#also we just won by like 54

[realtapiocafan]

pretty good player imo

[bluesunss]

Coup de foudre Choi Seunghyun x F!Reader

Big bang april challenge - April 19th

summary: struggling to get tickets happens to the best of us. risking your life and getting saved by your former best friend? That's less likely. But the odds are never zero.

warnings: none. created a kpop group for plot's sake

a/n: im tired?! sorry if this is bad. thank you again to @ldydeath and @wcnderlnds for this challenge.

The 'Coup de Foudre' exists.

It means lightning strike. Love at first sight. It is not a mere coincidence. Chemical reactions, hormones, the heart accelerates, the world narrows to just one person.

And we believe it.

VIVARA's debut album was called Coup de Foudre. They took the word from French and altered its meaning. Although they debuted in the early 2000's, they truly gained popularity with their breakout hits such as Starlight Rush and Eclipsed Heart.

What is amusing is that YG Entertainment manages their account too.

Just like BigBang. Your former best friend's group.

You pressed your bag against your back and ran through the pitch-black night.

You don’t believe in love at first sight, and that’s why you adore their band. Their first album had hit all the right spots. When nobody knew them, you were there, singing Break or streak until there was no more air in your lungs and your parents threatened to kick you out (they didn't).

Or in highschool, when you got rejected, and they released Reverie. Only real fans got the secret message. It was about dreaming but spoke of nightmares.

Or Eleven pretty clouds. When you adopted your first dog, Cinnamon - a tiny bark machine with too much energy. It felt like sunshine and cotton candy.

Or, even later. When your childhood best friend suddenly ghosted you. And they released Limbs. That song was controversial. It was exactly what you needed to get him out of your system.

So when they announced a concert in Seoul, you were thrilled. As a teenager, your parents were intransigent. Their kid was not going to a concert. (They also didn't want to pay). As an adult, however, you had the means and the absolute will to.

The problem is that despite being a loyal fan when they had no one, no one asks for your opinion when their band skyrockets, and you’re left scrambling for a concert ticket that seems impossible to get.

Loyalty doesn’t pay off.

Yet, on Tuesday, even though you had to work the next day, you opened your laptop at midnight. The sales would begin at three o’clock, but the website was quickly overloaded, like before a big sale - you had to camp out to secure tickets.

On coffee and tea, you endured until three, battling sleep. You tried studying, reading on your phone - nothing worked.

At 2:59 a.m., your bank card details were entered. At 3:01:37 a.m., the tickets were gone.

All because you mistook a 0 for an O in the card details.

Shame and stubbornness coexisted within you. They pushed you to search further, no matter what you had to go through. You were getting a ticket. Wherever. Resale sites. Groups. Ads. The newspaper.

NOTHING. NOWHERE.

Was this what your loyalty to the band was worth? You were fed up. So, you posted an ad on a site with no hope, and a message appeared.

“October 17th, under Hangang Bridge. $500. 11 p.m.”

The fact that it was in dollars was suspicious, but you printed the tickets at a shady exchange agent who charged way more than their worth in wons.

It felt like you were walking to your death, but you secretly hid your dog in your backpack. Just in case. She was a small harmless thing, but she barked so loudly it could shatter eardrums.

And so you ran through the pitch-black night. Under the bridge. Where broken bottles lie. Out of breath, you paused by a streetlamp, feeling your dog stir, and resumed running.

You checked your watch. 10:54 p.m. The bridge was in front of you. You were on time. You descended into the sand and took shelter in the shadow, waiting with clenched hands.

A masked man arrived after a few minutes.

“Money first.”

You frowned. “At the same time.”

“MONEY FIRST!”

You took your bag off your back and muttered, “OK, OK.” Then you opened it.

“Please, no noise, Cinnamon.”

She stuck out her tongue, panting with joy. You reached into the bag, pulling out the bundles. But before extending your hand, you hesitated.

“I still prefer to exchange at the same time…”

The man suddenly slammed you against the wall, and your bag fell, rolling near the edge.

“LET GO OF ME!”

“WHERE’S THE MONEY?”

“IN MY BAG! FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, LET GO-”

Cinnamon suddenly leaped out, barking loudly.

“Where’s this damn dog from-!”

He tried to kick her, but one strike sent him crashing onto the asphalt. Another one to the ground. A third came from the foot straight into his stomach. The man groaned.

It was the moment Cinnamon bit his wrist while barking. The man, nearly crying, struggled to get up, stumbling away headfirst.

Your savior was breathing heavily.

“Damn it, if it wasn’t for Cinnamon’s barking, you’d be dead!”

Holding your chest, you collapsed. Seunghyun dropped down behind you. “Are you okay?”

He leaned close to your face, Cinnamon curled in your arms. You nodded, sniffling. “I was so scared.”

Then all the emotions resurfaced.

“T.O.P? What are you doing here?”

He made a sort of pout. “It sounds weird coming from you.”

You couldn't hear him. The emotions were still so strong. Your heart was racing. You cupped your face in your hands. “How did you find me?”

His mask was up. He pulled it down and got closer to you.

“I was passing by and recognized Cinnamon’s barking. I thought it was an illusion. I haven't heard her in forever.”

He stood up and dusted off his pants, then extended his hand to you.

“What was that man doing?”

“He wanted my money for a VIVARA ticket,” you said softly.

"That band you used to force me to listen to?"

You chuckled, laughing at the memory. "Acting like you disliked it. I saw you swaying your head, once."

You didn't need to look to know he was smiling. "Their lyrics made no sense. They put random words together."

Tapping his shoulder, you checked Cinnamon was still strutting next to you. "You're acting like saying Fantastic baby on repeat makes sense," you rolled your eyes.

"Pffft. You saw this?"

That's where you stopped walking, heat burning your cheeks. "It's... it was a hit. Everyone saw it. That's it."

"Your ears are red, cheonsa. Don't lie to me."

Ugh! This man. "Well, you were gone, and I needed to check you were alive. That is all."

He faltered. "About that-"

You interrupted him. "No I'm good. I don't care. It's fine. I'm fine." But your voice was shaking. "Only thing saddening me right now is that I will never get to see VIVARA live."

"You can."

He stopped walking. You halted too, surprised. "Why did you stop? And can what?"

"A ticket. I can get one for you. Or as many tickets as you want."

The cold air from the river made you realize that rain was about to fall. "What?"

You rubbed your cold arm to calm the goosebumps. Seunghyun started walking again and took off his long black jacket, draping it over your shoulders.

“Jiyong know the main girl. They wanted to collaborate. It’s super easy for me to get you a ticket.”

You shook your head, still shocked. But you couldn't. That was unfair. And you were acting as if Seunghyun hadn't disappeared from your life for years, gotten in a popular boys band, released at least three hit songs.

“No, I can’t ask you for that. At least I’ll pay you back-”

He stopped you again, his hands on your shoulders.

“Hey, cheonsa, what are we? For life, for death, you remember?”

You chuckled weakly, avoiding his gaze.

“That was when we were kids. Should I remind you who broke the promise?”

His fingers tightened around your shoulder, but he didn’t answer. He took two steps back, and you continued walking through the dark night.

The first raindrops fell.

“Should I pass you the ticket tomorrow?”

"I said no."

"And I don't care. Just tell me if I should come by Donggyo tomorrow or meet you somewhere."

Your eyes darkened.

“I moved out.”

The rain intensified. You started to feel cold and pulled his jacket tighter around your shoulders. “You’re going to catch a cold," you told him.

He shook his head.

“No.”

But you saw him shiver.

“Seunghyun, you’re still a terrible liar.”

He laughed softly, stopping once again in the middle of the path, near the river.

“Will you come to one of our concerts? They miss you, too. You were friend with Jiyong. It's not fair to him.”

You looked at him, eyes shadowed by what seemed like tears but was actually rain. A flash of lightning split the sky.

You smiled. You both acted like this was normal, but you knew you could not be friends again. It was fun to pretend.

“If the line is as long as for VIVARA…”

Shaking his head, he fumbled for his phone in his pocket.

“One call, that’s enough. I’ll give you the ticket you want.”

Cinnamon was happily shaking her tail next to you.

"Just call me, cheonsa. I'll always answer."

You both looked at each other. You both knew it was a lie.

The air suddenly grew colder.

“That’s not fair.”

He laughed. “It’s the perks of being the best friend of a famous rapper. Life’s unfair.”

A bolt of lightning tore across the sky. Cinnamon flinched and jumped in your arms. Seunghyun observed her tenderly.

You both stopped walking.

You looked at him properly for the first time in so many years.

He was still as familiar as before.

But something unfamiliar settled in your chest as you stared at him, wet hair, droplets rolling down his chin, rosy lips half-smiling and tender eyes.

The distance was so vast.

We believe that Coup de Foudre happens between strangers.

Then why is your heart racing for the first time ever looking at your old best friend?

"I guess I'll send it by mail," he murmured, breaking the silence. "Still got the same address?"

You nodded, unable to look away, glued to his dark eyes. He came closer. Lifted his hand. Wiped a raindrop from your cheek. Infinitely gently wrapped his arms around your body. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

Then, he pulled away.

♪

You sat alone in a sold-out stadium.

The lights dimmed. The crowd roared. VIVARA took the stage.

They sang Reverie.

In the back of your mind, you could hear his voice whispering: for life and for death.

But he wasn’t in the seat beside you.

He never was.

You learned from a friend the group tore apart. You imagined going to his apartment with a bass and snacks. Forcing him to watch you sing. Making him laugh. Forget.

You still have his jacket.

You still can’t listen to Limbs without crying.

Cinnamon still sleeps next to you every night.

The Coup de Foudre exists.

It’s not always beautiful.

Sometimes, it strikes only one person.

And it burns.

Forever.

sorry if it's rushed! I overestimated my planning skills.

tag list: @ldydeath @infinetlyforgotten @loveesiren @sevendaysummer @gdinthehouseee @eru-vande @bluesunss @emmiesoverthemoon @petersasteria @currentloser @makeitworse @berfgrimm @sherxoo @aizshallnotbefound @keiraryan

normal tag list: @michelllleee @breakmeoff

[eyeheartboobiez]

-> 𝗃𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈𝖽𝖽 𝗑 𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗋!𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

-> 𝗌𝗈𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗆𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖺 𝖺𝗎!

-> 𝖺/𝗇: 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 5 𝗂𝗌 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾!! 𝗂 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗈𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝗆𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗆 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝗍𝗋𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗁 𝗆𝗒 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝖻𝗋𝗎𝖼𝖾 𝖿𝗂𝖼. 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗂 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗎 𝖾𝗇𝗃𝗈𝗒🫶🏿

liked by cass.cain, rred_hood, and 4,105,018 others

@y/nforeal: GUESS WHO JUST WON A GRAMMY!!! fr tho i couldn't be more thankful for how far i've come as not only an artist, but an individual. now that award szn is over, imma take some time off from making music, because these next few months are gonna be busyyy.

again, thank you to all my friends and everyone who's stuck by my side through everything. i love yall🥹🫶 #grammys2023

View all 15,675 comments

user1: WE LOVE U TOO QUEEN

user2: what does she mean by busy tho??

⤷ user3: fr like is there a baby on the way or sumn💀

cass.cain: SO HAPPY FOR U BABES !!

⤷ y/nforeal: THX GIRLIE😘

⤷ user4: idc how delusional i look i still ship it🤷‍♀️

user5: been a fan since day one, couldn't be more proud🥹

user6: not jason liking her post...

⤷ y/nforeal: right like im confused too

⤷ user7: LMAOO she so real😭

Grammy winner Y/N Y/LN going to court?! From ruined careers to ruined relationships, here's the rundown that led to all this. (1/10/2023 11:54 AM PT)

Since August of last year, fans have been talking nonstop about the leaked track that's been trending all over the internet. With its romantic lyrics and suggestive imagery, the song — Fantasize — made its debut surprising not only the listeners, but the artist as well.

Renowned singer Y/N Y/LN was more shocked than anyone to find that one of her unreleased songs had been spread around online. Even moreso, when the culprit behind the act was none other than rival singer, Artemis Grace.

Which begs the question: Why would Artemis care to leak Y/N'S music?

Well last summer, her ex boyfriend Jason Todd was alleged to have been in an intimate relationship with the grammy winner. Ever since paparazzi caught the two kissing outside of Y/N's Malibu home, they’ve been rumored to have been seeing each other in private.

Supporters of the singer were more than ecstatic to see the two together, and were happy to see that both stars were getting their well deserved happy ending.

Especially Jason, who had spoken up in past interviews about his ex’s abusive behavior. Stating that the redhead was “more than controlling” throughout their relationship.

Unfortunately the so-called Fantasy was short lived, when the gothamite was seen outside of a nightclub with the toxic ex. Once the news broke headlines, while fans were more than devastated, they were just as quick to come to Y/N's defence.

Regardless of the heartache, many speculate that Y/N may have used Cassandra, Jason's sister, as a bit of a rebound! In fact, the tension between the two was more than noticeable in the interview they did together with Glamour.

As usual, fans jumped to the conclusion that their collaboration is what drove Jason to like Y/N's most recent post on instagram (an action that even she was skeptical about).

Back to the present, it seems that the redhead was also caught red handed. After TMZ investigators revealed Artemis as the culprit of the crime, Y/N made the smart decision to press charges.

On account of copyright infringement, as well as causing emotional distress, the offender had been served an official notice of the legal proceedings being taken against her.

However, because she failed to appear before the judge last week, Artemis was forcibly taken in by the authorities just this morning. The embarrassing encounter with law enforcement was seen by many in the area, and spectators did not hesitate to record the interaction and post it online.

Despite all the drama, fans are overjoyed to see the ex finally being held accountable for her behavior. And who knows, maybe the tragic story between star crossed lovers will get its happy ending after all!

end notes: so what do we think, yay or nay?

taglist: @din0o0o @cipheress-to-k-pop @bonnie-tz @phatnyash420

[accio-victuuri]

BOJUNYIXIAO’s Weibo Night 2024/2025 Part I 🔴🟡🟢

here we are again with the boys’ yearly same-event appearance. a tradition of sorts at this point that cpfs look forward to. It’s fun to clown and speculate on what is happening behind the scenes cause they most likely will not be in the same frame. if you wanna look back on last year’s events then go here.

i know i said this recap will be done by the end of the night but i thought about how it would be too long to read. also, this is a breather why we wait for them be onstage cause thus ceremony is too long. lol. the next post by end of day will focus more on candies that happened during the show.

I. Getting tickets and Rumors of them going

as with other wb nights, tickets can be achieved through fan voting. compared to last year that was competitive for cpfs, this one was more relaxed. or maybe fans weren’t that interested in attending. cause there was so little news if the boys will even attend the event initially. i wanna say it was a pretty good mix of fandoms on the list. for cpfs, it was the fansites dominating as usual.

by 1/8 in the morning, we saw that both of them have won awards in their respective works: Xiao Zhan for his song "wo me " as Favorite Music of the Year" & Wang Yibo for starring in the movie "formed police unit" for "Weibo's Favorite Movie of the Year"; his personal documentary "Exploring New Unknown" winning "Weibo's Favorite Variety Show of the Year". these are automatically posted by weibo via the respective accounts involved and people can see it in the voting site for the event. then in the afternoon, melons started coming out that they will be going. and this is further solidified by wb night’s teaser post that seem to allude to gg & wyb. so before announcing, wb night shares cards with statements on it. each card representing a celebrity. and here comes the hilarious part, their cards were posted side by side on 20:32 (p1). for yibo it’s a short one, i am here. which alludes to his new song. and for gg it’s smooth sailing and good health which is his wish for the new year.

then at 1/9, very early into it, the re-issued the card sets and this time the two were separated. your guess is as good as mine on why this was done. lol.

weibo night never shied away from the whole xz and wyb cp before when it was considered “acceptable”. here is an example of an actual post back in 2020 where they even used the GGDD nickname for them. at the time, it was okay cause they were the hottest “pair” with cql as a breakthrough drama. personally, i think weibo night was being very sneaky initially posting it that way. trying to drum up an audience but then so/os had to go ahead and be salty about it so it had to be split. i’m not gonna stop saying it, a reason why very little interaction is done between them — it’s partly to not upset their “fans”. it is what it is. solo fandoms in c-ent is serious business & something very understandable in an industry perspective.

but again, that’s just me and maybe cpfs reading too much into it. feel free to have your own interpretation.

II. The Official Announcement

On 1/9 at 11:30 yibo posted that he is attending the event. yibo-official also shared some reminders to not gather and disrupt public order when they go. A coincidence cause at the same time XZ posted about his Portrait magazine. which makes sense and may not be even about cpn but it’s still nice to get notifications from them on weibo 😂😂😂

Then at 15:54, XZ finally posted. XZS also came in and shared it with the reminder.

and so it was confirmed that they are both attending the ceremony. this day was also kinda busy for them cause wyb’s loewe campaign was also released and gg had his portrait magazine interview also out.

it’s safe to say that cpfs were pretty busy ^^

after that, later in the evening, their video messages were also published by weibo night. here is a combined video of that:

1/10, as expected, there was a lot of chatter on who will be attending — particularly the CPs who will be there. it is relevant in the sense that there are a couple of hot drama CPs that will be attending. but with all the polls from various blogs, the top vote is always BJYX. lol. so strong!

they are not a “CP” in that sense tho. they are real!

III. Pre Show

WYB started off pretty early by posting a teaser of his look for the night. some are saying it reminds them of what he wore for 11.11 night when XZ was also there.

There was also a video showing the seating arrangement. It appears that they only have 4 people separating them. tho it’s not a guarantee of anything but this is close! some don’t like the number assigned for yibo tho cause it’s row 2 seat 27. 227. ugh.

It doesn’t stop there tho!!!!!

there is a photothat the number was folded up so it won’t be visible. it was removed by staff (video). cpfs are crying over this cause it may have been requested to be removed by wyb due to the negative connotation. he also changed positions with LX. he really went that far! people are saying that it’s easy to change seats, so why did the number have to be torn apart? there is no need to do that. also, changing seats with LX means WYB will be away from the center so it does not benefit him. idk who gave that number to WYB, but he definitely won’t be used to bully XZ or start some bad rumor. he is truly a boss! he protects xz in ways like this. i cannot 😭😭😭😭😭

i love this comment about it: wyb is not only sitting in that position, he wants that number to disappear.

and oh, Tod’s is one of the major sponsor of Weibo Night. XZ’s ad is playing on the big screen of the venue. Will WYB see it? lol

IV. Red Carpet

WYB ( video )

I prefer this look from last year! Thom Browne is good for him. plus that cape and his hair 🫶🏼 i would have loved it if he participated with what they were doing in the carpet and did the interview, but weibo is trash so i guess it’s okay. lol.

red carpet photoshoot

XZ ( video )

red carpet photoshoot

RED! it’s his color! plus some sparkles. this one is a custom look from GUCCI. i’m kinda bummed out that he did a group red carpet. i think they are the guest of honors and weibo’s way of getting a top hot search. but he still shined! he was so tall!!!!!!!

i’m gonna put this candies here cause they seem to be “red carpet related”. but i’m really cackling over how we manage to put their outfits together as “marriage” outfits once more 😂😂😂😂 lol. cause xz is in red and wyb in black.

some are also curious about gg’s huge ass ring. 👀 ( it’s by boucheron tho )

and the hot search related to xz is whose groom is he but of course there is only one answer. it’s wyb. lol. please stop giving us ammunition to watch! y’all know cpfs are so ready today!

-END (ish) to be continued. ☺️

[mandsleanan]

“We have this rapidly changing landscape around reproductive health, and seeking information about it or posting on social media feels like a way to take back control,” Stein said. “It feels empowering to claim authority and to normalize these life choices.”

Text & Doctors' link under cut.

Madison Clark did not celebrate when Donald Trump won the 2024 election. But one thought gave her solace: “At least I don’t have to worry about having a baby.”

In September, Clark, a 24-year-old nursing student from Battle Creek, Michigan, underwent a bilateral salpingectomy, a sterilization procedure that removed her fallopian tubes, ensuring she will never get pregnant. Clark considers the procedure her fail-safe against any further rollbacks of reproductive rights that might occur under the new Trump administration.

Clark had always known she didn’t want to have children. “I just don’t personally see myself on that path,” she said. In 2022, when she learned she was pregnant, she got an abortion. But that same year, the supreme court overturned Roe v Wade with its decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization, leading Clark to seriously consider permanent contraception. She’s not the only one.

‘The news cycle was a huge, huge reason that I took sterilization seriously and decided to spring into action.’

The study also found that vasectomy procedures, a form of male birth control, increased 95% – but were still not as popular as tubal sterilizations. A previous study, published last spring, found the number of tubal ligations among women ages 18 to 30 shot up after Dobbs, at a rate of increase double that of vasectomies.

“Patients are scared of losing access to all kinds of reproductive care,” said Dr Sarah K Horvath, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State College of Medicine. “There are people who had the idea of permanent contraception hovering somewhere on their to-do list, and now they’re pushing it up to number one.”

On TikTok, sterilization content has swelled. In one video with more than 73,000 likes, a creator posted footage of herself driving to an appointment and waiting on a hospital bed, with the caption: “Getting sterilized because y’all couldn’t act right in the voting booth.” One popular TikTok doctor shared a “how to” video about tubal sterilization a week after Trump’s inauguration. “I go on Thursday to get this procedure done,” a user wrote in the comments. “I was so worried the current administration would prevent this option so we got it scheduled Asap.”

Krysten Stein, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College who studies doctor influencers on TikTok, said that conversations on social media about sterilization reflect gen Z’s current political anxieties.

“We have this rapidly changing landscape around reproductive health, and seeking information about it or posting on social media feels like a way to take back control,” Stein said. “It feels empowering to claim authority and to normalize these life choices.”

In some states – including Michigan, where Clark lives – voters have enshrined abortion protections in state constitutions, and according to a recent Gallup poll, a majority (54%) of Americans consider themselves “pro-choice”. That has not stopped Trump from cozying up to an invigorated anti-abortion movement. His first week in office saw him pardon activists who illegally blockaded the entrances to reproductive health clinics, limit funding for overseas groups that provide or advocate for abortions, and sign an executive order declaring gender begins “at conception”, a tenet of the “fetal personhood” doctrine.

Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump’s nominee for secretary of health and human services, said at his confirmation hearing on Thursday that he believed that “every abortion is a tragedy”.

Trump indicated that he was also open to regulating contraception last May – though the president later posted on Truth Social that he “WILL NEVER ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL”. This month, the supreme court, stacked with anti-abortion justices, agreed to hear a case that threatens the Affordable Care Act’s coverage of preventative care such as birth control and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP).

“The news cycle was a huge, huge reason that I took sterilization seriously and decided to spring into action,” Clark said. “Now, it’s a common conversation between my boyfriend and me: ‘God, at least we don’t have to worry about having to travel to get an abortion, or having to leave the country for one, or even being forced to carry a child, which is the most scary option in all of this.’”

Julia Wolf: ‘It’s naive to think that other things aren’t on the line, like contraceptives or sterilization.’

“Whether you agree with a woman’s right to choose or not, it’s naive to think that other things aren’t on the line, like contraceptives or sterilization,” said Wolf, who works in social media.

After the 2024 election results rolled in, Wolf scheduled her bilateral salpingectomy procedure as soon as she could – the first Monday in December. Her gynecologist told her that she performed three other sterilization procedures for women that same week.

“I don’t worry that I am going to regret this,” Wolf said. “I’m 100% confident in this decision, and I’m just really glad I did it, especially because everything’s moving so fast since Trump’s been president.”

This month, the congressman Andy Biggs of Arizona introduced a House resolution aiming to set a new standard for women’s healthcare that “should also address the needs of men, families and communities as they relate to women’s healthcare”. The line scared Wolf.

“I just know for a fact that women will never have any input on men’s health, and so for it to be the other way around is just crazy,” she said.

‘I’d change doctors, get denied again’

Not every person who wants a sterilization will receive one – or else they might find the process to get one needlessly arduous.

Some doctors are hesitant to sterilize women under the age of 30, especially if they are unmarried or do not already have children. Though studies show that most women do not regret getting permanent contraception, those who do tend to be between the ages of 21 and 30 at the time of their procedure. (Sterilization is the most common form of contraception for married couples, with 700,000 performed on women annually, half of which are performed postpartum.)

The United States has an ugly history of forced sterilizations. In the 20th century, they were performed under eugenics programs aimed at controlling “undesirable” populations such as minorities, poor people, unmarried women or the mentally ill. Today, people on Medicaid are legally required to wait 30 days after signing a consent form to be sterilized – in theory, to prevent vulnerable people from being manipulated into undergoing forced sterilization as they were in the past. But activists say this practice is outdated and unfair. For one, there is no such restriction for people on private insurance. Thirty-day waiting periods also recall delaying tactics used in red states to limit abortion access.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says doctors should advise patients about “reversible alternatives” such as vasectomy or other forms of birth control, and emphasize the permanence of tubal ligation or salpingectomy. But the ACOG also notes that doctors should “avoid paternalism” and “not [impose] thresholds based on age or parity or both for permanent contraception”.

“Respect for an individual patient’s reproductive autonomy should be the primary concern guiding permanent contraception provision and policy,” the ACOG says.

In her own practice, Horvath, the OB-GYN, doesn’t care so much why a person wants the procedure. She just wants them to be sure they’re making the best decision. “There are 18 different contraceptive methods, and no one is perfect,” Horvath said. “I ask that people think through all of the choices. If they’re just really worried about getting through the next four years, have they thought about an IUD? That might leave the door open for you, if permanent sterilization doesn’t feel like the right thing yet, or if you feel like you’re really just having this reaction out of fear.”

Some young people say they’ve been turned away from the procedure for sexist reasons. Kasey Peterson, a 25-year-old property manager who lives in Oceanside, California, remembers playing with Barbies as a child and hearing her father say: “You’re going to make a really great mother one day.”

‘People are worried about protecting themselves in the future.’

The doctors’ reasoning for delaying the procedure seemed straight out of the 1950s: her “future husband” might want children; she wasn’t mature enough to make a permanent decision. They said to come back in a couple of years, and then maybe they’d talk.

“The overall tone was that I didn’t know what I wanted as an individual,” Peterson said. “It was irritating. They were basically telling me that if I was pregnant right now, they would want me to keep the pregnancy, that I was emotionally mature enough for that, but I wasn’t emotionally mature enough to decide that I don’t want children.”

Peterson’s partner considered getting a vasectomy, which his doctors were more than happy to perform. “But I decided I would rather do it for myself, for insurance reasons, but also because if I were to get assaulted by someone else, his vasectomy wouldn’t cover that.”

Young people navigating the serpentine process of finding OB-GYNs willing to perform sterilizations come together in forums on Facebook and Reddit, where they vent their frustrations, cheer each other on and share a Google doc of vetted doctors. Peterson eventually found her doctor through that list, and she now serves as an administrator for the Childfree and Sterile/Seeking Sterilization Facebook group.

“When Roe v Wade was overturned, and when Trump got elected, our group got absolutely flooded,” Peterson said. “It’s great that people are finding a community and a resource, but I hate how it happened. People are worried about protecting themselves in the future.”

-CF Reddit's List of Childfree-Friendly Doctors-

[gynandromorph]

it's very possible. we actually have a direct throwback to the first page of the story near the climax of it, on page 316.

now i'm including the "are you okay" panel in the later version to assert that this depiction of her IS supposed to be her as a child; she is significantly smaller than fig here. she looks like this only a short time later (2 pages but the scene is flipping between 2 settings):

and her hair is more pointed and stylized -- this can be justified as her having baby fluff as a child.

but the first comparison it's also a great demonstration of the biggest change in her design: the shape of her nose.

when did this change occur?

on page 8, this change hasn't occurred yet. she then isn't drawn for several pages. her next appearance doesn't show her nose well

but it hints that the nose change has already happened. on the next page, 13, the original shape of XX's nose is fighting a losing battle. it is the last page where this nose shape is seen on her.

on page 14, we get a very clear shot of her nose, really cementing which stylization has won in the end.

the interesting part is that it changed over a period where she WASN'T drawn. we could assume it's a fault in zack's memory, as he's stated these characters don't have references; he just draws them how he remembers them. however, if we walk back to the beginning of the story... these two nose shapes were sort of already skirmishing.

page 2, a clearly concave top of the nose.

page 3, a convex nose top.

instances of both on page 4.

concave seems to be winning before the abrupt change.

most style changes for characters happen because body parts become more exaggerated over time -- easier and faster to draw. some shapes become simplified for the same reason. i think this change in nose shape is actually due to how he's visualizing the shape of the nose, and how far up the bridge the rhinarium extends, in his mind, though:

this is a great early example of the construction of the nose from a higher perspective and the two different visualizations of it:

anyway that's what i noticed. aura's nose also changes shape significantly and abruptly:

you could argue that this change is caused by puberty or whatever, but i'm pretty sure it's due to a quick style change to realism, where her nose is rendered less "triangle" on page 54.

this shouldn't be taken as just a more realistic nose shape, though, because she is drawn with a triangle nose realistically earlier:

this is her on the page before the nose shape change, still nowhere near square-shaped:

and her after the brief dip into the realism style, where her nose becomes more and more unambiguously square:

the triangle shape fights for its life, though. the final nail in the coffin is actually on page 91; we don't see the triangle nose anymore after this.

i thought it was interesting that nose shape is a thing he tends to stylize differently over time.

[cityofjieun]

★ . . . . jia in 5-star era

highlights !!

they won a moonman!!!

jieunnie was among the members that had a big shocked reaction.

she, beomgyu, and jeongin took a selfie together (ily 01z).

ji also met megan thee stallion at the award show??

she had gone to the bathroom with one of their staff during the show and ran into her in the bathroom

jia is a huge fan and had to take the opportunity to compliment her performance earlier in the night. the two had a cute little convo and exchanged instas and even took a selfie together. long story short, jia is the first person in skz to follow a non-member.

she didn't get to mention the interaction to any of the members because after she returned from the bathroom, they were announced and everything was kind of a blur after

but imagine everyone's surprise when jia is trending the next morning because meg had posted the selfie on her story and stays have noticed that they are also mutuals now

also she’s so blonde now y'all.

really one of her best colors

we got tiktoks with lsf yunjin, p1h keeho, shinee key, and tbz eric.

the pilot fanmeet.

jia x seungmin x hyunjin cafe hopping rachalog.

they hit up like 4 cafes and spent time eating and chatting at all of them.

hyune brought his sketchbook and minnie brought a book while jia was writing notes for one of their dance practices.

side note: these last couple comebacks jia has really taken to helping lino monitor dance practices and stuff of that nature.

she has gained a lot of confidence in herself as a dancer.

anyways, they took some time to just do their little things independently.

it was giving very much study with me video.

a gift for the stays in school for real.

she also got to guest host on inkigayo.

this is the second time she's guest hosted on a music show and she really needs a full-time slot, someone get on that.

jia’s favorite schedule this era by far was kstar next door

she is an avid watcher of the show and was really upset to not go on last time

10/10 era

mv styling !!

photocards !!

concept a vers, concept b vers and digipack vers.

lines !!

hall of fame 0:00 - 0:20 (original: seungmin) ★ i write my name into the stars right now on gaelleorie nal namgyeo nal jungshimeuro doraga sunlight 0:57 - 1:00 (original: han) ★ ibi tteok beoreojige mandeuneun gwanggyeong legendary 1:12 - 1:16 (original: felix) ★ shaking the industry quaking reality making it iconic 2:24 - 2:29 (original: bangchan) ★ hear the people call my name here i’m on the hall of fame

sclass 0:20 - 0:28 (original: hyunjin) ★ byeollan geottuseongi byeonhameopji beonhwahaneun geori 0:57 - 1:00 (original: seungmin) ★ luxurious like i’m an s-class best of the best on first class 2:47 - 2:48 (original: han) ★ nune ttineun tenshyeon 3:11 - 3:13 (original: felix) ★ bichi beonjyeo deouk binnaneun star

item 0:52 - 0:58 (original: han) ★kkeunimeopshi i make it mine, never die 1:05 - 1:08 (original: han) ★aitemppal? igeon naeppal purop jangchak gadeuk cha 1:46 - 1:50 (original: seungmin) ★ got the best of the best nothing much, i confess 2:22 - 2:28 (original: han) ★ i do things that nobody can do god blessed, i’m the one and only

superbowl 0:37 - 0:40 (original: felix) ★ fresh taste, fresh scent fresh shape, fresh everything 2:23 - 2:29 (original: han) ★ i’ll do it again, just the way you want it i’ll do it again for the days to come 2:33 - 2:35 (original: han) ★ yeah we bring the rain

topline 0:43 - 0:48 (original: seungmin) ★ drawing, i’m moulding, i’m rolling my waves yeah i’m counting wins on the grand line 1:01 - 1:03 (original: felix ) ★ cause we dont give a fuck 1:22 - 1:25 (original: felix) ★ BOM DIGI DIGI BOM BOM BOM BOM 2:13 - 2:18 (original: jeongin) ★ gijuneul olligo mollineun moduga brave but they can’t pass me i’m the red line

dlc 0:00 - 0:11 (original: changbin) ★ we’re only going to dance like crazy It’s just that, I like it la la la 0:54 - 0:56 (original: han) ★sunrise 1:26 - 1:29 (original: felix) ★ amudo moreuge 2:50 - 2:18 (original: jeongin) ★ got me feeling like lalalala got me feeling like lalalala

get lit 0:35 - 0:40 (original: jeongin) ★ geocham soreum dotge tto hal georago saenggiji ilgeori sandeomi oh yeah 1:37 - 1:42 (original: bangchan) ★ I don’t wanna do it, I don’t wanna do it geunyang da naeryeonoko manyang michin deushi nollae 1:56 - 2:00 (original: seungmin) ★ oneul urin bureujua eokkae pyeogo danyeo dangdanghi saramdeul apeseo chumsawido 2:27 - 2:28 (original: han) ★ let's go

collision 0:31 - 0:36 (original: bangchan) ★ romantic haetteon chueok hwesang sogak haneullo heuteojyeo beorin maeyeon gatta 1:04 - 1:14 (original: hyunjin) ★ uri dul bappi chungdo 1:11 - 2:18 (original: hyunjin) ★ yeah chungdol 2:01 - 2:07 (original: seungmin) ★ shigani jina urin mannaseo buseojideora geu heunjeogi on uju jeonchereul maemdoneun i bam

fnf 0:31 - 0:37 (original: jeongin) ★ nal dulleossan fauna and flora meonjiga dwaedo i really want you back 1:26 - 1:28 (original: leeknow) ★ yeah i’ll never be the same 2:09 - 2:17 (original: bangchan) ★ i’m catching up 2:45 - 2:50 (original: felix) ★ dallyeoga jjochaga bulganeunghaed oh

youtiful 2:13 - 2:18 (original: bangchan) ★ “I don’t know if I’m ready to show myself” you worry day and night 2:13 - 2:18 (original: seungmin) ★ cause when you give me a glance i am sure that i see the universe in your yeyes 2:13 - 2:18 (original: jeongin) ★ then that little star was surely going to become the biggest thing 2:13 - 2:18 (original: hyunjin) ★ you are a miracle, miracle you are youtifull

the sound 0:48 - 0:51 (original: jeongin) ★ ttarawara da ttarawara da 1:27 - 1:30 (original: hyunjin/jeongin) ★ oh nothing better yeah nothing matters 2:12 - 2:17 (original: bangchan) ★ deo keuge nopyeo volume up jogeum deo gwitgaeneun hamseongsoriga meolli peojyeo ganda

time out 1:09 - 1:18 (original: han) ★ so come on let’s go tteona da mirugo eodideun gaja yeogiseo meolliro run to (run to) run to (run to) 2:39 - 2:47 (original: bangchan) ★ so come on pack up piryohan geon teong bin meori sallangineun baram ttaragaja we run to (run to) run to (run to)

©︎ cityofjieun, all rights reserved. pls, do not copy or repost my work.

[sergeifyodorov]

Predicting the Playoffs Results

Right before the playoffs started, I asked many of you to make a bunch of predictions as to the result, and assigned points based on the questions. Here is the final writeup on that, but first, congratulations to the winners:

@jonassiegenthaler with 21 points

@elizaiwillbe with 19 points, 9 correct answers, and 7:12 off from the longest game

@seedlessmuffins with 19 points, 9 correct answers, and 18:54 off from the longest game

More info on how the whole thing went down under the cut:

Here are the individual question results:

Hopefully the way I phrased each question in the chart makes sense. Let’s discuss some interesting trivia from the chart.

After seeing the results of last years’ game, one thing I wanted to do was to make it easier: have more opportunities to gain points, so we would have a wider distribution of results and higher scores. I would say I was fairly successful in the attempt, with the exception of one question, near the end of the quiz. It was phrased “by the end of the playoffs, which goalie will have the best win%? They do not need to have played in the Cup Final.” Adhering to the rules of the question, the correct answer is Joseph Woll, who played 2 games in the first round and won them both. However, no one guessed this; I assume it is not because people are unaware of Joseph Woll, who is widely beloved as A Sweetie, but rather because a large win percentage generally assumes a team that goes far in the playoffs and, well, Woll is a Leaf. I think when writing this question I also had this in mind, probably being distantly aware of the off-chance something like this might occur but not believing it likely enough to include. That being said, while it’s technically the correct answer to the question, it feels wrong, so in future quizzes that question’s going to be changed.

The answer the most people picked correctly was the winner of the CAR-NYI series, which 114 people -- 87% -- picked correctly. The second-most correctly-answered q was the newbie who would make it the furthest, with a clean 100 (76%) picking Vancouver. 

I think the most impressive answer was the Conn Smythe pick: 35 people picked McDavid, which is not in and of itself a large percent (only 27%) but has a much larger pool of candidates: the first two above-mentioned questions were multiple choice, with 2 or 3 answers, while people picked 3 out of literally hundreds of possible choices, and still fully a quarter of people managed to choose correctly. Additionally, eight people picked both McDavid as a Conn Smythe candidate and Florida to win the Cup.

Here’s the top ten (well, eleven) Conn Smythe picks. While in theory, there were 393 total votes available (131 responses and each responder was encouraged to pick 3 players) not everyone did -- a few people only put in one name, and one person just wrote in “No idea,” who as far as I’m aware was not eligible as a Conn Smythe candidate.

Quinn Hughes mania really swept the nation. Last year, the most-voted-for Conn Smythe winner was Connor McDavid, who got 43 votes. This year, Quinn Hughes got 52! (Caveat: there were about 25 more voters this year than last year, which means that the proportion is actually pretty similar -- about 40% both years.)

Thank you so much for participating! Hope to see you all again next year.

[agrosehamada]

Dear Diary: Rose Hamada, March 16th, 2058

Dear Diary,

Papa and I are home from our weekend trip! He picked me up from school on Friday and we drove to a convention hosting a special Bridgerton ball! It was so much fun--we dressed up as Collin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington and I think we looked great! I was a little too nervous to actually dance, but we spent the night doing a "gossip" scavenger hunt (which I think was fitting for my cosplay!)--there were 60 cards scattered all over the hotel, 30 with names of people and 30 with bits of scandalous gossip (like murders and affairs) that lined up with those names! We only found 54 so we didn't win the scavenger hunt but it was really fun! And we won some cute hats in the raffle drawing!

We also did the "loot drop" at midnight where balloons with prizes in them were tossed over a balcony and if you popped the balloons you could get the prizes--I got some cute little plushies!

We also got to meet the voices of Phineas and Ferb at the con which was SO cool!!! Papa and Dad both watched the show growing up and showed it to me and Danny and we love it too--I don't know if Papa or I were more excited! Both the VA's were so nice and even did their character voices for us!

It was so much fun but I was so sleepy after the busy weekend that I fell asleep on the road trip home 😴 Now I'm just chilling out for a bit on voice chat for Penny! I had this idea for Cars Land outfits for our Disney trip and she loved the idea and even gave me some ideas of her own--I ordered the fabrics to work on them! I keep adding outfits to the list but I have so much fun sewing them I think that's okay XD

Here's hoping for an awesome week :)

Love,

Rose

[magnorious]

Pixar’s Cars is still way better than people give it credit for

Am I writing an essay on a kids movie that fell out of relevance after the last sequel seven years ago? Yes. Is it my favorite background animated movie to put on whenever I’m working? Yes.

It goes without saying that Pixar’s catalog is still topped by movies like Incredibles, Toy Story 2, Up, Inside Out, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, etc. Cars sat at the bottom of Pixar’s “best of” list until its sequel came out and people realized how bad Pixar movies could actually be.

But you know what? I love Cars. Is the story as deep and moving and profound as some of the others? No. But it was made with love and after what feels like the past 8 years of resounding “meh” coming from Hollywood and some of the most shameless cash grabs pretending they’re not, Cars remains my feel-good movie. It doesn’t have that classic Pixar “cry your eyes out” moment, no dead parents, no chosen ones, decently low stakes. It’s a good time, anytime.

Why I’m writing this now, though, is because of this: I knew already that the King and Chick were based off real racers, and Lightning’s “McQueen” is another homage, but I looked up if Doc was also based on a famous racer during my last rewatch and found this on Wikipedia:

Doc’s car model, the Hudson Hornet, was manufactured from 1951-1953 for its original run. In 1954, its manufacturer merged with another company and the Hornet was heavily remodeled to boost sales, only the popularity of the car never recovered. It stayed in production until ‘57. It was used in racing and that’s where Doc’s paint job in the finale draws inspiration.

But do you remember what his backstory is? 3 back-to-back Piston Cups from ‘51-’53, a crash in ‘54 that saw him rebuilt, and obsolescence upon his return.

People complain that they “didn’t need to be cars” in this movie. They’re not like the toys in Toy Story where the plot and message depends on them not being human. They’re not like the fish in Finding Nemo. They could have just been humans who drive race cars and it raises more questions than it answers.

You are wrong, Sir.

Doc’s backstory is why they had to be cars. They aren’t human because the story depends on them being machines – as Cars 3 explores more deeply. A human endurance runner can train to be the fastest, running against other humans with the same chances at success (ignoring steroids and socioeconomic opportunity). Humans aren’t running foot races against mutants or aliens where, no matter what we do, we will lose by nature of what we are.

Cars do. A car model is beholden to its manufacturing and all the complications that come with it. Cars are objects that, like toys, have obsolescence built into them. There is no “outdated” way to run a foot race.

So yes, Doc has a Tragic Backstory(tm) but it’s not just that he was some great master at the top of his game once that faded from glory like any human who got too old. He’s a car, and no matter how good he was, how many Piston Cups he won, the powers that be that made newer models with better mileage and efficiency and mechanics were always going to dethrone him.

The movie isn’t about him, though, it’s about another rookie. A rookie who lives life in the fast lane and thinks his time in the spotlight is never going to end when Doc can look at him and know exactly how wrong he is. Lightning is a race car too and, regardless of the existence of Cars 3, Lightning will also inevitably become obsolete no matter what he does to fight it.

I doubt the writers were going for this when they wrote it but that they’re machines is also a criticism of how we treat celebrities. Lightning is an entertaining story until the next shiny starlet emerges and, through no fault of his own, he’s kicked to the curb for the “new”. And that new will be cast aside for the next new and so on and so forth and the only winner is the greedy producer making money off their cash cow until they drain it dry.

Yes, the movie is about appreciating life and the things that you do have and “the friends we made along the way” but that they’re machines matters. Had they all been human, the movie would have lost half its message, and half the tragedy. If they were human driving cars, Doc wasn’t written with a disability so he could have, in theory, hopped back behind the wheel of a new car and still won against younger drivers. He’s not human, he’s a car, and he isn’t built to go as fast as newer models.

Age affects everyone, but a world made by machines that pits machines against other machines in an endurance test is inherently rigged when the machinery being tested can always improve.

It is unfortunate that both Doc and the King go out in wrecks (even though the poetry is nice) and the story doesn’t explore the existential obsolescence of being a machine designed to only do so well and be improved upon – even Lightning still has to wreck out of his big race in Cars 3 before he starts losing to the newer models.

But maybe having a Cars movie that does explore the existential obsolescence of a machine might have gone over kids’ heads. Or, maybe not? They pulled off some very mature themes in Incredibles with marriage problems and presumed infidelity that kids probably didn’t understand but still knew was not good for the characters.

Not to mention all the other wonderful details in this movie: The car-pun cities on all the license plates, the tire tracks in the sky and car-shaped natural phenomena, all the creative sponsoring brands on the racers.

How the “Life is a Highway” montage hits you over and over again with a straight road that cuts through the winding nature (the snaking river, the mountains sliced open to make room), industry that stops for nothing and scars everything in its path.

If you haven’t watched this movie in a while, do yourself a favor and find time to do so.

[fanartandfanfiction]

The Saga of Meatball the snake, chapter 3

Ominis was half asleep when he heard his phone vibrate. He clumsily felt for it on the nightstand. Ominis had a special enchantment on his phone that allowed him to read text messages, and he was able to read books in a similar manner. He could also hold his wand to the phone to reply. 

 Melody 11:52 PM: Hey Ominis, it’s Melody. I know it’s late but you wanted me to let you know when I got back soooo

Ominis 11:53 PM: You’re just now getting back? 

Melody 11:53 PM: Yeeeeeah. There were a few more poachers than I was expecting 

Ominis 11:53 PM: Are you alright? 

Melody 11:54 PM: I am now. Got banged up quite a bit. Sharp helped me and gave me a lecture. 

Ominis 11:54 PM: I’m glad you were able to get help. Thanks for letting me know that you returned safely. 

Melody 11:54 PM: Right, it’s late, I’m probably keeping you up 😬 Sorry!

Ominis 11:55 PM: It’s alright, I was awake anyway. Sebastian’s snoring is comparable to a chainsaw. 

Melody 11:55 PM: Eh, hit him with a pillow, he probably deserves it 😊

Ominis 11:55 PM: I’m highly considering it. 

Melody 11:55 PM: So what did you do this evening? 

Ominis 11:56 PM: I’m afraid nothing quite as exciting as what you did. Just studied. I have a history of magic test coming up and that’s my worst subject. Mostly because I fall asleep. 

Melody 11:56 PM: Yes, I know, I sit right behind you 😝

Ominis 11:56 PM: Wait, are you serious? 

Melody 11:56 PM: Yeah, once Garreth and I spent the whole class seeing who could get more paper clips into the hood of your robe 🤣

Ominis 11:57 PM: That was you?!?

Melody 11:57 PM: Yeah. I won btw 😁

Ominis 11:57 PM: I didn’t find them until I took my robe off in the evening and they all fell out. 

Melody 11:58 PM: Don’t take it personally, we do it to Prewett in muggle studies. But that’s just because we like to piss him off

Ominis 11:58 PM: So you’re friends with Garreth? 

Melody 11:58 PM: Yeah, he’s my best friend, aside from Poppy. So I suppose he’d be my best Gryffindor friend? 

Ominis 11:59 PM: So is Sebastian your best Slytherin friend, then?

Melody 11:59 PM: For the moment, but he doesn’t have a cool snake, soooo 😝

Ominis 11:59 PM: You’ll be happy to know Meatball has talked about you constantly. He’s asked a dozen times if you’re coming to see him. 

Melody 12:00 AM: Guess I’ll have to come by more often 😉

Ominis 12:00 AM: I’ve told him repeatedly that your name is Melody, but he still refers to you as “the pretty human”

Melody 12:00 AM: Aaaaaw, sounds like Meatball is a little flirt!

Ominis 12:01 AM: I’m glad you brought him to me. It’s nice having a companion, though he wants to come to class with me. I told him no. 

Melody 12:01 AM: I would TOTALLY take him to class with me. That’s like, instant cool points. 

Ominis 12:01 AM: He’d be a distraction, constantly chattering away. Now I’m going to have another distraction, knowing you’re sitting behind me 

Ominis 12:01 AM: Because of the paperclips, I mean. 

Melody 12:02 AM: It’s not always paperclips. Sometimes it’s just little balls of paper

Ominis 12:02 AM: I’m going to start shaking my hood before I leave. 

Melody 12:02 AM: You’re adorable when you fall asleep, btw. I got up to sharpen my pencil and you had a little smile on your face. It was like, the only time I’d seen you smile. Mostly because whenever I was around you, you just glared at me 😝

Ominis 12:03 AM: I apologize again for acting coldly towards you. 

Melody 12:03 AM: It’s fine, seriously. I’ve gotta get some sleep, otherwise I’m gonna drop my phone on my face. Goodnight!

Ominis 12:03 AM: Goodnight Melody.

Ominis put his phone down with a smile. It was nice chatting with someone besides Sebastian. Sebastian’s snoring went up a decibel and Ominis hurled a pillow at him with surprising accuracy.

He heard the solid thump sound and “HEY!” As Sebastian got hit. 

“For god’s sake, would you turn the other way?! You’re going to suck the wallpaper off with your snoring!” 

“Sorry, crab-ass.” Sebastian rolled over and almost immediately began snoring again. Ominis sighed and buried his head under the covers, attempting to muffle the sound. It worked, and he finally drifted off to sleep. 

Ominis was already in his seat in history of magic when he heard Melody enter with Garreth. 

“Prewett’s asked me for the hundredth time for your phone number. You’ll be happy to know I didn’t give it to him.”

“Ugh. He can’t take a hint.” Melody grumbled as she sat down. 

“He’s not a BAD guy, just give him a chance.” 

“Nope.” 

“Why? Got your sights set on someone else?” 

Ominis’ ears perked up. “Maybe.” Melody answered coyly.

“Is it me?” Garreth asked. 

Melody sighed and sarcastically responded “yes, Garreth, it’s you. I’d like to throw you down on this desk right now and have my way with you.”

“I mean, it’s not the WORST idea, just maybe after class is over? OW!” Ominis heard a solid thump as Melody punched Garreth in the arm. 

“Morning, sleepyhead!” Melody tossed a paperclip at the back of his head. 

“Good morning.” He smiled. 

“I thought we usually waited until he was asleep to do that?” 

“Oh, I told him. It’s more fun if it’s a challenge.” 

“So Ominis, Melody said you have a snake?” Garreth asked. Ominis turned around to face them. 

“Yes, we rescued him. Did she tell you the delightful name she picked out?”

“No, what is it?”

“Meatball!” Melody said proudly.

“I love it.” 

“Hey Ominis, are you free tonight?” 

“I am, why?”

“I thought maybe we could hang out, do something fun.” Melody said.

“I think you’re just using me to get to Meatball.” Ominis smirked. 

“Damn, you saw right through me.” 

“I don’t have any plans, I’ll probably just be in my room studying.”

“Ok! I’ll come by later.”

“Hang on, are you saying all he had to do to get you in his bedroom was let you play with his snake? Wait, that sounded wrong.”

Professor Binns floated to the front of the classroom and asked them to pull out their textbooks. He began reading aloud in his dull, monotone voice, and Ominis was asleep in no time. He woke up when he felt a paperclip bounce off the back of his head. Binns was still droning on about a wizard rebellion, so Ominis pulled out his phone. 

Ominis 8:35 AM: I felt that.

Melody 8:35 AM: I aimed too high. The score is 10-8, I have the lead.

Ominis 8:35 AM: Are you telling me you’ve already thrown 18 paperclips into my hood?

Melody 8:36 AM: 19 now, I just scored another point 😀

“Alright class, let’s go view the portraits and statues in the hall. I want you to choose one and write a report on it.”

Ominis raised his hand. “Yes, Mr. Gaunt?”

“I’m unable to see the portraits, sir.”

“Very well, choose a partner to work with. Come along now.”

They all got up and Melody put a hand on his shoulder. “You were trying to get out of doing the report, weren’t you?”

Ominis smiled. “Perhaps. Now I need to find a partner who doesn’t mind being stuck with the blind boy.”

“Oh hush, I’ll be your partner. Come on, let’s go pick a weird one.” She looped her arm through his and they followed the trickle of students into the hallway. 

“I say we go for a statue, I’d rather not have to listen to one of the portraits tell me how great they were.” Melody said as they strolled along. 

“Agreed. Some of them are very pretentious.”

Melody described the various statues in the hall and asked Ominis his opinion. They ended up selecting a skull belonging to Grimbald Weft, a notable tailor. 

“I don’t think I’d be cool with my skull being displayed after I’m dead.” Melody said, examining it in the glass case. “What did they do with the rest of him?”

“Perhaps the skull was all they were able to recover.” Ominis replied.

“If they’re gonna display my bones, they’d better use the whole skeleton and put me in a fun pose or something.” 

“I think I’d just prefer to be buried.”

“Then I suppose you shouldn’t do anything to become famous! Because apparently, your bones go on display.”

They chatted for the rest of the class and Melody told him she’d come by later so they could work on their report. He heard Garreth speaking to her and she laughed, though he couldn’t hear what was said. He felt a hint of jealousy, which was ridiculous, he barely knew her. But still…

“Melody is coming by this evening.” Ominis said to Sebastian and Meatball.

“You two are really hitting it off!” Sebastian said with a grin.

“We’re partners on a report.”

“Sure, sure. Though the rumor through the grapevine is that she won’t be on the market much longer.”

“First of all, she’s a person, not a slab of meat on the market. And second, I don’t care.”

“I heard Prewett’s really trying to win her over.”

“She said this morning it was never going to happen.”

“I suppose we’ll see.” There was a knock on their door. “Come in!”

“Hey guys.” Melody said as she entered. “There’s my little Meatball!”

“There’s my favorite human!” 

“Excuse me?”

“What?” Melody asked. 

“He just referred to you as his favorite human.”

“Favorite GIRL human.” 

“Right, he’s trying to backpedal now.”

“And Meatball’s my favorite little snake!” She scooped him up out the terrarium and snuggled him, loudly kissing the top of his head. Meatball’s tongue flicked happily.

“Melody, while you’re giving it away over there, how about some love for your favorite Slytherin?” Sebastian asked, wiggling his eyebrows. 

“Terribly sorry, didn’t mean to make you feel left out. Hewwo my wittle Sebastian!” She spoke in a baby voice and pinched his cheek. 

“Are we still going to Hogsmeade this weekend or has Prewett swept you off your feet yet?”

“How did you hear about that?” Melody asked as she sat beside Ominis and crossed her legs, their knees touching.

“The good ol’ Hogwarts rumor mill. So are you going out with him?”

“I don’t know. He’s awfully persistent. I suppose he really likes me.”

“You can do much better than Prewett.” Sebastian said.

“Oh yeah?” She asked playfully. 

“Um, hello! I’m sitting right in front of you. Your knight in shining armor awaits!”

“Please, you’re my dumbass in tin foil.”

Ominis laughed out loud and Sebastian glared. “Woooow. Hurtful. I see whose side you’re on, Ominis!” 

“You are correct.” He replied with a smile.

“Well, I’m going to go take my wounded heart elsewhere while you two work on your report. I heard Lenora Everleigh is single now. Did you put in a good word for me?”

“I put in A word.” Melody replied. “Stop poaching my friends, can’t you go find a Slytherin girl?”

“I could, but I have a weakness for Hufflepuff women.” Sebastian winked and Melody rolled her eyes. “Alright, later guys.” 

After Sebastian left, Melody nudged Ominis’ shoulder. “I warned her in advance so she could hide.”

Ominis chuckled. “He’s not a bad guy.”

“No, he’s not, but I know he likes to see how many notches he can get on his headboard and I’d prefer my friends not to be among them.” 

“That’s understandable. Ready to start on our report?”

“I suppose. How long does it have to be?”

“At least three pages.”

“Oh COME ON!” She groaned. 

They worked for an hour before Melody dramatically collapsed beside him. “I’m dead, Ominis. I’ve died of boredom.”

“Terrible, you were so young.” He smirked. 

“Come on, let’s take a break and do literally anything else.” 

“What do you want to do?”

“What do you like to do for fun?” 

“I’m afraid I’m quite boring. I enjoy reading, going for a stroll, listening to music…”

“That’s not boring!” Melody said. 

“There’s also a game I used to play with Sebastian and Anne. It’s kind of silly, but fun.”

“Let’s do it! What is it?” 

“We’ll have to go somewhere quiet and spacious. I know a place.” 

“Let’s go!” Melody grinned. 

“Go on, Meatball, back to your home.”

“Aaaaaaaw.” 

“Sorry, it’s no place for a snake, you could get lost.”

“Where exactly are we going?” Melody asked.

“You’ll see.” Ominis said with a sly grin.

“Welcome to the undercroft! It’s a secret place, only Anne, Sebastian, and myself know about it. And now you.” 

“Woah! No one else knows this is here?”

“No, it was a secret passed on to me from my family. I spend a lot of time here, it’s nice and quiet.”

“And kind of creepy. You guys never thought to put any lights or furniture in here?”

“I guess not, we used to just sit on blankets or something.” 

“So what’s this game?”

“It doesn’t have a specific name. But you’ll get an understanding of how I live. You’ll put this blindfold over your eyes and attempt to locate me using your other senses.” 

“Sounds easy enough!” 

“We’ll see about that.” He pulled a blindfold out from his pocket. “May I?”

“Sure.” Melody walked over to him and turned around, and he slid the blindfold over her eyes and tied it on.

“This is wonderful if you suffer from migraines. Blocks out all the light.” 

“I get dreadful migraines. Wow, I really can’t see anything!” 

“And the game begins.” Ominis said, further away than she expected. 

“How are you so quiet?!”

“I can be very stealthy.” He said, suddenly behind her. She turned to grab him and he was gone. “Come on, are you even trying?”

“Ok, this is more difficult than I anticipated!” 

“Use your other senses.” Ominis said, tapping her shoulder. 

“Ugh!” Melody closed her eyes under the blindfold. If she stopped straining to see, she could focus on her other senses. She faintly smelled his cologne and stepped in that direction. She heard a quiet rustle of fabric and turned around. She froze and listened for the slightest sound. When she got a much stronger whiff of his cologne, she turned around and lunged at him.

He was closer than she’d anticipated and she slammed into him, knocking him backwards. She thought they were going to fall, but she felt Ominis’ strong grasp on her and they stayed upright.

“You’re not very graceful, are you?” He asked with a smirk. 

“Smart ass!” She laughed. Her hands were resting on his chest and his hands still rested on her waist. She tipped her head upwards and felt for his face. “I never realized how much taller than me you are!”

“Is that why you’re squeezing my nose?” He asked in a slightly muffled voice.

“Yep. How tall are you?”

“6 feet.” 

“Ugh.”

He patted the top of her head. “Look at you, so short. What are you, 5’3?”

“5’4, thank you very much!” She brought her hands down from his face and felt his shoulders.

“What are you doing?” He asked with a small smile.

“Trying to see like you do. Of course I know what you look like, but I’m trying to see if I can figure it out.” 

He stood still as she patted his shoulders and arms. Her hands went back up to his face. “Yep, I can tell. Same cocky smile. I don’t have to see you to know you’re smirking at me, you’re an excellent smirker, you know that?” 

“Is that a word, smirker?” His grin widened. 

“Stop it! Now you’re smiling even more!”

“Are you done molesting my face?” 

“Nope.” She squeezed his cheeks with her hands. She moved them up the side of his head and he closed his eyes as her fingers flitted across them. “You have obnoxiously long eyelashes, it’s terribly unfair. They’re better than mine. And these eyebrows are so often turned down into a glare or frown.” She gave his cheeks one last playful squeeze for good measure. “Ok, now I’m done.”

Ominis cleared his throat nervously. “Would it be alright if I felt what you looked like? You can say no if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Nope, feel away! You know, I don’t usually say that to a boy.” She took his hands and placed them on the sides of her face. “I’m going to take the blindfold off for now so you feel around better.” 

She was surprised at how bright the room seemed after having the blindfold on. She was also surprised at how close she was to Ominis. She watched his face as he gently moved his hands across hers. He had a small smile on his face as he did so. 

“Let’s see here…what a tiny nose you have! High cheekbones…your lashes seem long to me, but I suppose I wouldn’t know.” He ran his thumb across her lips. “I expected your mouth to be much larger, the way I’ve heard you shout and swear. You’re quite loud.”

“Rude!” She pouted. 

“Now you’re pouting. I didn’t mean offense, just that you’re one of those people that doesn’t hide in the shadows. You’re bold and fiery.”

“Are you describing me or a Taco Bell sauce packet?”

Ominis laughed, a delightful, full on laugh, not his usual polite chuckle. 

He reached around and felt her hair. He started at the top and ran the strands through his fingers. “Your hair is quite long. It’s very soft, and has a hint of vanilla?” 

“I suppose that’s my shampoo. I don’t know, I’ve never sniffed my own hair. Lean down.” She pulled his head down and pressed her nose against his hair and gave an exaggerated sniff. “Mhm, mhm, lovely, yes.”

“Oh? What’s it smell like?”

“I don’t quite know how to describe it. Let me sniff again.” He laughed as she jerked him downward. “I’m not good with smells. I know it smells manly and expensive.” She was sniffing his hair again when the door to the undercroft opened. Melody hadn’t noticed and Ominis was attempting to straighten up but she wouldn’t let him. “I’m not done yet, let me smell you!”

“Hello Melody. Watcha doing?” Sebastian asked with a grin.

“Oh, hello! Trying to decide what Ominis’ hair smells like.”

“Ok…why?”

“Why not?”

“Would you let go of my hair now?” Ominis asked, still partially bent over with Melody’s hand grasping his hair.

“Fine, but it’ll come to me at some point.” She let him go and then snickered. “I didn’t know your hair could stand up like that!” 

“Yes, well, someone was ruffling it up.” He pulled a comb out of his pocket and attempted to smooth his hair back down. 

“Sooooo Melody knows about the undercroft now?”

“Yes. We were taking a break from working and I told her about the game we used to play. She wanted to try it, so I brought her here.”

“It is NOT as easy as it seems. Would you just let me fix it?!” Melody snatched the comb from his hand. “Lean down, you jolly green giant.” 

Sebastian watched with an amused expression. “How’d it go? Did you catch him?”

“Yes, but it was difficult!” 

“She pounced on me.” Ominis smirked as Melody combed his hair. 

“How did it go with you? Did you pester my friend?” Melody asked, forgoing the comb and attempting to style Ominis’ hair in a mohawk. 

“I thought you were fixing it?!”

“I am, I’m making you look cool.”

Sebastian smiled at his two friends. “I struck out.”

“I’m shocked.” Melody said with a smirk. 

“I suppose I’ll just set my sights on another Hufflepuff bachelorette.” Sebastian wiggled his eyebrows at her.

“In your dreams.”

“You already are, love!” He wrapped his arms around her and made dramatic smooching noises. 

“Put me down, you oaf!”

Though Ominis couldn’t see them, he felt a flutter of jealousy. He wasn’t sure why, she was friends with Sebastian first and closer to him. 

“You know what, I want to play too for old time’s sake!” Sebastian grinned. “I’ll take the blindfold.”

Ominis handed it to him and he tied it on. “Alright, spread out!”

It was silent in the undercroft, but Melody knew her shoes would give her away so she slid them off and walked around in just her stockinged feet. She froze as Sebastian turned towards her. “You’re quite terrible at this, Mel!”

Suddenly, she was yanked backwards just as Sebastian lunged for the spot she’d been standing in. Ominis held a finger up to his lips and smiled. 

“Damn! You’re around here somewhere!”

Ominis took a small object out of his pocket and tossed it across the room, making a quiet thud.

“GOTCHA!” They watched as Sebastian lunged at nothing. And Melody was trying to suppress her laughter. “Are you guys still here?”

She watched Ominis walk silently up to him and whisper “Yes” behind his ear, making Sebastian jump. 

“I bloody hate it when you do that!”

A small giggle escaped and Sebastian whipped around towards her. “Now I’ve got you!”

She started walking backwards and crashed into a rusty cauldron, making a loud metallic noise. Sebastian lunged forward and she ran, causing him to stumble.

She jumped when Ominis grabbed her wrist. He tugged her along with him and into a corner of the room. He pushed her into the corner and she was surprised, thinking he was about to kiss her. Instead he just held a finger to his lips before quietly stalking away.

Melody watched him creep up right behind Sebastian and yank the blindfold off. “You’re terrible at this game.” 

“That’s because you have the stealth of a bloody panther!”

“Melody, would you like to go again?” He extended the blindfold with a smirk. 

“I’ll give it my best shot.” She turned around for Ominis to tie the blindfold on her. “Alright, let’s go!”

She was pretty much instantly able to find Sebastian, his breathing seemed quite loud in the quiet room. She tackled him with a triumphant cheer and he swore. “Alright, just me and you, Ominis!”

She could hear nothing but Sebastian’s loud breathing and her own heartbeat. Then she heard it, the sound of a small object thudding on the ground. Instead of turning towards the noise she wheeled around backwards and lunged. Ominis hadn’t been expecting her this time and she took them both to the ground. 

 He landed on his back with a solid thump and she landed on top of him. They were both laughing and she took her blindfold off. His eyes were so pretty, especially when they were full of happiness and laughter like this. She found herself wanting to touch his face and trace the pattern of his moles like a constellation. They both stopped laughing and they were looking at each other. Despite Ominis’ blindness, he met her gaze with accuracy.

“Would you two like me to leave, or would you like to get off of Ominis?” Sebastian asked with a smirk. 

“Sorry Ominis! Did you get hurt?” Melody got off of him and asked.

“Just bruised my ego.” He smiled. 

“You guys wanna do something? Or are you going back to work on your paper?”

“Ugh. I really don’t want to. It’s not due for a bit, I say we hang out. But I am BEGGING YOU to let me conjure some furniture down here. I know it’s your space and if you say no that’s fine, but do you really want to keep sitting on the floor?” Melody asked Ominis.

“I have no objections. Sebastian?”

“Go for it.” 

“Excellent!” Melody grinned and set to work. 

Sebastian walked over to Ominis and spoke quietly. “I’m shocked you brought her down here. You’d have my head if I did that.” 

“I think we can trust her to keep the secret.”

“I’m actually surprised you’ve warmed up to her as quickly as you have. You’re usually quite the grump. Or perhaps it’s her feminine wiles that have changed your tune?”

“Or it’s the fact that she adores Meatball and she’s a lovely person that I get along with.” 

“Where is the little scaly cretin?”

“I left him upstairs. I didn’t want him to get lost or hurt down here.”

“So it wasn’t to be alone with Mel?”

“Would you let it go?!” 

“Fine, fine, I’m just saying, she seems to fancy you, and-“

“Fancy me? What do you mean?” Ominis asked quickly.

“I mean she likes you, likes being around you. She’s a lovely girl and if you wanted a girlfriend-“

“Drop it.”

“Fine. Woah!” Sebastian looked up and grinned.

“What?”

“It’s like a new place! There’s comfortable sofas, a nice rug, a FIREPLACE, how did she conjure a fireplace?!”

“Well?” Melody asked with a grin.

“Mel, this looks fantastic!” Sebastian grinned back.

“I’ll have to take Sebastian’s word for it.” Ominis said with a small smile. 

“You may not be able to see it, but I know you’ll feel the difference!” She grabbed his hand and brought him over to the sofa. “Go on, sit down.” 

Ominis sat and smiled at her. “Much better than the floor!”

“See? You don’t have to live like cavemen down here.” She plopped down beside him on the couch with her legs crossed and her knee was touching his. 

“Mel, will you do that thing with my hair?” Sebastian asked. 

“Again?”

“Come on, I’m heartbroken!”

“Over what? You didn’t even care about her until you found out she was single!”

“Please?” He pouted.

“Fine, get over here you big baby.” 

“What do you do with his hair?” Ominis asked. 

“Mostly just twirl it around my fingers. Sometimes I make tiny braids. I did it for him once when he was upset and now he pesters me all the time.”

Sebastian sat on the ground in front of her with a satisfied smile. “I should put you to work painting my toenails while I do this. You know what? This is your last free one. After this it’ll cost one pedicure.”

“Do you really want me to paint your nails?” He smirked. “In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have the lightest touch.”

“I’m aware.” She began working her fingers through his hair. “My mother used to do this to me when I was upset. It always felt so good.”

“It does.” Sebastian leaned back against her. “So did you give this weekend any more thought?”

“I’d like to go but I don’t want to impose.” 

“The weekend?” Ominis asked. 

“I think Mel and Anne would get along great, and Anne would love to meet a new girl her age. I invited Melody to come to Feldcroft with me this weekend. I would’ve invited you but we don’t have that much room.”

Ominis didn’t like the idea of them going away for the weekend together. “I’d like to visit Anne too. What if I rented us a cottage? Would you be comfortable with that, Melody?”

“Sure! Sounds fun.” 

“Are you sure Ominis? It’ll be expensive.”

“It’s my parents’ money, I’m happy to spend it.” 

“Then we’re going on a trip this weekend! You can even bring Meatloaf.”

“Meatball!” Melody yanked his hair.

“Ow!”

“He’s my Meatball, my precious boy, and little angel.” 

“Mel, you’ve known Meatball for like, two days.”

“So? He’s a special boy and I love him.”

“He’s enamored with you.” Ominis said with a small smile. 

“I think I’m going to get him a little hat.” 

“Why?” Ominis asked.

“Because I think he’d look dapper.”

“Can a snake look dapper?” Sebastian asked. 

“Meatball can. He’s special.”

(P.S. I bet none of you picked up on the fact that my main character is named Melody Carlisle, or MC :D )

[manylittleguys]

I have fought for, won, and claimed the title of The TMA Alter, so I, in my official position as Never Again Archivist Of Anywhere Ever Forevermore, Jon Sims, am going to attempt to explain our plurality.

TMA spoilers ahead but idgaf, it's my source, I'll talk about it as I please.

Y'know how Gerry explained the Fears as being most easily comprehensible through the concept of colour? That's us, in a sense. We bleed into each other, our boundaries aren't distinct. But we also wouldn't self-describe as median or blurian. It is simply innacurate, so we do not use those terms, end of story. It might help, though, if you tried to use tiny beads to show it. Like manipulatives you'd give a small child to explain a maths concept.

Try to think of it this way:

I give you bowls of 54 colours of tiny plastic beads, or grains of rice. The actual object doesn't matter, just that there are about 100 grams of it in each bowl, plus one more big empty bowl to represent our front.

When I am in front alone, it is just my beads in that big bowl. depending on what percentage someone else is in front, that many grams of their beads are in the Front Bowl. Right now, for example, Micheal is sitting patiently nearby, maybe 10% present in front, so 10% of its beads are in the bowl. I am fully here, and thus all my beads are in the bowl. Mike is watching what I do (which is my job, thank you Mike) and is about 45% here, and thus, so are 45% of his beads.

But then there is the... mixing. The difficulty of beads that size is they're so difficult to separate and sort. So every bucket of individual colours of beads is... well, it's got a stray bead or two from those it mixes with. There's some of Mike's bright blue in my pale green and in Micheal's mint. Link's vibrant green has a firey red and an ocean blue and deep obsidian and crushing violet and many other colours in it, there are more than 100 grams in Link's dish, but his is also much like one of those store bought precut fruit-trays, and those many compartments all contain a good deal of that vibrancy. John's dusty yellow and Sherlock's pale gray are mixed together in the same bowl, and always have been.

We are as separate as we are a unit. And maybe one day the colours will all bleed together near-indistinguishably. We don't care. As long as we are together, I suppose.

[vamptizm]

Plus we’ve had a higher scoring offense

South Carolina won their games 108-48, 64-53, 71-67, 54-50, 74-57

Where as UConn won 103-34 (against the best 3 point shooting team apparently), 91-57, 82-59, 78-64, 85-51.

AND we held all but USC to their lowest scoring game of the season, but it was still their second lowest scoring game of the season (first was 61 in their loss to ND)

exactly like out defense has been eating lately and when everyone is locked in our offense is just as good.

also we’ve won against TWO #1 seeds with double digit leads (14 and 34 is crazy)

depending on whether everyone performs their best (which they better do) i think we’ve got it in the bag (i pray lol)

[aliypop]

It Hurts Me

Word Count: 1,136

Writers Note: This was a request for my oc Cecelia Valmos also thank you @sissylittlefeather for helping me plot the story as well as the song for it! I hope you all like it!

Warning: Angst / Language

Pairing: POC OC x Elvis

Plot: In 1958 at The King Creole Red Carpet Party, Cecelia Valmos finds herself heartbroken from her Ex only to remember who truly has her heart.

California 1958

Champagne and music played freely in the ballroom as stars from all over gathered to celebrate the release of King Creole. Elvis had been talking to the producers talking to The Colonel about his potential. Meanwhile, standing next to the punch was Cecelia, who had already grown tired and underwhelmed over these parties, especially after her last movie. It wasn't that she hated it. It was her co-star Anthony Rodgers, the charming snake, the half-Latin lover, her ex-boyfriend who was walking her way. 

"Seems we meet again, Cece," Anthony said, holding a champagne glass in his hand, handing her one, 

"I don't drink, you know that." she sighed, not looking up at him. She couldn't, not after they had ended things back in 54. 

"You were never any fun." He teased, "Always doing what's right, never any mystery to you." he laughed. If Cecelia could, she'd clutch her heart for the laugh that once made it flutter and now feel like a knife plunged into it, 

"Yes, 'cause you had all the mystery." She said, laughing. Her eyes were on Elvis, looking back at her, then back to his meeting, "You know, I could never tell who you really were." Cecelia laughed as Anthony held himself, a cold remark, but it was true. Everything he did was always right in his mind, and everything that was wrong was Cecelia's fault."I was simply myself," he placed his hand under her chin and tried to kiss her. Cecelia couldn't lie. She almost leaned into the temptation. She almost gave in to her heart for some stupid reason, always would love him, even though she was happy and overjoyed and content with Elvis. 

"I... shouldn't." Cecelia pulled away from him,

"It's not like anyone else loves you but me, right?" his voice was oozing with sultry, but she had to stay strong and remember all the hurt he had done to her, 

"Why can't you just let me go..." She asked him as he smirked at her. It was like she could see the venom in his eyes spark another lie of manipulation,

"Because I don't want anyone else to have you." He whispered in her ear, "Now, why don't you come to play house with me?" removing his hand from her thigh, Cecelia began to back away, 

"Maybe, but only if you answer me this," Cecelia said, throwing his own mind games at him,

"Ask me anything, Cece. I'm all yours." He said, leaning closer as he took a whiff of her perfume.

"Did you ever love me?" Anthony laughed, and the tears began to wail in her eyes. 

"Love is a strong statement, Cece. I liked you, but I felt like you were a prize to be won so bright-eyed, so innocent, but we were too much alike. Except for one thing." 

"What's that?"

"You cared too much, and I only cared about what you could give me." He said as he whispered in her ear, "A night a pleasure." 

"You broke me, and you can say to show for it is you want to fuck me!" Cecelia shouted as the room fell silent at her outburst. 

"Cecelia, how dare you. I-I would never ask you something like that!" he began to act surprised and appalled by her, "And you're a taken woman, a whore with no class." he said, walking away from her. Cecelia felt goosebumps rise on her arms. Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. Anthony felt like he was right and what he had done was perfect. Destroy her, build her back up with his words. To only break her down again. Finding a wooden box in the background, Cecelia sat in the corner. Head in her hands as she sunk into herself, crying and remembering all the times he'd do something like that, always making her feel like she was dirty and wrong and unloveable, and yet here she was sulking, into herself, feeling as if she were, in fact, all those things. 

"I think I showed her," Anthony said, surrounded by a few other actors. They laughed and enjoyed his banter, egging him on that he didn't need a groupie like Cecelia hanging around. 

"My boy, that matter doesn't concern..." The Colonel said, but couldn't finish his sentence fast enough to stop Elvis from walking over to Anthony and saying, 

"I heard you call that beautiful girl, my girlfriend, a whore." His eyes were dark with rage, and Anthony felt intimidated. Elvis was taller than him, that was for sure, but please, was he better than him? Well yes. 

"Your girlfriend? She was mine first, buddy." Anthony laughed. He looked like a bratty child, and that's what he was, "And between you and I... Quit while you're ahead. 'cause she won't give it up to you if you know what I'm saying."

"Mhmm.." Elvis took a deep breath, "Now you, uh, listen here, you mess with her, you mess with me." Elvis stood closer, "You make her cry, you deal with me, an you don't wanna see what I can do when you fuck with me." Elvis glared at him.

"What you'll sing me to death, why don't you take your country ass back to the farm you-" 

POW!

Before Anthony could finish his last words, his nose was dripping blood on his white tuxedo. 

"No, I'll do that..." Walking off, Elvis spotted Cecelia in the corner.

"Is this seat taken, mama?" a plate of Cheesecake and lemonade were in his hands, "Figured you want a pick me up." Cecelia looked up as she saw Elvis, a smile on his face and a bruising knuckle, 

"Elvis Aaron Presley, what did you do..." 

"Punch an asshole." He smiled, setting down the food. Leaning in, Elvis took his thumb and wiped the tears on her face away, 

"You didn't have to do that." 

"No, he asked for a lesson, so I taught him." he shrugged, pulling her close. 

"I don't understand why you love me..."

"Now don't you start talkin down on yourself like that doll. You know exactly why I love you." He kissed her face, "And I ain't afraid to show it either." Cecelia began to laugh as he kissed her passionately. His hand was on her cheek, and hers tangled into his thick hair.

 "Whadya say we blow this crowd and head back." 

Cecelia snorted as he playfully nudged her,

 "Whoa, honey, get your mind out of the gutter there." Elvis laughed with her,

"Fine, but I'm taking the cheesecake with me."

"That's alright with me." They both left arm and arm with each other, laughing and kissing as Anthony stood there jealous. 

"I'm happy to have found someone like you." Elvis said as he kissed her again. 

"A kiss from Elvis is a kiss to cherish."

Taglist

@darkmoviesquotespizza

@sissylittlefeather

@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@sissylittlefeather

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

[animeraider]

So many crimes in so little time.

No, I didn't watch the Grammys. They almost never nominate the right artists in each category. It's a popularity contest, not a reflection of quality. For example, Lola Young released this past year one of the best albums in a decade and how many nominations did she get? ZERO. Also, The Beatles are nominated? They broke up 54 years ago! (P.S. I am told they won. I love the Beatles but give me a fucking break).

+++++++++++++++++++++

So what the fuck is happening to our government? The Treasury Department has been taken over with the skill and aplomb of one of the later Die Hard movies by a South African import and a child from Canada who calls himself "BigBallz". Hope you weren't expecting your social security or Medicare payments to be on time - or to ever come. They want to covert the treasury to blockchain - i.e. bitcoin. 

For fuck's sake Musk is an actual Bond Villian. There are only two reasons to convert the security of our nation's currency into bitcoin: 1) to destroy it or 2) to steal it. He could bankrupt the country and every bank in the nation in just a few seconds if he were to make that change. They would all be his hostages.

Not to mention that there have been two plane crashes and a third that caught fire in the past 5 days, and all press releases will now come through Elon Musk's "X" platform. It already appears that press releases for other agencies will only come through X as well. Also, anyone critical of the new administration will be banned from X. So sez the self proclaimed "Free Speech Absolutist". Did he lie? Yes, he did.

Oh and by the way, he's suing several companies for NOT advertising on X. That's not a crime, Apartheid boy.

This fuckhead has illegally taken over the purse strings of our government. The crimes have been committed and I would like to think we're going to start arresting people.

But probably not.

What else... oh yes! We're going to invade Mexico. We bombed a low-level thug in Somalia who mostly just blackmailed people. 

The State Department has appointed as Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy, i.e. the department mouthpiece, a known white supremacist who was the person who started the rumor that the FBI was behind the attempted insurrection of January 6, 2021. 

The Department of Education hasn't done much yet, other than eliminate all diversity education and policies, dismissed every complaint about book bans (believe it or not, a LOT of people complain about books being banned in schools) and celebrated "school choice" - i.e. vouchers and home schooling.

The tariffs have begun! By the way, this is in violation of the USMCA Treaty. You know who signed that one? The very man who is now in violation of it. I would like to think we're going to start arresting people. But probably not.

And then after I wrote the previous paragraph we suddenly aren't imposing tariffs on Mexico (and also Canada after a couple more hours pass) for the next month! He did manage to crash the stock market though, so I have to wonder how many short-sells he had in his pocket. Remember, he hasn't divested from anything.

The CDC has been told to hold all publications for review, to make certain that specific words that are now forbidden are not used. Those words include "Diversity", "Gender", "Transgender", "Pregnant person" "Pregnant People" and just about any issue involving the LGBTQA+ community. Oh, and have you seen the latest press briefings on Bird Flu or perhaps the greatest outbreak of Tuberculosis in this country in a century? Of course not - there haven't been any.

Can you say censorship boy and girls? 

And have you noticed how many government websites are now simply gone? Welcome to book-burning in the Digital Age. The people who burn books are never the good guys.

Our first Concentration Camp will be at Guantanamo, which is pretty far away from any prying eyes. You can't call yourself a decent person and not be outraged by this. Given the number of American Citizens that have been swept up in raids that have already taken place I am certain that American Citizens are going to wind up in Cuba because of the color of their skin, or because of their fluency in Spanish. And we're apparently using the same law used to inter Japanese in WWII. Which was also a crime.

You know who would be against all this bullshit? The Republican's beloved Saint Ronny. He even gave a radio address about it, which you can hear at this link.

I think even Reagan would break his own 11th commandment when it comes to this bullshit. 

Legislation has been introduced to ban all porn, and the definition is so wildly broad that Romance Novels will be affected. As in the authors will be sent to prison. Hell, the bible could qualify as porn under this definition. Also included is the end of no fault divorce, medical abortions, drag performances that can be attended by kids, cash incentives for covenant marriages... as if The Handmaid's Tale were an instruction manual and not a cautionary tale.

Just ask all of the women in Texas and elsewhere currently in prison for having had miscarriages. 

The Pentagon has informed the press corps that NBC, the New York Times, National Public Radio and Politico will be "rotated out of the building" to give space to the New York Post, Breitbart, OANN, and HuffPost. 

The Defense Department has paused observances of MLK Day, Pride Month, Holocaust Days of Remembrance, Juneteenth, Women's History Month, Black History Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, and more. Some of these are Federal Holidays.

USAID has been shut down, according to Musk, who you might recall is not a government employee. I can't even count the number of laws he broken by not only doing this, but announcing it on the social media platform he owns. It's enough to put him in prison for life, if anyone has the spine to do it. Yes, the new/old guy will pardon him, but do it anyway.

And at least someone in the Senate is finally fighting back.

They tried to fire everyone at the FBI who worked on a January 6 case. The acting Director said no. So the hero of the moment is a guy who looks like he's called "Drizz"? And actually IS called Drizz? Shucks Scooby, I didn't see that one coming.

So what is happening to our Government? The same thing that happened to Twitter. To quote legal expert Sam Bagenstos, "move fast, break things (with “things” very much including the law), and then dare folks to try and do something about it. Their expectation is that people will be too overwhelmed, and the law will move too slowly, to stop them from doing what they’re doing."

You know, fake it 'till you break it.

Doing this to a company, either large or small, eventually end with bankruptcies and business closing down. Doing this to a government leads to the collapse of a nation. And a failing nation led by hypocrites and psychopaths and people with no business running a country will lash out. Germany did. Rome did. We will too, and we have nukes. 

Oh, and apparently we're going to punish South Africa for ending Apartheid.

And hey, please note that when Mike Flynn threatens you over treason respect the opinion. He's committed it often enough that he's an expert.

You don't want to be called a racist? Don't be one.

You don't want to be called a fascist? Stop hanging out with them. Stop emulating them. Stop listening to their advice. If you can't do all of that, you are already a fascist.

And one last plea from an ex-pat living in his own country: Instead of just saying "it's illegal" what they're doing, start FUCKING ARRESTING PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES!

Please. 

For example, a disgraced radio host is already boasting that he has illegally received classified information. That's a crime for both parties - and the other party is the new/old guy. That's like, you know, treason.

And can we offer a round of applause for this move by a Canadian? 

Taken from the blog "Whatthefuckiswrongwithyou?"

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for avoiding my BF for over a week?

(Canon characters, but based on an AU fanfic of mine. Will link after the poll closes)

Okay, yeah, that sounds bad, but I had a good reason. A really good reason.

I've. (54-55M) been together with this wonderful guy M (32-33M) for almost a year and we've been through A LOT together. We were on a dangerous expedition that involved many people getting killed by a giant robot lobster, we discovered a lost civilization (where we currently live, it's a great place), M was chosen as a host by this semisentient giant rock that protects the place (because turns out his grandfather was actually the king's younger brother) and merged with it, I fought and killed someone who almost stole him in this state to sell for money (obviously that didn't work, my friends, the king's daughter K (at least 8500F), and I brought the rock back and the rock gave M back to me), we fought the Kraken and won, we faced off against a conman (who tried to trap us in an abandoned mineshaft) and a desert spirit with an army of sand coyotes (we won again), and we stopped a crazy guy who thought he was Odin from using an ancient weapon (from OUR CITY) to bring about Ragnarok. And through all of this, I only loved him more and more every day. So much that I decided I wanted to make it official. I wanted to propose to him. But like any guy proposing to the love of his life, I wanted it to be special. I wanted the perfect time and place and all that. Well, I got the time and place. We were invited to a private party for us and everyone on the expedition to find this city, to celebrate the one-year-anniversary of that trip and its success. Perfect time to ask him, when surrounded by all the people that are most important to both of us. Now all I needed was the perfect ring. And that's where I might be a bit of an asshole.

See, I didn't want M to have any idea what I was planning or what I was doing, and it's really hard to keep things like that a surprise because M is incredibly smart (one of many reasons I love him). So I told him K (now the Queen) needed my help with something. Not him, just me. I should note that K was in on this whole thing, and had offered to help me try to find a ring. She and I spent probably a day or two searching and I found nothing. So K suggested I make the ring myself, and that she had people who could help me do it.

Making rings is way harder than I ever thought, especially with my big hands, and it took me well over a week to do it. As in getting up early and coming home to M late. I did my best every night to make up for being away from him so much, because I did feel bad about it. I also stole his grandfather's wedding ring that he keeps in his bag so I could get his size (it fits M perfectly) but I put it back as soon as I was done, and M never noticed it go missing. But I felt really bad, like I was a huge asshole, when I told M I was done helping K and he admitted that he briefly thought I didn't love him anymore because I was avoiding him so much.

I was just trying to make this as special for him as possible, by making my own ring to surprise him with when I propose. But.....am I an asshole for doing it?

(Additional note, since I'm writing this after the proposal. M loved the ring and seemed to understand what was going on all those days when I told him I made it for him myself. And more importantly, he said yes!)