#curry's maddening run

[saviourkingslut]

started my maddening am run (only church recruitments allowed) I MISSED DIMITRI SO FUCKIMGN MUCH IT'S UNREAL

[bbywhitefox123]

description: Essex in an ER nurse and Richard Madden needs his wound stitched.

Essex kicked off her shoes as she stepped through the front door, the weariness of another long night shift weighing heavily on her shoulders. She dropped her bags of Indian food onto the kitchen counter, the savory scent of curry wafting through the air and making her stomach growl. All she wanted was to sit down, shove some food in her face, and forget about the craziness of the last week - namely, the unexpected run-in with Richard Madden.

"Essie, come see this!" her grandmother called from the living room, her voice a mix of excitement and warmth.

Essex sighed, her heart sinking slightly. "What is it, Gran?" she called back, already guessing.

"Richard Madden is on the Graham Norton Show!"

Great. Just what she needed. Essex had hoped to avoid any reminders of that bizarre encounter, but here was her grandmother, thrilled and raving about the latest celebrity gossip, as if Richard were a long-lost family member.

"Yeah, I'll be right there," Essex replied, washing her hands in the kitchen sink. She scrubbed away the remnants of the hospital - antiseptic and the faintest trace of someone's blood - before drying her hands on a towel.

With a resigned huff, she made her way to the living room, Indian food in hand. As she rounded the corner, she caught the tail end of Richard's story, his smooth voice filling the room, charming and full of that signature British wit.

"...and then I realized the gun wasn't a prop at all!" he said, leaning back in his chair, a playful glint in his eye. "Turns out, I shot myself with a decorative gun that was meant to be on display. I thought I was gonna die from embarrassment more than the actual injury!"

Essex rolled her eyes, dropping the food onto the table with a bit more force than necessary. "Great. Just great," she muttered, earning a curious glance from her grandmother.

"What's wrong, Essie? You don't like him, do you?" her grandmother asked, beaming. She loved to watch the latest celebrity interviews, and Richard was one of her favorites.

"Yeah, well, I had the pleasure of stitching him up last week," Essex replied, crossing her arms. "He's just another overgrown man-child who thinks he can do whatever he wants because he's famous."

Her grandmother laughed, clearly amused. "Oh, come on! He's just telling a funny story. Look how he's making everyone laugh!"

Essex plopped down on the couch, trying to suppress her irritation while pouring herself a glass of water. She could feel Richard's charisma seeping through the screen, and she hated that it annoyed her more than it should have.

"I don't care how charming he is; he still ran off like a scared rabbit," she muttered, her eyes glued to the screen.

Richard continued to regale the audience with exaggerated gestures, the audience erupting with laughter at his every word. "And that nurse, she was a real lifesaver!" Richard said, grinning widely. "Honestly, I owe my career to her. She's the real star of the show."

Essex nearly choked on her water. "Oh, for fuck's sake. Really? Is he really doing this?"

Her grandmother shot her a look. "What? You didn't want him to say something nice about you?"

"Nice?" Essex scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "More like he's turning it into a pity party. He could've just owned up to being a moron."

Richard went on, clearly enjoying the attention, but Essex couldn't help but feel a tiny twinge of annoyance mixed with something else - a begrudging respect, perhaps. She had done her job, but hearing him talk about her like she was some sort of heroine was both infuriating and a little flattering.

"Essie, he's really funny! And cute!" her grandmother chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "You should try to find him on social media or something."

Essex only stared at her grandmother for a mere second. There was something about old people and the internet - they thought they could reach anyone who had Wi-Fi.

Her grandmother sighed, glancing back at the TV. "Well, I think he's charming. And so humble, considering the situation."

Essex rolled her eyes again, but she couldn't completely dismiss the charm. As much as she wanted to, she was still curious about how he was handling this newfound fame from that ridiculous incident.

"Whatever," Essex muttered, getting up to grab the takeout containers. "Let's just eat before it gets cold."

As she dished out the food, she couldn't help but listen in as Richard wrapped up his story. "And I just want to say a massive thank you to Essex from London - if you're watching, you're a legend!"

Essex dropped the ladle, splattering a bit of curry on the counter. "Son of a bitch," she muttered, a mix of embarrassment and irritation flooding her.

"See? He's talking about you!" her grandmother said, laughing. "You really are a celebrity now, Essie!"

"Great. Just what I wanted," Essex replied, trying to mask the flush creeping into her cheeks. "Now let's eat before I change my mind and end up throwing the food at the TV."

"Too late!" her grandmother teased, her eyes glued to Richard's charming smile, completely oblivious to Essex's rising annoyance.

As Essex sat down with her food, she couldn't shake off the ridiculousness of it all. A week ago, she was stitching up Richard Madden in the ER, and now she was watching him charm his way through a talk show, all while her grandmother gushed over him like he was the second coming.

"Fucking celebrities," she muttered, though the smirk on her face betrayed her true feelings.

Essex was finally starting to relax, enjoying the spicy, fragrant food after the insanity of the past week, when her grandmother turned to her with a playful glint in her eye.

"By the way, Essie, your mother called earlier," she said, leaning back in her chair with a smug expression. "She wants to know when you're planning on visiting her in New York."

Essex groaned internally, stirring her curry with a bit more force than necessary. "Yeah, I'm busy," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact. She hated the pressure of her mother's expectations, especially when it came to family visits.

"Busy? Busy doing what? Working yourself into the ground at that hospital?" her grandmother pressed, her tone teasing but insistent. "You haven't seen her in months! She'd love to have you."

Essex took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "Gran, I said I'm busy," she reiterated, her irritation rising. "And besides, I don't need a lecture about family. I'm a grown-ass woman."

Her grandmother raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. But you know how your mother can be. You don't want her worrying about you, do you?"

Before Essex could respond with another snarky remark, there was a sharp knock at the door. Thank God, she thought. A timely distraction from this conversation that was going nowhere.

"Hold on," she said, pushing herself up from the table. She walked to the door, half-excited to see who it might be. Maybe it was a neighbor with some hot gossip or a friend stopping by unannounced. But when she pulled the door open, her heart sank.

Standing there was Andrew, her ex-boyfriend. The sight of him brought a flood of memories, all tinged with frustration and anger. Andrew was the reason Essex had nearly moved in with him, the one who had made her feel all those hopeful butterflies, only to crush them with his infidelity.

"Hey, Essie," he said, a casual smile plastered on his face. He looked good, as always—dark hair tousled just right, wearing a fitted jacket that accentuated his build. But she wasn't going to fall for it again.

"What do you want, Andrew?" she snapped, crossing her arms defensively.

He stepped closer, trying to keep his tone upbeat. "I wanted to invite you to Liam's birthday party at this new club. It's going to be amazing! You should come."

Essex's eyebrows shot up, caught off guard by the sudden proposal. "You've got to be kidding me. I'm not interested in hanging out with you or your friends."

"Come on, Essie," he urged, his smile faltering slightly. "It'll be fun! Everyone will be there. It's been ages since you've seen any of them."

"Yeah, and the last time I saw them, you were busy cheating on me with half the city," she shot back, her voice low but firm. "What part of that do you think I'd want to relive?"

Andrew ran a hand through his hair, looking slightly defeated. "I know, I know. I messed up. But I've changed, I swear! Can we just put that behind us? It's Liam's party—he'd really love to see you."

"Look, Andrew," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, "I'm not doing this. I don't want to see you or anyone from that part of my life. It's over."

Andrew's expression shifted from hopeful to defensive, and she could see the frustration building. "You can't just keep running away from everything. It's been over a year!"

Essex inhaled deeply, her patience wearing thin. "And what do you expect? That I'll just forget everything because you show up with an invitation? You're delusional."

"Okay, okay. Just think about it, alright?" He stepped back, hands raised in surrender. "I'll text you the details. Just... don't shut me out like this."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, heart racing and irritation boiling.

"Fucking Andrew," she muttered under her breath, shutting the door firmly behind her. She leaned against it, taking a moment to gather herself. The nerve of him—inviting her to a party like they were old friends after everything that had happened.

Her grandmother, who had witnessed the whole exchange from the living room, looked at her with wide eyes. "Well, that was... unexpected."

"Understatement of the year," Essex said, pushing away from the door and walking back to the table, her mind still swirling with the conversation. "I'm not going to that party. No way in hell."

"Essie, you can't avoid him forever. Maybe it's time to talk things out," her grandmother suggested gently.

"Talk things out?" Essex scoffed, exasperated. "He cheated on me, Gran! I'm not interested in hashing out old wounds."

"Maybe not, but he's still part of your life. You'll run into him eventually," her grandmother countered.

Essex plopped back down at the table, frustration coursing through her. "Yeah, well, that doesn't mean I have to keep letting him in. I can't believe he had the gall to show up here."

"Maybe it's a sign," her grandmother said thoughtfully, picking at her food. "You can't avoid your past forever, Essie. But it's your choice."

Essex rolled her eyes, stirring her curry with renewed vigor. "Thanks for the advice, Gran. I'll pass."

As she chewed on her food, the memories of Andrew and their relationship flooded back—mostly the anger and betrayal, but also the good moments they had shared. It made her stomach turn.

"No way in hell," she muttered again, determination firm.

"Still not interested, huh?" her grandmother said, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Absolutely not," Essex replied, lifting her chin defiantly. "Now, can we change the channel before Richard Madden pops back on?"

"Only if you promise to visit your mother soon," her grandmother shot back playfully, and they both laughed, the earlier tension dissipating.

But as Essex settled in for her meal, she couldn't shake the feeling that Andrew's unexpected appearance might just stir up some unresolved feelings—like it or not.

<- Chapter 1 Chapter 3 ->

[lotusfartstwice]

I seen a lot of Hinata and Lee stuff floating around, and I was wondering if you would do M for them pls 👉👈

He sees her while running laps, at Ichiraku. She’s polishing off bowls and bowls of ramen. Mountains of bowls. Her appetite is admirable. 

She sees him while collecting Neji for missions. He greets her politely and waves before dashing off. His friendliness was refreshing.

--

He can’t help but watch her reaction to Naruto announcing he would leave the village to travel, like his mentor before him. She looks happy enough but there’s sadness in her pale eyes. Would she wait for Naruto or would she decide to move on? He forgets it’s none of his business.

Sakura stands beside Ino, excitedly announcing their engagement and Hinata feels joy. She claps, happy for them. She hears Lee cheering and for a moment she wonders if it’s actually genuine or not. She mentally slaps herself for thinking that. Of course it was genuine!

--

One day he decides ramen sounds good and he sees she’s on her fourth bowl...well, what else can sell you on delicious ramen? He sits beside her, they chat over warm bowls of broth and noodles. It’s pleasant food and company.

She sees him stop by the compound and she’s about to fetch Neji for him when he insists he’s actually there to see her. He asks about her medicinal ointments. She’s taken aback. Shouldn’t he be asking Sakura or honestly anyone else? But he insists on her and she can’t find it in herself to argue.

--

And it goes on like that...they seek each other out when they think the other is not looking. They find any excuse to stand next to each other, to brush a hand. They meet up for ramen. He introduces her to the wonder of curry. They train when the other is available.

(It’s maddening to those around them.)

[doubleattitude]

NUVO Dance Convention, Minneapolis, MN: RESULTs

High Scores by Age:

NUbie Solo

1st: Aria Telander-’Diamonds’

1st: Mila Simunic-’Never Enough’

2nd: Neala Murphy-’Go Gently’

3rd: Zoey Brooks-’Boyfriend’s Back’

3rd: Violet Cruz-Blanco-’Eyes of A Child’

4th: Savannah Jackson-’His Eye is on The Sparrow’

4th: Ruby Kramer-’Transcience’

5th: Brooke Krawska-’Fawn’

6th: Maylin Munos-’Twilight’

7th: Clara McArdle-’Music Box’

8th: Mollie Darling-’Miracles’

9th: Lexie Shelton-’Hallelujiah’

10th: Evie Umbreit-’Bop’

Mini Solo

1st: Lilly Anderson-’Faun’

1st: Kelsie Jacobson-’I Dreamed A Dream’

2nd: Skylar Wong-’Elephants’

2nd: Carrigan Paylor-’It Is Time’

2nd: Finley Ashfield-’My Girl’

3rd: Harper Anderson-’Things Left Behind’

4th: Leighton Curry-’La Petit Fleur’

4th: Ingrid Wirtz-’Shining’

5th: Olivia Chiu-’Acceptance’

5th: Brittany Johnson-’Bird Land’

5th: Daphnie Braun-’Solace’

5th: Isabella Charnstrom-’The Brink’

6th: Annabel Schoolmeesters-’Lost Orbit’

6th: Lucy Mae Dunn-’Time For Mercy’

7th: Kate Baldwin-’Zimmer’

8th: Eden Hardy-’Cool Waves’

8th: Stella Kate Ziemke-’Edge’

8th: Natalie Cerepak-’Smoldering’

9th: Ava McCraine-’Femme Fatale’

9th: Ana Santos-’Je Suis Vivant’

9th: Ava Otto-’Light Sorrounds Me’

9th: Lauren Chiu-’Only Hope’

9th: Lainey Christeson-’You Are The Reason’

10th: Tova Thompson-’Arctic’

10th: Brooklyn Mohs-’La Vie En Rose’

Junior Solo

1st: Gracyn French-’A Character of Quiet’

2nd: Aaliyah Dixon-’Vintage Laser’

3rd: Carley Jensen-’April In Paris’

4th: Angelina Elliot-’The Mind’

5th: Sophia Anderson-’Emerald Mist’

5th: Josie Lutz-’It Is Time’

5th: Phoenix Jonat-’The Last Rose’

6th: Brynn Kostka-’Answer’

6th: Amelia Cherepanov-’Burgundy’

6th: Preslie Lopez-’Listen’

7th: Kylie Carter-’A Conscious Dispute’

7th: Olivia Shelton-’Ahead’

7th: Audrey Proulx-’Exist for Love’

7th: Klaire Simek-’Spine’

8th: Kylie Freeman-’Encompassed’

8th: MaKenna Allison-’Hate Me’

8th: Kira Reissner-’Shadow Journal’

9th: Siena Paradeau-’Cradle’

9th: Teagan Murphy-’Devoted’

9th: Brooklyn Alstead-’He’s A Dream’

9th: Claire Monge-’Inertia

9th: Ava Munos-’The Final Goodbye’

10th: Skylar Okerlund-’Echo’

10th: Braylin Uselding-’Light Leak’

10th: Zoe Zielinski-’Z’

Teen Solo

1st: Ava Wagner-’Change Is Everything’

1st: Isabella Jarvis-’Moonlight Serenade’

2nd: Cami Redpath-’Confined’

2nd: Harlow Ganz-’End of Love’

2nd: Payton Riss-’Twisting and Untangling’

2nd: Sydney Ishaug-’Wave’

3rd: Lydia Werschay-’A Deal With Chaos’

3rd: Mini Preston-’Rosas’

3rd: Keira Redpath-’Send in the Clowns’

3rd: Lynlie Ferrin-’Visnaga’

4th: Ayla Pilrain-’Commit’

4th: Caleb Abea-’Slide’

4th: Livia Wambach-’Wild is the Wind’

5th: Faith Cichocki-’Analysis’

5th: Kylie Vandeest-’Recognition’

5th: Mercedes Lorentz-’Reminiscence’

6th: Peyton Anderson-’Anata’

6th: Ema Cable-’Come Back To Us’

6th: Ivan Beetoe-’Giving Up’

6th: Alexa Leonard-’Hit & Run’

6th: Madeline Raverty-’Reveal’

7th: Reese Noha-’Another Love’

7th: Bella Saferstein-’I Am The Earth’

7th: Noelle Bjork-’Underground’

7th: Audrey Healy-’Waves’

7th: Vanessa Barnes-’Yesterday’

7th: Grace Kimmel-’Your Day Will Come’

8th: Hannah Olstad-’Lonely’

8th: Grace Wolk-’Under Your Breath’

9th: Madden Zook-’After Rain’

9th: Caleigh Proulx-’Hold On’

9th: Julissa Ortiz-’Never Knock’

9th: Mallorie Byard-’The Chain’

9th: Lexi Cairney-’Voyage’

10th: Brooklyn Bengtson-’All I Want’

10th: Falyn Jones-’Darkness Before the Dawn’

10th: Peyton Kratochwill-’Lotus Bud’

10th: Katelyn Franta-’Turning Tables’

Senior Solo

1st: Bennet EspindaBanick-’In Vessel’

2nd: Elisabeth Pabich-’The Art of Dealing With Pain’

3rd: Sara Gutz-’2,3,4′

3rd: Kate Happe-’Ne Me Quitte Pas’

3rd: Adam Truesdell-’Vanishing Act’

4th: Haley Klemesrud-’10,000 Miles’

4th: Evelina Galimova-’Belly of the Beast’

4th: Halie Hauer-’Grieving’

5th: Minda Li-’Efforts to Reignite’

5th: Amanda Fitzgerald-’Millions of Eels’

5th: Miranda Shaugnessy-’Shift’

6th: Kelly Blahauvietz-’Blackbird’

6th: Lauren Sklar-’Night and Day’

7th: Olivia Johnson-’Days Gone Quiet’

7th: Lexi Heath-’Visions of Gideon’

8th: Sophie Cowgill-’Bird Gherl’

8th: Joshua Ukura-’Serendipity March’

9th: Joy Lyn Erlandson-’Quiver’

9th: Ally Nelson-’Snowing’

9th: Emma Sranske-’While We Are Young’

10th: Bella Cundiff-’I Will Love You’

Open Solo

1st: Thomas Nguyen-’Falling’

NUbie Duo/Trio

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Horizon’

2nd: Dance Vision-’Timber’

3rd: Ballaraena Dance Studio-’Dark Side’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Something’s Gotta Change’

2nd: The Dance Complex-’Crumbling’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Peel’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Birthday’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Dark’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Soldier’

3rd: Madill Performing Arts Center-’Vanishing’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Touch’

2nd: The Dance Complex-’Desired Constellations’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’She Moves’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Impermanence’

2nd: Dance, etc!-’Particles’

3rd: Dance, etc!-’New Skin’

Open Duo/Trio

1st: Acting in Motion-’End of Love’

NUbie Group

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’These Boots’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’The Waiting Room’

3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’As Long As You Love Me’

3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’I Will Wait’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Lullaby’

Mini Group

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’What Have You Done For Me Lately’

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’This Bitter Earth’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Jailhouse Rock’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Hallelujah’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Soon You’ll Get Better’

Junior Group

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Between These Hands’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Wolves’

Teen Group

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Paranoia’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Case of You’

3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’The Wolves’

Senior Group

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Fragment’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’What Is The Noise’

3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Dreams’

Mini Line

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Short Skirt, Long Jacket’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’This Way’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Imagine’

Junior Line

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whole Lotta Woman’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’It Wasn’t Always Like This’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Naive to the Bone’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Bathers’

Teen Line

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’You’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Rewind’

3rd: Dance, etc!-’Thistle and Weeds’

Senior Line

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Rapid City’

2nd: Dance, etc!-’Begin the Beguine’

NUbie Extended Line

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Glamorous’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Barbie and Ken’

3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Broadway Banana’

Mini Extended Line

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Of What Is’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Feeling Gorgeous’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Yankee Doodle Dandee’

3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Trouble’

Teen Extended Line

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Do You?’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Everybody Loves You’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Well Played’

3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’So Much Betta’

Senior Extended Line

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Yes & No’

2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Adrenaline’

3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Affair of Honor’

Junior Production

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Tiger Rag’

Teen Production

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Red Handed’

2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Digital Motion’

High Scores by Performance Division:

NUbie Jazz

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’These Boots’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Glamorous’ 3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Barbie and Ken’

NUbie Tap

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Broadway Banana’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Funky Y2C’

NUbie Contemporary

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’The Waiting Room’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’I Will Wait’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’As Long As You Love Me’

NUbie Lyrical

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Lullaby’ 2nd: Dance Vision-’Tightrope’ 3rd: Balleraena Dance Studio-’Battlefield’

NUbie Musical Theatre

Balleraena Dance Studio-’Unwritten Rules’

Mini Jazz

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Short Skirt, Long Jacket’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’What Have You Done For Me Lately’ 3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Feeling Gorgeous’

Mini Ballet

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’This Way’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Rosamunde’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Cats’ 3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whistle a Happy Tune’

Mini Hip-Hop

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Don’t Slack’ 2nd: Dance, etc!-’The Girls’

Mini Tap

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Yankee Doodle Dandee’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Choo Choo’ 3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Swing In The Mood’

Mini Contemporary

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Of What Is’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’This Bitter Earth’ 3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Imagine’

Mini Lyrical

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Dream In Color’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Soon You’ll Get Better’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Hallelujah’ 3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’The Lord’s Prayer’

Mini Musical Theatre

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’I’ve Got Rhythm’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’All That Jazz’ 3rd: Balleraena Dance Studio-’Someone In The Crowd’

Junior Jazz

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whole Lotta Woman’ 1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels’ 2nd: Dance, etc!-’Bassline’ 3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Time’

Junior Ballet

1st: Woodbury Dance Center-’Combust’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Bathers’

Junior Hip-Hop

Dance, etc!-’Comin In’

Junior Tap

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Tiger Rag’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Valerie’

Junior Contemporary

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Between These Hands’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Naive to the Bone’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’It Wasn’t Always Like This’ 3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Wolves’

Junior Lyrical

1st: Dance, etc!-’Half Light’ 2nd: Misty’s Dance Unlimited-’Head and Heart’

Teen Jazz

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’So Much Betta’ 2nd: Dance Express-’Bassline’ 3rd: Madill Performing Arts Center-’Move’

Teen Hip-Hop

Dance, etc!-’When I Move’

Teen Tap

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’25 Miles’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Things I Regret’ 3rd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Work Me Down’

Teen Contemporary

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Red Handed’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’You’ 3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Paranoia’

Teen Lyrical

1st: Dance, etc!-’People Help the People’ 2nd: Madill Performing Arts Center-’Found’

Teen Specialty

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Digital Motion’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Do You?’ 3rd: Madill Performing Arts Center-’Nine Two Five’

Senior Jazz

1st: Northland School of Dance-’London Bridge’ 2nd: Dance, etc!-’Begin the Beguine’ 3rd: Misty’s Dance Unlimited-’Another One Bites The Dust’

Senior Hip-Hop

1st: Dance, etc!-’Ani’ 2nd: Dynamic Dance Company-’Welcome To The Party’

Senior Contemporary

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Rapid City’ 2nd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Fragment’ 3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’Affair of Honor’

Senior Lyrical

1st: Summit Dance Shoppe-’A Beautiful Reminder’ 2nd: Dynamic Dance Company-’Leave A Light On’ 3rd: Misty’s Dance Unlimited-’Conformed’

Senior Specialty

1st: Larkin Dance Studio-’Yes & No’ 2nd: Summit Dance Shoppe-’Adrenaline’ 3rd: Larkin Dance Studio-’What Is The Noise’

Best NU Groups:

NUbie

Larkin Dance Studio-’These Boots’

Summit Dance Shoppe-’Lullaby’

Dance Vision-’Barbie Girl’

Mini

Larkin Dance Studio-’Short Skirt, Long Jacket’

Dance, etc!-’Le Freak’

Dance Vision-’Slip Away’

Summit Dance Shoppe-’What Have You Done For Me Lately’

Junior

Larkin Dance Studio-’Between These Hands’

Summit Dance Shoppe-’Whole Lotta Woman’

Woodbury Dance Center-’Combust’

Teen

Dance Vision-’Modern Loneliness’

Madill Performing Arts Center-’Nine Two Five’

Summit Dance Shoppe-’Do You?’

Larkin Dance Studio-’Red Handed’

Senior

Summit Dance Shoppe-’Adrenaline’

Larkin Dance Studio-’Rapid City’

Northland School of Dance-’London Bridge’

Studio Pick:

Summit Dance Shoppe-’Adrenaline’

Dance Vision-’Modern Loneliness’

Larkin Dance Studio-’Rapid City’

Dance, etc!-’Thistle and Weeds’

Balleraena Dance Studio-’Unworthy’

[shamelesslypoetic]

Demolition Lovers

Summary: Remus is honestly kinda scary, but also kinda cute. So in an attempt to defy all the toxic restrictions placed on him throughout his life, the ever anxious perpetually terrified Virgil strides right up to this real life Disney villian and gets his number.

Wordcount: 964

Pairings: Dukexiety

Warnings: Past child abuse (only one line), Virge is a bit spooked at first and there's referencing to the devil's tango plus a relationship that would be considered vaguely unhealthy by normal standards. But it's them and they're working on it.

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A young man clad in black entered a coffee shop, hands shaking, the hoodie slung over his head keeping rain and eye contact alike away from him. Narrowing further in on a dark smudge across a wish-wash backdrop, the chinkling ring of a bell guided Virgil Subti into the nearest warm building as he managed to evade the downpour outside. Might as well have a cuppa coffee too. 

Finally safe, he allowed himself a sigh of relief, only for it to lodge back, strong enough it caused his lungs to spasm. Virgil had spent his whole life being afraid. So it was safe to say that when he met Remus’ eye across the crowded Starbucks that first time, jumping out of his skin waged itself a reasonable reaction against that murky stare. 

An undue overwhelming desire for his mother’s curry overtook him as he stepped further into the aromatics of coffee. He didn’t miss her, he didn’t miss wooden spoons on his face or an insistent screaming telling him who to be but he didn’t know what to do without her. Even after all these years. Anushka would tell him to look away, angle his eyes downwards, keep quiet and hide behind the long curtain of hair he’d long since gotten rid of. He couldn’t even call her ‘maan’ anymore. She wouldn’t have recognized him anyway and he was better for it. 

For once without thinking, Virgil strode right towards the lip-pierced, tattooed, skull-shirted mass of dark skin and even darker eyes behind the counter, line of sight falling to an abandoned coffee cup. “Is this someone’s order?”

Remus, as his name tag had supplied, gave a slow lazy grin like the Cheshire cat’s. Virgil could swear he saw hints of blood on those pointed teeth, glinting in the shop’s lights, promising threats. “Not if you’re the one who’s asking, emocake. I can whip another one right up.”

Get up get up get up get up!

Virgil ignored the mantra in his brain even as it sang on.

Run away run away run away!

As he busied himself with fixing a new coffee, Remus’ voice held the air with a rasp, high-pitched and grating to hear. “Come here often?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Virgil paused for effect, taking a sip of bitterly cold brew as he crossed his legs on the rolling chair. “That depends on if you come here often.”

Remus cackled and it resounded in Virgil’s ribs, loud and unabashed, something oddly fascinating in the way it resembled a Disney villain’s laugh. Virgil smiled, another knot in his shoulders loosening.  

“I myself just recently moved from home.” He attempted a laugh in return, with great emphasis on his attempt. The wheezed whistle gurgling out of his chest bore no resemblance to that carefree sound. Then again, Virgil had never been carefree. “Long way away so you’ll be seeing me around plenty.”

“Where’s home?” 

Maybe with Remus, though, he could be. Though his words themselves were light they felt predatory, the way his voice muffled everything else to muted whispers demanding an answer where a refusal wasn’t permitted. Virgil wanted to give freely, make his own choice in this, no matter how bad it may be. No matter how much Anushka would disapprove. And so he did. “India, south of Raipur.”

That grin froze on Remus’ broad features. The narrow mysterious eyes, pointed nose and the faint stubble shadowing over the curling lips that resembled less a smile and more a snarl. Beautiful, in an odd sort of way. 

“Remus Martinez,” he drawled, extending his hand. A muted, inky red covered his nails and as Virgil reached out, he met paper dry skin, calloused enough to cut into his. 

“Virgil,” he said in a daze, blinking slowly at the light bronze pressed against his deep sepia, at how perfectly they fit. “Virgil Subti.”

Virgil left with a number sprawled across the palm of his hand in permanent ink that day, a messy chicken scratch script that dug with reckless abandon into his skin. A brand he would cherish for weeks to come. 

Remus gave Virgil everything he wanted. Whether nights spent drowning his pain in skin, in knife-sharp hips, teeth at his throat and nails digging across his back, or cuddles infused with sweet nothings whispered late into the night, sometimes harsh truths, other times pretty lies. All there, laid out before him in a maddening juxtaposition against everything Remus acted like to the outside world. Rude, blunt and abrasive, sincere and open only for Virgil in a way he’d only ever dreamed of. A carnage of common sense. 

Virgil knew this wasn’t well, entirely healthy. His dependence on the other gave him hours sick to his stomach and heart, eyes burning, head pounding, but they still pushed on. Together. Because, in his addled state of mind after their sweat had cooled, Virgil reminded himself of the striking resemblance between them, the understanding no one else could make sense of. The comfort two castaway souls found in each other’s company. 

Remus’ core, rotten and defective through and through, reeked a bit worse each day that passed. To everyone else, at least. Virgil always found him beautiful, beautiful like silvery scars and glimmering glass shards. 

Remus’ voice rang through their apartment every night long after what would be considered acceptable by anyone else’s standards. You could never shut him up. Virgil never wanted him to, but he still occasionally pulled that ever-babbling mouth to his mid sentence, if only to taste that sharp grin, if only to have Remus lick the coppery tang away from his boyfriend’s lip the moment after he bit into it. 

Maybe between the two of them and even in the face of society’s rejection, they could work something out. 

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A/N: The last episode was amazing but I was missing my two babies and this fic has been sitting in my docs for a while so I buckled up and did the remaining work on it. Hope you like it! And I hope the words are treating you well whether you're reading or writing. Also don't forget to drink water! <3

Tag list (ask to be added/removed): @drown-in-lava-choke-on-rubies @ymmm-someone @seouqi

[sagehaleyofficial]

HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED THIS WEEK (8.12-8.18.20):

NEW MUSIC:

Like Moths to Flames announced the details of their upcoming album, No Eternity in Gold, which is scheduled for release on October 30. The album will consist of 11 tracks, including the recent single “Habitual Decline.”

Cold Years released a music video for the song “Life With a View,” off of their upcoming album Paradise out September 4. The video focuses on the band as they explore the shores of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Evanescence dropped a new single titled “Use My Voice,” which arrived last Friday. The song features Halestorm's Lzzy Hale, Lindsey Stirling, the Pretty Reckless' Taylor Momsen and Within Temptation's Sharon Den Adel, among others.

Seaway revealed the details for their new album, Big Vibe, which will drop on October 16 via Pure Noise Records. The title track, which is inspired by 80’s power pop, dropped last Wednesday.

Yungblud released a new collaboration with rapper Denzel Curry titled “Lemonade.” The song was notably featured on the soundtrack for the video game, Madden NFL 21.

After announcing their signing to Fearless Records, Chase Atlantic released a new song titled “Out the Roof.” The song’s music video features the use of Black Hawk helicopters, dune buggies and flames throwers.

Weezer’s new song, “Beginning of the End,” is set to appear on the soundtrack for the upcoming film Bill & Ted Face the Music. In an Instagram post, they confirmed their new album Van Weezer will arrive in May 2021.

Machine Gun Kelly debuted their music video for his recent single, “Concert for Aliens.” The track is taken from his upcoming album Tickets to My Downfall, which is scheduled to release on September 25. 

Travis Mills, formerly known as T. Mills, announced his return to music with his new pop punk duo Girlfriends, alongside Nick Gross. The band released their debut single “California” last Monday.

The Dirty Nil announced the title of their new album, F*ck Art, set for release later this year. They released its first single, “Doom Boy,” a combo of classic thrash metal and rock n’ roll.

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Papa Roach played a special in-studio livestream, where they played songs from their album Infest in full. Singer Jacoby Shaddix revealed to Rock Sound that they are also working on another version of “Last Resort” featuring three guest vocalists.

Grayscale announced the dates for their first ever UK headlining shows, following the release of their recent reworked EP. The short run will kick off in Manchester on May 28 and end in Birmingham on June 3.

OTHER NEWS:

Paramore’s hit song “Still Into You” was certified platinum in the United Kingdom, the equivalent of 600,000 sales. It marks the second of the band's tracks to hit platinum, with “Misery Business” reaching the certification last December.

iHeartMedia launched the campaign “Why I'm Voting,” which was recently joined by Fall Out Boy. The band also signed an open letter, alongside Panic! at the Disco, Linkin Park and Green Day, to demand candidates get consent to use their music.

Night Riots announced they are going on an indefinite hiatus. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of their album New State of Mind, they dropped a variety of demos, remixes and live tracks from the record.

Linkin Park announced the details of a massive deluxe edition of their album Hybrid Theory, which will be released as a box set. Dropping on October 9, the album will feature “She Couldn't,” a demo track from 1999.

Enter Shikari revealed they have partnered with their local football club, St. Albans City, for a special shirt sponsorship. The shirt was first worn at the team's pre-season match with Hashtag United this past Saturday.

Foo Fighters launched reprints of two retro 1995 tour shirts. All proceeds from the sales will be donated to the #SaveOurVenues and the National Independent Venue Association’s #SaveOurStages campaigns.

Pete Way, founding bassist for UFO and former touring bassist for Ozzy Osbourne, passed away at age 69. In recent years, Way also performed with the Michael Schenker Group and the Pete Way Band.

Twenty One Pilots' song “The Hype” has been certified gold in the United States. The track is featured on the band's latest full-length Trench, which was certified platinum back in May. 

___

Check in next Tuesday for more “Posi Talk with Sage Haley,” only at @sagehaleyofficial!

[scarletraven1001]

Chained

Summary: He was a prisoner behind the palace gates. She was the hostage of a mired society. Together, they find the will to escape their fates, and the strength to break their chains.

An Aladdin AU. Inspired by this beautiful NovAUmber art of @rutbisbe.

Rated M.

Also on Ao3.

8-8-8-8-8

Note: Hey, look who’s got another new story! While still writing so many others! LOL!

Forgive me. I couldn’t help it. The art was too good. The premise was so beautiful. My heart and soul were screaming for me to write this. And now, here we are!

I do hope you all enjoy this!

8-8-8-8-8

Chapter 1: The Escape

8-8-8-8-8

Run.

That one word was at the forefront of his mind, while his feet carried him manically, rapidly and euphorically away from the only home he had ever known.

His perpetual prison...

The Palace of Kuldahbar…

Sweat dripped down his temple, but not from the exertion, no, never from the exertion.

He was a machine, a boundless source of power and energy, and it was this unique anomaly in his physiology that had led him to such a life.

Run.

Run.

The gates were in his sight, for the first time since he could remember. The golden turrets teased him mercilessly, taunting him with how they seemed so close, he could just reach out and-

A sudden rustling in the trees a few feet away sent his senses into overdrive, and he panicked, tripping over his own legs in his haste, plummeting face-first onto a copse of bushes.

He caught himself mid-fall, his palm pushing against the grass to launch him into a perfect somersault, his trim body spinning in the air until his feet met the ground once more.

Run!

They could find out about his escape any minute now, and he was so close, so, so close…

The gates were just a few feet away…

RUN!

8-8-8-8-8

“Go to hell, you asshole. This couldn’t possibly be worth more than two zenals!”

Bulma huffed as she held a small loaf of bread in her hand, and she glared once more at the greedy baker who clearly wanted more than just money from her in exchange for a tiny bit of food.

“It is eight zenals, pretty girl. Take it or leave it,” he said, holding his hand out for the bread that he knew she would not be able to afford.

With a growl, she almost threw the bread back at him, and as she turned around, she could still feel the man’s beady eyes on her, watching her as she walked stiffly away.

She raised her hands to her head to adjust her hijab, the long shawl that hid her hair as was customary in Kuldahbar, making sure that not a single blue strand was hanging out.

Her blue eyes scanned her surroundings, desperate to find a woman selling wares, but unfortunately, the Grand Bazaar was a man’s world, and all she got were leering stares and catcalls as she frustratedly made her way through the streets.

She hated this place.

How she dreamed of someday leaving the thick walls of Kuldahbar, so she could find a better life for herself.

Bulma knew that she could be so much more than this, a street rat who lived in an abandoned tower on the eastern side of the city.

She sighed to herself as she saw her only companion, her cat, Scratch, make her way towards her, head tilted in question.

“Sorry, girl,” Bulma whispered as she leaned down so that the black feline can climb unto her shoulder. “I don’t have anything today. Looks like we’ll just have to find food through tougher means.”

Scratch simply meowed at her, and Bulma sighed again.

Her melancholy followed her all the way home, to the tall but haphazardly constructed building that stood alone on the top of a small hill. It was the remains of a shop destroyed by a fire, abandoned by its owners in the belief that the spot was inauspicious, causing them bad luck.

Their bad luck, was Bulma’s fortune.

She had claimed one of the top-most rooms, four floors up, and as she parted the flimsy curtains that served as her entrance to her extremely humble abode, she looked around at her belongings, all bits and pieces of things that she had found strewn around town.

Her bed was a cushion stuffed with cotton from discarded pillows, with blankets stitched together from random quilts that she had salvaged from other people’s garbage. She had two chairs that she had hammered together from excess wood from a nearby construction, hacked together with nails that she had literally picked up from a warehouse.

Her favorite part though, was the raised bit of concrete that were the remains of what seemed like a counter, which overlooked a large gap in a wall, giving her a clear view of the entire city.

At the very end of the horizon, stood The Grand Palace.

She smiled wistfully as she looked at the gorgeous structure, with its pristine white walls and sharply angled roofs. The intricate detailing on the edges of the gates called out to her, and not for the first time, Bulma wished that she had been born into a more prosperous life.

It would have been wonderful to be a princess, living in such splendor, with servants and guards at her beck and call, and a beautiful, soft bed that was made out of fresh feathers and silk.

Pulling her legs closer to herself, she leaned back, simply staring at the view.

“Someday,” she vowed. “Someday, my life will be different.”

8-8-8-8-8

It was another day in the marketplace, and Bulma was irritated.

She was trying so, so hard to make an honest living. But how was she supposed to make any progress when she was surrounded by crooks?

Granted, their Sultan was a horrible ruler, and his corruption trickled fluidly down into the very edges of society, so everybody in the horrible hellhole of Kuldahbar was a willing accomplice.

She was hungry, and Scratch was hungry, and they needed food.

The only option left was to steal it.

“Alright Scratch. Just like we practiced. Now, go,” she pushed the cat, and as she watched the small creature distract the shopkeeper, Bulma leaned down from her perch on top of a small wooden cart.

She had a small gadget that acted as extenders for grasping objects, and she used the scissor-like mechanism to reach forward, quickly swiping a loaf of bread and a piece of dried fish while the owner was angrily shooing her persistent pet.

After she had her items, she jumped off the cart, running quickly to crouch into a concealed corner, heart beating loudly at the adrenaline, even while she rejoiced at the fact that she finally had food again.

Bulma glanced back, and saw Scratch completely acing her ‘performance’.

She giggled. The black fur ball didn’t seem to realize that the show was over.

She pursed her lips, emitting a soft huff that only her cat could hear. This was their signal, and with that, Scratch happily moved, running back into their agreed-upon hiding place.

“Good girl!” Bulma greeted, and she happily ruffled the black fur below her cat’s chin.

She moved to put her stolen food into a small bag she had at her side, placing it beside an apple that she had lifted from another cart earlier.

Patting the dust off of her worn pants, she stood, and she was about to walk away when she heard the commotion.

“Thief!” she heard a deep voice yell, and panicked that she had been found, her wide blue eyes searched her surroundings for the expected angry shopkeeper.

Yet, there was no one threatening to bludgeon her for her theft, and now that she really thought about it, the screaming was a bit too far from her current hiding place.

Curious, Bulma peeked out from behind the wooden panels that hid her from view, brushing back the hair that had slipped out of her hijab.

What she found both amused and surprised her.

A man of slightly below average height was struggling cautiously against the owner of a nearby fruit stall. By his actions, it seemed as if he wasn’t even sure what to do, as he seemed hesitant, more confused than actually afraid of the humongous man who held him by the arm, a large sword poised threateningly over his covered head.

He had his back to her, but from what Bulma could see, he was dressed in rather fine clothes. His head cover was of what looked to be satin, and he wore a dark cloak that was trimmed in strips of golden silk. He had shiny metal bands around his arms, and his thin slippers were of fine leather.

“He’s a thief?” she muttered, watching as his head cover fell off his head, pooling around his broad shoulders in the struggle.

His hair was dark, swept up into the shape of furious flames, and his skin was a smooth caramel.

He turned her way slightly, and she gasped.

He had naturally-narrowed eyes that were open widely in his confusion, and plump lips the color of ripe peaches. His face was beautifully-angled, with a sharp jaw that led down into a strong chin.

“Wow,” she breathed, transfixed.

That was one fine looking man.

She snapped out of her staring, however, when she noticed that the hulking shop owner had lifted the sword, about to take a swing that would surely sever the man’s arm.

Without another thought, Bulma leapt into action.

8-8-8-8-8

It was all too much.

The smells, the sights, the utter chaos was beautiful, and he took in a deep breath, uncaring as his sensitive nose was painfully-assaulted by the mixture of sweat, spices and freshly-made food.

So this was what a street market was like!

He looked around at all the people hawking their wares, men of different shapes and sizes, selling fruit, jewelry, small metal gadgets, wooden spoons and earthen pots.

It was maddening!

He picked up the sharp scent of pepper and curry, the gentle aroma of white and green teas, the mouthwatering smell of sugar wafting from a nearby table filled with tiny cakes and bread.

He turned around, pulling his cloak tighter against himself as he listened to the clanking of metal pans, the arguments and haggling of people, the twittering of birds and the sound of horse hooves a short distance away.

The colorful rugs arrested his attention, and he moved closer to a particularly attractive one, a blue carpet with various colorful threads weaving into the tapestry, and golden bits of string hanging out of each corner.

It was only that morning, as he finally looked up into skies that were unobstructed by domed ceilings, that he realized how glorious the color blue truly was.

It was all so utterly confounding, but he was elated, overjoyed to be in the midst of all the uncontrolled disorder.

He moved past the carpets, and gazed confusedly at a pile of rounded fruits in different shades of orange, red and yellow. Were those all apples?

He was pulled from his wonderings when, in the midst of all the scents that were assailing him from all angles, a sudden whiff of something… strangely alluring… brushed past his nose.

It was a seductive mix of jasmine and springtime, of unmistakable beauty and strength, and he stiffened when every part of him went on high alert, his heart pounding in his ears.

He looked up, sniffing eagerly at the air, trying to determine the source of the incredible scent.

Up… up… up…

When the source of the scent became clear, his hawk-like eyes zeroed in on the roof of a small cart, a barely noticeable little structure that was due to collapse at any second.

A small black creature jumped out, but before he could follow it with his gaze, he spied a thin tool made of what looked like wood and worn metal begin to peak out, and, amused, he watched as the pincer-like edges caught onto a brown loaf of bread before quickly retracting.

It slipped out again, only to grab onto a small piece of fish, and a small smirk tugged at the sides of his lips when the person operating the gadget straightened, revealing a small head wrapped in cloth, followed by slender shoulders cloaked in a very worn-out brown vest.

A soft gust of wind blew past, making the cloth on the person’s head flutter, pulling with it a thick lock of silky, blue hair.

Blue hair…

The person turned, and his breath caught in his throat, the sight stunning him into motionlessness for the short second that it took for the person to jump off the roof and into the shadows below.

For the crafty person was a woman; a breathtaking woman, with wide, clear blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and plump lips pulled up into a grin, looking softer than the silk that he wore on his shoulders.

He stood on tip-toes, trying in vain to see where she had gone, and it was as he was desperately trying to find her with his gaze that a small boy moved beside him, apparently reaching for one of the small fruits.

Distractedly, he reached down, picked up a fruit, and handed it to the boy, who then took off with barely a glance back at him.

He took a step forward, intending to find the woman, but a heavy, large hand took hold of his arm, pulling him out of his daze.

“Oi, little man,” a gruff, angry voice said, making him turn to face the source.

A man who looked at least twice his size loomed over him, holding tightly onto his arm, close to the metal cuffs on his wrist.

“Yes?” he asked.

“You gave my fruit away. I expect payment,” the man said, and he noticed that the man had reached down, apparently trying to grab something hidden beneath his fruits.

He was confused. “Payment?”

“Ha!” the man cried. “Thief!”

He noticed several heads turn towards them, and a few gasps were heard from the surrounding patrons when the man pulled out a large, curved sword.

Confused, he tried to pull his arm back, but the man held tightly, lifting his other hand to raise his sword threateningly over his head.

He tried to pull back again, this time with a bit more force, and the movement made the cloth covering his head loosen, falling to pool around his shoulders.

With wide eyes, he took in the man who was turning redder by the second, who was screaming different variations of the word ‘thief’ at him, and he snapped out of his shocked confusion when he realized that the man was about to bring his sword down onto his exposed arm.

It took barely a second for his defenses to rise, as he felt his ki unfurl from within his chest, his spark of anger making the energy from inside him begin to burst forth.

His free hand began to gather up power, and he knew that this man was about to die.

“Wait!”a small voice called, halting both him and the large man, as both turned around to find who had spoken.

He felt his eyes widen, the ki in his hand dissipating into thin air.

It was the girl, the one with the blue hair and eyes, but now she stood with her hair fully-concealed, a sheepish grin curving her pink lips.

“Mister, thank you so much for finding my husband!” she cried, pulling on his free arm with surprising strength.

The large man seemed surprised too, as he let go of his arm, dropping the sword to the ground.

He recovered a second later, big eyes red with fury. “Woman, your husband is a thief! He stole my fruit!”

“Oh, he did! I am so sorry!” she cried.

Then, turning to him, she lifted a slender hand up to slap softly at his arm. “Habibi. Apologize!”

“What?” he asked, confounded.

The girl then turned back to the man. “He just got back from being a war hostage, see. He is very confused. Please forgive him!”

“But…”

“Here,” she began, as she dug into her bag, pulling out another red fruit. “Please take this as compensation. I will keep him away from your store from now on.”

The large man begrudgingly took the fruit, and with a grin, the woman grabbed his arm and began to pull him from the store and away from the prying eyes of the people surrounding them.

Completely confused now, he followed dumbly, and when they were finally out of sight of everyone else, she let out a relieved breath, releasing her hold on his arm.

“Wow. That was close,” she said, before she turned around and lifted her gaze up to his.

Her smile was so bright that it could have blinded him, but he soaked it up, stunned by the naughty sparkle that he spied in her eyes' blue depths.

“Hey. The next time you decide to steal something from the Grand Bazaar, at least make sure you don’t get caught, alright?” she said.

He just nodded, jumping slightly when something soft and fuzzy brushed across his foot.

“Here, Scratch!” she called, motioning for the small creature to stay beside her.

He looked up at her again, mouth gaping, as he tried to find his voice.

“Umm… thank you,” he finally managed, and he watched as the woman’s smile widened.

“You’re welcome,” she answered, before she held out a hand to him. “The name’s Bulma, by the way. And you are?”

He stared at her hand, and slowly, hesitantly reached out to hold it in his much larger grip.

Something akin to lightning rushed through his veins as he touched her, and with a gulp, he stared into her eyes, strangely finding the will to speak as he took in the mesmerizing shimmer of her gaze.

“My name,” he started. “My name is Vegeta.”

She giggled. “Nice to meet you, Vegeta.”

8-8-8-8-8

To be continued…

[brandi-the-fine-girl]

76th Golden Globe Awards Predictions

Let’s be real here.  The Golden Globes are the biggest joke of Hollywood (right after the Emmy’s that is).  Remember when they nominated The Tourist in the Comedy/Musical category?  Or when they gave the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress to Jennifer Lawrence instead of Lupita Nyong’o?  Or when Get Out was nominated in Comedy/Musical (even though, yes, it was a dark comedy at times)?

So it comes as no surprise that this year’s list of nominees follows the same path.  The Golden Globes are the biggest wild card of all award shows and the Hollywood Foreign Press loves to throw curveballs.  With that said, here are my predictions for the 76th Golden Globe Awards.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Will win:  A Star Is Born

Should win:  A Star Is Born

Dark Horse:  Black Panther

Look, I loved Black Panther.  And the fact that it has gained this much momentum during award season is a victory for Marvel Studios.  But I’m expecting a sweep for A Star Is Born.  Now, that doesn’t mean ASIB will maintain this momentum for the rest of award season.  The HFPA likes to play favorites and I’m sure ASIB will be this year’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (which won four Golden Globes last year).  But a win for Black Panther would be huge and make it a bigger contender for the Oscars.

Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical

Will win:  Green Book

Should win:  Crazy Rich Asians

Dark Horse:  Mary Poppins Returns

The Comedy/Musical category is always the oddball category (see above about The Tourist and Get Out).  And it’s typically the category where anyone can win.  I’m going to go with Green Book since it won the People’s Choice at TIFF this year but with a diverse voting roster (it is the Hollywood FOREIGN Press after all), I wouldn’t count out Crazy Rich Asians.

Best Director

Will win: Alfonso Cuaron, Roma

Should win:  Alfonso Cuaron, Roma

Dark Horse:  Adam McKay, Vice

For me, I believe this is the only category A Star Is Born will not win.  Cuaron’s beautifully stunning and heartbreaking semi-autobiographical film was featured on Obama’s list of films he saw in 2018.  Bradley Cooper’s first directorial feature is a stunning accomplishment but it doesn’t match Cuaron’s ability to paint the anguish and loss in Roma.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Will win: Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born

Should win:  Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody

Dark Horse:  John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman

With a possible loss in the Directing category, Bradley will most like scoop up the Actor in a Drama award.  Sure, his character was doomed from the start and it makes for a great challenge for an actor like Bradley.  But Rami’s complete transformation into Freddie Mercury has me convinced he should win.  Don’t count out John David Washington in BlacKkKlansman though.  He’s new to the scene as an actor (he is Denzel Washington’s son) but his performance is definitely one to look out for.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Will win:  Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born

Should win:  Glenn Close, The Wife

Dark Horse:  Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Once again, I’m predicting a sweep for A Star Is Born but I don’t think Lady Gaga will snag two Oscars come Oscar night (that is, if she is nominated for songwriting and Best Actress).  Glenn Close is well overdue for some awards love and it seems like her time might come.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical

Will win:  Christian Bale, Vice

Should win:  Christian Bale, Vice

Dark Horse:  Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Poppins Returns

It’s hard for me to choose anyone else when Christian Bale is in a category.  This is the man that got rail thin for his roles in The Machinist and The Fighter (the latter of which he did win Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars) and bulked up for Batman Begins (gaining 100 pounds) almost six months after filming The Machinist.  His transformation into the notorious Dick Cheney seems like typical awards bait to me.  But let’s not count out the lovable Lin-Manuel Miranda.  The man works hard on stage and screen.  I’d love to see a win for him

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical

Will win:  Olivia Colman, The Favourite

Should win:  Constance Wu, Crazy Rich Asians

Dark Horse:  Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns

The category is such a wild card for me.  I’m sure by the end of 2019, everyone will know who Olivia Colman is.  From the little bit I’ve seen of The Favourite, she’s amazing.  However, I do think Constance Wu is more deserving of the accolades.  This category could really go to anyone and with the lovable Emily Blunt also nominated, it could possibly go to the legendary Mary Poppins herself.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Will win:  Mahershala Ali, Green Book

Should win:  Timothée Chalamet, Beautiful Boy

Dark Horse:  Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman

Look, before you rip me to shreds, here me out.  I have loved Mahershala Ali since he was on House of Cards and he was painfully robbed in 2017 when the HFPA gave Best Supporting Actor to Aaron Taylor-Johnson instead of Mahershala.  It feels like Mahershala deserves the accolades as a “sorry we gave it to someone else and then you ended up winning the Oscar anyways.”  However, I just watched Beautiful Boy last night and Timothée kills it.  I’m not some crazy fangirl.  I just know a good performance when I see one.  Let’s not count out Adam Driver, though, who knocks it out of the park in BlacKkKlansman.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Will win: Amy Adams, Vice

Should win:  Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

Dark Horse:  Claire Foy, First Man

Since Amy Adams most likely won’t win for Best Actress in Mini Series (more on that later), I’m hoping this is where she gets her due.  The woman is long overdue for the awards love (a lot like Glenn Close).  She’s basically the female Leonardo DiCaprio, if you must.  The fact that Regina King did not nab a SAG Award nomination for If Beale Street Could Talk is a little ominous (side note: the acting branch is the largest branch of the Academy and a lack of SAG nomination is very telling).  I like to hope that she can pick up a Globe as recognition for her stunning work.  To me, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone split the vote so my Dark Horse goes to Claire Foy.  I wouldn’t be surprised if HFPA voters’ obsession with her throws us a curveball in this category.

Best Screenplay

Will win:  Adam McKay, Vice

Should win:  Alfonso Cuaron, Roma

Dark Horse:  Bryan Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, Green Book

This is usually a difficult category considering the Oscars split the Screenplay category into Adapted and Original.  The HFPA likes to play it safe by awarding previous winners and nominees so I’m going with Adam McKay who won the Oscar for The Big Short.  Alfonso Cuaron is equally deserving if Best Director doesn’t go his way.  But come Oscar time, I’m expecting a win for Green Book.

Best Original Score

Will win:  Alexandre Desplat, Isle of Dogs

Should win:  Ludwig Goransson, Black Panther

Dark Horse:  Marco Beltrami, A Quiet Place

Alexandre Desplat won last year for The Shape of Water (a well-deserved win if I do say so myself) but I feel Ludwig Goransson may have a chance here.

Best Original Song

Will win:  “Shallow”

Should win:  “Shallow” or “All The Stars”

Dark Horse:  “Girl in the Movies”

Probably the easiest category of the evening.  You can’t turn on any radio station without hearing “Shallow.”  And rightfully so.  The dynamic between Bradley and Gaga is mesmerizing and Gaga’s high note is the most memorable part of it.  However, I wouldn’t mind some recognition to “All The Stars.”  Personally, I feel like “Pray For Me” is the better song but let’s give some love to Kendrick and SZA if we can.

Best Animated Feature Film

Will win: The Incredibles 2

Should win:  The Incredibles 2

Dark Horse:  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

I mean, no contest, this one goes to The Incredibles 2.  Very rarely does Pixar lose an award (exceptions go to Cars 2 and Monsters University) but if it does, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse might take it.

Best Foreign Language Film

Will win:  Roma

Should win:  Roma

Dark Horse:  Girl

Again, no contest, Roma.  But Girl could take it since it won the Caméra d’Or and the Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018.  Unfortunately, the film did not make the short list for the Best Foreign Language Film category for this year’s Oscars so maybe it may get its due here.

Best Television Series - Drama

Will win:  The Americans

Should win:  The Americans

Dark Horse:  Pose

After six seasons, The Americans ended on a high note.  It felt painfully under-appreciated at the Emmys this year, so maybe this is where it will get its due.  However, don’t overlook Pose since everything Ryan Murphy touches turns to awards gold.

Best Television Series - Comedy/Musical

Will win:  Barry

Should win:  Barry

Dark Horse:  Kidding

After winning big at the Emmys, I’m predicting some major love for Barry.  The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is last year’s winner which may hinder Barry’s chances but the HFPA does tend to choose different winners every year.

Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Will win:  Matthew Rhys, The Americans

Should win:  Matthew Rhys, The Americans

Dark Horse:  Richard Madden, Bodyguard

After scooping up an Emmy, Matthew Rhys will probably continue his awards sweep with a Golden Globe.  Billy Porter may give him a run for his money in Pose (he was also wonderful in American Horror Story: Apocalypse).  If we want a shocker, the HFPA could go with Richard Madden in Bodyguard.  Good looks aside, Madden portrays a former British Army sergeant with PTSD fantastically.  It is unclear if Bodyguard has been greenlit for a second season but a Globes win might cement that status.

Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama

Will win: Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

Should win:  Keri Russell, The Americans

Dark Horse:  Julia Roberts, Homecoming

One half of our emcees for the evening, expect Sandra Oh to pick up a Globe as well.  Keri Russell was horribly robbed at the Emmys so she is more deserving for her final season of The Americans.  America’s Sweetheart Julia Roberts is a threat to these two with the inaugural season of her Amazon Prime series Homecoming.  Here’s where you can possibly expect a big shocker but I’m still sticking with Ms. Christina Yang herself.

Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical

Will win:  Bill Hader, Barry

Should win:  Bill Hader, Barry

Dark Horse:  Jim Carrey, Kidding

I’ve always had a soft spot for Bill Hader since he was on Saturday Night Live.  Starring as a former Marine-turned hitman-turned aspiring actor is the most Bill Hader thing that Bill Hader could possibly do.  Jim Carrey has been placing himself more in the comedy/drama (aka “dramedy”) category as of recent years so don’t count him out in this race.

Best Actress in a Television Series - Comedy/Musical

Will win:  Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Should win:  Alison Brie, GLOW

Dark Horse:  Kristen Bell, The Good Place

Rachel Brosnahan could possibly be a repeat winner here.  Season two of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is getting just as great reviews as season one did (if not as great, then better).  Personally, I feel Alison Brie deserves it but Candice Bergen may come through with the win as well.  However, this Kristen Bell’s first-ever Golden Globe nomination so she could very well take it.

Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film

Will win:  Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Should win:  Darren Criss, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Dark Horse:  Hugh Grant, A Very English Scandal

We’ve come a long way since A Very Potter Musical, haven’t we?  Darren Criss’s portrayal as Versace’s murderer Andrew Cunanan is one of the best performances I’ve seen in recent years.  The creepy smile underneath his hand as he sees the news that Versace has been killed makes him a lock for this category.

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film

Will win:  Laura Dern, The Tale

Should win:  Amy Adams, Sharp Objects

Dark Horse:  Regina King, Seven Seconds

Like I said above, I’m hoping Amy Adams will get her due in the Best Supporting Actress category because it seems like she won’t get it here.  Laura Dern is a favorite of the HFPA so she most likely will win.  Amy Adams is the more deserving here but if things don’t work out for Best Supporting Actress, I’m hoping the HFPA does a flip-flop gives it to her here.  Regina King won the Emmy for Seven Seconds but she seems like a long shot here.

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film

Will win:  Henry Winkler, Barry

Should win:  Edgar Ramirez, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Dark Horse:  Kieran Culkin, Succession

It’s always been odd to me that the Golden Globes don’t split their supporting television categories.  Sure, it makes for great competition but it’s also incredibly unfair.  I’m going with Henry Winkler in Barry (who was well overdue for that Emmy) but Edgar Ramirez definitely should be the winner in my eyes.  Kieran Culkin (the only nominee for HBO’s Succession) could pull a surprise win here.

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film

Will win:  Penélope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Should win: Penélope Cruz, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story OR Patricia Clarkson, Sharp Objects OR Thandie Newton, Westworld

Dark Horse:  Yvonne Strahovski, The Handmaid’s Tale

This is, quite possibly, the most competitive category of the entire award show.  And, yet again, another reason why it’s absurd that the Golden Globes don’t split their supporting television categories.  Alex Borstein and Thandie Newton both have the upper hand in this category since they both won Emmys in the supporting actress categories in comedy and drama, respectively. But their recent Emmy wins could cancel them out, making way for either Penélope Cruz or Patricia Clarkson to nab the award.  I’m going with Penélope though since she was robbed of the Emmy.  I am hoping for an Emmy win for Patricia Clarkson come September.

Best Miniseries or Television Film

Will win:  The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Should win:  The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Dark Horse:  A Very English Scandal

Riveting from start to finish with stunning performances from the cast, Versace is a lock.  In any other year, I’d give it to Sharp Objects but the show also lagged a bit.  If I hadn’t read the book, I might have been bored.  The series was more of a performance piece for the actors instead of being a masterpiece as a whole.  Versace has it all.  And, of course, it’s another Ryan Murphy masterpiece.  

Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh host the 76th Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 6 at 8 pm EST/5:00 pm PST.

[jaymariottisantamonica-blog]

The Lightning Rod of Sports Journalism Explains What on Earth He's Doing In San Francisco

In the lobby of the Twitter building, which is near the Uber building and the Dolby building and a residential tower where $5,500 a month will get you 969 square feet and a parking spot, I visit a gourmet market that makes Saison look like Burger King. I examine a $75 bottle of 2007 Fiorita Brunello, check out a $67 jug of French lavender shampoo, consider a $130 slab of Jamon Iberico Pata Negra ("pure acorn fed Iberian pigs") and settle for a $6 ice cream cone. Then I stroll outside, absorb the glory of a blue-skies-and-71 afternoon, head across Ninth Street ... and have to weave and shake like Steph Curry to avoid a fresh puddle of bubbly urine.

That shower, truth be told, is among many reasons San Francisco is the best place to write in our thrive-or-die republic. It was left by a shouting homeless man whose pants are undone, one of thousands whose blighted survivalism is juxtaposed against the backdrop of the city's new rich. For a writer, this social clash is literary gold. I said as much to my new editor-in-chief at the Examiner — "You should have someone just walking up and down Market Street every day" — and, for a moment, I thought I should be the man for that beat. Who wouldn't want a daily pass to view kid tech wizards getting off trains and striding past the encampments, addicts, and other sad stories? Or, in SoMa and the Mission, watching the homeless hassle the techies as they board, rock-band-style, Silicon Valley shuttle buses to Google and Yahoo and Apple and Facebook?

But I am not here to cover gentrification and other ongoing dramas in the most complex and compelling of American cities. I am here to explore a sports scene that, in a different context, is no less fertile for creative material. After a career intermission that had more to do with catching my breath — roughly 7,000 columns and 1,700 ESPN TV appearances, hundreds of radio shows, 14 Olympic Games, 24 Super Bowls, travel to five continents — than a recklessly reported legal case, I find no greater reward than resuming my commentary in the Bay Area, where the striking beauty and exhilarating mystique are accompanied by what we in the Jay Mariotti Sports Columnist media call great shit.

Last time I had the potential for this much fun, Snoop Dogg was staring me down before an "Around The Horn" taping, saying, "Who do you think you is?"

San Francisco has been the place for flower children, poets, gold-rushers, tech dreamers, drifters, politicos, and reinventists. Now, I dare say, this is the place for sportswriters. In Chicago, a previous stop of 17 years, I often bemoaned lousy owners and bad teams who were in bed with corrupt media, including two baseball franchises that have won one World Series over a collective 203 seasons. Here, the immaculate Giants have won three in five years, a near-impossible run in the sport's subsidy-driven parity era, while giving giddy fans a delightful roster of characters ranging from a Mad Bum to a Buster to a Freak to a scooter-driving hipster to a bitterly departed Panda.

Here, the Warriors play the most exciting basketball on the planet, led by the incomparable Curry, whose swag and splash on the court are matched by his decorum and charity work off it (as His Barackness quickly figured out and glommed onto). Here, the formerly regal 49ers are in a chaotic and cursed freefall, thanks to a front office that (1) allowed internal politics and professional resentment to subvert Jim Harbaugh's ultra-successful reign; (2) chose a curious successor in tongue-tied, unproven Jim Tomsula; (3) absorbed a mass exodus of high-character leaders; and (4) watched helplessly as Chris Borland, my early leader for Sportsman of the Year, prioritized his long-term wellness over his prowess as a 24-year-old linebacker.

Here, the A's remain the quirky darlings whose winning defies reason and whose brilliant, Hollywood-famed GM, Billy Beane, finally may have outmaneuvered himself into a pretzel after trying to win it all last season. Here, the Raiders are at a low point in on-field cred as they threaten to move yet again, which, ideally, would hasten a gutting of the Coliseum — weep, you costumed loons — and lead to a new baseball-only park that restores the beautiful hillside views of yesteryear. Here, you have David Shaw, the coach the 49ers should have hired, mixing football prominence with Stanford's cooler-than-Harvard academic boom. Here, you have a maddening hockey franchise owned by someone who may or may not exist.

[saviourkingslut]

asdfsdf i forgot how funny conclusion of the crossing roads it bc it's not a very hard map to begin with (if you want to you can just avoid and skip a chunk of foes) and then the second dedue shows up you can breeze through it bc he draws the attention of a demonic beast and a bunch of swordmasters and then proceeds to take absolutely 0 damage for like 5 turns until he goes and stands in some warlock's way. and it just leaves you with 3 turns to take out a sniper. the only thing you need to worry abt is getting close enough to dedue to keep him alive before he implodes on a ragnarök if you don't want him to die (and i don't want him to)

[megwritesfanfiction]

Concrete 2/3 (MHA/BNHA - Kacchako)

Disclaimer: I do not own Boku No Hero Academia. I am not making a profit off of this.

A/N: Got dang it. This is gonna be three chapters. I did not mean for this to happen, but we are in this together now!

Need to read the first part? Read it here

-or-

Read on AO3

“Hello?”

Bakugo inhaled, tangling a angry hand in his hair as he clutched the phone close to his ear. He closed his eyes trying to block out the busy noise of the trauma area. “Uraraka-san…”

“Katsuki! How are you, son?”

In this moment, he hated that her parents actually liked him. He didn’t expect that they would approve of him and had prepared for that. Bakugo was smart enough to realize that he wasn’t the type of guy most girls would be excited to bring home to their parents. If anything, he’d be the guy girls would bring home to spite them.

Nice girls like Uraraka didn’t bring home assholes like him, but she’d insisted he meet her parents sometime after a few months of them dating.

Her parents had laughed about their match during the Sport’s Festival during their first year, and her mother had fed him curry until he thought he would burst. Uraraka’s father embraced him as if he were a son, laughing with his daughter at his fiery temper.

Her family had embraced him as he was. Though he’d never be able to say it outloud, he’d liked them just as much.

Bakugo inhaled, pacing in a small circle, “Uraraka-san, Ocha-” How the hell was he supposed to tell him his daughter might be dead? He should have called sooner.

It had taken him hours to find out what hospital she’d been taken to, and by the time he’d gotten there Bakugo had been unable receive news about her condition.

They’d told him he wasn’t family.

The only thing he’d known was she’d been taken to the operating room.

“Did you kids see that building collapse? It’s all over the news here.”

Bakugo’s head dropped as he swallowed the lump burning at the back of his throat. “Yeah, we’re uh-” Why was this so hard? “We, uh, we’ve been helping with the rescue.”

“Of course, I figured you guys would be working that. You guys-”

“Uraraka-san,” Bakugo felt his voice drop. “Something happened.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Ochako’s hurt.” The words washed over him like ice water.

“How bad?”

“I-” He looked back the triage board in the middle of the emergency room. “I don’t know. I know she’s in surgery, but…” He couldn’t tell him how bad it looked or that he’d held his bleeding child in his arms as he watched the light fade in her eyes.

“Are you hurt?”

His question felt like a sucker punch, taking the wind clean from his lungs. Bakugo had just told him that his daughter was surgery, and he still had the grace to ask how he was doing. “No,” his voice cracked. What the hell had he done to deserve this? “I’m okay, but-”

He figured when, if, Uraraka survived this, her parents would never be able to forgive him.

“They won’t tell me anything.” It was selfish. “They said I’m not family, so-”

“I’ll call. I’ll tell them you’re family.”

Bakugo’s jaw clenched as his fingers tightened around the phone.

“We’re going to see if we can get a train there.”

“Okay.”

“Can you-” He paused. “Can you let me know if anything happens?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks, Katsuki. Hopefully we’ll be there soon.”

“Yeah.” Bakugo didn’t have the nerve to tell him that trains had been suspended for miles around the accident site. They wouldn’t be able to get into the city for the next few days, maybe for the next week with all the damage. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve-“ He should’ve made sure she’d gotten out. “I didn-”

“It’s okay.”

Bakugo didn’t doubt he was sincere.

“Take care of yourself, son. We’ll be there soon.”

His chest clenched, feeling bile starting to creep up his throat. Bakugo leaned against the wall, pulling the phone away from his ear as he dropped his hands to his sides. His eyes closed as he inhaled deeply.

A large part of him wished that her father had just screamed at him. Bakugo knew how to handle anger, but compassion was complicated. When someone yelled at him, it was simple. He would puff out his chest and prove he could roar louder, feeding the flames of familiar anger.

He couldn’t be angry at compassion.

It made him look like a bigger asshole than he already was.

“Kacchan…” Midoriya sputtered as he stood behind Bakugo.

Not that he minded sometimes.

“Is Uraraka okay?”

The phone slipped out of his grasp, clattering to the floor as his jaw locked.  Glycerin soaked his palms as he bawled his slippery fists, shoulders trembling in rage.

“I didn’t think-”

Bakugo wasn’t about to disagree with that point.

Midoriya reached a hand to Bakugo’s shoulder, “She’s gonna be okay, right? Iida says she’s in surgery-”

His vision came to a sharp point as he felt the air around him seem to evaporate.

“And that it’s bad-

The white walls of the hospital faded around him as red overtook his vision.

“Did the doctors say anythin-“

“You left her!” Bakugo screamed, feeling his temper snap. He turned sending Midoriya to the floor with a right hook.

“Bakugo!”

“Oh shit!”

“Yo, hey man, calm down!”

“I fucking trusted you!” Bakugo growled, fingers twisting in the collar of Midoriya’s suit as he leaned over the green haired teen. “You were supposed to look after her!” His right fist flew back as he delivered another hit. Bakugo could feel his classmates close in around him, trying to pull him off.

Fuck that.

He pulled Midoriya so they were eye to eye. “I had to call her fucking father,” he hissed. “How was I supposed to tell him his daughter bled out in my arms?”

“Okay, man,” Kirishima placed a firm hand on Bakugo’s shoulder as another went to his waist. “That’s enough.”

It wouldn’t be enough until he knew Uraraka was going to be okay.

“I’m calling security!” One of the nurses shouted.

“No, no,” Iida spoke, stepping forward. “We’ve got it under control. Our friend is just worried about his girlfriend, and-”

“I have a room full of people worried about their loved ones,” the nurse spoke picking up the phone. “That doesn’t give him the right to hit people.”

“Please, ma’am-” Iida took another step toward the desk. “I assure you,” he turned his head toward Bakugo raising his voice a little. “My friend will control his emotions.”

Bakugo’s nostrils flared as he breathed wildly, his nails digging into the green kevlar.

“Immediately.”

Bakugo released Midoriya’s suit, sending the back of his head into the floor.

“That’s it,” Kirishima spoke softly. He placed one hand at the base of his neck and the other firmly gripping one of his arms. “Let’s go get some air, buddy.” Kirishima guided the blonde toward one of the exits.

“I’m not leaving,” Bakugo growled, feeling drunk with rage.

“We’re not leaving,” Kirishima assured as he ushered him out of the emergency room. “We’re just going to take a little walk.”

“No-”

“Someone will call if they have any news. My phone is on. If anything happens, we will come right back.” Kirishima ushered him down a series of twisting hallways.

Their footsteps bounced off the sterile walls as they moved through the building.

Where were they going? “You can let me go now,” Bakugo grumbled, pulling against the firm grip his friend held.

“No.” Kirishima wasn’t about to risk his hot tempered friend taking off toward the emergency room. He didn’t think Bakugo would do that, but he also didn’t think he’d punch Midoriya out in a hospital, so he wasn’t taking any chances. The plan was to put as much distance as he could between Bakugo, Midoriya, and the emergency room without having to exit the hospital. “We’re almost there anyway.”

“Where is exactly is there?”

Kirishima didn’t know. “Here,” he decided, shoving his friend in an elevator as he followed him in. He quickly pushed the button to close the doors. His eyes bounced off the walls of the elevator.

No cameras.

Good.

Waiting for the elevator to rise, Kirishima pulled the emergency stop button, ignoring the low ringing of the alarm.

Bakugo looked at the red alarm button and to his red headed friend, “What the fuck?!”

Leaning against the doors, Kirishima shrugged waiting patiently, “You need a time out, man.”

“In a fucking elevator?!” Bakugo panicked. “You’re gonna get arrested for pulling that thing.”

“Then we’ll share a jail cell for the night.”

“No! You’re the one pushing alarms! I am not going down for that shit!” Bakugo screamed, running a frantic hand through his hair as he started pacing the small floor of the elevator. He didn’t have time for this.

“You just committed assault in a crowded emergency room. I’m pretty sure you could easily have your own charges-”

“Shut up,” Bakugo growled, footsteps becoming heavier with each circle he made. “Open that door!”

Kirishima placed his hands behind his back, face even and voice calm. “No.”

“How the hell are we supposed to get a call if we’re stuck in a goddamn elevator, Eijirou?!”

It was rare for Bakugo to call him Kirishima, but he wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard him address him as Eijirou despite the fact that Bakugo was well aware of his name. “Don’t worry about that.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Bakugo mocked with a maddened laugh as she shoved Kirishima against the door.

Kirishima kept his hands behind his back and his stare indifferent.

“Open the fucking door,” Bakugo hissed in his face.

“When you calm down,” Kirishima said. “I’ll open the door.”

“I just had to call my girlfriend’s father, who somehow doesn’t think I’m a piece of shit, to let him know that his daughter was injured, probably not going to make it because she was trying to rescue a kid!” Bakugo screamed, pounding a his fist into the metal next to Kirishima’s head. “And you’re telling me to calm down?!”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck you!” Bakugo wailed. His eyes stung as he repeatedly slammed his fists into the metal door. “Open the fucking door!”

Kirishima waited patiently, unmoved as the hits landed inches from his face. He wasn’t worried about Bakugo hitting him. “No.”

“I don’t know if she’s dead-” The words took the air out of his lungs. “She can’t-”

She couldn’t leave him yet.

Not like this.

Bakugo’s chest heaved as he struggled for air. Stepping away from Kirishima, his hands came to his knees as he panted. His eyes squeezed shut as his mind replayed the last words he spoke to her. Her blood was still soaked in his suit, the bitter metallic smell making his stomach churn.

“Katsuki-”

“Fucking don’t!”

Kirishima glued his back against the wall.

His fingers violently pulled at his hair as he tried to feel something besides grief. Bakugo’s knees buckled, hands covering his head as he planted his face against the floor.

Bakugo couldn’t remember the last time he cried.

He had moments where he felt the pins and needles of frustration or anguish blur his vision. Usually Bakugo had enough control to swallow the lump of emotion and repackage it as rage. In his eyes, it was hard to misinterpret rage.

If he was yelling with his fists burning, the people around him couldn’t deny his display of strength.

Tears made him look soft.

Vulnerable.

Human.

Tears were proof that he was capable of being hurt, just like everyone else.

“Goddamnit!” Bakugo screamed, pounding his fists into the floor as he sobbed through his clenched teeth.

He was angry at Midoriya for not making sure Uraraka had made it out with him.

Angry at himself for not letting Midoriya sweep the perimeter and go inside the building with her to evacuate people.

Angry at Kirishima for pulling him off Midoriya.

Angry because the doctors and nurses wouldn’t tell him if she had a pulse.

Bakugo’s anger bled into his dread of losing her.

Dread and shame of having to face her parents when they arrived.

Regret of using her last moments of consciousness to talk about the cookies she’d eaten that morning.

The fear of not knowing what he’ll do without her.

Bakugo’s hands slid over his face as he released a strangled scream. If his hands were covering his face, he couldn’t use his quirk. He ignored the temptation to quickly end his suffering, muffling his cries as he focused on slow breaths.

Pushing himself up to his knees, Bakugo wiped his face as he sniffled softly. He trembled rising to his feet, leaning against the wall opposite Kirishima. “Okay,” he nodded, leaning his head back against the wall as he exhaled slowly. “Okay.”

Kirishima nodded, his own eyes glassy, “Alright.” He pushed the emergency stop back into the wall, turning off the alarm shrill.

Bakugo felt his body rock with the smooth motion of the elevator. A soft ding signaled their stop as the doors opened.

“Come on, man,” Kirishima said softly as he placed hand on Bakugo’s shoulder as he guided him back to the emergency room.

Iida was the first to notice their return. “Is he-”

Kirishima shook his head quickly, eyes sliding to Bakugo and then focusing back to Iida.

Bakugo sat down across from Midoriya, eyes swollen and puffy as he stared at the wall past the tuft of green hair.

Iida walked over to the side of Bakugo’s chair. “Uraraka’s out of surgery.”

[your-dietician]

Best Day 4 sales at Walmart Deals for Days event 2021

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/lifestyle/best-day-4-sales-at-walmart-deals-for-days-event-2021/

Best Day 4 sales at Walmart Deals for Days event 2021

Yahoo Life has received compensation to create this article, and receives commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Prime Day might be over, but that certainly doesn’t mean the deals have run dry — in fact, they’re just as big as ever. Walmart’s Anti-Prime day sale, called Deals for Days, is chock full of discounts across the board. Here’s what’s in store for Day 4 of the sale, which btw ends…tonight!

The retail behemoth has slashed prices across categories. So whether you’re focused on a wardrobe refresh, a better work-from-home setup, tech to take along as you ramp up your workouts, kitchen appliances in need of replacement or more, Walmart has got you covered — with discounts as deep as 90 percent! There are still so many deals you can save big on.

Walmart will give you free shipping on orders of $35 or more. To score free shipping on all orders, plus lots more benefits including speedy delivery, sign up for Walmart+. Get a free 15-day trial here (a quick three-question survey will add on an additional two weeks for a solid 30 days of use). 

Here are the best deals from Walmart’s Anti-Prime Day — Day 4 sale.

TVs

A 40-inch TV for $178? We’ll take it! (Photo: Walmart)

On sale for $178, down from $228, the Hisense 40-inch Class Full HD Roku Smart LED TV is undeniably sleek — with a near edge-to-edge 43-inch display (more picture, less frame). With an HD resolution at 1080p and DTS True Surround Sound, you’ll essentially have a movie theater-like experience at home, with colors that pop.

The built-in Roku streamer gives you instant access to thousands of video streaming channels, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, Hulu and ESPN+. It also has a few smart home features like voice search for hands-free navigation. That’s right: You can find your favorite TV shows and movies, just by speaking them into existence.

“Great TV. Once I selected ‘theater sound’ the clouds parted and there was entertainment bliss — OK, maybe that’s a bit extra, however, the sound did vastly improved,” shared a delighted five-star reviewer. “Perfect size for me. Easy setup and operation.”

Story continues

Check out more TV deals below:

Sony 32-inch Class HD LED Smart TV, $298 (was $350), walmart.com

TCL 32-inch 3-Series Class HD LED Roku Smart TV, $145 (was $200), walmart.com

Sceptre 40-inch Class Full HD LED TV, $155 (was $200), walmart.com

Samsung 43-inch Class 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED TV, $898 (was $1,000), walmart.com

Samsung 50-inch Class 4K The Frame QLED Smart TV, $1,198 (was $1,700), walmart.com

TCL 50-inch Class 5-Series 4K Ultra HD QLED Roku Smart TV, $528 (was $600), walmart.com

LG 55-inch Class 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED C1 Series TV, $1,497 (was $2,000), walmart.com

Sony 55-inch Class XBR55X800H Bravia 4K Ultra HD LED Android Smart TV, $798 (was $1,000), walmart.com

LG 65-inch Class 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV, $997 (was $1,200), walmart.com

Samsung 65-inch TU8300 Crystal Ultra HD 4K Smart TV, $648 (was $700), walmart.com

Headphones and earbuds

These Philips wireless earbuds are half price! (Photo: Walmart)

These Philips Wireless In-Ear Headphones are a handsome, waterproof option with a price that belies their high-performance quality: They’re on sale for just $30, down from $60. Yep, half price.

Walmart shoppers love everything about these cans: the sound, the comfy fit, the sturdy charging case. “I have had challenges finding in-ear phones that fit me well for a long time,” reported one fan. “I grabbed the chance to try these Philips Wireless In-Ear Headphones and I can say these are perfect! First off, I like the charging case, so you have power on the go when you need it. The headphones are super easy to pair both with my PC and my phone, and the sound is very good: The highs are not tinny and the bass is smooth…. Another quality product from Philips!”

What he said! You’ll never be juiceless with these Philips Wireless In-Ear Headphones — they offer up to 12 hours of playback. Impressive.

Check out more headphone and earbud deals below:

Beats Solo Pro Wireless Noise Canceling On-Ear Headphones, $149 (was $300), walmart.com

Apple AirPods Pro, $197 (was $249), walmart.com

Bietrun Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, $26 (was $130), walmart.com

Philips Bass+ BH305 Wireless Active Noise Canceling Headphones, $40 (was $120), walmart.com

Meidong Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Over-Ear Headphones, $35 (was $70), walmart.com

Luxmo Bluetooth Headphones, $18 (was $36), walmart.com

Jelly Comb On Ear Headphones, $17 (was $50), walmart.com

Gaming

Save nearly a whopping 80 percent! (Photo: Walmart)

The NBA Playoffs are in full swing, so get all the basketball action your heart desires with NBA2K21 for PlayStation 4 — on sale for just $13, or $48 off at Walmart. That’s nearly a whopping 80 percent off! The game features all 30 NBA teams and your favorite players, including Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, James Harden, Gordon Hayward and more.

NBA 2K21 has all the gameplay you want, from multi-player online to one-on-one with you versus the game itself. It features all WNBA teams and players—such as Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, Liz Cambag, and Nneka Ogwumike — for the first time ever!

“This is one of my favorites, and I couldn’t wait,” raved a delighted gamer. “…The storyline is dope for my character, graphics are dope as always. Just an overall great game .”

Check out more gaming deals below:

Luigi’s Mansion 3 (Nintendo Switch), $40 (was $50), walmart.com

Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Nintendo Switch), $40 (was $50), walmart.com

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Nintendo Switch), $40 (was $60), walmart.com

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 (Nintendo Switch), $39 (was $60), walmart.com

Outriders: Day One Edition (PS4), $40 (was $60), walmart.com

Madden NFL 21 (Xbox One), $20 (was $60), walmart.com

The Last of Us Part II (PS4), $30 (was $60), walmart.com

Liphom Gaming Headset, $29 (was $50), walmart.com

Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition (PS4), $15 (was $60), walmart.com

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Xbox One), $20 (was $60), walmart.com

The Pillars of The Earth (PS4), $29 (was $45), walmart.com

Smart home

A “smart” way to wake up, in more ways than one: Save nearly 40 percent! (Photo: Walmart)

The Lenovo Smart Clock is powered with Google Assistant for seamless syncing to a smartphone. It can rouse you from your slumber with your favorite tunes, the weather, calendar reminders and events, and that podcast you love. Because, really, who couldn’t use some help getting out of bed?

“I have trouble waking up in the mornings and this alarm clock doesn’t disappoint,” raved a satisfied shopper. “I like the wake-up feature that gradually wakes you up and then gives you a morning update of the weather and all the morning news. I’m able to connect it to all my Google devices too.”

At nearly 40 percent off during Walmart’s Deals for Days shopping event — the Lenovo Smart Clock is down to $49 from $80. 

Check out more smart-home deals below:

Google Nest Mini (second generation), $35 (was $49), walmart.com

Apple TV 4K (2020), $99 (was $169), walmart.com

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm), $150 (was $279), walmart.com

Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS, 38mm), $169 (was $199), walmart.com

Razor Power A5 Electric-Powered Scooter, $119 (was $179), walmart.com

XODO Smart Home Security Surveillance Kit, $60 (was $80), walmart.com

XODO Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Wireless Security Camera, $90 (was $150), walmart.com

TSV Smart Plug (two-pack), $18 (was $26), walmart.com

Defender Ultra HD 4K Wired Outdoor Security System (1TB), $260 (was $450), walmart.com

Anself Wireless Burglar Alarm, $20 (was $28), walmart.com

Fymall Wi-Fi Smart Color LED Light Bulb, $11 (was $24), walmart.com

Home office

Take note of this Lenovo Chromebook — save $80! (Photo: Walmart)

Just need a product that will reliably, consistently do what you need it to, without all the exotic (and expensive) bells and whistles? If you’re one of those people and you’re in the market for an entry-level machine that’ll get you, or a loved one, through a day of work, look to the Lenovo Chromebook S330. On sale for $159, or $80 off, at Walmart, it boots up quick, has a quad core processor, 32 GB of storage and a glorious 14-inch HD display. It’s great for watching YouTube and Netflix, and is powerful enough for Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides and more. It’s ultra-portable too, weighing in at a svelte 3.3 lbs. and less than an inch thick.��

And have we mentioned its 10-hour battery life? This guy will. “I decided to give it a try. I am not sorry I did! I’m very impressed,” raved a delighted five-star reviewer. “I still have a desktop PC for my main computer but for the things that I need a laptop for, this fits the bill perfectly! It does everything I need and doesn’t do the things that I disliked about my previous laptops. It boots quickly, runs cool (without a fan!) and gives me amazing battery life! I’m very pleased!”

Check out more home office deals below:

Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook, $399 (was $749), walmart.com

Samsung CB4 Chromebook, $159 (was $199), walmart.com

Canon Pixma G4210 Wireless MegaTank All-In-One InkJet Printer, $300 (was $400), walmart.com

Cabina HD USB Desktop Webcam, $60 (was $70), walmart.com

Ousgar 47-inch White Desk, $80 (was $300), walmart.com

Kuku Mobile Call Center Telephone USB Headset, $28 (was $40), walmart.com

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 2nd Gen Conference Call Headset, $282 (was $422), walmart.com

Gamma Ray Optics 010 Slim Vintage Computer Readers, $18 (was $25), walmart.com

Hemu Fashion Bamboo Laptop Lap Tray, $38 (was $102), walmart.com

Vacuums

Get this robovac for half price! (Photo: Walmart)

An eye-opening 50 percent off, the Anker Eufy RoboVac 35C Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum’s BoostIQ technology helps navigate your home’s surfaces, including hardwood floors to rugs and beyond, with smooth transitions. And while it never loses suction, when it senses the need for extra oomph — like when crumbs are overtaking the kitchen floor or pet hair is embedded in the rug — it’ll amp up its power to get the job done.

“Albuquerque dust is a pernicious beast. I also have two dogs and a slew of resident dust bunnies, so this is a big help,” shared a Walmart shopper. “It gets the dog hair and dust up easily — slightly appalled at how much dust came up after a regular broom sweeping. The edging function works great — clears out stuff from the bottom of the walls with ease. I have concrete floors and it scoots over it fine; has gotten itself successfully untangled from under the kitchen table…I talk to it like one of the dogs: ‘Oh, don’t forget that speck in the hall.’ ‘Good job.’ At least I haven’t named it (yet).”

The Eufy RoboVac 35C is super slim, so it’s a ninja when it comes to getting into every crevice and corner — and it has an infrared sensor for identifying things in its way, like stairs.

Check out more vacuum deals below:

BISSELL Crosswave Pet Pro Wet Dry Vacuum, $229 (was $299), walmart.com

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Slim Corded, $99 (was $199), walmart.com

Shark ION Robot Vacuum RV750, $148 (was $299), walmart.com

iHome AutoVac Eclipse G 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop, $179 (was $400), walmart.com

Eureka Groove 4-Way Control Robotic Vacuum, $129 (was $199), walmart.com

iHome AutoVac Nova Self Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop, $299 (was $599), walmart.com

ILife A4s Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $119 (was $180), walmart.com

Mighty Rock Robot Vacuum and Mop, $73 (was $130), walmart.com

ionvac SmartClean 2000 Robovac, $99 (was $180), walmart.com

ILife V5s Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop, $135 (was $180), walmart.com

EcoVacs DeeBot 711 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $144 (was $550), walmart.com

Style

Reduced to $8 from $98. Get it in all three colors! (Photo: Walmart)

No, you’re not seeing things: This gorgeous Max Studio frock is on sale for 8 bucks! It has a billowy tiered skirt and a peasant-inspired tassel-tie neckline. It’s available in chambray and bright yellow shade, but of course, we’re partial to this fun poppy red hue. Note: Some shoppers say it’s a little short, but you can wear it with biker shorts or leggings underneath — or just as a bikini coverup.

Did we mention it’s $90 off?!

“Comfortable,” a shopper reported. “Like the bright color. I’m wearing it in Mexico in a few weeks!”

Check out more style deals below:

Scoop Women’s Espadrille Wedge Sandal, $20 (was $35), walmart.com

Zanea Womens Polka Dot Short Sleeve Long Dress, $24 (was $48), walmart.com

KOGMO Womens Premium Cotton Full Length Leggings, $12 (was $18), walmart.com

Status by Chenault Women’s Cotton Slub Jersey with Cotton Eyelet Dress, $26 (was $78), walmart.com

Cate & Chloe McKenzie 18k White Gold Dangling Earrings, $18 (was $136), walmart.com

Melrose Ave Vegan Leather Toe Loop Strappy Flat Sandal, $22 (was $29), walmart.com

Free Assembly Women’s Sleeveless Square Neck Fit & Flare Dress, $21 (was $36), walmart.com

Kitchen

Save $26 on this incredible indoor grill. (Photo: Walmart)

Summertime is the season of grilling, but if you don’t want to mess around with your charcoal and lighter fluid every time you want a juicy steak or burger, try this indoor grill for size. This Gotham Steel grill has a titanium and ceramic surface which helps distribute heat evenly, plus four temperature settings so you can easily adjust how you want your meats and veggies cooked. Plus, it’s super easy to store, too.

“I just made hamburgers on this grill and it worked like a charm!” a shopper declared. “The burgers didn’t stick and it was truly smokeless as it cooked. Cleanup was also a breeze. Although it is dishwasher safe, it was just as easy to clean it up by hand with some soapy water. Definitely recommend!”

Check out more kitchen deals below:

Tramontina Primaware 18 Piece Non-stick Cookware Set, Steel Gray, $40 (was $50), walmart.com

Instant Pot Viva Black Multi-Use 9-in-1 6 Quart Pressure Cooker, $59 (was $99), walmart.com

The Pioneer Woman Cowboy Rustic 14-Piece Forged Cutlery Knife Block Set, $39 (was $70), walmart.com

Chefman TurboFry Air Fryer, $69 (was $99), walmart.com

The Pioneer Woman Mazie 2-Piece Ceramic Red Rectangle Baker Set, $20 (was $25), walmart.com

Farberware 3.2 Quart Oil-Less Multi-Functional Air Fryer, $60 (was $99), walmart.com

Ninja 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer, $69 (was $79), walmart.com

Best Choice Products 16.9qt 1800W 10-in-1 Family Size Air Fryer, $115 (was $255), walmart.com

Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Digital Automatic LCD Programmable Coffeemaker Brewer, $73 (was $105), walmart.com

Beauty

Get over half off off this heavenly Marc Jacobs fragrance. (Photo: Walmart)

Few scents are quite as universal — or as beloved — as Marc Jacobs Daisy. It’s light, frothy and fun, with notes of grapefruit, raspberry and pear mingling with jasmine, rose, lychee and apple blossom, and base notes of musk, cedar and plum. Despite the abundance of fruity notes, it still feels fresh and playful — and whether you want to try it out for the first time or pick up an extra bottle to keep in your drawer, this price simply can’t be beat.

“One of my favorite scents and I definitely will be buying it again,” a shopper reported. “I’ve always wanted a Marc Jacobs fragrance and the price was perfect. It smells amazing and the top to the bottle is too cute.”

Check out more beauty deals below:

BylissPRO Nano Titanium Lightweight Ionic Hair Dryer, $65 (was $85), walmart.com

Burberry Classic Eau De Parfum, $33 (was $98), walmart.com

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Face Serum, $64.50 (was $100),walmart.com

Remington Anti-Static Flat Iron, $16 (was $20), walmart.com

Artnaturals Anti-Aging Retinol, $12 (was $16), walmart.com

Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron, $12 (was $23), walmart.com

Glycolic Acid 20% Resurfacing Pads, $25 (was $50), walmart.com

IMAGE Skincare Ageless Total Eye Lift Creme, $34 (was $50), walmart.com

Mattresses and bedding 

Save $300 and get the greatest sleep of your life. (Photo: Walmart)

If you’ve had your mattress for longer than you can remember, it’s high time to replace it — and, lucky you, this one is on sale! It’s made with 12 inches of plush memory foam supported by coils, and it’s just the right balance between soft and firm. The only drawback? Getting out of bed in the morning will be that much harder.

“I was surprised at how soft and comfy this mattress was,” a shopper reported. “I took it out of the box and plastic and it opened right up to the 12-inch size. It is supposed to take 24 hours to expand but it expanded a lot right away. It’s super thick and so far feels very comfortable. I am surprised at how great a mattress in a box could be!”

Check out more bedding deals below:

Noble Linens 8-Piece Bed in a Bag Bedding Set, Twin, White, $45 (was $65), walmart.com

Mattress Topper Queen, 2-Inch Cool Swirl Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Blue, $70 (was $105), walmart.com

Simply Soft 3 Piece Ribbon Pattern Duvet Cover Set, $23 for queen (was $28), walmart.com

Hatch Embroidered Stripe 7-Piece Comforter Set, $30 (was $70), walmart.com

Zeny Weighted Blanket, $47 (was $78), walmart.com

Simply Soft 3 Piece Vine Pattern Duvet Cover Set, $24 (was $28), walmart.com

Wenzel 70″ x 60″ Camp Quilt – Red Brick Geo Print, $21 (was $29.50), walmart.com

Better Homes & Gardens Flowing Floral Comforter Set, $45 (was $65), walmart.com

Pets

Make bathtime for your pooch a little more fun. (Photo: Walmart)

If your pooch refuses to sit still for baths, nail trims, grooms, or, well, just about anything, try this trick on for size. Fill this lick pad with peanut butter, then stick it on a wall. It’ll keep him occupied for as long as you need. It has 37 suction cups, so it stays in place, and it’s even dishwasher safe.

“I have an obsessive border collie and try to always make him work for meals with Kongs or slow feeders,” a shopper shared. “This is a GREAT little treat for him that he gets very excited about! It holds just a couple spoonfuls and keeps him focused for about 20 minutes.”

Check out more pets deals below:

Oster Super Duty Dog Clippers, $35 (was $40), walmart.com

Portable Pet Dog Cat Outdoor Travel Water Bowl Bottle, $8.50 (was $11), walmart.com

Omega Paw Large Elite Self-Cleaning Litter Box, Black, $53 (was $78), walmart.com

Amgra Laser Pointer for Cats, $14 (was $16), walmart.com

Zimtown Pets Stairs with Cover, Small, Beige, $26 (was $51), walmart.com

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[smokeybrand]

Values

My mom tried to talk to me about the Superbowl today and i just didn’t care. At all. Brady got his seventh, basically locking him in as the best to ever do it and, again, i just don’t care. The NFL is a whole ass joke to me and that’s kid to say because i used to love football. When i was a kid, i was exceptional at it. I kept up with all the players, got Madden every year, studied the game, the works. When i was in the fifth grade, i could punt a football ninety yards. I could throw it damn near sixty. In the tenth grade, i could bench two hundred, seventy-five pounds and run a 4.6 forty yard dash. I was six feet tall, so pounds, about three percent body fat. I was a straight up beast. My pops wanted me to go pro but i never had the passion for the game like him. The instability of my home life had me skew toward something more reliable like a state job with a side of stock jerk. My dream at the time, and to this day, is to create. Back then, it was specifically comic books. Today, it’s entire worlds that cross all media. Right now, I'm focusing on the writing aspect but i do hope i can branch off into other things in the future. Football, for probably a third of my life, was a big deal but these last four years have absolutely exposed the raw reality of this league and I've grown to hate it.

I post a lot about the NBA here because i love hoop. Always have. My adoration for the game of basketball transcended my love for the gridiron when i got to high school. You see, i came up watching Jordan lay but i also watched him retire. In his pace, we got electrifying players like Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Vince Carter. Those guys were MY guys. I watched them for their entire careers and it was a real pleasure. My favorite team goring up was the LAkers, still is, but I'm from Sac, so that Aughts rivalry did a lot for the game of hoop to outpace Football in my world. Plus, the game, for me, is just SO much more entertaining. It’s far more beautiful to watch. I adore basketball and, as a kid, you’re oblivious to all of the sh*t that goes on behind the scenes. Now that i am an adult, i am not. I am actually hypersensitive to all of that sh*t now, mostly because, and i cannot stress this enough, the last four years have been a complete sh*tshow. In the exact same time that I've grown to loathe the NFL, my loyalty to the NBA has been completely solidified. While i don’t approve of everything they choose to do, catering to China is far more problematic than I'd like to admit, it doesn’t hold a candle to the nonsense the NFL allows to occur here, in the states.

The NFL is a modern day plantation. The way they that their players is f*cking disgusting. The racial bias is real and that gradient does not go the way of those who have a substantial amount of melanin. There is a laundry list of sh*t i can’t stand about this league but i guess we’ll starting with Kap The way this entire league, all thirty-two owners, colluded to snatch away the game this man loves, regardless of ability, simply for taking a knee in solidarity for those who have suffered at the hands of police brutality, has been absolutely disgusting. This deceit was proven in court, awarding Kap millions in judgment but no one talks about that. All anyone ever says is how he disrespected the flag or our troops or our country or whatever else. It’s a disingenuous dog whistle used to is credit a man, exercising his constitutional right to protest something that is a very real issue here in the US, regardless of if these wypipo out her think otherwise. I can go on and on with this sh*t. The way the Owners react to players exercising their worth. Anything Jerry Jones ever says about a black kid. The fact that there are no black owners and, like, three black head coaches in the entire league. The fact that is you’re a black quarterback in college, you’re not smart enough or accurate enough to play the position you’ve been laying your entire life at the highest level, and they forced you to become a receiver instead. The fact that Arrowhead booed their entire team for taking a knee during the Anthem, after an entire summer of civil unrest in direct protest to another black man being slain on camera by cops, even though their team just won the Superbowl, being lead to the chip by an actual black quarterback. And these motherf*ckers are trying to expand into China within the next four or five years. The NFL is a f*cking mess.

The NBA had a guy who treated his team the way these NFL Owners treat heir teams and they snatched his franchise away from him. Donald Sterling was a well known scumbag around the league and when faced with overwhelming and undeniable evidence, all thirty owners voted to expel him from The Association. That’s the difference between the leagues; The NBA takes that sh*t serious. You saw it all last season. The players were mad outspoken, boycotting games, taking knees, having moments of silence. It was absolutely necessary because those players are black. Those payers came up in the same neighborhoods as George Floyd and Trayvon Martin. That sh*t could have happened to them and the NB understands that. They value their lives AND their bodies while the NFL does not. By no means is the NB perfect. That sh*t with China is a disgrace and the Owners out in Detroit are problematic but they know enough to keep their sh*t locked up. There is precedent that you will be ousted for being a racist bigot. I’m not naive enough to absolutely believe the NBA is the best thing going for black athletes, they have a minority owner problem, too, but how many black billionaires are there? Even still, cats like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving, and so many others, are allowed to speak their peace. No one other than the pundits on Fox News, are telling them to shut up and dribble, which i s WAY more than what the NFL allow their black players to do.

[weiweismart]

By holding Circle/B, you plant your feet and stand your ground

By holding Circle/B, you plant your feet and stand your ground, meaning when the opposition is running hard for NBA 2K MT a layup or dunk and they knock you over, they likely make an offensive foul and ownership is given back to youpersonally. It's not a sure fire way to make a foul, but it helps against more powerful players that are offensive.

If you would like to make money and have not pre-ordered to receive 100,000 VC off the bat, earning it may feel like a mill -- however there are myriad ways to achieve that. Playing in MyCareer as well as The Neighborhood are the most effective means of scoring VC, particularly in the event that you win and perform nicely. Answering questions correctly during episodes of 2KTV, using your Daily Spin at Jeff's Arcade, earning endorsements, and completing shooting challenges at MyCourt also see you coining it. Persistence is the major way to bag VC without having to devote real dosh.

I'm GamesRadar+'s sports editor, obsessed with NFL, WWE, MLB -- and very occasionally things that don't possess a three-letter acronym. I have two children that aren't quite old enough to perform Madden yet. Soon, thoug...

NBA 2K21 is officially available now, but I only got my full review copy yesterday , so this inspection in progress will trickle over into next week (after the Labor Day weekend). However, I managed to put in a decent number of hours and in that time NBA 2K21 has made it clear that it has claimed the franchise's listing of stellar on-court gameplay. Most of the upgrades are relatively small, such as loose rebounds feeling and looking far more realistic, but they help add to an already solid foundation. The very best part of NBA 2K21 so much is the control tweaks, like the new aim meter, make for an all-new learning curve. Unfortunately, upgrades to the surrounding game modes appear fairly barebones.

The aim-meter mechanic is really difficult to master, but has already led to a quite satisfying one-on-one isolation successes. It is nice having the ability to use the right stick exclusively as a dribbling tool till I am ready to pull back for a shot. The capability to size-up, which can be tied to special dribbling animations for lots of the best players in the league, and isolate is far better than ever. I spent a few hours experimenting with various playstyles, like easing the pick-and-roll using Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. It's tremendously rewarding to utilize Doncic's dimensions and footwork to create space - something I could not replicate with other defenses around the group, such as Seth Curry. While it is not completely new, NBA 2K21's ability to entertain gamers' playstyles is exceptional this year.

That said, there are already a few frustrating gameplay problems I have come across, too. Fastbreaks seem marginally improved, but participant spacing continues to be noticeably off. For instance, even my best three-point shooters will monitor within the three-point line on fast breaks when they would be better off locating space in the Cheap 2K MT corner. In general, it seems like NBA 2K21 hasn't fully adapted to the emphasis modern NBA basketball has put on the three-point line. Quick catch-and-shoots are not as common as they should be, and closing out is still far too simple on protection.

[saviourkingslut]

just in case anyone's wondering btw when i say i hate the dlc i mean i hate the maps and they get me mad as hell but also im a little bitch who loves a challenge bc clearing a map makes me feel like god however until that time ill complain in a million different shades of bitter

[jisforjudi]

'Queen Victoria always liked sex...' Judi Dench and Stephen Frears on making Victoria and Abdul

 Jessamy Calkin

2 SEPTEMBER 2017 • 6:00AM

It was a story that was crying out for a film. Queen Victoria, old, fat, bored, widowed and still grieving, had pretty much given up and was slowly eating herself to death. Her dissolute son Bertie was impatient to get rid of her so he could be crowned Edward VII.

It was 1887, her Golden Jubilee year, and she was bracing herself for the onslaught of tributes and fealty from overseas royalty. Britain had ruled India for the past 29 years and as a gift she was sent two Indian servants, Mohammed Buksh and Abdul Karim. Karim, a clerk at the prison in Agra, was 24. He came over for a couple of months and stayed for a decade.

Initially his duties were as a servant, but after less than a year he had become the ‘Munshi’, the Queen’s teacher (she learnt Hindustani from him) and official Indian clerk. Victoria was Empress of India and fascinated by the country, but had never been there. She became besotted with Abdul: there were daily lessons, a salary increase, portraits commissioned and he introduced her to curry, which became a staple on royal menus.

As her infatuation increased, her family and the Royal household grew increasingly resentful. Racism was fairly endemic at the time, and Karim had started to get a bit uppity. The Queen put him in charge of the Indian servants, gave him his own cottage, shipped his wife and mother-in-law over from India, put him in his own carriage on the royal train, and his father – a medical assistant in the Agra jail – was awarded a knighthood.

Abdul was devoted to her, but hierarchy was everything in those days. There was a rebellion in the Royal household and a stand-off with the Queen. (Even her beloved John Brown, despite his closeness to Victoria, had always remained  a servant.)

It was a narrative with a lot of charm but it was bound to end badly. And it did. After Victoria’s death, Karim’s house was raided by Bertie and almost all of the many hundreds of letters from Victoria were destroyed. Karim was packed off back to India, where his health declined and he died eight years later, aged 46.

But no one thought to destroy the Queen’s Hindustani journals, a product of her daily lessons with the Munshi. And when writer Shrabani Basu was researching a book about curry she became curious about its prevalence in the Victorian household, and equally curious about the portraits of the striking Indian courtier in the Durbar Wing at Osborne House.

She discovered that 13 volumes of the Queen’s Hindustani journals were kept in the archives at Windsor Castle, and asked to see them. Then, in Agra, she came upon Abdul Karim’s tomb and tracked down his relatives – which led to the inevitable trunk containing his journals, and a whole new light was thrown on the relationship.

When producer Beeban Kidron heard about Basu’s book on the radio, she couldn’t believe her luck. Cross Street Films, the production company she runs with husband Lee Hall (who wrote Billy Elliot), pitched for the rights and won. ‘We wanted to do it from the point of view of Abdul, the stranger looking at the strangeness of court. And to be funny and accessible,’ says Kidron.

Cross Street teamed up with other production companies, including Working Title, to produce the film. Hall wrote the script and Stephen Frears was asked to direct. ‘He’s brave and irreverent,’ explains Kidron. ‘And I felt he would get the humorous, fable-like take on the subject.’

And Frears, everyone hoped, might bring in Judi Dench to play Victoria. ‘Nobody else made sense,’ he says. They had worked together on Philomena (2013), and Dench had famously played Victoria in John Madden’s Mrs Brown, the 1997 film about her relationship with the Scottish servant (played by Billy Connolly). So it was a nice conceit that, 20 years later, Dench might play her again.

Did her heart sink or leap at the idea? It cautiously leapt, Dame Judi Dench tells me on the phone. For several reasons.  ‘I have sometimes been back to re-examine something, but not in film, only in Shakespeare. But I did think Lee’s screenplay was really very good indeed, and I can’t resist Stephen Frears.’ She was riveted by the story, and had already done the homework in her last foray as Victoria.

She cites a particular scene, when, to the consternation of the Royal household, Victoria took Abdul to a remote little house called Glas Allt Shiel, on the Balmoral estate, where she used to retreat with Brown, and to which she said she would never return after he died. ‘They don’t understand anything, those stupid aristocratic fools,’ she says of her family in the film. ‘Toadying around. Jockeying for position… They couldn’t bear me bringing dear John Brown here. Yet I was happier here than anywhere in the entire world. Oh, I miss him, Abdul. And Albert… I am so lonely. Everyone I’ve really loved has died and I just go on and on.

‘No one really knows what it’s like to be Queen. I’m hated by millions of people all over the world. I have had nine children, all vain, and jealous and at loggerheads with each other. And Bertie’s a complete embarrassment. And look at me! A fat, lame, impotent, silly old woman. What is the point, Abdul?’

‘It must have been glorious to have somebody to talk to,’ says Dench now. ‘Somebody to learn from, and to exchange ideas with. And she was proprietorial with him; he kind of belonged to her – I’m sure that just having somebody to relax with must have been wonderful for anyone in that position.’

Abdul is played by Bollywood star Ali Fazal, alongside a stellar theatrical cast: Tim Piggott-Smith, Michael Gambon, Olivia Williams, Paul Higgins, Eddie Izzard – there is even an appearance from Simon Callow as Puccini.

Kidron and Frears headed to India to find Fazal. After the audition, Frears said, ‘I can see Queen Victoria being quite taken with him…’, and Fazal came to the UK for a screen test, his first time in the country. Frears instructed him to watch Peter Sellers in Being There as a reference.

‘I remember reading Victoria’s letters,’ says Fazal on the phone from India, ‘the ones that survived, and being unable to describe their relationship – was it love? Was it intimacy? Was it friendship, or maternal? There were letters she signed as “your loving mother”, or she would say, “I miss my friend,” and on one occasion, “Hold me tight.” Those are strong words for a monarch.’

There was no evidence that their relationship was sexual, but there was a romantic element to it. According to Frears, Victoria liked to be held: ‘Brown would lift her down from the horse and put his arms around her, and she liked that very much.

‘Anyway, she always liked sex. It was just the children she couldn’t stand.’

For all that Abdul was devoted to her, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a chancer as well. ‘What appealed to him was the intellectual stimulation they shared,’ says Fazal.

‘But there was a manipulative side to him too, and I still believe he was an opportunist, though I think it was called for to be an opportunist in a world that was not yours, in a country that was not yours. You’re going to have to climb up the ladder with constant obstacles and people against you, and it requires a lot of balls to do that; you have to be a bit street-smart.’

One of the best things about the film is the glorious sets. The court routine would be for the Queen and the Royal household to spend the late summer in Scotland, at Balmoral, then return to Windsor for the autumn, and move to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight for the winter and Christmas, then back to Windsor in February.

In the spring there would be a European sojourn – Florence, say, or Nice. The film was shot in India and the UK. Windsor and Balmoral were recreated at Greenwich, Belvoir Castle and Knebworth, but the biggest coup occurred when the film-makers were granted permission to film at Osborne House, which has never happened before.

This was the Queen’s seaside holiday home, which she and Albert acquired in 1840 (and which was given to the nation by Bertie upon her death in 1901), an Italianate house with wonderful gardens. It added a whole new dimension to the film, and the actors were elated to be there.

‘It was glorious to be sitting at a desk and looking out of a window at the same view Victoria would have seen 100 years ago,’ says Dench. ‘Walking down those corridors and glancing about, you think, well the paint might have changed – but it was still really exciting.’

During filming, visitors to the house were treated to an occasional glimpse of Queen Victoria, or Bertie, which must have been surreal. They must have thought they had stumbled across a historical re-enactment, or an amateur pageant, except the actors were Judi Dench and Eddie Izzard, who had nipped down to the Durbar Room in full costume just to have a look.

Paul Higgins, who plays the Queen’s doctor, Sir James Reid, was the only cast member with a build slight enough to wear real Victorian clothing. He relished walking to the set from his hotel every day, taking the old chain ferry and striding up the hill to the unit base in the grounds of Osborne House.

‘I always walked to the house in Victorian clothes much like Reid would have worn, over lawns that he would have walked over as he chatted to the gardeners – he was very interested in gardening. It was such a great way to get into character.’

Alan Macdonald, who worked with Frears on The Queen and several other of his films, was the production designer. ‘Osborne House would have been the most difficult location to recreate because it’s based on an Italian villa, and within it they created a sort of new fashion, which is a departure from the ornate heaviness and subdued nature of Victoriana wallpapers and textiles.

Windsor Castle and Balmoral were tricky enough, but Osborne House is a whole other world that hasn’t really been seen on screen before – the colours are like Neapolitan ice creams and sorbets, and it was all about letting in light.’

A designer’s job, says Macdonald, is to reinforce the narrative tone of the film. ‘It’s not just creating rooms. Finding the location is a challenge, as is finding the furniture, or building a garden in Hampshire – but the real challenge is in creating this sort of jigsaw puzzle, putting all these pieces together, and reflecting some kind of psychological aspect of the story.’

English Heritage was happy to comply, because of the obvious benefits it will reap from tourism. But there were restrictions. ‘We had people from English Heritage saying, “Don’t step there; no, don’t sit there…”’ says Dench. ‘And if you wanted to move your glass slightly to the left, someone would have to put gloves on and move it for you.’

Some of the furniture was very delicate, says Macdonald. Too delicate to sit on. ‘So you might have a scene where 20 people are meant to be sitting in a room but only three people can sit down. So there’s a bit, for example, where Olivia Williams [Lady Churchill, Lady of the Bedchamber and friend to the Queen] looks as if she’s sitting on a chair but, in fact, it’s a sort of crate.’

One of Macdonald’s favourite moments was during an outdoor tea-party scene in Scotland (filmed in a glen where some of The Queen was also shot), in which the Queen and senior members of her household were having a miserable formal picnic at a table buffeted by the wind. A car pulled up during the filming, the door opened and a high-heeled boot poked out. Eddie Izzard.

He wasn’t required on set that day but, says Izzard, he likes to be where the action is. ‘Film is my first love and it was one of the first scenes we shot, and I just wanted to be there – so I drove myself up.’ It was a cold windy day and Izzard lay down in the heather to keep warm.

He looks like Bertie. How did his casting come about? It was the casting director who suggested him, and Frears went to watch him do stand-up. ‘My character’s interesting – very damaged by his upbringing, and his mother blamed him for the death of Albert. But he was the only one who could tell her to f— off really.’

Bertie was one of Karim’s chief detractors. ‘Victoria was on her way out; she’s eating herself to death – she’s going to go in the next couple of years and the throne will be Bertie’s,’ says Izzard. ‘And then suddenly she gets a whole new lease of life; she’s got something to live for. So you can see that Bertie would be pissed off.’

Izzard gained 26lb to play the part, and was given a beard and a cane. He relished working with Frears and was already a friend of Dench, who often goes to see his stand-up shows. Accordingly, he arranged a show to take place in the Isle of Wight during filming, to entertain all the other actors and raise money for charity.

‘It keeps me match fit, and we all had this great sense of community – we’re on the Isle of Wight for a month – so I thought it would be fun for the locals too. It’s like the circus coming to town for one day. Where I grew up, in Bexhill-on-Sea, the circus never came to town. So if I can ever make the circus come to town, that’s such a good thing to do.’

Dench attended this event, and it was if the Queen herself had arrived, says Macdonald. ‘She is perceived as regal, but she’s so warm and open and amusing and irreverent – not grand at all.’

It sounds like a very entertaining film to work on. The principal members of the cast stayed in a small hotel with 12 rooms. There was much playing of Scrabble and other games. And Dench made them all watch University Challenge.

Frears stayed elsewhere. ‘I went to a holiday camp, which I rather preferred, but I could hear their whoops of laughter while I was there. Judi is very good at all that – she’s Brown Owl. She looks after everybody.’

Dr Reid was a key character. He was in permanent attendance to the Queen, seeing her several times a day, and became her trusted companion. He was a Scot who hated Scotland. Higgins read his biography, Ask Sir James, in order to prepare for the role. ‘Apparently he was an exceptional doctor. Unlike some of her other doctors, he really kept up to date. Victoria gave him time off to travel to London and visit hospitals and keep in touch with technology and learning.

‘She came to rely on him and trust him, except when he told her not to eat so much and so quickly. She had a gargantuan appetite.’ (In one scene, Dench had to munch her way through 27 boiled eggs. Everyone was very impressed by this.)

Queen Victoria died in Reid’s arms on 22 January, 1901, at Osborne House. She was 81. ‘She was a monster, but she was also rather brilliant,’ says Frears. ‘I admire her more and more.’

‘I grew up being very sceptical of Victoria,’ says Lee Hall, ‘but when I read more about her, I found she was a much more interesting character than I had assumed and I really fell in love with her. She was more broad-minded than all the people around her.’

After her death, the Munshi was allowed to spend a moment alone with the Queen as she lay in her coffin. Then, on the orders of the King, came the raid on his house and the destruction of the Queen’s letters. He returned to India, and the land that Victoria had given him in Agra, a wealthy and titled man, and according to Basu, spent his last days sitting by the statue of Queen Victoria and watching the sun set over the Taj Mahal.

www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/09/02/queen-victoria-always-liked-sex-judi-dench-stephen-frears-making/#comments

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the part that worries me is the sentence One of the best things about the film is the glorious sets.  Makes me think it’s going to be a stinker