#everybody loves cakey

[tekidoll]

hiiiiiii can you PLSSS draw chris x cakey. begging on my hands and knees. or at least draw them together.. THANK YOU.

this was originally a small doodle but i ended up liking it and finalized it more anyways here you gooooo!!!!!!!!💗💗

i need to draw cakey x slurpee next since it's still pride month and somehow i haven't drawn anything yet.

[fox-bright]

Gen's Soft Browned-Butter Rum Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is really for everybody, but I'm putting it up at last 'cause @sounddesignerjeans requested the recipe. I have been making chocolate chip cookies for thirty years, I was making them when I was too young to have been allowed near an oven by sane parents, but it wasn't until fairly recently that I was really happy with the recipe. I want cookies that are soft and stay soft, but that are chewy and not cakey; that have a lot of flavor instead of just being overwhelmingly sweet; that aren't too much trouble to make in terms of tools, and that are entirely made up of stuff that the average American probably has in their kitchen cupboards.

Here's your classic flatlay of ingredients:

2C plus 2TBSP all-purpose flour

2 TBSP corn starch

1/2tsp baking soda

1tsp kosher salt OR 1/2 tsp fine table salt

1C brown sugar (light or dark)

1/2C white sugar

1C butter (two sticks/16 TBSP. Must be butter--I don't know anything about soy or nut spreads, but margarine absolutely will not work for this, unfortunately)

2 eggs, room temperature

Vanilla to taste (anywhere between 1tsp and 1TBSP is usually the sweet spot)

Chocolate chips to taste (Average is 1-2 cups, but live your dreams! I like my cookies a little less chocolatey personally, but this is absolutely up to you, anything under three cups shouldn't overwhelm the dough to the point that it doesn't cook right, though that would be Way Too Many for  me. I'm usually at about a cup or under.)

A couple of notes: this recipe really does work best if the eggs and chocolate chips are room temperature, but the butter can start from frozen if that's what you have. Take a half-cup measure and use that to scoop flour into your cup measure, and then scrape, don't compress, until the flour is level across the top of the cup.  And lastly--ANY vanilla will do, but I am hugely privileged to be able to say that the Bacardi there has been transformed to vanilla extract by a particularly enterprising kendo student of mine, I'm not just pouring straight rum into the cookies (though that might be interesting)

Also, please allow me to introduce you to Fork!

Fork is a stalwart friend. When I moved to be with the Magical Flying Husband, he was somewhat horrified by my Poverty Child, "This table fork and butterknife are all the tools I need for my day-to-day household existence" ways, and got me Fork as a present so that I would leave the silverware alone. Fork can handle a dense boiled potato and a silky buttercream with equal aplomb, not bending or transmitting too much heat up into my hand. I highly recommend Fork. But for this recipe, a hand mixer will also do, as will a table fork if that's what you have.

(The rest of Part 1 of this recipe under the cut:)

If you have two bowls, put the dry ingredients (flour, corn starch, baking soda, salt) into the smaller one, and both sugars into the larger one. If you only have one bowl, put the sugars into it and let the dry ingredients wait their turn.

When I was a kid, I used to imagine that the brown sugar was a castle keep in deep winter, and the white sugar the snow that hemmed it in.

Get a little pan onto the stove, and pop both sticks of butter in it to melt.

The butter will start off bright, but it will pretty quickly separate into liquid and solid; you must not leave it alone at this point, this is the most eyes-on-it portion of the game here. Take Fork, or a fork, or a whisk, and stir, stir, every few seconds.

The milkfats will sink to the bottom of the pan. Stir, stir. The milkfats will get sticky; don't let them cling to the pan, keep them in motion.

Pretty soon the butter will start giving off a lovely chestnutty smell, and the milkfats at the bottom of the pan will turn a darker color. Take the pan off the heat and continue to stir for another thirty seconds or so. If you leave it on the heat and stir now, the fats can easily burn; if they burn, you need to start over, there's no salvaging it. So better safe than sorry.

Carefully pour the butter over your sugars, making sure you get all those delicious browned bits in there, and stir stir stir! Don't burn yourself--but it starts cooling off immediately as the sugars dissolve into cooling liquid. I use Fork for this, but you can use a strong whisk or a hand mixer.

Once the sugars are completely dissolved and mixed, it will look kind of like a grainy caramel. Let it sit until completely cool, somewhere around fifteen minutes. Maybe take this time to go put up a Tumblr post about your delicious cookies.

(Part 2 incoming shortly)

[therealchrismclean]

Heeyy the most handsome and best hosttt

What’s your thoughts on all the other hosts? Yk, Don, Chef, Blaineley, Joshh. Geoff and Bridgette if you count them.

Ever actually talked to Don before? Preeeeetty bold to hate someone you have even talked to, if that’s the case.

Hello, and thank you for this question! With the case of Don, the reason for my dissatisfaction for him is because I watch my own show, and I watched this work (obviously), and he's just so mediocre at making jokes! Not just that, he clearly isn't putting the contestants in total danger. I mean, who does that? Now, everybody knows that Chef and I have a pretty positive relationship, whether if it's work partners or friends or more than that... I mean, you get the idea. We have had our differences but trust me, we're good. As a host though? Err... I don't know... I mean he's pretty good with children but I feel as if his surge of emotions will get in the way and his violence. He's perfect for the current job though. Now, Blaineley was an interesting person and she's good in her "Celebrity Manhunt" Job (even though it gives me an ego boost and occasional paranoia). However, the fact that she revealed that she was supposed to be the one hosting Total Drama? Please, bitch. She can't outshine the shiner! I guess she's pretty good for appeal and such but she needs a better make-up artist (her face is cakey). But she is pretty funny behind the scenes. And she was one of the first people close to my age to ever be a contestant! Wait, how old is she? Josh? I don't remember him that much. I know he worked beside her but he's kind of irrelevant. Sorry, dude! Geoff and Bridgette... You know what? I love Geoff's work. It exudes my energy (as if anyone can ACTUALLY replicate it) and his sense of carelessness and doing ANYTHING for the money is such a heartwarming thing, especially from a domestic terrorist as myself. ❤ Bridgette on the other hand, she has really good skill and she keeps the show engaging! But... She's very restrictive and that's what keeps Geoff from reaching his full potential of chaos! But hey, Women am I right?

Oh, I just got a call from my execs saying that the joke at the end is "offensive"? God, what do they know? They'd do the same thing too back in the 50's.

[kisses4kait]

blog 1

Being at school is really not for the weak. Stinky, hormonal, drama filled teenagers. They always complain about how hard their lives are despite most of this ‘hard stuff’ being their own decisions. You can complain all you want about how hard it is to focus and how you can’t wake up super early and yet you are smoking weed every waking second. I'm guilty of this too. I complain about being tired all the time even though i take 10 benadryl a day and smoke my cart at night. Staying awake till 3 am because I'm so high I can't move. I wouldn't say I'm addicted to benadryl. I can live without it, but does this also mean I still take 10 pills of it a day? Yes. It's just a simple thing. Since starting to take it my allergies have gone away for the most part and I want to believe I'm losing weight. I wake up every morning feeling hungover because the benadryl rips apart my liver. I prefer it this way. It makes getting up in the morning a bit easier. I wake up feeling so gross that I don't want to eat breakfast. I usually eat lunch around 12:30. The time before i go to school, and when i get home.

I have 2 spare blocks this semester because I dropped my volleyball gym class because everybody was either too cool to play, or did not know how to play. The gym floors were also waxed recently so diving on them was terrible. I feel like I've lost my passion for volleyball, I still love it though. But girls in sports are so mean and unforgiving. They either want to be the best or just play a fun sport to pass the time and make their tiny butts bigger. But mixing these girls within each other is just a recipe for disaster. The girls who wanna take it seriously berate and get mad at the chill girls because they aren't trying hard enough. And the chill girls make fun of the girls who take it seriously for putting so much time and effort into this stupid sport. I fit in right around the middle. I know I can never be the best at the sport but I still try and have fun. I also dropped my foundations of math 12 class. The colleges I'm applying to changed their requirements and now the math class I'm in now is useless for anything. So I dropped that class and registered online for pre-calculus 12. Everybody keeps telling me it's a hard class but I think they are fully lying. It cannot be THAT hard. I go to school everyday but for only 2 hours each day. I go for one class then go home. Or wake up super late and go to class after lunch is over. It's not like I have a group of friends who are always waiting for me or giving me a reason to actually go to school. Of course I have friends, but I don't really like them. Kids my age are so immature and only care about drama and parties. I do enjoy parties but I hate drama. Exactly what you are getting out of spreading a rumor about somebody. I don't care that this person called you a bitch. I don't care if your boyfriend left you for 5 hours.

Actually I do care about that stuff. I just hate when people try to get me involved in drama. I stay far away from it and yet it always follows me. It's probably because of teresa. Teressa is this girl in my grade. Overly Bleached blonde hair, plump figure, cakey makeup and a very 2 faced personality. She is very persuasive. Making you feel special by asking you to hang out in a big group of girls who are dying for a chance to talk to her or hit her vape. Hanging out with Teresa at first made me feel really good. This girl who everybody knows wants to hang out with me? It was my dream. But everytime i hang out with her, she always humiliates me or makes me feel used. She has me drive her and her little boyfriends around town and spend hundreds of dollars on things and then never give them back. She makes promises she cannot keep. “I'll buy you gas next time i see you��� “i'll buy you cart” but then when it comes time to do it, she cheaps out or makes some bullshit excuse on why she can't. “I'll buy you a tank of gas” and she spends $5 and makes me pay the difference. “I'll buy you a cart” and then tells me she knows no dealers. And she doesn't take accountability for the drunk men she brings into my car.

Jacob her gay friend, who is also fucking her, is the most selfish and annoying person i know. I want to get mad and hate him but I know that does nothing but fuel his ego. He's tall, also has overly-bleached hair, big lips and feet that point outward when he walks. He has been addicted to multiple drugs and uses other forms of drugs to stop the others. Stop doing heroin? Start smoking cigarettes. Stop taking xanax? Become an alcoholic. He's like those girls who pretended to be depressed in middle school. Complain that her wrists hurt from cutting them open but wear t-shirts to show them off. He complains that his other friend got him into drugs. But actively asks for more drugs and talks about how good they make you feel. He has been bragging about being an alcoholic for a couple days now and it's getting exhausting.

The other night I went to pick Teressa up and he was so drunk and they both got us kicked out of the football team. I wouldn't let Jacob climb the fence, and in retaliation he threw my book out the window. I brought it up to him and he just smiled and told me that it couldn't have been him. Even after he was going through my school bag and throwing shit everywhere.

[leadingonlinebakerystoreinindia]

Succulent And Flavourful Food Items To Gift On Birthdays

Giving a gift shows how much you care for the person and appreciate them. It is critical to understand their preferences before choosing a gift. Everybody knows a foodie constantly raving about the newest restaurant and culinary trends. Choosing presents or gift baskets for a foodie can be difficult because there are many possibilities. Here is a compiled list of presents to satisfy a foodie's taste buds:

 Basket of chocolates

 Chocolates consistently rank at the top of the most cherished food presents ever. Everyone enjoys a quick bite of chocolate. When you gift chocolates, it is without a doubt the best present. Additionally, you can purchase decadent and exquisite chocolate confectionery gift boxes for your loved ones. They are beautifully wrapped and presented in festive boxes.

 Crunchy cookies

 One of the most popular gifts today is a box of cookies. Cookies that are flavourful and crunchy are little bites of delight. Cookies like chocolate chip cookies, double choco-chip cookies, butter cookies, and others are great options if you are searching for a tasty snack for a foodie. The best gifts are cookies since they are easy to find and give.

 Puffs

 Crispy, flaky, and utterly delectable! Based on old family recipes, meat and vegetarian puffs are lovely gifts. You can choose from various puff options, such as the flaky and cheese puff stuffed with roasted chicken, cheese, herbs, and the traditional bechamel sauce. The curried veg puff is a fantastic vegetarian choice, made with various veggies cooked in a creamy curry sauce and topped with white sesame seeds.

 Pastries

 A slice of heaven is usually a delicious treat and a fantastic present. Sending an assorted box of pastries in tantalising flavours like black forest, red velvet, Dutch truffle, opium, red velvet, cheesecake, pineapple, puff pastry, and more is the perfect way to make your loved ones happy. Anyone can be amazed by these tasty little morsels, so there is no need to hesitate before delivering various pastries and brightening their festivities.

 Brownies

 Brownies are baked chocolate dessert that is the ideal balance of gooey and crunchy. It is made with pure couverture chocolate and is a rich, fudgy brownie that melts in your mouth. They come in various flavours, including chocolate chip, cookie, millionaire, overload, walnut, chocolate, and raspberry, and depending on their density, they can be cakey or fudgy.

Flavourful cakes

 Cakes are the best options for pleasing a sweet tooth. You can purchase delectable and fresh cakes for events like birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and New Year. Choose from delicious flavours, including opium, hazelnut praline, chocoholic, pineapple, cheesecake, dutch truffle, black forest, and more.

 These food items from a chocolaterie or a baking shop as gifts will surely melt the hearts of your loved ones. They make lovely gifts for everyone. Delight their palates with sumptuous food choices that match their preferences.

[hollyhomburg]

Before I Leave You (Pt.10)

(Sneak Peak) (Omegaverse au, Mafia au, Bts x Reader)

Summary: After a small mistake, the situation with Hoseok boils over (Maybe it was never really you he was angry with in the first place)

Tags: Overreactions, miscommunication, jealousy, Verbal fights, use of strong language, slight brief blood mention, non-verbal (but becoming verbal) characters, references to emotional and physical abuse, unapologetically bad jokes

W/c: 5.6k

A/n: ah im really excited to get to this part <3 the m/c does get a little more talkative in this chapter!! this is the confrontation i think everybody has been wanting- yoongi finally gets his talking to. 

Previous part — Masterlist

--------

Chapter 10: Blame me for it 

"I can help you; you know it's my project." 

Yoongi pushes gently at Tae's chest, “not a chance, go with Minnie, you look dead on your feet” 

You give a little murphy purr and bound away to the fridge. Jungkook sidles up behind you, squeezing you hard enough in hello that you make a noise. the same kind that pets make when you hold them too hard; Equal parts happy and affronted. "Looking for some sweets for Tae?" you nod, hair bouncing as you do. Jungkook leans forward to sniff at it.

You smell strange, still cakey but with a twinge of burntness. Huh- Jungkook doesn't like it. Maybe if he scents you he can get you back to smelling sweet and happy.

Seokjin joins the two of you, three omegas in a happy puddle and it makes Hoseok feel anything but pleased. Downright pissy that Jungkook is dragging his cheek along your shoulder, eyes closed, lips pouting. 

"I've got something better than sweets little lovely, help me?" you nod again, stepping away from Jungkook and closer to Jin, not touching him but the intention for closeness is there. “No fair, I had her first hyung” 

Hoseok feels like a voyeur- and not in a good way. His skin shivers like something’s crawling on it as he watches the three of you.

"Hobi" Hoseok jerks with how fast he glances back at Yoongi and Tae, whose undressing down to his ratty t-shirt for a day of Demo with Jimin. Both of them are watching him, strange scared looks on their face, half fearful and half sympathetic.

Yoongi is the only one who sensed the growl building in his throat.

One day he'll figure out why the idea of sympathy makes his skin sting. Why it hurts that Yoongi is looking at him that way. You should hate me- you should hate that I don’t like her yet- why don’t you- why-

Why didn’t you choose us Yoongi? 

Coming Saturday, July 10th @ 5 pm EST.  (Time zone adjustments below!)

[yourloveissmydrug]

could you do a sfw readerxbubba fic where the two of you decorate a new mask for him??

Okay funny thing I want to mention first. I started typing and having a layout for what I wanted to write, and had the story down. During the whole process of writing the fic, I was getting my nails done, and grocery shopping. And when I got home I was gonna sit down and fully write it but then I CLOSED ALL THE TABS ON ACCIDENT. And now the first original story is gone but don’t worry💀 I know I know LMFAO but don’t worry I know how the story goes! It’s my first request, and I just wanted to point that out, cuz thought that it was hilarious. Sorry I took so long!!!

——————————————————————————

It was a typical Friday afternoon, you were laying on Bubba’s bed reading a seventeen magazine on the hot and humid Texas summer day. You were bored out of your mind and all you could do was stare at the wall or read some magazines Drayton brought home from time to time.

Your boredom grew and grew quicker. Bubba was always busy with his chores and victims. So you spent mostly everyday by yourself until his chores were done.

To make it even worse the heat didn’t exactly help. The fan that gave no to little cool air helped a bit but you still were sweating. You laid there in bed, sweating while reading your magazine, you thought to yourself, could this get any worse? But your saving grace came.

You heard the door knob wiggle and jiggle open, your body perked up in hopes for Bubba. Walking through the door was Bubba! Your whole face lit up like a Christmas tree. Bubba was excited to see you too. But this time it was different. He was more ecstatic than usual, and it made you curious. He held out one of his victim’s face with jazz hands. You giggled at his quirky humor, while he snorted along with you.

You were quite confused on why he had one of his victim’s faces with you, but it’s Bubba. He’s unique and not like everybody else, which is why you are very fond of him.

You take a good look at the face and realize it’s a female’s face. Being a newly member of the family, you were still getting use to Bubba’s mannerisms, sometimes it left you confused but you’d followed along with whatever he does.

“So, is this for me?” You question softly with baby doll eyes.

He shook his head no, he took the mask away from you. He grabbed your hand, and walked you towards his crafts table where he works on all of his little gadgets and fine arts he makes.

“You want me to decorate the mask for you?”

Again, Bubba shook his head no. He pointed to you and himself. You finally understood what he meant. It’s hard to understand Bubba, he doesn’t speak words exactly. He mumbles, squeals and says gibberish where nobody can understand except for his brothers.

“You want to decorate the face together?” You asked while trying to hide your blushy cheeks from him.

He nods his head in excitement as you guess right. Now that you had agreed to decorate the face with him, he squeals in pure joy.

He pulls out a chair for you like a gentleman would at his table. He hovers over your whole body to see what will you do first. He’s very eager to do this with you.

“I really love your pretty fancy mask, but it’s been used for so long, hasn’t it?” You ask him.

He nods his head while he puts his hands on your shoulders to give him support while watching you.

“Let’s make you a new one, how about that?”

Bubba couldn’t agree more! Anything you do he loves, and is down for. Bubba wears his fancy pretty masks when he is either eating dinner with the family or going on a very special hunt for a victim. He needs to look his best, and looking his best is a main priority to him.

Looking at the blank canvas of the face that could be filled with creative designs and makeup, you questioned what to start with, but it immediately popped in your mind, blush! You grab a vibrant pinky blush. You dab lightly on the cheeks to not have such a bright pink that looks cakey and awkward. Bubba is amazed at how you applied the blush so subtly that looked so soft and airbrushed.

Then next is lipstick. You grab a bright red lipstick to go with the blush. You knew exactly what color would work well. You finely apply the lipstick around the lining of the mouth of the mask. It looked like an actual woman’s lips.

But now Bubba wanted to take a bit of control. He grabbed one of the deepest dusky blue eyeshadow he has but before he started, you stopped him and insisted he used a brush instead. You dip lightly in the blue eyeshadow, and started to do slow motions to blend out the beautiful blue. Bubba was intrigued by your technique, he then proceeds to overlap your hand that’s on the brush. He wants to blend the eyeshadow together. Your eyes met and you couldn’t control the smile that was beaming off of your face. You let him take control for a bit.

“Slowly Bubba..” You softly advise him.

Bubba blends in slower and softer motions blending the dark blue eyeshadow on the upper eye. You praise him for his contribution on the eyeshadow, you thought he did beautifully. He lets out a happy squeal for making him feel proud of his work.

You both were proud of what you designed together, but both of you knew something was missing. You both wanted to add something extra! You knew exactly! You wanted to add something edgy yet feminine and feisty to the look. Bubba had a stamper collection full of different patterns and designs. Bubba’s personality is quirky, and sweet. You wanted to showcase his personality on this mask that both of you designed together.

“Let’s put this on the cheek bone of the mask, give it some more pizzazz!” You suggest.

Anything that you do, Bubba is happy and pleased with it.

But this time, you want Bubba to add the finally touch to it. It was a tiny heart stamp that would give the look some sweetness to it. Bubba dipped the stamper in black ink, and you directed towards where he should put it. He then prints the stamper on the cheek bone of the mask. You both are proud of your master piece you both designed.

Bubba twirls your hair in appreciation and talks his gibberish. You have no idea what he is saying, but you find it very charming. You give him a kiss on the cheek when he’s not noticing. This was a moment that you both will remember and cherish forever. He just couldn’t wait to show off his new mask to everybody and tell them that the both of you made it!

——————————————————————————

AHHHH, I hope you liked it. I very much enjoyed writing this! Sorry I took like 10 million yearsss, I had a busy day, and accidentally closed all tabs erasing the whole story, but for future requests gonna do them on a Google doc first 💀

[gayamulet]

EXPANSE 6x01 

-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

- Someone on that art direction team picked up Tales From The Loop recently huh

- A little more fun with color and atmosphere and noticeably weaker CGI but it still? Looks nice? The delightful little set for for Ring 673 Planet 2/Laconia. I love a built set that looks the inside of a dated Chinese restaurant, please continue

- Everyone speaking in its-the-last-season broad declaratives all the time makes my skin crawl

-When Naomi is yelling out at Jim- stress. Naomi and Amos Disagreeing- Stress.

- I still don’t feel any particular way about Clarissa but its nice seeing her do what she can- I feel bad that she’s kind of in the dog house in the wake of Alex but watching her keep her head down and demonstrate what she’s learned during her tense time on the Roci definitely helped mark the passage of time since last season?

-Frustrated with where Drummer’s story has been swimming around since mid-last season, idk, please give her some agency again so her whole thing isn’t just sad-and-pining. Also poor Michio

-Monica-insert to challenge Avasarala’s whole 40-minutes of inaction while just standing next to Bobbie was kind of needless but also super appreciated

-The endless struggle between whatever that lighting is and the cakey eyeliner they’re throwing on everybody jfc

- That dive where Filip is being a bitch- so distracted by the bar glasses being a combination of...beakers and old school pub glasses

- Saw the note about previous character cameos and yes I too am chanting Prax & Anna

[gloves94]

Sunburn [Prince Zuko] 35

Warnings: Cursing Rating: PG-13   Pairings: Zuko/OC  

Sunburn Chapter M A S T E R L I S T

My fan fiction M A S T E R L I S T

Presently, Toph, Katara sat on the edge of the beach house’s inner courtyard watching the three firebenders practice their bending skills from the comfort of a refreshing shade.

Tsai had been complaining to everyone about how much she hated Ember Island but when asked why she would just grumble and seethe in her own anger and frankly it was getting on everybody’s nerves. It’s not something she liked to talk about in particular. Of course, this time things were a lot better than the last time she was here. Not wanting to spend another minute inside of the house that brought such terrible memories to her she spent the majority of the day meditating by the beach in an attempt to ease her terrible headache. She presently wore a set of maroon traditional Fire Nation clothes similar to the ones that Suki and Katara wore.

She was currently walking back to the courtyard to sit next to the girls that were watching the boys train.

She watched as the three benders moved in perfect synchronization in elaborate firebending movements. Blasting arcs of flames and fistfuls of fire. She really wished she could’ve been paying more attention to where she was going but was more distracted by a shirtless body. Her eyes were glued to the prince’s toned torso. She looked at the way his perspired body seemed to glisten with the light as he moved swiftly. Had he always been that well-built? She knew he was strong from holding onto his arms so many times before, but his abdominals- Her mind went to an erubescent compartment of her imagination. Why had she never stopped to appreciate the royal sight before?

The three benders straightened and turned towards each other relaxing in their stances letting out a deep breath slowly.

Then it hit her. Literally. She groaned slightly when she ran face-first into one of the courtyard’s pillars making Toph laugh loudly from where she was sitting. She stepped back and glared in embarrassment as she walked over to where Katara and Toph were sitting.

“You’ve got something on your face.” Toph continued laughing.

The girl rubbed the red line that had formed across the bridge of her nose and prayed that hopefully it wouldn’t bruise. “Yeah, I hope it doesn’t bruise.”

“I meant droll.” Toph dead panned. Tsai swore she could’ve strangled her in the spot. Mortified that she had been caught in the act of checking out the Fire Nation’s former prince in such an obvious matter.

"Doesn't it seem kinda weird that we're hiding from the Fire Lord in his own house?" Katara suddenly said absent mindedly. Thankfully Toph seemed to be the only one to have witnessed her embarrassing run in to the pole.

“Think of it as hiding in plain sight. Besides, you think the Fire Lord is going to come and hang out here?” The red head explained raising both of her arms up in a casual shrug.

"Yeah," Zuko agreed from where he was sitting at the foot of a concrete fountain, rubbing the sweat from his hair with a towel. He said something. Tsai was certain she saw his mouth move when he was speaking but she wasn’t listening. Her teenage hormones getting the best of her.

“You guys are not going to believe this!” Thankfully Sokka interrupted her daydream. She shook her head shoving those red thoughts into a cranny in the back of her brain.

Sokka and Suki stood at the entrance of the courtyard both with excited looks on their faces.

"We were just in town when we found this poster." Suki explained with both hands behind her back. She nudged Sokka, "Show them, Sokka."

“There’s a play about us!” Sokka announced unraveling a parchment scroll he had been holding behind his back. He snapped it opened revealing a traditional drawing of Aang and the Southern Water Tribe siblings in fighting stances. Zuko’s face in the background. An image of the Blue Spirit’s mask hovering in between the two parties.

Everybody came in closer to take a look at the poster.

"Listen to this," Sokka said as he turned the poster back around so he could read it capturing everybody’s attention as he began to read out loud. "The Boy in the Iceberg is a new production from acclaimed playwright Pu On Tim who scoured the globe gathering information on the Avatar from the icy South Pole to the heart of Ba Sing Se. His sources include singing nomads, pirates, prisoners of war, and a surprisingly knowledgeable merchant of cabbage."

Suki leaned over his shoulder and read the last line, "Brought to you by the critically acclaimed Ember Island Players."

"Ugh..." Zuko groaned and made a disgusted face his shoulder’s dropping, "My mother use to take us to see them. They butchered Love Amongst the Dragons every year."

Tsai couldn’t help but snort a small laugh. She knew that Zuko was a fan of theatre. Go figure. It definitely explained his fanfare for dramatic antics.

"Sokka," Katara sighed in exasperation, giving her brother a bland look as she asked, "Do you really think it's a good idea for us to attend a play about ourselves?"

“Yeah,” Added Tsai crossing her arms over her chest taking a seat next to Zuko at the foot of the fountain. “We shouldn’t be slacking off. We still have plenty of training to do.”

"C'mon!" Sokka whined before looking at the two girls persuasively as he unrolled the parchment again and showed it to the group. "This is the kind of wacky, time-wasting nonsense I've been missing!" He smiled at them with an eager expression on his face. “And it’s until night! So, we’ll have all day to train,” He shot at the red head.

Katara rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and looking away with a baffled expression.

“Yeah, why not?” Mecha asked as he sat next to his sister. He rested an elbow on top of her head with the intention to annoy her. She slouched forward under the weight of his arm. “I’d love to see what trouble ya’ll have gotten into.”

She glared at her brother and pushed his scarred arm off her head.

She let out an exhale in defeat. "Sure, why not? How bad could it be?"

xxx

The theatre house was grand. Composed of golden arches and red roofs and ceilings which were traditional to the area. The theatre was packed, and the group shuffled into the highest and cheapest seats they found at the very top in a small private box.

Toph sat on the edge, next to her Katara, Zuko and Aang.

"Hey, uh..." Aang faltered as he was forced to stand back up. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to act casual as he said, "I wanted to sit there." He said motioning to the spot next to Katara.

Zuko then lowered his hood and glanced at Aang strangely, "Just sit next to me, what's the big deal?"

Behind sat Suki, Sokka, Tsai and her brother both of them sipping on some Ember Island iced teas.

“I really don’t want to be here. There’s literally 1001 more productive things that we could be doing.” She complained to her brother. “Am I the only one that is aware that Sozin’s Comet isn’t slowing down?”

“Simmer down. You’re acting as if you’rethe Avatar” Sokka said with ease as he slid an arm around Suki’s shoulders. “At least one of us is!” She spoke sharply bitterly the edge of her eye twitching in frustration as she glared at Aang who didn’t hear her snarky remark. “You’ll have tomorrow to train and do your sun greeting meditations or whatever it is you do.” Sokka waved his hand indifferent to her attitude.

“Relax,” Mecha said to her. “This is just what we need. It’ll be a good way to get our minds off things.”

She sighed deflating a little.

“Besides I’m excited to see all of our parts!”

Aang fidgeted a little in the seats at the front as he struggled to find a seat next to Katara. "I was... just, uh..." Aang stuttered and glanced over at the brunette, who was peering at him oddly before looking back at the stage. He looked back at Zuko and cleared his throat, "I wanted to..." He sighed in defeat sat next to Zuko in defeat “Okay…”

"Why are we sitting in the nosebleed section?" Toph demanded, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat at the end. The theater lights dimmed signifying that the show was about to start. "My feet can't see a thing from up here."

"Don't worry," Katara stated in amusement, glancing at Toph from the corner of her eye before focusing on the stage once more, "I'll tell your feet what's happening."

Toph didn't bother to respond, as she heard the curtain being drawn up.

ACT I Scene 1

Sokka excitedly grabbed his sister's shoulder and pointed between them as their actor portrayals were revealed. The actress portraying Katara was an older woman wearing pounds of rogue cakey makeup on her face. "Sokka, my only brother!" She exclaimed dramatically with a loud sigh as she pretended to row a canoe through the moving cut-outs of blue waves.

"We constantly roam these icy South Pole seas, and yet never do we find anything fulfilling!"

Sokka’s actor had an overbite and his wig resembled more of a broomsticks’ end. He spoke next "All I want is a full feeling in my stomach, I'm starving!" He drawled out. The audience all laughed at the joke.

"Is food the only think on your mind?" Actress Katara asked in melodramatically.

"Well, I'm trying to get it out of my mind," Actor Sokka retorted and pointed to his mouth, "And into my mouth. I'm starving!"

The crowd of Fire Nationers once again roared with laughter.

"This is pathetic." Sokka complained, leaning over his sister's shoulder and waving his hand towards the stage, "My jokes are wayfunnier than this."

Tsai let out a humorous snort as she leaned back into her seat, arms crossed over her chest. Her brother’s body language mirroring her own.

"I think he's got you pegged." Toph quipped with a laugh, and Sokka glowered at her in reply then sat back with a huff to continue watching the play.

"Every day, the world awaits a beacon to guide us, yet none appears. Still we cannot give up hope!" Katara’s actress placed her hand to her chest and began to sniffle dramatically, "For hope is all we have," Her voice wavered with choked tears as she collapsed over the side of the canoe in an exaggerated manner. "And we must never relinquish it. Even...Even to our dying breath." She burst into fake tears lowering her head. Actor Sokka looked at her blankly and continued paddling.

Katara huffed and crossed her arms without amusement, "Well, that's just silly. I don't sound like that at all."

The row behind Katara all sniggered quietly behind praying Katara wouldn’t hear them. Toph however, felt no need to hide her laughter as she giggled maniacally. "Oh man, this writer's a genius!"

Katara scowled at her and stuck her nose in the air, closing her eyes in indignation.

It seemed like all Katara’s actress did was bawl dramatically, moan, sigh and cry about hope and feelings. Moments later the boy who was trapped in the iceberg came to the stage.

The actress portraying Katara stopped crying and sat up, turning to stare at the iceberg prop with wide eyes, "It appears to be someone frozen in ice. Perhaps for a hundred years!"

"But who?" Actor Sokka questioned loudly, "Who is the boy in the iceberg?"

Aang leaned forward on his seat in anticipation at his character’s introduction and great reveal. The eagerness on his face excited unmistakable as he learned even further to see the respectable actor that would portray the Avatar. Zuko glanced over at him, he then looked over his shoulder and saw that the Fire Nation siblings were watching the play attentively both of their attentions completely captivated. That’s right. They probably didn’t know that any of this had happened.

Actress Katara climbed onto the iceberg prop quickly, Actor Sokka climbing it at slower pace. She made a slashing motion with her arm and cried out, "Waterbend, hai-ya!"

The silhouette disappeared from view as the iceberg prop split in half. Smoke spilled out of it flooding the stage. It was time. The big reveal. The Avatar leapt out of the smoke and landed between Sokka and Katara’s actors. The actor struck a playful pose placing a hand on his- her hip and winking at the audience. The actress wore cake loads of rogue blush and a bald cap with a blue arrow as well as Aang’s traditional Air Nomad robes.

"Who are you, frozen boy?" Actress Katara asked in awe, reaching out as if to touch the other actress while theatrically clasping her other hand to her chest.

The petite actress portraying Aang laughed and spoke in a high-pitched voice, "I'm the Avatar, silly!" She balanced on the toes of one foot then twirled around, holding her arms out with another cheery giggle, "Here to spread joy and fun!"

Aang cringed and closed his eyes for a second before leaning forward becoming almost deflated, his eyes practically bugging out of his head. He made a choked noise, "Is that a woman playing me?"

Aang scowled and sat back in his seat with an irate huff, crossing his arms and glowering at the stage.

“Is it me? Or does that look like Ty Lee?” Tsai said more to herself than the others.

A replica of Appa made growling and roaring noises before leaping off the iceberg prop, revealing the three actors wearing furry pants to represent the sky bison's six legs. The replica landed to the right of the stage and ran across to the left side then disappeared behind the iceberg prop again.

"An Airbender!" The Katara actress gasped in awe, turning to look at the other actress after watching the Appa run around. She clasped her hands to her chest and dropped down to one knee as she exclaimed, "My heart is so full of hope, that it's making me tearbend!" She sobbed dramatically clinging onto theater Aang’s leg.

"My stomach is so empty that it's making me tearbend!" Actor Sokka wailed as he threw his arms up hopelessly then dropped to his knees, clutching onto Actress Aang's opposite leg and starting to cry just as dramatically as Actress Katara. "I need meat!"

Giggling cheerfully, Actress Aang ducked down, putting her arm around both of their shoulders after they had let go of her. She pointed upward with a cheeky smile, "But wait! Is that a platter of meaty dumplings?"

"Where?!" Actor Sokka asked excitedly, shielding his eyes and turning away from the actress in search of the alleged dumplings. "Where, where?"

Actress Aang laughed and shifted so she was sitting on the edge of the iceberg prop, playfully swinging her arm around as she chirped, "Did I mention that I'm an incurable prankster?" She crossed her legs and smiled cutely winking at the laughing audience.

"I don't do that!" Aang growled irritably as the audience continued to chortle, "That's not what I'm like! And-and I'm not a woman!" He threw his hands up in frustration as he slumped on his seat.

Toph cracked up and turned her head towards Aang, "Oh I think they nailed you, Twinkle Toes!" She continued laughing when Aang growled at her, lifting his head up to glare in her direction.

Scene 2 The scene changed, and a Fire Nation warship appeared on stage, the actor portraying Zuko poised near the front of the ship, looking through a telescope while a large man that was playing Iroh standing in the middle of the ship.

“Is this when you come out?” Mecha said to his sister in his classic style which never failed to show he could not whisper to save his life.

“You know when I come out!” She said to him roughly. “Not yet!”

"Prince Zuko," Actor Iroh called out as he held up a whole cake minus one slice towards the other actor, "You must try this cake."

"I don't have time to stuff my face!" Actor Zuko, dressed in armor and with a long ponytail, snapped as he turned towards Iroh’s actor, lowering the telescope as he did so. He turned towards the audience and clutched his fist in an assertive manner, "I must capture the Avatar and regain my honor!"

"Well, while you do that, maybe I'll capture another slice." Actor Iroh stated then held the cake up higher before bringing it towards his face and proceeding to gobble it down noisily.

"You sicken me!" Actor Zuko spat in disgust, turning away haughtily to look through his telescope again.

The Fire Nation crowd once again laughed loudly. Zuko scowled and gestured towards the stage with his free hand, "They make me look totally stiff and humorless."

"Actually," Katara commented in complacent amusement as she crossed her arms, "I think that actor's pretty spot on."

He heard laughing coming from behind and turned to glare at the two Fire Nation siblings who were miserably failing at controlling their loud laughter. “They totally nailed you!” She couldn’t help but laugh loudly.

Zuko swung his arm out and protested, "How can you say that?" He asked looking back at them.

"Let's forget about the Avatar and get massages!" Iroh said.

"How can you say that?!"

Katara and the two siblings in the back smirked and looked at Zuko smugly. The backrow laughed even harder. Zuko grumbled and slumped down in his seat, frowning at the stage.

Several scenes passed by all of them portraying dramatically exaggerated personifications of Aang and his friends on their adventures as they traveled to the Eastern Air Temple and Ba Sing Se. Tsai and Mecha had been enjoying the play so far. They were learning so much about what the group had been through before they came into the story.

Scene 7

“Here’s where we come in!” Mecha nudged his younger sister’s arm excitedly as the last scene faded.

But- it didn’t happen. Yu Dao never came into scene. She looked at the stage before in disappointment their spirits faltering a little.

“Guess I’m not relevant enough to be in the play,” She sulked as she sunk into her seat.

Lights representing lightning flashed though the stage followed by fake sounding thunder as the Pohuai fortress came into view.

"The Avatar is mine!" Actor Zuko shouted triumphantly as he stood in front of a raised platform Actress Aang was tied to while several actors dressed as Fire Nation guards stood at the bottom. Actor Zuko looked to the left and pointed with a shout of surprise, "Wait, who's coming?"

A spotlight swung to the left, illuminating an actor wearing a massive Blue Spirit mask that covered his whole body. "I am the Blue Spirit!" The actor shouted as he clashed his dual dao blades together and tap danced in place, "The scourge of the Fire Nation here to save the Avatar!"

Waving his swords around, the Blue Spirit actor walked across the stage, the fake guards falling down as he past them. Actor Zuko ran around the platform and came up behind the Blue Spirit actor, throwing a red ribbon that was meant to be fire at the Blue Spirit actor's feet. The Blue Spirit actor jumped back to avoid the streamer then thrust his sword forward at Actor Zuko, who ran off stage.

"My hero!" Actress Aang cried out, pulling her hands from her restraints and leaping on top of the large Blue Spirit mask.

Zuko glanced over his shoulder Aang, the two giving each other embarrassed looks before quickly looking away.

The Blue Spirit actor continued to tap dance on stage before quickly spinning only to reveal an older actress with a tacky red wig standing on the other side of the mask.

“They’ll never suspect it’s me! The greatest traitor to the nation!” The actress who was wearing pounds of make-up and a promiscuous ochre colored kimono laughed loudly in a most irate laugh possible.

Tsai sprayed out her beverage like a whale and looked at the scene before in horror. She didn’t think she had ever heard her brother laugh so loud before. That’s right… The Fire Lord probably still thinks she’s the Blue Spirit. She facepalmed.

“This is such an inaccurate portrayal.”

Scene 8

A Fire Nation warship returned to the stage were Zuko’s Actor gazed out through a telescope once again and Iroh’s Actor played Pai Sho.

“Yoo-hoo! Boys!” Actor Tsai pulled out a hankerchief and waved at the warship with a sultry look on her eyes. “Wanna take me on a ride?” She giggled flirtatiously and winked at the audience.

“Hot Fire Pepper Flakes!” Actor Iroh gasped dramatically. “I guess we have to! What’s theworstthat could happen?” Iroh laughed heartily. As the actress with the red wig jumped on the ship gleefully.

“Uncle! This is not a cruise resort! I don’t want this colonial pest on my ship! Although… I can’t say no to such a vixen.”

“Is that really how it happened?” Aang quirked a confused eyebrow.

“It’s not!” Tsai cried out from the back with a red face leaning forward speaking between Aang and Zuko’s shoulders. “This play is so inaccurate! I mean- They paint me like some kind of whoozy!They totally missed the funeral. And my laugh does notsound like that!” “I think they got the annoying laugh juuust right.” Her brother sniggered earning himself a hard punch to the arm.

Zuko sat stiffly and brought a hand to his face to hide his embarrassment.

 Scene 9

The backdrop was changed to that of the Freedom Fighters former hide-out in the trees and Actress Katara along with an actor portraying Jet, stood on a small platform attached to a rope that was hanging a few feet above the stage.

“Wait is that…” Tsai narrowed her eyes. “Is that Jet?” Her eyes went slightly wide. “You know Jet?” She whispered to Katara leaning over. “You know him too?” Katara whispered back with an embarrassed expression on her face. “Yeah, we had a thing-“She was interrupted by Zuko who loudly shushed the both of them not wanting to remember the little rendezvous Tsai had had with him. He certainly didn’t want to remember the two of them canoodling back on the ferry to Ba Sing Se.

Actress Katara began to mock sob loudly and Actor Jet, with a rose in his mouth held her close, "Don't cry baby. Jet will wipe out that nasty town for you!"He pointed at the stage briefly then lifted Actress Katara's chin up while a stagehand dressed in black pulled a large, blue sheet that was supposed to represent water, across the stage beneath them.

"Oh Jet," Actress Katara cooed in a sultry voice as the platform was raised, "You're so bad."

Katara blushed brightly and ducked her head, bringing her hand up to hide her face in embarrassment while Toph giggled unabashedly.

“Why are all the women in this play over-sexualized?!” A female voice in the back row protested angrily.

Scene 11

“Quit playing Pai Sho with my uncle!”

“As a woman from the colonies I can tell you, it’s notthe only thing we’re playing.”

“Ohohoho!”Actor Iroh laughed loudly and lecherously.

The audience roared with wild laughter at the vulgar stereotype of women from the colonies.

The girl hid her face behind her hands shrinking lower into her seat.

“That did nothappen…” She grumbled completely mortified. Not even wanting to see the weirded outlooks that the group was giving her. Her and Iroh had been close, but not like that!

Scene 12

“I can’t fight your bewitching spell any longer temptress! Kiss me!”

Mecha had a horrified look on his face as he watched the scene before where Tsai and Zuko’s Actors kissed on the warship. The girl had completely slid down her seat with a red face of mortification.

“That didn’t happen either, eh?” Toph snorted flashing the girl a teasing look.

“Not like that at least!” She roared out jumping out of her seat making several heads turn back to look at her. Zuko was wearing his black hood over his head back again he pulled it down so it would hide his equally embarrassed expression. He could almost feel both Katara and Aang looking down at him with teasing grins.

“That’s it! I can’t watch this anymore!”

“But Tsai- there’s about to be an intermission!” Her brother said sipping on his tea, regardless she exited the room and threw her own beverage away.

Some moments later after the Act I intermission the rest of the group joined her outside in outdoor balcony that lead to their private viewing box.

“I see what you mean by ‘they butchered Love Amongst the Dragons every year.’" Tsai grumbled blowing a hair out of her face as he sat on the steps leaning against the railing.

"So far, this intermission is the best part of the play." Zuko grumbled taking a standing on the steps next to her leaning his weight on the railing as well.

"Apparently, the playwright thinks I'm an idiot." Sokka complained as he walked down the stairs with a bag of spicy fire jerky, taking a seat next to Suki a few steps from the bottom of the stairs. "Who tells bad jokes about meat all the time!"

"Yeah," Suki drawled in amusement and a hint of sarcasm, "You tell bad jokes about plenty of other topics too."

Sokka bit off a piece of jerky and exclaimed around it as he chewed, "I know!"

"At least this Sokka actor kind of looks like you." Aang retorted from his seat on the bottom steps, Toph standing in front of him with an amused look on her face, "That woman playing the Avatar doesn't resemble me at all."

"I don't know," Toph quipped with a sardonic grin, "You are more in touch with your feminine side than most guys."

“Simmer down Aang, it’s supposed to be a satire.” Tsai explained calmly. “One written specifically to appeal the humor of the Mainland,” she said angrily covering her face with her hands. Aang scowled at the ground his pose mirroring hers. “Can you believe how they portrayed me? Just because I’m from the colonies!” She fumed at the stereotypical portrayal.

“Hey at least you’re in it.” Her brother rolled his eyes somewhat bitter he wasn’t even written in.

"Relax, you guys." Katara chided lightly from the top of the stairs, smiling gently at Aang when he looked up at her with a frown. "They're not accurate portrayals. It's not like I'm a preachy crybaby who can't resist giving overemotional speeches hope all the time." She frowned when the others just looked at her skeptically, "What?"

"Yeah," Aang muttered, rolling his eyes slightly as he sat back down on the step, "That's not you at all."

“Am I a whoozy?” The red head asked dramatically her voice raised in a lighter pitch. As her shoulder’s dropped to the side.

“No.” Scattered voices reassured her.

“I’m going to murder whoever wrote this junk.” Zuko grumbled under his breath inaudible for the others to hear. What was the name of the playwright again Pu On Tim?

Toph shook her head, amused at how bent out of shape her friends were getting over the whole play. "Listen, friends. It's obvious that the playwright did his research. I know it must hurt but what you're seeing up there on that stage is the truth."

ACT II Scene 14

"Well here we are in the Earth Kingdom." Actress Katara said as she stood with Actor Sokka, and Actress Aang. In front of a background painted to look like Earth Kingdom buildings.

"I'd better have a look around to see if I can find an earthbending teacher." Actress Aang chirped happily, opening up her miniature air glider prop and jumping into the air while a cable lifted her up.

Toph leaned forward eagerly, "This is it! this must be where I come in!"

Actress Aang flew around the theater and over the audience before landing back on stage.

"I flew all over town, but I couldn't find a single earthbending master!"

"Here it comes..." Toph muttered, clenching her fists in anticipation.

The boulder next to where the trio were standing beside on stage was held up by a hulking muscular man wearing Toph's outfit as he rose out of a trap door the rock prop had been covering.

"You can't find an earthbending master in the sky, you have to look underground." The man rumbled in a super deep voice as he threw the rock prop over their heads.

Katara clapped her hands over her mouth to hide her laughter, Suki mimicking her while Aang, Sokka, and Tsai laughed freely and Zuko dropped the play parchment he was holding in shock.

"Who are you?" Actress Aang asked as she pointed at Actor Toph.

Actor Toph spat off the side and rumbled, "My name's Toph because it sounds like tough." He flexed his muscles, "And that's just what I am."

"Wait a minute." Toph frowned and turned her head to the side, straining to hear the words before using her finger to clear out her ear canal, "I sound like a..." She made a shocked noise, "A guy. A really, really buff guy."

"Well Toph, what you hear up there is the truth." Katara commented snidely, smirking smugly at the blind girl, "It hurts, doesn't it?"

"Are you kidding?" Toph exclaimed as she grinned from ear to ear, "I wouldn't have cast it any other way!

"So, you're blind?" Actress Aang asked curiously as she waved her hand in front of Actor Toph's eyes, which were covered by his overly long bangs.

"I can see you doing that." Actor Toph laughed then gestured with his burly arms, "I see everything that you see except that I don't see like you do. I release a sonic wave from my mouth." He turned towards the trio and opened his mouth and screamed loudly at them, causing the actors to lean back and their clothes to flutter from the strong vibrations of the shout.

The entire audience grimace at the loudness of the roar. The backrow gazed in terror while Toph held onto the railings with an excited expression.

"There." Actor Toph said contentedly after he finished screaming, "I got a pretty good look at you."

Actress Aang giggled and clapped, promoting the audience to do the same while the other actors stared at Actor Toph in awe.

Scene 17

"Zuko, it's time we had thetalk." Actor Iroh said slowly as he stood on a metal bridge with Actor Zuko, who was now wearing a long-haired wig.

“I’ve had thattalk already Uncle.”

The audience laughed loudly.

Actor Iroh pointed at him, "About your hair. It's gone too far." Tsai’s actress sat between the two actors looking between the two with mock gasping expressions.

"Maybe it's best if we..." Actor Zuko flicked his hair as he turned his head away, "Split up."

He turned and walked away, Actor Iroh heading in the opposite direction.

“Oh no!” She gaped dramatically. “Will you stay if we have some tea?” She drawled on the last word coyly. Before letting out a loud high-pitched irritating laughter.

Again, cue for the audience to laugh.

Scene 19

It was the scene of Lake Laogai, but know with Actress Aang, Actress Katara, Actor Toph, and Actor Sokka, Actor Jet flailed around between the group, slashing his hook sword arm props around, while wearing a pair of crazy eye glasses, the tiny beads the represented his pupils spinning around to show that he had lost his mind.

"No, Jet!" Actress Aang exclaimed as Actor Jet spun around the other actors looked on with horrified expression. Actress Aang placed her hands on her cheeks and gasped, "What did they do to you?"

"Must." Actor Jet swiped his hook sword arm towards Actress Aang unsteadily, "Serve. Earth King!" He spun in place and swiped at Actor Sokka, who ducked, "Must...Destroy!" He fell to his knees and started making various agonizing noises as a rock prop floated down from above, and he crawled underneath it. "Oh!" he gasped as he fell onto his stomach, the rock prop covering his upper body before he pulled his legs underneath it.

"Did...Did Jet just die?" Zuko asked in disbelief, Tsai’s expression mirrored his.

"You know, it was really unclear." Sokka replied with a small shrug before going back to watching the play as if nothing had happened.

Scene 20

Actress Katara came to scene with a backdrop of the Crystal Catacombs behind. She smiled in a sultry manner as she approached Actor Zuko, "I have to admit, Prince Zuko, I really find you attractive."

A shiver went up Katara’s spine when she sensed a deathly glare coming from behind her. Zuko felt it too. They both did. Behind them Tsai’s eyes had turned into slits. Her jealousy getting the best of her the girl almost seemed to be emitting a dark green aura.

“Hey, um? You okay?” Her brother asked eyeing his sister oddly.

"You don't have to make fun of me." Actor Zuko spat harshly as he sat on a crystal prop with his legs crossed one over the other. His harshness caused Actress Katara to cringe before she batted her lashes at him.

"But I mean it." She sat down beside him on the prop, "I had eyes for you since the day you first captured me."

"Wait," Actor Zuko jumped to his feet and moved away from Actress Katara, "I thought you were the Avatar's girl?"

"The Avatar?" Actress Katara laughed coyly as she stood up and approached Actor Zuko seductively, "Why, he's like a little brother to me. I certainly don't think of him in a romantic way. And besides," She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "How would he find out about this?"

"You're getting up?" Sokka whispered as Aang stood up and exited the theater. Tsai followed after him not particularly enjoying the present scene and not wanting to sit through what she already knew was going to happen next.

"Can you get me some fireflakes?" Sokka settled back in his seat and put his arm around Suki's shoulders before sitting up to loudly whisper again, "Ooh, and some fire gummies!"

“That didn’t happen right?” Mecha leaned his eyes bouncing between his sister and the actors. Sokka let out a raspberry laughing slightly at the absurd question.

Both Zuko and Katara looked extremely uncomfortable and were avoiding all eye contact scooched away from each other awkwardly.

xxx

“Stupid play.” Tsai grumbled as she entered the small balcony area sulking. She was surprised when she found Aang there leanings on the balcony’s railing.

She blinked twice in surprise.

“Oh, I thought you went to get Sokka’s fireflakes.”

Aang remained quiet, his head bowed to the darkness before him.

“Hey,” She said approaching him. “If you want, I’ll go get them. The gummies too.” She said cluelessly.

“Is it true?” Aang said in a broody tone his eyes were lowered as he brooded. It was then that she realized he wasn’t emotionally well. “What?” She blinked twice in surprise now leaning next to him.

He remained quiet and she thought about the scene that had just happened.

“Katara and Zuko? What?” She couldn’t help but laugh a little despite her rash jealous reaction. “He wouldn’t have lived to tell the tale.” She laughed a little harder at the thought.

However, Aang did not find it the slightest bit humorous. He remained serious a sadness lingering to his usually bright eyes.

“Alright, what’s wrong?” She nudged him lightly. “I know this play sucks, but you have to remember it’s not true. I’m not a whoozy just like you’re not girly.” She shrugged her shoulders slightly. Aang still remained silent. Maybe she had said something wrong... “And even if you were considered to be girly- that would be okay. You know? Nothing wrong with that. Girls are awesome. I’m all for everybody embracing their- “she had begun to ramble awkwardly.

Aang exhaled a tiresome breath, “It’s Katara,” he suddenly admitted. She blinked twice in surprise. She did not see that coming.

“You see, I like her, and I thought she liked me too. I mean we did kiss once.” Aang admitted bashfully. She leaned on her fist and listened attentively. “But now I’m not so sure how she feels about me.” He trailed off.

“Aang,” she said softy and he turned to look at her. “We are in the middle of a war. You arethe Avatar. You should be more focused on thinking about howyou’re going to take down Fire Lord Ozai. Not how to woo a girl.” She explained reasonably both of her eyebrows knotted together.

“It’s not fair!” Aang busted uncharacteristically and straighten out his back. “I never wanted to be the Avatar! I never wanted this!” He snapped throwing his hands up in the air a rare frown on his face. “And Katara is notjust a girl!”

She looked at him with an unfazed expression. This childish tantrum was nothing compared to Zuko’s old outbursts. She was silent for a moment allowing his anger to simmer down a little.

“I-I’m sorry,” he apologized before once again hanging his head down. This time feeling even worse about himself after snapping at his friend. “I’m just worried that all this time when she looks at me, she all she sees is a little brother.” She hummed slightly before turning to look at him once again.

“You know, my grandfather was the wisest person I knew.” She began. “He had a lot of sayings, but I think one of the most obscure ones was about love. How’d it go again?‘One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love’”She quoted wisely. “He would also always say that ‘Our lives, too, are fleeting’, just like plum blossoms… If it really bothers, you that much you should just talk to her.” She advised. Aang quirked an eyebrow up and again turned to look at her as if saying easier said than done. “Katara obviously cares about you. Just tell her how you feel and ask her how she feels.”

He continued to look at her with that incredulous expression.

“You know, I’m actually going through something similar myself.”

She smiled at him faintly. Aang nodded a little in understanding. He was more than familiar about the amorous turmoil and ups and downs that she and the prince had had recently.

“I’ve messed up and - Spirits - You know Zuko’s messed up. I’m not expecting anything to happen, but I’m probably going to have to have this conversation with him soon.”

“What are you waiting for?” He asked.

“The right moment.”

Aang looked pensive for a moment before speaking. “I don’t think there’s a right moment.” He said wisely.

She sucked in her bottom lip and nodded while gazing out at the dark island before them. She hated to admit it but Aang was right. Didn’t have the time or means to set up some elaborate act to confess her feelings to him.

“You know, he really loves you.” She gave Aang a strange look. “I can see it. We can all see it.”

Xxx

"It seems like every time there's a big battle you guys barely make it out alive." Suki commented from her spot leaning cooly against the wall her arms crossed over her chest, "I mean, you guys lose a lot."

The group was currently on the intermission of Act II loitering around the corridor in between the balcony and the box seats dissecting their thoughts on the play.

"You're one to talk, Suki." Sokka retorted and he turned to look at her sarcastically, "Didn't Azula take you captive? That's right, she did."

Suki frowned at him and asked seriously, "Are you trying to get on my bad side?" She arched an eyebrow.

"I'm just saying." Sokka muttered in a smart-ass tone.

Katara walked into the corridor, looking around with a small frown.

"Does anyone know where Aang is?" Katara asked worriedly looking around the corridor for any sign of the young Avatar.

“Has anyone seen my sister?” Mecha asked as well as he finished his beverage.

"He left to get me fire gummies, like ten minutes ago." Sokka replied then pouted in irritation, "And I'm still waiting."

"I’m going to go check outside" Katara said walking away.

“If she comes back tell her I went to the restroom,” Mecha said over his shoulder as he left the group walking in an opposite direction.

Zuko remained sitting on the floor next to Toph. He looked up and observed as a boy dressed up as the Avatar came running out of a door down the hall, his arms spread out as he squealed happily pretending to fly.      

Sokka stared at the boy as he ran past him and Suki and shook his head before looking over at his girlfriend leaning against the wall in front of him. "Hey Suki, what are the chances that you can get me backstage? I got some jokes I want to give to the actor me."

Suki straightened and stared at him with a deathly serious expression, "I'm an elite warrior who's trained for many years in the art of stealth." She said darkly. Her expression changed instantly, and she smiled brightly at him, "I think I can you backstage." She said cheerily.

Sokka blinked at her for several seconds then swallowed thickly and smiled at her nervously, "Great, let's go." She nodded and followed him down the hall, leaving Zuko and Toph sitting in the hall.

"Jeez." Toph shook her head in exasperation as she leaned against the wall between Zuko and the entrance to their viewing box, "Everyone's getting so upset about their characters.” She turned towards Zuko and smirked, "And you, you seem even more down than usual and that's saying something."

"You don't get it." Zuko muttered and he looked up at Toph with a frown that she couldn't see, "It's different for you. You get a muscle-y version of yourself taking down ten bad guys at once and making sassy remarks."

"Yeah," Toph snickered, "That's pretty great."

Zuko huffed and looked away from her, folding his arms on his knees and staring at the wall across from with an expression full of regret, "But for me, it takes all the mistakes I've made in my life and shoves them back in my face. My uncle...He's always been on my side even when things were bad. He was there for me. He taught me so much and how do I repay him?" He lowered his head to his knees and closed his eyes in shame, "With a knife in his back. It's one of my greatest regrets now and I may never get to redeem myself in his eyes…"

“And Tsai…” He ran a hand through his hair frustrated brining his hood over his head. “Everything I’ve done to her… Seeing it replayed all over again. And don’t even get me started on that stupid stereotype on women from the colonies.”

"You have redeemed yourself to your uncle." Toph stated matter-of-factly as she crouched down beside the older teen, resting her arms on her thighs, "You don't realize it, but you already have."

"How do you know?"

"Because I once had a long conversation with the guy." Toph replied, smiling a she remembered meeting Iroh after storming off and leaving her friends while they were being chased by Azula and her two friends. "All he would talk about was you."

Zuko lifted his head and lowered his hood, smiling slightly as he asked "Really?"

Toph snickered, "Yeah, and it was kind of annoying."

"Oh," Zuko looked away, but couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Sorry."

"But it was also very sweet." Toph continued. "All your uncle wanted was for you to find your own path and see the light. Now you're here with us. He'd be proud of you." She smirked.

“And Chili Pepper. Water under the bridge. Just talk to her.” Toph said encouragingly. “If you two suck it up I’m sure you’ll work out things and go back to making me want to barf my guts out.”

“How are you so sure?”

He wasn’t expecting Toph to punch his arm that hard.

"Ow!" Zuko hissed, rubbing his shoulder and frowning over at her. "What was that for?"

Toph smiled, "That's how I show affection."

“What are you guys up to?” Tsai suddenly approached them. It seemed like she was coming back from the balcony’s direction. She walked casually with her hands stretched behind her head seemed way more at ease than when she exited the Second Act of the play.

“I need to go wash my eyes,” she said bluntly using the fake excuse to leave the hallway and leave the two alone. “Hey,” Zuko stood up. “You okay?” He asked her concerned running a hand through his hair nervously. “The play… You know you’re not a whoozy. I don’t think you are either and I know neither does Uncle.” He nodded and paused for a brief moment. “And I think we should go backstage and teach Pu On Tima lesson.” He said determinedly popping his knuckle’s joints menacingly an angry look on his face.

She couldn’t help but smile a little and lower his hands at the suggestion of beating the living daylights out of the clown who wrote this trash. However as tempting as that was it would most definitely give them away.

The little boy form earlier ran out of the same door as before and stopped in front of the two of them. He smiled at the two and commented, “Awesome Zutsai costumes, but everybody knows Zutara is the superior ship.” The little boy said.

‘What the fuck is a Zutara?’She looked at the boy a perplexed look on her face.

“Also, your scar's on the wrong side." He pointed at Zuko’s face bluntly.

"The scar's noton the wrong side!" Zuko shouted angrily as the boy ran off. He yanked the hood back over his face with a scowl. She couldn’t help but bent over in laughter.

He turned around after shouting at the boy and turned to face the teen that was trying to stop her fits of laughter.

“And I don’t think your laugh is annoying.” He muttered cynically. Turning away from her. He suddenly felt hyper self-conscious about the ugly mark that scarred his face.

“Zuko,” she approached him with a loop-sided smile an endearing look in her eyes. She reached for the edges of his hood and looked at him before lowering it slightly. Aang was right. There would never be a right thing and this- this felt right.

“I love you.”

She wanted to say.

There was no embarrassment no crippling anxiety. It was just the honest truth. She successfully got halfway through the statement before being interrupted.

“What are you two dorks up to?”

An imaginary needle zipped on a record making a loud scratching noise that only the of them seemed to hear as they were brought back to reality.

She had never wanted to murder her brother as much as much as she did right now.

“Come on guys! Show’s about to start.” Sokka said casually. It sounded like he was munching on something.

Neither turned around and both heard how the rest of their friends all walked inside of the viewing box. They stood frozen in place not moving a muscle. Awkwardly petrified. She hadn’t even been able to lower her hands from the sides of his hood as she looked at him with a horrified bashful expression the color of her face blending with the roots of her hair. Zuko looked as if the air had been punched out of his gut. His eyes were large.

“Uh-“ She stammered and jerked her arms back to her side. “Act III is starting.” She said quickly before rushing inside to the viewing box before he had a moment to react.

“There’s no right moment.”She cursed Aang. ‘Idiot!’that was most definitely the worst advice she had ever received from anyone. Wasn’t he the Avatar? Wasn’t he supposed to be wise and all knowing?

She reached the box and stood aghast when she saw that the back row was full as Aang had taken a seat next to her brother and leaned forward sulking. Under normal circumstances she would’ve been concerned for her friend and presumed that the talk with his love interest did not go well, but she presently couldn’t care less. This was an emergency. She couldn’t sit in the front row next to him. Not after that – whatever the hell that had been happened.

“Hey,” she said quickly. “Can I-Can I trade seats with you Aang? I want to sit next to my brother.” She lied through her teeth.

Aang was too busy wallowing in his misery to do anything about it. “Tsai! Shhh,” her brother shushed her rudely. “Sit down, Act III is about to start I want to see if I come out towards the end.”

Zuko walked in and she felt caught like a deer dog caught in headlights. Instantly plopping down on the seat next to Katara who looked oddly at the girl that sat stiffly with her back at a perfect 90-degree angle.

She felt like she was sweating bullets and now she was stuck in this painfully awkward situation sitting next to him after his silent rejection.

She could’ve sworn she was sweating bullets. Even facing the Fire Lord hadn’t been this nerve-wrecking.

“Hey? Could you scooch?” Toph complained from the end before roughly pushing Katara to the side which pushed the two Fire Nationers against each other. “Much better.” Toph smirked triumphantly and sniggered lightly at the feeling of the rabbit-paced heartbeats of the two painfully awkward teenagers through the floor’s vibrations.  

Tsai mumbled an apology before straightening out, he mumbled something similar.

Scene 22

Actress Katara stood on a fake submarine prop with Actress Aang, "I just want to let you know Aang, that I'll always love you." She placed her hands on her chest and sighed deeply with a wide smile, "Like a little brother."

"I wouldn't want it any other way!" Actress Aang chirped with enthusiasm taking Actress Katara's hand, both of them nodding at each other in a friendly gesture. Still beaming, Actress Aang snapped open her glider prop and raised it above her head as a rope pulled her up into the air while Actress Katara waved.

Aang gawked at the stage for a moment then flushed and yanked his hat down over his face, hiding behind his knees miserably. Katara glanced over her shoulder at him then looked away sadly.

‘What the hell was I thinking?’ Tsai’s mind was running a thousand miles an hour during her internal panic crisis. ‘He didn’t say anything. Why did he just stay quiet?’ She looked at him from the corner of her eyes his own golden orbs were attentively fixed on the play. A serious expression on his face. ‘He must think I’m crazy. Is it because I have a spirit in me? I’m so dumb. Why did I even listen to Aang? What the hell does he know about these things?’This was definitely the last time Tsai look love advice from a hundred and twelve-year-old.

She didn’t even notice that the scene was over.

"I guess that's it." Sokka commented as he stood up and stretched, "The play's caught up to the present now."

"Wait," Suki whispered, yanking Sokka back down and pointing towards the stage, "The play's not over."

"But it is over. Unless..." He trailed off and rubbed his chin thoughtfully before his eyes widened and he whispered in an overly dramatic and spooky voice, "This is the future!"

Scene 23

The stage was now pitch black. They all watched carefully as an actor portraying Fire Lord Ozai walked out from the darkness his sharp cheekbones and face being illuminated in a menacing lighting.

"With the energy harnessed from that comet, no one will be able to stop the Fire Nation!" Actor Ozai proclaimed evilly as an orange paper lantern was pulled across the now dimly light stage, the cut out comet passing over the throne.

"Father!" Actress Azula called out stiffly as she ran onto the stage and kneeled before oversized throne, "Zuko and the Avatar are at the palace! They are trying to stop you."

"You take care of Zuko." Actor Ozai pointed towards her and ordered harshly, before placing a hand on his chest melodramatically, "I shall face the Avatar myself!" He raised his hands and smoke filled the stage.

Actress Azula stood up as the smoke cleared, revealing that the Actor Ozai had disappeared. She turned just as Actor Zuko ran on stage from her left while Actress Aang was lowered to the stage floor.

"Aang, you fight the Fire Lord, I'll hold her off!" Actor Zuko instructed theatrically. Actress Aang nodded once and was pulled up by a rope out of the stage leaving Actor Zuko and Actress Azula alone on the stage.

Zuko’s eyes were fixed on the play but he wasn’t watching. Not really. His eyes bored straight ahead as he observed the stage confrontation between him and his sister. Something he knew was bound to happen sooner or later, but his mind was in a very distant place.

‘”I love-“ she had said. I love what? What was she going to say? Your face? Your costume? Wait- he wasn’t wearing a costume! Your jokes? Was it all a joke? Was she messing with his head?’ He looked at her from the corner of his eye. She sat stiffly her back completely straight. Her face twisted in an anxious expression as her eyes remained frozen starring at ahead at the play.

He would never know but internally she was having a meltdown. This had been a terrible. Terrible idea. Things had been fine! Well, not fine, but decent and now this happened?

His eyes lowered from her worried expression and he saw the way her hands were anxiously clutching and playing with the fabric of her clothes. He looked at them, the way her fingers squeezed her skirt and tugged at it.

"You are no longer my brother!" Actress Azula exclaimed, clenching her fists before flinging her arm out to the side. "You are an enemy!"

"No," Actor Zuko retorted and he pointed at Actress Azula, "I am the rightful heir to the throne!"

Actress Azula smirked slyly and narrowed her eyes, "We shall see."

He did it.

He placed his hand over hers. He eyed her expression from the corner of his eyes carefully looking for any micro emotion that might betray the mask she wore. Zuko felt as if it was the longest minute of his life when he felt her intertwining her fingers with his fitting perfectly. He saw the slightest of smiles bloom on her face. She turned to look at him from her peripheral vision and his expression mirrored hers. Both relaxed slightly at the gesture when their eyes met.

“HONOR!” Both of their attentions were once again captured by Zuko’s actor who raised his arms as if in pain after having been struck by one of Azula’s blue ribbons and wailed as he coiled into his destined fiery demise.

“And you!” He pointed at Tsai’s actress who had somehow entered the scene. “Scourge of the Fire Nation, the Greatest Traitor of them all! You will live the rest of your life in misery!”

Azula’s actress jumped and tossed the blue ribbons at her. “And you will neverhave tea again!”

Faux paper flames engulfed the actress as she also coiled in a fake fire wrap.

“Nooo! My tea!” She shouted reaching for the sky.

Actress Azula turned towards the audience and bowed along with Tsai and Zuko’s actors before being lowered through the stage’s trap door.

Tsai made a strangled noise as the audience began to cheer and applaud after Actor Zuko's apparent 'death'at the hands of Azula and the ‘imprisonment’ of the Fire Nation’s greatest traitor. Both starred in stunned disbelief at the stage.

This was their reality. Not hand holding in the comfortable darkness of a theatre.

Dread began to fill the group as they continued as the scene changed, the backdrop painted to resemble a red dragon's face.

Scene 25

The last and final scene of the play was the confrontation between the Avatar and Fire Lord Ozai. Like the rest of the play it had been depicted to appeal to audiences of the Fire Nation. In this version the Fire Nation triumphed over the resistance and defeated the Avatar. A terrible future which was not a distant reality.

"Nooooo..." Actress Aang wailed as she was circled with in a red cloth before the rope detached from her waist and she fell to the ground, the cloth spread out around her form symbolizing her consumption in flames. Ozai’s actor stood triumphantly above hovering from his throne with a cruel smirk plastered on his face. He then glanced over his shoulder as Actress Azula walked up behind him.

"It is over, Father." Actress Azula stated as she raised her arms triumphantly, "We've done it."

"Yes, we have done it!" Actor Ozai exclaimed and trusted a fist into the air dramatically before the space he was standing on began to rise up while papier mache and cut out flames surrounded him, "The dreams of my Father, and my Father's Father, have now been realized!" He threw his arms out and a massive Fire Nation banner unfurled behind him in a bold display of nationalism "The world is mine!"

The audience rose up with a vibrant cheer, loud applauding and deafening cheering as the audience clapped in a standing ovation over the triumph and victory of the Fire Nation over the world.

The group sat speechless in horrid disbelief at what they had witnessed. Aang swallowed the fearful knot that had formed in his throat and glanced away from the stage. Tsai felt her stomach churn uneasily as that haunting feeling of dread that kept her up at night returned to her. So much for getting their minds of things…

xxx

"That...wasn't a good play." Zuko muttered breaking the silence that had been lingering as the group walked down the worn path away from the theater.

"I'll say." Aang added flatly slouching as he dragged his feet away from the theater.

"No kidding." Katara muttered, crossing her arms and glaring at the ground. “Horrible,” Suki added from behind.

"You guys said it." Toph remarked with a scowl basically stomping her feet as she walked beside Katara. “I told you all it was a bad idea.” Tsai grumbled from the back. “But no- nobody everlistens to me.” She said dramatically. “I’ll give this one to you.” Her brother for once in his life agreed with her.

"But the effects," Sokka shrugged and waved his hand around matter-of-factly as he walked beside Suki, "Were decent."

xxx

Sunburn Chapter

M A S T E R L I S T

NEXT https://gloves94.tumblr.com/post/622943347798081536/sunburn-prince-zuko-36 PREV https://gloves94.tumblr.com/post/622676028408643584/sunburn-prince-zuko-34

[gggno]

is a party still a surprise if it happens on the same day at the same location every year? uma doesn’t think so but the organising committee — gods, these people really love establishing committees — is convinced to give ben something he can never imagine. ( “ that’s underestimating him, ” uma had said. she still helped putting together the balloon arch though. )

everything goes according to plan — poppers, confetti, singing — except the cake. ( okay, her bad. she should’ve waited for the song to end before ‘ sampling ’ the three-layer cake. )

“ are they still mad i dug in first? ” she is licking cream off her fingers, humming happily and clearly not sorry. “ there’s more than enough cake for everybody. plus, it’s not like you’ve never had cake. ”

she pauses to hum. the cake is so good. “ besides, i still got you a present. ” she puts plate aside and reaches under her pirate hat, pulling out a folded paper crown of sky blue with shell embellishments, some of which falling off when she fixes its figure.

she reaches for his proper crown with cakey fingers — yuck — and puts the paper one on his head. she leans back for a better look, nodding at her handy work.

“ yea, this looks good. it matches your — ” a squint. “ — oh wait, it doesn’t. ”

@floweringface it’s ben’s b-day we’re told

[skincarebeautymakeuptips]

The Best Foundation For Your Skin Tone

A flawless complexion awaits with the best foundation

The beauty world is incredibly diverse, and we love it that way. People of all ages, genders, skin tones, and skin types can express their creativity and passion with these makeup products, and the majority of brands have a much more diverse range of shades than they did even ten years ago. And when we say shades, we don’t just mean color, but also undertone! This is an important factor in choosing the right face makeup, as even the most perfectly matched color will look “off” if the color that comes from beneath the surface of your skin isn’t right. But it’s 2020, and it’s never been easier to find the best foundation for your unique skin tone and undertone combination. Read on to discover all the best foundation makeup must-haves for you!

Fair Skin

Cool Undertones

Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation by Maybelline

“Love this foundation! Gives you a healthy and glowy look without looking oily! It is buildable.” Besides top ratings for blendability, hydration, and lasting all day, our community can’t get enough of this $8 foundation and the dewy glow it creates. Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation has a wide range of shades to fit nearly every skin tone and undertone combination, and the shade Porcelain in 110 is the ideal hue for those with fair skin and cool undertones.

Warm Undertones

All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation by NARS

The best foundation doesn’t just cover your skin, it also nourishes it while giving you a healthy complexion in more ways than one. All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation by NARS does all of that and more, with Vitamins A, C, and E to deliver antioxidants for skin protection and Tone Correcting Technology to neutralize discoloration and create a more radiant and even skin tone, along with a reduction in dark spots and dullness. This face makeup is available in 20 shades, and the colors Deauville and Gobi are the best foundation hues for warmer undertones and a fair complexion.

Neutral Undertones

Skin Base Foundation by Illamasqua

As a genderless brand, Illamasqua has always been dedicated to inclusivity and inspiring confidence through their collection of beauty products, and their foundation makeup is no exception. The shade 02 works for even the palest of people, and looks flawless on your fair skin without washing you out or emphasizing too much redness. And if you’re looking for a hue that’s even lighter than this one, Illamasqua also has a pure white shade that doubles as a highlighter.

Medium Skin

Cool Undertones

Bye Bye Foundation Powder by IT Cosmetics

Powder foundation is the best, really. It goes on easily, absorbs oil and shine, and leaves you with a natural matte finish that’s simply beautiful. Bye Bye Foundation Powder is made with 3D Skin Flex™ Technology, which is just as cool as it sounds, as it covers all wrinkles and fine lines without sinking in, or causing creasing or cracking. Even if you’re used to traditional liquid foundation, you’ll never go back once this face makeup provides the stunning finish you deserve, especially when paired with the Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer SPF 50+. Choose the shade Medium to fit your skin tone and cool undertones.

Warm Undertones

ColorStay Full Cover Foundation by Revlon in Warm Golden

Pro tip: the best foundations for warm undertones often contain words like “golden,” “honey,” or “tan,” and Colorstay in Warm Golden is one of our favorites for medium skin. It provides full, matte coverage that feels weightless on your face and will stay stunning all day long - free of caking, creasing, or fading. Our top community review has found their perfect foundation match with Colorstay, and you will too. “The shade I purchased was perfect! It’s a medium to full coverage that doesn’t look cakey which is what I’ve been looking for! It’s also smooth, almost like a whipped formula, so it goes on amazing and looks natural. I finally found a perfect drugstore foundation!”

Neutral Undertones

True Match Super Blendable Powder in W3 Nude Beige by L’Oreal

With a medium skin and neutral undertone combination, you want to enhance your skin’s natural radiance and add a bit of warmth... without looking too washed out. The best foundation is a powder that evenly distributes product across the face and defines your features, like the True Match Super Blendable Powder by L’Oreal. Since medium skin tends to change tone throughout the year - sometimes more fair, with more tan in the warmer months - you can keep this buildable foundation on hand to suit your color year round.

Olive Skin

Cool Undertones

Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation by L’Oreal

“This is my holy grail foundation. I have used everything from Elf cosmetics to La Mer foundations (both cushion and liquid). This foundation EASILY beats out my Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk and Dior foundations.” As this community review on the Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation shows, you can easily find the right foundation makeup for less than $20 at the drugstore… and even one that caters to your specific skin and undertone combo! Infallible leaves your skin feeling fresh and hydrated while providing you with a flawless complexion 24/7, and olive-skinned beauties should try the shade Cool Sand to amplify their natural glow and pretend they’re on the beach, all the time.

Warm Undertones

Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer by Clinique

Find yourself a foundation that can do both, like the Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer by Clinique. Besides the obvious perk of saving time and money with this multipurpose product, this foundation makeup gives you long-lasting, full coverage and a demi-matte finish that will never make you want to try another product again. Beyond Perfecting is also very accommodating to olive skin tones, with a variety of tan and olive hues that will add subtle warmth to your skin, like the color CN WN 82 Latte with a warm neutral undertone.

Neutral Undertones

Sheer Glow Foundation by NARS

NARS is the go-to brand for face makeup that gives your skin a subtle shimmer, while still creating a natural finish, and it’s easy to glow all out with the Sheer Glow Foundation. Beloved by MUA’s everywhere, this cult favorite leaves skin feeling hydrated and smooth while color correcting and evening out your skin’s texture. Those with olive skin and neutral undertones should try the shade Aruba, which is “for medium to medium-deep skin with rich olive undertones.”

Deep Skin

Cool Undertones

Skin by Mented by Mented Cosmetics

Mented Cosmetics is an inclusive beauty brand made for those with deeper skin tones - and their Skin By Mented foundation makeup stick is a must-have in your beauty collection. The creamy stick is easy to apply and ultra-blendable on your skin, enhancing your natural radiance without making you look too pink like many other face makeup products. Seriously, how much better is beauty shopping since you discovered your correct undertone? The shade D30 is ideal for those with deeper skin tones and a cool undertone, and you should definitely pair it with one of the many other beauty products from Mented Cosmetics, like their lovely nude lipsticks!

Warm Undertones

Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation by Make Up For Ever

If you hate the process of color correcting, this is the best foundation to do all the work for you.  Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation describes itself as having a “blurring” effect, meaning that the weightless formula blends seamlessly into your skin and helps your complexion look practically flawless, while still looking like your natural skin - not an Instagram filter. It’s also had a shade range of 40+ since 2015, ensuring that every skin tone and undertone combination can wear this innovative face makeup. Our community reviews aren’t lying, Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation really is as perfect as your foundation enthusiast friends have been telling you… and so is the rest of their beauty collection!

Neutral Undertones

Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation by Fenty Beauty

Of course, we had to include Fenty Beauty. Rihanna’s beloved brand shook the beauty world in 2017 when they released a 40-shade foundation line that paved the way for more inclusivity and diversity. To be fair, they definitely weren’t the first beauty brand to release a wide range of foundation shades, but the makeup world has never quite been the same since… and we still love the Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation for a soft matte finish that looks amazing on all skin tones and types. It now has 50 shades to match anybody and everybody, and shade #450 is ideal for those with deep skin tones and a neutral undertone. Just read all the reviews on Mira that call this foundation makeup the “holy grail” for its non-oxidizing, hydrating, and lightweight texture.

Shop more of your favorite foundation and face makeup on Mira.

Source: The Best Foundation For Your Skin Tone

[igrublocal]

The Takeout’s fantasy food draft: Best pumpkin spice items

Takeout DraftTakeout DraftFood. Fantasy sports. Debating over Slack. Welcome to The Takeout Draft.

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Every week, we will select a topic of conversation from the food and drink world. Takeout writers will then field a team via the snake draft format. After five rounds, The Takeout commenteriat will vote on who they believe was victorious in that week’s draft. At the end of 2020, the staffer with the most weekly victories will select a charity of his/her choice that The Takeout will make a donation toward. (The 2019 victor, Kate Bernot, selected the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild National Charity Foundation.)

The previous  drew many passionate voters who were more than ready to reminisce about summers past. After a tight race throughout the first day of votes, Aimee Levitt pulled ahead and scored a well-earned victory with expert picks like garlic fries and lemon slushie (as well as an unexpected swerve toward lobster rolls in the final round). Congrats, Aimee!

This week’s draft is nothing if not seasonal, and it’s equally likely to delight and disgust you: Best pumpkin spice items. Is this a joke? Maybe. Are we about to take our Draft duties very, very seriously? Absolutely.

G/O Media may get a commission

Now let’s cozy up to fall’s coziest flavor.

Marnie: Okay, let’s kick it off with the acknowledgment that Aimee winning the Best Ballpark Food draft is appropriate, since she’s the biggest (only?) baseball fan of the three of us.

Allison: Everybody loves hot dogs.

Marnie: And garlic fries. This Draft will be tough to win people over with. But Allison’s got first crack at it.

Allison: Wait... I have the first pick? I can’t remember the last time this happened! I’m so overwhelmed!

Marnie: Use it wisely

Allison: Alright, so obviously my first pick has to be the iconic pumpkin spice latte. It’s the crossover item that made us a pumpkin-crazy nation.

Marnie: OF COURSE

Allison: Once upon a time, back in the Dark Ages, coffee and pie were two entirely separate things. No one had dreamed they could be together in one cup.

It changed the way we see everything. There would be no Cronut without pumpkin spice lattes. No sushi burritos. Why have one when you can have both?

Marnie: Do you think its popularity is deserved?

Allison: I am a devoted black coffee drinker, and I still get a PSL whenever the first crisp day of fall arrives, and one on Thanksgiving morning.

Allison: I don’t know how anyone could drink them regularly, but they’re a nice treat. And, nowadays, a good reason to get out of the house.

Going out to get a PSL is not an errand. It’s an event.

You need a special outfit that includes a soft sweater, and maybe a scarf. You need to inform everyone you know on social media before, during, and after.

Marnie: That would have been my first pick too. So now I’m in a lurch. But I’ll say Pumpkin Spice Tea. Because we always talk about how it’s really just spices like clove and nutmeg and cinnamon, and those are nice in a warm drink beyond coffee.

This photo of a cheese-stuffed pumpkin in Always Add Lemon is enough to make you kick yourself for…

Allison: You know, I don’t know if I’ve ever tried this. How does it differ from chai?

Marnie: It’s probably just like any number of other warm spiced teas, just with pumpkiny marketing. But Trader Joe’s “Pumpkin Spice Rooibos” tin is adorable, dammit!

Aimee: Of course it is.

Marnie: I fall for it every time. And it’s not as sweet as a PSL.

Aimee: Well, few things are. But maybe if you dumped in a few tablespoons of sugar?

Allison: Or actual pumpkin...

Aimee: That would spoil it! It’s about the SPICE!

Allison: What about blending pumpkin with maple syrup, and putting a spoonful of that in your tea?

Aimee: Huh. That could either be really good or amazingly terrible.

Marnie: TBD.... First pick, Aimee?

Aimee: Pumpkin bread!

Marnie: Oh damn, of course

Allison: There has never been a day where a pumpkin bread has been in front of me and I didn’t eat the whole thing.

Aimee: I especially love the recipe in Joy of Cooking. It’s sweet and spicy and perfect.

Marnie: The “spicy” makes all the difference. I think it should make your nose wrinkle a little.

Aimee: But I also love the pumpkin challah in . I made a couple last week and they make the best French toast.

Allison: I used to make a pumpkin brioche and use it to make bread pudding. It was pretty damn amazing.

Marnie: You were born for this draft

Aimee: I was actually torn between waffles and pancakes, but I love waffles more, so that’s what I’m going with.

Allison: I have not had these either, and am wondering how these particular waffles have been pumpkin spiced.

Is there pumpkin in the batter? Poured on top?

Aimee: In the batter, and mixed with the ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

Marnie: Does it need cream cheese drizzle on top to really sing?

Aimee: Oooooh, yes, that’s genius!

Allison: I’m thinking of the recipe I did last year for butternut squash pavlova, but making the topping with pumpkin and putting it on a stack of Belgian waffles.

Marnie: Aimee’s double whammy of delicious pumpkin spice carbs has me reeling. How can my second pick compete?

Aimee: I believe in you!

Marnie: I will say pumpkin spice Cheerios. Getting to drink pumpkin spice cereal milk is a lovely way to start the day.

And it’s a nice contrast with all the hot pumpkin spice stuff we usually eat and drink

Allison: Oh GODDAMNIT that was my pick!

Marnie: HA!

Allison: I was apprehensive about buying that, but I had to because of the pumpkin spice bet I have with my husband. When we tried them, the Cheerios made the milk taste like pumpkin pie custard.

Allison: We bought like 20 boxes so we could enjoy them all winter. It was a fine decision.

Marnie: Allison, what’ll you choose now that I’ve swooped into the cereal space?

Allison: I’m going to take pumpkin spice ice cream, much for the reason you picked the Cheerios—it’s a nice cold option, in contrast to the PSL and so many other pumpkin spice’d foods.

Aimee: With caramel sauce and lots of whipped cream! Maybe pecans?

Marnie: Ooo, any particular brand?

Allison: Remember those Talenti layer things I love? They’ve got a pumpkin pie one now with pie crust and stuff.

Marnie: DAMN I want to try that

Allison: What’s also nice: we’re all so ready for fall the second Labor Day is over, but it’s still hot. And even though it’s hot, I’m STILL wearing a cute jacket outside, out of principle.

Marnie: True. We need pumpkiny items for the last legs of summer

Aimee: With the hot sun of summer but the cool breeze of fall...

Allison: I anticipate eating a LOT of ice cream over the next five weeks or so.

Next up: pumpkin pie toaster strudel. You can debate the need for pumpkin spice-anything all you want, but when you see pumpkin toaster strudel, it’s like “this makes perfect sense”

There’s nothing to quibble about. It’s a thing, and it should be a thing.

Aimee: This is true. It’s like a pie.

Allison: If anything, the pumpkin spice latte walked so that pumpkin spice toaster strudel could run.

Aimee: That’s beautiful. Brought a tear to my eye. (Pumpkin spiced tear, of course.)

Marnie: Only major downside of toaster strudel is that you absolutely have to warm it, whereas a Pop-Tart is flexible and can be eaten room temp. But a warm toaster strudel really is amazing

Allison: What I don’t like about pumpkin Pop Tarts is that they should be better. It’s like, if Pop Tarts respected us, it could be amazing. But they don’t. They phone it in.

Aimee: I feel that way about most Pop Tarts.

Marnie: Okay, my third pick might be....controversial. But hear me out: pumpkin pie

Aimee: Ha ha!

Marnie: The original pumpkin spice item

Aimee: It’s true! It’s so obvious, no one even thinks of it anymore. Someone should call it pumpkin spice pie.

Allison: Pumpkin pie is one of my favorite “bed pies.” Have I told you about that concept?

Marnie: Sounds self-explanatory

Allison: I wrote about it a few years ago. It’s essentially a family bonding experience where we all stay in bed and eat an entire pie together from the pan while watching old cartoons, like Garfield’s Halloween and Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Pumpkin is ideal for this.

Allison: The filling isn’t going to plop out all over the sheets. And the crust isn’t ultra crumbly

Aimee: Ah, yeah, I guess you wouldn’t have bits of fruit falling all over the sheets.

Allison: If made well, you can pick up a slice of pumpkin pie and eat it with your hands. Just like pizza (non-folded, of course). I very much encourage both of you to try this.

Aimee: And you can squirt the whipped cream directly into your mouth. No mess!

Allison: You understand me, Levitt!

Marnie: AIMEE

Aimee: Rolled in lots of cinnamon sugar.

Marnie: STOP TAKING THE GOOD THINGS WHILE I FAIL TO THINK OF THEM

THAT’S....CHEATING, SOMEHOW

Allison: I have not had a good doughnut in a while, and now it’s all I can think about.

Marnie: So just to be clear, we’re not talking about a filled doughnut

More like a cider doughnut, but pumpkinified?

Aimee: Well, I suppose you could... but yes, I was thinking of the cakey doughnuts. I love cider doughnuts so much.

Marnie: Yes please

Aimee: Oh, yes. With a variation for the stove!

Allison: Here’s your variation for the stove: fry it in hot oil just like any other doughnut. There ya go.

Aimee: My next pick is pumpkin spice oatmeal. With lots of brown sugar.

Marnie: Interesting—does it come in that flavor or do you add the spices to make it that way?

Aimee: Quaker does make that flavor, but I’ll bet you could just add the pumpkin spice if you want to do homemade.

My philosophy is that anything that tastes good with cinnamon would also taste good with pumpkin spice.

Marnie: Yes, I can’t imagine anyone being all in on cinnamon but out on nutmeg. Cloves? Mayyyyybe divisive. But it all seems to speak to the same palate

Aimee: Warming spices!

Allison: And it’s coldest in the morning! This is science.

Marnie: How does the pumpkin factor in if you make it yourself? Pumpkin puree right in there with the oats?

Aimee: The beauty of pumpkin spice is that there doesn’t have to be pumpkin. Only spice: the blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.

Allison: Yup! You can just stir it right in, with a bit of spice, and maybe some maple syrup to sweeten.

Marnie: I’m going to try to court the CPG crowd with a busy, on-the-go pumpkin spice item: the Spiced Pumpkin Pie CLIF Bar

Allison: Never eaten this! I had a Clif bar once in the early 2000s, and that was the end of that.

Marnie: Yeah, you either love them or hate them. I love that they actually feel substantial, like you just had breakfast. Regular granola bars never make me feel that way. And the Pumpkin Pie CLIF Bar comes with a drizzle of icing that, in my opinion, could stand to be paired with a lot more pumpkin spice items.

Pairs great with coffee! People are going to hate me for this but it’s my truth!

Aimee: That’s fine. You have every right to it.

Marnie: Aimee, do you have a firm stance on CLIF bars?

Aimee: I do not because I’ve never had one.

Marnie: I somehow think you’d despise them.

Aimee: I think so, too, which is why I’ve never had one.

Marnie: Last two picks, Allison!

Allison: Alright — my fourth pick is pumpkin butter. What makes this so great is it has the power to make anything into pumpkin spice.

Marnie: Here’s my question with pumpkin butter: what does it work best on? I can never figure out what to apply it to

Allison: You can stir a spoonful into your oatmeal, or put it on ice cream, or into your coffee or tea. Literally anything.

Warm milk! Pancakes! Toast!

Serve it with pork chops, smear it on cookies or graham crackers.

Marnie: Has an application ever failed spectacularly??

Aimee: This is like the shrimp scene in Forrest Gump.

Allison: ^^^and shrimp is a bad place to use apple butter.

But if you don’t know how to restrain yourself when feeding yourself pumpkin butter you should just stop cooking. Let other people do it for you. You can’t be trusted.

Allison: Very! I shared my super-easy apple butter recipe here last fall. You can do that with cubed pumpkin, or canned. As always, just keep an eye on things, because it’s all visual cues on that one. The line between apples and pumpkins in fall desserts is very thin.

I don’t believe that apple butter needs to be a fussy, complicated thing to make. You shouldn’t…

Marnie: That’s a good utility pick and I feel like the voters will reward you for it.

Unless you mess it all up on the last pick.....

Allison: Don’t think I am, because I’m reaching into my personal back catalog again and going with . You know me and pudding.

Marnie: Picking your OWN RECIPE on the final round is A POWER MOVE

Allison: Damn straight it is.

Marnie: I begrudgingly respect this decision

Please tell us what makes it a worthy pick, for those of us who haven’t tasted its majesty yet

Allison: Pumpkin pudding is much creamier and luxurious than pie! And easier to make, in a way. You don’t need to fuss with the oven, and don’t need to worry about making a pie crust. I make a pie crust better than anyone, and honestly do enjoy the process, but it adds a good amount of time to the process.

Sometimes you’re okay with waiting a few hours for pie. And sometimes you’re like “I want pumpkin something within the hour,” and this is what can get you there.

Marnie: A shortcut to immediate pumpkin spice intake is key

Allison: Exactly. There’s a ton of variables I consider when coming up with recipes.

One of them being “how long do I have to wait before I eat this dessert”

Aimee: That’s always an important one.

Marnie: Sometimes you don’t need to consider cook time at all. Because sometimes the thing you want is not edible in the least. Folks, my last pick is a pumpkin spice candle. To make EVERY room in the house smell delicious, not just the kitchen!

Aimee: Ha ha!

Marnie: It is a far-reaching, long-lasting pumpkin spice item. Perhaps the most cost-effective, too.

Aimee: AND if you don’t like pumpkin, it’s still mostly a pleasurable experience.

Marnie: A signal of the changing seasons! Coziness incarnate. People of all palates can agree on smells, can’t they?

Allison: I believe I have at least ten of these in my house right now.

Even if it’s not fall outside, it can be fall inside, whenever you damn well please. You guys need to try lighting up one of those bad boys in April and see how that changes you.

Aimee: As long as they’re not those cinnamon brooms. I don’t know why, but they annoy the crap out of me.

Allison: What are these cinnamon brooms? Another midwest thing?

Aimee: They sell them at Trader Joe’s. They’re in the front where you first walk in, with the pumpkins and the plants, so you can’t avoid them.

Marnie: They look sort of sinister

Aimee: Exactly. They’d be good for witches, but they smell like cinnamon which is somehow not exactly witchy.

Anyway, last pick goes to Aimee! What’s it gonna be?

Aimee: My last pick is... pumpkin spice cotton candy. Mostly because I would really like to find out if you can taste the spices.

Marnie: Does.....does it exist outside of your mind?

This is the first time I’ve really thought about cotton candy having a flavor. Isn’t it usually just sugar, in technicolor?

Allison: I do not like cotton candy, and yet I want to try this.

Aimee: Once I tried a rosé cotton candy and it tasted like rosé if you did the taste equivalent of squinting.

These people are geniuses!

Marnie: I’m excited to let this Takeout Draft loose upon the world.

Aimee: Because no one is tired of pumpkin spice yet!

Who won this week’s Takeout Draft? Vote in the comments.

[lonelypond]

Tiger By The Tail, Chapter 2

Love Live, NicoMaki, NozoEli, KotoUmi, 2.2K, 2/?

Summary: Breakfast really isn't working for anyone, but Eli does okay.

Chapter 2

Maki grumbled. There was a voice. Not a voice she was used to in the morning.

“Maki, wake up!” Excited. But not cabin on fire excited. Eli. What was she doing?

Maki opened up an eye. The great room, the couch, curled up sleeping under a throw, Eli standing over her looking way too perky for…”What time is it?” Maki pulled the throw over her face.

“Almost 8. Come on, introduce me.” Eli reached down to lever Maki up off the couch as the actual homeowner groaned.

“There’s no one to introduce you to, Eli. It’s too early.”

At that Nozomi in a gray snowflake sweater dress came downstairs, followed by a yawning ginger who seemed to be about Nico’s height. No Nico in sight though. Right, Maki thought, Nico was in her parent’s usual room. Maki shuddered. That was too bizarre a thought for this early.

“Why’re we up so early, Nozomi?” the ginger whined in Japanese.

Nozomi was looking back over her shoulder, “Because Umi wants us to scout the locations we’re using for the photoshoots.”

“Hi!” Eli pulled Maki to her feet by the collar, “I’m Eli Ayase, friend of Maki.”

“Are you really this desperate to talk to people?” Maki hissed.

“Single women, yes,” Eli hissed back.

Maki sighed, shivered her fingers through her hair, and grimaced in Nozomi’s direction, “Eli is an old friend of mine. She leads private tours and has a ballet studio. Eli, this is Tojo Nozomi, she…” Maki paused, realizing she’d left yesterday afternoon without getting any real information on the people Honoka had invited to stay in her house.

“I’m a photographer. This is Hoshizora Rin, my assistant.” Nozomi bowed, Rin blinked and started opening cabinets.

Maki moved to the kitchen island, leaving Eli to her own devices, “What are you looking for?”

“Cereal.”

Maki pointed to a cabinet to the left of Rin.

“Thanks, friend.” Too much energy for Maki to deal with.

And then Nico wandered in from her room, wearing two bright red sweaters, black leggings, and a pink fluffy hat with ear flaps. Maki snorted. Nico glared.

Immediately after that Honoka barrelled in, just dodging around Nico. “Sorry sorry sorry.” Honoka popped open the oven door, “Made muffins last night, here have some, everybody.”

Rin clutched a stack of muffins to her chest, dropping the cereal box. Maki grabbed it, a bowl, and a carton of milk and returned to the couch, turning on Christmas music and ignoring the clamor behind her. Eli and Nozomi had moved to the Christmas tree, Eli asking polite questions and Nozomi occasionally giggling. Maki rolled her eyes. Time for a Scooby Doo Christmas special.

###

“So you have a ballet studio?” Nozomi asked.

“It’s small, but yeah. I have a few students and I post biweekly instructional videos. We’re doing a Nutcracker Dream Fantasy in a couple of days. You and your friends should come be our audience.”

Eli’s eyes were glowing so brightly, Nozomi thought she must be very proud of her students. “I will.”

“Great. What are your plans while you’re here?” Eli poked a bell on the tree, causing a ting.

“Modelling shots of Nico” Nozomi pointed to where Nico, face scrunched up by a scowl of displeasure had taken a mug of probably herbal tea to sit on the end of the couch opposite from Maki. “I’ll need to know how to set up…” Nozomi hesitated, searching for the English word, “where to” Nozomi raised her hands like a viewfinder, “frame in these places. Which outfits where.”

“Oh right, Kotori’s designs. She’s very excited about this, “Her costumes for the Nutcracker are amazing.” Eli tapped a toe, nearly dropping into a plié as her thoughts drifted ballet-ward.

Nozomi was determined to stay on topic. “You are a guide?”

“Yeah. This time of year, I take families on hikes and cross country ski tours and out on snowmobiles.”

“Maybe you help? With places?” Nozomi’s soft request was an invitation.

Eli’s grin lit even brighter than her eyes, “Sure.” She checked her watch, “I have a group this afternoon, but maybe we could meet for dinner and talk about what you need.”

###

Nico kept looking at her. It was making Maki nervous, but she chomped her way through her remaining cereal and then pivoted, “What!??!?!”

Nico shook her head, “Wrong breakfast.”

“It’s a fine breakfast.” Maki held the bowl against her chest protectively.

“Miso, rice, fish, natto, nori…” Nico nodded, “is breakfast. Not cakey or…” Nico pointed at the box.

Maki was losing the plot of the Scooby film, but she’d probably be able to figure out who was chasing Shaggy and Scooby without much bother. She tapped the box with her spoon, “Bonus reading material.”

Nico rolled her eyes, swivelled in her seat, and pulled out her phone. Maki, suddenly realizing she was being ignored and that the number of people in her house exceeded her comfort level by at least Nico decided she could watch useless Christmas videos another day.

Time to hyperjump to a new conversation. Maki put the bowl next to the box. “Hey, Eli.”

Eli jumped.

“Did you want to rehearse today?”

Eli glanced at her watch and grimaced, “I have to run. Sorry, Nozomi. I’ll stop by later.” Then Eli addressed Maki’s question, “I really don’t have time today. Tomorrow morning?”

“Sure.” Maki shrugged, “I’ll play for a few hours solo.” She stretched and grabbed her breakfast supplies, “You can just catch up to my awesome later.”

Eli chuckled, “Thanks Maki.”

As Eli bustled out the door and Maki rinsed her bowl, ignoring a Rin who was half asleep at the kitchen island, Nozomi settled next to Nico on the couch.

“Is Umi upstairs?” Nico wondered.

The conversation had switched back to Japanese with Honoka off somewhere...maybe checking the upstairs bathroom...but Maki followed along easily.

“Breakfast with Kotori. They’re going to decide on designs.”

“Nico decides.”

“I’m sure Umi will mention that you want input.”

“Not input, Nozomi, final decision.”

“Nico, this is an opportunity…”

“Nico is doing a huge favor for Umi, being here, away from family.” Nico’s tone was getting urgent, which prompted a Nozomi move to the kitchen.

Maki was watching curiously as Nozomi seemed to be sneaky up on a dozing Rin. With a wicked, Maki couldn’t think of any other word for it, grin, Nozomi pounced, and Rin woke with a scream, barely heard over her tormentor’s lascivious, gloating giggles as Nozomi mauled the ginger’s bosom.

Maki looked away, not wanting to know which part of Japanese culture allowed you to do that to a friend.

###

Kotori Minami had never seen anyone who looked so much like a work of art come to life. Or behaved so much like a courtier out of legends and fantasy. Sonoda Umi, blue black hair perfectly framing a face of breathtaking, heartbreaking loveliness, just the slightest shadowy doubt flickering deep in pools of warm, kind amber. Dressed in a too formal for a casual breakfast gray tweed suit, Umi was bowing in front of Kotori, offering a box.

“Merry Christmas. Thank you for this opportunity for my business and my friends.”

Kotori opened the box. In it lay a wreath of bare, barely green fronds, silver and white dusted pine cones, gold and bright red berry sized baubles, and a bright bow of soft, red ribbon.

“Oh, Umi, it’s divine. Where did you find it?”

“I know a florist in Seoul.”

Kotori left the box on the counter. She’d find the perfect place to hang it later. Placing a full tray on the table, Kotori pointed at the seat across the table from hers, “Please join me. I made French toast.”

Umi nodded, pulling out a chair, arranging her napkin neatly in her lap, and waiting for Kotori to serve out portions.

“Itadakimasu.” They said in unison. Umi smiled slightly, not able to not steal a glance at the lovely cloud of softness shimmering across the table from her. This was somehow a very adult moment, a feeling she wondered about. Perhaps the absence of her parents. Or travel bringing a new maturity.

The food was sweeter and much more bread than Umi was used to eating at any meal, but Kotori seemed to relish the treat.

They ate in companionable silence and then, as Kotori poured out a fragrant jasmine tea, Umi cleared her throat, “I’d like to be able to go back to Nico with a schedule.”

Kotori’s eyes went wide and there was a bleating sound.

Umi continued, “Honoka was not able to offer very many details upon our arrival. Although the cabin is enchanting and it was very nice of your friend to agree to host us.”

Kotori paled. “Do you want to see the designs?”

“Of course, but right now I’d like to get Nozomi and Rin started on visualizing the layouts. And Nico....” Umi paused, “Nico is very detail oriented. I respect that.”

Kotori poured herself some more tea, offering Umi a refresh, which was refused.

Kotori sipped her tea, humming nervously. Umi was noticing her own ease starting to evaporate, “Kotori?”

Kotori dropped her cup suddenly, the clank of china startling Umi, “I’m so sorry, it took so long to get the clothes finished, and Honoka didn’t understand, and I really don’t know where it would look best, and your friends are going to hate me, and I don’t know what to do…” A sniff, a sob, two honey eyes full of tears and fear, and Umi felt dizzy. “Umi?”

Umi stared ahead, not looking at Kotori, thoughts flying, automatically sipping tea. Improvising was not a strength she had, but seemingly Kotori was relying on her. Nozomi, Nozomi and RIn were much better at ‘winging’ things.

A second before the silence hit crushingly awkward, Umi spoke. “Nozomi.” Eye contact, a smile, “Nozomi loves being asked to solve problems. I’m certain she will embrace this opportunity.” Umi pulled out her phone. All they needed to do was to keep Nico focused on the clothes before she realized how amateur this operation was, “Please don’t concern yourself. Lily White will take care of all the details.”

Kotori hiccup coughed and Umi wondered why she found herself thinking it was adorable. It had been little moments like this that she had missed since Kotori finished her design internship at the atelier where they’d been colleagues and returned to the United States. Umi had been happy that Nico was so amenable to assist and willing to travel. Nico might not continue to be so amenable if she realized that Umi had oversold Kotori’s level of preparedness to launch her debut line. But Nico wouldn’t let a friend down. Just keep Nico focused on the clothes, Umi repeated to herself.

###

“WHAT IS ALL THIS?!?!!!” Maki roared as she stood in front of the bathroom sink, mirror reflecting a fuming, exhausted householder, whose closet was suddenly full of frilly pink things, with every surface around her sink covered in bottles, jars, and vials.

Honoka rushed in, alarmed and inarticulate, barely ahead of Nico, who paused at the corner of the closet, then did her best at exuding confident nonchalance, “Nico’s beauty regime.”

Maki whirled, fists clenched, eyes narrowed, “How faked are you?”

Nico raised a hand to her chin, tilting her head to maximum cuteness, eyes wide and sparkling. Maki swore the air started to glimmer. “Nico is the cutest. By nature.”

Maki swept her arm at the drug store counter her sink had become, “Then why do you need all this gunk.”

“Healthy skin care. Travel.” Nico’s glamor had dialed down to grumpy cute and her arms were crossed in an uninviting pose.

“I travel, I look fine, I use water and moisturizer on really cold, dry days.” Maki opened the medicine cabinet, pulling out a small jar

Nico stepped forward, staring at Maki so intensely, Maki felt herself physically drawn into Nico’s orbit. A quick finger flicked down Maki’s cheek, then Nico grabbed the jar from Maki’s hand, read the ingredients, snorted, and tossed it in the trash can.

“Hey, that’s expensive.” Maki yelped.

“Waste of packaging.”

Maki snarled, but managing to speak slowly and evenly so there would be no misunderstanding, “Get your toxic, worthless junk out of my bathroom.”

“Nico is a guest. It’s half Nico’s bathroom.”

“Honoka!” Maki turned to a Honoka who kept looking at the door like she might make a leap for freedom.

“Maki, is it really a big de…” Honoka began to placate.

Nico had moved to the bathtub, testing out the faucet.

“You.” Maki jumped forward, looming over Nico, who continued unbothered, while Maki ranted, “Do not mess with my bathtub. No bubbles, no oils, no scent. No you.”

With a smirk, Nico sat herself primly on the edge of the tub, taking time to slowly cross her legs at the knee, challenging Maki to move her.

Maki closed her eyes, breathing deeply, counted to five, then turned to where Honoka was lurking. “I’m going to go practice, Honoka. Have your ‘guest’ clear off half of my sink. Immediately.”

“Sure, Maki, not a problem. You’re going to sound amazing. I’m sure you and Nico…”

By that time, Maki was out the door.

A/N: A quick chapter as a Christmas treat. I hope you are enjoying your December, whatever you might celebrate.

I think I owe someone a "oh my god, they were roommates" AU. Maybe this is earning me some credit there ; )

[biancatransmakeup]

Bare minimum!

If you go to the drugstore and wander in the cosmetics section, you can be completely overwhelmed by the quantity of products and brands you will find. If you don’t know what you are looking for, it will be even worse.

So I decided to put together a little cheat sheet of what you should have in your makeup bag to cover all your needs. Keep in mind that I’m always trying to achieve a natural look, so I really go minimal here, but it’s a good base to build upon.

Skin preparation

Before we do anything on our face, it is important we prepare it properly. Here is what you will need:

Facial scrub: you know these facial soaps that used to have micro-beads and that got banned almost everywhere? Well now they make mother-earth friendly products! These will clear your pores from dirt and clear your face from all the dead skin. It’s important to have a clean face or else your makeup can look cakey and won’t stick as well.

Day cream: a good day cream and/or serum. Nivea does some very good stuff at decent prices. Usually a little goes a long way, so even the small pots give you a good run for the money. If you shop at Costco, they have very good products for very decent prices in their home brand too. Apply after cleaning your face.

Makeup base/primer: some daycream can double up as makeup bases. You can also use BB cream or primer to get some light coverage or color correction before you apply your makeup. There are lots of options here and you will learn what you need over time. For example, I use a yellow base to cancel some of the redness of my skin (I have rosacea) on top of an anti-redness face cream.

You can stick to a face scrub and a day cream, but the makeup base is a good extra to help your makeup stick better. I found a few amazing products that I will list in another post.

Tools, etc.

Before applying your makeup you will need tools to apply it, etc. I will break it down into a few categories:

Consumables: this is the part where you will spend a few bucks every now and then. Makeup sponges (the small disposable wedges), makeup remover pads, Q-Tips, facial tissues, etc.

Face tools: Blender sponges (the big egg shaped sponges), face brushes, etc. The blender sponges are kind of a must have, but I don’t use them that much. A good brush set should at least include: a foundation brush, a blending brush, a concealer/contour brush and a powder brush.

Eyes tools: forget about all the gadgets for now! You need 3 brushes to get started with your eyes: a blending brush, a flat shadow brush and a liner brush.

If you watch videos on youtube with 20 years old girl advertising big brands and you look up the price, be ready to cry. Brushes can cost a LOT! But I managed to find a few good deals on big brands at Winners and Marshall’s and also stumbled on some surprising brands that are really affordable. One of my best find so far is ecotools. I’m not affiliated with them in any way, but I got their « Daily Defined Eye Kit » at Winners the other day and the brushes are awesome and they sell for really cheap. I haven’t tried their face brushes, but I will definitely give them a run in the future. From what I can see on their website, their « Airbrush Complexion Kit » looks really good for the price.

Eventually we will get to the eyebrows and lashes and the tools that go with them, but that is for another day. Now it’s time to grt down to business.

Makeup

Now to the good part! Let’s keep it to the minimum because you could buy things forever. If you want to look more feminine, there is only a few things you need to do to. The main one is to erase the beard shadow. The second one is to make your skin look more feminine. I know some girls are happy with just some eyeliner and lipstick, but this is not the case for me. If, like me, you have to change that face of yours to feel good in your skin, then the following is for you.

Beard cover: this is not an official product name, because girls do not have beard. What you will be looking for is a product that will be either pink or orange and that will stain your skin. Usually you can find those shades in the color correctors. I tried many things and for my skintone, orange is what works best. You will also have the choice between liquid or cream. My personal choice there is cream because I find it sets better on my skin, and also because I find liquid ones tend to mess my foundation color after. NYX is making excellent full coverage concealers in peach and orange. But if you are in a pickle, a cheap lipstick of the appropriate color can do as well.

Loose powder: pick a pot of loose powder that roughly matches your skin tone. If you have redness problems, you can also go with a yellow powder. This powder is multi-use, but the main one is to set your makeup in place and bake the areas that are the most at risk of rubbing off, etc.

Setting spray: it’s like glue for your makeup. Not much to add there: spray it on your face to set your makeup. Some people also use it as a skin primer. It usually works both ways.

Matched concealer: a concealer that matches your skin tone. I like a liquid concealer for that application. You will put that in the T zone and in the under eye area. Some people also use a concealer as an eyeshadow base, but I personally don’t like it.

Foundation: your color matched foundation. As I always say, better go with something that has buildable coverage as it is more versatile.

Eye shadow base: makeup companies now make specialized products to prime your eye lids. I prefer those a lot as they can help the colors pop and keep your eye shadow from creasing much better than any concealer would. My absolute favorite is the MAC Painterly base, but it doesnt work well with everyone. My girlfriend, for example, cannot use it because it drags the skin of her eyelids. She needs something more liquid. There are a few good liquid and cream eyeshadow bases in the drugstores. Revlon makes a decent one that really helps with creasing.

Eye shadow palette: if you are not certain what to pick, I suggest you go with a « quad » or something similar. Quads are those small palettes that have 4 colors that go together. They are basically a look in a box. If you are not sure which colors to pick, nude shades are pretty much universal. Otherwise, stay tuned and I’ll cover eyeshadow in another post.

Contour/Highlight/Blush palette: you might not find it all in one palette. I try to avoid highlighters that have too much glitter (it’s a trend to look shiny it seems) but sometimes it does look good.

Mascara: everybody knows what that is. Maybelline’s Great Lash has been a reference in the drugstore brands for years. Cheap and effective!

Eyeliner: you need two black eyeliners. A black liquid liner pen and a black kajal liner pencil. NYX make some really good liner pens and pencils. Maybelline also has amazing liquid liners and pencils. Experiment with different products because most of the fun is in the eyes!

Lipstick: pick your color! I really love Maybelline’s matte lip ink. It’s a liquid lipstick with a built it applicator that lets you draw on your lips with precision and that turns, once set, practically indestructible.

Conclusion

This is what I put in my makeup bag. The full makeup routine take time to do and time to master. Your first attempts will be disappointing if not frustrating. Don’t worry: it’s part of the process! Before I end that post, a quick reminder: get some makeup remover. Fractionated coconut oil also works wonders!

[musicbeeme]

2, 17, 18, 38

(sorry in advance for my rambly ways!)

2 lollipop - fave makeup products? I don't wear a lot of makeup anymore, but I really love the fenty foundation line. I'm super white n super pale (can't go in the sun cuz of my medications and light sensitivity) so it's always hard finding foundation and concealers that aren't too dark or orange or cakey, but Rihanna fuckin came in and saved everybody on every end of skin tones and I love her (not just cuz of her makeup lol)

17 cupcake - are you a good cook? Not to brag, but yes. I was a cook for 2 years at a local sushi restaurant, but I made all the not-sushi stuff on the menu and got to practice and experiment almost daily with some high quality ingredients, so I've got a lot of skills from that. My 4 roommates are always begging me to cook for them, or teach them some basic techniques or cool flavor combos. And I love to do that! My depression just gets in the way lol 🙃

18 honey - fave term of endearment? All of them haha. My gf calls me babe (real creative lol) I love calling her lovebug, hun, honey, baby girl, sweetpea, etc. I'm a romantic, so I love nicknames, pet names, small gestures/gifts, sweet kisses. It overwhelms my babe tho

38 roses - what flower do you find most beautiful? Calla lilies have always struck my eye. Sunflowers remind me of my girlfriend. Cherry blossoms remind me of my mom. But I've been doing a lot of flower symbolism research for a tattoo pair I wanna get, and even though it's not a flower, I love rosemary. I've always loved cooking with it, or baking fresh rosemary dipping bread to go with some good olive oil. I also like any flower hummingbirds are drawn to. Idk, flowers are rad and I love them all

[belladoesmakeup]

Hey everybody,

So in typical me fashion I found another foundation I really wanted to try. This foundation is the Too Faced Born This Foundation which is advertised as a medium to full coverage which basically means its buildable. Now in true pale fashion my foundation shade is called Snow which let’s be honest is probably the most accurate description of my skin tone.

This foundation is on the high end side as it retails for £29.00 (which I got on discount because that price makes me twitch a bit) now I’m always iffy trying new high end foundations because ifI fall in love with it then that’s going to be pricey later on when I run out. Now I have to admit trying this foundation I loved it practically straight away. When you first apply the foundation it definitely gives you a medium coverage almost full I’d say but the strange thing is that it feels so light on the face.

When you wear a foundation that is medium/ full coverage foundation it can feel really cakey on your skin after a while but this foundation is just so light. Now as I’ve mentioned this foundation is buildable to get a full coverage look and bonus when you apply a second layer for more coverage it blends perfectly and doesn’t leave you looking caked.

When the foundation is applied it leaves you looking semi matte so if you want full matte obviously you can powder but I actually kept the powder to a minimum today because I loved the finish of the product. When you’re pale foundation can be really trial and error so I personally enjoy trying foundations out to see what works and what doesn’t.

Hope this review gives you some makeup inspo if you’re planning to treat yourself.

Lots of love

Bella x x