#apprentice ximena

[litlunacy]

Ok so I was in Walmart and I saw this mug:

And my immediate thought was 'Julian would totally get this for Asra'. Because Julian is exactly the type of person to get silly coffee mugs as little gag gifts. So then I fell down a rabbit hole looking for ones he'd get everyone else (+my apprentice). Idk if this is post-upright ending or modern au but I guess it doesn't matter.

Portia:

"Ilya, I can't be a crazy cat lady. I only have one cat." "You run an animal rescue, Pasha. I saw you playing with the cheetah cubs." "They needed bottle-feeding!"

Nadia:

Nadia is amused. Chandra is...not. At all.

Muriel:

"...thanks. I guess." (Muriel secretly likes it. He won't tell Julian that though.)

Ximena:

"Julian, honey, I have never once put paint in a mug. Or paintbrushes. I use glass tumblers." "Yeah, but this is funnier."

And I couldn't decide which one Ximena would get him in return, so I'll say the Poe one is modern au and the other is post-canon:

And probably my favorite of these, I absolutely died when I saw this mug. The most Lucio mug ever. Would def only be modern au, but I just had to add it:

Demon goat. Fire. Booze. The red fuckin thong. I can't decide if he would hate it or love it for its ridiculousness, but I have never seen a more Lucio mug in my life. (I was actually looking for like a violently bubblegum pink mug with BITCH in gold with a crown on it, but I guess that was too specific to ask google for. This is better tho.)

[litlunacy]

The whole apprentice gang! Ximena (and a photo bombing Malak), Lilith, Zuri, Lorica, Rajani and Bellamy.

blorbo picrew time

RB with your own little guys!! ♥

[lastnightonthecyclone]

Another fucking wip on fnaf because inconsistency is my skill

[nadiaportia]

Ximena Rubalcaba - The disgraced noble with a strong sense of justice.

Born into the Rubalcaba family, an influential clan of aristocrats that serve the Zaan of Cartagenth, the capital of Calpacia, a country beyond the Catclaw Desert in the far West of the continent, Ximena was tutored as a young girl in magic to one day become the head of the Magician’s Guild and thus an important person at the Cartagense court. Her aunt, General Esmé Rubalcaba, supervised the education of her and her older sisters Heloisa and Cibela. Having a rich and tumultuous family history characterized by wealth with skeletons in the closet, Ximena began resenting the life she led and at the age of 25 uncovered a conspiracy that was supposed to frame another country as the instigators of a war in order to justify total war. As a result, she was disowned and banished from her homeland and to be excecuted if she were ever to return. Asra and her crossed paths during one of his extensive travels across the continent and after initially being distrustful of another, they built a solid friendship which led to Ximena returning to Vesuvia with him. She spends several years with him in which they travelled and studied magic, the Red Plague caused her to aid Julian in finding a cure and contracting it temporarily killed her. Three years after her mysterious resurrection after which she forgot all memories of her past life, she was asked by Nadia, a former acquaintance and now stranger, to aid in the investigation of Lucio’s murder.

Asra would describe Ximena as an outspoken person with a strong will and a tendency to be stubborn, sometimes even proud. Distrustful by nature due to past experiences, she barely lets her guard down around people not close to her. A dry sense of humor might throw people off at first, but underneath a hard shell one is able to find an empathetic, kind and - surprisingly to some - fun-loving person.

She was born on the 20th of November and has Scorpio as her star sign and is linked to the Arcana of transformation, Death.

[litlunacy]

Oh, this looks fun! I talked about Ximena during Apprenticember but I'd love to talk about her some more. (Or my other apprentices, who I haven't talked about at all - Lilith, Zuri, Lorica, Rajani and Bellamy. Yes I made one for each LI. Oops.)

MC ask game!

Seems people would like some prompts to share about their MCs and I am happy to deliver :3

Meta Stuff

1. How long have you had your MC? When did you start developing them as a character?

2. What do you have in common with your MC? What's different?

3. Have you written about/made art of/cosplayed them? Show something off, if you'd like!

4. How did you choose their name? Does it have a specific meaning? If so, what?

5. What changes to canon/headcanons have you made in relation to them? What & why?

6. Do they have a playlist? Share a link! Why did you choose the songs you did?

Appearance/Design

7. What's their design? Do they have a reference sheet? What made you choose that specific color scheme/fashion style/etc.?

8. What did their masquerade outfit look like? Was their mask an animal, or something else?

9. Are they human? Something else?

10. If one were to peek inside their wardrobe, what would they find? What outfits do they wear on a casual day? Travelling? In a formal setting?

11. Do they have any prominent motifs that appear in their design? What do they represent, if anything?

Surface Level

12. Do they have a familiar? If so, what animal? If not, why?

13. What hobbies or skills do they have? How long have they been pursuing them? Why?

14. What are their favorites (i.e. flower, drink, food, color, etc.)?

15. Upon meeting them, what would someone's first impression of them be? Would this be an accurate assessment?

16. Are they an early bird or a night owl? Something else?

17. Are they more introverted or extroverted?

18. What's their birthday?

19. Are they good at handling animals? Are they good with children?

20. Gender identity/sexuality?

21. How well can they hold their own in a fight without magic?

22. What's their pain tolerance? How well do they handle injury?

23. What's their ideal weather?

Diving Deeper

24. What's their relationship to the main 6?

25. What's their relationship to the Courtiers?

26. Do they have anyone else especially close to them? Other original characters? Side characters?

27. How does their personality differ between strangers, acquaintances, friends, romantic partners, enemies, etc.?

28. What are their morals, if any? What motivations drive them?

29. What are their values? How do those intersect with their morals & effect their actions?

30. What was their life like before the plague? Their childhood?

31. Have they always lived in Vesuvia? How well-travelled are they?

32. Does their use of/skill in magic differ from canon? How so?

33. When confronted with danger, are they more likely to fight, flee, freeze, or faun? Does this change depending on the circumstances?

34. How did they react when they learned they'd died of the plague?

35. Do they have any material objects that are important to them? What & why?

36. What was their relationship with their aunt like? With the rest of their family?

37. What are their weaknesses? This can be character flaws, insecurities, lack of skill in a certain area, etc.

38. How do they handle conflict? Do they try to resolve arguments, or avoid them? Are they the one who likely started it?

39. During a low-stress day with no obligations, what would their day look like? What routines do they have?

40. What's their love language? How do they respond to receiving affection? How do they show affection in return?

41. What are they most afraid of? Does anyone know about these fears?

42. Do they keep secrets? Are they a good liar? Does anyone know about these secrets? Who & what are they? What do they do when they're caught in a lie?

43. How do they grieve? Loudly/publicly? Or quietly/privately? Do they have any rituals or habits that help them process?

44. How do they celebrate? With a few people, or a large group? On their own? Does it depend on the occasion? What warrants celebration to them?

45. Are they more street smart or book smart? Something else?

46. In what situations are they most comfortable/in their element? What situations throw them off their guard?

If you wouldn't mind, send some asks to the OP and to the person you reblog from! It's only fun if we all engage with one another.

[vampiresuns]

Ximena would like to tell Amparo she‘s gorgeous 😚😌💓

[I’m so sorry for the late reply!!]

❥ Amparo, to Ximena: “Am I now?” Amparo says with a cheeky smile.

“I think you’re very handsome yourself, Miss Rubalcaba. I’m free this evening, after the soiree. You’re not required to come with something, but I would apprentice if you did surprise me somehow for I look so very forward to see you tonight.”

[blightarts]

Choices Academy

Title: Dodgeball Part 1

Disclaimer: This is a small series of incorrect quotes where characters in the entirety of Choices have interactions during a day in middle school. 

MC Names: Casey (ES M!MC, mine), Kite (Blades M!ElfMC, mine), Emily (ES F!MC by @princessstellaris), Julia (RoD MC by @princessstellaris), Sydney (BB MC by @mechaspirit)

Taglist: @princessstellaris, @mechaspirit, @tyrilsstarfury, @itsbrindleybinch, @silverlitskies, @bellaraines

It was PE period for Class 1-A, and everyone’s gathered in the gym. However, instead of any lectures or physical activities happening, there is a discourse occuring between 2 particular students.

Emily: Seriously?! Are you freaking insane?! 😠

Jax: You’re the one here who’s lost their sanity! 😠

Logan: Come on, guys! We’re in class right now. Please cool it! 😱

Emily glares at Logan and puffs up.

Emily: Don’t get in our way, outsider! This is between me and Samurai Jack here. 😤

Jax scoffs.

Jax: I thought that as classmates, all of us can get along. But I see now, that there are those who are worse than ferals. 😡

Emily: You stole the words right outta my mouth! You vampires, like your habits, suck! 😡

Kite gets in between the two.

Kite: Guys, seriously! Does it really matter what condiment you use on fried chicken?! 😤

---------- FLASHBACK ----------

It all started just a few minutes ago when Emily, Diego, Imtura and Julia were discussing about lunch plans.

Diego: So, yesterday, Imtura and I finished our martial arts training with the other apprentices, then she treated us with fried chicken meals at the Blight’s Furnace diner. It was delish! 😍

Imtura: Yep, it was fried to perfection. Like how you humans say it, “chef’s kiss”!

Emily chuckles and gets an idea before turning towards the Bloodbound clique.

Emily: Yo, BB crew! You guys wanna come with us at the Blight’s Furnace diner? My treat. 😁

Adrian: Sounds intriguing. I’m in. 😊

Sydney: Me too! 😍

Kamilah: Oh, I have heard of their fried chicken meals. They are simply divine. 😯

Jax: Fried chicken, eh? 👀

---------- END OF FLASHBACK ----------

Logan: Well, I’m sorry for even asking the question. 😑

Emily raises an eyebrow towards Logan.

Emily: Okay then, Logan. Lemme ask you this; what do you use in fried chicken? Salt & Pepper, or Ketchup? 🤨

Logan shrugs.

Logan: Mayonnaise. 😐

Emily and Jax roll their eyes after hearing a completely different answer.

Emily: Ugh... you’re uncultured too? 🙄

Logan: Eh?

Jax: Pitiful. 😒

Logan: EH??? 😱

Logan shakes his head and composes himself.

Logan: What’s wrong with Mayonnaise? It’s the right condiment! 

Everyone suddenly hears someone clearing their throat. The class turn to see their PE teacher, Ximena, crossing her arms.

Ximena: I’ve been listening this entire time and it seems like people are more eager to know what to eat later than what to learn now. 😤

The class quickly assembled themselves in front of Ximena as she sighs.

Ximena: You know what? Just to put an end to this debate, let’s all do a survey about the issue.

A while later, 21 students partook of the poll that Ximena initiated. The other 10 students stood aside, not interested in participating or not wanting to be part of a discourse. These 9 students are Diego, Raj, Michelle, Zahra, Grace, Aleister, Kade, Threep, Colt and Lily. Ximena observes the amount of people that prefer either Salt & Pepper, Ketchup or Mayonnaise.

Ximena: Okay, okay. The groups aren’t as even as I thought. 👀

The results of the survey are as follows:

Mayonnaise: Logan, Nia, Loola, Kite, Jake, Adrian, Kamilah, Mona

Ketchup: Jax, Casey, Furball, Tyril, Sydney, Quinn, Sean

Salt & Pepper: Emily, Imtura, Estela, Craig, Julia, Mal

The people of the different groups then start discussing about their shared tastes with each other and their differed tastes from the others.

Kite: Huh, odd. I’d assume that Julia would side on Logan on this one, given how much she loves him. 🤔

Logan: Sniffs. Julia, my dear... 🤧

Julia waves at Logan, acting adorable.

Julia: Sorry, sweetheart. I still love you, but I prefer salt & pepper on my fried chicken. 🥺

Logan chuckles.

Logan: I know. Just playin’. Love you too. 😆

Meanwhile, Emily glares at her husband, Jake, and her own twin brother, Casey.

Emily: TRAITORS!! 😤

Jake shrugs with a smirk.

Jake: Sowwy, Pwincess. I like my chicken mayo’d. 😗

Casey smiles shyly.

Casey: I like mine with ketchup, Em. Sorry. 😅

Emily turns away and puffs her cheeks. Meanwhile, in the Ketchup group...

Tyril: So, you prefer ketchup too?

Quinn: Yes, I’ve always liked it when I was younger. It’s so sweet. 😊

Tyril looks at Furball.

Tyril: Even your snow fox prefers ketchup? 🤨

Quinn nods, holding Furball close with seriousness in her eyes.

Quinn: Absolutely, no further questions. 👀

Furball smiles.

Furball: Mrrf! 💕

Imtura chuckles while being with Estela, Mal and Craig.

Imtura: Haha! I like this, the strongest students choosing the strongest flavor. 😁

Estela: My Tio used to cook fried chicken with salt & pepper for me and my mom. They were my favorite. 😊

Craig: They just taste good together. Ketchup and mayo can suck it! 😤

Mal: I’ve never even tried the two. I’m so, as you modern people say, “old school” compared to you. 😅

Kite looks around and notices that Mayonnaise has the most voters.

Kite: Well, I guess Mayo gets the win in this? 😯

Logan grins.

Logan: Right then! That means Mayo is the best condiment for chicken. I guess everyone should just accept tha--

Emily and Jax quickly raise their hands towards Logan with rage.

Emily: SHUT IT!! 😡

Jax: SHUT IT!! 😡

Logan: Wtf?! 😱

Ximena sighs at the still occurring discourse and just grabs a dodgeball from the storage room. 

Ximena: I guess we’ll just settle this in a game then.

Casey: A dodgeball game? 😯

Ximena: Yes. Each team has to prove everyone else that their preferred condiment is superior through their sheer efforts.

Jax scoffs.

Jax: I’m game... if Emily isn’t scared of losing. 👀

Emily: If anyone’s losing here, it’s y’all Ketchup and Mayonnaise heathens. 👀

Kite: ...So much for making this fun for all of us. ��

Logan: GG (Good Game). 😅

Ximena then turns to the 9 uninterested students.

Ximena: Anyone wanna join to even out the teams?

The students shake their heads and Ximena groans. She then spots 3 other students passing by the gym; Aerin, Ava and Atlas.

Ten minutes later, the participating players are all gathered at the center of the gym with a drawn circle split into 3 areas for the 3 teams to occupy. Ximena stands outside the circle with a whistle and the other students spectate from the seats.

Ximena: You can all use your abilities, magic or otherwise, and those who are hit are out of the game.

Atlas: Hold the fork up!

The students turn to Atlas, puffing.

Atlas: Why are we being dragged into this? 😤

Ximena: To even the numbers.

Atlas: Even the numbers?!

Atlas points to the spectating students.

Atlas: Why can’t you ask them?! 😤

The spectating students shake their heads.

Colt: Trust me, buddy, as much as I want to participate, we’re surrounded by powerful people who can use magic and such. Not my forté. 😑

Aleister: I believe they’re just being immature. 😤

Grace: Me too. 😕

Michelle: Me three! There are better and less childish ways to settle this. 😠

Threep: I may be a nesper but I am not physically or magically capable to play. 😗

Zahra shrugs.

Zahra: I just don’t wanna join PE class. 😒

Lily: Right?!

The two punk girls share a high five.

Raj: I prefer all 3 condiments, and I’m not much into favorites. 😅

Atlas: Condiments? 🤨

Emily: Yes! And the Salt & Pepper team are counting on you, Lunar Lady. 😁

Atlas: What is going on....? 😑

Aerin pats Atlas’s back.

Aerin: I do not know either, but let us try to have fun, my friend. 😊

Atlas recoils from Aerin.

Atlas: Ey, back off, Dread Boy! 😤

Meanwhile, in the Ketchup team, Ava converses with her teammates.

Ava: So, magic and abilities are allowed, eh?

She cracks her knuckles with an devious grin.

Ava: This is gonna be fun. 😈

Sydney channels her vampiric powers as her eyes gleam bloodshot red.

Sydney: Oh, it will be. 👀

Sean: Let’s not end up killing people please. 😅

While the teams prepare, Kade and Diego are holding microphones, tasked to act as commentators of the game.

Diego: Alright, everybody! Welcome to the 2020 Choices Dodgeball games! I am your host, Diego Soto. 😁

Kade: And I’m your host, Kade. Today’s match shall decide which the best condiment to use in fried chicken. 😊

Ximena blows the whistle, starting the game!!

---------- TO BE CONTINUED ----------

[nadiaportia]

my babies! they look so amazing, thank you so much!! 🥰

I under estimated how long this would take me. (It took at approximately two full seasons of criminal minds.)

But here are @reygalpatine ‘s 5 lovely apprentices.☺️

[brooklynmuseum]

What’s up everyone! I’m Syd, the Assistant of the Brooklyn Museum’s Apprentice Program. The Museum Apprentice Program provides an inspiring space, and pushes for growth and change both personally and professionally. As a former apprentice myself, I know that the Apprentice Program is an amazing program to expand your skill-sets, meet other youth from different parts of NYC, and be yourself.

The Museum Apprentices meet once a week throughout the school year to interact with art within the Museum, garner effective skills as educators, and create their own lesson plans. For six weeks throughout the summer, they teach their lesson plans to camp groups, have exchanges with teen programs from other institutions, go on trips, participate in many of the Brooklyn Museum’s events such as the BKM’s First Saturdays, Hands on Art, or the BKM’s Annual Alumni Event, and become a part of a family.

Throughout the program, Museum Apprentices often found themselves reaching a higher sense of courage in museum spaces. With leadership stemming from fellow museum educators and our Teen Program’s coordinator Ximena Izquierdo Ugaz, our Teen Program’s manager Lindsay C. Harris, and our Teen Program’s Assistant Orlando Pazol Mendoza, the apprentices along with myself are able to garner great inspiration being people of color in this space. 

“I always had dreams of being a part of a museum. However, it was also very intimidating being that I am a Latina woman. Once I began progressing in MAP and seen women who remind me of myself, I began to develop faith in myself. I was closer connected to art and to professionals who have achieved their dreams within major institutions.” — Melissa, Apprentice closing out her first year in the Museum Apprentice Program. 

MAP plays a major role in creating or cultivating a sense of purpose in museums. Most of the apprentices often reflect on the change in their perspectives within institutions. The apprentices notice how many youth of color walk into the Brooklyn Museum on a daily basis, and how many of them make up the camp groups in which they teach. Each of the apprentices have found drive toward creating change through art. 

“MAP is always actively spreading knowledge to the youth. It’s more than just looking at art, there's a lot to take from it.” —Justin, Senior Apprentice closing out his third year in MAP 

Both the MAP Program and the physical space which we take up is welcoming and inclusive. MAP is made up of youth who identify with differentiating identities and intersections. For Museum Apprentice Chris, the physical area in which the Brooklyn Museum is located plays a major role in MAP’s progressiveness. 

“We’re right in the heart of Brooklyn. I’m a sheltered kid, so this program has not only made me more inclusive but exclusive as well.” —Chris, Apprentice closing out their first year in the program

For the MAP team, this summer has paved a way for growth, unique experiences, and purpose. From workshops with museum educators and artists like Benjamin Lundberg, Londs Reuter, Danilo Machado, Ezra Benus, ray ferreira and more, plus exchanges with The Whitney Teens, The OppNet Teens, and The New Museum Teens, to trips visiting The Whitney Museum, Brooklyn’s Historical Society, The New Museum, El Museo del Barrio and CCADI, we’ve become very inspired and appreciative of these spaces which encourage us all to become our best selves and push for progressive change within marginalized groups. 

“I appreciate being in a room with others who know how it feels to be in a museum space as well...meeting them illustrates how much we really do and accomplish.” —Mariatou, Senior Apprentice closing out her second year in MAP. 

As youth that are part of marginalized groups, we’ve learned together and became greatly fearless throughout this journey. 

The Museum Apprentice Program has taught us so much about ourselves and the spaces in which we often find ourselves apart of. Every day, we start and end our days with checking in with one another, and opening the space for everyone to be themselves, reflect on our days, and express ourselves in whichever way feels most comfortable. I appreciate the unconditional support and love that comes out of MAP, and becoming a part of something so radical is a unique experience that we don’t hear about often. The Apprentices’ voices are definitely heard and felt throughout NYC and the Brooklyn Museum.  

Posted by Sydney Warton

[litlunacy]

Hey guys, how about we have a little fun today? Its been a hot minute since someone started a picrew chain around here. And this one is super cute!

So how about y'all hop in and rb with your own apprentices? Here's the picrew link.

[asarsgyan]

Chapter 6 - Don’t Need Tits!

It was in a sumptuous farm, owned by Morón, in the municipality of Zarzal, where Catalina began to write the novel of her life in pink ink. A helicopter was flying over the air of the ostentatious hacienda that landed with the host of the party in the center of a soccer field, next to a bullring full of asymmetrical arches, repeated many times and painted white. Several paths upholstered in very green and fine grass surrounded by flowered gardens served as tablecloths for the guests, many of whom were no longer surprised by such waste. The farm was the size of an Olympic village or a town and as many sports venues as that one. Tennis courts, beach volleyball, squash, racquetball, olympic pool and facilities for three more sports that the owners did not understand or play, but the bodyguards invented new rules during their free time. And what about the Turkish bath, the sauna and the life-size statues, looking with disdain at the 30 guests who came to celebrate the 50th birthday of the leader of the largest poster ever seen.    Yésica was on all fours to get the sixty women they needed in the bizarre rumba scheduled to last three days and nights and in which the loyalty of each ally of the cartel was going to be awarded with two women, half a dozen bottles of a whiskey preserved for 18 years in the barrels of some Scottish wineries and the right to demand from the mariachis, the trio, the orchestra or the contracted DJ, the song that they wanted. It did not matter if the Mariachi played rock, the trancem trio or the vallenatos orchestra.

   When the women arrived in two buses, after crossing the 18 holes of a well-kept golf course on foot, the capos, the capos assistants, the children of some capos, some capo apprentices and also some who boasted of bosses like Mariño, they launched to monopolize the prettiest. "El Titi" went to the fixed line and made the services of Paola and Ximena. Vanessa left with Morón despite the fact that her fat made her disgusting and Yésica left with Cardona more focused on locating Catalina looking over the shoulders of the guests than on what she had to do to satisfy the number two of the organization .    Inexplicably, Catalina hadn't made her entry yet. Before entering the house, she angrily observed something that made her disappear for six and a half minutes. When he got to the pool beach where the party was to take place, he found a stage full of lights and a DJ slewing a console with the care that egg packers have in their baskets. Fifty-nine of the sixty women hired already occupied one of the arms of each tract, except for Cardona's left, which was still unoccupied, waiting impatiently for Catalina to appear. When Yésica pointed her out, he looked her up and down, ran his eyes over her legs and over the valley of her small breasts as if she were buying a kilo of meat and gave her the order to turn around painting a circle in the air with her index finger. He looked at her rear with anxiety and when she turned around, with a hypocritical smile, she was ecstatic in her eyes, welcoming the happiness that the girl projected although she did not know that it was due to the deep satisfaction she felt for something she had just done in the room. gate of the farm in such a short time. Catalina did not pass the exam anyway. Cardona began to secrete and laugh with one of his colleagues while looking at his chest. The girl felt herself dying of grief making a fool of herself in the midst of 59 women as poor as her, as idiots like her, as stupid as her, but with bigger tits than hers. he was ecstatic in his eyes, welcoming the happiness that the girl projected even though he was unaware that it was due to the deep satisfaction he felt for something he had just done at the gate of the farm in such a short time. Catalina did not pass the exam anyway. Cardona began to secrete and laugh with one of his colleagues while looking at his chest. The girl felt herself dying of grief making a fool of herself in the midst of 59 women as poor as her, as idiots like her, as stupid as her, but with bigger tits than hers. he was ecstatic in his eyes, welcoming the happiness that the girl projected even though he was unaware that it was due to the deep satisfaction he felt for something he had just done at the gate of the farm in such a short time. Catalina did not pass the exam anyway. Cardona began to secrete and laugh with one of his colleagues while looking at his chest. The girl felt herself dying of grief making a fool of herself in the midst of 59 women as poor as her, as idiots like her, as stupid as her, but with bigger tits than hers.    It was then that Yésica launched herself to save her, interceding with Cardona for her. He told her so many and such varied lies that the second in the organization decided to change her for Yésica, who was more interested in staying out of the business so as not to lose her status as a businesswoman. He told her that wherever he saw her, that skinny girl without tetics, she was the one who "pulled" the best of all the sixty who had come. That no one knew the secrets of oral sex as well as she did and that if she didn't have silicone tits it was because many perverts loved the fantasy of making love with a schoolgirl. That he was not going to regret it and that he was certainly going to ask for it again in less than a week.    With the benefit of the doubt, Cardona accepted the change and Yésica went for her, anxious that Catalina knew and quickly assimilated the lies she told the man who was going to get her out of poverty.    "Sister," he told her as they walked the fifteen meters that separated them from Cardona, "you have 10 seconds to become the most whore woman in Pereira, in the best fuck in the world." The second hardest of all these motherfuckers here is waiting for her to prove it.    Flushed and with her heart about to explode, Catalina had no choice but to become, in a second and without her boyfriend's suspicions, the most experienced prostitute in the whole city. On the one hand, in order not to make Yésica look bad and on the other, because he knew, deep down in his being, that this would be the last chance he would have in life to get, once and for all, the money for his operation.    Yésica gave him all the possible primer so that the lie would come out well and with her "a priori" experience, Catherine went out to fulfill her mission. Cardona was so delighted with the stories that Yésica told him about the girl that he didn't even wait for his boss to sing Happy Birthday when he was putting her into his bedroom. Dead of fear, Catalina began to comply, to the letter, with Yésica's lies.

   After a long and hectic day, Cardona was so satisfied, so impressed, and so breathless that he fell asleep while watching Catalina get dressed. From the bathroom she felt him snoring with his mouth open and she leaned out to confirm the disgust she had just acquired. She even felt the urge to rummage through a briefcase she was carrying to steal the money she needed and run away, but the blast of the mariachis' trumpets that at that time began to sing to Morón Las mañanitas intimidated her. They also conspired against her, her insipid intelligence, or her fear, but the fact is that she chose to win the will of the man who had just possessed her, for the fourth time in her life, relegating Albeiro to having the terrible possibility to become her fifth man.    For this reason, when Cardona woke up, he found Catalina's head on his chest and on his head the fingers of a girl who combed his hair a thousand times with the submission of a slave. Cardona, was afraid that these things would be mixed with affection for what one day he adopted, as law, to immediately abandon any woman who touched his heart. Curiously, on this occasion he forgot his own statutes and allowed himself to be given unbridled affection. Then he was touched like a small child and hugged her.    "Fall asleep, I'll take care of you." She said to him with total sweetness, awakening in him an unequivocal feeling of tampering and perhaps of affection, that he was not very used to giving someone other than Lina María, his official lover or Lucy, his fourth wife and with whom he lived today .    When Cardona woke up again, Catalina's head was tucked between his legs, making him twist with emotion. She was willing to make him forget a woman's breasts and also to become indispensable in the life of that man with rough manners, but who had already shown nobility by entrusting his dream to her without having to tuck his briefcase under his pillow. When Cardona heard a trio of strings in the pool sector, he took it by the head and raised it to his mouth thanking him for his dedication and expressing his shame with Morón for not being in the celebration of his birthday. Catalina told her that she needed to talk to her about something very important, but Cardona excused herself as she dressed at full speed, although she promised that they would talk during the evening.    "It's only five minutes," she insisted, and Cardona accepted, shortening the time to a second, albeit with some disappointment.    -How much do you need?    "Why do you know that silver is what I need?"    "Oh, mommy, I know you like the palm of my hand not to know that what you need is money," he replied generously, pointing to the buttons of his shirt.    "Five million pesos," she told him, making him smile.    -Five million? He asked incredulously and repeated in a mocking tone, "I pay five million for a model, mamacita!" I already arranged with Yésica for 500 thousand for each one. Make up with her and if it serves you well and if not, too. I'm going to be with the boss.    Catalina began to cry and told her that 500 thousand were not enough for anything, to listen to her, to make her do whatever she wanted for as long as she wanted, but for the love of God, to lend her that money because she needed get the silicone implant in the bust.    —And why are you going to send yourself to put boobs? Catalina by God! If you don't need them! Catalina, you don't need them! As rich as you make it, you don't need them! —He repeated ad nauseam, sowing the worst confusion in her: How so, after enduring all the hardships he went through, after giving his virginity to three strangers, after aborting the child of one of them, after living Frustrated, after humiliating herself and degrading herself by the dream of having her breasts operated, a guy now appeared to tell her that she didn't need to have big tits? That for her was unheard of, it couldn't be.    Confused and understanding life now less than ever, Catalina wanted to understand Cardona's words, but could not. That is why he engaged in additional explanations and pleas, attacking him with all the verbal resources at his disposal. However, Cardona was not willing to give her all that money for a single night of love.    "Let's do one thing," he said calculatingly, "I'm going to lend you that ticket, but how are you going to pay for it, huh?"    "As you wish, but lend it to me, please," Catalina told him, making all kinds of promises in a pleading tone and apparently she managed to soften him up because to the second Cardona declared: "    Okay ... I'm going to lend them to you, but with one condition: you release your tits with me…    Catalina smiled at the obvious condition and promised her this life and the other, but Cardona reiterated her conclusion from before: "    Put on your boobs and whatever you want, mijita, but I repeat that you do so well that you don't need to fool around. with that…    In order not to go crazy feeling the paradoxes of life raw, Catalina promised to return to Cardona's bed after the musicians finished performing the songs that Morón asked of them, and she did.

   In the back square of the house, part of the guests and twice as many women were listening to boleros by "Los Panchos" performed by a musical group made up of three mature men who never smiled. The one with the maracas he closed his eyes for long periods of time and only opened them when he had to support the choruses of some songs with his stringy voice. The one with the leading guitar was the most concentrated because, despite having the most difficult mission, which was to make the strings speak with his fingers, he never looked at the stringing and walked the length and width of the fingerboard and through the woods of frets as if he had always known them perfectly. The one with the accompanying guitar, who was the same one who sang, kept his head directed diagonally to the sky and the arteries in his throat were insinuated whenever the high tones demanded it. You could see the great effort he made not to lose tune, perhaps aware of the risk he was running when unleashing the fury of those who hired him by not giving the size they expected. It was like singing with a guillotine around your neck because they had told them, with some exaggeration, that in the event of any out of tune the owner of the house could draw his pistol and shoot them. That is why they sang as they had never done before. The interpretation of each piece was masterful and drew much applause from the audience.

   The women who accompanied the guests in pairs did not smile, at least sincerely. Late in the morning and after half-fulfilling their duties, they felt distressed. As if they understood, by waves of regret, that they were not doing the right thing. That life was more, much more, than finding comfort in the sacrifice of dignity, that the world extended beyond the beds and warehouses that they frequented, that their stories were not being written because in the universal annals they were not they record only the deeds, good or bad, of men and women willing and ready to change the course of humanity without destroying its integrity. They were aware of only going through life without transcending.    One of them, for example, was fighting her dream, titanically. Her eyes went out for fragmented periods of seconds that she, immersed in her fears, counted as minutes and after which her companion in misfortune hit her with an elbow that left her as awake as she was scared and with her heart on the verge of infarction. She suspected that her client could be upset and panicked at the possibility of losing the 500 thousand pesos that she already had spent in her mind and that for a low-class prostitute like her it was enough for some basic investments: 50 thousand for Yésica, 80 A thousand for the mother, 80 thousand for Nacho the hairdresser, 30 thousand for the massage, 140 thousand for a pants, 60 thousand for a blouse, 10 thousand to buy trinkets for the little brother, 30 thousand to invite the groom to have a beer or to eat and 20 thousand for the buses. From the next job I would leave 80 thousand for shoes, 80 thousand for cosmetics and creams of all kinds and for each area of ​​the body, 10 thousand for nail repair, 90 thousand for accessories, 30 thousand for glasses, 20 thousand for a watch and the same 190 thousand of fixed costs to distribute among the mother, the pimp, the boyfriend, the little brother and the buses.    The guests, for their part, only differed from their sex slaves in two details: they fell asleep in his chair without asking permission and they did not allow any kind of remorse in their minds. For them, what they were doing was well done, they weren't robbing a rich man, they weren't breaking the laws of a just country. On the contrary, they harbored messianic sentiments in what they did for the fact of giving to a poor person for a medical formula, for a market or for the large number of jobs that their multiple investments and their large tracts of land generated. But the truth is that they only did charity works to wash their consciences and they generated jobs to increase and wash their capital.    The rest of the party was made up of the escorts, the three great capos, the musicians of the famous orchestra, the mariachi, the DJ and the waiters. There was nothing particular about them.    The musicians secretly made fun of the colleagues who were at bat in groups, the waiters tried to better serve the men and the bodyguards were on alert to take advantage of the moment when one of their bosses melted to fish for a favor sexual activity of her companions on occasion.    At 4:30 in the morning and very enthusiastic about Cardona's promise, Catalina returned to her bed with full intensity and until late in the morning when Yésica woke her up to tell her that the bus was about to start, that if she stayed or left.    Cardona answered for her:    -Stays. Later I send her out.    Yésica smiled happily at her little friend's change of luck and left shouting at Cardona to realize that she never told him lies.    Minutes later, Cardona was informed that one of Mariño's bodyguards, a man with the surname Benítez, known by the alias "Caballo" had just suffered a fatal accident.

[newyorktheater]

Guy Yedwab of the League of Independent Theaters, co-sponsors of the Town Hall

City Councilmember James G. Van Bramer”There is no City of New York without artists.”

State Senator Brad Hoylman “We need federal support, first.

Delsenia Glover, Deputy Public Advocate for Housing Equity

Justin Kantor, Vice President of NIVA (National Independent Venue Association)

Angel Gil Orrios of Thalia Spanish Theater

Erez Ziv of Frigid NY: “It’s just not a way we can survive”.

Hundreds of people attended a virtual town hall Thursday afternoon with city and state  public officials to talk about how to save Off-Off Broadway. That  was not the explicit topic. Hosts League of Independent Theater and Indiespace billed it as a “Small Venue Rent Forgiveness Town Hall,” with LIT organizer Guy Yedwab speaking in front of a banner that read “#CancelRent,” and some in-depth discussion of current state bills that would “forgive” commercial tenants (such as theaters) from paying their rent during the crisis.

But the two-hour Zoom meeting, accompanied by a busy chat among artists and administrators, went far beyond that one problem and the specific proposed legislative solution.

“This is an existential crisis for all of you,” said City Councilmember James G. Van Bramer, chair of the Council’s committee on cultural affairs. “There is no City of New York without artists.” Van Bramer was one of some half dozen public officials to discuss ideas and proposed legislation. Van  Bramer’s most memorable idea –  allowing theaters to perform in the streets, an expansion of the proposal already introduced to expand sidewalk cafes to allow restaurants to reopen.

Among the bills discussed:

Rent Forgiveness

The State Legislature has two bills that would “forgive” commercial rent (including for theaters.) The difference is in the duration of the forgiveness.

Senate Bill S8125A (Sponsor: State Senator Michael Gianaris

) / Assembly Bill A10224A (Sponsor: State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou

) – Complete rent forgiveness for ninety days

Senate Bill S8190A (Sponsor: State Senator Julia Salazar

) / Assembly Bill A10318A (State Assemblymember Joseph R. Lentol

) – Complete rent forgiveness during the COVID crisis and all future public emergencies

Evictions

Evictions have been suspended until August 20.  A State bill would prevent evictions through six months after the crisis ends:

Senate Bill S8192A (Sponsor: State Senator Brad Hoylman) / Assembly Bill A10290A (Sponsor: Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz)

Assembly Bill A10387 (Sponsor:Assemblymember Harvey Epstein)

  Insurance coverage

A State bill would require insurers to pay for lost income during COVID-19 even if it was previously excluded from the policy, formally referred to as business interruption insurance coverage

Senate Bill S8211A (Sponsor: State Senator Andrew Gounardes

) / Assembly Bill A10226B (Sponsor: State Assemblymember Robert C. Carroll)

  Commercial Leases

The State Legislature has a bill that would allow commercial tenants (such as those renting a theater) to walk away from their lease before its end date during a state of emergency

Assembly Bill A10471 (Sponsor: Assemblymember Harvey Epstein)

  The City Council passed two laws on May 26, 2020, Intro 1932-2020

And Intro 1914-2020 that essentially discourage landlords from harassing commercial tenants during the crisis.

During the discussion, though, there was almost always a caveat. As  State Senator Brad Hoylman put it: “We need federal support, first. If we don’t get federal support, we have to come up with our own revenue.”

For all the greater attention that Broadway and Off-Broadway get, it’s the independent/aka Off-Off Broadway theaters (those with fewer than 99 seats) that “produce the majority of live performance in NYC per year,” as  the League of Independent Theaters is fond of pointing out, citing a 2019 study by the city.

And the pandemic arguably puts them the most at the greatest risk.

“I’ve been running venues in the East Village since 1997,” said Erez Ziv of Frigid NY. “Every season we can barely pay the artists. Now we’ve been closed for two and a half months, we don’t know when we’re going to open, and when we do open, it’s going to be at maybe 30 percent capacity? It’s just not a way that we can survive. We’re going to need some support from on high to make sure that it’s not over.”

“We need more than rent or mortgage support,” said Ximena Garnica, co-artistic director of the Brooklyn-based LEIMAY Ensemble. “We need a full bailout.”

“The arts are NOT an expendable luxury, but get treated as one. They are a core part of our economy,” said Jennifer Malbuisson (who introduced herself with the sort of word collage  familiar to those who work Off-Off Broadway: “IATSE Local 751 Apprentice/former Dir of Box Office Operations at FIAF/Stage & FOH Manager of the Ten Foot Rat Cabaret at USM/Frigid NYC volunteer.”) “A small venue’s presence in a community supports restaurants, and retail. We have to support them.”

To participants in the Town Hall like Virginia Louloudes, executive director, Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York, what’s happening is a crisis that demands action, but also allows for opportunity.

“This is a moment in time when we can look at all systems to create a more equitable, just, diverse, inclusive  and accessible society!  It has to come from all stakeholders.. from top down!”

Panelists at the Town Hall:

Senator Brad Hoylman, District 27

Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, 74th District

Assembly Member Robert Carroll, 44th District

Jimmy Van Bramer, Deputy Speaker of the New York City Council

Delsenia Glover, Deputy Public Advocate for Housing Equity

Justin Kantor, Vice President of NIVA (National Independent Venue Association)

  Town Hall: How Off-Off Broadway Can Be Saved Hundreds of people attended a virtual town hall Thursday afternoon with city and state  public officials to talk about how to save Off-Off Broadway.

[litlunacy]

Apprenticember Pt. 1 (Days 1-6)

Introduce your apprentice! Just their name, personality, appearance, and likes/dislikes for now! If you have pictures of them, post them today!

Ximena Ariti.

(a quick little WIP I worked up of her yesterday)

Pronouns: She/Her

Birthday: March 3 (Pisces)

Age: 28

Height: 5'6"

Hair: Black, long, just wavy enough to be unruly

Eyes: She has heterochromia. The left is pale green, the right pale blue

Familiar: Ember the black sable ferret

Personality: Quiet and more reserved with strangers, a big teasing goof with friends. Chaotic neutral.

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Food: Buttered noodles with grated cheese

Favorite Drink: Chai tea

Favorite Dessert: Coffee cake

Favorite Season: Autumn

Likes: Reading, painting, dancing, nature, collecting things (stones, shells, feathers), staying up late, stargazing

Dislikes: Hot weather, waking up early, cooking, pompous nobles, any insect with more than six legs

2. Who is their LI? What’s their relationship like?

Julian. She was doomed from the second she smashed that bottle on his head when he broke into the shop the first time (a story she loves retelling, mostly to embarrass him). His outlandish and outgoing nature helps bring out the fun, slightly more extroverted parts of her that she lost after she lost her memories. Going out drinking and dancing and being foolish feels natural with him, instead of daunting. In turn, she tries to keep him from doing things that are too exceptionally stupid, or, failing that, pull his ass out of the fire when he can't bullshit his own way out.

When they aren't out causing a ruckus (or in causing a ruckus), they do both enjoy just sitting quietly and reading together, usually in a tangled pile on the nearest soft surface. Julian also tends to drape himself over her like a giant, leggy blanket after a long day. He has occasionally fallen asleep while doing so.

Ximena has numerous sketches and paintings featuring her dorky doctor, and he gets very flustered every time he realizes she's made another one.

Julian was super unsure after he let her see his red eye the first time, "Are you sure this doesn't bother you? Really sure? It's not creepy or off-putting or disturbing?" Her answer was an eyeroll and, "You giant ninny, my eyes don't match either. Why would it bother me that yours don't?"

3. Give a short summary of their relationship to the other main characters!

Asra: Their relationship isn't what it used to be. They're still friends, but it's a little strained. Mostly because she can't believe he would put so much at risk to bring her back from the dead, what the hell dude? Not that she isn't enjoying being alive again, but that level of obsession seems unhealthy and makes her want to thwack him on the head.

Nadia: She likes her well enough, but the Countess is juuust slightly too posh for her. Once Nadia realizes that super expensive gifts make Ximena uncomfortable, they become pretty good friends and have tea together regularly.

Portia: They hit it off immediately. Portia is bubbly and fun but still down-to-earth and just absolutely adorable. She considers her a sister long before they become sister-in-laws. She's also really impressed with Portia's ability to turn on the waterworks to get her way, and will definitely pull the don't-make-me-call-your-sister card with Julian when necessary.

Muriel: They have a mutual understanding of 'nature is better when the humans are quiet'. He and Innana walk with Ximena and Ember through the woods, helping her gather herbs and other reagents for her shop. She brings him pumpkin bread from the market. It's peaceful and simple.

Lucio: He's a stupid goat and she's glad to be rid of him.

4. What about the courtiers? Have they met them? What do they think of them?

Volta is the only courtier she actually likes. She keeps snacks for her. She finds Vlastomil gross and creepy, Vulgora is exhausting, and she both despises and is terrified of Valdemar. Valerius earned himself a permanent spot on her shitlist by dumping wine on her when they met, and she's been a petty magician out for revenge ever since. 5. Do they have any other friends outside of canon? What about the minor characters? 

Mazelinka wins her over that first night, and she quickly picks up the threaten-Julian-with-a-wooden-spoon thing from her. She's less effective with it than Mazelinka is, but it's the thought that counts. Ximena also becomes fast friends with Natiqa, who she bonds with over a love of harmless mischief and colorful clothes. Ironically, she also hit it off with Nazali about fashion as well, since she agrees with them that being comfortable and easy to work in matters way more than what clothes actually look like (she just happens to like things that are colorful as well as comfy). Ximena actually likes Nazali's 'hideous' orange waist-pouch, much to Nadia and Natiqa's chagrin. 6. Now, do they have any rivals? Maybe even a WORST ENEMY!? Spill the deets now!

Valerius. Not an enemy, but definitely a rival. Spilling that wine on her was a huge mistake, and now she spends every second that she's in the same room screwing with him. Lift the rug just enough to make him trip, a sudden breeze that slaps him in the face with his own braid, oops, his wine is suddenly just grape juice. Anything to embarrass him that can't actually be traced back to her. He knows she's doing it and is very greatly aggravated that he can't prove it. (Nadia and Natiqa are also aware that she's doing it, and fully support it. Natiqa even helps sometimes.)

[litlunacy]

Finally inked that sketch of Ximena from apprenticember.

We'll see how long it is before I work up the oomph to color it. Please ignore the really off placement of the nose ring I was having a stupid

[litlunacy]

Recently decided that Ximena has a middle name. It's Constance.

She fucking hates it.

So much so that she never even told Asra what it was, and so he couldn't tell her she had one after her resurrection. She doesn't find out until he takes her and Julian to Zadith to meet/see if she can remember her parents. It's written in her old journal.

Aaaaand she still hates it. Threatens to hex Asra and Julian if they ever dare use it.

[litlunacy]

Designing masquerade masks and costumes is hard y'all. Every time I think I've got it, I change my mind again. Do I want a theme or just pretty? Where do the motifs go? Can you actually dance in this? (For Ximena specifically: can you dance on a banquet table in this?) What is fabric draping. What are these masks even made of??

Anyway, here's my current wips for Ximena's costume. I think I've settled on the second one? But now choosing colors...sigh.