#also the fact that wu's the only one in Just A Towel basically

[kingwu]

♛ || (just thinking about how some of the most important people in republic city humored wu by agreeing to hold a political emergency meeting in a sauna.)

[drowsydregon]

EVEN MORE Small Facts/Details About Ninjago Characters

> Day of the Departed is Nya's favorite holiday

> Lloyd isn't usually one to snark or be cold towards people, but if you do him dirty he will verbally eviscerate you. He did this to Harumi, Garmadon, and Akita after feeling betrayed or hurt by them.

> Cake isnt the only thing Cole likes. He also likes chocolate-covered shell peas!

> Jay really likes cotton candy! he's seen eating it during Lloyd's trivia game in "Child's Play" as well as after stopping Lloyd in "Rise of the Snakes."

> While Kai isn't very good at skating, he is good at sledding.

> Lloyd's animal symbol was an ouroboros serpent until he became the golden ninja. Now it’s a dragon.

> Cole tends to cross his arms.

> Ninjago's version of Instagram and Facebook merge together, and the site is called "InstaBook.' Twitter on the other hand is called 'Chirper.' Kai's handle on Chirper is @ Fi-Ya13 (Yes, it's pronounced how you think it is. Bonus fact: Kai is a professional dork.)

> Cyrus likes talking about technology and the work he makes, even in the presence of people he doesn't necessarily like. He was very proud to announce the features of the BorgWatch after Krux dismissed the device.

> Cole is a nervous eater, and Ronin called him out on this.

> Nya and Zane are the only Ninja who have never been shirtless at any point in the series. On the other hand, Jay has straight up been naked on-screen before. (And... hit a dude with a towel while he has naked.)

> Zane's speech pattern tends to be more formal than his fellow Ninja's. He doesn't use slang, idioms, or contractions very often. The other nindroids tend to be the same way.

> Wu's beard got a lot longer after being hit with the Time Punch. Seriously, it basically dragged on the ground.

> Cole is a very skilled artist. Specifically, he likes making traditional paintings.

> The last time we saw Zane's falcon was season eight.

> Jay.. does not have a very expansive vocabulary. He wasn’t exactly sure what 'bequeathed' or 'temporal' meant.

> Skylor has appeared in every season since her debut. The only exceptions are season 8 and season 11.

> Ronin's eyepatch has thermal vision and can scope out ghosts. Pretty handy if you owe a very dangerous ghost a large debt, no? ((This also implies that Ronin likely isn't blind in his right eye.))

> Ever wonder what happened in the aftermath of Skybound?? No?? Well according to The Dark Island Trilogy, Nadakhan's crew is actually currently in Kyptarium Prison, while Clouse is trapped in the Underworld.

> Acronix's favorite modern invention is the BorgWatch. Likewise, Krux hates BorgPads the most.

> Acronix says he has followers on InstaBook. How many or who these followers are is unknown.

> During DotD, Morro and Pythor's statues are opposite side of the other villains'. This could be possible a representation of how Morro and Pythor got redemption arcs while the others did not. (even tho Pythor's redemption arc was a psuedo arc, he was still considered 'redeemed' until that point)

> Fangtom and Skalidor's names are never mentioned in canon; whereas Pythor, Skales, and Acidicus are all mentioned by name at least once.

> The spider song Harumi sings is actually a lullaby Hutchins taught her. Ironically, she found it pretty creepy as a child.

> Harumi likes lots of garlic in her noodles, but wasn’t really allowed to have garlic often due to her parents believing that princesses 'are not allowed to have bad breath.'

> Harumi also likes ice cream and cats!

> Pythor has happily taken pictures with a family visiting the amusement park, and only seemed to hate it after the flash went off.

> Acronix likes taking pictures. This includes selfies. 

> After being bleached, Pythor's eyes shift in and out of being pink and red. Whether this is an animation error or there's an actual reason for this is unknown to me.

> Harumi has zero clue where Mr. E came from. He just kinda... appeared.

> Nonetheless, Harumi was soft for Mr. E. She tried to reason with Garmadon to prevent him from being murdered, and looked legitimately hurt when she was unsuccessful. 

> There's a particular scene where Morro walks into a bar, and he seemed to get a nostalgic kick out of being there. As if he's visited it many times before when he was still alive.

> Pythor prefers to lead armies with perfectly concocted plans rather than directly fight his enemies. If he has to directly fight, he's either gonna pull a trick out of his sleeve or he's gonna end up running away.

> Morro is one of the only ghost warriors we see whose never seen with a tail. (Unless you wanna count the time he possessed Bansha)

> While Chen is ultimately a selfish asshole, he did stick up for Skylor after Clouse made a snide remark about her betrayal.

> Pythor is extremely lonely, going so far as becoming friends with inanimate objects in order to fill the void. He even questions why Lloyd would run away from making friends, saying that 'everybody needs friends, even tyrants,'

> Chen, Clouse, Skylor, and Garmadon are the only cultists without tattoos on their faces. Likewise, they're the only cultists who keep their regular humanoid heads after the transformation spell is complete. (Well aside from Clouse, since he never became an Anacondrai in the first place.)

> Hutchins was more aware of Harumi’s problems than the Emperor and Empress. It’s also implied Hutchins was growing suspicious of Harumi’s plans.

> We don't have much to go off of, but it's subtly implied that Morro was very curious as a child. This seems to carry over as an adult, as he can be seen assessing situations and acting quickly based on these assessments. (For example, he was the one to figure out Yang was likely the culprit that brought everybody back to life during DotD while all the other villains were still bantering with each other. He was also able to figure out how to use the Sword of Sanctuary fairly quickly through mere study.)

> Morro almost always has an eyebrow raised. Seriously, between his smug nature and his curious nature, his eyebrows never even out.

> Cryptor laughs... a lot. Like that's literally half his dialogue. At least he's having a good time!

> Morro had his green hairstripe before he was adopted by Wu.

[chalkrevelations]

OK, so, episode reax of WoH Ep 4 is briefly delayed – may be out Sunday, but more likely post M-W workweek. It is coming. Meanwhile, have some more Street Dance of China? S3, Ep 2.

First of all, I have to say that if I had any way of figuring out what some of this music is, I’d have a new Spotify playlist 300 songs long.

ANYWAY, we get a recap of … Wang Yibo being incredulous about coming in last place in a dance competition. Wang Yibo vowing to get back the three colorful towels he lost by coming in last place in a dance competition and therefore can’t use to send three more of his team’s dancers on to the next round. Hip-hop freestyle battles for TOWELS. Wang Yibo getting his colorful towels back. Ridiculous unnecessary drama over whether Lay Zhang is going to win his battle and get EVEN MORE colorful towels, given his competition is Wallace Chung (oh dear. that was kind of blunt.). And that’s what you missed on Glee Street Dance of China 3 Ep 1.

 Snapshots of what’s coming up this week: Everyone has shot their wad on towels and is sweating the fact that they have 59 more dancers they want to send through to the next round and a single towel left. (I TOLD YOU SO. ALL OF YOU.) The only way to get more towels is to battle for them. A hip-hop battle has NEVER BEEN SO IMPORTANT.

Cutting here, I guess, for ridiculously detailed nattering. Hashtag long post (remorseful):

Team Lay Zhang: First of all, Lay Zhang, I just have to note that you’re getting an edit that doesn’t make you look like the brightest bulb in the box. I don’t know if this is just the edit, or if it’s … well. You. I guess we’ll see as the season goes on. Also, in the interim, I have found out that you also are Zhang Yixing, which a lot of your fandom seems to actually call you, so should I call you Yixing instead of Lay? You seem to be going by Lay for this show, so it seems polite to stick to that? Anyway. Gongsun Wu Ming & Hei Zai start us off this episode, and they get off to a little bit of a slow start, but once they pick up, they’ve got a lot of nice air in their moves, that effortless(-looking) almost anti-gravity effect that good breakers can get. Then we almost immediately get a series of ok, that’s fine, oh, wait, no, THAT is actually pretty mediocre poppers, none of whom gets a towel, thank god, because the supply has to be running low. And then Teng Zai appears, claiming to be the best popper, and … OK. OK, alright. Fine. He might be right. His technique and control are fantastic, but you want to know what really sells me, in the middle of this generally fantastic performance? It’s that series of chest pops followed by the little heart held out right on the fk’n music. It’s little details like that, that make or break a performance, and he pulled it off beautifully. I went back to re-watch, it was so slick, yet so charming. OK, maybe I went back to watch more than once. You can’t prove anything. (Also, he gets called their little “Ares” - in quotes, in the subs – by other contestants, more than once, but I can’t pick out the actual sound of that name, which makes me think the subbers have inserted “Ares” as something that will give the flavor of what he’s actually being called. My 1st level Duolingo Mandarin is absolutely not enough to figure out what people are actually calling him, so is there anyone who’s able to give me some insight, here?) Aaaand, Towel Battle 1 (see Footnote 1). Post-battle, we’ve reached the point when all the captains are sweating their lack of towels, so e’rybody is just going to have to battle for towels from here on out. Yuan Ye faces Momo, and a little bit, this is where I expect the knife fight to start (Momo’s bringing the knife). I’m honestly not that impressed with either of them and probably would have saved my towel for someone else, but Lay Zhang decides to send them both through, so what’s the point of a battle to begin with? BUT THEN (dun-dun-dun) some dude calling himself Bon shows up to really cut a bitch, waves away both Yuan Ye and Momo to the sidelines, describes himself as “a boom” and proceeds to give a performance that imo is kind of mushy and all over the place. Lay Zhang looks a little taken aback as Bon sort of grinds up on him but can’t even really commit to that, just before Lin Zi Jie shows up. Lay Zhang makes Zi Jie change his coat - thank god, because you can’t see half of what he’s doing and he actually seems like the most towel-worthy performance out of this whole cluster of flail – and asks for a freestyle battle, which turns out to not be that great on Bon’s or Zi Jie’s parts, actually. I feel like the dance vocabulary here is kind of limited, and we’re left with a bunch of hip-shaking, grinding, and supposedly seductive looks, which is NOT going to cut it in the battles we’ve seen already. Towels to Momo and Zi Jie, rather than putting them in reserve and waiting to see who else shows up, which I think is probably a mistake, but OK, I’m not a pop idol with the clout to star on this show, so. (I know what I like to watch, tho’, and none of that was it.) A promise to Yuan Ye that she gets a Battle Towel. Time for Towel Battle 3 (See Footnote 3).

Team Wallace Chung: So, first off, there’s George, who dances before he’ll introduce himself, and I guess I have to respect a guy who’s going to let his performance be his introduction. And then we get a series of OK that’s fine but not really great poppers, and Wallace, unlike Lay, is handing out towels like candy. OK, my man. If that’s really what you want to do, I guess, but it doesn’t seem like the greatest idea to me. You’re also really fucking with the morale of the dancers who haven’t performed yet, who are gradually realizing that you’re going to run out of towels before you even get to them. Hilariously (for me, if not the contestants), I paused at this point to go refresh my bourbon and managed to freeze on a random contestant, identified as Wei Ming - who I don’t know if we’ll ever get to see actually perform, but he deserves the bolded name for this, alone – looking baffled and concerned, with the English subtitle on his comment reading “Sir, what are you thinking?” I suspect he is not using “Sir” in the sense that I use it when my cat (or Zhang Zhehan) has done something appallingly adorable, but rather when the cat has knocked yet another gd pen off my desk while I’m trying to take notes, just to be a bastard for attention. (OTOH, I guess if you weren’t one of the dancers bold enough to swarm up there in the first couple of hours, you take what you get. Fortuna fortes adiuvat.) We finally get to Lin Meng, whose reputation precedes him, but seriously, if Wallace is just handing out towels to every popper, what does it even mean? Wallace – Wallace – proceeds to basically call Lin Meng an old man before making him bargain for a towel, which is a shame, because Lin Meng deserves to get not only this towel but the four towels you just gave away to some guys who should still be holding Lin Meng’s jacket, Wallace. I mean, seriously, this guy’s technique is fantastic. Even if he does fumble his jacket lapel that one time. Aaaand, Towel Battle 1 (see Footnote 1). Post battle, we get A.K. Dong, who’s got some excellent musicality and a face that apparently resembles a variety show star (Hank Chen?). I mean, I guess it gets him noticed, but it sucks that it seems to overshadow his dancing, because he’s really good. Then we notice our towels are running low, and everybody is just going to have to battle it out. Wallace promises the Battle Towel to some dude who we don’t see perform and don’t get a name for, and with my prognisticatory skills, I’m going to say we won’t need to know his name, because this is the last we’ll see of him. Time for Towel Battle 3 (See Footnote 3).

Team Wang Yibo: First up, we get Bing, whose reputation precedes him, prompting other teams to look around and wonder what all the commotion is about. Bing has a motorbike moment with Yibo, before giving a performance that starts off the tiniest bit mushy before he puts some fantastic technique on display. Yibo pulls out his Perpetual Student schtick and asks for some freestyle with some motorbike elements, which at first makes me suspect you might be fucking with this guy just a little bit, Yibo, but Bing is both game and versatile, and he eventually gets his towel, along with a wish from Yibo to ride together sometime, and oh. (As we say, in A Very Significant Tone, on AO3.) All of that was flirting. OK. On the heels of Yibo giving me yet another clue as to his taste in men, we roll into a seriously uncomfortable segment that stomps all over my embarrassment squick because they’ve cut together several women to look desperate and starstruck and comical and dumb, while Yibo looks increasingly uncomfortable, and I am super not down with this, show. I’ll admit that from what we can see, none of them are great dancers, but I suspect there were a lot of not-great male dancers, too, and I just. Ick. This was unnecessary, you haven’t done it to any of the other captains, and it frankly doesn’t make Yibo look that great, when you set his reactions here against the fact that not only have we not seen approval from him for any female contestants so far, but this segment is the only interaction we’ve seen from him with any female contestants so far. Hard on the heels of this segment, we get Chick, who is very good when he wants to be but also super-extra and annoying, and who fucks around more than he really dances, but the audience seems charmed with him, and Yibo doesn’t give him any of the smackdown he deserves, which doesn’t improve my impression of the previous segment, given the varied ways Yibo iced out some of the women. Meanwhile, Jackson Wang strolls over, and Yibo acts super weird about it, for a guy who was the first one to wander into someone else’s territory, which was – oh, yeah, I remember, Jackson’s – to watch his dancers, and Jackson says that he would give Chick a towel before heading back to his own street, and then Yibo does, even though he fucks with him a little bit first, and then there’s a bit of footage cut in of Yibo making dumbass excuses for this guy, so. I’m not entirely feeling you right now, Yibo. Also, all of this is certainly doing nothing to disabuse me of the notion that you’re about 1000000x more comfortable in homosocial situations, for whatever reason. Anyway, we then get a montage of Yibo handing out some towels to various dancers (including a woman, finally, although she’s intercut with some other people and doesn’t actually get a full segment of her own), and then we get Tao and Cici, who are both good, but Yibo now discovers that he only has three towels and there are two people standing in front of him, so he gives a towel to Tao and promises one to Cici after the next towel battle, which, yeah, Tao is probably better, but this is a hell of time to decide to be circumspect with your towels, Yibo, when you can leave a woman sitting on the sidelines but send her husband through to the next round. :hands: Anyway, it’s time for Towel Battle 2 (See Footnote 2), and I do have to give Yibo props, again, for his teambuilding, because he takes a minute to say, hey, there aren’t a lot of towels left, and there are quite a few of you, so what we’re going to do is all go over there together, and get another towel, as a team. Post-battle, Yibo is still concerned about his lack of towels, and everyone left is going to have to battle it out, although, frankly, the way Yibo’s been going on about how much he likes battles, I sort of think he might secretly be a tiny bit excited about this. He ends up putting person after person into reserve, waiting to see everyone, probably, and then Meng Di shows up, and she’s already got the rest of the group behind her. They know her, they know she has cochlear implants, they respond immediately when she shushes them so she can hear Yibo and the music, they call for the DJ to turn up the music for her, they clap together to emphasize the beat. She’s smart enough to keep six feet between her and Yibo while she dances, so that she doesn’t spook him like the fragile and shy homosocial forest creature he apparently is. She immediately gets her cha cha on when her battle partner holds out his hand to lead her out for her turn. Good technique, even though there are a few bobbles. None of these four performances in the final battle are the best we’ve seen so far, but they’re solid. Yibo is clearly torn about what to do with his one towel, although the audience starts getting kind of insistent that he needs a waacker, and a female waacker at that, and he ends up making Bullet and Meng Di battle again. She’s performing for the audience at this point – I mean, she’s not even pretending about it, she spends most of this round facing them, with her back to Yibo - and she’s also versatile, genre-wise, so I think we can all see where this is going. I think he really wanted to give that towel to Bullet, who definitely is very good, but he knew that he’s painted himself into a corner where he ought to give it to Meng Di, so that he’s got some genre-versatility on the team, if nothing else. Towel to Meng Di, and a promise to Bullet to win another Battle Towel for him. Time for Towel Battle 3 (See Footnote 3).

Team Jackson Wang: First up is Bai, who apparently is a favorite from season one, but I haven’t seen season one – or season two - so I don’t have any history on any of these people. Bai is doing a bit, here, but he’s also generally got some good technique, so OK. Why are they blurring out his left wrist, though? Yang Yu Ting is really good, some more good technique, good musicality. And then we’re already on to Towel Battle 2 (See Footnote 2). Post-battle, we get Shen Kai Xiang, who apparently looks A LOT like Jack Ma, which seems to be little bit like if some Bill Gates-lookin’ mf’r showed up to audition for SYTYCD. Lyrical; good technique; much like Bai, appears to be doing a bit. And, then, as with all the captains, the dearth of towels sets in, and Jackson is going to put everyone in the gladiator ring and make them battle it out. Maybe we can win another Battle Towel. Time for Towel Battle 3 (See Footnote 3).

***

Footnote 1, AKA Towel Battle 1, Team Lay Zhang vs. Team Wallace Chung, 3v3: Team Lay Zhang is San Jin, who they throw up some B-roll on, since the show has spent no time on him so far although he seems to be in cahoots with Xiao Bao (see Ep 1 recap); Gongsun Wu Ming, who’s spoiling for a battle after no one would take him up on it during his initial performance; and Teng Zai, because I mean, come on. Team Wallace Chung is Lin Meng, which should be interesting, since he and Teng Zai are apparently from the same crew, George, and Qin Yu, who we not only haven’t seen before this, that I can remember, but don’t even get B-roll on while Wallace is talking strategy, unlike the other two. Qin Yu, this does not bode well for your future on the show, if they’re not even bothering to give you B-roll, let alone an edit. Both captains are very weird about introducing their dancers, like these guys are some big surprise and aren’t going to dance in front of everybody in a minute and half, anyway. Possibly this is some kind of attempt at a dominance display? I don’t know. It’s won by the host, anyway, who eventually enforces his will and gets some introductions out of the captains. Anyway, Gongsun is up first for Team Lay Zhang, and this dude is just fun to watch, with great musicality and flow, and Wallace’s face while watching him is a picture, let me tell you. He’s up on Qin Yu almost immediately, possibly sensing the weakest link of Team Wallace? Team Wallace counters with George, who’s not having any of that, and gets the first point for his team. Second round, Teng Zai is once again impeccable, so even though someone has lit a fire under George, who spends half his time upside down, he nevertheless loses the point to Teng Zai. Round three, Teng Zai and Lin Meng face off, and they’ve both got great technique, although I feel like Lin Meng has a slight edge there, but I also think Teng Zai did a better job of showcasing strength and control, so I’m not surprised when the judges go for another round, in which Teng Zai is still super-fun to watch and definitely on his game, but Lin Meng steps up with some incredible precision, so I’m a little surprised when the judges give it (unanimously) to Teng Zai and Team Lay Zhang. One more round, and Teng Zai … is maybe wearing down a little bit, coasting on this one, and oh, hey, we’re finally going to get to see Qin Yu, who has some nice fluidity but maybe doesn’t really match up to Teng Zai in the charisma department, which may be why we haven’t seen him before this, and also why he loses the round. Round, battle, and two towels to Team Lay Zhang, and we still haven’t seen more than 15 seconds of B-roll of San Jin. But wait! There’s still a moment to be had, in which Teng Zai suggests donating one of their towels to Team Wallace, namechecks love and peace as a vital part of street dance, and quite possibly cements his place in my – and everyone else’s - heart. Both sides go home with a towel.

Footnote 2, AKA Towel Battle 2, Team Wang Yibo vs. Team Jackson Wang, 3v3 captain-led battle: Oh, they get to choose a song for each other. This should be interesting. I feel like there’s some shit-talking going on here, although I’m not really equipped to catch it and am at the mercy of the subtitles. Does Jackson really ask Yibo, “You WERE a dancer when you were young?” because lol. And Yibo is all, “Eh, kind of?” I do love how neither of them can hold still for songs two and three. So, Team Yibo is also Bing and Tao, while Team Jackson is also Bai and Ting. The thing that strikes me immediately during the minute or so that they get to plan and quickly choreograph is that Team Yibo has everyone there – there’s no point during this planning stage that the entire crew isn’t involved. They’re all part of this. Meanwhile, Team Jackson is just the three of them, separate from everybody, working out their choreography. The whole-team approach IMMEDIATELY pays off, when Team Yibo slams out of the gate with an energy and power and fullness to their performance that Yibo will later comment is fueled by the atmosphere that the dancers at the back create, and he’s right, it’s just like a wave of pressure pushing them forward, not even getting into the fact that the three people actually in the battle are fucking good. Team Jackson is also good, but they don’t feel like a team, the crew in the back doesn’t seem to have it together, and the loss of that – it has an impact. No surprise that Round 1 goes to Team Yibo and their Attitude, which is like an entire fourth dancer on its own. Round two coming up, and the entire Team Yibo is still involved in the planning stages, Yibo’s flannel has come off and we’re down to T-shirt sleeves, and Tao is surprising me not only with his moves – I honestly didn’t expect him to come as hard as he does, given he and Cici were more lyrical in their initial performance – but in his killer instinct, because he’s the one who suggests getting up in Jackson’s face, lit. and fig., by yoinking one of his signature moves. Meanwhile, Yibo is playing gay chicken, and it is just as great an idea as it sounds like (and this is that performance that a clip of it was making the rounds a few months ago); meanwhile Jackson is going high (?) concept, and that is just as bad an idea as it sounds like, although he does attempt some charming self-deprecation when it’s all over (also, omg, one of the contestant reactions later is that he’s “short of brain trust.” I’m not actually sure what the most eloquent way to translate that comment would have been, but it certainly gets an idea across.) Chick actually earns his pay in one of the best moments of the battle that – as much as I hate to encourage it – actually does profit off his general air of douchery, Team Jackson continues to lack the kind of cohesive team feel that Team Yibo is bringing – and second round, battle, and towel to Team Yibo. THIS is the advantage of team-building from the very first minute. Also, fuck, Yibo and the dancers he’s collected are good. Technically, yes, but also, the auditions are getting kind of interminable, but after this battle, I’m excited again, and that kind of audience reaction is a good measure of whether your dancing is successful. (Towel goes to Cici, btw, which, yeah, Tao did fucking earn that for her, so I’m glad you came through on your promise to her, Yibo.)

Footnote 3, AKA Towel Battle 3, all four captains. Cypher. Four rounds. Everyone else’s face when the cypher is announced:  D:   Yibo’s face when the cypher is announced:  >:D  They each get to choose a style of music. Wallace chooses locking. Yibo and Jackson both choose hip-hop. Lay Zhang chooses krump. Yibo’s already moving before the music even starts, to whatever music lives inside his head. The music actually starts, and Yibo is in the center before anyone else gets the chance (probably before anyone else can get up their nerve …) My sound drops out right here, which, wtf, but I can still tell Yibo’s throwing down the gauntlet. He’s beatable, but not by anybody who’s going to coast. Also, goddam, he has legs for days. Lay Zhang is in next, with some good speed and power and crispness to his moves, although I’m having trouble taking that cap with the fake dreads seriously. It’s … actually super interfering with me getting on board with your vibe, my dude. Jackson’s up next, and he has somehow managed to bring my sound back, and he also lands, frankly, the best forward Salto we’ve seen from anyone so far this season, which I have to admit even though he is my inexplicable mortal enemy. Yibo and Wallace, ffs, ice him out in the follow-up, although he then does the same thing to Lay, so who tf knows what’s going on with the actual interpersonals between these guys and what’s for show, at this point. Wallace finally gets his turn and is super-game but horribly out-classed. Yibo gives him props anyway, which, good on you for respecting your elders and their efforts, I guess, baby, but let’s all admit that was an “E” for effort. Judges are frantically scribbling their points down as round 2/4 begins, and Yibo is the first one in the middle, again, and wtf gdi my sound really picks this point to drop out again? I feel like Youku may be fucking with me, at this point. ANYWAY, Yibo is finally, actually all in, and he’s got a fantastic Harlem shake, it’s like his joints are barely connected. I honestly could watch this boy dance all day, that’s how smooth he looks. Here’s the thing about Yibo, and it’s something the other captains haven’t yet achieved, or have only accomplished in slivers of time – he makes me want to dance, too. I watch him, and I want to be doing what he’s doing. You could say that he literally, not just figuratively or emotionally, moves me. And his ability to stoke that is something I really appreciate. Jackson Wang is up next and is pretty good, but I’m honestly more impressed with Lay Zhang, who manages to look almost like he’s being special-effected, that’s how staccato he gets at his best in this round. Wallace dances. The other captains are polite about it. More scribbling from the judges. Jackson’s the first one out there in round three, and he’s honestly looking the least tired of all of them. Stamina is maybe an issue, here. Even with Jackson, some of the finer control is gone. Y’all are maybe a little soft? How long has it been since any of you idols had to endure the workout of an entire concert? There’s a whole ‘nother round to go after this, so you better get your oxygen masks. Lay Zhang is still fairly crisp and pulls off a literal hat trick, although he’s doing a lot more upper body work that lets him stand in place than he is actually moving around. Jackson, with his baby boy enthusiasm and energy, is magnanimous enough to fill up some of Wallace’s time by “pulling” him into the center and then getting out there and dancing with him. I am old enough that I understand what Wallace is going through, but there’s just a noticeable difference in ability, here. Yibo is clearly waiting until last this time, to those of us paying scrupulous attention, although it’s nothing too obvious, and it does buy him enough time that he’s basically recovered by the time he gets back into the middle of the circle, although he’s a little less expansive than he’s been in the previous two rounds. So, strategic, then, too. Judges scribble as we move into the last round. No time for weakness, all of you. DID YOU HEAR ME, because most of you are looking, to be frank, just a little bit WEAK as you circle around and hang out on the edges and try to get your breath and energy back. I’m just sayin’. Lay takes the hit first, and he’s really trying, although he’s not as strong as he was back in the second round. I’m a little bit afraid he might fall over by the end of it. Yibo is sweating but pulls some random dude’s hat right off his head before … at least going all in, even if he doesn’t quite know what he’s doing, krump-wise. He ends by falling on the ground, in a credible WWX-passing-the-fuck-out imitation, which is probably a relief, by that point. Jackson probably has the most energy left, although he’s reduced to pulling off his shirt and posing by the end of his time. Wallace does some dancing. Look. I’m just going to leave it at that. Jackson is still being polite enough to encourage his elder. It’s maybe a little bit endearing. Final result is that Lay Zhang wins, which. OK. I would have placed him second, after Yibo, but I also seem to remember that he won the initial captains’ performance, back in Ep 1, so I guess I can’t be too surprised at this, based on trends. Show director was apparently so impressed, he’s gonna give up four extra towels, one to each captain, which means Lay gets two towels. So I guess towels go to Yuan Ye on Team Lay Zhang and Bullet on team Wang Yibo, if they keep their promises, although don’t know who Wallace and Jackson are planning on giving their extra towels to.

Next ep: Mystery Guest.

[love-skincareroutine]

Skincare For Teens

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Skincare For Teens

A. Skin Care for Teen Skin

It is almost impossible to go through adolescence without a ton of skin discomfort. Experienced dermatologist Jessica Wu offers skin advice to make your skin look healthy and fresh. Acne, blackheads and oily skin top the list of skin diseases in teenagers, says Dr. Jessica Wu, a licensed dermatologist in Los Angeles who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. But if you follow their skin advice, you can keep it healthy and shiny. The challenges facing young skin are considerable, says Dr. Wu. “Hormonal fluctuations increase the oil glands, making the teen’s skin oily, creating large pores and blackheads,” she explains.

Even if you and your friends are going through puberty together, it is likely that your skin will look slightly different from that of your best friends. This means that the tip of the skin that works for them may not work for you. Fortunately, you can easily find the right skin advice to choose from to keep it clean. Here are the top tips for teen skin care:

1. Clean carefully

If your skin is oily, you can probably do well with a foam or gel cleanser for your daily skin care routine. Clean once or twice a day if your skin becomes too oily or dirty throughout the day. “When a teenager wears makeup, the best thing to do is to remove her eye makeup first and then use your fingertips and a gel or detergent to clean,” says Wu. If you play sports or work hard in physical education class, wash your face (if you can) before exercising. At the very least, she says, use facial towels to pat your skin. For teenagers more likely to have dry than oily skin, try a cleanser and moisturizer with milk.

2. Wash your makeup before going to bed

Even though your best friend can sleep in makeup and look beautiful, this is not a good idea. “If you are too tired to tie your hair back, remove your makeup and wash your face, use at least a wet tissue to remove makeup, dirt and oil,” says Wu. If you have a habit of sleeping regularly with makeup on, you may have an acne outbreak or develop a rash called perioral or periocular dermatitis.

3. Check the oil

You want to keep the glow low without being aggressive to the skin. According to Wu, there is a basic three-step process for oil control: (1) choose a salicylic acid cleaner, (2) use an oil-free primer to control the gloss and (3) dry the oil with towels or special scarves during the day.

4. Flaking

You only need to exfoliate with a relatively mild product once or twice a week. Do not rub (it will not help with acne or blackheads) or exfoliate excessively. Get the right acne products. When you have breakouts, try this approach: wash your skin, use a tonic, then apply a medicated acne gel.

5. Do not share makeup

“Do you want to share your friend’s germs?” Question Wu. “It is a particularly bad idea to share eye and lip products.” As tempting as it is to try your friend’s perfect new eyeliner, buy yours. Keep your hands clean. One way to keep your skin healthy is to protect it from dirt and many germs. Before touching your face or touching up your makeup, wash your hands and regularly clean other surfaces that come into contact with your skin, such as table tops. B. your phone.

6. Choose spray hair products

If you notice that acne begins to cluster around the hairline or where the hair often rubs against the skin, remember that it may be the fault of your hair product. Switch to spray products, which Wu says are “less likely to cause outbreaks”.

7. Skip the toothpaste and other old stories

You can hear about many strange acne fighters, like applying toothpaste to your skin. In fact, it can only make your skin worse if you are allergic to the ingredients. There are tons of great skin products that can help you look better.

8. Use sunscreen

You want your skin to look healthy now and for decades to come. Using sunscreen will also prevent acne from darkening, says Wu. Choose an oil-free product and look for cosmetics like liquid foundations that contain sunscreen.

9. Avoid tanning beds

Get a healthy bronze glow with a self-tanner. Tanning beds and tanning can be adjusted later for early wrinkles and an increased risk of skin cancer.

10. Talk to a doctor

Visiting a dermatologist to treat acne can make a big difference, especially if you have red pus-filled pimples or large lumps under your skin that are painful or scarred. “They can stay with you for a lifetime,” says Wu. You can benefit from prescription cleansers and acne medications, which can clear your skin faster and more effectively than over-the-counter products.

Being a teenager should be fun. Take responsibility for your skin care routine with these tips and a clear skin will soon bring a smile back to your face.

  B. 8 Best Skincare Products for Teenage Skin

Our editors independently research and recommend the best products. Learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through our selected links. Find out more about how we make money. It is almost impossible to go through adolescence without suffering from acne. Regardless of whether your case is mild or severe, choosing the best skin care products for young skin can go a long way in finding perfect skin.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to get the perfect complexion and the best products to help you get there.

1. How to care for youthful skin

Although adolescence poses a variety of skin care challenges, equipping yourself with the knowledge and tools to face the battle of acne head-on will help. After this five-step process, the path to a radiant complexion is covered:

Cleaning – The basic rule for proper skin care at all stages of life is to follow a thorough cleaning routine. A well formulated cleaner will give the best results in combating stains. You should try to wash your face twice a day. It is especially important to follow a good cleaning routine when wearing makeup.

Exfoliating – now is a good time to get used to using an exfoliating product. There are several scrubs on the market. The key to the success of fair skin is choosing the right product for your specific skin type. A peel removes dead skin cells and reveals a fresher layer of skin. This process prevents clogging of the pores. Exfoliation is a preventive measure that prevents teenage acne from appearing.

Use local treatment – despite your best intentions with preventive treatments, it is inevitable that you will break out in adolescence. In that case, you should go straight to tried and tested local treatments to reduce inflammation and redness. Benzoyl peroxide is often referred to as one of the best acne treatments for teenagers.

Moisturize – Although putting more products on your face may seem counterintuitive, a good moisturizing treatment will prevent your skin from becoming dry and irritated. This is especially important if you want to combat the drying effects of many acne treatments.

Sunscreen – it is especially important when you exercise outdoors, that you use sunscreen every day. For complete protection, be sure to choose a broad-based sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30.

2. Best face washes for teenagers with acne

a. CeraVe Foam Facial Cleanser (normal to oily skin)

This daily facial cleanser creates a soothing foam that removes oil and penetrates deeply into the pores without canceling the skin’s natural protective elements. This product was specially developed for use on normal to oily skin and contains three essential ceramides for a thorough cleaning. The hyaluronic acid in the detergent moisturizes the skin so it doesn’t get dry. Niacinamide then reduces possible irritation. This value-based cleanser should be a staple in your acne control arsenal.

b. Cetaphil soft skin cleanser (normal to dry)

This gentle cleanser is a great choice for people with sensitive skin. The soap-free formula does not remove vital protective oils from the skin. The product not only cleanses the skin, but also moisturizes it without clogging the pores. The mild cleanser does not irritate the skin and is a good general cleanser.

3. Best acne products for youthful skin

a. Paulas Choice 2% BHA (whiteheads and blackheads)

This non-abrasive scrub is gentle enough for daily use. With a concentration of 2% BHA salicylic acid, the treatment clogs the pores as the dead skin is peeled off and your complexion remains fresh and clean. The moisturizing formula exfoliates within the pores to keep acne under control. You should use this exfoliation every other day to start, then gradually increase your use up to twice a day.

b. Acne.org 8 ounces. Treatment (acne and pimples)

This local treatment from Acne.org contains a formulation of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and combats excess dirt and oil. This treatment dries quickly so you don’t have to worry about blemishes. Although many products try to sell you larger amounts of benzoyl peroxide, research shows that treatments with a concentration of 2.5% work just as well as prescribed treatments, without all the harmful side effects like dryness and irritation.

4. Best moisturizers for teenagers

a. CeraVe PM moisturizing lotion for the face (for oily skin)

This moisturizer is ideal for oily and acne prone skin. The light, oil-free formula does not clog pores. As this moisturizer is not comedogenic, it provides essential hydration without compromising the goal of clear skin. Hyaluronic acid brings moisture to the skin’s surface, while niacinamide improves the overall appearance of the skin. A healthy dose of ceramide promotes the skin’s natural protective barrier to function at an optimal level.

b. Paula’s Choice SKIN RECOVERY Moisturizing Cream (for dry skin)

This night moisturizer is a great choice for dry skin that is not prone to acne. The creamy texture provides permanent hydration to dry and irritated skin. Herbal antioxidants and vitamin derivatives bind the skin’s natural moisturizing elements and make the complexion soft and radiant. Using this moisturizer is the perfect ending to your nightly skin regimen.

5. The best sunscreens for teenagers who play sports

a. EltaMD UV Shield SPF 45 broad spectrum sunscreen (oily and acne prone skin)

This oil-free sunscreen is a good choice for use on the face. The premium product has a mineral-based zinc oxide formula that is endorsed by dermatologists. The SPF rating of 45 gives you confidence in your skin’s complete protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays. The lightweight product does not clog pores, making it an ideal choice for people with oily skin. The product can be used under makeup or alone.

b. Paula’s Choice Extra Care Facial and body protection without oil and non-greasy with SPF 50 (normal skin)

For a full body coverage, be sure to consider this broad spectrum sun protection product. As this sunscreen is resistant to water and sweat, it is a good choice for teen athletes. This product also contains antioxidants with vitamins A, E and C, as well as moisturizing Aloe for complete protection. The silky formula follows smoothly and provides a soft matte finish. This sun protection is suitable for the body and face.

6. What about natural skin care for young skin?

Although the green movement has many practical benefits, choosing to use your skin care products naturally is not the best for your overall skin health. Natural skin care products may be the latest fad in some circles, but they are artifices without scientific support. In fact, most natural and organic skin products can do more harm than good.

Since these natural products often contain an overload of essential oils and other harmful substances, they can cause more damage to the skin than the tried and tested treatments. Finally, these labels can also be misleading because the industry has so little regulation.

7. Additional tips for skin care in adolescence

a. Skin care product tips

Choose the right skin products: It is impossible to overestimate the importance of choosing the right skin products. It is important to understand that each skin type is unique and, once you understand your skin type, it will be easy to find the best skin care product for young skin.

Regular cleaning: The cornerstone of fair skin is regular cleaning. All products and treatments in the world make no difference if you don’t commit to a consistent cleaning routine.

Don’t sleep in makeup: we’ve all had days when we just wanted to fall into bed. Sleeping in makeup is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. While not a substitute for quality detergent, a pre-moistened makeup cloth can work in a pinch. It is also important not to share makeup. Sharing makeup products means that you are also sharing the germs that grow in cosmetics and applicators.

b. Other tips

Change your pillowcase regularly: Even with the best cleaning routine, hair products and makeup residue can leave residues on your pillowcase. These impurities penetrate the skin while you sleep, clogging your pores and causing rashes. Changing your pillowcase regularly can solve this problem.

Keep your phone’s cover clean: your smartphone’s screen and cover can contain many germs and bacteria. These impurities are transferred to the skin whenever you bring the phone to your ear. Regularly cleaning the phone with an antibacterial cloth will prevent dirt from leaving the skin.

Do not choose your skin: although it is tempting to peck your skin to remove pimples, it will only make the problem worse. Your fingertips are home to a variety of dirt, bacteria and other contaminants that transfer to your face with every touch. Making a commitment to keep your fingers away from your face will prevent new bacteria from reaching the skin’s surface.

Beware of hair care products: Although makeup has the worst reputation for being the culprit for acne, you also need to be aware of the hair care products you use. Waxes and gels are particularly likely to cause blemishes due to the ingredients that cause acne. Long bangs can be a problem if they are not kept away from the forehead, as this area of ​​the face often extends. Pinning your hair back, especially when you sweat, can prevent problematic hair care products from penetrating your skin and damaging your complexion.

Get enough sleep: lack of sleep can cause acne. Not getting enough sleep can worsen existing skin conditions due to the increased inflammatory response due to increased cortisol levels. You should get at least 7-9 hours of sleep every night to get the most out of your skin’s health.

8. The final result

The bottom line is that you cannot fight the nature and power of puberty. In addition, young skin requires special attention. Therefore, it is important to find the best products for your teenager’s skin. However, with the right attention to your skin care routine and the right products, you can combat the appearance of common acne. If you make the effort now, you will have fewer blemishes and scars on your skin as you get older, so it will be worth the investment of your time and money.

[kisslovesmile]

Oblivion | Part 1

Credits to my twin!~ gucci-jebbie She had help me so much with this scenario ^^ I would send her snippets of the scenario and she would tell me if it’s good or not. She basically knows the entire plot line!! I love you twin! 乂◜◬◝乂

….. …..

You met him in a coffee shop. After all this was a blind date. You were dressed your best in casual clothing and you honestly had had no expectations on this guy. But he took your breath away the moment he sat down across from you.

“Hi. Are you _____?” He smiles, and boy did he look heavenly. You, who is left speechless, just nod as you try to not blush. However, it seems you had failed as he let out a chuckle. “My name is Yi Fan, Wu Yi Fan but many just call me Kris.”

“My name is _____.” You respond once you were calmer, only to revert to a crimson color as you remembered that the first thing he asked was if you were _____. This leads him to let out an even louder chuckle and utter a “cute” out which made you blush even more. Maybe it was during that, or maybe it was his warm welcoming smile that made you attracted to him. 

After a successful blind date, Yi Fan takes you home, only to find out that you live right above his mother. “Wow. My mother and younger brother live in the room below yours.” He informs, not hiding his shocked expression.

“Yeah. Your mom sort of asked me to go on this date.” You mumble quietly, scared it will creep him out. He only lets out an “oh,“ scratching his head. “I couldn’t refuse her though. She was just hard to refuse. But,” You look up at Yi Fan, “I don’t regret it.” Your answer brings a smile to his face.

“Me neither.”

Things seem to progress well for the next two weeks. Yi Fan would come around after your work and take you out on small dates every evening even if it was a walk from your work place back to your place. Throughout the weeks, he had also been more intimate. You held hands on the 3rd date and he kissed you on the 5th date. By now, you two were constantly pecking each other’s lips, of course, most of them were initiated by Yi Fan.

On the twelfth night you met and the twelfth date, with you standing in front of your door steps, Yi Fan confesses that he thinks he may be in love with you. You, who were also very much in love with him, also respond to his confession mutually. 

“I’m so happy.” He smiles widely as he pulls you in close for a tight hug. “I promise I will love you with everything I have.”

Smiling as well, you hug him. “I trust you.” You lean away to look up at him. “I love you Yi Fan.” He leans in closer to your face and in a soft whisper, he says he loves you too before claiming your lips. Unlike the pecks from previously, this was an intense and passionate kiss.

This being your first relationship, you just follow his movements mimicking his rhythm. After a while, he pulls away and leans his forehead against yours as he growls softly with is eyes closed. “I should stop now. Or else I will lose control.” You only giggle at his statement and give him another soft peck. 

“Good night Yi Fan.” He smiles as he opens his eyes and let go of you.

“Night. Sweet dreams. Dream of me.” You nod your head giggling as you turn around to go in. Once you were inside, the smile from his face fades and is replaced with a stoic expression.

Now, it has been one week since the confession. Every night Yi Fan would walk you home from work, however, tonight because he had some urgent matters, you were walking alone to your home. You did not mind though. You like having alone time sometimes.

Arriving in front of the building you live, you stop as you notice a pair of shoes in front of you. Looking up, you realize it was your neighbor, Yi Fan’s mother, Mrs. Choi’s other son, Choi Seungcheol.

“OH! Seungcheol!” You shout in surprise. “Why are you here?”

“Noona,” He frowns at you. “Did you forget I also live here?”

“Oh, right.” You let out a sheepish chuckle, embarrassed for not remembering. “I haven’t seen you in a long time. Where have you been?”

“Of course, you wouldn’t know noona. You only pay attention to hyung.” He mumbles.

“Aww is Cheollie upset that his brother Yi Fan has all of noona’s attention?” You coo at him trying to rub his hair. But of course, with Yi Fan and Seungcheol being brothers meant they were both very tall. So, it doesn’t even take much effort for Seungcheol to get away from you. “Yah~ come here! Let noona pet you! ~” You giggle as you try harder to reach his head. With a stoic expression on his face, he walks backwards to avoid your hand. This led to a small chase between you two. 

After a while, you two finally settle down at a park bench. Just sitting there quietly staring at the scenery was peaceful. You sit there with a content smile as you reminisce the past. You remember when you first met Seungcheol. He was so quiet and angry looking.

It was the day you first moved into the apartment above theirs. You had carried a big box and was struggling with keeping it from slipping out of your grasp when suddenly someone took it away from you and brought it up to your place. You were very confused because there were only two men to help and they had still been on the truck. But nonetheless you appreciated his help. So that entire day, he just helped you move your things. After all the boxes were transferred safely up to your apartment, it was already after lunch time. Feeling guilty, you went up to him, who was wiping his sweat away with a towel by the stairs.

“Hey.” You call out to him. “What’s your name?”

He looks up at you with a cold expression. “Seungcheol.”

“um…I want to thank you for your help.” He only nods at your gratitude, making you pout a little. “It’s past lunch time and well, I want to buy you lunch for lending a hand today. Is that okay Seungcheol-ssi?”

He just looks at you for a while before opening his mouth to ask you a question. “How old are you?”

You were flustered by his sudden question but nonetheless you reply. “I am a ’94 baby. How about you?”

For a second there you thought he had frowned but you weren’t sure. His face was still as stoic as ever. “’95” is the only response he gave you.

Hearing that from him, your eyes lighten up. “Oh! Then I am your noona!” Happy at the revelation, you pet his head. “Thank you very much for today Seungcheollie~” You coo at him and pulls him to go down the stairs. “I know I just moved here and you probably lived here longer, but I know this really awesome restaurant.” You inform as you continue pulling him to follow you. You didn’t even know that you were holding onto his hand.

Eventually the two of you make it to the restaurant. Which turns out to be his mother’s restaurant. You were also even more surprised to know that they are your downstairs neighbor. “Oh, wow,” your eyes widen at the fact. “This is so amazing.” You chuckle at how much fate works wonder. From then on, you always treated Seungcheol as a younger brother, which he hates, and got along very well with his mother.

About half a year later, Mrs. Choi comes to you. “_____, I was wondering if you,” she hesitates, afraid you will be upset with her.

“What’s wrong eomma?” You ask in concern, afraid something happened. “You can tell me.”

Letting out a sigh, she calms down and grabs your hand. “You see, I have another son,” she starts off and tells you of her previous life. Mrs. Choi wasn’t always Mrs. Choi. She was Mrs. Wu. She had a previous marriage which ended disastrously. Mrs. Choi was young and naïve and had believed in love with a Chinese man. So, she left her country and family behind to move to Canada with this man and built a family. From that marriage she had a son, named Wu Yi Fan. Life there with her loving husband was great until one fine day, tragic hits her. Mr. Wu was driving back home from work when his car was hit by a drunk driver and he had passed right away from impact. Mrs. Choi had been devastated and being in a foreign country alone, she did not know how to coup so she made the decision to move back to Korea with Yi Fan. From there, a year later she met Mr. Choi. Who in turn, became a loving husband and father to Yi Fan and had their own child together named Seungcheol. 

From here you learn that Yi Fan had gone back to Canada for schooling when he graduated high school. Now he works in his birth-father’s company here in Korea. To say that he is a workaholic is an understatement and she worries for him, as he is still single.

“So _____, I was wondering if you are single, can you go on a date with my son?” She begs as she grips onto her hand. “He’s 4 years older than you but I know my son is a sweet man. I just want him to find a nice girl and settle down. He’s getting too old. Plus, I really like you and would love for you to become my daughter for real.” She smiles at her. You didn’t know how to reject her so you just accept. 

And now that is how you and Yi Fan met at a coffee shop.

“_____,” Seungcheol nudges you on the side. “Let’s go back. It’s getting late, and cold.”

“Seungcheollie~” You whine at him. “You have to call me noona! I’m older than you.” You tug his sleeve as he walks away, which also pulls you up from your seat.

“It’s only one year.” He mumbles and walks away with is hands in his pocket.

“Still~” You follow behind him, running every few steps to catch up with him. “You better call me noona or I will tell Yi Fan~” You sing, teasing him as you know how much he cares for his brother.

“Whatever.” He mumbles and walks farther from you. You stop in your spot and smiles at the back view of him.