#but I did learn a valuable lesson about the trapeze

[heyclickadee]

Also I sort of accidentally triggered the Scooby Doo sleeper agent in me by talking about not dropping people (ie, Tech), so if I suddenly start rambling about the Scooby Doo franchise on here I am sorry. It can’t be helped.

[lesbian-deadpool]

Y/N: So. Do any of you have circus skills?

Clint: I took a circus arts class last summer!

Y/N: What did you learn?

Clint: I worked out on the trapeze a bit.

Clint: But, uh, I ended up breaking a lot of bones.

Y/N: You seem to have healed well.

Clint: What? Oh! Not my bones!

Clint: I was supposed to catch this guy, and, uh, I dropped him. Onto someone. And they both fell into some other people.

Y/N: That’s terri-

Clint: -Who hit the tent support, which tipped the popcorn cart, which set fire to the audience risers, which collapsed with 48 people sitting on them.

Y/N: Well I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.

Clint: No, it was. But I did learn a valuable lesson about the trapeze.

Clint: Don’t drop people.

[persona-incorrect]

[While Undercover for an Assignment]

Yukino: So do ether of us even have circus skills?

Maya: I took a circus arts class one summer!

Yukino: Thank goodness. What did you learn?

Maya: I worked out on the trapeze a bit. But, uh, I ended up breaking a lot of bones.

Yukino: You seem to have healed well though.

Maya: What? Oh! No, not my bones!

Maya: I was supposed to catch this guy, and, uh, I dropped him. Onto someone. And they both fell into some other people.

Yukino: That’s terri-

Maya: Who hit the tent support, which tipped the popcorn cart, which set fire to the audience risers, which collapsed with 48 people sitting on them.

Yukino: Well, I'm sure it wasn't totally your fault.

Maya: No, I'm positive it was. But on the plus side I did learn a valuable lesson about the trapeze.

Yukino: What's that?

Maya: Don’t drop people.

[sayssnape]

*snape undercover*

circus owner: so, do any of you have circus skills?

snape: i took a circus arts class last summer!

circus owner: what did you learn?

snape: i worked out on the trapeze a lot. but, uh, i ended up breaking a lot of bones.

circus owner: you seem to have healed well.

snape: what? OH! no, not my bones!

snape: i was supposed to catch this guy, and uh, i dropped him.

snape: onto someone.

snape: and they both fell onto some other people.

circus owner: that’s terri-

snape: who hit the tent support, which tipped the popcorn cart, which set fire to the audience risers, which collapsed with 48 people sitting on them.

circus owner: ...well i’m sure it wasn’t your fault.

snape: no, it was. but i did learn a valuable lesson about the trapeze.

circus owner: which is?

snape: don’t drop people.

[incorrect-dragonquest-quotes]

Sylvando: So do any of you have any circus skills?

11: I took a circus arts class last summer!

Sylvando: Oh? What did you learn, darling?

11: I worked out on the trapeze a bit. But, uh, I ended up breaking a lot of bones.

Sylvando: You seem to have healed well.

11: What? Oh! No, not MY bones!

11: I was supposed to catch this guy, and, uh, I dropped him. Onto someone. And they both fell into some other people.

Sylvando: That’s terri-

11: Who hit the tent support, which tipped the popcorn cart, which set fire to the audience risers, which collapsed with 48 people sitting on them.

Sylvando: Well, I am sure it wasn’t your fault.

11: No, it was. But I did learn a valuable lesson about the trapeze.

11: Don’t drop people.

[schweeeppess]

A Bird And His Fire

A/N: Okay so this took forever to write, and it’s, like, a week late, and I’m so sorry for that! I hope you still enjoy this, Ry! Happy belated Valentine’s! ^^

To: @rynne311

Pairings: DickKory (Dick Grayson/Nightwing x Koriand’r/Starfire)

Everyone had told her that humans couldn’t fly, ever since she’d arrived on this planet.

They hadn’t met Dick Grayson.

Kori watched as her boyfriend and lover wove through the uneven bars, then smoothly transitioned to the trapeze with momentum enough to have him arching over one, hands reaching out to catch himself just in time.

He moved like a bird, he made the motions so naturally, and it was hard for her to believe that he wasn’t a metahuman.

Beside her stood Timothy—one of Richard’s brothers. He seemed just as entranced as she was, and he lived with Richard.

She smiled as she watched him finish his routine, landing on the ground with his arms thrown open, sweat dotting his forehead, chest rising and falling with deep inhales as he caught his breath.

Most importantly, there was a beautiful smile that lit his entire face up; it touched his eyes and made their royal blues gleam; it made the corners of his eyes crinkle; his whole body seemed to smile right with his mouth.

Kori clapped and Timothy smiled as he joined in, saying a good-natured, “Show-off,” to his brother.

Richard laughed and gave a playful bow before moving to wrap his arms around his girlfriend. She leaned down a little to press a sweet kiss to his lips, and murmur, “You said humans don’t fly.”

Timothy made gagging noises and the couple chuckled.

“What are you, eight?” Richard looked to his little brother with a new gleam in his eyes. “I know of a certain ‘under-cover’ Hong Kong cop that you got a little… close, to. Not to mention Ms. Fox.”

Intrigued, Kori looked to Timothy as well to see him flushing red.

“He is embarrassed,” she observed. “It is true, then?”

Timothy spluttered and Richard laughed as the boy said, “You’re the worst, Dick,” and hurried from the room mumbling something about a case he had to work anyways.

Little brother gone, Richard turned to face Kori. He pressed his own quick kiss to her lips and responded to her original inquiry, grinning.

“They don’t.”

“Then how do you explain your display?”

“Practice.”

“Oh?”

Richard hummed an affirmative as he grabbed her hand and walked out of the gym, speaking as he did. “The best way a human can fly, is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”

Kori’s brow furrowed as she followed.

“Does that not mean that you will hit the ground as you learn?”

Her boyfriend nodded.

“Yeah, you will, but that’s just something everyone learns in their lives.” His royal blue eyes met her electric green ones. “You’re gonna fall, in life, a lot. You fall when you learn how to walk. You fall when you learn how to run. You fall when you learn how to ride a bike. So of course you’re going to fall when you learn how to fly; everyone’s telling you that you can’t. Falling gets easier, though, with a net.” Richard smiled and squeezed her hand a little as he continued. “So you do it anyway. You fall, and you fall, and you fall, until you finally fly; until you’re soaring above their heads and smiling down on them because you did it. You learned how to fly in a world that refused to let you.”

Kori smiled and laughed, Richard’s own joyous expression growing with hers.

“That,” she started, “was a valuable lesson, Richard. And a very… deep look at it.”

Richard laughed softly, pink lightly powdering his cheeks. “Yeah, I guess it was.”

Still smiling, Kori released Richard’s hand for him to go shower and change as she waited for him in the family room.

“What are you doing?”

Dick paused, turning to look back at Kori. He flashed her a grin before presenting her the stuffed animal he’d bought her, along with a box of chocolates, and a valentine’s card with a message scribbled inside.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Kori!”

She tilted her head as she grabbed the items, putting the puppy under an arm as she shifted her hold on the card and heart-shaped chocolate box to read her card.

As she did, she said, “I do not understand this custom, but it is very cute and I enjoy it.”

He laughed silently at her comment.

Eagerly he watched her face as she read the card he’d filed with mushy clichés that really expressed how much he loved and appreciated having her as a partner.

Gosh, he couldn’t find himself imagining his life without her in it.

When she finished reading, Kori lifted her gaze with a blinding grin that took his breath away and flung herself at him for a hug. He fumbled for the puppy and chocolates a little but returned the fierce embrace as soon as he could.

“Your letter was so sweet, Richard!” she gushed, hugging tighter and, yeah, he loved hugging but he also liked being able to breathe, Kori, please and thank you. “Your sentiments are very much returned! I love you too, and a life without my bird would be a dull one.”

Dick grinned into her hug, wheezing a little as he tried to wriggle out of the embrace because air.

“Your bird?”

Kori released him, that beautiful grin still on her face. “Yes. Humans cannot fly, but birds do, and you were a Robin, were you not?” She nodded to herself. “Therefore you are my bird. My Robin.”

He was blushing again, and he had no idea how Kori did that. Today was supposed to be about her, but he was the one blushing.

“Well,” he started, smiling, “if I’m your bird, then you’re my fire.”

She laughed a little. “Oh, really?”

“Yep!” he popped the ‘p’ as he said it, then added, “God, Kori, how could you not be? You’re the fiery passion in my heart, the heat that keeps me alive, and the glow of my life. You’re the reckless love, the bright smile, and the burning loyalty, Kori.”

Dick hugged her again, burying his face in her shoulder.

“I love you so much, Kor,” he whispered.

He heard her smile when she spoke in a gentle tone. “And I you, Richard.”

Tags: @mizmahlia @boosyboo9206 @an-all-write-life @lovelywally-deactivated20181210 @avengerdragoness @crazyfreckledginger @red-balistic @solis200213 @emmadevr  @tomscaprisun @queen-fighter @jaybird-rednerd @shirokokuro @aaren-27 @osejn @v01d-ch1ld @angstytodd

I hope you guys had great Valentine’s Days! I had pizza and watched a movie to treat myself my lonely ass 😂

[accuratenitw]

Talking about college

Mae: I took a circus arts class at college!

Bea: Why am I not surprised? Well, what did you learn?

Mae: I worked out on the trapeze a bit, but I uh ended up breaking a lot of bones….

Bea: You seemed to have healed remarkably well.

Mae: What?

Mae: Oh! Not my bones.

Bea: ……..

Mae: I was supposed to catch this guy and I dropped him.

Mae: Onto someone.

Mae: And they both fell into some other people.

Gregg: That’s terri-

Mae: Who hit the tent support which tipped the popcorn cart which set fire to the audience stands which collapsed with 48 people sitting on them…

Mae: But hey I learned a valuable lesson about the trapeze!

Angus: Which was?

Mae: Don’t drop people.

[incorrect-celeste-academy]

Tamara : I took a circus arts class last summer ! Charles : Why am I not surprised ? Well , what did you learn ? Tamara : I worked out on the trapeze a bit , but I uh ended up breaking a lot of bones .. Charles : you seem to have healed remarkably well ... Tamara : what ? Tamara : Oh , not my bones . Charles : ... Tamara : I was supposed to catch this guy and I dropped him . Tamara : Onto someone . Tamara : and they both fell into some other people . Keelan : That's terri- Tamara : who hit the tent support which tipped the popcorn cart which set fire to the audience stands which collapsed with 48 people sitting on them ... Tamara : but hey I learned a valuable lesson about the trapeze ! Corvan : Which was ? Tamara : Don't drop people .

[annamariemirfin]

Dancing is great!

Recently I have re-discovered a love of dancing. I remember that as a child and teen I always enjoyed dancing. It started at a very young age...when I was maybe 4 or so, apparently I very much enjoyed trying to get house guests to dance with me when they came around to visit. I would dress up (and down I have been told) and prance around the living room putting on a little show. As I got older I started making up dances to the world music samples on Microsoft Encarta - I made expressive routines to chinese opera songs (woomf!), bolivian panpipes, aboriginal didgerdoo...and many more! My friend Bridget and I would make up silly choreographed dances to songs on the “Now” CDs (oh yes I remember those) and we put on all sorts of other dance performances and shows. As a teen my dancing evolved into ‘i-pod parties’ where I would on a fairly regular basis, just put on some music in my room and dance along to it. It was great fun. Later on, up until the age of about 16 or 17, I had culture days which would usually involve dressing up and having some kind of ethnic dance party for one. Then as I got older, I just stopped dancing. It’s was a great shame. Growing up as well there had been some talk at times about me actually taking some sort of dance lessons but I never did (no one’s fault but my own!) 

Recently my dietitian Katherine was talking about basic ways to improve my digestive wellbeing. She said that reducing stress, drinking more fluid, doing deep breathing or meditation, and getting regular exercise were all very important. It’s obvious of course, but it’s surprising how valuable it is to be reminded of basics like this and how easy it can be to forget them. She suggested that one way I could look at getting some daily exercise was just to put some music on in my room and dance. One day I gave it a try. I put on some dance music when no one else was around in the house and just danced! It was great. The movement felt as though I was massaging and stretching my digestive system and it was such a fun, happy, carefree thing to do. Since then I have discovered that dancing is quite a useful activity for a variety of reasons. If my digestive system is feeling sluggish or having trouble (which it too often is) sometimes I’ll try a bit of stretching and dancing and it is usually sort of helpful. If I’m feeling anxious (which I must avoid as much as possible, especially prior to meal times - stress is very clearly linked to digestive dysfunction for me ) sometimes taking just a few minutes to dance can help to relax my body and mind so that I have a better chance of being able to enjoy my meal. If I’m feeling gloomy, sometimes I’ll do a bit of dancing then too because I think to not try dancing or doing something fun when you’re feeling gloomy is essentially deciding to sulk. 

There’s something else that I think is quite beautiful too. The concept that dancing, particuarly free form dancing, is allowing yourself to be creative and expressive in a way that feels true, inspired, spontaneous and uninhibited. I like expressing myself through music and using this as a way of engaging with the art form. I like to imagine being able to fully let myself go - feel at one with the music, feel totally in control, and at ease with myself. Sometimes it annoys me that I struggle to come up with dance moves and that my body doesn’t move in a way that feels fully fluid. It would be very cool to just dance in a way that felt expressive or fulfilling without even really having to think about it, and without judging it. Perhaps learning how to dance properly could be an enjoyable activity that could help with that. Either that or I lower my standards and just get better at free form dancing : D These past two mornings I have begun my mornings with a bit of dancing, straight out of bed and still in my pyjamas. I feel a bit like a silly character in a book (like the trapeze artist that I’m currently writing a silly story about).

One morning I took myself out on a little exercise around the block. As I was walking I realised I felt like doing some dance moves. I felt happy to be moving through space and I just wanted to move even more freely and expressively so I did a few little dance moves. Why not? I thought? Why can’t I just dance down the street when I want to? That day I went to the school and did made up yoga stretches, followed my made up warm up exercises, followed by a made up obstacle course around the school playground. 

Just yesterday Marie, Eva and I went to Arts in the Park, which is where a different music artist performs outdoors every weekday for the month of June. A Celtic band were playing. I have found in the past that I don’t really love most live music (other than perhaps, Opeth : P ). I’ve never really known how to engage with it. But yesterday, after watching a few couples around me dancing, I realised that I wanted to dance too - there was a happy, spinning, twirling, Anna-Marie inside me that wanted to be set free! Eva was tapping her feet along beside me (she actually learns Scottish highland dancing, both the girls do). So Eva and I got up (and after moving to a place that no one could see us) we did a little jig. It felt like a far more fulfilling way of enjoying the music, although I very much wished I could be more carefree and inspired in my dance moves! 

[airspaniel]

Retrospecticus 2016

I didn’t do this for 2015, because I thought that year was such a terrible tire fire that it didn’t deserve documentation. But well, we all saw how 2016 went, and now I’m sort of sad I don’t have a concise round-up of why 2015 was so awful. I’m sure the perspective would’ve been valuable.

Anyway, here’s my 2016 in review

1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before? I was the sole creative and technical producer for an animated feature from one of the best beloved brands in the world. After a rough start to the year, this ended up being on of my best years professionally, thanks to [redacted] and [redacted]. Also, I took up circus, experimenting with flying trapeze, aerials, tight wire, juggling, and other general circus arts. I took a tumbling class and did front and back handsprings for the first time in like, twenty years, so even though that’s not something I’ve never done, I think the time delay makes it notable. Also, I explicitly came out to my family and my Facebook, which has been both a total non-event and deeply traumatic at the same time.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t really make any, but I thought about the song “Stay Alive” from Hamilton a lot, and I managed to do that, so good job, me. For 2017 I’ve brought back a resolution that served me well in 2009: “Ass, Gas, or Grass - nobody rides for free.” I’m more concerned with the latter part of that statement than the former. I also have spent a lot of time putting other people’s needs over my own, and I don’t think it actually helps anyone, and it actively hurts me, so I’m gonna try to do that less. Also - ONE HUNNERT NAZI SCALPS.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My awesome friend Jess had an awesome baby! And like, some Facebook friends from college, which is cool but is less cool.

4. Did anyone close to you die? I mean the answer is yes and no. Because we lost the patriarch of my old folk music family, which was a gutting loss made only worse by the fact that I have been disowned by that group for the past seven years or so. Fuck cancer, is basically what I’m saying.

5. What countries did you visit? I went to England and Poland, and can’t wait to go back to both. I also did a lot of travel within the states, both for business and for pleasure, and got Delta Gold Medallion status for 2017. So I’ve got that going for me, which is nice.

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016? This is the part where for the past seven years I’ve said something about a relationship. Well, I left 2015 thinking one thing was going on romantically, and that didn’t pan out, and it honestly took me most of the year to get to a good place about it. And I honestly don’t know that I’m in a place mentally and emotionally where a relationship would be a good thing, though I do miss closeness and intimate physical contact. I think what I really need is better self-esteem, and to find the confidence I have in my professional knowledge and abilities in my personal life. Maybe I’ll get a cat?

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The first week of March, for the worst most gaslight-y performance review I’ve ever received, which sent me into a depression/anxiety spiral that had me thinking about suicide a lot. Also, the end of March, for the time I sacrificed my Hamilton tickets for the sake of my job. But then on the plus side I took a wonderful Vegas vacation with @lindsayribar at the beginning of July, and I’ll never quite think of champagne or the Cheesecake Factory in the same way ever again. The August-November corridor was a great time for me at work, and I got a lot accomplished that no one has ever done before. Thanksgiving with @joshversus and @dontbearuiner was also a particular delight.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Producing that movie. I was in charge of the script, the casting, the music, the direction, and the final mixing, as well as all the scheduling for every component of the production. I’d been scheduling producer for these movies for years, but I’d never gotten to do the creative producing as well, and I crushed it. I mean, we really made a great movie, and I’m super proud.

9. What was your biggest failure? I don’t know honestly. Most of the things I failed at don’t even matter anymore. I could say putting others’ feelings/needs over my own, but in the situations as they occurred, I can’t honestly imagine handling them any differently. I think I could’ve said no more often. Or maybe said yes. Maybe been less afraid.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not physically, not really. I had some pervasive bladder issues for a while, but nothing that wasn’t solved fairly easily. Mentally I was a disaster, but I’ve got some better anxiety meds now, at least. I need to get a therapist this year.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Pretty sure it was that Vegas trip. I also gave a lot of money to my friends so they could make art, and I feel really great about that.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Mine did, honestly, though I didn’t get a lot of recognition for it, not even from myself.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Fucking, just... just most of fucking America at various times and in a lot of different ways.

14. Where did most of your money go? Rent. Plane tickets. Alcohol. I really can’t overstate how much I drank this past year.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My movie. Vacations. Last minute shout out to Yuri!!! On Ice, which single-handedly saved 2016.

16. What song will always remind you of 2016? I mean, at this point if I said anything other than “History Maker” by Dean Fujioka, I would be lying. I would say the entirety of Lemonade, but Queen Bey is timeless and that album cannot be bound to a single year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? December 2015-January 2016 was one sustained panic attack, and even though that’s 100% still the case now, I feel more resolute. I had the rug yanked out from under me so many times in 2016, and even in just the past couple days, but I’m determined now in a way I haven’t been in a long time.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Feeling good. Writing. Being physical.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Keeping this from 2014 - Being lonely, being angry at myself instead of doing something about it. Also, thinking I’m not good enough, or that I don’t deserve good things. Like, that’s still a process but I want to keep making progress on it. I can’t hate myself forever, right?

20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas Eve with my folks, taking it easy, drinking some beers and watching Die Hard, as is tradition. Then Christmas Day we went up to visit my dad’s sister and that side of the family. Aunt Pat had decided that she was tired of traditional crap, and so we had a taco bar for Christmas dinner. Also I fielded a lot of comments on my green undercut. If anyone doubted who was the queer cousin, I set all of those doubts to rest this year.

21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?  My folks. Vendors. I fucking hate the phone, but I did also manage to have some really good conversations with friends.

22. Did you fall in love in 2016? Nope. Had a lot of complicated feelings, though.

23. How many one-night stands? Well, I mean, I didn’t think it was at the time, but the answer is one. Also, the only time I had sex with another person all year. It was still the second most sexually active year I’ve had in the past seven, so...

24. What was your favorite TV program? Yuri!!! On Ice stole the title at the last minute. But like, I also started rewatching Leverage, and that show is great. Cutthroat Kitchen, Bob’s Burgers, and Rick and Morty all got me through some shit this year.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I mean, yeah. Basically every Republican, all Trump voters, literal Nazis I can’t even believe we are at this point but so it goes.

26. What was the best book you read? The Nice Guys by Charles Ardai. Yeah, it’s a movie adaptation, but it’s really fucking good.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? For total greatness, it’s an absolute tie between Lemonade and the Hamilton Mixtape. For sheer number of repeat listens, the Yuri!!! On Ice OST. Honorable mention to Ariana Grande’s album Dangerous Woman, and “Castle” and “Control” by Halsey.

28. What did you want and get? My movie. To know if I can still throw a back handspring. Drunk.

29. What did you want and not get? Oh, a lot of things. Also, President Hillary Clinton.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Deadpool. Also The Nice Guys.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 34, and I went to my favorite izakaya with my parents and some friends from work.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Someone telling me I was good. Believing it.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016? Fuck, can I even get this on? Ugh, fine, it sort of looks okay. (I put on a lot of weight this year)

34. What kept you sane? Alcohol. It almost didn’t work, but it usually did. My anxiety medication.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Man, I don’t even know. Probably still LMM and the Rock.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Don’t even fucking talk to me about this trash fire election. 

37. Who did you miss? My friends in NYC, my friends in Texas, my friends in LA, my friends in London.

38. Who was the best new person you met? I met a lot of cool circus performers this year.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016:

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: Pour up (Drank), head shot (Drank) Sit down (Drank), stand up (Drank) Pass out (Drank), wake up (Drank) Faded (Drank), faded (Drank) Kendrick Lamar - “Swimming Pools (Drank)“