#clear skies 75

[skullytotheark]

Clear Skies 75

Setting: Different states of America

time setting: late 20th century, From 70s to 90s

Why I made it: Hehe creepypasta but oc au

Inspiration: 70s and 80s slasher mixed with creepypasta characters / creepypasta characters set in the 80s

goal: Possibly make an ARG series, But for now it’ll be in silly writing i do every now and then. Similar to creepy hornets

Description:

The Rot of the woods is slowly but surely making it’s way pass the treeline, The Horrible reality where monsters and things that go bump in the night are more common than you could ever imagine.. Deep in Montana and Colorado these nightmares hide within the woods, Awaiting for any lone hikers and the innocent to walk into their sight. For they hunt for sport and to survive…

Ever Since the start of the 70s, More and more of these creatures and psychopaths are beginning to crawl out from the bed to strike. Their goals and motives being a mystery to people like you and I… There’s only a burning ember of hope that there is good amongst the bad, But then again. who says they’re any better than those they fight??... Only god can save you from whatever is tapping at your window, The strange towering silhouette standing in the corner of your room or the sound of heavy footsteps heading straight for your bedroom door.

Welcome my dearest of friends and stalkers of the night!!!

Allow thy to introduce you to a World of many nightmares and terrors beyond your imaginations.

Clear Skies 75!

For a good while you've might've heard me just ramble or mention this AU in at least one or two of my posts, But Allow me to show you what I've been brewing for awhile!

For a good while I've been sitting in my little snowy room, Thinking of different scenarios and plotpoints involving these characters! Now personally I'm not ENTIRELY SURE, If I'll do as much "fanfics" or writing as much as I would do for Creepyhornets but You'll def probably see me write about this au Every now and then! I more or less really wanted to just, Have characters based off of some of the pastas or characters i've come to love growing up in this silly community!!

Introductions.

The Watchman.

"A Modern Tale for those who go wondering in these woods son. They say it's a Eldritch God of sorts or a "angry spirit"... Me?? I think it's a force of nature, Not something you can fight... But you'd have to adapt to.. trust me, I know..."

The great watchman! The Slenderman of this canon as you can tell and the main "big bad" of this canon, I more or less imagine that this entity is not your sterorypical slender that we're used to seeing in writings. Returning to the older versions such as the Operator and when Slender was simply a being of unknown nature and sudden movements...

"The Butcher"

"I had a run in with that fucking freak. Cackling and getting a kick out of my fear as he chased after me with a fucking machete.. One day he'll fucking learn what's it like when the roles change... One day..."

The Jeff The Killer stand in for this canon! More or less depicting him as a cruel but sloppy killer, Although he has a big reputation, He's a amature and a prime example of "human scum" in this canon. No goals or motives, doing it for the fun of it. Also im just thinking of naming him "Geoff" cuz it'd be a really funny bit imo

"The Pyromaniac"

"I remember when he was still young.. A cheerful little boy who still needed mommy to tie his shoe laces... But then things changed... He never got along with his stepdad... But then he went missing one day and.. I get a call that My husband was killed... Then I knew.. He wanted to get back at him for everything Frank had done to us... But it should have never ended like this.."

The Ticci Toby stand in for this universe!!!. Felix/Cody robinson is a child of abuse who is short tempered and rash, Often acting and thinking later. Although he's a valuable assest to The Watchman's following. Even though He hates it and wants to go home.

"Doll-Face"

"I still remember when "Bryan" took me up to that cabin... God I should've known I was just another lamb for the slaughter.. How did this end up like this Ma?..."

Doll-Face is of course the Masky inspired character! His story heavily follows the idea of "get away at the Cabin goes wrong and now all of my friends are trying to kill eachother" trope.

"Null"

"I'm alive... I shouldn't be but I am... After everything I've done.. I'll make things right this time... I'm so sorry Tommy.."

Null is a combination of both Hoody and Skully into one character! And is also the "Alex" of this scenario. Bryan's family was haunted by the watchman for generations, When he was older the entity began to pick away at his sanity and commanded a blood sacrifice for his family using 'it's children' for resources when building their cabin / property in the woods.

"The Stalker."

"I could've sworn, He was standing right at my bed when I was asleep. I don't know why but he was... He killed dad but... Why not me?... Was he... Taunting me?.."

And the final member of this cast [ATM] the Stalker! The eyeless Jack stand in for this series who draws heavy inspirtation from the og eyeless jack design. Atm I had the idea that he was a journalist in diguise pretending to be a demon of sorts who profits off of his crimes by taking photos of the aftermaths. Buttt I do also like the idea of him just being a demon. His story is still a WIP atm.

Until next time!

Sadly that is all the characters i have so far :(

But I do plan on making more characters such as Zalgo, Jane, Nina and a whole bunch more!! Ofc I plan on making a word doc for this au that'll have links to each of these characters butttt i gotta finish Stalker and "Geoff" before i do!

But until then keep an eye out on my tiktok *COUGH* Skullytotheark *COUGH* for a bunch of arrttt and wips of more characters!!!

See you all next time :)

[pukefactory]

hii!! ik you’ve already done MANY of these, but can you do another salesperson ENA x reader? It can be any scenario , i rlly wanna know what u come up with :D Also, I rlly like ur writing keep up the good work !! (also ty 4 being the first person ive seen 2 make a dream bbq ena x reader lol)

Author’s Note

Thank you for your kind words, friend! I couldn’t think of a specific scenario, so I put together a collection of small moments that will hopefully be entertaining.

- Rush

•☽────✧˖°˖ CLEAR SKIES ˖°˖✧────☾•

★ Summary: A Compilation of Random Headcanons Featuring Salesperson Ena X Reader

★ Character(s): Salesperson Ena (Ena: Dream BBQ)

★ Genre: Headcanons, SFW

★ Warning(s): None - Completely Safe!

★ Image Credits: @JoelG

☆ You made the fatal mistake of showing even mild interest in whatever it is Ena is selling today. Now you’re being followed through the casino, the market, the lonely door, as Ena flips between her red and pale yellow sides, alternating between an enthusiastic business pitch and aggressive interrogation. “Are you seriously passing up this once-in-a-lifetime investment?!” she demands, and before you can answer, the red side leans in, grinning. “Or perhaps… could we negotiate an exclusive partnership?”

☆ Ena decides you’re her new business associate, whether you agreed or not. You now have a clipboard, a suspiciously empty briefcase, and a list of names to track down. What’s being sold? She won’t tell you. “Would ruin the mystique, dear associate! GØD frowns upon spoilers!” But based on the transactions she’s making, you’re 75% sure this is a pyramid scheme. The 25% uncertainty is because you did see one of her customers float away after shaking her hand.

☆ In a casino full of existential horror and sentient human legs, it’s Ena’s personal mission to drag you into the most absurd bets possible. “I wager my entire life savings that I can swallow this dice whole!” she announces to a horrified crowd. When you try to stop her, she spins dramatically, gripping your shoulders. “Darling. Do you believe in me, or not?”

☆ It’s well past midnight, and you’re seconds away from sleep when Ena shakes you awake. “I have a business plan,” she declares. “We buy a haunted mansion, rent it to the emotionally unstable, and profit from their misfortunes!” You groggily tell her this is not how rental properties work. She immediately flips to her Meanie side. “Then you come up with a better idea, genius!”

☆ Mid-conversation, Ena sometimes freezes. Not in a normal way, but in a glitchy, geometric way—like her code is trying to process something too big. “What if I’m just a character in a vast, incomprehensible narrative, doomed to never truly exist beyond my roles?” she asks, unblinking. Then, without missing a beat, she slaps a business card into your hand. “Speaking of roles! You’d be perfect as our company’s new financial advisor!”

☆ Ena thinks she’s helping. She’s not. You find someone attractive? Ena is instantly at your side, loudly pitching you like a limited-time offer. “You see, this lovely entity comes with many benefits! Great conversational skills, a solid survival rate, and—get this—a sense of humor! A rare find in today’s market!” You have never been more humiliated. Ena, meanwhile, is writing down notes for her next attempt.

☆ You complain about a minor inconvenience, and Ena immediately suggests the most dramatic, legally questionable solution. “Your neighbor is too loud? What if we relocate their entire apartment? Quietly, of course. No one would notice, yes?” You tell her this is not how laws work. She squints at you, thoughtful. “Hmm. Sounds like a you problem.”

☆ Ena has a tendency to give things away. Not always hers, either. You’ve seen her hand off priceless artifacts, other people’s hats, and one time, your entire coat to a complete stranger. “It’s called networking, darling! One day, this connection will be invaluable.” (This person never appears again.)

☆ Ena doesn’t say she likes you. Instead, she keeps offering you deals. Discounted scams, highly illegal bargains, exclusive investment opportunities. “Normally, I’d never offer such a valuable package to an ordinary customer,” she croons, spinning on one foot. “But you, dearest associate, are special.”

☆ Sometimes Ena takes your hand and pulls you into a place that shouldn’t exist—a marketplace built from fractals, a forest of mannequins that whisper stock market predictions, a hallway that loops in reverse if you walk forward. “Business never sleeps,” she tells you, smiling. “And neither do the possibilities!”

[days-until-burnout]

Would it be wrong to ask for Freaky. smalletho. I MISS THEM SO Bad i miss them☹️😞 Go wild. Because this is all i could think of i sorry

i dont know what freaky means. freaky as in freaky or freaky as in sexy. they ended up being cuties, if you don't count the almost murder! _____

📧 Day 130 -

Characters - Etho/Joel Words - 1,698 Time - 75 mins Content - Hermitcraft | Mentions of Blood | Almost drowning

Despite now having a bathhouse, when the day gets too hot, Joel can’t help flying down near the torii gates where the bits of nature are inviting and cool. The shade under trees, the cool breeze, the always warm rocks. Today, like other days, he lands on the swaying grass, shrugging his elytra before they even get the chance to fold. They fall onto the grass with a soft thud, then he kicks his boots off, followed by his socks. 

With the constant building and the burning sun, Joel almost misses wearing the intricate Japanese clothing. Though he’s gotten used to the movements, he still cringes when he gets them dirty, so he’s resorted back to simple clothes again. Brown cargo pants and a simple, white shirt that sticks to his body from the sweat. 

His right hand crosses over his stomach, grabbing the hem of his shirt to lift it as his left hand works on the zipper of his pants. Shirt gone before pushing his pants off, and he decides to stay in his boxers as he steps into the cold water of the pond. He walks in until the water touches his calves, tossing all the jewelry and accessories into a spread pile. 

Although his body aches, it’s a pain that feels so good in his bones, the kind that clings to his joints and makes them whine when he stretches. He walks further in, arching his back as he throws his hands into the air, his body creaking delightfully with a groan from deep within his throat. 

Then, carelessly, he lets himself fall backwards onto the water with a loud splash. He slaps the water’s surface with his back, sinking into the cold body of water, bubbles quickly escaping from his mouth and nose and the bright, clear skies blur with ripples of crystal water. 

Joel shivers as he sinks, floating down peacefully. And slowly, the fluffy ears atop his head and tail flickering under him morph into different traits. The ears melt into his head, a set of fins fanning out where human ears would be. His tail minimizes into his spine as he brings his legs together, the skin melting together as his bones rearrange, reform. Calloused hands thin out as his fingers sharpen, ending in deadly claws, scales sprouting along his arms and and back of his shoulders and down his hips, bigger scales making the shape of his new tail. Bubbles and ripples appear as he swirls, silk-like fins dragging the water around him. The skin on his arm lifts, thin and like fabrics onto water. 

Playfully, as he gasps into his new environment and the gills on either side of his neck catch the air bubbles, he runs his tongue along his wet lips, the edge of it brushing against the sharp row of teeth. His lips quirk into a smirk, almost tasting the metal that had dried on his mouth earlier. 

Though the pond is not particularly deep or big, he makes his way around it, through the rivers, like the current caressing his body, he fights it as much as he follows it, patiently and curious. He submerges his head under water deep, raking webbed hands through the dirt below before swimming up, letting the outside breeze and hot sun touch his face. Droplets rain from his hair, and he looks around to find himself back at the start. 

Where his pile of clothes awaits, another stands. Tough boots and long legs, his eyes trace up to the off-center stance, all too familiar clothes. The coat held open by two hands hooked on the front pockets of the pants. Up the torse, shirt tight like second skin, until he finds the mask and an amused look into those cold yet curious mismatched eyes. 

Joel smirks, pretty lips as he swims back, laying back on the water carefree, nonchalantly showing off his new tail. “What’s up, Eefo?”

One of Etho’s fox ears flicks, Joel’s noticed it always does when he talks to him. He knows what it means, immediate voice recognition and attention. But Etho only tilts his head up slightly, eyes to the clear sky, Joel’s eyes zeroing on his exposed neck for a fleeting moment before Etho looks back, head tilted to the side now. 

“It’s hot.”

Joel giggles, flashing those sharp teeth briefly. Etho notices them, hard to hide anything from the details-obsessed-redstoner. Joel plays dumb, swaying his head side to side as he swims back, waving his arms in the water in front of him, creating ripples around him. 

“You could join,” he replies simply, no strings attached or obligation, though his predatory eyes and smirk say otherwise, “the water is nice.”

Maybe it was Etho’s plan all along, maybe it is unbearably hot, but it takes no more convincing before Etho is lifting the flaps of his coat off his shoulders, letting it slide off his arms onto the grass below him. And shamelessly, Joel watches the show in front of him, quiet as Etho undresses layer by layer. 

Etho pulls his turtleneck free from his pants, cross-armed, lifting it over his head, letting it go easily as his muscles flex and relax, probably showing off to his audience. Joel can only grin, running his tongue along his lips as if savoring for a meal. In the meantime, Etho’s gloves are gone and the laces of his boots undone, kicked off carelessly. Etho hooks his thumbs on the loops of his pants, pulling at them to let them slide off, then he kicks them off and bends down to take his socks off. 

Until Etho, like Joel earlier, is left in just his underwear. 

Slow steps, a predator approaching prey, Etho stalks to the shore, dipping one foot to test the water. His tail sways lazily behind him, ears flicking at the distant chirps of birds and machinery. If they focus, they could probably hear the mailbox area buzzing quietly. 

But Etho joins the water, breaking the peace slowly. Joel stills in place, watching as Etho submerges until the water line is around his hips. It could go a little further down, Joel knows, but it would mean getting closer to him. Joel flashes an innocent smirk, though the thought is very present in both of their heads. Etho stands tall, inhaling deep as his arms crossed behind his head, exhaling deep out of his mouth. The sunlight catches on his sharp canines, nothing compared to Joel’s rows. 

“Don’t look like a fish out of water,” Joel sing-songs as he flaps himself back, splashing Etho. He grins as water rains down his chest, Etho running a hand through his hair. 

Etho only rolls his eyes, but stays in place. 

Joel swims around the pond, marking three quarters of it for himself while Etho stays in his space, dipping down occasionally but mostly retreating to the shore to sit with his feet on the water. 

Joel swims closer and closer, rounding into Etho’s space comfortably. His fins touched by bubbles, grazing Etho’s legs when he gets too close. And Etho should know, should see it coming, but Joel still grabs his ankle and pulls him into the water fast and sudden, a splash breaking their peace with a shriek from Etho’s mouth. 

He laughs loudly as Etho thrashes, fighting for air as he intentionally drags him around the bottom of the pond, delighted until a hand tangles on his fins, sharp nails digging into his arm. He hisses but Etho finds footing, twisting his arm and forcing him to stop, Joel instinctively chasing for a fight. 

His tail wraps around Etho, nails raking on sensitive fins and skin, and Joel retaliates by sinking his teeth into the nearest muscle he can find. Etho’s forearm, deep as wisps of blood string out. He can taste the metal on his tongue, driving his predator senses, his hunger. 

Etho fights, hitting the side of his head with the heel of his palm, enough to shake him off. He coughs a big bubble, frowning as he swims up, breaking the surface of the water, panting for air for his burning lungs. He heaves, wiping his face harshly, barely getting his head straight before being yanked back, splashing forward.

This time, Etho had the chance to suck a breath in, puffing up his cheeks before meeting Joel underwater. The bubbles blind him momentarily, eventually clearing out to a sort of peacefulness, him hovering over Joel. 

And of course, Joel, like always, grinning victoriously. 

In the situation, Etho says nothing but gives a frown in response. 

“Don’t look so mad,” Joel grins, wrapping his arms around Etho’s sides, slowly floating along with the occasional tail flip. “You love me.”

Etho rolls his eyes. 

“You love me,” Joel repeats, pushing up slightly so their chests bump. He holds Etho down as much as he helps him float, receiving yet another eye roll. He bumps their noses together, and Etho softens to the small touch, enough to not pull away when Joel pushes up for a kiss. 

Their lips meet easily, tender ones against rougher ones. Still soft, still gentle. Joel steals Etho’s air while keeping him breathing, smiling into the kiss as Etho holds onto him, the back of his neck and his hip.

Etho teases the line where skin meets scales with his nails, Joel shuddering and arching into him, so he bites his tongue and pierces his bottom lip. A trail of blood dissipates between them, Joel’s sharp eyes to Etho’s bothered ones. 

Without a sign, Etho pulls away and swims up, and Joel chases like a puppy, letting him breathe. Etho swims to shore, pulling himself up as he wheezes, propped back onto his elbows to let the head spins leave. Joel swims in circles in front of him, then flips his tail, splashing water high before dipping to resurface high up between Etho’s legs, arms falling on either side of his thighs. He grins, Etho’s heaves against his face. 

“You’re no fun, Eefo,” Joel whines. 

However, when he leans forward, Etho still meets him halfway for another kiss. A smile against a smile, playful against fond defeat.

_____

[click for a random day]

so many words. whoa

[amongusmpreg]

Why are you so cheesy pilled

ok, well honestly this is something i’ve been meaning to get off my chest.

1. Meeting your soulmate

2. Going to your friend's weddings

3. Stargazing

4. Food

5. Going to every country

6. Nice smelling candles

7. Music

8. Concerts

9. The people that love you.

10. Snowball fights

11. Going to the beach

12. Sunsets

13. Sunrises

14. Hiking in Forests

15. Dogs and Cats and Pets

16. New movies

17. Old movies

18. Going to the drive in theatre

19. Walking through local markets

20. Your favorite artists next song

21. Drawing

22. Sculpting your own pots

23. Birthdays

24. Inside jokes with your friends

25. That special persons laugh

26. Warm houses on cold days

27. Bonfires with smores

28. Reconnecting with old friends

29. Smelling flowers

30. Soft plushies

31. The smell of fresh baked cookies

32. Kareoke

33. Sleepovers

34. Your favorite videogame

35. Learning a new language

36. Long walks on the beach

37. Seeing every ocean

38. Squishy bunnies

39. Going to the store to smell perfumes

40. Long hot showers

41. Tea/ coffee

42. Seeing rainbows

43. Helping wounded animals

44. Bath bombs

45. Cleaning the Earth

46. Getting married

47. Going to see brodway shows

48. The sound of rain

49. Long car rides

50. Going on a train

51. Memes

52. Going to the zoo

53. Looking at funny art

54. The smell of old books

55. Butterflies

56. Collecting shells

57. Color

58. Sending letters

59. Surprise parties

60. Warm sheets

61. Reading

62. Swimming in the pool at night

63. Going to diners with friends

64. Early morning runs

65. Looking at old photos

66. Going to a museum

67. Soft sweaters

68. Glitter

69. Going to the aquarium

70. Hugs

71. Making snow angels

72. Holidays

73. Home cooked meals

74. Roller coasters

75. Decorating for parties

76. Playing pranks on friends

77. Dancing

78. Singing in the shower

79. Seeing your favorite animal in person

80. Meeting your hero

81. Bubble wrap

82. Ice water on hot days

83. Poetry

84. Trying on funny clothes

85. Hanging out with friends

86. City skylines

87. Wearing your favorite color

88. Beautiful wildlife

89. Collecting stickers

90. Making some ones day

91. Laughing so hard you can't breath

92. Warm blankets fresh from the dryer

93. Sewing

94. Seeing the future

95. Late night convos

96. Rewatching your favorite show

97. Blowing Bubblegum

98. Boardgames

99. Sitting out in the rain

100. Bubbles

101. Cooking new thing

102. Bob Ross tutorials

103. Picnics

104. Tire swings

105. Old architecture

106. Reading books

107. Growing your own food

108. Clear skies

109. Baking things you love

110. Finding new hobbies

Wowwwww, you meow like a cat! That means you are one, right? Shut the fuck up. If you really want to be put on a leash and treated like a domestic animal then that’s called a fetish, not “quirky” or “cute”. What part of you seriously thinks that any part of acting like a feline establishes a reputation of appreciation? Is it your lack of any defining aspect of personality that urges you to resort to shitty representations of cats to create an illusion of meaning in your worthless life? Wearing “cat ears” in the shape of headbands further notes the complete absence of human attribution to your false sense of personality, such as intelligence or charisma in any form or shape. Where do you think this mindset’s gonna lead you? You think you’re funny, random, quirky even? What makes you think that acting like a fucking cat will make a goddamn hyena laugh? I, personally, feel extremely sympathetic towards you as your only escape from the worthless thing you call your existence is to pretend to be an animal. But it’s not a worthy choice to assert this horrifying fact as a dominant trait, mainly because personality traits require an initial personality to lay their foundation on. You’re not worthy of anybody’s time, so go fuck off, “cat-girl”.

[azdmathings]

Most of the country is still locked in winter with it snow, ice and cold but here in Arizona it is 75 and clear blue skies. Perfect time for the start of Spring Training, Yeah, you know what that means

The Boys Are Back In Town!

So Grab Hold of Your Bats and Balls Boys Cause it's a All Baseball Weekend!

[cheolcor3]

WELCOME TO SEARCH...

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀── .✦ FOLDER 001: ABOUT

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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Bangchan ㅤ Lee Know ㅤ Yuncheol ㅤ Changbin Hyunjinㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ Han ㅤㅤ Felix ㅤㅤ Seungmin ㅤㅤ Rin ㅤㅤ I.N

──⟡⋆ HEADING - YUNCHEOL

!! BASIC INFORMATION !!

STAGE NAME — Yuncheol | 윤철 BIRTH NAME — Choi Yuncheol | 최윤철 ENGLISH NAME — Jack Choi NICKNAMES — yun, yunyun, choicheol, choil, yunnie (exclusive only to i.n), c.c (pronounced ceecee) BIRTHDAY — January 18, 1999 ZODIAC — Aquarius | Rabbit BIRTHPLACE — Gwangju, Korea ETHNICITY — Korean NATIONALITY — Korean FAMILY — Mother, Father and Younger Sister LANGUAGES — 100% Korean (native), 90% Cantonese, 75% Mandarin, 50% English, 50% Japanese

!! PHYSICAL !!

HEIGHT — 177cm | 5'9" WEIGHT — 55kg | 121lb BLOOD TYPE — O PIERCINGS — 1x lobe piercing TATTOOS — None

!! CLAIMS !!

FACE CLAIM — Ji Changmin (The Boyz) VOCAL CLAIM — Ji Changmin (The Boyz) DANCE CLAIM — Ji Changmin (The Boyz)

!! PERSONALITY !!

MBTI — INTJ MBTI TYPE — Sometimes referred to as the "Architect" or the "Strategist," people with an INTJ personality are highly analytical, creative, and logical. POSITIVE TRAITS — ambitious, goal-oriented. attentive NEGATIVE TRAITS — internalised misogyny, Overly protective of himself and those he holds close, Lost in his own head. HABITS — Forgets his glasses everywhere, Smoking, Scribbling small poems everywhere, Nightmares even in small naps. PHOBIAS — Claustrophobia ( fear of closed spaces ), Nyctophobia ( fear of the dark ) MEDICAL CONDITIONS — Migraines, C-ptsd, Arthritis. Breathing issues, slight Astigmatism. ALLERGIES — N/A LIKES — Reading & Writing Poetry, clear empty night skies, DISLIKES — Haunted Houses,

!! STATICS !!

DANCE — 8/10 VOCAL — 7/10 RAP — 6/10 STAGE PRESENCE — 8/10 VARIETY — 7/10 SONGWRITING — 8.5/10 PRODUCING — 5/10 CHREOGRAPHY — 8.5/10 ACTING — 6/10

!! CAREER !!

PROFESSION — Idol GROUP — Stray Kids LABEL — JYP ENTERTAINMENT TRAINING PERIOD — 4 years POSITION — Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist UNIT — dance racha SKZOO ANIMAL - Animal -> Cheetah , Name -> YunChi REPRESENTATIVE EMOJI — 🐆 INDIVIDUAL FANDOM — N/A SPOTIFY — N/A SIGNATURE —

[h0pelezromantic]

Enough is Enough

Written by Essafa

9 November 2023

Today marked the 34 days of Israel occupation against Palestine. Every minute, every second is uncertain for them. Not once getting better, not once the bombs stop. Each corridor or even place that is supposed to be a shelter for them to find protection isn’t safe anymore. Israel bombed every possible place and things just to hide behind the “Hamas is hiding in there” “Hamas using Palestinian as a human shield” –Hamas this, Hamas that. The pathetic part is that Israel can’t prove any “death” of Hamas and even located them. 

Thousands of innocent souls have been martyred–unborn babies, babies, children, women, elderly. As per today, Palestinian death toll  reached 10,569 with mostly children and thousands still missing. Hundreds of images and videos show the cruelty and inhumane act of Israel–and most countries haven’t condemned their action. Yet, they condemned what Hamas did on 7th of October which was the result of what Israel did for the past 50 years. Imagine you’re protecting your own country from the oppressor called a terrorist, while the oppressor is a so-called hero. How is that even possible? 

Now we get to the point of life where everything is not the same anymore and won’t be the same anymore–as it should be. We get to live life as comfortably as possible–at the same time, Palestinians are living a nightmare; the sound of bird chirping turns to sound of raining bombs, blue clear skies now filled with dust, homes turns into rubble with thousands of people under it, and the ones still alive wondering when their turn to take their last breath. However, Palestinians are a proof of believers–we’re here slowly losing hope in the world but they still stand strong and encourage us. Indeed, we do live in an unfair world. 

I never imagined that we’re witnessing and experiencing dystopian life. We’re actually witnessing live of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinian. We’re witnessing how history repeats itself where clearly “Never Again” is just a phrase. I believe we are educated enough to know what happened during World War II–the Holocaust-the Nakba. I believe we are educated enough to differentiate a war and genocide. I believe that no human being wants to experience what the Palestinian experiencing right now and of course for the past 75 years. Only people that are sick in the head approve–agree to the carpet bombing of Palestine. 

I and each one of you who still have the sense of humanity won’t let Israel get to act whatever they want. We will try our best effort to stop the genocide against Palestinians. We still and will stand strong like the Palestinians did for the past 75 years. We won’t give up–we won’t stay silent–we will and always speak the truth. We hear you Palestinians. We hear you. Hundreds of thousands of us will stand by you. We are your hope. We are your voice. You will be free, you will be free. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. 

To whoever read this, please spread more awareness. Don’t stop talking about Palestine. Call your representative, voice the truth, demand an immediate ceasefire. Do everything in your power to talk the truth–Palestine. Don’t ever stop. Spread every small detail of what's happening in Palestine.

[pilvimarja]

🔥= smutty ‼️= read the warnings 😭 = emotional ❣️= fluffy and sweet ✅️ = completed

55 and 75 by metemcephalon, explicit, bottom Maverick ❣️✅️

They aviate through the clear skies and grey clouds of life together, but they move slower now.

Push It Real Good by Fopperies, explicit 🔥‼️✅️

Maverick has to help Bradley when he's hit by a (vague) curse.

With These Drums And These Guitars by Lake, teen, Band AU 😭❣️

Maverick, the rock band, is in need of a new drummer. Bradley doesn't expect much when he auditions, even if his dad was one of the founding members.

Mommy Knows Best by FuddleWuddle, explicit, omegaverse, bottom Maverick 🔥‼️‼️‼️✅️

Mav keeps hearing Bradley say something he probably shouldn't when his 'girlfriends' are round. When the third one breaks up with him because of what he says, Mav steps in to help. Because Mommy knows best, after all.

At Your Bark And Call by Comrad, explicit 🔥‼️

Rooster really should learn to ask for things more often. Maverick really should know better than to let his doofy bloodhound on the couch.

[rjjameshiii]

RJ's Platinum Collection #8: SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated!

Achieved on 8/21/2022 at 9:11 AM

I was a huge SpongeBob fan when I was a kid, and so naturally I was a big fan of the original Battle for Bikini Bottom. Where a lot of licensed games from my childhood are mediocre to bad looking back on them, BFBB is still a genuinely good platformer and a very fun experience. So when they released the Rehydrated edition in all its updated colors and graphics, you bet your yellow sponge ass I was getting that platinum.

Battle for Bikini Bottom is exactly what it says on the tin: Plankton made evil robots, the robots are out of control and terrorizing the city, it's up to SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy to save the day. You do that by fighting robots while also completing missions and challenges that earn you Golden Spatulas, which you can use to progress to new areas. You need 75 Golden Spatulas in order to enter the Final Boss arena, but there are a total of 100 spatulas in the game, and you need all 100 for the trophy.

Like Jak & Daxter, I knew how to get everything done, so I wanted to try to fully complete each level before moving on to the next one - starting with the tutorial inside of SpongeBob's pineapple.

1/33: Time For Tutorial - Collect everything inside of SpongeBob's house.

Going outside to the first section of Bikini Bottom, you have access to three levels - Jellyfish Fields, Downtown Bikini Bottom, and Goo Lagoon. All three of these levels are fantastic and super fun to play.

I had no choice but to start with Jellyfish Fields since the other two levels are locked until you get a certain number of Spatulas. While playing, I found 15 of Patrick's missing socks, of which you need to collect 80 in order to get 100% of the game.

2/33: Sock Getter - Find 15 of Patrick's socks.

Continuing on I beat the main mission of Jellyfish Fields, then moved on to Downtown Bikini Bottom, and finally Goo Lagoon before defeating the gigantic Robot Sandy in the Poseidom.

3/33: Jellyfish Jam - Defeat King Jellyfish.

4/33: Spatula Seeker - Collect 10 Golden Spatulas.

5/33: Jellyfishing - Complete Squidward's mission in Jellyfish Fields.

6/33: Uptown and Downtown - Complete Mrs. Puff's mission in Downtown Bikini Bottom.

7/33: Sponge Smasher - Defeat 100 robots as SpongeBob.

8/33: Super Spatula Seeker - Collect 25 Golden Spatulas.

9/33: Surf's Up! - Complete all the main missions in Goo Lagoon.

10/33: Sweet Victory - Defeat Robot Sandy in the Poseidom.

The second section of Bikini Bottom gives you access to the Mermalair, Sand Mountain, and Rock Bottom. While I love Sand Mountain and Rock Bottom, I always found the Mermalair to be a weaker level (not as bad as later, but weaker). So I decided to complete the main missions of Rock Bottom first, then Sand Mountain, and finally the Mermalair.

Side note, it took me 32 tries to complete the rolling ball puzzle in the Mermalair. There is a REASON that everyone who plays this game hates that mission.

Anyways, after finishing all three of those levels I fought Robot Patrick in the Industrial Park and got access to the final area of Bikini Bottom.

11/33: Sock Concert - Find 40 of Patrick's socks.

12/33: Squirrel Smasher - Defeat 100 robots as Sandy.

13/33: Hit Rock Bottom - Finish the main missions of Rock Bottom.

14/33: Are You Ready Now? - Talk to Squidward 10 times as SpongeBob.

15/33: Life's As Extreme As You Wanna Make It! - Clear all of the ski slopes in Sand Mountain.

16/33: Ultra Spatula Seeker - Collect 50 Golden Spatulas.

17/33: Keep It Rolling - Complete the Rolling Ball puzzle in the Mermalair.

18/33: Shrimp Catcher - Defeat Prawn in the Mermalair.

19/33: Toxic Terror - Defeat Robo-Patrick in the Industrial Park.

Area 3 gives you access to the Kelp Forest, the Flying Dutchman's Graveyard, and SpongeBob's Dream. I really dislike the first two levels so I got them out of the way first, but SpongeBob's Dream is probably the best level in the game - and also the hardest.

20/33: Hello, Bikini Bottom! - Find all of the hidden Golden Spatulas in Bikini Bottom.

21/33: Star Smasher - Defeat 100 robots as Patrick.

22/33: Kelp Forest of Fear - Find all of the lost campers in the Kelp Forest.

23/33: Robot Encyclopedia - Defeat at least one type of every robot in the campaign.

24/33: Mega Spatula Seeker - Collect 75 Golden Spatulas.

25/33: Ship Shape - Reclaim the Flying Dutchman's ship in the Flying Dutchman's Graveyard.

26/33: Shanghaied - Defeat the Flying Dutchman.

27/33: Sock Opera - Find all 80 of Patrick's socks.

28/33: Sleepy Time - Find all the Golden Spatulas in SpongeBob's Dream.

Once I had all nine main levels finished, I actually needed to spend some time collecting shiny objects (the game's version of currency) to give to Mr. Krabs in exchange for Golden Spatulas. After I did that, I had 98/100 spatulas, and it was time to go face the final boss - the giant Robot SpongeBob.

29/33: SpongeBob Vs. SpongeBob! - Defeat SpongeBot SteelPants in the Chum Bucket Lab.

Oh, but that's not actually the final boss. The real final boss is Robot Plankton, and to defeat HIM you need to complete a lot of parkour and puzzle solving while inside of Robot SpongeBob's head. Defeating him will get you all three remaining trophies, and the Battle for Bikini Bottom platinum!

30/33: 100% SpongeBob - Get 100% completion.

31/33: Super Ultra Mega Spatula Seeker - Collect all 100 Golden Spatulas.

32/33: The Small Does Not Rule - Defeat Robo-Plankton.

33/33: Neptune's Spatula - Get all of the other trophies in the game.

I don't have any fancy review words to say. Just play this game and get this platinum. It's easy but a lot of fun!

Rating: 10/10

[wanderingmind867]

I've got a new idea that I'm very proud of! It's an idea for either a tv show or a series of TV Movies released every Christmas. It's about the goings on at a bar/restaurant/lounge every Christmas. I came up with this prompt all on my own after listening to a lot of Christmas music. I did use AI to bounce my ideas off of it, however. Whether it's a TV series or merely a series of TV Movies released every new Christmas season, one thing is clear: the show is only ever set during winter/christmas.

The Bar where the show is set is like a mix of a rustic old ski lodge and of an old cosmopolitan cocktail lounge from the 1940s. It's got a very old timey feel, at any rate.

This idea could be viewed as similar to shows like The Love Boat. An anthology series, but with a few characters connecting all the stories to each other. On the Love Boat, the crew of the ship were the characters who tied everything together. Here, it's the bar's staff who tie all the stories together. At least one staff member shows up during each of the 3-4 stories told in one episode.

Since I just brought them up, let's discuss the bar's staff:

First, there's the bar's owner (I don't have a name for him yet). He's an old man who always seems to know just what to do to boost his patrons spirits during the holiday season. He's also got a bit of an aura of mystery to him, mostly because it's implied he has some sort of history with Santa. Whether they be Best Friends, Distant Relatives or something in between, it's clear he's got some sort of connection to Santa and the North Pole.

I want him to be like Ricardo Montalban on Fantasy Island, this older man with an aura of mystery surrounding him. Personally, I like conclusive answers though. So I'll probably address the mystery at some point (after a season or two, or during the third or fourth special). I'm leaning towards the relatives ideas, personally. I think it's a clever idea for how they might know each other.

Also at the bar is a somewhat washed up old lounge singer (don't have a name for him yet either). 70-75 years old at the beginning of our series, he's been working for this bar since sometime in the late 90s (let's say he joined the staff around 1996 or so). He always wanted to make it big and be a successor to his idols Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, etc. But sadly, this never quite worked out as planned. He was sometimes able to book some small gigs, but he could never afford to play any big venues.

At some point in his 30s, he falls into a deep depression because of this. For almost 9 years, he wouldn't perform his music anymore. It's only because he happened to stop in at this bar for his 46th birthday that he's performing again. He fell in love with the atmosphere at the bar and with the feelings of love and camaraderie displayed there. He loved it so much he asked if he could perform at the bar, acting as a form of In-house entertainment. The bar's owner said he liked the idea a lot, and he's been working here ever since. In fact, his 30th anniversary of working for the bar is slowly approaching.

[pagerunner-j]

I have had a miserable couple of weeks, but today? It’s 75 degrees, clear skies, light breeze, I’ve got one of these, and things are, at this particular moment, lovely.

(Also, locals or determined geoguessers can probably tell where I am. But fuck it. ;)

[bluenews]

10TH - 16TH JUNE 2024.

THE HEADLINES

OFF THE RAILS: TRACK LINE CLOSURES AT BLUE HARBOR STATION

Due to maintenance work on the lines, the train journeys from Blue Harbor to Chicago and Rockford via Naperville are expected to be canceled or experience severe delays from Monday 10th June 2024 — Friday 28th June 2024. The maintenance work is reported to be at the lines near the Weaver Ridge area. For anyone affected by this, please contact the ticket office asap.

BLUE HARBOR-WOOD — IS BH THE NEW LA?

Numerous reports of various celebrity sightings have had locals and tourists alike partaking in ‘celebrity spotting’ the local hotspots and the upmarket neighborhood of Oak Gardens. Whether it be due to any participation in upcoming Pride events, or perhaps debating a move to a slower-paced life, here at Blue Harbor, we welcome all with open arms. 

WEEKLY FORECAST

Despite the hot weather, clear skies aren’t set to last with only two bright sunny days being Friday and Sunday. Scattered thunderstorms expected on Thursday with a estimated humidity of 54% so we advise you prepare yourselves for the weather accordingly! Things should stay dry the rest of the week, with the summer weather prepared to stay Sunday onwards!

Monday — 75°F / 51°F — sunny with clouds

Tuesday — 80°F / 64°F — sunny with clouds

Wednesday — 91°F / 69°F — sunny with clouds

Thursday — 92°F / 70°F  — scattered thunderstorms

Friday — 90°F / 65°F — sunny

Saturday — 90°F / 70°F — sunny with clouds

Sunday — 96°F / 76°F  — sunny

TOWN HAPPENINGS

As June continues, as do the Pride celebrations, with the Mayor’s office reporting the official parade date will be released this week as they finalize the last of the paperwork and permits needed. It’s not too late for any local businesses to partake as needed! Following activities and deals are listed below:

Aurora is having 2 for 1 deals on their Pride Collection Cocktails, until the end of June!

Enjoy-Mint! Across town for this week only, there is a 50% sale off all mint flavored, scented and colored items including: Assembly Depot, Caffélicious, Carnal Knowledge, Chilled Creamery, Crystal Clear, Earthwave and Honey Bee Tea! The perfect treat for all those who appreciate the acquired taste of mint! 

For one night only, on Wednesday 12th June, Margz and Margz are serving Pepperoni! First come, first served. Limited slices available! 

COMMUNITY BOARD

The following open starters could use a little love!

Lisha Katz @ Caffélicious!

[flocessyranch]

-- Willow: Tidbits

Willow was born in the Glimwood Tangle near Ballonlea.

She takes after looks on Leon's side but there are traits of Ashe if one looks close enough, especially her blue-green eyes. If her father is the sun, her mother is the moon, then she is their little wandering star.

Her first pokemon and partner is Larvae the Larvesta.

She's the opposite of Ashe -- she loves spicy food and chocolate, which her mother despises.

She was born under Aries skies.

She is 75% human and 25% fae.

She's more familiar with her mother's side of the family, but recent efforts have landed her spending time with her father's side as well as her many honorary aunts and uncles.

Willow has a lot of extended family both on paternal and maternal, but she has only had the chance to meet a few of them.

Her godparents are the current reigning Sorcerer Supreme, Donovan Bonhomme, and his wife, Gym Leader of Lavaridge Town, Flannery Burnes-Bonhomme. They are close friends of Ashe and Leon's, and are called Papa Donnie and Mama Flanna respectively.

Willo'w favorite show is PokeGeographic.

As far as anyone knows, Willow is a healthy child.

Like her mother, she can talk to pokemon with PokeSpeech. She can hear them as clear as day.

She attends a private school instead of Blueberry Academy. Her mother didn't want her to go through the same trauma she had when she was her age. The school is run by her godfather's godfather, James Xavier, who has been personally working with her to catch up academically.

Willow is fluent in Fae and Unovan/Galarian, but she is also learning Alolan on the side.

She likes to play tag and hide and seek, and has shown a interest in PokeSports thanks to her aunt, Blackburn, and cousin, Grusha.

She vibes with Team Valor.

[nidhi-writes]

Chinnanjiru Nilave (Ponniyin Selvan Fanfic)

Chapter - 1

It has been said that when the greatest of great emperors fell the seas rose and engulfed the land and its wealth. Some say that all the wealth has been sucked into the earth which was disheartened by the loss of her emperor. Loss of culture, loss of language. Blood covered the grounds like a river.  When two brothers fought within themselves and failed to see their mother is dying cause they forget to think about her. Dynasty doesn't end it always continues one way or another.

That is what MegaPunal an isolated village that is up on the hill in the south of now Tamilnadu holds many secrets and urban legends stories that many believe and some just see them as made up by their ancestors to keep the wealth out of the forest that surrounds the village.

It is said that time and life merge at the center of the hill, many archeologists tried to find the point to prove the theory but none could complete the research cause one way or another they fail. It is believed that this place was once built by one of the kingdoms of Tamil but none can come to a conclusion about which kingdom it is, as the place has no evidence but only scriptures that say it is.

'Amalan' was once a renowned archeologist now a madman, that's what people call him in his village where he had spent solid 50 years. His own son 'Varun' named him Mad cause he can't stop talking about the Tamil empire that ruled and made sure to develop the land. But still took care of him as a baby cause he loved him. His house is filled with all types of books and items he found throughout his life. As he is 75+ and currently just blabbers about Chola and lost jewel which doesn't help his case. As his only son passed away in the landslide that happened a few years back, his grandson hated his grandfather more, he believed it is because of his grandfather's Madness and dementia with nonsense blabbering his father was caught up in the landslide. If not for him his father wouldn't have left the safe home to try to find the Oldman.

His grandson whose name is 'Akilan' doesn't have a great relationship with his grandfather nor connect with the village. As they are currently under massive debt and the only thing they have is the house and the land that leads to the woods behind their house which would go for a massive amount that could be able to solve their problems, but no his old man will not and would not sell the place, and after his death, the property would go to his granddaughter who is just merely 17 and having a hard time coping with life. This made Akilan more angry and hateful cause the so-called granddaughter he adored doesn't even share the same blood as him and other family members.

'Nila' is just like the name she is the moon that shines on MegaPunal, the village people adore this beauty with brains. It is said that the place was once filled with Gandharva Kannigal and the village people now believe that she is really part of the said beauties once ruled here. She grew up in a safe environment with parents who took her in as if she is their own. Her relationship with her 'brother' was never an easy ride cause every now and then he would make sure to let her know that she will never be part of this family nor does she deserves it. Yes, you heard right when she was born her birth parents left her in the woods and it is her grandpa who found her and brought her in

17 years back

As the winds grew colder and the skies turned darker, it is so clear the rain is just a few minutes away. In the middle of calm and chilly woods, an old man in his late 50s walking around and trying to find something with a piece of paper he held. This a normal day for him to walk around the woods and mark them and take notes, nobody is sure on what exactly he is marking and taking notes for. As he is about to leave for the day when a wail of cries made him search for the source from where it was coming. At first, he thought that it was an injured animal but it doesn't sound like that. As he kept walking the cries became louder, and that's when he came across a bundle that is wrapped in dull-colored cotton clothes. Inside it was a baby girl who looked not even a day old. He is astonished to find someone would leave a baby out here without any protection. He took the baby in his arms and rocked, the movements made the baby stop her crying and opened her eyes. That's when his eyes went big, the eyes that looked back at him is like an ocean that a moon would bathe, this baby is not only beautiful but held some aura around her. He is so captivated and couldn't help but feel a connection towards the baby like he needs to protect her. That's when 'Nila' became part of this family and her parents loved her, but her brother didn't feel the same love, all he saw was a baby who took away his parents. Who took everything from him. Moreover, they gave the family heirloom which was always passed to the firstborn son to her. Every time he looks at the ring that shines on her finger he wants to cut open her hand. This orphan had taken everything from him for that he always hate her.

Current day

As every day Nila had done with her studies and currently getting ready to leave for her dance class, as in this small town there is only so much you can do. It was her long-time wish to just leave everything here and go outside to see the world. Her parents did take her and her brother on vacation when they were much younger but it all stopped when their family hit rock bottom which is filled with multiple debts, as her mother 'Azhagi' (Beauty) fell ill and her father spent almost all savings to make her live but she couldn't be saved. At first, they started selling some antiques and he was doing odd jobs to bring in some money but nothing lasted forever. Many had suggested to go find jobs outside the village but her father couldn't leave his father. But the same thing caused his death. One day he went in search of his father who was recently diagnosed with dementia on a rainy day, just like that a landslide happened and his body is forever buried within the land he walked once.

She wants to leave the damn village as well but same like her father she couldn't leave her Thatha. If not for him she wouldn't be alive today, She knew that they can live a pretty well life if they could sell their property but she knew how much it meant for her grandpa. So she made sure to keep this until they can find a way. Even though she is just 17, she runs the house now as her brother who just drowns upon drinks after drinks to come out of the sorrows that haunt him. She made herself some tea and also prepared to give her grandpa some. As she went in to check on the Oldman who she hates but loves so much he is nowhere to be seen. This is the third time in two weeks. Every time she made sure to lock all the doors and plead with her brother to keep an eye while she was studying as she couldn't do at that time, he escaped or more like her brother doesn't care to check up on their grandpa.

'Thatha!' She started shouting to see if she gets any answers. Normally he would be walking around the woods. She takes her mobile just in case along with her bag which she carries to her dance school.

Nila POV

'Oh my gosh! not again!' I sighed, I saw Ramu who is our neighbor currently doing some work outside.

'Ramu Mama! Thatha va Patheengala'(Ramu Uncle, did you see grandpa?)' I asked to which he smiled and nodded. He points to the woods as usual. You see nobody could stop that old man, every time someone did they got nice beatings from his stick, so they all stopped.

I exhaled and started walking into the woods which is also our property, normally nobody comes here without our permission. I walked the usual route my grandpa would take. Nobody knows why he went here and what he is searching for. Every time I ask he would say something like a riddle 'To place the jewel back in its place'. At first, my brother thought he literally talking about a jewel and wants to find it before Grandpa loses it. But that's not the case.

I started shouting for my grandpa, normally I would have found him by now, totally my luck just got really great, I am hell going to miss my class. I tried calling his phone but to my surprise, it says not reachable.

I am going to kill my old man when I find him.

'Thatha!!' I shouted and ran through the woods to get the tracks to find my grandfather who lost his mind. Seems he is punishing me and making me do cardio at this time of the day.

'Thatha! Enga iruke? Iruta poguthu!'(Grandpa! Where are you? It's going to be dark soon!) My throat became raspy by all the shouting. As I was about to turn right I heard some steps coming from behind me. Those don't sound like my grandpa.

I went in behind the trees to find out who or what it is. Nobody is supposed to be here, this is private property. My old man surely planning to get me killed.

I shook my head thinking I was hallucinating and turned my back to continue the search but as I was about to cut into another path a hand grabbed mine but I used my other arm to hit whoever that Mother F***er is that, cause hell that's not my Thatha!

I sure heard a crack and a figure fell down holding their nose and howling in pain. I came to my senses and saw a boy around my age with great luscious hair breathing heavily while holding his nose, his eyes shot to mine, and anger flashed through them.

I quickly grab something for self-defense, I ain't gonna let someone harm me.

'Who are you!? This is private property! Leave or I'll call the cops!' I stood straight and took out my phone to dial 100.

'என்ன உளறுகிறாய்! '(What nonsense you are talking!) His choice of language made me look for a minute, It's Tamil but it's kinda different. But I continue to try for the emergency numbers but damn no signal nothing! He rubbed his nose and I can now see his face. Damn he is good looking

'Thatha' I shouted again, now I am getting scared.

'என் கணையாழி உன்னிடம் எப்படி வந்தது'(How did you get my Finger ring?) He asked pointing to my finger. I looked at my ring and back at him. What the hell he smoked? This is my family heirloom.

'Yours?! What did you smoke!? Just leave from here and I won't call the cops on you' I said and tried to move away.

'என்ன மொழியில் பேசுகுகிறாய் நீ? நீ எந்த நாட்டை சேர்ந்தவள்!'('What language are you speaking? What country are you from?') His question again made me raise my eyebrows. Ok, somebody is pranking me or else someone just escaped an asylum. He still holds his nose which says I did punch him good.

'நான் பேசியது ஆங்கிலம்! மற்றும் நான் தமிழ்நாட்டை சேர்ந்தவள்' (I just spoke in English and I am from TamilNadu) I smiled and replied to go with a flow. But his expressions are hard and he let his hand fall down, and blood started pouring out of his nose. Oh my god! not now. I am really allergic to gruesome blood and I can't stand them. I started getting light-headed.

'Oh, my god. you are bleeding!' I said and touched his nose, but he didn't wince just watching my movements like a hawk watching its prey.  I turned my finger to see them smeared with his blood, whoops wrong move my head went blank and all I saw was him trying to catch me from falling on. I am really going to kill my grandpa if I die and I went off.

Stranger POV

As usual, he strolls down the wood to haunt some deer as it's been so long since he has done anything alone. As he rides his horse slowly he is caught by someone yelling in the distance. His eyebrows are furrowed and went in the direction he heard the voice. Something in him just wants to see the face of the voice which felt like honey.

Nobody comes here and let alone a girl whose voice told him should be young. Why would she be here at this time?

As he went near he slowly got off his horse and walked tiptoe to not make any sudden noises, he saw a figure currently hiding at the back of the tree. Skin like milk and hair like darkest black hiding from something. Maybe some are trying to misbehave, As a prince he wants to make sure his people are safe.  Before he could think of anything the figure started to leave in the opposite direction. He hurried and captured her hand hoping to calm her down, but before he could react a hand smacked right in his nose.

Normally he won't feel much pain as trains every day and it's part of his life as a warrior but this sudden attack made him howl in pain, His softness went away and coldness filled his eyes. Standing before him was a young girl around his age and she looked odd as if she is not part of his kingdom.

A noise from her mouth made no sense and the actions she did made him think that she maybe went mad.

'என்ன உளறுகிறாய்!' (What nonsense you are talking!)' He repied to whatever she is saying hoping to find the answers.

'Thatha' she shouted again. He looked around to see if someone is coming but no one is there, but something caught his eye and he couldn't believe it. On the finger of the young maiden who is standing before him is his ring. How in the world is possible

'என் கணையாழி உன்னிடம் எப்படி வந்தது'(How did you get my Finger ring?) He asked pointing to her finger.

'Yours?! What did you smoke!? Just leave from here and I won't call the cops on you' again her blabbering made no sense to him. He suspected her to be a spy or acting like a mad woman to flee from somewhere

'என்ன மொழியில் பேசுகுகிறாய் நீ? நீ எந்த நாட்டை சேர்ந்தவள்!'('What language are you speaking? What country are you from?') His question again made her raise the eyeborws.

'நான் பேசியது ஆங்கிலம்! மற்றும் நான் தமிழ்நாட்டை சேர்ந்தவள்' (I just spoke in English and I am from TamilNadu) Her words made me stop thinking. She can speak Tamil and she says she is from Tamil Nadu! maybe she is a Pandiyan Spy but she doesn't look like one. I let go of my nose which is currently bleeding to get more answers from her but before I could speak she raised her hands to touch my nose. I stopped to see what she is doing.

'Oh, my god. you are bleeding!' She again blabbered and touched the blood, a small smile that itched its way in to face as I see the girl before me act like I am a nobody. But before I ask her she fell down and I hurried to catch her.

A girl who punched the Crown Prince of Chola Kingdom, Who doesn't act scared or shy before him. Who is brave enough to talk back at him even if it's just a blabbering? A small smile never left his face as he carried her back without looking away from her face. Even with the blood running down his face he didn't feel pain instead he felt calm and complete.

Maybe after all the Jewel has finally been placed where it is meant to be

Male Chorus :  (Background)

Kaaneero neer kaan Chola vetri vazh ondrai kaaneero Or alagiya poovae Selluthiyoo Malaridu po sagi

(Veera Raja Veera song - PS2)

_____________________________________________________________

I really enjoyed writing this chapter as this is the easiest one I ever felt while writing.

And those who guessed whether this is Aditha Karikalan's story then yes you are right it is! As the name suggests. I am so thrilled to be part of this journey and excited for what the future will reveal to our beloved ones.

Stay tuned, more to come.

Let me know your thought on this chapter.

[nickgerlich]

Here Comes The Sun

When opportunity knocks, it behooves you to answer the door, and answer it fast. Opportunity seldom knocks twice, and if you miss it, then it’s on you. And if you are a company, you best be ever mindful of what’s going on around you and who or what may be knocking, ready to seize the moment.

Like Frito Lay's SunChips and Moon Pie are doing right now, leaning into the upcoming total solar eclipse that will occur early afternoon of Monday 8th April. With brand names referencing celestial bodies, this is a no-brainer. But come Tuesday the 9th, the party will be over until 2044, when the next total solar eclipse is visible in the US.

SunChips is selling a limited edition Pineapple Habanero and Black Bean Spicy Gouda chip, and have partnered with astronaut Kellie Gerardi for the promotion. Moon Pie, reprising its effort from the 2017 eclipse, has gone all out with their boxed Survival Kit that includes four Moon Pies and two pairs of eclipse viewing glasses.

And as you might expect, both are pulling out all the stops on social media.

This is classic marketing opportunism, and it’s fun. No one is trying to capitalize on a bad thing, and all the other brands that do not have a celestial connection will have to sit this one out. Opportunity, in this case, came knocking for a select few, and only two answered the door.

Of course, there is some risk inherent, because all of that merchandise will be extremely dated on Tuesday. The shelf life is short, and while it might be possible that some collectors might clamor for unsold Moon Pie Survival Kit boxes if only because it is dated, I could see these things winding up at Big Lots and Ollie’s in a week or so.

Along the path of totality, hotels have been reserved for years. Even campgrounds are full up. But, as we know all too well, Mother Nature might not cooperate. We need clear skies for these kinds of things to happen, and the farther east and north you go along the arc of totality, the more those odds shrink, based on historic data.

As for Amarillo and Canyon, we will be at 87% totality, and of the cities on or near totality, have among the highest percentage of available sunlight year round (Lubbock and Midland are very similar too, all of us between 73% and 75%, and in the Top 15 of the nation). We might not have totality here, but the odds are more in our favor to see the event. Oh, and the event lasts only for about four minutes, so there’s little margin for error. Even Andy Warhol had 11 minutes more.

I am bummed that I have a campus class that morning at 9:30, and I can’t just cancel it for an eclipse. But…I could hop in my van at 10:45 and drive toward Dallas like a mad man, probably getting close to Vernon at the precise moment. I can reschedule office hours, because with the next total eclipse not happening for 20 years, I would be 85, and who knows what I’ll be able to do then.

Or just stay in Canyon and be happy with 87%. It will still make for some amazing photos. And while the special SunChip flavor doesn’t sound all that appealing to me, I would be happy to bring along some Moon Pies wherever I happen to be. The marketer in me is all too happy to throw some props to the companies answering opportunity. It’s a lesson we should all be remembering.

Dr “Everything Under The Sun Is In Tune” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[oliviab-scstudyabroad]

Did Somebody Say "Chocolate"?

Hey everyone! This past week, I was in Argentina yet again! This time, my friends and I traveled south in Argentina to a town called Bariloche. Bariloche is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and is the gateway to Patagonia. It is the perfect destination for those who love the outdoors, as the multiple ski resorts allow you to ski throughout the Andes, and the abundant lakes are key spots for fishing and kayaking. Bariloche also has a lively downtown area with architecture modeled after Switzerland. As you can imagine, I was beyond excited to go from the moment that my friends and I booked our plane tickets!

On Tuesday in the afternoon, my friends and I took the bus from Montevideo to Colonia and then rode the ferry to Buenos Aires. Upon arriving, we changed our dollars for Argentine pesos ($1 USD = 480 pesos), loaded our Sube cards (passes that you scan to use the metro and buses in Argentina), and then went to an Asian restaurant called Koi. There, we feasted on Miso ramen and dumplings. I ordered an iced tea, something that I’ve missed since being away from South Carolina! It really is astounding the diversity that Buenos Aires has in terms of gastronomy; any type of craving you might have, Buenos Aires has a restaurant to satisfy it. Because our flight was late at night, we killed some more time in another bar/bookstore called Backroom Bar. After enjoying our Passionfruit Punch drinks and chatting, we headed to the airport via Uber. Our flight left at 1:00 a.m., and we arrived in Bariloche at 3:30 a.m. Because the town doesn’t have Uber, we booked taxis in advance to take us from the airport to our Airbnb. Our host was there to give us the keys and show us around the apartment, and then we headed straight to bed to catch up on sleep.

Later that morning, Will, Karen, and I bundled up (it was about 39 ℉ outside) and roamed around the centro of Bariloche (our Airbnb was a 7-minute walk from downtown). Bariloche is set right along the lake of Nahuel Huapi, so we of course had to take pictures in front of the “Bariloche” letters with the stunning backdrop behind it. We then went to a confitería (chocolate shop) called Rapa Nui to have breakfast. Bariloche is known as the Chocolate Capitol of Argentina, so at Rapa Nui, I ordered a chocolatada (hot chocolate). Karen, Will, and I also shared a waffle topped with chocolate, banana, raspberry, and strawberry ice cream. Needless to say, I was sugared-out after breakfast, but it was worth every bite. We then went to the Center of Tourist Information to ask about the bus system and must-visit sites in Bariloche. The bus lines in the city are on a tightly set schedule, and some buses only arrive every hour. We therefore had to plan our activities around the schedule so we didn’t waste time waiting for the bus. The upside is that one bus ride is 100 pesos, or 20 cents. We definitely were traveling on a budget!

After returning from the Information Center, our other friends, Joe and Cleo, joined us to take the bus to Cerro Campanario. There, we took the ski lift to arrive at a lookout point where you could see majestic views of Southern Bariloche. The mountains reminded me of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado where I used to live, except the Andes are encapsulated by lakes and islands. Bariloche’s climate is unique in that in the winter, temperatures can drop to -30℉, and in the summer, you can expect the temperature to climb to 75℉. As I was standing at the top looking out at the islands, I could only imagine what it would be like in December to lay out on the sand and take a dip in the crystal-clear lake. I also noticed that the mountains were pretty barren in terms of snow. A local told us that Bariloche gets the most snow in July and August, so that explained why the ski resorts were closed when we went. After taking the lift down and the bus back, we bought groceries in the supermarket and made lentil soup and peppers stuffed with rice, perfect for our cozy movie night that we had that evening.

On Thursday morning, Karen and I woke up early to scout the tourist agencies to see what excursions were available. We picked up a lot of brochures, compared prices, and explained our options to the others at breakfast. I had coffee and tostados at ChimiDeli, a restaurant that one of the tourist agents had recommended. All five of us then shared a chocolate mousse cake adorned with strawberries. Here arise my two tips when traveling: 1. If you don’t know where to eat, ask a local! They are guaranteed to have good recommendations, and it saves a lot of time instead of poking around on Google Maps and peering at reviews of restaurants. 2. If you want to try different types of cuisine, order multiple dishes and share with your friends! This way, you can have a bite of everything without feeling confined to ordering one meal.

After breakfast, we headed to the Chocolate Museum at Havanna and went on a tour! The guide explained to us that pure chocolate comes from the cacao bean, and in the early centuries, pure chocolate was exchanged by indigenous groups as a form of currency. It was also served as offerings to the gods, or high-ranking authorities in the communities. In Europe, people began to mix cacao with sugar and milk, transforming the cacao chocolate into the milk chocolate that we know today. After World War II, a large surge of Italians immigrated to Bariloche, including a man named Alfred Fenoglio. The so called “pioneer of chocolate in Bariloche” started the first chocolatería in Patagonia, and he is known to be the source of the boom of chocolaterías in Southern Argentina that generate millions of dollars in revenue annually. Who would’ve thought! As we strolled through the museum, we drank our samples of hot chocolate and saw life-sized animals pertaining to Bariloche that were carved entirely out of chocolate! Count how many times I wrote “chocolate” in this post 😉

The gang and I then went to Cerro Otto to take the gondola up to another lookout point. The view was once again spectacular, and we got our fair share of group selfies before heading down to catch the bus back to the center. When we were in line for the bus, there was a man that was playing the bandoneon, an instrument similar to the accordion that is found in most tango music (tango was born in Argentina and Uruguay). Playing the bandoneon is one of the main ways that Argentines connect to their roots and keep the culture alive, so I gave him a tip and enjoyed the tunes before boarding the bus. Once in the centro, we went to another chocolate shop called Mamuschka! Mamuschka is iconic for its rotating Russian dolls on the outside of the building and its wrapping paper being adorned with the colorful Russian doll logo. I couldn’t help myself and filled a box with different chocolate assortments, including ositos- little bears that are filled with dulce de leche. I also got chocolate bars for friends and family and immediately put them away when I got home so as not to be tempted to sneak a bite! After Mamuschka, my friends and I stopped in a supermarket to get ingredients to make sandwiches for our full-day excursion the next day. Then, we had dinner in a cervecería called Bachmann! I had passed by the restaurant earlier that day, and I made it a priority to dine there, as my last name is Bachmann! At the restaurant, we had burgers and beer from Patagonia, and the waitress gave me some coasters with the “Bachmann” logo on it. I kept cracking jokes that it was the family restaurant in Bariloche. We spent several hours there laughing and enjoying each other’s company before heading home to rest for another big adventure the next day.

Part II coming soon! Ciao!