobs and don’t want to. Aurora is an absolute beauty of a record that needs to be listened to right now (we told you that a few months ago), and too bad you cannot find them on a stage near you. Oftentimes contemplative, ecstatic when we needed it to be, this show was one for the ages - and we didn’t even need the bonus that is them closing the concert with the fantastic “Sofrendo por Você” - complete with their mythical dancer on stage as it should be. Later on, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib would prove hip hop is in Paredes de Coura to stay (although the fifteenth “fuck police” chant was starting to bore us) and Jayda G’s set was on point until 5 am, but our festival was largely complete. See you next year.