#alternatively i can stay up late and unlock Late Night Inspiration. however i probably should not do that

[its-no-biggie]

drawing a character lineup is all fun and games until you have to come up with a unique pose for every character

[ynscrazylife]

I was thinking maybe a oneshot where B!D gets poisoned by Cadmus?

Sisterly Instincts 

Summary: Y/N is Kryptonian who landed on Earth a few years after Kara. When CADMUS kidnaps her, they inject her with a poison made out of their version of Kryptonite, which is very harmful to her.

Authors Note: Thank you for requesting!

Request to be on a Taglist (or multiple) here! (Taglists are at the end of the fic)

DCEU Masterlist | Main Masterlist

PSA: Do NOT copy, steal, translate, plagiarize, republish, etc any of my works on Tumblr or any other platform. Also, do NOT claim any of my works as your own. All of these works are either requests I’ve gotten that people have wanted me to write or original ideas I’ve had for works. If you happen to take inspiration from anything I’ve written and want to write something inspired by that, please a) ask me first and b) IF I say yes, credit me as inspo in your post by tagging me and link whatever work of mine that inspired you. Thanks.

header c @/mundodeseriess

Image ID: Alex and Kara sitting together. Alex has her eyes closed, head on Kara’s shoulder, arm wrapped around her, and is looking upset. Kara is wearing her glasses and is looking down, crying. End ID. 

“Alex, have you heard from Y/N yet today?” Kara asked as she entered the DEO, a slight frown on her face still evident from the morning. 

Alex shook her head no. “Not since last night, why?” She asked, coming down the stairs and joining her sister in her walk. 

Kara shrugged it off. “She just didn’t send me her usual good morning text . . . She’s probably fine, right?” The blonde answered, now feeling silly as she voiced the worry that had been slowly eating at her. 

Alex’s warm chuckle calmed her almost instantly. “Yeah, it’s nothing. We’ll see her soon as she’s coming into the DEO anyway,�� she reasoned, assuming their younger sister had just overslept. 

They reached the main room where J’onn and the other DEO agents sat at their desks and immediately the Danvers’ sisters got to work. 

However, when it was ten minutes past the time Y/N was supposed to arrive, Alex decided to give her a call, biting her lip. She discreetly pressed her phone to her ear, turning away so she wouldn’t cause her sister unnecessary worry. 

It ringed. 

And ringed. 

And ringed. 

“Hey! You’ve reached Y/N Danvers. Sorry I couldn’t answer! Leave me a message and I’ll get back to you.” Alex cursed quietly when it rang so long it went to voicemail and huffed to clear her mind and steady herself.

“Hey, Y/N. It’s Alex. I’m sure you just overslept or are rushing to work,” she said, pausing to chuckle when the image of her younger sister running around the city popped into her mind, “Just give me a call when you get this. Love you, bye!” 

Despite the small worry entering the pit of her stomach, Alex reminded herself that Y/N being late and missing a phone wasn’t too uncommon, and she resumed her work. 

"Alex?” Kara said, and Alex looked up from her computer to see her sister gesturing at the clock with a nod. The brunette looked over, and felt that pit sink lower when she saw that 20 minutes had passed. Getting no message from Y/N, Alex and Kara shared a look, coming to a silent decision. 

“We're gonna go by Y/N’s apartment and check on her,” Alex informed J’onn as she stood up from her chair and grabbed her coat. She couldn't keep herself from remembering that Y/N should be here right now, she didn't live far away. 

Kara nodded, following her older sister, and the two women left the DEO, neither of them discussing their worries in fear of distressing the other one. Great minds do think alike, though, and that’s why they both internally came to the conclusion that if nothing was wrong and they found Y/N sleeping late, they were gonna be pissed (however they hoped that was what they found instead of the scary alternatives brewing and stirring in their minds). 

When they reached Y/N’s apartment, Kara knocked on the door. They waited almost a minute and when the door didn't open and they didn’t hear anything, Alex fished the key Y/N had given to her out of her pocket and unlocked the door. 

Stepping inside, the women were prepared to search the house like they were on a mission, when a paper on the floor, having been slipped under the door, caught their attention. Sharing a look, Kara grabbed the paper and unfolded it. It read: 

“Hello, Supergirl, 

I won’t lie. I don’t know your ‘secret identity’. However, I was able to find out Y/S/N’s, so it’s only a matter of time before I find yours, too. Come to these coordinates: [pretend there’s random coordinates] by 12:00 alone and allow us to experiment and test on you. If you fail to do that, I won’t give Y/N the cure to the Kryptonite poison that’s in her system and I’ll reveal her identity to the world. 

-- CADMUS.” 

For a couple moments, Kara and Alex stood, glued to the spot. Thoughts and emotions washed over their bodies: concern for their sister, anger at CADMUS, and an utter helplessness since they didn’t know what to do. 

It was a little past 10:00 now and when the two got back to the DEO, they made a plan with J’onn. He’d disguise himself as Kara and would do as the letter said and they’d have DEO agents - including Alex and Kara - stationed around the building with cloaking devices, which would make them invisible to CADMUS and their tech. Winn would hack into CADMUS’ tech and after Y/N was given the cure, the DEO agents would act.

At 10:30, the DEO agents were stationed around the base, invisible, and J’onn had walked into the base itself, disguised as Kara. He noticed the Kryptonite around the room, there to weaken Kara, so he put on an act: pretending that it was hurting him. He barley refrained from rushing over to Y/N when he saw the woman who was like a daughter to him siting on a chair, weak and only half-conscious, sweat shining on her face with Lillian Luthor standing beside her. 

“Good, you came,” Lillian said with a sadistic smile. 

“Yes. Now give Y/S/N the cure,” J’onn said, putting on his best Supergirl face. 

The corners of Lillian’s mouth turned into a smirk and she walked over to another chair a few feet away, which had Kryptonite restraints. “Sit,” she said calmly, although the way she stood, her hands delicately placed on the chair, brought power to the lonely word. 

J’onn complied, frowning as he walked over to the chair and sat down, letting Lillian put the restraints on his wrists and ankles that she thought would weaken him. For extra effect, J’onn sucked in a breath and faked pain. 

Lillian smugly turned around and walked back to Y/N, who didn’t seem to realize what was going on. The older woman gestured to one of her minions and they promptly injected a serum into Y/N’s neck, making the youngest Danvers’ gasp just the slightest before her eyes fluttered close. 

“The antidote is taking its affect in her system,” Lillian informed J’onn before turning back to her minion. “Take the girl outside. She can find her way back.” 

The man nodded and picked Y/N up, slinging her over his shoulder and walked out. The second J’onn heard a smash and knew that his team had acted, he gave Lillian no time to be on alert before he ripped off the restraints and knocked all of the CADMUS agents out. 

. . .  . . .  . . . 

Alex and Kara had been standing outside, listening to Lillian and J’onn’s interaction through their earpieces. The women were both racked with worry over their little sister and when they saw the man carrying her, it took everything in them both to wait until he carelessly dropped her on the floor. When he did, Kara revealed herself and knocking him unconscious into a wall. Alex then revealed herself as well, hearing J’onn fighting, and ran to Y/N while the rest of the DEO agents went inside to erase CADMUS�� memory of Y/N’s identity and to make arrests.

“Y/N, Y/N! Come on, wake up,” Alex said, slightly panicked as she gently rolled Y/N from where she was laying on her side to be on her back. Kara, after making sure the guy was unconscious, sped over. 

Kara knitted her brown together and drew her lips into a line, silently gathering her sister into her arms. Alex glanced up at her, tears in her eyes, for she knew Kara was only silent when she was very worried. 

“I’ll meet you back at the DEO,” Kara said quietly, her tone almost emotionless, before lifting off and flying into the air. Alex swallowed and took a breath, getting to her feet.

. . .  . . .  . . .

As she flew through the air, Kara battled to keep distracting thoughts about the clouds and the breeze away, as she knew she had to focus on her unconscious sister. Y/N was the priority. Once she landed at the DEO, she immediately headed to the med bay, where doctors took over and Kara informed him that Y/N had supposedly been given the antidote. 

After almost ten minutes of Kara pacing just outside the door and Winn doing his best to comfort her, the doctors informed them that the antidote was indeed in Y/N’s system and it was fighting off the poison. They didn’t know when she would wake up but when she did, she would need to rest a lot as she’d be weak. They were also unsure if CADMUS had done anything else to her, so she’d need to stay at the DEO overnight if she didn’t wake up soon. 

The doctors allowed Kara to see her so the blonde sat by her sister’s side, holding her hand until Alex burst in, looking out-of-breath. 

“How is she?” Alex asked, sitting on Y/N’s other side and taking her free hand. 

Kara told her what the doctors said and they collectively let out a breath, relieved that she was going to be alright. They stayed with Y/N for another hour, silent except for the occasional comment, when Y/N started blinking her eyes open. 

The agent and the superhero both sat up, patiently waiting for Y/N to wake up and adjust herself.

“Alex? Kara?” Y/N croaked out, looking at her sisters in a haze of confusion. 

Both women smiled and let out happy tears, helping her to sit up before wrapping their arms around her. Y/N smiled, leaning her head against Kara’s neck. 

“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” Alex whispered. 

“It’ll never happen again,” Kara promised. 

Y/N nodded. She didn’t say anything in response, finding herself too tired after the day’s events. Kara and Alex stayed until she fell asleep and then they reluctantly left her under the watchful eye of Winn, since they needed to debrief with J’onn and prepare for when Y/N would come home. 

Permanent Taglist: @natasharomanoffismywife @hehehehannahthings @paulawand @blackbat2020 @sybil-moon-is-a-mess @cerberus-spectre @marrymemcgrath @celestialbarnes

DCEU Taglist: @stephanieromanoff @basiclesbianbitch @extraordinary-fangrl @hi-i-1 @mmmmokdok @harrypottercumslut

[dartlekey]

Wings

Now on Ao3

Word count: 1914

A Serirei Fic featuring trans!Reigen and ace!Serizawa (implied ace!Reigen as well)

This is a gift for @cinensis because he’s been in a lot of pain lately and I wanted to cheer him up; his fallenangel!Reigen and trans!Reigen drawings were my inspiration for writing this. (This is my first time writing about a transgender character, though, so any feedback from transgender folks is greatly appreciated!)

Please enjoy!

********

The first time Serizawa saw Reigen's wings was on a Thursday morning at 7:14 am.

He was early to work - well, he usually was, but even more so today. He'd had a bad night, and thus woken up two hours earlier than usual. With fresh memories of his nightmares still lingering in the back of his head, Serizawa had thought it better to just stay up and have a calm, relaxed breakfast instead.

However, the silence in his tiny apartment had quickly descended from comforting into eerie, and so he took the earlier train to work. He had his own key now, after all. Reigen had presented it to him two months ago, with an exaggerated flourish and a smile that made Serizawa's heart skip a beat. "You're not just a valuable employee, but also a trusted friend," Reigen had told him, "so I think you've earned it."

Serizawa had blushed and spent the whole day alternating between giddy and proud.

He was too tired for that now, but the memory still brought a smile to his lips as he quietly unlocked the office door - only that he wasn't the first one there.

Outlined by the morning light pouring through the window was Reigen, standing in front of his desk with his bare back to Serizawa. His blazer was hanging across his chair, but his shirt lay crumpled on the desk; a large coffee stain and Reigen's frustrated scrubbing at it told Serizawa all he needed to know.

Well, perhaps not all, because he'd never known Reigen had a tattoo.

Large, feathered wings spanned all the  way down his back; folded as if they were growing out of his shoulder blades, the tips trailing off just above Reigen's dress pants. The detail was masterful; in the warm morning glow, they almost looked real. Serizawa wouldn't have been surprised if they'd felt fluffy under his touch.

His hands were out and reaching for the feathers before he even knew what he was doing, but his fingertips only grazed soft, warm skin. The reaction, though, was immediate: Reigen jumped so hard he bumped his knee into the table, then spun around, hands snapping up to cover his chest. "What the-"

His shoulders slumped marginally when he recognized Serizawa, but he didn't loose the guarded, almost fearful look on his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah, Reigen-san! I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to, to startle you - I just, I wanted to touch your wings - the tattoo, I mean... But I should have asked, I'm sorry."

Unable to meet his eyes, Serizawa stared at Reigen's hands instead, which were still loosely covering his chest - very loosely, actually, more sphere-shaped than flat, grabbing at air. But Serizawa only understood why when he saw the symmetrical scars peeking out between Reigen's fingers.

"Oh," he said with surprise.

He wasn't exactly sure what else to say, and as he looked at Reigen's face, he realized Reigen wasn't either. So he stuttered, "W-why do you have wings on your back?"

Reigen tilted his head, surveying Serizawa with thoughtful, calculating eyes, before slowly starting to speak. "Did you know that onsen's have a no tattoo rule?"

When Serizawa shook his head, Reigen elaborated, "If the tattoo is small enough, they'll let you in if you cover it with tape, but you can't go into an onsen with a big one. It's because of Yakuza gang tattoos plus a lot of history stuff I won't bore you with; in any case, the owners want to keep trouble out of their bathing houses. But it also works the other way around: getting a tattoo gives you a convenient excuse not to visit onsen's with friends or colleagues."

He paused and looked at Serizawa then, half defiant, half hesitant - and Serizawa was struck by how out of character, how caught off guard Reigen seemed. Because Reigen was never hesitant, never afraid of anything fate could throw at him. He was an unwavering marble statue, and only if you looked very carefully could you see the cracks in the stone, and glimpse at what lay beneath.

"I... Think I understand, then. Why you got the tattoo, I mean."

Reigen blinked, curious, but still cautious. "You do?"

Serizawa swallowed, knowing he was walking on a knife's edge. If he phrased his answer right, perhaps Reigen would open up a bit more. If he phrased it wrong, Reigen would not only be offended, but probably loose all respect for him, too.

"With the separate bathing areas and everything...You couldn't bathe with the men because they'd treat you as an outcast at best - and you couldn't bathe with the women because... because you're not a woman. And you never were."

Reigen simply stared at him.

And then he smiled.

It was one of his genuine smiles, too, not the one he wore for clients. Instead, it was warm and heartfelt and grateful, and it made Serizawa feel dizzy in the best of ways.

Who says he's not actually an angel, under that marble?

"Your open-mindedness does you credit, Serizawa... I - I'm glad you see it that way. See me that way. Thank you."

Serizawa shrugged, perhaps too abruptly, and looked down. "You shouldn't have to thank me for that. I... Minegishi of the Super Five, they're nonbinary. They taught me about gender dysphoria, and transphobia... They were going to make people accept them, once they were part of the ruling class."

Reigen made a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a sigh. "If only it were that easy."

As Serizawa looked back up, their eyes met, and for a moment he was filled with a strange sense of regret. If Claw had won, would Reigen have been able to visit an onsen? Undisturbed, and unjudged? Perhaps they could've gone together.

But no. A non-esper and rebel, Reigen wouldn't have survived the esper uprising; and Serizawa would have become the monster he'd been afraid of all his life. He wouldn't even have known the world's softest smile...

"So. Um. Can I... touch the feathers?"

Reigen raised both eyebrows. "Why?"

Serizawa blinked, "I... I don't really know. Um. I just, want to? I'm sorry, I'm so weird." Embarrassed, he ducked his head, but Reigen just chuckled and ruffled his hair. "It's fine. I mean, it's not really a bother, I guess? Just don't expect them to feel like the real deal."

With those words, he turned around. This time Serizawa didn't overlook any details; he saw how Reigen's shoulders were narrower without the suit jacket's stiff sleeves, saw the way his waist looked thinner and his hips wider than when he was fully clothed.

And Serizawa saw nothing wrong with that. Serizawa only saw a handsome man with a silver tongue who was trying to fix the world, fake exorcism by fake exorcism.

Slowly, he lowered his hands onto Reigens back, gently touching the bottom feathers. Reigen tensed at the contact, but soon relaxed as Serizawa slowly and carefully let his fingers explore the tattoo.

Reverently, he let his hands trail upwards along the lines of ink, touching every single feather separately. It was fascinating, watching the dark strokes twirl and curve under his fingers, seeing how the feathers connected, feeling what was basically just human skin, but for some reason held an air of the supernatural.

It occured to him that touching another man like that (especially when that man was the one he'd been in love with for the last six months) should have felt sexual, but it wasn't at all. Admittedly, to Serizawa nothing had ever felt sexual before, and he'd never really wanted it to either, but in this case he thought it wasn't anything like that for Reigen as well. Intimate, yes; under normal circumstances Serizawa would never have been so bold, but tired as he was, he dared to be a lot more open with his wants - and Reigen wasn't stopping him...

As Serizawa reached his shoulder blades, Reigen sighed contentedly and said, "You know this is actually pretty nice. It's no wonder people love my massages so much... I mean, my body exorcisms."

Serizawa chuckled shakily, blushing at the praise. "This is nowhere near as good as the massages you do, Reigen-san."

"Ah, don't put yourself down like that!", Reigen responded without missing a beat, his tone light but sincere. "You have very good hand control, and you're very gentle. I bet if I let you at our regulars, they would love you just as much as I d-"

His voice suddenly trailed off, and he cleared his throat. "I mean... yeah. They'd like it."

"I... thank you," Serizawa managed, heart hammering at triple speed. Did he just...?

The office fell back into silence as Serizawa followed the feathers all the way up Reigen's shoulders, finishing with the stray outliers on his arms. In a way, it was satisfying to have touched all of them, but Serizawa also felt a sense of dissapointment. He didn't want to stop; he rarely got a chance to be close to Reigen like this, and to do something that Reigen enjoyed -

When Reigen felt the hands disappear off his back, he turned around with a casual smile, only to stop in surprise at Serizawa's closeness. He'd probably thought that Serizawa would immediately step back, timid as he was. In all honesty, Serizawa had thought so too. But...

But technically, he hadn't really touched the whole wing. In a way. Had he?

Serizawa made himself meet Reigen's gaze, then lowered his eyes to Reigen's chest, and hesitantly raised his hands to hover just over his surgical scars.

"They... They're part of your wings," he explained quietly, "to me. Because, because your wings are freedom? They're freedom, and beauty, and you. Like your scars. Do I... have your permission?"

Reigen stared up at him, eyes wide and filled with an emotion Serizawa couldn't name, and for a moment Serizawa was terrified that he'd gone too far.

Then Reigen kissed him, and any coherent thought Serizawa might have had evaporated like water on a stovetop.

Reigen tasted like espresso and cheap cigarettes, and when Serizawa ran his hands through his hair, it was strawy and rough. And it was perfect, all of it, it was Reigen, and Serizawa couldn't get enough of it, of him, of the exhilaration flooding his lungs and the butterflies in his stomach and the warmth pulsing in his veins.

"Not yet," Reigen finally murmured the answer against his lips, pulling back just a bit to get his breath back. "I'm not really comfortable with anyone touching my scars right now. But you can touch the rest of my wings anytime."

Serizawa nodded, letting out a breathy, nervous laugh. "T-that's okay. Good. Great. Wonderful. I love you. Please go out with me."

Then realized what he'd said and winced. "Sorry! I mean, um. I... you. Uh."

Reigen laughed, and kissed his cheek. "I get it. I feel the same, you know. Let's have dinner, after work. But, well, right now..." He glanced past Serizawa at the office clock, "We still have about half an hour before work starts?"

He grinned at Serizawa almost bashfully, and Serizawa's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

"O-Oh?"

Reigen leaned closer, and added, "Do I have your permission?"

Serizawa must've been beetred by now, but he didn't really care. "T-to kiss...? Yes! Always! I think."

This time, both of them laughed - and Serizawa felt like he'd grown wings of his own.

[drinkthehalo]

Guide: How to see Sleep No More in Shanghai

Here's a quick guide for how to get to Shanghai to see Sleep No More.

Feel free to ask additional questions or send corrections if you have any.

How do I get tickets to the show?

The best approach is to get tickets through the Punchdrunk Keyholder program. This will get you VIP entry, which has a shorter queue and enters first.

Click here to become a Keyholder by donating to Punchdrunk.

If you're not a Keyholder, it’s worth considering. Don't you want a holiday card from Punchdrunk every year? ;) They also send occasional surprises related to the shows; this year’s Drowned Man related gift made me cry. At the higher levels, you'll be invited to events in London with the creative team. Keyholder donations help fund inspiring creative educational experiences for children in London; it's worth donating even without the perks.

Do be warned that they have a limited allocation of Keyholder tickets, and may run out of tickets for the dates you seek. Your alternative is to buy through the show website at sleepnomore.cn.

If you need tickets to a sold out show, there are Chinese reselling sites where you may be able to get tickets. You'll probably need to be able to read Chinese and have a Chinese credit card, and you need to be on the lookout for fakes. Consider this as a last resort.

Also keep in mind that the show is currently only selling tickets until end of April 2017. I assume that like Sleep No More NYC and The Drowned Man, it’ll keep extending in small batches, but there’s no guarantee. Don’t book flights until you have confirmed tickets.

What if I have another question about tickets...?

Email the Punchdrunk Keyholder team or the contact email on the China show website. I've gotten quick replies (in English) from both.

How do I get to China?

From the US or UK, you'll need a visa, but before you can apply for a visa, you need to book your flights and hotel.

How do I fly to China?

You’ll probably fly into the main international airport, Shanghai Pudong (PVG). There is also a smaller domestic airport called Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) which you may fly into if your flight includes a transfer.

From New York, two airlines fly direct: United and China Eastern. (It's 15.5 hours there and 14.5 hours back). Many other airlines fly with transfers.

It's worth checking if you, or friends/family, have spare airline points lying around. You can book United via United (obviously), Air Canada Aeroplan, and ANA. You can book China Eastern via Delta or Air France Flyingblue. You can also book flights with things like Amex points.

Full fare cost varies, but I've seen it as low as $800 round trip from NYC. Don't book a flight until you secure tickets to the show.

From London: Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and China Eastern fly direct, with flight times of 11 hours outbound and 13 hours return. It's possible to get flights for under £500, but dependent on dates, economy returns can be over £1000. Check with @whenwillweawake​ for more details from a Londoner’s perspective.

The jetlag is unbelievable. I've never experienced anything like it. I was wide awake at 5am every day and could barely keep my eyes open after 10pm. (The opposite of usual.) Look for jet lag remedies and try some before you go.

Where should I stay?

The show is in a neighborhood called Jing'an. It has a lot of shops and restaurants, but not a ton of hotels.

There is a hotel called The Drama, which is associated with the show, and is located next door. I don't think it's opened yet and I don't see any info online about how to book it.

I ended up staying at the Radisson Blu New World by People's Park. (I got a really cheap deal on TripAdvisor.) People's Park is to the east, one metro stop away, about a 25 minute walk to the show or 10 minute cab ride. It's a touristy area with a lot of international hotels. This makes it easy to find ATMs, Starbucks, English-speaking hotel concierges who can call you a taxi, etc.

If I go back, I'll probably try to stay in a less touristy area such as the French Concession, which is south of the McKinnon.

You can check hotel prices & see them on a map using a site like booking.com.

On the plus side, hotel rates in Shanghai are significantly cheaper than in New York or London. There are also very affordable hostels, including some that offer private rooms.

Where exactly is the McKinnon?

It can be difficult to get it to show correctly on a map. The address is 1013 West Beijing Rd. Here’s a map link that should work.

How do I get a visa?

Once you book your airfare and hotel, you can apply for a visa. Make sure your passport has at least eight months remaining - if not, you should renew it first.

For Americans -

The instructions you get from the Chinese embassy are confusing. I followed this other site which was much more clear.

Here is an example of a correctly filled out form, requesting a 10-year unlimited visit visa from the visa office in New York City. (You may as well request a 10-year unlimited visit visa - it doesn't cost anything extra.)

You don't need to use a paid service (ie the link above recommends you use their service) - just take it to the embassy yourself. You'll need to pay $140, I believe they take Mastercard & Visa in addition to cash.

For the photo, a standard passport photo works - just go to Yelp & search for "Passport photo" if you're not sure where to get one. Tons of places take them around the city.

Location to apply for visa:

Passport and Visa Office Chinese Consulate General 520 12th Ave. New York, NY 10036

Hours: 9:00am-2:30pm, Monday to Friday except holidays

For British citizens, it’s also an easy process to get a Chinese visa. You’ll need to have your flights and hotel booked, 6 months left on your passport, a passport photo and a signed declaration form, as well as the completed visa application form.

Click here for details and a step-by-step guide.

The form only allows you to apply for a single or two-trip visa, but multiple entry, two year visas are now being granted by default for those applications following an agreement between the two governments earlier this year. It’ll cost you around £150.

It’s a quick process when done in person, book an appointment online for 6 weeks to 1 month before you’re due to depart, visit the office (which is close to Bank) to hand in the forms, and then your visa (and passport) will be ready to pick up in less than a week.

It’s also possible to apply by post - although I’m not sure of the timings for that.

How do I get around Shanghai?

Taxi drivers don't usually speak English, but if you give them an address in Chinese they'll usually take you there.

I relied on a website called "Smart Shanghai" which is in English but provides addresses in Chinese for taxis.

Here's the Chinese address for the McKinnon Hotel - print this out & bring it with you to show to taxi drivers. 

Also bring a printout of your hotel address. You can use it to get from airport to hotel after you arrive, and to get to your hotel at night after the show. (Make sure to wait in the actual taxi queue at the airport - rip off artists will try to steal you out of the queue and lure you into their overpriced cabs.) A taxi from airport to downtown should be under 200 CNY and take around 45 minutes.

In addition to taxis, the Metro is an excellent option. It's cheap, clean, easy to use, and has English everywhere you need it - ticket machines, train announcements, etc. It goes right near the McKinnon, the Nanjing Road West stop on lines 2 and 12. However, it stops running relatively early, just after 10pm, and it's crowded at rush hour.

We generally took cab or metro to the show, and walked back to our hotel at night.

We enjoyed getting around the city by wandering around and walking a lot. Just watch out for mopeds and bikes on the sidewalk. Unlike NYC, moving vehicles apparently have the right-of-way over pedestrians.

How do I pay for things?

Many places (including the McKinnon and its mind-boggling gift shop) don't take international credit cards. We usually used cash.

You can withdraw cash from most ATMs, although some won't work with international banks. We didn't have too much trouble finding ATMs that would work for us.

Call your bank before you go to alert them that you'll be withdrawing cash from China.

What time should I queue?

If you have Keyholder "Fast Pass" VIP entry, 30-40 minutes before the show starts.

If you have regular entry, I'm not sure. The queue looked huge. :(

I don't think the time listed on your ticket matters. They seemed to let people in by order of arrival, as in NYC and London.

Be aware that they mix up the cards. They're still distributed roughly in order of arrival, but 2s are mixed in with Aces, 3s are mixed in with 2s, etc. Even if you are the first person in the queue, you may get a 2.

What else do I need to know about the logistics of the show?

Don't bring your phone in. Check it with the rest of your stuff. This will save you time - if you do bring in your phone, you'll have to lock it in a bag, and queue to unlock it after the show ends.

To avoid the coat check queue, get your stuff immediately after the show ends, then return to the Manderley.

The Manderley closes early - 11pm at the latest, so you'll need alternate plans if you want to stay out late.

It gets very hot inside the show, even in winter. Dress to stay cool.

How do I post my recaps to Tumblr?

Much of the Western Internet is blocked in China, including Tumblr and Facebook.

If you have T-Mobile, you'll have free international data that is unrestricted, although very slow.

Other cell phone plans may also offer international data without restrictions, though you may have to pay extra for it.

If using wifi, you'll need a VPN to connect to most sites you're used to. PM me for VPN recommendations.

If you're traveling with friends, you can all sign up for WeChat (it's like the Chinese version of Facebook & WhatsApp) and message each other with it.

Also, remember that Punchdrunk thrives on surprise. Please avoid major spoilers in your recaps, especially about 1:1s and aspects of the show that have changed.

What else should I do in Shanghai?

I used the Lonely Planet Guide to Shanghai - it has a lot of useful information. (If we’re friends IRL, be in touch if you want to borrow my copy.)

A few recommendations:

Jing'an Temple. It's just one Metro stop from the McKinnon. You pay a small entry fee and can then wander around exploring the statues and architecture. It's beautiful and a nice peaceful refuge from all the crowds. 

French Concession. It has beautiful architecture and a lot of interesting bars, restaurants, and independent shops. (Sort of like the Greenwich Village of Shanghai.) We started with a self-guided tour in our guide book, then wandered off of it and went exploring. 

Yu Gardens. Lovely (if crowded) old fashioned Chinese gardens. 

Fairmont Peace Hotel. A stunning 1930s Art Deco hotel on the Bund. They offer a tour and have a cocktail lounge, and live jazz in the evenings until after midnight. Very expensive drinks, though. 

Shanghai Museum. Gorgeous porcelain and other historical art. Plus it's free. 

Contemporary Art. We were going to visit M50 Creative Park and/or Power Station of Art but we ran out of time.

Shikumen Museum - this architectural style is used in the show, should be worth the visit to see the real thing. (Although we didn't actually see it because I got lost. Oops. Next time!) 

Propaganda Poster Art Centre - another thing on our list that we didn't make it to see. 

Bund Sightseeing Tunnel.  Just absurd. Go with a friend and laugh. Maybe have a drink first. On the way to this you'll also have a view of the Art Deco architecture along the Bund, and the crazy modern skyline of Pudong.

Do be aware that the smog is particularly bad around the river. (I could taste it on my lips. Blargh.) 

Shanghai Disneyland. The new Pirates of the Caribbean ride is wonderful, but we made the mistake of getting there an hour after the park opened and spent most of the time in a miserable amount of queues. (Queues to get into the park, queues for Fast Passes, queues to get into queues, queues full of children hitting you while their parents do nothing to stop them...)

ONLY do this if you can get there a half hour before it opens. It's just too miserably crowded otherwise.

The "must do" rides are Pirates of the Caribbean, Snow White, and Tron. Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear, & Soaring are also good.

(Be warned that the rides often break. We didn't get to ride Snow White even though it's the main ride in Fantasyland, because it was broken most of the day.)

If you can get there early, cover the big rides immediately. First get a fast pass for either Snow White or Tron, then ride Pirates of the Caribbean (do "single rider" for a shorter queue), then use your first Fast Pass, get another Fast Pass for Snow White or Tron, queue for something else, use the second Fast Pass, and then leave or see a show.

Where should I eat?

I'm vegan and was worried about finding decent food, but between @errrrtythebabber​'s amazing recommendations, the HappyCow vegan app, and @whenwillweawake​'s willingness to try anything, we found a ton of great food to eat.

Be warned that it's almost impossible to find vegetarian food in most non-vegetarian places, especially if you don't speak Mandarin. Many seemingly-vegetarian things are actually cooked in lard or meat sauces, or have unexpected meat or seafood toppings.

A few recommendations:

Vegetarian Lifestyle - On the same block as the McKinnon! Great vegetarian food, although they don't speak English so it's difficult to verify what's vegan.  The menu has photos and English captions. 

If Vegan - Fabulous vegan food a 5-minute walk from the McKinnon. The menu (on an iPad!) also has photos and English captions. From 2-4pm they only serve tea and desserts. 

Jing'an Temple - One Metro stop past the McKinnon (~25 minute walk). In the back of the temple there are three floors of vegetarian restaurants including a first floor casual cafe, second floor table service restaurant, and third floor massive buffet (with vegan options labeled). 

Fu He Hui - ridiculously swanky, exquisitely high quality 8-course vegetarian meals. They'll adapt it to be vegan if you ask. You'll need a reservation. With the exchange rates, the prices in dollars are incredibly affordable given the level of quality. 

How do I make sure I see the amazing new scenes in the show?

Dude, I’m not going to tell you that!

However, if you’re only going to one or two shows, I will give a bit of info on what has changed, so you don’t spend your time on things you’ve already seen in New York.

If you’re going to more than two shows, don’t read this! You’ll figure it out on your own.

The main things that are significantly different than in New York:

New female character

New male character

Cunning Man

Sexy Witch

Speakeasy Barman

The new female character is far more interesting than the new male character. I’m sure he’ll evolve, but sticking with the female character first is a good idea.

Some of these characters have a lot of overlapping scenes. An approach that will show you a lot of what’s changed, without too much repetition, would be to start with Sexy Witch, then switch to the new female character after the banquet. (Sexy will lead you to her.) For the final loop either follow Cunning Man, the new male character, Speakeasy Barman, or go do something else entirely. (Perhaps Duncan or Taxidermist, who are also somewhat different.) When you hit a repeat scene, wander and explore the set.

You could also follow the new female character straight off the first lift, but I think it’s more powerful to see her story in narrative chronological order, ie starting after the first banquet.

Links to all my Sleep No More Shanghai posts:

Overall thoughts

Guide: How to See Sleep No More in Shanghai

Recaps:

Show 1

Show 2

Shows 3 & 4

Show 5

Shows 6 & 7

Show 8

Show 9

Shows 10 & 11

Photos:

Gift shop

Around the McKinnon

Ads for the show around the city

[lindyhunt]

29 of the Best Office Pranks & Practical Jokes to Use at Work

If you've watched the TV show "The Office" as religiously as I have, the classic "stapler in Jell-O" trick surely sounds familiar. It's pretty much what the name describes: Simply make a batch of Jell-O, but make sure your colleague's stapler is hidden inside the mold.

It's a classic prank. But what other, less conventional pranks are out there to add some kicks to an otherwise average day at the office?

We asked our friends and combed the internet for more examples of some of the funniest office pranks, and pulled together this list to serve as inspiration for your own work pranks.

Every company has a story about that funny office prank of yore. Whether you're doing some early April Fool's Day research, or just feeling a little tricksy, it's time to get a prank of your own in the books. Here are some ideas.

Funny Office Pranks to Pull on Your Coworkers

1. Caramel Onions

When Halloween is around the corner, these caramel onions are no match for other tricks (or treats). Dip each onion in caramel -- maybe some red food coloring first, if you need to further disguise them -- and stick popsicle sticks down the center. Your colleagues won't know the difference, but they will wonder why these caramel apples are making them cry so much ...

Source: Rant Lifestyle

2. Nicolas Cage Toilet Seat

Speaking of Halloween, here's what nightmares are truly made of. Nicolas Cage is easy to come by in the meme community these days. Print a picture of him at his most, well, enthusiastic -- and allow him to greet everyone who takes a bathroom break.

Source: Rant Lifestyle

3. Fish Drawer

There's something fishy about this office prank ... Just be sure to include fish food; experts suggest you should feed this prank twice a day.

Source: Reddit user jihadaze

4. Pants in the Stall

Usually, when you see feet underneath the stall, you just have to wait your turn. In this case, you might be waiting forever. Set this guy up in your office bathroom and see how long it takes for people to start talking. We just hope nobody called the paramedics on this poor, empty suit.

Source: BuzzFeed

5. Febreze for Days

Tighten the zip-tie, throw it, and run for your life. Or, leave it in your coworker's office when they're on break. They're sure to return to a potent workspace.

Source: Emlii

6. Vehicular Sticky Notes

This is the perfect use for those sticky notes that keep piling up -- especially if they're all for someone who just won't finish his or her tasks. The prank below is a wonderful way to remind them before they take off for the day.

Source: Reddit, Bzbzbzbz

7. Misspelling Macro

Never ask your work buddy to unlock your iPhone for you, or they'll make you look like the worst speller of all time when you go to type a text or email. Settings > General > Keyboard > Add new shortcut will make this prank a reality against your most detail-oriented colleague.

Source: Gottabemobile

8. Foghorn Entrance

Haven't you ever wanted to get a room's attention the second you walk through the door? Well, the prank below will even get the person entering to stand up straight. This is certainly one way to make sure everyone's alert before a meeting.

Source: Reddit user JJ0EE

9. Ballooned Conference

Hey, at least it's not glitter? This prank works two ways: You can either surprise the next team who reserves this room, or have a day-long meeting in here without anyone knowing your business. You will of course have some static electricity when you exit the room.

Source: Reddit, williebeth

10. Desk Trolls

For trolls, by trolls. Luckily, you can buy many of these trolls in bulk. Click here if you're serious about trolling your coworker's workstation -- just keep in mind you will have to buy more than one pack of trolls to make this stunt worth it.

Source: Dose

11. Water Works

Oh look, a budget trip to the beach. This prank gives a whole new meeting to the term, "staycation." Surprise your coworker when he/she comes back from a beach getaway with, well, another beach getaway. The downside is it'll be nothing like where they were. The upside is they won't need a towel.

Source: Imgur user Sanjeev

12. Anti-Gravity Desk

"That's it -- you're suspended." Just make sure the person who arrives in the morning to a floating desk doesn't try to sit down ...

Source: Daily Mail

13. Nailed the Cake

Hey everyone, there's cake up for grabs in the kitchen! The prank, however, is written in frosting. This is a good gesture to someone who loves the expression, "needle in a haystack." Happy hunting.

Source: Reddit user blinhorst

14. Psychedelic Supervision

"I don't know, I feel like my boss is always watching me," your coworker might say. Change their perception of micromanagement when this colorful prank. Suddenly a "quick checkin" doesn't seem all that bad.

Source: Imgur user DecentLeaf

15. Voice Toast

Simple, yet brilliant. Change the terms of breakfast ever so slightly, and the kitchen becomes the most confusing room in the office. This little note pranks the entire office -- a true masterpiece of prank-dom.

Source: Tumblr

16. Work From Home

As Ron Burgundy from Anchorman says, "I'm not even mad. I'm just impressed." Help your coworker who loves taking his/her work home, take their home to work instead. As you can tell, you might need to stay late the night before to get this prank just right.

Source: Reddit user BOOMTimebomb

17. You've Been 'Felined'

This could actually make your cat-loving coworker's day. Or, it could make for the greatest prank of all time against the coworker who's violently allergic to cats (that is, as long as they're not allergic to photos of cats, too).

Source: Reddit user cstyves

18. The Seedboard

Work with your IT department to fertilize this prank perfectly. Soon enough, its user will wonder why their keyboard is growing. We suggest targeting someone who sits close to the window -- some pranks just need some sunlight. "You said you wanted to spend more time with nature," you might say in your defense.

Source: BoredPanda

19. Healthy Creme

Who said you couldn't be helpful while also being a prankster? "The bad news is we're out of donuts. The good news is you have all these nutritious alternatives to help your immune system cope with the lack of donuts."

  This is just cruel 😂 #officeprank #aprilfools #krispykreme #mean #notcool

A post shared by Free Humor (@scotchandsarcasm) on May 12, 2017 at 12:02pm PDT

20. The Ceilings Have Eyes

You could freak out just looking at the photo of this horrifying prank. It might be a little too much for your jumpiest colleague, but for the person who can't stop talking about scary movies, it's just the revenge you deserve. (Hint: paper mache, white paint, and a black wig. Done.)

Source: Tumblr

21. Chair Scare

Similar to the Entrance Foghorn (prank #8, above), this prank will probably scare more than just the person who sits down. Of course, it'll be a lesson to anyone who, I suppose, tries to sit too low at their desk.

Source: Reddit user 12q9et

Funny Pranks to Pull on Your Boss

22. No Stalling

For the man who never has enough time. Or, for the coworker who takes way too many bathroom breaks during the day. Prank them with their very own throne the next time nature calls.

  Accounting is getting their toilet replaced, so we decided to play a little #prank on my boss before they install it #officeprank #workingefficiently #multitasking

A post shared by Alice (@alicetaywong) on Jul 17, 2015 at 4:33pm PDT

23. No Stalling: Pt. 2

... Or anyone, really, who never has enough time to make a pit stop -- especially if they have specific bathroom decor preferences.

Source: 22words

24. Glitter Bomb

About that whole, "At least it's not glitter" thing in prank #9? Well, this prank can't make that promise. For the coworkers who don't yet know the permanence of getting glitter on yourself, this prank is sure to set them straight.

25. Substitute Worker

Sometimes, you're not sure how to ask for another day off. For those days where you simply can't come into work, but don't have the heart to call out again, the doll who looks just like you is the perfect substitute. Or, just put 'em at your colleague's desk and give them a much-needed identity crisis.

  Morning after that long weekend.. think they'll notice? Back to that #workgrind #mondaysbelike #struggleisreal #readyfortheweekend #officeprank bringing the #laughs😂

A post shared by L Weaver (@elleweav) on May 30, 2017 at 5:54am PDT

26. Crushed It

When you finally learn about your colleague's celebrity crush, make sure they know how much you care.

  #officeprank

A post shared by Alice Lei (@alicerabbit1) on Aug 1, 2015 at 4:04pm PDT

27. World's 'Best' Boss

When words just aren't enough to express your sentiment, give your manager the perfect way to say "thank you" every time they go to take a sip of coffee.

  Thanks @mg2418 and @p2theslingshot for the birthday mug! Love you guys! #smartass #birthday #officeprank #fridayfun #coffee #coffeetime #middlefinger

A post shared by David Miclette (@davidmiclette) on Apr 28, 2017 at 5:54am PDT

28. Cup o' Spiders

"Hey chief, I found a spider on your desk, but don't worry, it's been handled." This prank doesn't have to have an actual spider in it -- the mystery, alone, is all you need to prank your employee.

  #tbt to when I did a simple, but cruel joke to my co-worker. I'm just now realizing I may be the reason she left... oops. :p #officeprank #scaredofspiders #donotmove #loveyoumeanit

A post shared by Devan Harrold (@devanalyse) on Apr 27, 2017 at 8:41pm PDT

29. That's a Wrap

And finally, for the boss who has everything, it's the gift that keeps on giving.

Source: Giphy

Want more? Read The HubSpot Culture Code: Creating a Company We Love.