#bc of the qualities that many other artists' songs must have but i only like it when they wear it 🥴

[bredforloyalty]

every time i remember ling tosite sigure exists it's like. wait one of my favorite bands ever and i simply don't listen to them for 6+ months at a time

[yesloverboy]

Something in the Way She Moves (Axl Rose x Reader)

Requested: Anon

“Could you do a story about Axl rose where the reader is a singer ( i was thinking like sadie from across the universe type singer) and he sees her play live for the first time and falls for her? And they end up getting together and performing together all the time and it's all gushy and hot bc their voices go together so well? Thank u!”

Note: My first Axl request is finally here! Sorry for the wait, but I’m finally back at university so hopefully I can start an upload schedule soon to help keep my ass accountable. However, I’m really proud of how this request turned out so lmk what you think! Love y’all 

word count: 2,032

[Warnings: swearing, alcohol, and disgusting romance]

permanent tags: @colsonbakersnoseringmain, @lululovesgwtw, @kingbouji3

 No matter how many times you walk out on that stage, you find your heart thudding in your chest as if it were the first time all over again. You love everything about performing; the bright lights, smoky clubs, and smiling faces of all the lovely people in the crowd. Each of them came to have a good time and, as always, you’re just happy to play a part in it. Unlike most aspiring artists, you don’t need an adoring crowd to get your blood pumping. All you need is the thud of the bass in your feet and a song to sing.

 The crowd is usually a secondary element to your performance, instead you prefer the company of your band and the energy their music brings. This particular night, however, something feels different. There’s an electricity in the air that you don’t recognize and, as you go up to sing, you catch your eyes wandering through the crowd for the first time.

 It takes a while to adjust to the smoky haze that drifts through the beaming stage lights, but eventually you can make out some faces. As usual, the patrons of the club look happy and carefree. Each of them a total stranger, and yet so hauntingly familiar at the same time.

 You allow the music to overtake you once again as you sway across the stage. The long, flowing sleeves of your shirt drift through the air as you vibe and shift along with the rhythm. Hair falling in your face, you allow the blues to move through you and push out your voice from somewhere deep within.

 As the song hurtles toward a spellbinding guitar solo, you feel the urge to look out into the crowd once again. While people came to the club to hear music and have a good time, you were always just background noise. Somehow, someway, it finally feels like someone is watching you– and you’re determined to find out who it could possibly be. You frown to yourself as you scan the crowd, realizing that the glare from the lights is far too bright to see anywhere beyond a few rows back.

 Little do you know, there is a man seated at the end of the bar that couldn’t take his eyes off of you if he tried.

 He had been passing by the club with a band of his very own when your voice captured his attention. You had just wailed out the song’s first note, and all he could think was that he’d never heard anything like it. The man insisted on stopping to listen just a little bit longer, ignoring the gripes and groans from his scruffy bandmates. As he pushed his way inside, he hadn’t even noticed that his band left him to find something better to do. All he cared about seeing was you.

 Now, as you’re floating effortlessly across the stage, the man is awestruck to find that you’re even more beautiful than you sound. As a singer himself, he’s completely blown away by how effortlessly you allow the moment to overtake you. Engaging with an audience full of fans is an experience he thrives off of, and yet here you are dancing and swaying like an adolescent girl alone in her bedroom. You don’t have a single care in the world.

 When your set finally comes to a close, you give each of your bandmates an affectionate squeeze and scamper off to the bar. It’s a personal tradition to reward yourself with a cocktail every night after a show. Long ago you realized that drinking before or during a set only made you emotional and self-conscious, making you ultimately decide that drinking would be a gift to yourself– not a necessity.

 Before you’re able to beckon over to the bartender, a sudden presence at your side makes you turn your head in vague curiosity. You feel the air leave your lungs as you lock eyes with the stranger next to you, wondering how in the holy hell you didn’t notice him from your place on stage. He’s a little taller than you, with eyes the color of soft denim and poker-straight hair that hangs loosely on the middle of his chest.  

 “Hey,” he breathes, flashing you a smile warmer than summertime. The leather of his jacket crinkles against the bar’s glossy finish as he leans comfortably against it.

 “Hey, yourself,” you reply coyly, peering up at the incredibly handsome stranger from beneath your eyelashes. The man in front of you doesn’t look like the club’s usual patrons, he chooses the confinement of leather and acid wash over silk and corduroy. He’s different and you like it.

 He clears his throat, and although his posture radiates confidence, he bites his lip with a nervous uncertainty. “You were amazing up there, you know. Never heard anything like it.”

 “How much did you see?” your voice is barely a whisper in the hum of the bar, and you feel yourself leaning in closer just to be heard.

 “All of it,” he grins, instantly soliciting a blush from your already rosie cheeks.

 Your eyes fall to your feet, and you catch yourself chewing on your lip as you kick your moccasins absentmindedly against the linoleum floor. “I’m guessing you must like music a lot, then.”

 The man laughs, eliciting a rasp from the back of his throat that carries a musical quality. “Well, sweetheart, I suppose you aren’t wrong about that– can I get you a drink?”

 “I don’t even know your name, music man,” you giggle, feeling reduced to nothing more than a giddy schoolgirl. You don’t mind though, because for once it finally seems as though you actually feel at ease with someone who isn’t one of your bandmates.

 “Axl. Axl Rose,” he replies, holding out a ring encrusted hand for you to shake.

 His calloused hand is rough against your skin, but the touch he offers is so gentle that your rapidly beating heart stutters in surprise. The feeling is so tender and comforting that you find yourself unable to let go. Axl seems to share the same sentiment and slides his soft grip to the tips of your fingers, holding you in place as a gentle thumb swipes delicately across your knuckles.

 “With a name like that, you oughta be some kind of rockstar,” you quip, making a big show of raking your eyes from the top of his strawberry blonde hair to the tips of his motorcycle boots.

 “That’s the idea, honey,” Axl gives you a sly wink and moves in a little bit closer, your chiffon sleeve lightly brushing against his leather one, “but, if you asked me, I’d say there’s only one rockstar in this whole club.” 

 “Oh yeah? And who would that be?”

 “Y/N,” he purrs, reciting the name arranged on the old marquee he saw coming into the club, “You may not know it yet, but she’s gonna be the raddest act in town.”

 “I don’t know who told you that, but remind me to thank them later,” you chuckle, peering up at Axl through the thick of your eyelashes.

 “Just a feeling,” he smirks, “but if you have the time– I could tell you more about it. What do you say, sugar?”

 “Lucky for you, music man– I’ve got all night.” 

...

 After that serendipitous evening, you and Axl become nearly inseparable. Your music man comes to every show possible, using whatever minutes he could spare between his own sets on the strip to catch a glimpse of you singing. The only thing Axl seems to love more than watching you sway effortlessly on stage, is the way you float onto the floor of his very own performances with the same ease.

 You are as carefree of a lover as a musician, and observing the chaos of the world bending to your will makes Axl feel as though he might be able to contain whatever part of that chaos dwells within him. Although a poet at heart, Axl’s temper has a red hot edge that only you seem to extinguish. You’ve become his perfect match– not because you are opposite him, but because you compliment him. If you’re a daisy chain, he’s the bruised knuckles tying you together.

 Despite how different yours and Axl’s music tastes are, you find yourself growing fond of Guns ‘n Roses; although you’re still not sure what firearms and flowers actually have to do with each other. Much to your surprise, the rest of his ragtag bandmates seem to like you too– even if you stick out at their shows just as sorely as Stevie Nicks in a cemetery.

 It takes weeks of late night escapades and dizzying weekend benders, before one lazy Sunday morning brings you and Axl together in a way that seems so impossible and yet so obvious.

 Singing.

 It’s a morning like so many others, with you flipping pancakes in one of Axl’s cropped shirts while he remains tangled haphazardly in the sheets. You hum along as Across the Universe buzzes through the crackle of the kitchen radio, becoming so in the moment that you eventually start singing softly to yourself. It’s no stage, but something about swaying in the morning light feels delightfully intimate.

     Sounds of laughter, shades of life      are ringing through my open ears,      inciting and inviting me–

 Axl eventually stirs himself out of a dead slumber, feeling exceptionally hungover and absolutely starving. Dragging his shirtless form into the bright kitchen light, he’s immediately captivated by the smell of frying batter and the soft rasp of your voice. Captivated, all he can do is stand and stare. You’re floating again, bouncing lightly on your toes as the music moves you.

     Limitless undying love,      which shines around me like a million suns–

 Absentmindedly, Axl allows a soft hum to grow in the back of his throat. The melody is familiar to him, comfortable, and before he knows it, his feet are carrying his tired body over to you. The sound of bare feet padding behind you makes you turn, the sight of Axl bringing a blinding smile to your face. There’s something gentle sparkling in your music man’s eyes and, even if the two of you haven’t said it yet, you can feel the love swimming behind those irises.

     It calls me on and on,      across the universe–

 Without a second thought, you reach for his hand and begin to sing to him. Much to your delight, he invites the touch and pulls you gently to his chest with a boyish smile. What most people don’t know about Axl– your Axl –is that he has a soft side hiding beneath his rough exterior and over the top antics. Moments like these make all the petty struggles feel insignificant, and for a fleeting second, you don’t think it can get any better. That is, until Axl starts singing with you.

     Nothing’s gonna change my world,      Nothing’s gonna change my world–

 In your brief time as a professional singer, you had never been able to find someone to match your voice. It’s not that you’re too good for anyone, you’ve just always been told that your voice was far too unusual to have anyone singing beside you. Now, as your arms entangle with your sunset-haired love, it becomes clear that your voice is meant to exist alongside his.

     Nothing’s gonna change my world,      Nothing’s gonna change my world–

 The rasp of yours and Axl’s voices compliment each other in the same way your personalities do– if Axl wants to fly above the music with the harmonies, you’re willing to be the melody tethering him back to Earth. Ever since the night you’d met, being with Axl has felt as easy as breathing and as natural spinning around wrapped in silk.

 The two of you may have found each other in the dark, but there’s no doubt that you are both falling hard and fast under the morning light. With a tattooed man in your arms and the smell of scorched pancakes in the air, you find yourself feeling at home for the first time– and nothing can ever change that.

Masterlist

[seoftheart]

100 things i love about johnny

“his english name means “god is gracious” and it’s derived from hebrew words יוֹ (yo) which is the hebrew god and חָנַן (chanan) which means “to be gracious” and i mean,, true

his korean name is written as 英浩 in hanja characters and they can mean  “flower, petal, brave, hero” and  “great, numerous, vast” - also true

his lisp

his bad puns and pickup lines

how he donated his voice by recording audio guides to aid artists with development disabilities

how much he loves haechan and taeil :((

how much he loves nct in general

his love for yoona

how he never fails to include both female and male fans when he’s talking so nobody gets excluded

his silky hair

the way he furrows his eyebrows and one side of his upper lip goes up when he says something sassy or tries sounding smart

the little, cute wrinkles that appear on the sides of his mouth when he’s smiling

how hard he works on his chinese and tries to communicate with chinese members in their native language grfsregkajeg

the way he discreetly comforted yeri on enana when she was sick

how he noticed that on the vlive commentary function it said “say something nice” and found it really nice

how he’s really humble about the things he does and his qualities, oh my god !!

he thought his selfies weren’t good and asked for advice and didn’t believe jaehyun and doyoung when they told him his selfies are really good indeed, he was so surprised when they told him!!

his wannabe raps LMAO that rap he wrote in high school still haunts me

he stayed in sm for so long, ever since 2008, but he didn’t give up and made it to debut with nct! he had to watch his friends from exo debut before him while he was left behind but that didn’t discourage him one bit ;((

how he always finds a way to play on enana during the commercial break, and it’s usually playing with the cameras, which is really cute

his smile when he’s talking with the fans

how he always does that dance where he swings his arms left to right constantly while doing the same with hips, in sync with the arm swing and embarrasses others but does it anyway

he always thinks of nct’s international fans!! he always adds a sentence of two in english so everybody understands what’s going on

he has a lot of trouble learning japanese but he still tries so hard ;((

his “boku wa johnny desu”

he’s really shy when someone compliments him, but never fails to compliment others

he has such a nice relationship with enana staff members and always helps them and encourages them

“to everyone out there, i just want to say that whoever’s listening to this is absolutely beautiful, and there’s nothing you need to change about your appearance, you’re already as perfect and unique as you are.  don’t let anyone tell you differently. if you ever feel like you’re not worth anything, seek help or change your environment, don’t let the bullies get to you. life is long, life is beautiful. don’t stop right here because of these mean people. live for yourself, live happily, and show them you’re stronger than them.”

saying “bless you” when people sneeze a lot of people overlook, but he finds it meaningful

he always encourages either the nct members or complete strangers when they’re speaking english even though they make mistakes and makes them feel confident about their language skills

that one time he started randomly meowing on enana and made jaehyun laugh

ok but on a serious note tho. johnny likes to,,,meow around. idk if it grew into a (weird) habit of his but he just,,,meows. he meows around jaehyun, he meows around mark, he probably meows around everyone in nct. can i pls get this limited-edition cat too

his super broccoli and super corn t-shirts

his singing voice ;–;

how he never hesitates to do aegyo but regrets it straight afterward so he lowers his head and covers his face with his hands

he said he loves running through the rain when it’s raining and it’s so unusual but cute!

lmao he’s such a hopeless romantic tho, i bet he got that running-in-the-rain idea from a romance film or smth

“to do and regret, rather than not to do and regret”

his hobby is photography and he takes really nice photos which he posts on nct’s instagram!!

his signature is really pretty!! it’s one of the most beautiful signatures i’ve seen an idol have tbh

he plays the piano really well and he used to play it together with jaehyun in their room when they were roommates

during the time he shared the room with jaehyun, jaehyun used to always light up scented candles and it sometimes bothered johnny but he never said anything about it so jaehyun wouldn’t feel bad

also,, he sleeps naked?? but like,, he’s so open with it. he’s like oh? clothes? i don’t wear clothes when i sleep lol and taeil is ????? so  c o n f u s e d  but johnny is just there, with a big grin on his face lmao

he’s a bit clumsy but it makes him adorable ;-;

his laugh!! it goes from a simple giggle to a high pitched laughter and it’s so recognisable and funny to hear, but it never makes you tired of hearing it

the dimples that appear on his face when he’s smiling, #help

he always gives other members the chance to speak in english if they want to or if they’re confident but never forces them if they don’t want to

how he’s so passionate about photography and he uses his camera more to capture the nature and his members than to take pictures of himself

also. that one photo of a smiley face written on a foggy car window (probably?) that he took is so, so, so important.

seriously, i love the style of photography he is going for!!

how he always participates when nct does volunteer work, like how he went to that school and made meals for children or how he went to a p.e. class and taught the kids how to dance

the way he laughs!! he always laughs in little fits, like, it goes hahaha hahahaha hahaha and it’s a d o r a b l e

how he’s secretly a meme king and loves sharing memes with nct members on their gc but they never reply to him and it’s so sad but so cute fsdjkghs

the way he looks at cameras like they’re the most precious things in the world

he never fails to hype a nct member up!!

how much he loves his family. he doesn’t talk about them a lot but when he does you can see it in his eyes how much he misses his parents. also when he cried when they sent him a video message for his birthday during his smrookies days!!

also when he was so surprised and teared up when his mum sent an audio message to enana back in 2018

“love starts with a smile” - johnny, 170327

he always sees beauty in some things that would usually get overlooked or wouldn’t be seen as beautiful and pretty and he never fails to express how he finds them nice!!

his relationship with mark. it’s not only that they’re english speakers so they’re close, you can see just how much johnny cares for mark. mark is like johnny’s little brother

he has a tendency to say things in a tone someone could find sarcastic but he really means it. he uses these phrases that have grown to be seen as sarcastic only to convey his true feelings and i find it so unique and beautiful (like when he said “it’s beautiful, mark” in the first relay vlive when mark, jaemin, winwin and kun were making standees for the sprouts - one would think he’s saying it just so that he wouldn’t hurt mark’s feelings but if you listen closely enough, you can hear the sincerity in his voice)

how he uses “your one and only” when writing to the fans

also the message on a photocard for the regular-irregular album where he wrote “from your one and only to my one and only” i literally blushed okay.

seriously though, the messages he writes on photocards are so thoughtful and cute, for example on the regulate pc he wrote: “simon says... smile!” and like,, i might have cried.

his face with no makeup on!!!

his thighs that are both muscular and soft, you can’t really tell if he’s really fit or a bit chubby and it makes my heart go whoosh whoosh bc!! my bias!!! is chubby!!!!! and i love it!! !!!!

seriously though, the songs he recommends and/or plays on enana

he says he’s a really clumsy person or it’s just his height so he always bumps into things and i find it adorable even though it must hurt him but how can you not love these small things about this giant man shjsjs

how he sleeps with so many plushies and gives them names and always changes the one he’s hugging at night om g

“pandas. OmG PANDAS” - johnny in ikea

have i already said this but he’s so empathic and compassionate and conscientious and always tries to make people around him feel comfortable with his jokes and warm smiles

he’s also so patient and laid-back and doesn’t get angry so easily, like, someone would probably get angry with yuta were it his phone number that was exposed (even by accident) but johnny was just liek,,,yah it’s okay and forgave yuta and sgjdjsh he’s just so nice :(

how he thinks make-up shouldn’t be limited to girls only and doesn’t believe in gender roles!!

in addition to that, he even appeared in an episode of netflix’s bill nye saves the world that touches on the topic of sexuality & identity and it’s such a big thing for an idol, especially a rookie idol to talk about how kpop is changing the traditional ideas of what gender norms are in such a conservative country??

“just be yourself. i feel like that’s a big point” - johnny in bill nye saves the world

*serious, with a smile on his face* “do you have a boyfriend?” *serious* *can’t contain the cringe and laughter* *turns away in an adorable way*

johnny’s fashion evaluation much?? it’s just him giving weird names to nct’s outfits and pretending to be an expert by giving them star ratings but it’s all just random and it’s so funny shjsh

while we’re at being funny! god of humour!! right there!!!! johnny suh invented humour ok i don’t make the rules

like,, his humour is not the normal kind, i saw many people actually say he’s not funny but LMAO joke’s on you, his humour is the galaxy brain type of humour, it’s like,, a bit dry but it’s so funny if you’re on the same page as him

when he went to ikea with jaehyun to buy a lamp but they only ended up looking at plushies and johnny immediately made friends with two snake plushies, fred and jason. “fred, what are you doing here??” “jason, jason! no, he’s my friend, jason. jason, he’s my friend.” - johnny in ikea, after saving jaehyun from jason’s bite. like that’s so random but it’s working because i’ve melted

him wearing hoodies and putting them over his head while taking photos of his members is so precious and soft!!

the way his pinky kind of drifts away from the rest of his fingers when he’s waving or covering his mouth or doing anything with his hand really

his plump lips and the way they curl upwards a bit and it makes them look so  c u t e  but they’re also a bit sexy???

he has these scars on his face (a lot of them on his chin) that are almost invisible because of the makeup but i think they’re from pimples, perhaps? but they’re so beautiful and precious and i love them when he smiles and they get a different shape and it’s art?? on someone’s face?????

he speaks so confidently in korean even though it’s not his native language! one would think it is by the way he never stutters or has a loss for words but it’s just because of his never-ending friendliness and confidence that’s a part of his personality

remember the rolling paper event during the 127 1st anniversary party? all of johnny’s messages were the longest ones and were so heartfelt and sincere. he really poured his entire heart while writing those and that only shows just how much he loves his members

his role inside the group may seem unimportant but he’s one of the few people holding the group together. there is taeyong as the leader, but johnny is like a leader from the shadows who puts everyone before himself first - and it is not easy to do

he cares for the foreign members so, so much. out of all the nct members, he’s been in sm the longest and as a foreigner he understands and knows what it’s like to suddenly be in a completely new country surrounded by nothing but strangers. he kept on conversing with ten, both in english and in korean, so ten would feel more comfortable and he’s the main reason ten’s korean has gotten so much better. also, he takes so much patience with the chinese members who have language barriers with both him and the rest of nct and never fails to correct them when they say something wrong or when they can’t think of a word/phrase to say. when they were touring seoul, he was always next to lucas and closely listening to how lucas speaks so that he can help him learn better!!

johnny knows how to flirt and seduce but what he doesn’t know is how to act afterwards so the embarrassment that comes after he says something cringy is just the most adorable think ever (take “do you have a boyfriend?” ig video for an example). he’s just so awkward and he can’t compliment someone without blushing ;(

also oh boy, johnny is just so bad at lying like fksjshksh he can’t keep a secret to save a life. were we, nctzens, not so dumb, we’d get so many spoilers he accidentally gave lmao

while we’re at this, he also can’t have a nice phone because he literally doesn’t care about it, hE THREW IT IN THE FLOOR in that one video, isn’t that enough as it IS

also,,,,,,he put a metal fidget spinner on its screen and somehow expected it not to break?????? just how lovable this idiot is.

he’s so,,,,awkward and cute around girls,,,like,,,,,,,help me. him confessing to yoona (kind of?) is the cutest thing ever and it just fills my heart with love and i!! wanna protect!!!!!

the thing i always look at when i watch enana are his ears because he always fiddles with them and touches the earring(s) and it’s cuuuute

but lmAO somehow the earring(s) always fall out when he does touch them and it’s somehow so,,endearing because he’s so cute jfc

he once said he tries using “thank you” and "i love you” a lot because those words are so powerful and he seems to always want to bring smile to other people’s faces..

also!! his parents call him prince as a nickname and,,well. i might be crying because that’s  s o f t

do you know that johnny always tries to wear colourful clothes on rainy days so that he breaks the monotony and the nostalgia of rain?? fdkjhsrgahkdsg

“you can overcome everything with laughter”

also,, have you noticed how he always makes a double peace sign when he’s embarrassed? cute.

[lovemesomesurveys]

What’s the most played song on your iPod? I haven’t used my iPod since 2012. I use Spotify on my phone, but I don’t think it tells you what your most played song is. What is one quality you admire most in others? People who are driven and get shit done. What would you do with a million dollars? Sigh. I’d have to first and foremost pay off my debt. I’d also help my parents and brother out. I’d get us a new house. Traveling is a must. What’s your favorite song to dance to? I don’t dance. Well, unless you count a little head bobbin’ and maybe a little movement of my arms or shoulders. lol. What would your ideal birthday party be like? I’m 30 and old so I don’t look forward to my birthday anymore, ha. If I were able to travel for my birthday then that would be nice.

If you could be reincarnated into anything you wanted, what would it be? I don’t want to be reincarnated. I don’t believe in it. What talent would you like to have? A talent at all would be cool, but in particular I wish I had any artistic ability or was musically inclined.  Are you ticklish? Just my neck. What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep? 30+ hours. What New Year’s resolutions did you make? I don’t make those anymore. What are three songs that mean the most to you? Everlong (acoustic) by Foo Fighters, Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and... I’ve having a hard time choosing a 3rd. There’s so many songs that mean something to me for one reason or another. So many memories and emotions. Who is the one person you miss the most? There’s 3 someones.  What do you think of your parents? I love them with all my heart. I couldn’t keep going if I didn’t have them. My mom and I are super close, she’s my rock. What is one thing you would do to make the world better? I don’t know what I could do. What is your favorite kind of sandwich? My sandwiches at home consist of bologna, sharp cheddar cheese, mayo, mustard, and spinach with olive oil on the side mixed with basil and oregano for dipping. At my favorite deli I get turkey, salami, provolone, mustard, mayo, and oil and vinegar. If you had a puppy, what would you name it? My doggo’s name is Princess Leia. She’s 2, but she’ll always be my puppy. (: If I were to get another dog; though... I’m not sure what I would name him/her, but it’d also be after a character. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do? I don’t know.  How much cash do you have on you right now? Zero. What do you think makes you attractive to other people? Nothing. Would more money make you happier? It would help with a lot, but I wouldn’t be cured of my mental and physical health. I’d still have that baggage. Money isn’t magic. What is one of your favorite memories as a child? So many. I loved my childhood. It’s not that I didn’t have any struggles or obstacles, cause I did, but honestly that’s not what stands out. I was a strong, brave, resilient kid. Kid me would be so disappointed in current me. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do in your life? I’ve had a lot of struggles. How do you measure intelligence? I don’t know. There’s issues with the IQ test for one. Grades aren’t accurate representations of intelligence either; neither are exams. It’s a complicated thing.

What cartoons do you watch? Hey Arnold, Rugrats, and Doug. Have you ever used drugs? Only weed. If you were a Skittle, what flavor would it be? The red one I guess that’s the only one I liked. How would you describe your style? Very casual, ha. I wear leggings and oversized graphic tees. If you had to spend $1,000 in one hour, how would you spend it? Christmas presents for my family. What’s your favorite smell and why? I have many. Where do you buy your clothes? Mostly Hot Topic, Boxlunch, and Kohl’s.  What’s your favorite kind of cake? White cake with buttercream frosting, funfetti/rainbow chip with funfetti/rainbow chip frosting, red velvet with cream cheese frosting, lemon with lemon frosting, and strawberry with strawberry frosting. Does intelligent life exist elsewhere in the universe? I don’t think there is in space, but what do I know. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be? I’m good right now. Are you into tattoos? Nah. Do you like photography? I mean, sure? I’m not a photographer, but I can appreciate nice photos. If you were a holiday, which one would you be? I love Christmas, but I’d probably be Halloween cause it’s dark and gloom, ha. Do you have any siblings? I have 2 brothers. If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be of? I’ve wanted to get free bird tattooed on my inner wrist for several years, but I highly doubt I’ll ever get it done. What’s the biggest celebrity you’ve ever seen in real life? Jamie Lee Curtis. I met her at a book signing years ago. How many pushups can you do? Zero. What person in history do you admire most? There’s a lot of admirable people in history. Who is your favorite actor? Alexander Skarsgard. What is the most daring thing that you have done in public? Nothing. Have you ever lied about your age? Only back during the AOL chat room days. :X Have you ever cried while watching a movie? If so, what movie? Yeah, I’m not usually one to cry during a movie, at most I may tear up a little, but there’s been a few who have managed to get me. When The Fault in our Stars came out I ended up seeing it by myself cause no one else I knew wanted to see it and I was in there bawling my eyes out lmao so it was better that I went alone. The Avengers: Endgame definitely got me. Are you afraid of anything that most people are not afraid of? Probably a few things.  Where do you see yourself five years from now? I just gotta take it day by day. What is your favorite candy? I haven’t had any candy in like over a year, but Reese’s are always a good choice. And white chocolate.  Have you ever watched someone struggle with addiction? Yes. Who do you look up to for your style? I don’t look up to anyone for my style.  Who is your favorite sports team? I don’t care about sports at all. How often do you drink alcohol? It’s been 6 years since I last had any alcohol.  What is your life in three words? Blah, bleh, and meh. If you could be anything in the world, what would you be? Healthy. Would you have a pet dragon? If so what color would it be? Um, no. I’m no mother of dragons or whatever. What’s your favorite sport? None. Do you believe that homeless people are dangerous? Just because someone is homeless it doesn’t mean they’re dangerous. Sure, some homeless people can also be dangerous, but it’s not mutually exclusive. If you could be skinny and miserable or fat and happy, which would you be? Well, I’m skinny and miserable now. I’m not miserable because I’m skinny, but it is related to some of the issues I have and also adds to some. I just want to be healthy and happy. Period. If your life flashed before you, what do you wish you would have done? I want to do something meaningful with my life.  If you were to invent something, what would it be? I have no idea. Who would you like to get to know better? No one at the moment. Have you ever had a near-death experience? I’ve had two. Do you fear death? Yes, of both losing my loved ones and dying myself. What is the strangest food you ever ate? I don’t eat anything I consider strange. I’m so picky and basic. Do you think you’re cool? Nope. I’m definitely not. What reality show would you like to be on? None. What’s your favorite thing to order at a Chinese food restaurant? Chow mien, pot stickers, egg rolls, and crab rangoon. I used to love orange chicken and kung pao chicken, but I can’t either one anymore due to the spicy food sensitivity I developed a few years ago. As someone who was once obSESSED with spicy food... it sucks. Are you happy with your life? No. If you could name your own planet, what would you call it? Planet Nowhere. I know that’s already a thing, but shh pretend it’s not. If you could live another 200 years. What would you hope to see? Oh yikes. I mean, the future terrifies me and I don’t want live 200 years, but I am curious about what the world will be like then. Like the advancements made and such. Hopefully it’s not worse... Would you rather be hot or cold? Cold. Definitely. How would you rate yourself? In the negatives. Would you ever move to a different country in an attempt to start over? Not another country, but another city, maybe even another state, yes. My family and I want to move out of here. If you could be a character from any book, who would you be? Hmm. Do you prefer taking baths or showers? I only take showers. I haven’t taken a bath since I was a kid. Do you still collect toys from Happy Meals? No. I heard they were bringing back popular ones from my childhood; though, and I kinda want to get those. What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? Uhhhh. I have no idea. I’m not the most spontaneous person. In your opinion what is the greatest challenge the world faces today? * Like, the world or jst humanity? Bc I think humanity is its own worst enemy <<< Most definitely. Do you like dogs or cats better? Cats are cute and all, but I’m a dog person all the way. What have you achieved that you once thought was impossible? Earlier this year I got really sick and it knocked me flat on my ass, causing a lot of issues and setbacks. I didn’t think I’d be able to get to where I am now, which still isn’t good, but not like it was then. It was just really, really bad. If an ex texted you out of the blue, how would you respond? I probably wouldn’t even respond at all to be honest. Do you have a favorite poet? No. What have you tried to quit, but weren’t able to? Picking my nails, picking at/biting my lips, and picking at acne. Would you rather go on a shopping spree with $200 or put it in the bank? Put it in the bank. What was the last rumor that you heard? *shrug* What country star would you most like to meet and why? Blake Shelton. He seems cool. Have you ever been in a car accident? No. Are you an organ donor? No. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done? Not taking care of myself like I should be...not doing and neglecting certain things.  What is the meaning of life? Uhhh. What word do you like the sound of? I can’t think of an example right now. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Strawberry. Wow, I haven’t had ice cream in like 3 or 4 years.  Do you prefer cupcakes or muffins? I like both.  Are you an athlete? Nope. There’s nothing athletic about me at all. What did the last text message on your phone say? I don’t feel like checking. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen in your whole entire lifetime? Hmm. I don’t know what I’d choose as the funniest movie ever of all time. What’s the worst nightmare you’ve ever had? Losing my mom in one and my brother in another. I woke up literally shaking and sobbing. What do you know how to cook? Ramen. What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had, and what was it from? The one that made me a paraplegic takes the cake I’d say. What’s your favorite amusement park ride? Most of the rides at Disneyland. What do you wish you were doing right now? I’m fine with doing this. Who are your musical influences? I don’t have any. I’m not an artist or musically inclined at all. What was your favorite band or musician when you were 12? The popular artists and groups at that time circa 2001. What’s the best pick-up line that’s ever been tried on you? I’ll never forget this one guy in high school who actually came up to me and asked me my sign lol. How many drinks can you handle? I was a lightweight. What was the longest phone conversation you’ve ever had? A few hours. I can’t believe I actually used to spend that much time on the phone at one point. What’s your favorite candle scent? Autumnal ones from Bath & Body Works are great.

[dojae-huh]

To answer your question about how sm treats main vocalists of their groups, they definitely push the best ones/main ones more than others. To the point that stans become frustrated how other close-to-Main’s ability are side lines. Taeyeon, kyuhyun, Chen, Wendy, luna etc have most OSTs, collabs in their groups. However 2nd main or lead vocalists also get pushed by sm in singing like baekhyun, suju KRY etc. So dy having opportunities is not foreign but taeil having lesser is.

I’m adding this comment

doyoung is better looking out of all vocalists in nct, for sm visuals> talent

This

When i first came to nct i discover dy first bcs he's the one i know as main vocalist and and regularly post his covers but then i found taeil even his lack content and only post one raw cover on nct acc but i can't lie to myself that he's the only one in nct who is really qualify as sm best vocalist i mean the one who's able to reach SM main vocalist level. As for jaehyun i really like his voice color i rarely found a baritone in kpop group but unfortunately sm rarely gave him proper line now

This

As much as i love Haechan as a vocalist and think he deserves the main vocal title, for SM the only main vocals are Doyoung and Taeil. Exo Suho said it on a tv show. 

This

taeil is naturally a shy person, he never flexes his vocals randomly in interviews orjumps in to sing a snipet. It's mostly doyoung who likes to cover or would be happy to sing a verse or two. Jaehyun loves to flex his vocals too, bragging about hitting the highest note every chance. Taeil looks very happy and even mentioned how US tour was a great experience in lastest tumblr interview. I think dy shows more eagerness for solo stuff than him and SM sees that. taeil might not be ready for it yet

and finally

DBSK's Yunho released his 1st solo album after enlistment. Everything needs the right time. And you were right, idols from 90-line have to enlist within this year. Taeil still has 4 years.

-------------

The topic of Doyoung and Taeil (and other mistreated members) was discussed before. I won’t be able to find all the posts, but here are some: one, two, three.

- It is strange that Taeil, with his voice, doesn’t get more OSTs, but SM (as well as multiple other idol-producing companies) have many artists (more popular, more sought out) and there are few tv-series in need of music. Let’s not forget that there are also famous song-writers and composers, who are too stand in line after these OSTs. We don’t know how easy it is to secure a song for SM for their artists. Jaedo got a teen web-drama. It’s not “Goblin”, you know. 

- Initially Taeil was chosen over Doyoung to debut with 127 (Doyoung was probably planned for the Chinese unit with Ten and Kun), SM made him the main vocal, gave him OST before the debut, put emphasis on him in MVs. However, after being included in 127 Doyoung reached the top 3, joining Taeyong and Jaehyun and surpassing Mark. It is of no surprise he, being a second main vocal, is pushed forward now. The public wants him, SM obliges. Taeil only once or twice entered the Brand reputation monthly list.

- Taeil is handsome. Red haired Taeil even more so. It is his composure that doesn’t let him shine very bright. Sometimes “the other Taeil” comes out and he becomes playful and bold, but it is rare and when he is in a great mood. And it is still not the “star quality” that frontrunners need. He is not Jaemin or Lucas, and definetely not Taemin. 

- It takes a lot of effort and money to make a soloist successful, so, again, fans’ frustration is understandable, but from a company’s perspective, only the best get the trust and investment in them. And Haechan is 19, the hyungs come first, they have less years to build a carrier before enlistment.

-  Aside from singing abilities and exterior, there is also the factor of personal ambition and drive. Going the extra mile, pushing yourself to the very limit. Taeil sings plenty and works a lot, as other members he often sports double eye bags. Afterall NCT have been working non-stop for three years. In every interview Jae says he wants a vacation. In one vlive it was mentioned that Taeil doesn’t speak much (during the tour) to let his voice rest. 

- Fans think that going solo is what every idol must desire. But is it so? Taeil likes people and company, he can throw his highnote curveballs in a group, because other members talk on interviews, dance, show abs, freeing him from the need to be excellent in these aspects. He is enjoying the ride right now. Maybe he really doesn’t want more pressure right now, when 127 has such a crazy schedule. Taeil looks to me like a soloist for a mature public, the one that will be content with him singing and playing guitar with no backdancers and extravagant stages. Suppose, it’s what he wants himself, then there is no need to rush.

[droppingtheveilofmaya]

I always laugh when louises/ larries attack harries. I wonder if you actually think the things you write or if you'e trying to manipulate your followers. Or if you need to blame someone so you turn to harries? You have talked about how harries are the worst for days and I’m just ??? 

Because can you give me 100 blogs right now that are harries but spend every day making several post just to talk shit about Louis? People that have more louis then harry content on their blogs ? Cause I can give you those louises. I can seriously give you 100 blogs now. Can you tell me one harry blog with a name etc ( not anon on tumblr cause people pretend to be other people on anon all the time) saying stuff like Johanna deserved to d*e because of Louis? I can give you the louis blog that said Robin deserved  it because of Harry’s fame. 

Can you give me harrie blogs writing about wanting Louis do d*e/ wanting to hurt him? I can give you several louis blog and people that did that about Harry. Not fake anons or anything. Blogs with real names that have been here forever. Do you want me to go and on? Cause I can be here all day. Are some harries mean? Yes. Of course. But you can’t even compare that to what those blogs say about H every day. They call him things like r*pist, p*edofile  every day. Have you ever brought it up on your blog? Do every louises have to take the blame for what those blogs say? They way larries make sure that every harrie is blamed for some mean harries. 

Go outside you’re larrie bubble on tumblr and you will see that the fandom isn’t want you think it is. The fact that I can seriously give you 100 blogs right now that are straight up 98 % hate blogs about Harry and 2 % Louis is fucked up. It’s even more fucked up that I can show you those kind of people on twitter too. Did you know that Zayn fans was the first one out here giving bad score on meteoritic for Harry’s album? Of course the twitter harries had to do the same later. Go back and look and see that more bad reviews exist on Harry’s page then Zayns and go look for the first comment. But nobody uses that to hate on zayn fans do they ? What about those louises that tweeted / sent email to writers that had written good reviews about Harry’s album saying he was a P*dofile etc for carolina / Kiwi. That’s seriously stuff but they had no shame showing that they did that to people. Did you know how much hate Harry got 2 days after his step dad died because Louis had his interview out talking about how much he didn’t want the break. Did you know what horrible stuff people tweeted to him / about him when he was grieving. Let me give you the screenshot of the person that wished for him to be harmed 2 days after his stepdad died.

Do you ignore it and pretend it didn’t happen? Or do you only follow fans that hate Harry so you only see the bad stuff Harries does? I’m seriously wondering? 

Another thing that is funny to me is how only people that love louis, liam, niall and zayn can think that they are the best solo act but when some harries think Harry is the best solo act bc of how amazing he did with a 6 minute rock ballad without promo every day and without discounting it then it’s awful and blogs on here have to make post shitting on that. 

I mean Meghan Trainors All about the bass have more streams and did better on billboard then Rihannas bitch better have my money yet no one would ever bring that up to prove how much Rih failed and how Meghan is better.  I’m just siting here wondering when streams and what they radio played became the measure for how a good song is or how good someone is doing ( cause we all know it’s business). Cause then Charlie Puth and Shawn Mendes are better then Beyonce cause their songs have more streams / are played more on the radio. ( btw, i’m not comparing those people to the 1d boys. I’m just saying that when you used certificates and streams as a measure of who has the best song or a measure of the quality of the songs I just laughed cause that’s so hilarious. Who’s going to tell Beyonce that Shawn Mendes has more streams on Spotify then her and that means his success is bigger then hers. ) 

The fact that people are angry at Harry for having opportunities is also so whack. I must have imagined Niall Horan getting on a festival tour with only one song when billion other artist would have loved that and had actually albums out to promote. It wasn’t high on the chart before he went on every festival so the reason wasn’t bc he had the biggest hit of the year. Then we have Liam that has worked with Ed Sheeran, Pharrell, Charlie Puth, Beyonces dancer etc but of course that’s not something  larries ever would imagine hating Liam for. Why did not a single larrie mention Zayn and his ”unfair” fashion deal.? So many people that are designers would have killed for that and so many people dress better than him etc but no angry post about it. It’s only Harry that get’s that kind of hate  and people taking about his “unfair” opportunities. 

I could go on and on about how 1d fans and people on here are so fake when it comes to the boys. It’s just sad I can’t take you seriously anymore cause you used to be one of my favorites on here.

Here, anon, I’m keeping my word and posting your version. Sorry for the dealy, it had slipped down down down my inbox. I am too tired to reply point by point. I certainly lack your time, energy and dedication, I’ll give you that!

I know that some blogs are out there saying the nastiest things about Harry and it makes me feel sick. That’s the reason why I don’t follow them? I don’t go read their blogs? I stay as far as I can. If they were to bother me, I’d block them. That’s the difference. None of these people obsessively came to my inbox wishing I’d choke or die, none of them were encouraged by their own pears and more influential blogs to contact people with different opinions (not even offensive, because neither me nor any of my mutuals would ever insult the boys, or anyone else, like, you kno, abotu being civil and all). Until the day they do, I can dislike them in my own corner. I dont condone what anyone who’s got a critique to make about Harry’s team and promo has to go through in this crazy atmosphere. I’m on my blog, discussing my OWN experience, and my own experience included nasty harries being unforgivable in their actions. All the boys, all the artists out there have horrible fans in their rows. Until they come to my own space, I’ll let them be, I won’t make post about them, I won’t send them anons, submissions, write call out posts. I am so turned off by all this ugliness aorund and that’s exactly why I do my best to avoid it. You do you, I’m fine where I am. And I thought you had unfollowed me already, this is the second submission you send me. Sorry to see you go and lose your respect, but we’ll both live with it, I fear. I can’t bring myself to asnwer the rest, as it doesn’t personally touch me, like this one point does. I might even agree with a thing or two! Let’s call this quits now, yeah? Yeah. 

[ghostducky]

Always post the rules Answer the questions given to you by the person who tagged you Write 11 questions of your own Tag 11 people  I was tagged by @wiledwolfstar and @canisconstellation and @quinlyandreveries

Kita’s Questions: 

1. Have you ever broken a bone? How? Yeah I broke my wrist bc I stopped my bike too quick and I like flipped over my bike handles. 

2. Do you have any nervous habits? I pop my knuckles and wrist/ankles (but only the one wrist bc since i broke the other it’s just unnatural and I can’t) and I have a tendency to bite my lip but it’s more of a thinking thing and less of a nervous habit.

3. What’s your favourite food? Pizza

4. Who is someone very important to you right now? Scarlett Johansson 

5. If you could have any superpower, what would you choose? I’d be a metamorphmagus. 

6. How would you define bravery? It’s not not being scared, it’s doing things even though they scare you. 

7. What’s something you wish you could tell someone? I wish I could tell my mom about being bi/genderfluid

8. When was the last time you laughed enough that you forgot about everything else? i can’t remember the last time specifically, but the time I laughed the hardest was in a summer choir last year. My teacher had us doing this silly activity and I couldn’t help it and started cracking up laughing which led to the entire class completely loosing it for like the next half an hour. 

9. What is something that will immediately put you off a person? Closedmindedness and choosing to not learn/understand something. 

10. What is something that will immediately make you love someone (not necessarily in a romo way)? idk i’m a heartless asshole

11. Where would you most like to visit? Ireland, Scotland, or Italy. 

KPea’s Questions:

1.) Do you pee in the shower/ have you ever done it?  Yea who hasn’t?

2.) Have you ever kissed someone drunk?  lol no

3.) Would you ever go on a blind date with someone?  Tbh, the only dates I’ll probably be able to get are blind dates. Who would want to go out with me?

4.) What was your last nightmare?  I can’t remember exactly but I went on a train to some like water park and some chick wouldn’t let me leave and the Rock was there and helped me escape. 

5.) What is your favorite Disney movie?  Probably Mulan

6.) If you were a pokemon what would you be? ((If you dont know pokemon, maybe use your follower count to look up and see what pokemon ___ is))  Ardanine

7.) Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, one must die which will you choose to save?  Not you for asking this question 

8.) If you had to pick one Elvis Presley song to say you liked what would it be?  Uhm i don’t know any Elvis Presley songs

9.) What is one bad quality you acknowledge about yourself?  I’m very blunt and often tactless 

10.) What is one good quality that trumps the bad one?  I accept the fact that I’m like that and am fine with it so... self-positivity? 

11.) What is your sexuality?  Asexual (biromantic)

Beth’s questions:

Would a unicorn or a badger win in a fight? Unicorn bc they could just stab the badger. (sorry hufflepuffs)

What’s spookier; ghosts or skeletons? Skeletons bc they can like actually touch you and stuff and if you rip their head off they just put it back on. 

What did you want to be growing up? Everything

What’s the lock screen on your phone? A bisexual themed aesthetic that @more-moodboards made

Who do you look up to? A lot of ppl. Bc I’m short. And everyone else is taller. 

Favourite genre of film? Rn action/superhero

Are you good at lying? Honestly, no. 

Do you have any hobbies? tumblr’s a hobby, right?

Do you like narwhals? sure

What’s your go to junk food? chips

What’s your opinion on Cursed Child? I’m sorry? What’s that? I have no clue to what you are referring. 

So I’m gonna be lazy and because I’ve already done this before when someone else tagged me I’m going to use the same questions.

1. Pancakes or waffles? 2. Who’s your favourite musical artist?  3. Do you know the difference between your/you’re; they’re/their; two/to/too?  4. How many blankets do you sleep with?  5. If you could turn one movie into a tv show (or something like that) what movie would you pick?  6. If you play sims, do you base your characters off real life people or make them up?  7. What song has been ruined for you because the radio overplayed it? 8. Are you a good cook or do you rely on fast food?  9. Carpets or hardwood floors?  10. What is one word you always misspell?  11. Do you have a consistent wake up time?

And I’m still feeling lazy so just do it if you feel like it idk who to tag. 

[countrymadefoods]

History of Tea - Origin of Tea

“Though there are many literary writings about tea it's hard for historians to exactly pinpoint when tea was exactly discovered. A part of the problem is that the Chinese character for tea 'cha'（茶）is actually a relatively new character that only appeared in a Chinese dictionary around 350 A.D. Before the Chinese character 'tu' covered the meaning, describing infusions made from different plants including the tea plant. The appearance of a separate character is an indication that tea had become such a popular drink that needed its own character at that time.”

“After a decade of research, the Archeologists published in 2015 that these roots are about 6,000 years old. This confirmed it must have been the Hemudu culture, flourishing in 7,000 BC and 6000 BC, that started cultivating and brewing tea...By the time of the Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD) tea was the national drink of China, spreading from court circles to be popular throughout Chinese society. It was during this time that the practice developed of sending finest teas to the emperor's court as a tribute to him...Though loose leaf tea existed, most tea drinkers where still buying and storing tea in compressed form.”

“Tea was a drink that would take on literary, artistic and even religious overtones. This can be traced to the literary work 'Cha Ching', The Classic of Tea, by Lu Yu. His work was the single most influential work on the cultural significance of tea. The Classic of Tea was strongly influenced by the Taoist faith was central to culture in eighth century China. Taoists believed that every detail of life was an act of living that was worthy of celebration, and that one should attempt to find beauty everywhere in the world. Thus the emphasis on tranquility and harmony in the preparation and drinking of tea was recognition of its part in the masterpiece of life.”

“Due to a lack of good transportation method tea was initially only traded locally starting with Tibet and neighbouring order regions of other countries. This shipped to border regions were also known as 'border sales tea (bian xiao cha)'. Later it were Turkish traders who arrived at the Mongol border in 473 A.D. to bargain for tea. 

Emperor Saga, who ruled Japan from 809 to 823, is known to be the first to be served tea. While Saga loved it, tea wasn't directly a hit in Japan. It too many more years until powdered tea was made during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). In 1191, the Japanese monk Eisai brought powdered tea back to Japan, where it became integrated in Zen Buddhism. The Japanese called powdered tea 'Matcha' and it became immensely popular among the aristocrats. However, in 1618 Chinese ambassadors presented the Russian Czar Alexis with many treasure boxes of tea, which were refused as useless.”

“The discovery of black tea soon further spurred the growing demand farther abroad. It was the Portuguese who introduced tea Europe in the 16th century and controlled most European trade with India and the Far East (an area known then as the Indies). Jan Huyghen van Linschoten also copied and revealed Portuguese trade secrets including navigational routes. The revelation of such routes allowed the British and Dutch East India Company to break the 16th century monopoly enjoyed by the Portuguese.”

“The demand for tea flourished in the 17th century. On the 20th of March 1602, the Dutch reorganized its overseas trade by merging the 6 existing East India Companies into one called the VOC (or United East India Company), also referred to as the Dutch East India Company...The success of the VOC can partially be attributed by the fact that it was the first company ever in history to offer an IPO (initial public offering) of shares to the public, allowing them to raise a vast amount of capital and financial power to compete internationally with larger countries.

The Dutch were the first to ship tea from Japan and China to Europe at the beginning of the 17th century. While initial trade focused on gold, silk and porcelain, the significance of tea began in the beginning of the 18th century.With more competition from the British East India Company, the Dutch started to reorganize their trade routes. Instead of shipping via Batavia, they established a direct trade route to the Netherlands. This allowed them to stabilize the prices and provide more consistent quality. In the period from 1729 to 1794 tea became the lifeblood of trade with China. It made up about 70 percent of the total trade purchased from Canton, China.”

“In 1600 Queen Elizabeth I gave a royal charter to a new trading company, the East India Company, by which it was given a monopoly over all British trade with the Indies. The Company soon began competing with the Portuguese and Dutch and distributed tea all over the world. Initially The British East India Company was almost pushed out by the Dutch, but made a comeback when it became responsible for the government of much of the vast Indian sub-continent...the British East India Company successfully copied tea cultivation from the Chinese in India, which allowed them to offer tea at much lower prices.”

“Both the creation of a monopoly by Queen Elizabeth I and the success in India was crucial to the success of the British East India Company in the history of tea trade...In the past, all the tea in the world came from China. In the 1800′s, Britain controlled 1/5 of the worlds, but what they couldn't control was the price and quality of tea. In the mid 1800′s, a British group of businessmen started to create a tea producing region in a place that they did control: India. The Scottish botanist was sent to China, to bring the secrets of tea production and seeds to India.

The tea bag basically made 2 important contributions: To make a brewing tea more convenient;To reduce the time to clean up as one can simply throw away the bag. Most people believe that it was an American tea merchant named Thomas Sullivan, who shipped out samples of tea in silk pouches in 1908. Some of his customers misunderstood this, and soaked the tea together with the pouches in hot water. They found it so convenient that they asked Thomas for more.A few years later though, a couple named Roberta C. Lawson and Mary Molaren filed a patent for a 'tea leaf holder'. Their invention used a mesh fabric that was stitched together into a bag that just fits enough tea for a single cup.”

(via History of Tea - Origin of Tea | Teasenz)

Empress of China Becomes First US Ship to Trade with China

“The Empress voyage was the brainchild of John Ledyard, who had sailed to the Pacific with British explorer Captain James Cook. He hoped to trade for furs in the Pacific Northwest and carry them to China. He found backers including Philadelphia merchant Robert Morris, financier of the American Revolution...Ledyard backed out when the fur plan fell through, but Morris suggested ginseng as a valuable replacement cargo. The Chinese prized the root as a cure for all manner of ills. 

The Empress needed six months to make the 18,000-mile trip to Canton (modern Guangzhou) and four months to trade its cargo for tea and export porcelain. Returning home in five months, reaching New York in May 1785. Soon dozens of ships each year were plying the seas between the United States and China, helping build fortunes in New York and New England. The desire for speed in this trade gave birth in the 1830s to the magnificent clipper ships that were the fastest sailing ships ever built.”

(via Empress of China becomes first US ship to trade with China | OUPblog)

The Boatload of Ginseng That Launched the China Trade

“The Empress of China launched the China trade on Feb. 22, 1784, when she sailed out of New York Harbor loaded with ginseng, lead, Spanish silver coins and woolen cloth.  The Treaty of Paris had been signed, America and Britain were at peace and America was free for the first time to trade with China...Not only were Americans enamored of Chinese tea, silks and home goods, but traders didn't have too many other options. The British had cut off American trade with the West Indies, and European nations had set up daunting trade barriers. 

John Green, an Irishman from Philadelphia, was the Empress of China’s captain. Samuel Shaw, a 29-year-old Bostonian who had served as Gen. Henry Knox’s aide-de-camp, served as his senior business agent, or supercargo.”

“On Aug. 23, 1784, the ship sailed up the Pearl River in South China. The sailors aboard the ship were thrilled to see the Stars and Stripes unfurled for the first time in that part of the world. The French, the Danes, the Dutch and the British all greeted them politely. But the Chinese restricted them to a section of Canton where goods were exchanged in large factories, or hongs, their ships moored nearby.

The Chinese didn't know what to make of the Americans. They called them the ‘New People.’ (Later they would call them the ‘Flowery-Flag Devils' because the stars on the flag looked to the Chinese like flowers.) Shaw showed them a map of the United States and explained the size and possibilities of the new country. The Chinese, he wrote, ‘were not a little pleased at the prospect of so considerable a market for the productions of their own empire.’ “

“The Chinese had less interest in buying foreign goods than in selling their own. They did, however, prize ginseng, used as a curative, energy booster and aphrodisiac. Ginseng grew in only a few places: eastern Asia and parts of North America, including Canada, the mountains of New England, New York and Appalachia.”

“It took three months to scour the eastern United States for nearly 30 tons of ginseng to ship aboard the Empress of China. It was the largest shipment ever to arrive in Canton. Unfortunately for the Americans, the Europeans had also brought large amounts of the root. The price plummeted.”

“The Empress of China left Canton on Dec. 28, 1784 and arrived in New York Harbor on May 11, 1785. She carried 800 chests of tea, 20,000 pairs of nankeen trousers and a huge quantity of porcelain. Newspapers announced her return, and stores up and down the East Coast sold her cargo. That's where the Americans learned how to make real money in the China trade: the sale of Chinese export goods to Americans.

All told, the voyage earned a 25 percent return on investment. They'd hoped for more, but they made enough to spawn a new era of commerce with China.Shaw gave a complete report of the voyage to John Jay, the U.S. foreign minister. Jay shared his findings with Congress. Members of Congress responded with ‘a peculiar satisfaction in the successful issue of this first effort of the citizens of America to establish a direct trade with China.’”

(via The Boatload of Ginseng That Launched the China Trade | New England Historical Society)

Getting to the Root of Ginseng

“Sang, or Panax quinquefolius, is the American version of Asian ginseng (P. ginseng), which the Chinese have usedto treat a wide variety of ills for several thousand years. In Chinese medicine, Asian ginseng is considered “hot” (a mild stimulant), while its American cousin is “cool” (a calming tonic). Both contain compounds known as ginsenosides, but in different proportions.

In 1713, Pierre Jartoux, a Jesuit missionary in China,wrote in a letter that after eating ginseng, “I found my Pulse much fuller and quicker, I had an appetite, and found myself much more vigorous...After an hour, he reported feeling like a new man. In his letter, almost as an afterthought, he noted that ginseng might well grow in similar environments, such as Canada.”

“By chance, Jartoux’s letter came to the attention of a Jesuit brother visiting Quebec. An amateur medical botanist, Joseph Francois Lafitau soon after discovered a Canadian specimen that matched the plant in Jartoux’s drawing. A short time later, Canadian suppliers began shipping tons of it to China, resulting in over-harvesting within a few decades. The Chinese began looking to the South for an alternate source.

They found it in southern Appalachia, where the Cherokee were already using ginseng medicinally. The Indians believed that it was sentient, able to make itself invisible to people unworthy of it. They so valued ginseng that they dug up only one in four plants and replenished each harvested root with a bead, a prayer and a new seed. When the Canadian supply faltered, the Cherokee stepped up production. By the 1750′s, ports in Virginia and South Carolina were doing a brisk trade in the Cherokee’s Appalachian ginseng. Shipped to China, it eclipsed Canadian varieties.”

”George Washington, conducting a survey of his lands in the autumn of 1784, made note of the trend. “I met numbers of Persons & Pack horses going in with Ginsang; & for salt & other articles at the Markets below,” he wrote. The United States had no trade agreements with the Far East or even consulates there, so ginseng traders went through British middlemen.”

(via Getting to the Root of Ginseng | Smithsonian Magazine)

THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN GINSENG INDUSTRY IN MARATHON COUNTY AND ITS MYSTERIOUS ORIGINS WITH CHINA.

“In Wisconsin, Indians used American ginseng as a medicine long before white colonists arrived. By the 1840s, white settlers acquired American ginseng extensively from Indians for export. The ginseng trade in Marathon County started relatively late, starting in the 1870s, but played an extremely important role in the subsequent export of American ginseng. From the 19th century to the 20th century, most of the wild American ginseng was sold to China...Wild American ginseng, however, is a fragile plant that takes a long period of growth and neither Indians nor whites have any idea how to breed it. Indians used to be less dependent on ginseng in the past so this plant has been able to reproduce naturally for centuries but once soon large-scale export acquisitions begin, the American ginseng resources in Wisconsin are quickly...depleted.

In the 1880s, American George Stanton successfully cultivated American ginseng for the first time. His success led to the “ginseng fever” of the late nineteenth century. From the west coast of the United States to the Midwest, many American farmers use the original farmland for American ginseng cultivation...Part of the success of the American ginseng industry is due to the Fromm brothers who studied wild American ginseng and its habitat. From year after year trials, Fromm brothers master a better, newer approach to American ginseng cultivation. In addition to the Fromm brothers, there were three other companies in the Marathon County that were involved in the plantation of American ginseng in 1913. The results of these three companies were not immediately apparent and they were not the leaders of the American ginseng industry until 1919.” 

Keemun 

“is a famous Chinese black tea. First produced in late 19th century, it quickly became popular in the West and is still used for a number of classic blends... Other varieties include those specifically tailored for the Gongfu tea ceremony (Keemun Gongfu, or Congou  or Kung Fu- 祁門工夫) and Keemun Xin Ya (祁門新芽), an early bud variety, said to have less bitterness.”

Wong Chin Foo was born as Wong Sa Kee ( 王歲奇 or Wang Sa Kee or Huang Sa Kee.) Wong Sa Kee’s family had once been a wealthy tea merchant, who betrayed the Emperor Xianfeng during the Taiping Rebellion, which left Wong’s family impoverished and outcast. Prince Gong was in charge following Xianfeng’s death, Wong Sa Kee was transferred to Prince Gong’s list. Officially, applying for citizenship as Wong Chin Foo in 1874.

Being the son of a tea merchant (Hong) like Moy Kee, he was able to own a Chinese restaurant, in New York on Pell Street called Mon Lay Won “The Chinese Delmonico” and introduced Americans to the term “Chop Suey.” Wong Chin Foo also introduced the martial arts Kung Fu to Americans. Wong Chin Foo later served as a translator for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Service. 

Wong Chin Foo was friends with Sun Yat Sen who had an office above the Port Arthur Chinese Restaurant on Mott Street. The Emperor Guangxi had a list of people he wanted to bring back to China to be executed. Wong Chin Foo and Sun Yat Sen’s efforts to overthrow the Qing dynasty earned them a place on that list, while avoiding being killed by the Tongs.

THE FORGOTTEN STORY OF THE “FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN”

“Chinese have been in the United States in sizeable numbers since the California Gold Rush. They were shamefully mistreated, denied rights for most of a century and are generally thought to have borne everything the American establishment dished out passively and without much protest. This canard does an injustice to a little-known Bucknell alumnus, however. Nineteenth-century Chinese in America had a leader and a fighter in Wong Chin Foo (1847–98), a compelling and controversial figure whose story is a forgotten chapter in the history of the struggle for equal rights for all...He was the first to employ the term "Chinese American." He published New York's first Chinese-language newspaper. He established America's first association of Chinese voters and was probably the first Chinese ever to testify before Congress.”

“He was born Wong Sa Kee to a once-wealthy but impoverished family and spent his teenage years in the care of Sallie Little Holmes, an American Baptist missionary who arrived in his native Shandong Province in 1860. He mastered colloquial American English and was baptized by age 20. Foreseeing a promising future for him as a preacher, his benefactress brought him to America in 1867 to complete his education. And after a stint in Washington, D.C., and some travel, he transferred to Lewisburg, where he studied for nearly a year.”

”Wong settled in New York and became a journalist, and in 1883 launched the first Chinese-language newspaper east of the Rockies. Its English name — The Chinese American — marked the first recorded use of the term...He wrote scores of articles demystifying Chinese life that appeared in newspapers across the country. And in an essay on Chinese food, he was the first to introduce "chop suey" to American readers.”

“Wong took on the most famous of America's China critics, California's Denis Kearney. A demagogue and a skillful public speaker, the Irish-born Kearney personified the "Chinese Must Go" movement...In a public confrontation in 1887, he was judged victorious. "The mandarin got the better of the San Francisco orator in the intellectual contest, and drove Kearney from position to position," one newspaper declared.”

“After the passage of the Exclusion Act, Wong became active in politics...He began to focus on securing citizenship for Chinese willing to "Americanize" — that is, learn English, adopt Western dress, shave off their queues and give up gambling and opium smoking...When Congress renewed the Exclusion Act for a second decade in 1892, it added a requirement that Chinese register with the government and be photographed. Infuriated, America's Chinese resolved to see the new law retracted or declared unconstitutional. Wong established a new organization, the Chinese Equal Rights League, to get the law repealed. Under its aegis, he testified before a committee of Congress, but despite his soaring rhetoric, the effort failed.“

“Wong Chin Foo believed deeply in justice, equality and enfranchisement, and challenged Americans to live up to these values that they so freely espoused, but so utterly failed to apply to the Chinese in their midst. More than 70 years before Dr. King dreamed of an America that judged people according to the "content of their character," Wong declared that only "character and fitness should be the requirement of all who are desirous of becoming citizens of the American Republic." 

”Although it took until 1943, nearly a half-century after his death, for America to repeal the prohibition against naturalization of Chinese, no one deserves more credit than Wong for waging the good fight against it. He set a pattern for what he thought being "Chinese American" should mean that is more or less what it has come to mean for millions. He deserves to be remembered not merely for envisioning and articulating the goal, but also for the creative means he employed, and the boundless energy he expended, in trying to achieve it.”

(via THE FORGOTTEN STORY OF THE “FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN” | Bucknell University)(via History of Tea - Origin of Tea | Teasenz)