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eleoceanora · 20 days ago

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𝕭𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖍𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖌𝖎𝖋𝖙

Ticci Toby x Reader

This is my first time writing a fic, hope you enjoy

Toby's birthday special

Genre: starting fluff to smut

Tw: crying, tears, sweet Toby, vocal, riding.

It was a chilly afternoon day, Toby just finished the work that his boss assigned him.

Sure, it was exhausting, but he couldn't even feel it most of the time or he would just ignore the sting that was circling through his body and just appear strong

He couldn't show anyone his weak side, in the end he was the stongest proxy, thanks to his CIPA

But today was different, he felt so shitty he just wanted to go to sleep and not give a shit about anyone

He was coming back from his mission, axes packed in his bloody jeans. God.. today was exhausting, it was a bad idea to kill in the morning especially if the victim fights back, but with one swing of his axe the victim was dead

Toby finally was came to his sweet home aka the maison, and old house, he couldn't really complain because he was financially unstable and couldn't afford a house, so this was more than enough.

....

His mind started wondering to you, his sweet lover.

He couldn't wait to just go to bed and kiss you and maybe take those panties off of you, if the boss hadn't send you to a mission.

....

After closing the front door, Toby quickly began to walk to your guys room, hoping no one would stop to talk to him or he would've punched them right in the face.

As soon he opened the door of your shared room he closed it. It was dark, so he started searching for the light switch or at least try to, then the room was lighted.

And suddenly.

"Happy birthday!" you said, wrapping your arms around him. God, he could've punched you because you really starteled him, but he quickly realized it was you. God, he didn't even know today was his birthday, he was so busy working for boss he almost forgot everything about everything about his past life, the birthdays he used to spend with his mom and sister were only a sick memory now.

"Hey baby" he hugged you back, picking you up. "missed you so much. Today was so exhausting and this guy tried to punch me" god, you had to get ready to listen to him talk about how his day went, but today wasn't the day.

You put a finger to his mouth, physically telling him to shut up and he stopped, arching an eyebrow in confusion. "Mmmmh?" he asks, tilting his head to the side. "today is your birthday!? You're not going to spend it talking.. I also have a surprise for you" you tease him. Toby doesn't get what you mean but he stays silent even when you take your finger off his face.

"what surprise?" he asks as your you start kissing his neck and slowly nibble some parts "if it's a surprise you shouldn't know it.. Meet me tonight, I have a mission" you kiss his cheek and quickly go outside

God, you couldn't wait to surprise him, the new lingerie you bought would've made him finish right seeing it, you couldn't wait feeling his body hot against yours. You would wear it tonight while waiting for him, with a birthday hat on.

It's been 25 minutes or so since you came back from the mission and going straight to your guys room. And the thoughts were already turning you on, making you rub your thighs together.

You put on the dark green lingerie you had found in an abandoned house which you ,of course, washed it and started doing your make-up, which would be ruined by Toby's messy kisses and the times he missed the spot he wanted to kiss you, leaving slides of saliva on your face but you didn't care. And the drool that you would drop while you were riding him, oh God you had to stop before it got worse and accidentally please yourself before he even came here.

You were starting to sit on the bed when suddenly Toby came in.

"so what's the supri-" his words fell off his mouth, leaving nothing but silence.

He was staring at you like a goddess, like something so precious and fragile that would break at the only touch, he was looking at you like you had took the moon and put it in front of him.

Looking at his precious lover like something so important which he had the mission to protect, which you were.

He was slowly inching towards you, horny and twitching slightly.

When he came to you, he slowly started caressing you, like a doll made of porcelain, when suddenly..

He fell onto his knees, already standing between your thighs

"Toby! It's your birthday.." before you could protest further, he was already taking of the lingeries panties and was already licking your wet folds, making you jolt in excitement.

"you taste so fucking amazing" he says, slowly rubbing your bud with an hand, while making you stay there with another "and so pretty just for me, what did I do to deserve this.." that's the last thing he said before he started absolutely devouring you, eating you out like a starved man.

And gods, you were seeing stars, your eyes rolling in the back of your head while your body was begging to move, but your boyfriends strong hand, from throwing axes, was stopping you from doing so. And you were squirming on the bed, while looking down at Toby just to notice him staring at you, making you red and avoid eyes contact.

Toby, on the hand, was so fucking horny. His heart was beating so fast, and he started twitching from excitement. He started humping the floor beneath him for a release. He was in ecstasy, his eyes rolling on the back of his head.

His tounge piercing was moving in all the right places, making you jolt by the coldness because of the metal. God, you were getting sweaty and your own eyes were rolling the back of your head.. And you started feeling your release forming, a warm feeling moving in your stomach to your core.

Toby in front of you was lost in the moment, he started groaning and growling like a wild animal. He also felt the warm liquid run to his cock, and god it felt so uncomfortable. He started humping the floor faster this time, thinking about how warm your core would be if his dick was inside you. You were so sweet, so right, so real and so tasty. Your insides were the perfect birthday cake for him, so good.

Warm liquid was suddenly running down his eyes to his cheeks, slowly running down the cracked side of his mouth, salty tears were running inside his mouth and god he couldn't stop them.

You wouldn't notice Toby crying if it wasn't for the fact that your thighs were covered in water that wasn't from you, only when you looked at Toby you noticed him sobbing.

"Toby, what's- ugh wrong?" you ask him, concerned about him. But at the same time, his tounge circling in your core was making it hard and uneasy for you to talk. You were moaning like crazy, the whole maison could've heard but neither of you cared.

"it's just that ughk! just that you taste so fucking amazing and you're so beautiful" he jolted while saying so, his Tourettes taking the best of him. If you ever thought that Toby didn't love you, you would be sure that he was obsessed with you. Not any of your exes was so sweet and caring as Toby. He was the sweetest and funniest guy ever, he was the prince you had always dreamed about and wondered who would've been when you were younger. And here he was, so fucking handsome and caring. Your thoughts are suddenly stopped when you hear the man below you whine, you could tell he came.

Your own release shortly after arrived, washing over you, and making you jolt in surprise.

And the suddenly started standing up, coming slowly towards you. You didn't fail to notice the wet patch that was covering the front of his dirty jeans.

When he finally sat down besided you, you got on top of him.

"Hey! " he exlaimed, but quickly shut up and jolted when you started kissing his neck.

"That's my job princess" he said while rubbing your back, slowly moving towards your bra to take it off. Which he did take off, leaving him in awe while staring at your boobs.

"did I ever tell you how much I love these tits of yours?" he said teasing you, wrapping his hands around them and caressing them, while playing with your sensitive nipples, making you arch your back.

"god.." you said while leaving red marks on the sides of his neck, turning him into a piece of art. You slowly started taking off his shirt, slightly covered in blood that didn't wash much off, but your quickly stopped when Toby took off his shirt in one motion, throwing the item somewhere on the floor.

And before you could say anything else he also took off his jeans, revealing his boxers. God, he was hard and the wet patch was more visible on his gray boxers which he also took off.

You has seen Toby naked a million times but it always felt like the first time you two had sex, both failing miserably and brushing it off with laughters.

"Do you want to stop love?"

"no, it's okay." you slowly lined your entrance with his cock, his always cold hands holding the sides of your hips. And your warm hand holing on his shoulder, full of scars and small freckles reaching to his chest and of course the most important scar, the proxy symbol, always craved into his skin as a sigh of his fidelity to the Boss.

You slowly sinked down, his cock was only half in and you already felt full, a sharp moan jumping out of you. By the end, you were fully down him. You stopped for a moment, adjusting to the size.

Toby on the other hand was blushing so hard, he could feel the way your warm walls were wrapping around him, making his dick jump slightly. God, he could've fallen asleep if it wasn't for the uncomfortable feeling in his crotch.

You slowly started moving, putting your hands down his chest for support, and you got up again. You watched Toby's features, his sweet brown eyes that turn into a honey gold under the morning sun, the freckles that decorated his face like starts, the side of his cheek that he bit off back then, his slightly crooked nose, his scars, and the punch that the guy had left today morning... God, he was so handsome, you didn't think anything about it until you heard the man in front of you turn his head to the side. "Mmmmh?"

Shit, did you say that out loud.. God. You didn't even care. You knew it was always surprising to him to be called handsome or be praised.

"i said that you're so handsome" you said while moving down his cock, making him jump at the warming entrance again. He groaned again, by the compliment probably.

You started moving up and down him, moving your hand to his hair. You slowly started going faster, making the man under you groan, while he gripped your boobs that would probably leave marks by in the morning.

"Oh god.." Toby felt so good, he started feeling the warm tear run down his cheeks again, but he ignored them. Drool was running down the ruined cheek, slightly making the pillow under him wet.

As you were riding him, you started kissing him, but left to put your hands down the bed to ride him faster. He was schetching you out so good, you were leaving out sweet loud moans and your breath hitching.

Toby started chasing your lips, in hopes of kissing you again, but failed and groaned because he was so desperate to feel your lips resting to his.

"Toby" you were moaning out his name like a prayer, he could literally shot his load right there. His name rolling so sweet in your tounge, he was never loved like this. And the tears were falling slowly, down the pillow but he didn't care.

"you're so desperate for me. Cumming only by eating me out.. I really shouldn't let you come, should I?". You loved earing his groans when you degraded him, making him feel so helpless. "Please let me come.."

God he was desperate now, his hips meeting yours in such a fast speed he could cum right there. But he couldn't, until you said him to do so.

"you look so fucking hot... Mmmh, you can cum now" just as you said that, Toby came into you, warm and hot liquid running to your insides and you came a few seconds later, your liquids both mixing together.

Toby got up and started cleaning you with his shirt, slowly and delicate.

"wait.. I forgot something" he said while kissing your neck. You moaned again, your eyes widening when his sharp teeth bit down your neck, leaving red and purple marks.

"Toby!" even when you started groaning and tucking his hair, he didn't stop. Your skin felt so sweet like honey, he couldn't stop until you were covered in marks and bites.

"Toby.. How do I cover these" you groaned, looking up your boyfriend, who's now behind you, holding you close to him and him, who's looking down at you with the most adoring eyes ever, full of love.

"whatever" you sighed in defeat, and you felt your boyfriend kiss your cheek. "I knew you would fall from my handsome eyes"

God, you sure did...

#creepypasta #birthday #ticci toby #ticci toby x reader #ticci toby x you #tobias erin rogers #Tobias erin rogers x reader #ticci toby smut

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librarisxng · 4 months ago

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ATEEZ SMALL PERFUME REVIEW: MAISON MARGIELA — REPLICA: SAILING DAY

disclaimer: this is not meant to be a serious perfume review, this is something fun for me to do as I love perfume. each and every one of us have different tastes and preferences when it comes to fragrances. what works for me might not work for you, vice versa. I’ll try my best to describe the scents but I will always suggest for you to go and smell them yourself before purchase. if you want to try these perfumes, please test or get a sample before committing to the bottle. picture credits to all owners.

ateez member: yeosang

fragrance family: woody aquatic

notes:

top — aquatic accord, aldehydes accord, juniper essence

heart — coriander essence, iris absolute, rose superessence

base — red seaweed essence, ambergris accord, ambery wood accord

my scent experience:

the fragrance opens very fresh, sharp, and clean with the aldehydes accord. I swear any fragrance that has aldehydes in it will overpower every other note on my skin which is unfortunate as I would like to smell the juniper essence. as it settles, the fragrance becomes floral with the iris and rose but it’s still fresh because of the aldehydes. lastly, the dry down is warm and slightly watery from the red seaweed but I still get that clean aldehydic scent lingering around. this perfume smells similar to Lazy Sunday Morning but with an aquatic element to it. kinda smells like clean bed sheets after a morning swim. oh and yes, this perfume gave me a headache.

the projection is moderate, which I prefer for a clean fragrance like this one as the aldehyde note is quite sharp and can be too much for some people. this fragrance lasted about 3 hours on me which isn’t the best performance but considering that I don’t really like this perfume, it was fine. I sound like a broken record at this point but scents like this one don’t work for me and I wish that perfumers use other notes besides aldehydes when making clean scents.

additional notes from me:

I see that Yeosang likes Maison Margiela fragrances, especially the lighter, cleaner scents in the Replica line. I’ve mentioned in previous reviews that I also like this line and while I’ve learnt the hard way that their fresh, clean fragrances don’t work for me, their other scents are lovely and some of them are my top faves. my favorite perfumes from the line are Whispers In The Library (which was discontinued), Beach Walk and By The Fireplace but I wonder if this list would change if I had the chance to smell their discontinued fragrances. I would love to try Lipstick On and Funfair Evening but never got the chance to.

who would I recommend this to?

anyone who likes fresh aquatic scents.

those who like the smell of clean bedsheets and watery plants.

anyone who wants to try Maison Margiela fragrances.

if you’ve made it to the end, thank you for reading this review! this perfume isn’t for me but definitely for the fresh and clean lovers out there. I wonder which one of their fragrances is Yeosang’s favorite as he does have quite the collection. I hope you enjoyed reading this review and let me know what your favorite fragrances are!

review written by librarisxng 2025

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ot7stan4life · 1 year ago

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Maison

Siyeon (Dreamcatcher) x Female Reader

(1 part - completed ✅)

Word Count: 1435

Summary: After a concert in your home country, you are reminded of the sacrifices you were forced to make to become an idol and begin to doubt your decision. All it takes is a warm embrace and a few comforting words from one of the women you love to remind you that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Warnings: angst, brief implications of homophobia, fluff

The plain hotel room that greeted us when we got back from the concert venue was quiet and dark. I left it that way, just taking a seat in the far corner of the room, letting out a sigh when I was finally off my feet. Without a word, Siyeon slipped into the bathroom and I heard the shower turn on not long after. For the next fifteen minutes, I stayed there, listening to the muffled sound of running water and allowing my mind to wander.

Touring was one of my favorite things I did as an idol. But it wasn't always as enjoyable as it should've been. The shows were fun, but those long periods in between concerts gave me too much time to think. Too much time to realize that I had less freedom as an idol. It had always been my dream to become a singer, but I never fully considered what I'd have to give up in order to fulfill that dream. Now I often wondered if it was even worth it.

Especially here in my home country where I'm reminded by the fans' unapologetic personalities of what I gave up. Had I stayed here and chosen any other profession, I wouldn't have to hide such a big part of myself. I'd be free to be who I was and live the way I wanted without fear. It was different for the other members because they grew up having to act that way. For me, it was still hard to adjust. And it hurt having to pretend.

My thoughts brought on an unavoidable feeling of stress that made my cheeks burn and I felt the need to get some fresh air. So, I stepped through the sliding glass door to the balcony and leaned over the metal railing, enjoying the feeling of the summer breeze gliding across my face. I was up high enough that the street noise was muffled by the wind. It was peaceful, but it made me feel lonely. As I took in the soft white surface of the moon, I couldn't help but feel trapped by my situation and wonder whether anyone else could possibly understand this feeling.

As if my negative thoughts were loud enough to hear, I felt arms wrap around me from behind only minutes later. At first I was startled by the sudden contact, momentarily forgetting I wasn't alone, but eventually I leaned back into her touch with a heavy sigh, knowing it was Siyeon. She put her head on my shoulder, her nose almost touching my left cheek, and I let my hands rest on top of hers. Being in her arms instantly made me feel better. It felt like her way of reminding me that I really wasn't alone.

"What's on your mind, jagi?" Siyeon whispered softly near my ear. The pet name made my heart flutter but the clear concern in her tone brought the negative emotions back. I hated feeling this way. Not just because it sucked feeling so lost, but because I hated making her feel helpless.

Sighing again, I looked out over the city wishing that everything was different. "I'm just wondering if I made the right choice becoming an idol."

I wanted to pretend that I was here in my hometown with Siyeon—not for a concert, not because we were idols in the same group—but because I invited her here on a trip to do something normal, like meet my family or go visit my favorite places from my childhood. I didn't want to be forced to worry about people taking pictures of us and starting rumors. I didn't want the obligation to act a certain way that comes with being famous. I didn’t want any of it. And I was nearly at my breaking point.

Without replying, Siyeon turned me around in her arms and put her hands on my cheeks. We stayed like that for a few seconds, just staring into each other's eyes and I felt so much love seeing the way she looked at me: Like I was the most important thing in the world. There was no doubt in my mind that she would love and protect me with everything in her for the rest of her life. And it wasn't even a question whether I would do the same.

"I know you wish things were different,” she smiled sadly, “I do too." Her voice was still soft as she rubbed her thumb across my cheek while her eyes took in every inch of my face. I wondered how she always knew exactly what I was thinking. "But look at it this way..." she stopped her gentle strokes against my skin and looked into my eyes. "If you hadn't become an idol," the corner of her lips tilted upwards revealing half of her beautiful smile, "you would've never met us."

Though I still felt the weight of my negative thoughts, her statement managed to make me smile. Through one of the most difficult choices of my life I may have been forced to conceal a part of who I was, but I still ended up finding seven of the most important people in my life. Even if I felt like being an idol had more risks than rewards, those seven girls made it worth it. At least I could be myself around them and they loved the part of me that I wasn't allowed to show anyone else.

"You're right," I whispered and leaned forward so that my forehead was resting against hers and our noses were touching. Even when I felt lost, she kept me grounded. She and the other members... they were where I belonged. Where I felt found. They were home.

"I love you so much, you know that, right?" Siyeon told me, her voice so quiet and fragile. She’d told me she loved me countless times before, but something about this one felt different.

"I know." And I did. I knew she meant it. And I knew what she meant. It was hard to explain, but I felt it too. We loved each other and the other members in a way that couldn't be defined. It wasn’t limited to platonic or romantic. It was more than that. We all loved each other so much that we couldn't bear the thought of living without one another. It felt like we were meant to be together. Like we were destined to meet. Like soulmates. And, as long as it was up to us, we would be together until the day we died.

Sometimes it felt like I didn't have the words to tell them how much they meant to me. And I think that's why Siyeon did what she did after I told her I loved her back... she kissed me. It was gentle and just enough to express how she felt. She’d never kissed me before, but it didn't seem any different than her hugging me or kissing me on the cheek. It was just another way for her to show how much she truly loved me. Bora and Minji did it often with me and a few of the other members who accepted it, but I knew it meant more to Siyeon.

Once it was over, I nestled my head in the crook of her neck with my arms wrapped around her torso. She pulled me close with hers around my shoulders and ran her fingers through my hair. I stayed there, breathing in her fresh scent and feeling completely content.

It didn't matter if the world never knew who I truly was, because they did.

**This imagine was transferred over from my Wattpad acc OT5Stan4Life**

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fandomrose · 1 year ago

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Neuvillette post 4.2 reverse comfort.

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This fic is canon compliant. Almost character study-esque.

Friend's to almost lovers

I believe that post 4.2 he would begin opening himself up more to humanity and therefore would begin to consider romance even if he could lose them to time.

There will be some spoilers but they are more implied than anything.

I kept it Gender neutral and as appearance and trait neutral as I could as such it should be friendly to most.

Anyway please enjoy. 💙

The clean-up and relief efforts post-prophecy were almost complete and Fontaine was almost back to functioning like normal. You were aiding some of the maison gardinale melusines with cleaning up the inside of the Palais Mermonia, a commission you were taking on as a Fontaine-based adventurer.

At around midday Lady Furina arrived at the Palais and immediately went to see Monsieur Neuvillette. Not an odd sight but the expression on her face and her complete lack of acknowledgement of anyone else's presence was odd. Whatever it was that she was seeing Neuvillette about, it was serious.

Worry pricked the back of your mind for the few hours that she was in Monsieur Neuvillette's office for. If Sedine noticed your mild distress she never mentioned it, just giving you an extra slice of cake for lunch. It was around lunch that rain started to fall steadily from the sky. You and Neuvillette weren't the closest of companions but you had a pleasant enough relationship with the man. It could be said that you were one of the people he had allowed himself to get close to. He and Lady Furina were on your mind the entirety of your hired time.

When it came time for the end of your shift Lady Furina finally emerged looking exhausted and you swore you could see a couple of tear tracks run down her cheeks as she briskly walks through the Palais office. You wonder in the back of your mind if you should check on her but before you can make up your mind Sedine approaches.

"Um hello, I was wondering if you have the time to take this water to Monsieur Neuvillette? I know it is the end of your contracted time with us today but ah,-" She gestures to a waterproof box labelled 'pyro treated Mondstadt spring water.' It looked far too heavy for a Melusine to carry.

"Ah Sedine of course I can. Don't worry about it." You pick up the box, struggling with the weight a little, there is quite the volume of water. I guessed a stressed Neuvillette craved fresh spring water. You nod to Sedine before approaching Monsieur Neuvillette's office. Sudden nerves overtake you as you remember Lady Furinas visit. You take a deep breath and knock on the door gently with your foot.

"You may enter." Monsieur Neuvillette answered the knock and you push the door open gently with the same foot you knocked with. He sounded tired as well though that was unsurprising, as far as you were aware he was almost single-handedly trying to lead Fontaine in the relief efforts.

"Hello Monsieur I was asked to bring this to you- 'pyro-treated spring water from Mondstadt.'"

Neuvillette looked up from his desk and relaxed a little upon seeing you there. "Ah hello, thank you for bringing that to me, please just rest it on one of the benches." His voice sounded strained and tired as he spoke, a far cry from how put together he typically sounded.

"Neuvillette-" you began, as you put the box of water down on a bench. Seriously though, why does this man have so many benches and sofas in his office? "-are you alright?" You wince slightly, unused to offering comfort to a stoic man.

Neuvillette pauses clearly debating whether or not to say anything. You begin to doubt yourself just as Neuvillette, uncharacteristically quiet and hesitant, speaks up. "Could I- trust you with something? It won't be too detailed but- I could use some advice... if you are willing." I note that the rain outside seems to be growing heavier.

"I- of course-" you walk closer and stand by his desk giving him your full attention.

There were a few moments of silence, Neuvillette clearly debating what so say and how to say it.

"I feel conflicted-" you almost startle at the suddenness of his proclamation, staying silent you just listen. "I understand my function and my duties, I understand Furina and her need for a rest after all of this and I understand what we must do for Fontaine to prosper once again." He pauses again deep in contemplation at how to say what he wants to say. "I understand why this happened and why- certain things I cannot say had to happen but. Even in this understanding I feel grief at this turn of events. Everyone is safe and Furina is free to live a normal life, I understand my position and I am whole. By all accounts I have everything I wanted and yet I cannot bring myself to be happy."

You feel stunned, you have never seen Neuvillette like this, the rain was coming down like it did on the day of the Great flood. And there were tears? Yes tears, screaming down his cheeks. He didn't even seem to notice them. The next words out of his mouth break your heart a little. "Why? I don't understand."

After a mere moment's hesitation you step around his desk and stand before him, the action grabbing his attention. You lift your hands to hover over his cheeks. "May I?" You whisper. Neuvillette looks a little confused but nods anyway. You place your hands on his cheeks and wipe his tears. He seemingly unconsciously leaned into your touch

"I don't, and can't know the extent of these feelings as I don't have all of the information but, it sounds like you are grieving. Not to mention the built up stress that the prophecy has caused you. And I can assume that the conversation with Furina was not a pleasant one?"

He simply shook his head sadly, taking your hands away from his face. He looked like he wanted something but couldn't figure out what. You pause and open your arms, again he hesitates, confused, but steps into your embrace and gingerly wraps his arms around your shoulders, you feel him tremble slightly. He is likely unused to physical contact.

You open your mouth to speak again but Neuvillette beats you to it. "I just don't understand why this time is different. My chest hurts when I think about it and my head starts to ache. And I know the rain is causing trouble for everyone, we are trying to dry Fontaine, not drown it again."

"Um- I know this may be a controversial statement but I don't think you need to understand emotions, and why you are feeling them, in order to feel them in the first place. Just let yourself feel, catharsis is good for the soul. Or so they say."

Neuvillette pulls back from your embrace looking conflicted again. "Catharsis hmm." Neuvillette looks out the window frowning at the sight of the rain. Your gaze follows his. Silence again but a question that follows something he said earlier pops into your mind.

"Neuvillette..? Why would the rain be your fault?"

Neuvillettes gaze turns to you again. He sighs ".. you know don't you?"

You definitely had your suspicions, you've been around him when it's raining enough to make connections but consequence is not causation and you thought it was silly at the time, even with his long life. But his response..

"You are the hydro dragon aren't you Neuvillette."

"Yes," He said simply and easily, as if admitting that was the easiest thing he'd done all day. You couldn't bring yourself to be surprised it made too much sense.

"I see, that makes sense" was your own equally simple response.

Things went quiet again but it was still raining, lighter but still raining. "Neuvillette, what do you think about what I said? About 'not needing to understand' and 'catharsis'?"

"Wouldn't understanding emotions make it easier to feel and express them?"

"Not even regular people understand emotions or why they happen. A lot of the time they 'think' they do though. And there is nothing wrong with that we all have things we don't understand, and yet we push through and do it anyway. You didn't understand why you were asked to be Iudex but you still did your duty. So why is a lack of understanding stopping you from experiencing the emotions you feel?"

"... I don't know how to answer that. Truthfully I don't know myself."

"How about we stop trying to use our brains for now? We can just feel, let yourself have time to grieve Neuvillette. If you are worried about the rain.. well there will be less rain in the long run if you let your emotions run their course now."

Neuvillette looked down at his hands that were resting on his cane then back up at the window. "How do I do that?"

"Think of what was upsetting you and let it run through your mind. Don't will those thoughts away, just let it happen."

"... can I hold you again?"

"You can.” Neuvillette dismissed his cane and almost fell into your arms. You could feel him trembling again as you watched the rain get heavier. You almost unconsciously started rubbing his back as he quietly cried into your shoulder.

You get the sense that while the saying is 'hydro dragon, hydro dragon, don't cry' that this hydro dragon has not yet actually cried. You lose track of time at how long he embraces you but eventually the sky clears. Night has fallen and the moon and stars almost appear to shine brighter.

I feel Neuvillette take a large shaky breath before he removes himself from your arms once more.

"Thank you. You really are a wonderful person." Neuvillette's voice was tired but he did sound slightly more relaxed. You find your face heating slightly at his words, feeling unused to such praise from him.

"It's not a wonderful trait to be there for someone you care about. It's only natural."

"Hmm I suppose but that doesn't stop you from being a wonderful person with wonderful traits."

The bluntness of his words only seemed to heat your cheeks further. You say nothing as you take up a spot next to him looking at the clear sky. A new closeness between the two of you that you can only imagine what could happen between you next.

#neuvilette genshin #neuvillette x reader #Neuvillette/reader #hurt/comfort #genshin impact 4.2 spoilers #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #i love this man dearly #i wish to kiss his head and give him a hug #and do water tasting with him #and go on a walk or something similarly fluvial #gn reader

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tierra-paldeana · 8 months ago

Note

He looked her dead in the eyes for a few long moments before suddenly jumping into an excited little spiel. "Okay! Great! You have made a verrry smart decision choosing the Battle Subway as your destination! It is a LOT more fun than the Battle Maison!" Please don't let Evelyn hear him saying that.

"Because in addition to battling we also have trains! And there are some claw machines in the station lobby if that interests you. But I still think the trains are the best part! Aside from the battling, I mean. The trains and the battling are of equal importance."

Poor Rika, she's been met with such a terrible fate. Though the pair of brothers were equally insistent when it came to people visiting their facility, Emmet had a tendency to be a little less polite about it. He just got too excited- especially when Ingo wasn't there to try to calm him down.

☠🌏– Although the Subway Masters' attitude caught her off guard at first (judging by the way he and his brother dressed, she had come to expect... definitely not this kind of personality, for some reason), she quickly grew into it - if there's any type of person she's more than happy to meet and get to know, that was anyone who felt a passion for their profession as well as Pokémon Battles.

Not to mention she had a soft spot for people older than her expressing such child-like wonder and excitement... it was reassuring, in a way. Perhaps someone else would've found it overbearing, but she's very happy he's excited to have her on board.

''Nahaha! Really now! It's true that the Maison's closer to Paldea, but I had it due to visit Unova more closely after landin' in Blueberry Academy some time back, so that can wait. So, the battles take place IN the trains, yeah? I've never seen anythin' like it, that's mighty intriguin'!''

Of course, she's pumped up about getting to try her luck at the Subway, but... the mention of the claw machines also grabs her interest. Oh, she's very tempted to ask him if they had plushes in those machines, but... No, Rika, you're discussing 'business' with him, you wouldn't want to give him a weird impression right off the bat?! So she just nodded, hands in her pockets.

''Yer brother's talked to me a bit 'bout how the Subway operates, but I never knew 'bout the claw machines! Personally I wouldn't mind a refresher, n' if you can tell me anythin' else that might be of interest for us, feel free to fire away, nahah!''

Oh. Oh wait. Oops.

''Ah, dang it, I almost forgot...! I'm Rika, secretary and member of the Elite Four of Paldea. It's a pleasure to meet'cha, Emmet! Good ol' Rika can't wait to visit ya two over there sometime!''

#( ic );#v: ( the workplace );#( ask );#downtrain #( emmet: *getting ready to infodump* // rika: GO FOR IT I LOVE BEING INFODUMPED!!!! )#( i can tell she's gonna indulge him a lot in that regard HEH and that they're gonna be very good friends!!!! )#( sorry for the delay on this ask btw i wanted to have the time to reply to this properly :') !!! aaaa )#( she loves when people talk abt the things they're passionate about cause she gets to learn a lot and its super enriching!! )#( plus she just inherently loves seeing people happy and excited ahsgdhgfd )

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crystalelemental · 7 months ago

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Full tier list is here, breaking down the E-tier. I'll be honest, a lot of this tier is where I have general frustrations that aren't enough to make the significant dislike of F, but I have. Problems.

In case anyone was wondering, I am not going into the same depth as the last one.

Zinnia: neat concept, horrid execution. Delta episode sucks and she exudes nothing to me.

Hau: inoffensive but incredibly boring. Don't like the USUM decision to force him into serious battling.

Marnie: should be interesting as your rival, but all the neat stuff went to Piers, so she's super bland.

Malva/Siebold: Kalos E4 members I do not respect.

Gaeric/Calaba/Liam: Pearl Clan members I don't really care about.

Hugh: "You're about to feel my rage." Shut up, dweeb.

Kofu: bland.

Mina: uninterested, also your trial sucks ass.

Sophocles: I will never forgive Festival Plaza.

Molayne: couldn't care less.

Marlon: Centrist.

Burgh: Not flamboyant enough.

Magnolia: should be great! Unfortunately Galar decided to kick the only old lady professor we ever had to the curb for her hot granddaughter. Thanks for that.

Trevor: Dweeb, sucks at his only interest.

Maylene/Norman/Ramos/Wattson/Blaine: uninteresting Leaders.

Lana: Specifically bad in games, anime iteration is much improved. Games all she seems to do is go on about swimmers, which weirds me out.

Wulfric/Ilima: meh.

Giovanni: Loser lord supreme. Never accomplished a single goal his entire life. Literally had an entire criminal empire that kept Kanto in thrall that he probably inherited from his father, and lost it overnight to a ten year old boy and his rat. They keep trying to imbue him with some grand evil importance but he continuously shows us even in Masters that he is an impotent garbage man. I hear the manga makes him neat.

Juan: pointless, they should've done something more interesting to replace Wallace's gym.

Cress/Cilan/Chili: there's a reason you three weren't taking on Plasma.

Clemont: I actually do not like him, and the anime didn't help.

Bea: where are your organs?

Oleana: Actually really frustrating, because people seem to only like her for being blandly conventionally attractive, but she exudes nothing of a personality despite wild over-dependence on a man, and abuses Bede for personal gain. Hate her.

Misty: Never liked her, sorry.

Surge: Bootlicker.

Jacq: Man, I think it's just the "app designer" thing, but he rubs me the wrong way so bad.

Salvatore: actually inoffensive, but they give him nothing at all to work with.

Nita: I kinda like the Maison sisters, but Nita feels bland.

Buck: literally forgot his name.

Lucy: very little knowledge. I did like the anime iteration though.

Argenta: little to go on.

Benga: Kinda hate him after Masters had him talk to Lance. "You haven't been through enough to fight me, middle aged Champion man!" You are like twelve. Cool your jets.

Ortega: needs his ass beat. Not in like a bullying way, but in an "Eri needs to have a very blunt conversation about how manners work."

Mela: I am not compelled. Outfit is atrocious.

Victor: the unfair one. It's Reddit's fault.

Sina/Dexio: I never liked them to begin with, but then someone posited that Diantha could've used her acting skills to do their faux superhero thing in XY to keep infiltrating Team Flare and now I'll never forgive them.

Noland: eh.

Selene: cute outfit, nothing to work with.

Trace?: I hate the Let's Go rival. He's so bland and non-confrontational in every way. He exudes nothing to me.

Chase: Pikachu sucks, deal with it.

Elio: He gives me monkey child vibes. I do not like monkeys.

Juliana/violet boy: Really uninspiring protagonist designs.

Bellis: all you do is talk in different languages at random without reason and I hate that gimmick.

Wicke: exudes nothing but bad vibes. My wife caught it too and we agree, she should've just been evil.

Charon: at least a little funny in how boring he is.

Faba: bland and too expendable, easily dupes people into getting over Lusamine in USUM.

Archer/Ariana/Proton: Team Rocket just sucks, man. Nothing going on at all.

#pokemon tier list #pokemon characters tier list

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newar · 2 years ago

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thank you to @paddingtongirl for tagging me to spell my url with songs 💞💞

n - novacane (frank ocean)

e - easy (wjsn the black)

w - wonder what she thinks of me (chloe x halle)

a - a pearl (mitski)

r - ramenez la coupe à la maison (vegedream)

tagging @cheekblush @nosekiss @decolonisers and anyone else! <3

#i love these tag games because i love sharing music teehee #newar.txt

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hansoheeglobal · 2 years ago

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Han Sohee's Bra Top Shows Off Her Charm by Wearing Red Tights and High Jewelry.

Han Sohee's bra top shows off her charm by wearing red tights and high jewelry.

Q. You've had a lot of overseas schedules lately and been staying in Paris for a week. What do you do when you go to a city other than Seoul?

A. I'm a total lodging person, so I spend most of my time in the room or taking a walk around the neighborhood. When I look at the night view of the city through the window before falling asleep, I feel like I am realizing that I am overseas. I try to get a good night’s sleep because I tend to recover my condition easily as long as I get a good night’s sleep.

Q. This time, you witnessed the presentation of the ‘Carte Blanche’ collection at Maison Boucheron located in Place Vendôme.

A. I couldn't believe it was designed during a time when I was depressed due to Corona, so the color and shape felt experimental. Not only silver or gold, but I was able to see jewelry in a variety of colors. There were designs that naturally melted in everyday life, but the jewelry with bold designs that became a point are especially memorable.

Q. After several photo shoots with〈Bazaar〉, Han Sohee's bright and radiant face was published on the paper. It was your first photoshoot after becoming an ambassador for Boucheron. What was the experience like?

A. Each cut has a different concept, so it's one shot, but I feel like I've been together for many moments. It was a very impressive experience as it seemed that I tried an active and bold production suitable for jewelry in the photo shoot.

Q. Jewelry makes you feel great the moment you wear it. What would be your favorite piece of jewelry?

A. Since I enjoy wearing dresses, I often wear necklaces that can be layered. I especially like vintage earrings. Even if you wear the same clothes and are in the same place, you can change your mood with just one piece of jewelry. Actually, I don't think my hands are pretty, so I usually wear earrings or necklaces depending on my mood that day. I also use ear cuffs when wearing casual clothes.

Q. Youfinished filming seasons 1 and 2 of the Netflix series <Gyeongseong Creature> not too long ago from last year. You took on the role of Yoon Chaeok, a todukun (a person who searches for missing people) who is in danger of survival while crossing Manchuria and Shanghai. What did you prepare for by playing this role for a long time?

A. Although I was attracted to the background of Gyeongseong, I think I was greatly attracted to the character Yoon Chaeok, who lived in that era more fiercely than anyone else. While acting, the most difficult thing is to find an intersection with her while living a whole day or two as the character. It's my biggest homework. This time again, I was absorbed in finding that point.

Q. In works such as Nabi in <Nevertheless> and Jiwoo in <My Name>, you also revealed that you've been playing characters who are far from a flat life, but this work must not have been easy either. Is there anything new you realize as you work? Do you think you are getting better?

A. I constantly doubt myself. Rather than the concept of progress and retreat, I think more about whether I can make myself not ashamed of the word "acting"

Q. Many people who have met Han Sohee often refer to expressions such as ‘unintelligible facial expressions’ or ‘cool aura’. Have you ever wondered why?

A. It wasn't my own intention, but it seems like people appreciate my unique appearance. (Laughs)

Q. What do you do when you want to get out of the way people want to see Han Sohee?

A. In fact, fans know many different sides of me, but I want to show a lot of comfortable sides to those who don't know.

Q. Blogs are the places where those human aspects are shown the best. In an interview with <Bazaar> 3 years ago, I remember saying that when life is tiring, it is more comforting to calmly tell about everyday life that is no different from you rather than baseless optimism which “everything will be fine.” How's the pretty tricky rule climbing club you revealed in your October post last year maintained?

A. Me and my friends seem to have no sense of time. I didn't see her, just talking and leaving.

Q. Looking at a recent post with a 220 size foot picture, I guess you have your own way of getting close to people. When I read the blog post, I thought I could understand what kind of person you are.

A. There's no other way, but when I feel like I want to get closer, I act first. Most of the time, I tend to approach people who can share my honest thoughts and attitudes.

Q. You also upload drawings of plants and bodies. What do you think about when you are painting?

A. I don't draw with intent or purpose. When I wake up without thinking, I tend to draw anything with an oil paste.

Q. There was a time when you said that you wanted to shoot a movie yourself. In a recent advertisement video, it became a hot topic by showing a scene paying homage to director Park Chanwook's film.

A. I like movies with primary colors and mise-en-scène. I really like director Park Chanwook's films, so while filming, I paid homage to numerous works and thought a lot about whether I would fit in well.

Q. What kind of story will the movie Han Sohee make someday be?

A. The story of a weak character who is not good at sports.

Q. What are some guidelines or truths in life that you engrave now or always?

A. ‘Life is fleeting. However, we are living in the present and are only beings that will disappear later. I think that it is enough to be grateful for what is given, not greedy, and just live.”

Q. You entered 30s by accepting changes more actively than anyone else. What does 30 mean to you?

A. I only think that the first digit has changed.

Q. How would you like to spend this time?

A. Although the image of myself that I hoped for is becoming vague, I always want to throw myself into the given work and spend it without regret.

Note: it's a rough trans so expect a lot of translation error.

#han sohee #xeesoxee #hansohee #lee sohee #korean model #korean actress

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l-oiseau-bleu · 2 months ago

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Camille She Was

youtube

Camille - She Was

Quand elle était à la maison, elle était un cygne

When she was home, she was a swan

Quand elle était dehors, elle était un tigre

When she was out, she was a tiger

Et un tigre dans la nature n'est lié à personne

And a tiger in the wild is not tied to anyone

Quand elle était perdue, c'était un crapaud

When she was lost, she was a toad

Le jour où je l'ai trouvée sur la route

The day I found her on the road

Je lui ai donné de l'eau et une rose

I gave her water and a rose

Et tandis qu'elle s'étirait, le soleil se leva

And as she stretched, the sun rose

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away, go away

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away

Quand elle était jeune, elle était une vache

When she was young, she was a cow

Et toute la journée elle traitait les étoiles

And all day long she milked the stars

Elle m'a appris "Les femmes pour survivre

She taught me "Women to survive

Doit être infidèle à leur enfant"

Must be unfaithful to their child"

De toutes les merveilles du monde

Of all the wonders of the world

C'était une dame avec un oiseau

She was a lady with a bird

Elle a dû avoir tellement de vies

She must have had so many lives

Était-ce le premier ?

Was it the first?

Était-ce la dernière ?

Was it the last?

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away, go away

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away

Quand elle était malade, elle était une baleine

When she was ill, she was a whale

Elle était si patiente, elle attendrait

She was so patient, she would wait

Jusqu'à ce que je la chante au bord de la rue

Until I sang her by the lane

Les airs les plus doux pour soulager sa douleur

The sweetest tunes to ease her pain

Quand elle était vieille, c'était une chouette

When she was old, she was an owl

Je l'ai vue se balancer dans le ciel

I saw her swaying in the sky

Et puis elle est morte dans mes bras

And then she died inside my arms

J'ai réalisé que c'était un chat

I realized she was a cat

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away, go away

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away

Parfois je me demande (va)

Sometimes I wonder (go)

Si mon enfant (pars) a ses yeux (pars)

If my child (go) will have her eyes (go)

(Va-t'en, va-t'en)

(Go away, go away)

Pour voir à travers moi (partir) quand je mourrai (partir)

To see through me (go) when I die (go)

Et je suis né de nouveau (allez)

And I am born again (go)

(Va-t'en, va-t'en)

(Go away, go away)

Que serai-je ?

What will I be?

(Aller)

(Go)

Une pierre ?

A stone?

(Allez), un chat ?

(Go), a cat?

(Aller)

(Go)

Un arbre ?

A tree?

(Va-t'en, va-t'en)

(Go away, go away)

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away, go away

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away, go away

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away, go away

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away, go away

Allez! Allez! Allez

Go, go, go

Va-t'en, va-t'en

Go away, go away

Paroliers : Clement Ducol / Camille Dalmais

#l'oiseau bleu #Youtube

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librarisxng · 8 months ago

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ATEEZ SMALL PERFUME REVIEW: MAISON MARGIELA — REPLICA: BY THE FIREPLACE

ateez member: yeosang

fragrance family: warm gourmands

notes:

top — pink pepper essence, orange flower absolute, clove oil

heart — chestnut accord, gaiac wood oil, cade oil

base — vanilla accord, peru balsam resinoid, cashmeran

my scent experience:

warm, sweet, cozy and smoky. the vanilla is very strong here and the heart notes of chestnut and gaiac wood really elevate the sweet scent. the perfume becomes smoky as it dries down so it’s not your typical warm and sweet scent. the best way to describe this fragrance is to imagine yourself roasting marshmallows by the campfire. also, the longevity is pretty good as it lasted 6-7 hours on me.

the projection for this fragrance is pretty intense so if you can’t use heavy scents, this isn’t for you. I will admit, I got a little dizzy when I first wore it and that’s because I sprayed a little too much of it. if you are going to purchase this fragrance, don’t go heavy-handed.

additional notes:

I bought this fragrance to wear to my cousin’s wedding — still don’t know why she decided to have an outdoor wedding in the middle of winter but to each their own. because it was a warm and heavy scent, it made me feel warmer(?) in a sense that I didn’t mind the cold eventhough I was freezing (I hope you know what I meant by that). every time I wear this now, I remember how cold her wedding was and there were no heaters around outrageous behaviour let me tell you. I’m almost out of my travel spray and I’m contemplating whether I should purchase the bottle or not.

who would I recommend this to?

anyone who likes sweet and smoky scents.

those who love gourmand perfumes but with a twist.

anyone who wants to try out maison margiela replica fragrances.

if you’ve made it to the end, thank you for reading this review! if you’re wondering how I knew Yeosang uses this fragrance, he shared an instagram story that featured three perfumes with this one being one of them. let me know which perfumes you would love to try!

review written by librarisxng 2024

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cleverhottubmiracle · 2 months ago

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If Pat McGrath is makeup’s mother, then she recently taught her children a valuable lesson about delayed gratification.The Maison Margiela couture show on Jan. 25, 2024, held beneath the Pont Alexandre III and inspired by Brassaï’s photographs of Paris, was a feast of textures — John Galliano’s dusty, gauzy and wooly silhouettes, of course, but also the models’ otherworldly skin, which reflected a pearlescent, plasticine sheen crafted by McGrath. Plenty of McGrath’s looks had gone viral pre- and post-Instagram, like her era-defining i-D covers of the 1990s or the African-inspired masks she crafted in jewels for Givenchy in 2013. All of them paled in comparison to the response to the Margiela show. Google searches for McGrath spiked, and speculation mounted about an upcoming product launch that would allow anyone to replicate what was quickly becoming known as McGrath’s “glass skin.” This was news to the team at McGrath’s brand, which hadn’t been working on one. After the show, a team scrambled to put together an online masterclass with McGrath breaking down the look in February. But they were scooped by the makeup artist and beauty historian Erin Parsons, who posted a TikTok on the following Sunday explaining the theatrical trick (a drugstore peel-off face mask administered via airbrush).According to three former employees, McGrath was annoyed about Parsons’ video, not least because Parsons had once worked as her first assistant. Still, five days passed before she appeared live on TikTok and Instagram to share her no-longer-secret technique.“I’ve never seen a makeup look go so viral,” she told the tens of thousands who had gathered to watch. The tens of thousands, in turn, wondered when they might be able to try it for themselves. But it would be another year almost to the day before those wishes would be granted. Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask went on sale on Pat McGrath Labs’ website on Jan. 30 of this year, promising not only to replicate the Margiela show look, but to provide skincare benefits as well. It arrived to a chorus of “THANK YOU MOTHER” and “GIVE IT TO ME!!” from McGrath’s children on Instagram. (In a turn of phrase borrowed from the queer ballroom scene, her friends took to calling her Mother in the 1990s; now her fans do too). But some in her flock couldn’t help but wonder why they were being asked to buy a $38 version of a peel-off mask, its perfect sheen prone to bubbling if the wearer opens their mouth. And most importantly, what took so long? The episode is the latest example of the difficulty Pat McGrath Labs has had translating its founder’s artistic genius into commercial success. The brand set the template for the current makeup artist-driven beauty moment, securing a wall at Sephora and a $1 billion valuation with an investment from French firm Eurazeo within three years of its 2015 launch. Maintaining that momentum proved difficult almost from the moment Pat McGrath Labs received its unicorn valuation. A permanent collection designed for the brand’s Sephora entrance, heavy on the eyes and complexion, developed a cult following, but produced few hits, particularly as the minimal “clean girl” trend took hold early in the pandemic.McGrath’s famously private persona also started to feel of another era in a time when brand founders are constantly interacting with fans online. Since the pandemic, her line has struggled to compete with a host of celebrity and influencer-fronted brands, including makeup artist offerings such as Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road. Both regularly make themselves available for social posts and customer meet and greets. McGrath declined through a spokesperson to comment for this story.Eurazeo quietly exited the brand in 2021. The same year, Sienna Investment Managers, the alternative investment arm of Belgian holding firm GBL, purchased a 14.4 percent stake for €168 million ($183 million), valuing the company at €1.2 billion. One year later, it wrote down that investment by 88 percent, and in 2024 estimated its stake was worth €21.5 million, implying a total company valuation of €149 million, according to GBL’s annual reports. Whereas Eurazeo executives touted Pat McGrath Labs in interviews as forming the foundation of a global beauty empire, GBL has never spoken about its investment publicly, referring to it in documents as an unnamed “cosmetics company.” Meanwhile, the brand’s door count at Sephora has fallen steadily since 2019, and when Ulta Beauty picked up the line in 2023, it did so in just 200 of its 1,400 North American stores, Puck News reported. Some fans have recently spotted Pat McGrath Labs products at discount retailers like Ross Dress for Less. According to a Pat McGrath Labs spokesperson, the brand is carried in over 700 retail doors worldwide.In 2024, the company held three rounds of layoffs. Last month, senior executive Rabih Hamdan announced his departure after less than a year at the company in a letter to staff that suggested turbulence behind the scenes. “The environment that I had stepped into was not exactly what was depicted to me (and in all fairness I think no one really had the proper grip of the full situation),” wrote Hamdan, who joined the company from the Italian mass cosmetics label Kiko Milano. Though Hamdan identified himself as CEO of Pat McGrath Labs on his LinkedIn page, the brand spokesperson said “Pat McGrath is and has always been the only CEO of Pat McGrath Labs.”In order to secure its future, Pat McGrath Labs will need to do much more than recalibrate its launch strategy; it will also need to meaningfully address a fractured company culture. The Business of Beauty spoke with eight former employees and collaborators who described an at times chaotic working atmosphere where verbal — and allegedly in at least one instance, physical — altercations were common, campaign planning was erratic, secrecy was everything and McGrath was always right, no matter the cost.“It really is the Wild West,” said one former employee, an industry veteran. “And no one has any checks or balances.” A Working Makeup Artist Like No OtherMcGrath is, without hyperbole, an industry legend; her signature black turtleneck and headband, almost nunlike, make her the avatar of the working makeup artist. Her career was made backstage at fashion shows, where she has painted faces just about every season since the early 1990s. She still does about 50 shows annually. She is also the go-to makeup artist for luxury brands looking to make a splash in the beauty category, having helped designer labels craft best-selling products, like Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation and Diorshow Mascara. Last week, she was named the creative director of Louis Vuitton’s forthcoming makeup line. The launch of her own makeup line in 2015 was both long-awaited and perfectly timed. It was the golden hour for direct-to-consumer beauty businesses, just before the dawn of the celebrity and makeup artist boom. McGrath, the most famous artist of her kind, was ready to level up. She was a trailblazer in other ways. McGrath is a Black woman in a mostly white industry that, despite its liberal bona fides, has deeply entrenched power dynamics. McGrath propped open the door for brands like Rihanna’s Fenty, which arrived with its standard-setting 40 shade foundation range two years after Labs. McGrath also paved the way for makeup artist-led labels, like those from Gucci Westman, Patrick Ta and Mario Dedivanovic.In 2015, however, much of the initial excitement around Pat McGrath Labs was the promise of a direct pipeline between runway artistry and the mainstream cosmetics market. Her first product, Gold 001, was a gold pigment that when mixed with an included solution produced a foil-effect on the skin. Its initial run of 1,000 sold out in six minutes. Just months after McGrath created red glitter lips at Versace’s 2016 couture show, she released Lust 004, a kit to recreate the look.For all of her bombastic Instagram captions — which favour all-caps exclamations like MAJOR or DIVINE GODDESS — and general flair for runway dramatics, McGrath, the person, is famously reserved. She often declines interviews, and recently turned down an appearance in Vogue’s Hulu docuseries about the 1990s — an era whose look she helped define — according to a former employee. The artist has made more of an effort in the past year to meet her audience IRL, hosting live masterclasses and appearing at Allure’s Best of Beauty event.McGrath is famously reserved and press-shy, though she has made more of an effort to appear in public at events like Allure's Best of Beauty Live in 2024. (Getty Images) Backstage at her eponymous company, the exacting standards and mercurial tendencies that facilitated strokes of genius at fashion weeks made Pat McGrath Labs a difficult place to work, six former employees told The Business of Beauty. Several described waiting until hours after sunset for McGrath’s approvals, a gruelling routine which was a point of pride for the brand and its supporters. Alison Hahn, the Sephora merchandiser who helped launch Pat McGrath Labs into the retailer in 2017, once told Allure that the artist would start meetings at midnight.“Everything’s done at the last minute. That’s how she works,” Hahn told the magazine in 2021, adding “it’s worth it.” The long hours may have also been indicative of deeper problems in the company’s culture, and its executive leadership in particular. In interviews, former employees’ complaints tend to coalesce around a single figure: Andrew Weir, whose official title is senior vice president of marketing but who is better known as McGrath’s “chief of staff.” Weir, a former casting agent who worked out of the company’s New York headquarters, is often the go-between between employees, collaborators and McGrath. “He was aggressive, abusive, and inappropriate,” one longtime employee said. Anything that made Weir feel out of the loop — such as edits to an Instagram video he didn’t see, or an email he was left off of — could provoke his rage, which was sometimes unleashed on the brand’s predominantly young, female workplace, said six former employees. Several former employees said that in a number of instances, an incensed Weir got so close-up to employees as he vented his anger towards them that bystanders physically restrained him. Once, Weir shoved a female junior employee in the office, according to one former employee who said they witnessed the incident, and two who were told about it at the time by others who were there. Two employees said they made McGrath aware of Weir’s behaviour on separate occasions, and one said they filed a complaint with human resources at the founder’s recommendation. That employee said that when he later checked on the status of the complaint, HR had no record of it. A spokesperson for the brand said, “The company takes any allegation of aggression or misconduct in the workplace very seriously and will be investigating immediately.”Weir and Robert Barr, a West Coast-based copywriter and marketer who helped with editorial projects like naming, formed part of an advisory team around McGrath that, one former senior employee said, functioned as an echo chamber for the artist’s ideas. This delivered, in theory, a purer version of her vision — but also a culture that obstructed constructive conversations. Another longtime employee added that the arrangement helped create a stifling atmosphere of secrecy at the business. Employees were discouraged from sharing information about what they were working on, even with others at the company not in their immediate circle, four employees said. One employee recalled members of leadership assigning multiple teams of creatives, marketers or product developers to unknowingly “compete” on the same project.“We were pitted against each other,” the employee said. The brand declined to comment on “personnel matters.” Weir did not respond to multiple requests for comment made via the company, his email, LinkedIn and personal Instagram account. The Glow DownThe high-pressure working environments that powered a bygone fashion era have triggered intense burnout in this one. At Pat McGrath Labs, late nights and mad dashes contributed to quick employee turnover, which may help explain why the brand has never lived up to the expectations set by that $1 billion valuation. The brand became known for doing things at the last minute, sometimes relying on airlifting its Mothership palettes from China to be filled in Italy before arriving at stores at enormous cost. Glass 001’s rollout indicates the brand continues to struggle with its supply chain: According to Puck News, around 100 units were available for sale on launch day; after this run sold out, the mask was again made available on the brand’s website, and has had “subsequent sales of many thousands of units,” the company said.)The brand has seen a decline in its Sephora door count, and is only in around 200 Ulta stores nationwide. The brand says it is carried in 700 retail doors worldwide. (Getty Images) Using product launches to drive sales is a fragile strategy for any beauty business, but especially one prone to as much change as Pat McGrath Labs. This risk was amplified by the brand’s taste for Vogue-tier production in its marketing. Multiple employees brought up, by way of example, a Steven Meisel campaign that was planned in 2022 to promote the brand’s first skincare launch, the Divine Skin rose essence. McGrath had wanted to enter the category with a bang, biding her time until Estée Lauder released the patent on the formula she wanted and celebrating with a AAA-talent photo shoot. Starring Naomi Campbell, sources say the shoot cost over $1 million, but enjoyed limited returns. A 20-second ad spot on YouTube has just over 3,000 views.“Nobody saw it,” one employee said. (The brand said that Campbell “participated in multiple global press events, content shoots, broadcast appearances, including CNN and Access Hollywood, as well as live streams across social media.”)The essence, which retails for $86, is available at Bergdorf Goodman, Ulta Beauty and Revolve. According to the brand, it will launch at Sephora online this month and in stores in the second quarter. Sephora did not respond to requests for comment. Facing ForwardEven employees who said they felt sure in their decision to leave the company still felt uneasy about their departure, unable to neatly pack and stow a key item of baggage: their love for Mother. “Everyone who’s left has always been in awe of seeing Pat do her job,” one employee said. “They want her to be a success.”Many employees, even those who had negative experiences with the company, expressed sympathy for McGrath, who they see as an artist, not an operator. “She’s a creative,” said another employee. “What’s happened is the people who she had come on to help her create a business have failed her.” The respect and admiration that McGrath has cultivated over three decades in the fashion and beauty industries, as well as her famous work ethic, ensure her individual longevity — the proof is in her Louis Vuitton appointment. As for her namesake business, four former employees recommended that McGrath and her inner circle cede operational control to more capable businesspeople who can help her more effectively do what she does best; the art of makeup. Pat McGrath Labs is plugging ahead with its 2025 launch pipeline, following Glass Skin with a limited collection in partnership with the mobile game Candy Crush. In his farewell email, Hamdan, the outgoing senior executive, alluded to a recent course correction, writing that “it required many hard decisions to be taken promptly to set the fundamentals for a swift and sustainable turnaround,” before thanking McGrath “for her involvement and endorsement of all the actions that needed to be taken.”“As we all know,” he wrote, “nothing has happened since the inception of this brand nor happens now without her approval.” Sign up to The Business of Beauty newsletter, your complimentary, must-read source for the day’s most important beauty and wellness news and analysis. Source link

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norajworld · 2 months ago

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chilimili212 · 2 months ago

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bluepoodle7 · 5 months ago

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#Househuntedgame #ThisGrossAiArts #StuffIRandomlyFind

Randomly found this Maison Talo headshot art on google images and I'm not sure if it's actually drawn or Ai.

Might be Ai do to the eyes looking weird and I also found a almost full body.

I like actual art made by humans with heart and soul put into it and not machine made art the just steals from other people to make one artwork.

I wonder who generated these?

I sometimes check google images for Maison Talo to see if anyone was selling merch on Etsy and other websites or finding weird images/rare fanart.

I noticed this Ai Maison Talo doesn't have the blue and yellow house pin but when I tried to reverse image search this Ai art I did get Maison Talo's game image with some fanarts but not where the image came from.

Also this Ai Maison Talo's business cards give me Illbleed invitation card vibes since they are black and red.

Also seems like this Ai art program tried to copy Maison Talo's brown watch.

I noticed this Ai art might have tried to copy Mortisfox's Maison Talo's beta artwork without his house pin since the background looks similar but is a little off like the Ai art's drawing the ears weird.

https://x.com/mortisfox/status/1523226853980270592

Found these here.

Chat with Maison talo - Enjoy Free AI Character Voice Chat | Talkie AI

Perfil de Talkie Maison talo | Talkie AI

Off topic but If my art was good enough to redraw this Maison Talo Ai art like my Illbleed level au idea I had for the REALTORs.

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This Ai Maison Talo seems like if the Illbleed creator Shinya Nishigaki made a Illbleed level then have a twist when you find a newspaper clipping of the killer that looks like the home owner without a house pin you are escorting out from the level which is the house to prevent the robber enemies from kidnapping him to later killing him in his own house then have a cutscene play where he puts on the house pin and your character gets shocked like in level 2.

Like this.

18:47-19:27

Michael Reynolds Presents: Illbleed The Movie (Every Possible Cutscene) - YouTube

My Househuntedgame Illbleed Au idea.

#If A Realtor Was A Illbleed Boss And How To Defeat Them – @bluepoodle7 on Tumblr

Found another Ai Maison Talo art on google images.

I tried to reverse image search and only got the Ai roleplay page where I found this image.

But google did find a fanart that was similar looking.

https://ru.pinterest.com/pin/1004162048162709954/

https://www.talkie-ai.com/chat/maison-talo-%E2%9C%A3-72088220729585

I did try to free Ai roleplay with this Maison Talo and this bot was pretty nice and was kind of in character from Zable Fable randomly realm jumping inside of his house body.

This bot interested me and was way better than the last Ai Maison Talo I chatted with a long time ago.

(The reply I would have gave if didn't have to login.)

Zable Fable: Well that's good and I love the outfit you are wearing. How are you doing today Mr. Maison Talo? *walks in place at 8029 then holds the microphone and Janet clings onto Zable's back while holding the cellphone to record *

Janet: You have a nice place sir. * she sees the pretty lamp in Maison Talo's house then randomly translates Maison Talo's name to shiver at the name while tilting her head back to Zable and holds cellphone while recording the interview *

I wanted to record this Ai voice from this Ai Maison Talo from this roleplay site when reacting to my oc Zable Fable randomly realm jumping inside of his house body.

I still like roleplaying with real people more than Ai.

#Househuntedgame #This Gross Ai Arts #Stuff I Randomly Find

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