#free noho events

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Bad King Richard got rich by exploiting workers at King’s Faire

Next Tuesday (Oct 31) at 10hPT, the Internet Archive is livestreaming my presentation on my recent book, The Internet Con.

King Richard's Faire is the largest renfaire in New England, and its owner, Dick Shapiro, extracts a reported $400k/day – a sum that is only possible thanks to systematic and likely illegal worker misclassification, which lets him pay performers sub-minimum wages and deny them benefits:

https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/172267v/kings_faire_inc_aim%C3%A9e_bonnie_shapiro_nets_over/

Many of the performers at KRF are absolutely unpaid – these are the "villagers" – who mill about looking picturesque in exchange for free admission. They even have to buy their own turkey legs.

When the faire is rained out, all workers – "volunteers" and paid workers – are sent home without any compensation. Attendees are also sent home with rain-checks, many of which go unused (there's no refunds in the land of King Richard).

Staff work from 8am to 730pm and are paid a day-rate that works out to $6/hour. After heavy weather events, staff are ordered to show up early to do cleanup, but are not paid for their time. Staff don't get health benefits – instead, local community groups like the Elks put on fundraisers to cover the health-care costs of the performers.

Now, King Richard's worker mistreatment is not an outlier in the medieval reenactment industry. Think of how the knights at Medieval Times – who put on nightly, potentially lethal performances to generate profit for their employer – unionized in the face of exploitative labor relations. To add insult to injury, Medieval Times sued the union, arguing that its name – "Medieval Times Performers United" – was a trademark infringement:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/medieval-times-sues-union-trademark_n_63485fa5e4b0b7f89f54546b

This trademark wheeze is the latest desperate tactic to be deployed by the ruling class in the face of a surging labor movement with broad public support. Starbucks – one of the world's most notorious unionbusters – is doing the same thing to its union, Starbucks Workers United:

https://seattle.eater.com/23923490/starbucks-workers-united-union-lawsuits-copyright-trademark-israel-hamas-palestine-social-media

These moves are wildly out of step with the current of public opinion, which has swung hard for union rights in a manner not seen in generations. The outpourings of public support for striking entertainment industry workers were handwaved away as exceptions driven by the public's love of actors and writers. But that doesn't explain the strong, ongoing support for the UAW in their strike against all of the Big Three automakers:

https://pro.morningconsult.com/instant-intel/uaw-strike-public-opinion-october-2023

Bosses have always tried to smash worker power by dividing workers – by race, gender, or "skill" – but workers are workers and solidarity is the source of worker power. That's why the whole labor movement backed Equity Stripper NoHo, the first strippers' union in a generation:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/14/prop-22-never-again/#norms-code-laws-markets

Creative workers are part of a class of workers who suffer from "vocational awe," the sense that because your job is satisfying and/or worthy, you don't deserve to get paid for it:

https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/

(Think of joke about the father who finds his runaway son at the circus shoveling elephant shit: "Son, come home!" "What, and quit show-business?")

Creative workers have long been encouraged to see themselves as "independent businesspeople" – LLCs with MFAs – and this mind-zap is augmented with our bosses' repeated insistence that the unions are for big burly blue-collar workers, not ethereal dreamers and pencil-pushers. Our bosses tell this story because it discourages us from forming unions and demanding fair pay and good working conditions (obviously).

Think of J Edward Keyes, the cartoon villain who serves as editorial director of Bandcamp. When the workers Keyes managed formed the Bandcamp United union, Keyes called them "white-collar tech workers…appropriating the language of the legitimately oppressed," adding "Fuuuuuck Bandcamp United":

https://www.404media.co/bandcamp-editorial-director-fuuuuuck-bandcamp-united/

Keyes's contempt notwithstanding, it's clear why Bandcamp workers need a union – after the company was flipped twice in rapid succession, its new owners, Epic Games and Songtradr, fired all its unionized workers. Keyes responded to coverage of this mass firing by calling the Pitchfork reporters who wrote about it "absloute amateur journalists."

The attempt to divide-and-rule "knowledge workers" from "industrial workers" is a transparent bid to shatter solidarity and make it easier to abuse and exploit all workers. Thankfully, workers are wise to that gambit, and understand that when all kinds of workers struggle together, they win.

Take the UAW strikes: for many years, the UAW was an objectively bad union, ruled over by a dirty-tricking clique who sold out the membership. It's normal to blame workers for bad leaders, but the UAW old guard had rigged union elections, making sure that they would stay in charge. It's not workers that like corrupt unions – it's bosses.

Before the UAW could fight back against their bosses, they had to fight back their bosses' minions in the upper ranks of their own union. That's where the the Harvard Grad Students' Union comes in. After years of worsening exploitation and working conditions, the Harvard Grad Students organized under the UAW, then joined forces with reformers in the union to oust the corrupt leadership.

During the leadership struggle, Harvard Grad Students helped their comrades from the auto-sector master the union's baroque constitution, so when the old guard tried to prevent motions from reaching the floor, the grad students were able to cite chapter and verse back at them. In the end, grad students and auto-workers together won the victory that paved the way for the strikes:

https://theintercept.com/2023/04/07/deconstructed-union-dhl-teamsters-uaw/

A strong, unified labor movement is necessary if America is to save itself from inequality, racism, the climate emergency – the whole polycrisis. The idea that creative workers aren't workers is bullshit – and so is the lie that all workers are uncreative. The "Worker As Futurist" project recruits Amazon drivers and warehouse writers to write science fiction about a future without Amazon:

https://jacobin.com/2023/09/amazon-workers-sci-fi-writing-bezos-imagination-speculative-future

They call this a "belief that rank-and-file workers, whose bodies and minds are exploited by capital, might have access to some knowledge about capitalism that is beyond even the most brilliant theorist or analyst of capitalism."

All workers can and should tell their own story. Doing so isn't just a way to change the narrative – it's also a way to change policy. The new merger guidelines from the FTC and DOJ Antitrust Division explicitly incorporate labor-market effects into antitrust policy. As Brian Callaci and Sandeep Vaheesan write for The Sling, the testimony of workers and unions can help produce the evidentiary basis for blocking the mergers that lead to monopolies:

https://www.thesling.org/workers-are-an-untapped-resource-for-antitrust-enforcers/

The rising labor movement is a force for profound change in every part of our economy and politics. Workers can be our knights in shining armor.

https://www.thesling.org/workers-are-an-untapped-resource-for-antitrust-enforcers/

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/25/huzzah/#bad-king-richard

[avelera]

The Narrative Morality of HBO's "Barry" Series Finale

OK, so post HBO Barry series finale, I'm trying to figure out what I call the "narrative morality" of the story. IE, what morality is rewarded, what gets punished, and whether or not there's a common thread at all, because a story where no consistent morality is rewarded or punished is also a statement.

So let's dive in with a few of my takeaways on what Barry is trying to "say", at least within season 4 and its finale. Cut for spoilers.

Possibility 1: "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

This to me is not the most convincing argument, but it is the quickest to articulate. There is no narrative morality. The fact is that Bill Hader is making a statement about the inherent senselessness of life. Fuches didn't deserve to get away. Coiseneau didn't deserve to go to jail for Barry's crimes. People deserved a happy ending who didn't get one, despite doing everything right, and people who deserved to die didn't and indeed, have every indication of going on to live fulfilling lives.

On a wider level, it's an indictment of Hollywood and films (in my opinion) like American Sniper that glorify violence and turn villains into martyrs. By expecting a moral to this Hollywood story, you are played for a fool. It means nothing. It all means nothing. Objectively, many people are dead who didn't deserve it or take any actions to cause it. To seek meaning in the violence is a fool's game.

Possibility 2: "To Thine Own Self Be True"

The only way to gain redemption in "Barry" is to operate with integrity. By coming clean to her son about what she did and who she really is, Sally secures for herself a marginally happy ending as a theater teacher with a son who loves her and the adoration of her students.

By realizing that he has always been, deep down, a heartless piece of shit and a criminal, Fuches self-actualizes, becomes who he has always been deep down, redeems himself by rescuing Barry's son (who he put in danger in the first place) and walks off into the night, presumably satisfied with his choices.

By resolving in his final moments to come clean about Janet's murder, Barry didn't fully secure redemption but he did get all he prayed for: to be seated at the right hand of his father figure in death, to be seen as a hero by his son, and to be lionized after his death.

By failing to admit to himself that he was the cause of Cristobal's death, NoHo failed to achieve redemption. Instead, he receives the fool's gold of dying in his lover's arm, a statue of his lover literally made of fool's gold. He told Sally there was nothing he could do to help her, he failed to take responsibility in that moment, because he did have the power to act with integrity, just like he did in the events leading up to Cristobal's death, and he failed to do so. His reasons were understandable but ultimately, he wore a mask, and those who wear masks are punished by this narrative.

Coiseneau is the fakest of them all. On numerous occasions he's given chances to come clean, to act with integrity, to care about what actually matters in life like Janice and his son. He is over and over again tempted away from acting with integrity by instead pursuing fame and the appearance of success. He is no inherently a bad person, but he is over and over again show to be far too seduced by the temptations of Hollywood fame and his own legend to ever truly break free and act with integrity.

Janice's father also fumbles with integrity at the end, choosing the easy explanation of Coiseneau being his daughter's murderer, rather than pursuing the truth. As a result, his daughter's true murderer is lionized by the media and her lover is wrongfully convicted of her death.

In essence, when people act with falsehood and give in to convenient narratives about themselves, instead of pursuing integrity and truth, regardless of the morality of that inner truth (being a criminal is still Fuches being true to himself) the narrative punishes them. When people are true to themselves and act with integrity, even if its only to admit their own monstrousness, the narrative rewards them.

As a story told by Bill Hader, who is embedded in the shallowness of Hollywood with its shifting alliances, massive egos, frailties and foibles, "Barry" as a story about fake people constantly failing to improve themselves, act with integrity, or even acknowledge who they really are, but choosing to live instead in the fairytale palaces of their false images of themselves, fits thematically with much of what we see on screen. It doesn't preclude other themes and morals, but to me at least, there's a running theme of integrity vs. falsehood in terms of who is rewarded by the narrative and who is punished.

Possibility 3: Every Act of Violence Removes More Of Our Choices

Violence is condemned by the narrative of "Barry" but in a very interesting way. One act of violence never cements a person's unhappy ending, but it removes choices available to them. Each lost life is one more path that has been cut off from the world, and the characters who commit violence, who commit murder, see their own lives and available choices pruned away as well with each murder committed.

The narrative is actually rather optimistic towards Barry when he first signs up for the acting class. There is a sense that this is his highest point, his earnest decision to try to escape the violence. However, his past haunts him. It cuts away options he might have had in his own happiness. When he chooses to return to that world out of self-interest, the narrative once again condemns him. Each murder, each coverup with another murder, spirals. Each death cuts away another path Barry might have taken in his life. He can no longer visit friends without guilt. He can no longer have people in his life, or be an actor the way he wanted to, or enjoy the acclaim he hoped to achieve, or live openly with his family eventually, in a place of his choosing, because of his acts of violence.

Sally commits only one major act of violence, but that too has a sense of placing a ceiling upon all she might have achieved in life. She can no longer act freely without guilt. She can no longer aspire to heights that would draw attention to her that might uncover the murder. She can no longer be all she might have been, because she is responsible for a man's death.

Coiseneau is punished by the narrative for the violence he partakes in. He is punished when he chooses to act with violence and shoot "Barry", who turns out to be his own son. He is punished when he does not act to bring Janice's actual killer to justice. He is punished when he doesn't wait a few more moments for Barry to turn himself in for Janice's murder, instead taking Barry's death into his own hands and damning his own memory as a result. All his choices are taken away by this moment of violence.

Fuches might have finally blossomed into the criminal he has always been, deep down, but his options are still limited. He is a figure of shadows now, incapable of coming out into the light. He can't share Barry's life with him, or be in John's life, or walk openly outside the criminal element. He has found himself in the darkness, but each act of violence has reduced all his other options to nothing, he cannot have anything but the life of a petty criminal.

The organized crime characters all have their choices limited by the violence they've committed, over and over. They don't get out. They suffer brief, brutal lives, often dying as a result of their own machinations. Cristobal tries desperately to go legitimate, but can't escape his past. NoHo wants desperately to live in a world where he can be safe, have Cristobal, be happy, and be fulfilled, but the violence he's partaken in precludes this, it closes so many of these doors to him. With Cristobal's death, he loses even more.

Each act of violence diminishes us. It diminishes the world. It reduces the choices available to us and to the world, because those two are inextricable. Violence is not only never the answer, it steals from the life and options of those who commit it.

[lilianlay]

Liars get tickled

This fic was inspired by the new event and card game Sacred call of the seven. And I was attracted by the dialogue between Diluc and Diona, and I immediately wanted to write the consequences of that. And I really love these two ^^

Summary: Kaeya is lying, which means he broke the main rule

Warning: This is a tickle fic. If you don't like this, don't read it^^

Diluc and Kaeya

- I knew I would find you here. - Diluc crossed his arms when he saw his brother.

- Hehe, of course, this is my office. - Kaeya smiled contentedly and approached to user of pyro element. - And what brings you here, Master Diluc?

- Today I was in the Cat's tail tavern and met a traveler there.

- Oh, Aether is in Mondstadt, I definitely need to say hello to him.

- I haven't finished yet. - Diluc huffed.

The sword user covered his mouth with his hand, but his smirk could be heard.

- Like I said, I met a traveler who was learning to play Sacred call of the seven.

- Really? I must certainly arrange a duel with him and see what he can do. - the blue-haired chuckled, but then again covered his mouth with his hand, as he caught a displeased look on himself. - Okay, okay, I shut up.

- And while Diona taught him, I noticed a card with my image. Do you want to explain anything?

- How do I know where she got this card.

- Really?

- Of course. Are you suspecting me? Oh, brother, I'm offended to the core. - the user of the cryo element dramatically put his hand on his forehead.

Diluc raised an eyebrow and sighed.

- It could be anyone, why did you immediately think of me? I don't even go to that tavern.

- Because.. - the red-haired fell silent, he decided to bring his brother to clean water. - So it wasn't you?

- Not me.

- Hmm. - the two-handed sword user pretended to think.

He began to move closer to Kaeya, who in turn began to back away until he crashed into his desk.

- Why are you stepping back? You aren't to blame for anything.

- Oh, I recognize that look, even after so many years.

- What look? - the redhead chuckled.

- Ummm.. I have business, maybe we can continue later? - the man with the eyepatch tried not to show his nervousness.

- You have got things to do for the first time? It seems to me somehow begins to lie very strongly. - the user of the pyro element moved forward.

Everything happened very quickly. The red-eyed quickly grabbed his brother's wrists and pulled them back.

- Um, Diluc? Of course I miss you, but everything happens too fast. Maybe you'll invite me to the Tavern first, give me some free wine, and then we'll continue. - he said it with a smile.

- Dreaming is not bad. - the two-handed sword user dug into the side of the cavalry captain without warning, causing him to squeak.

- Luhahahac! Nohohohohot thehehere - Kaeya shook squirm and giggle.

- You seem to have forgotten the most important rule. - the red-haired spoke in a calm voice.

- Whahahat's the rulhehehe? - the user of cryo element squealed as his brother squeezed his side.

- Liars get tickled~

- I'm nohohohohot a lihihihiar!

- Hmm, really? - Diluc took off his glove with his teeth and made his way under the blue-haired's shirt.

- Oh no no nohohooo, Luc noho neehed

- No need what? - he put his hand on his brother's bare side and tapped him lightly.

- Eeeek no need to thihihickle - Kaeya bit his lip.

- This is actually for prevention, so that you remember the rule..

- I'm already!

- And at the same time, so that you finally remember that interrupting the interlocutor is very bad. - the fingers began to tickle the side of the user of the cryo element very quickly.

Kaeya kept his mouth shut with the last of his strength, and only soft giggles and snorts could be heard.

- Do you want to say anything? - the cavalry captain shook his head in response.

Diluc shrugged his shoulders and his hand reached his brother's back and he began to tickle the soft skin with his nails.

- NohohOHOO nohohot theHEHEre NOHOHOT THEHERE - Kaeya began to laugh out loud and quickly shake his head.

- You know that only the truth will save you.

- I tohohohohold the truhahahahahahath - he snorted.

- You so stubborn. - Diluc rolled his eyes and began a very gentle tickle on his back that always drove Kaeya crazy.

- LuHAHAHAHAHAC - the blue-haired began to squirm very strongly. - PleHEHEHEHAHAHase, NOHOOHOHOT THAHAHAHAHAT! ANYTHIHIHIHIHING BUHAHAHAT THAHAHAHAT - he threw back his head and laughed out loud.

- I know you very well, you can't stand it for so long. - red-eyed smiled, but so that his brother didn't notice.

The sword user's legs began to give way, but Diluc held him very tightly so that he would not fall. He drew scribbles, sometimes touching his sides to hear the squeal.

- Okahahahahahay okahAHAHAHAY, LUHAHAC PLEHEHEAHAHASE

- I'm listening to you - the tickling became even more tender and that's what Kaeya couldn't stand it.

- I lihihihIHed

- I understood it, what exactly?

- It wahahahahas me whohohoho leheheheft the cahahard in the tavehehern

- Why? And where did you get this card?

- I thohohohought it wahahas funny and cuhahate. I dihihihid it mysehehelf, oh plehehehease I cahahan't taHAHAke it anymoHOHOHOre

- You did it yourself? - Diluc stopped, and the blue-haired sunuggled closer to him.

- M-mysehelf. Only no mohohore questions, I drihihied up - he was still giggling.

- Hmm. Then I'll ask later~

- Nooo - Kaeya hid his face in his brother's shoulder and giggled even more.

Diluc chuckled very quietly, but the sword user could feel it. When they both calmed down, the cavalry captain sat down at his desk.

- So, you found out the truth and punished me at the same time, I hope you're happy.

- In general, my first purpose of the visit was to punish you right away, since I knew from the beginning that it was you who left this card, but I decided to play by your rules. - Diluc chuckled slyly.

- Wait, did you really know everything right away?! But how? Did Diona spill the beans? - Kaeya became again.

- It doesn't matter.

- But Luc, you know that hiding information from your brother is very bad. It's like lying, and you know what liars get~ he started wiggling his fingers.

- Don't come to me. - Diluc began to move back.

- Why are you stepping back? Hehe, it's too late to run somewhere~

[things-to-do-los-angele-ca]

Tuscany Apartments in Los Angeles, CA

The Tuscany Apartments realty has amazing apartments near USC for students. No wonder they have loyal residents when it comes to deluxe apartments. For students who want to enjoy a safe, accessible, and posh living space, it’s one of the best selections. In addition, their apartment features include lease by-the-bedroom, fully furnished, full-sized kitchen with complete energy-efficient stainless steel appliance package including like refrigerator, range, microwave, and dishwasher, 9 ft. ceilings and vaulted in select units, vertical blinds, hardwood flooring, central air/heating, extra storage, mirrored closet doors, double sinks in bathrooms, large private balconies and patios, spacious walk-in closets, and spectacular views in select units.

Los Angeles, CA

We think that preparing to travel for vacation is easier nowadays. In searching for pre-scheduled events in Los Angeles, CA, it is necessary to check out online posts. If you visit Eventbrite, they have amazing activities in the future. First, there will be a free event named BLAQJOKES: An all-black comedy shows this coming Saturday, July 29, 2023, at around 9:00 PM at BlaqHaus NoHo. Second, the Dedicated to You: A Tribute to Art Laboe is scheduled on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at around 6:00 PM at Grand Performances. Lastly, the 23rd Annual TASTE OF ECUADOR Food Festival & Parade will take place this coming Sunday, August 6, 2023, at around 10:00 AM at Placita Olvera.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles, CA

If you like sightseeing and learning new things, you can visit Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles, CA. Just like other visitors there, you can enjoy exploring the museum with family and friends. In addition, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is the largest natural and historical museum in the western United States. Apart from that, its collections include closely 35 million specimens and artifacts and cover 4.5 billion years of history. Lastly, the large collection is comprised not only of specimens for exhibition, but also of vast research collections housed on and offsite.

Summer mobile dental clinic in South LA provides free care for low-income children, young adults

We know that there are many refreshing news reports in Los Angeles, CA area. In a recent news article, the topic was about free dental care for low-income children. Reportedly, a mobile dental clinic in South Los Angeles is offering free treatment to low-income children and young adults this summer. Well, the clinic is hosted by QueensCare and is located at the Dr. Julian Nava Learning Academy. Aside from that, low-income children and young adults up to 26 years old are welcome to receive free dental exams, X-rays, cleanings and fillings. Lastly, dental care is provided by professionals from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC.

Link to maps

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007, United States Head west toward Bill Robertson Ln Restricted usage road 23 ft Turn right onto Bill Robertson Ln 276 ft Turn right onto Exposition Blvd 0.4 mi Continue onto W 37th St 456 ft Turn right onto Flower St 315 ft Turn right onto W 37th Pl Destination will be on the left 240 ft Tuscany Apartments 3770 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007, United States

[hollywoodumc-harmonytolucalake]

TONIGHT - We are hosting a FREE community holiday concert at Harmony. Let's all get in the holiday spirit with some great classic songs performed by Gattison and the band, PLUS several special guests. 🎄🎁. (this event will not be live-streamed, so please join us in person). . . . #Holidays #HolidaySeason #Christmas #ChristmasSeason #Advent #FreeHolidayConcert #HolidayConcert #HollywoodUMC #Community #HUMC #HarmonyTL #TolucaLake #NoHo #StudioCity #Burbank #Inclusivechurch #affirmingchurch #churchfamily #AllAreWelcome (at Harmony Toluca Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmMbkrHOoth/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nohoartsdistrict]

FREE Concerts at North Hollywood Park via www.nohoartsdistrict.com Queen Nation – A Tribute to the Music of Queen and Marina V

[ticklish-n-stuff]

Study date

Oof I haven’t written for AkiToya in over a month. What can I say, the redheads in enstars are much nicer than stupid Akito lol (I still have ptsd from the sunflower gacha lmao). Anyways there’s an upcoming Toya event so I thought why not write for them :3

___________________________________________

Akito x Toya (romantic fufufu :3)

Lee: Toya

Ler: Akito

Warnings: Tickles!

___________________________________________

It was a calm and peaceful day, Toya had his house all to himself and decided to invite Akito over for what was supposed to be a study date. Of course Toya took his studies seriously and was going over his notes at his desk, while Akito was doing literally anything else that wasn’t school related. One moment he would be playing on his phone, then he’d rearrange Toya’s closet and tidy up his bed. If it meant not having to do school work, Akito would do anything. Toya would’ve scolded him, but who was he to deny free room service?

After a while, Akito started running dry on what things he could do. He glanced over at his boyfriend who was reading from some textbook. How does he not get bored from studying so much? He could definitely use a break, and that’s when Akito’s brain came up with it’s best idea yet. The redhead snuck up behind his partner, yup, he was very focused on his work, not for long though. He then proceeded to softly poke Toya’s sides simultaneously.

“Ah-!” the bicolored haired male let out a soft gasp at the tickly contact. Out of instinct, he brought his elbows down his sides, a wobbly smile threatening to form across his lips. He looked behind only to find Akito’s mischevious face looking down at him. “What was that for…?” softly whined out the ticklish male.

“You’ve been studying all day. Come take a break?” Akito mustered up the best puppy eyes and soft pout that he could. How could Toya say no to that?

He let out a soft sigh and replied “Fine, but only for a little while”.

“Good enough for me~” without wasting anymore time, Akito dragged his partner onto his bed, playfully throwing him into it and taking a seat across his hips.

“W-whahat are you dohoing?” Toya couldn’t help but let out some soft giggles from the silly situation he found himself in.

“I think it’s pretty obvious, gigglebug~” the redhead teased as he wiggled his fingers towards his partner, causing him to let out a soft squeak at the sight. Toya instantly burried his face behind his hands, already feeling his giggles bubbling up in his chest. “Already hiding? I haven’t even started yet~” Akito chuckled as he descended his wiggly fingers unto Toya’s sides.

“EHEEP! Ehehehehehe‼” Toya let out a high pitched squeal from how giddy he was feeling. His arms crashing down as a sad attempt to protect the tickle spot, leaving his reddened cheeks and dorky smile for the world to see.

Akito couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his giggly boyfriend, but that didn’t stop him from being a tease. “Have you gotten more ticklish~?” he playfully asked as he gently scratched at the center of Toya’s tummy.

“Ack-! Pfft- Ahahahaha! N-noho I hahahaven’t!” he shook his head through his hysterics, wrapping his arms around his torso as he softly kicked his legs out. The redhead giggled at his cute attempt of replying to his question, Toya was too pure for this world.

“You suuuure~? You seem gigglier than usual~” Akito gave him a squeeze on his hips, causing Toya to almost jump out of his bed.

“GAH-!” out of reflex, he got ahold of Akito’s hands, interlocking their fingers together. Not wanting to kill him, Akito let him have a small break. Watching as he sucked in as much air as he could, his smile still shining in all it’s glory. Once Toya had calmed down, Akito came up with yet another mischevious idea.

“Oi, what’s that?” he randomly pointed at one side of the room, Toya following his finger to see what he was pointing at. Not realizing that he had fallen for another of Akito’s tricks. With the side of his neck all exposed, the redhead went to town, planting soft, tickly kisses all across the ticklish skin.

“GyAh-! Y-you jeheHErk‼” Toya screeched as he dissolved once more into his bubbly laughter. Trying his best to scrunch up his shoulders, but with Akito’s head in the way he was doomed. He did the next best thing he could come up with and gently held onto his partner’s shoulders for support (he was THAT ticklish lol). What Toya didn’t realize was that he left one of his worst spots exposed, and Akito being the teasy bastard that he is took advantage of it. The redhead shoved his hands onto Toya’s armpits, softly wiggling his fingers against the ticklish skin. “wahaHAIT! AKITO NOHOAHAHAHA!” Toya screamed in laughter as he clamped his arms down as tight as he could. He squeezed his eyes shut and threw his head back from how bad it all tickled, which only left his neck even more exposed. Akito softly kissed along his jawline as he kept tormenting the sensitive hollows, enjoying all the shrieks and squeals that came out of his boyfriend.

After a while longer of kissing and tickling, Akito lifted his head up to look at his hysterical boyfriend. His face was fully red from the tip of his ears all the way down to his neck, tears pricked the corners of his crinkled eyes, and who could forget that beautiful smile and angelic laugh? Akito was smitten with his adorable expresion, how did he get so lucky? He slowed down his tickly fingers until he was just gently tracing along Toya’s tickle spots. Lightly dragging his fingertips from his ribs, down his sides, along his tummy and around his bellybutton. Enjoying the shivers and soft, hiccupy giggles that came out of Toya throughout the process. “Had enough yet?” the redhead smiled down at his partner fondly, watching as he gently nodded his head, too busy giggling to give him a propper answer. Without another word, Akito fully stopped the tickling, getting off of his boyfriend and opting to cuddle his tickled out partner. Toya burried his flushed face against Akito’s chest, letting out a sigh of satisfaction as the other rubbed his back soothingly. They stayed like that for the rest of the day in each others embrace, the schoolwork long forgotten.

___________________________________________

Wahh I missed writing for these two this was so much fun!

Lee Toya is just so KDJSLKSDJJAHDH

[durnesque-esque]

Nerdy Performers & Creatives Wanted!

Pick Your Poison Productions is accepting local (LA / Burbank / NoHo, California) performer submissions for two upcoming projects with the potential for regular and repeating performances / events. Rehearsal and performance dates are variable - weekday evening availability preferred. Performances will be performed live in the North Hollywood area & streamed online.

LIVE Pub Sing!

Performer Requirements:

Open casting - all genders, any race or ethnicity

Age 21+ (target audience is 21-45, looking for performers in that range).

Singers of any vocal range - ability to harmonize confidently is a must

Instrumentalists very welcome! Particularly in need of guitar or fiddle - all and any other folk instrument also a plus

Comfortable with acapella singing

Humor will be BAWDY aka mature / blue. Performers must be comfortable with innuendo and the like.

Sober performers welcome, but must be comfortable with drinking songs, drinking games, and being in an environment where alcohol is being served.

We may also consider working in variety acts as able. If you have a variety act that might be of interest and able to be performed in a relatively small space (typical bar setting), please feel free to submit your information.

LIVE RPG One Shot - Medieval Times Style!

Performer Requirements:

Open casting - all genders, any race or ethnicity

Age 21+ (target audience is 21-45, looking for performers in that range).

Intermediate to advance experience with tabletop RPG games / DnD

Comedic, character performers with improv experience and ability

Sober performers welcome, but must be comfortable being in an environment where alcohol is being served.

Please note: both of these performance opportunities will be PAID, though pay will be variable.

Please send inquiries to PickYourPoisonProds@gmail.com for more information and full submission requirements.

[azuregiggles]

i love these prompt things haha

could you possibly do 15 with ler!sap, lee!dream ?

I’m not sure which list you wanted 15 from so I’ll try both lol

15. “You lose, I tickle you. Deal?”

15. Person A doesn’t like their smile, so they always cover it when they laugh, much to person B’s disappointment. In retaliation, Person B starts lightly tickling Person A, who covers their smile, but it means they can’t use their hands to stop Person B’s tickles. As they slowly get worse and worse Person A eventually breaks.

@fluffallamaful I hope you like it :)

Masked Smiles [Ler!Sap Lee!Dream]

Author’s Note: I’ve never written a full on Fic before so forgive me on this first attempt. Sorry if the intro takes too long. This is a platonic relationship.

Summary: Dream hides his smile and Sap has had enough.

It had been nearly a year since Sap had moved in with his masked friend. In that time Dream had slowly become comfortable enough to keep his mask off everyday. It had taken a while and Sap was grateful to have finally made it as far as they had. Once Dream had opened up to him their friendship took off rather fast. These days they could joke and laugh about almost anything, much like they were now.

Together in Dreams streaming studio they were placing bets with the chat as to whether Dream could beat Saps record on some parkour course they had come across. So far Dream had come really close, and chat was on his side.

“Ooh maybe if you weren’t trash at Minecraft you’d be able to keep your spot on the leaderboard Sap” Dream read the dono and laughed, hand over his mouth to cover his arrogant grin. Sap rolled his eyes, he didn’t care about the dono, he just wished Dream would smile freely rather than cover it up all the time.

“Why do you always cover your smile? You don’t even have a face cam no one can see you...” Sap asked the green hooded man.

A faint blush adorned Dream’s features “I don’t like my smile, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Once again Sap found himself rolling his eyes, he’d see him smile eventually, he’d find a way.

The stream continued another hour and Dream still hadn’t overcome Sap on the Leaderboard. Chat was getting bored and Dream wanted to move on to the next event.

“One last try chat, one more. Last prediction, Will I beat Sap? Place your bets.”

“What if we had a bet of our own?” Sap said in a mischievous tone.

Dream, who was always up for more ways to pick on his roommate didn’t hesitate “What kind of bet?”

“You lose, I tickle you. Deal?”

Dream flushed a lovely red, very grateful for push to talk “WHAT!? Why the heck would you ask for that!? What kind of a bet is that?”

“Oh wow is THE Dream, GOD of Minecraft, scared of a little bet? Worried you’ll lose?”

“Oh my gohod you’re so dramatic. No, I’m not scared of your stupid bet. WHEN I win I’m making you walk to the store in a dress and makeup.” Dream covered his giggles “No, no. If I win, you post pictures after I do your makeup.”

“Alright, deal?” Sap extended his hand. Surprised that his friend would agree so easily, Dream hesitated. “Well, you scared.”

Rolling his eyes, Dream shook his hand and the bet was made. “Alright chat, Sap and I placed a bet on this last run. WHEN I win you all get to see how pretty he is in makeup” his usual maniac laughter followed as chat exploded with encouragement and questions. “Last run here we go”

After a few minutes of dodging pistons, riding mine carts, and jumping from ladder to ladder, it was time. Dream was at the final stretch. Only six blocks stood between him and victory. He jumped from the fence to the ladder, mentally counting down. Five more. Off the ladder and onto the slime block, up to the end rod. Four, three. A sprint jump to another fence. Two. Across to the final ladder, up and to the runway where he’d need a perfect sprint jump to cross the six block gap. One left. He ran, jumping in time to build momentum. Reaching the end of the platform he jumped, and missed the ladder by what felt like only a pixel.

“WHAATT! What the heck was that!? I HAD THAT!” Dream smacked his headphones down as chat filled with Omegalul, Fs, and Notlikethis. He had lost. “That shouldn’t count. Chat I think I deserve another run.”

“No, you don’t! You lost Dream!” Sap laughed before getting close to his ear “You know what that means now right?” He placed his hands at the other’s sides, earning a squeak.

“NO! You have to let me end stream” nervous, muffled, giggles flooded the air “we are NOT doing this while I’m live!” Sap withdrew his hands and told him to make it quick. Dream only managed to stall for a couple of minutes by reading donos before Sap wiggled his fingers in the air. The message was clear, he could end now or suffer through whatever had Sap possessed. With a last goodbye to chat, he ended the stream and shut off the PC. “So, uh...”

Sap scooped his friend out of the chair, not waiting to hear whatever excuses he’d planned to get out of this. Dream struggled over his shoulder, gently punching him until Sap squeezed his side, causing his hands to shoot up and cover his mouth. Once in the living room Sap tossed Dream onto a large bean bag, after all bean bags are shifty and much harder to escape from. Straddling the green one’s waist with a smirk Sap smirked down “Alright if you feel like you’re about to die the safe word is Smile.”

“Sahafe word?” he couldn’t hold back his covered giggles “What is thihihis, Fifty Shades of- SHIHIT!” He was promptly cut off by the fingers digging into his ribs. “NOHOHO StahaHART sohomWHEHEre EHEHLSE” Dream pleaded with his roommate, there was no way he’d be able to hide his face for long if this continued. Rolling his eyes with a huff, Sap switched to kneading his sides. Dreams sporadic laughing slowed to high pitched giggles. “Okahay yohou tickled me pleheheHEASE Sahahap”

“Please what? It hasn’t even been two minutes you big baby” Sap drilled his thumbs into the lowest rib on each side. Dream let out a tea kettle wheeze and his hands shot down to push at the offending digits before snapping back up to cover his mirthful grin once more. But, it was too late, Sap had seen his smile and he wanted to again. “Move your hands!”

“HEHELL NOHO”

“I already saw it so you might as well give it up Dreamy~” he cooed. A brilliant, deep red washed over the laughing boys face, barely visible through his fingers. Both hands managed to sneak under Dream’s shirt and start to skitter up and down his belly “Awww you’re so red~ I thought your favorite color was green”

New peals of high pitched, desperate laughter filled the air “FHUHUHUK YOHOHOU! J-Juhuhust SHAHADDUP Ahahalready!”

Sap clicked his tongue, shaking his head “You haven’t even tried to stop me yet, you didn’t try to run. It’s almost like you missed that jump on purpose Dream. Did you secretly want this~?” A series of sputtered, incoherent words were all the answer he needed. “No way?! Does the little speed runner like having his tummy tickled?” Sap slowed to gentle pokes so he could receive an answer.

Both arms rose to cover his deep red face “Gohohod yohou’re SO ANNOYING, shuhut uhuhup. I’m gonna kihihihill you”

“Uh-huh, whatever you say giggle bitch! Now, let’s see that smile” Sap used both hand to try pulling his arms down.

“I already told you no! You’re literally soho dumb! I’m not gonn- FUHUCK NO NO SAHAHAP NOT THERE!” A strangled shriek escaped Dreams throat as his best friend dug into his hips. He tried to buck Sap off but the bean bag didn’t allow him enough leverage.

“Oh? Is this your worst spot?” He inquired, going from squeezing to kneading and drilling his thumbs into the bone. Another ticklish shriek escaped the man beneath him.

“NOHOHO! DOHOHONT! SAHAHAP! DOHOHOHONT”

“I’m not doing anything! Don’t what?” He feigned an innocent tone.

“TIHIHICKLE MEHEHE” Dream didn’t realize until he’d said it what he’d fallen into “WAHAIHIT NOHOHO- ACK!”

“Only because you asked buddy!” One hand kneaded Dream’s hip and the other pulled one hand from his face so he could blow a raspberry on his neck. The dam broke.

“*snort* SAHAHAP NAHAHAP PLEHEHEASE!” his free hand shot down to push away the attack on his waist, the other still held captive “*wheeze* STAHAHAP PLEHEHEASE” his smile was free.

“Aww you sounded like Techno for a second there! I gave you a safe word~” he cooed directly into the green man’s ear before resuming the raspberry onslaught.

“SHUHUHUT UHUHUP SAHAHAP! I DOHOHONT CAHAHARE! STAHAHAP!”

Sap stopped blowing raspberries long enough to drink in Dream’s smile. He had no reason to hide it, his teeth were white, they weren’t crooked. It was a nice smile. “Say the word, or I’m not gonna stop.”

He hesitated until Sap gave him a final raspberry, this time on his belly “FIHIHINE SMIHIHILE!”

The attack immediately ceased and Dream’s wrist was set free. “You okay?”

Self conscious and flustered Dream nodded, still giggling from the phantom tickles but not covering his face anymore.

“You have a nice smile” Sap ruffled his friend’s hair and climbed off of him.

“I hahate you”

[rainbowsocialla-blog]

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[trashyswitch]

How Does a Skeleton Work Exactly?

The Sequel to 'Can a Skeleton be Ticklish?'.

Arial had been tickled by some of the sides a couple weeks back, and was now playing a casual card game. But things quickly get competitive and unfair. Virgil eagerly decides to use his new knowledge on Arial and her love for tickling to tease her. Janus and Remus quickly join in and ticklish chaos breaks loose.

This sequel was suggested by @smileheart110. Here you go! And of course, please let me know if I got your character wrong or inaccurate. I will happily fix it for you.

I hope you enjoy!

Arial was sitting at the table with the dark sides and playing Spoons. Remus was being a bit of an evil cheater, and Arial was growing determined to catch him red-handed. Not literally though...That would be awkward…

“Look at how fast I’m going…So speedy...” Janus said with no expression. Arial looked over at Janus, and bursted out laughing: Janus was desperately trying to move a bunch of the cards over to Remus, while more cards piled up on top of the pile he was sorting through. It was an endless pile and you could tell, Janus was having none of it.

Arial was so close to getting all four Jacks in her hand. She was quickly shuffling through to find the last one. 5 heart, 10 spade, 7 spade, King diamond, Ace heart, 2 club-

Janus quickly grabbed a spoon first. Virgil, who immediately noticed him, grabbed a spoon next. Arial looked up, and grabbed the last spoon by the handle. But Remus had grabbed the end of the same spoon!

“No! It’s mine!” Remus yelled.

“I grabbed it first!” Arial shot back. “Let go!”

“Only if you let go~” Remus teased.

Virgil summoned himself some popcorn. “Let’s see how long this goes for.”

“12 seconds? Or 12 years?” Janus asked.

Virgil chuckled at that. “How about 5 minutes?”

“Remus you’re being ridiculous!” Arial yelled.

Janus wheezed. “And Arial’s not being ridiculous whatsoever.”

“Yeah Re- HEY!” Arial shouted. “How dare! Why don’t you fix this instead of making fun of us.”

Janus threw his hands up in the air. One of his hands had his own spoon in it. “Hey now...It’s not like I grabbed the spoon first and started this cycle or anything…”

“Yeah, you started it. So finish it.” Arial shot back at Janus.

“Fine.” Janus leaned back and took a handful of Virgil’s popcorn. Then, he started to obnoxiously chew.

Arial groaned. “You’re not doing anything!” She reacted.

Janus lifted up his hand full of popcorn. “Yes I am. I’m eating popcorn.” Janus replied, his mouth somewhat full.

Arial growled and kicked Janus’s foot under the table.

Virgil looked up and crossed his arms. “One of you could easily resolve this by letting go of the spoon. It’s just a game.” Virgil mentioned.

“Yeah! A game I’m determined to win!” Arial shot back.

Remus chuckled and smirked at her. “A little reminder that you’re only made of bone.” Remus mentioned as he poked her forearm. “I could easily break it.” Remus told her.

Arial widened her eyes. “You would’t...” She warned.

Virgil widened his eyes and frowned. “Remus, no.”

“Oooooh, but Remus yes!” Remus replied.

“If you so much as crack my arm, I am going to kick my bony toes right into your crotch.” Arial threatened.

Virgil and Janus both made pain-filled reactions. Virgil made a cringe-filled hiss, while Janus squished his face and muttered a low “Ooooooh...Yikes.”

Janus crossed his arms and cleared his throat. “Remus, breaking her arm would not benefit anyone. It’s an unnecessarily painful thing to intentionally do to someone, especially because of a card game. You would hurt her greatly, and she’ll hate you throughout the healing process.” Janus warned.

Remus shrugged his shoulders. “I guess you’re right.”

“On top of that, we would be down a player for the rest of the afternoon...and the rest of the month.” Janus added. “And we totally DeSpIsE when Arial is over for game night.” Janus mentioned.

Arial smiled and covered her face. “Awww!”

“Alright alright! I get it. No breaking her bone.” Remus said back. “I wasn’t actually gonna do it. It was just a threat. Just like how Arial threatened to turn my balls into smushed meatballs with her foot.” Remus added.

“Alright Remus we get it.” Virgil muttered.

Then, Virgil looked at Arial and smirked a little. “Breaking her bones is off the table. But you do bring up a good point, Janus…” Virgil stood up and walked behind Arial. “She does feel many things despite looking like she doesn’t have nerves.” Virgil added with a hint of evil mischief showing up in his voice.

Arial widened her eyes and grew worried. “Whaaat are you planning…” Arial warned.

“Nothing, I swear.” Virgil replied. “I’m just-”

“Liar! You’re gonna sabotage my victory!” Arial yelled.

Virgil shook his head and lifted her up by the armpits. “I’m just picking you up.”

Arial blinked and looked down a little, confused and tense. “Why are you-”

Arial suddenly squeaked and lifted her knees up to her chest. Virgil’s smirk grew wider. “What? A little ticklish?” He asked as he skittered his pinkies on her bony armpit. Arial laid her head against her left shoulder and started to grow a lopsided smile. “Vihihirge- NOHO!”

“Ooooh...What an unexpected turn of events…” Janus reacted softly.

“Whaaat? I’m just holding you, I swear.” Virgil reacted calmly.

“Nohoho yohohohou’re nahahat! Yohohohou’re tihihicklihihing mehehe with yohohour nihimble fihihihingehehers!” Arial reacted.

Virgil hummed in almost a hurt kind of tone, and looked at his pinky. “Are they really that nimble?” Virgil asked.

Arial nodded her head.

Remus laughed at that. “Have you seen your own fingers, sweet pea? You’ve got the most nimble fingers out of all of us!” Remus reacted as he grabbed Arial’s ring finger. “Just look at these! They have no meat on-”

Remus ended up pulling a bit too hard, causing Arial’s full finger to fall right off the joint. Arial widened her eyes as she saw only her ring finger’s knuckle left on her hand. “You pulled-”

Virgil let out a loud shout and dropped Arial onto the ground. He fled backwards as quickly as he could, and covered his mouth. “REMUS YOU IDIOT!”

Remus yelped and dropped the finger and the spoon. The moment her finger smacked on the ground, Arial grunted and closed an eye. “Ow…” Arial knelt down and picked up her finger and the spoon. “Guys it’s-”

“Why did you do that?! SHE CAN’T REATTACH THAT NOW!” Virgil shouted. “NOT WITHOUT A DOCTOR!”

Remus put his hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know her nimble fingers were capable of falling off that easily!” Remus reacted back.

“She’s a skeleton. It’s not like she has muscles or skin on her fingers. If she did, her fingers wouldn’t pop off as easily from a light pull.” Janus added.

“You think I don’t know that?!” Remus yelled back at Janus.

“We need to call 911 now!” Virgil shouted as he whipped out his phone.

“GUYS!”

Everyone stopped yelling and turned to the source of the overpowering voice. Arial had her finger flipped up at them. But...it wasn’t the middle finger. It was the ring finger!

Wait...How did the ring finger get back onto her hand?!

Virgil was the first to point at the finger. “How-”

Arial smiled. “It’s okay. Removing the joint doesn’t hurt me.” Arial demonstrated by removing the finger from her knuckle again. It didn’t even make a pop sound like bone joints normally do when they separate slightly. Arial showed them every angle of her separated digit. “Not only that:” Arial curled her finger in as well, and uncurled it with no trouble despite it still being separated from her hand. “I can move it too. Weird, right?” Arial added.

Virgil was visibly tense upon seeing the digit move on its own like it was from a horror game. Virgil looked like he was actually gonna scream again, but quickly covered his own mouth with his hand.

Janus had calmed down and even started to smile. “Interesting. Logan totally wouldn’t experiment on you for hours if you told him.” Janus joked.

Arial chuckled at that and reattached the finger. “That’s not the only joint I can detach…” Arial gently pulled on her hand and watched with a smile as the hand and wrist bits detached from her lower forearm. Arial held up her hand and waved at them with her 4 fingers. “Cool, right?”

Remus was ecstatic! “Can I hold the hand?! Please please please please PRETTY PLEEEEAAAASE?” Remus begged.

Arial burst out laughing and handed her free hand to him. Remus felt the hand excitedly, and manipulated it carefully. Arial clenched her teeth slightly to prevent from giggling. His small pokes and prods tickled her a little.

She mentally let out a breath of relief when Remus moved onto creating symbols with her hand. “Look!” Remus started showing off the middle finger he had made from her hand with clear pride in his eyes. “It’s a boney fuck you!” Remus declared.

Janus let out a breath of relief. “I thought you were gonna say something else…”

Arial laughed at Remus’s joking around. But her laughter quickly halted as she felt herself get lifted up. It was Virgil! “Up we go, you little trickster.” Virgil declared.

Arial giggled and wrapped her arms around Virgil. “Am I really that humerus?” Arial asked.

Virgil raised an eyebrow and grew a grin. “Think you’re such a witty bone-fied genius?” Virgil asked.

“Tibia-honest, yes.” Arial replied.

“That’s it!” Virgil threw Arial onto the couch. Arial laughed at his unusual reaction as she landed on the soft cushions. But all her laughter paused the moment Virgil grabbed her ankle. “Since I know your joints can be harmlessly pulled off you, I can do this:'' Virgil removed Arial’s foot and ran away with it. Arial let out a super high-pitched shriek and reached out. “HEY! YOU MEANIE- OHOHO FAHAHAHAHA!” Arial immediately fell back laughing hysterically as her foot was attacked mercilessly.

“Nimble fingers, and flat feet! What a fun mix!” Virgil reacted. Then, Virgil pointed to Janus and Remus. “Any of you want the second foot? It’s free for the taking.” Virgil told them.

“IHIHIS NAHAHAT!” Arial yelled back.

“Are you sure? She might not want this.” Janus mentioned.

Virgil giggled at that. “Trust me: she loves being tickled.” Virgil told them.

Janus grinned widely upon that news. “Make that surprise número dos!” Janus said in part spanish.

“I CALL DIBS!” Remus shouted as he ran to her foot. “Mine!” Remus pulled on the foot and accidentally got her ankle as well! “Oops...Welp, more to tickle!” Remus declared.

“AAAH! WAIT-” Arial was immediately shut up by Remus’s weirdly soft skittering fingers. UHUHUNFAHAHAHAIR! AHAHAHAHAHA!” Arial shouted as she kicked her legs to cope with the strong tickles.

“Hey...Hey Remus...Is her ankle ticklish?” Janus asked.

Remus paused his tickling and decided to try it. “Let’s see…” Remus started gently skittering and scratching on the different sides of her ankle.

“EEEEEEHEHEHEhehehehehe! REEHEheheheheEHEHEHE NOHOhohoHOHOHohoho!” Arial begged.

“No, her ankles are totally not ticklish.” Janus replied. “Not ticklish at aaaaall…”

Remus smirked as he detached the ankle and handed it to Janus. “Here: Free tickle spot!” Remus said.

Janus smiled. “Wonderful. Her laughter is totally not the cutest thing in the world, and definitely not worth ending the game over.” Janus replied as he started tickling her ankle.

Arial rolled around all over the couch as she giggled and laughed. This was SO unfair! And yet...The best scenario to ever take place! It would be even CRAZIER if Fluffymary read this fanfic and drew fanart for it. If they did, Arial would surely die of the embarrassment from her lee mood.

The moment Virgil went up to scritch on Arial’s toes, she was done for. She shook her head around like a bobble head and let out her first snort!

Remus grew super excited at the sound. “SHE SNORTS!”

“Hmm...I sense there’s more to her anatomy than meets the eye.” Janus added.

“...Janus...You are currently tickling a girl with no visible Larynx or vocal cords, no visible tongue and no eyeballs…” Virgil mentioned.

Arial’s laughter only went up an octave after Virgil’s comment! The emo was completely right! The only thing she really lacked was a stomach!

Soon, the boys gave her a break. Arial went limp against the couch and breathed heavily to get her endurance leveled out. Janus handed Remus the skeleton’s separated ankle and watched Remus connect the ankle and foot together again. Then, Remus handed Arial her foot back.

“Tha…*huff* Thank you Re...Remus.” she replied.

Virgil handed her the other foot and gave her a glass of water with it as well. Arial drank some of the water, and looked up at Virgil and Remus. “Hey you two: look.” Arial separated her big toe from her right foot and dropped it into the water.

Virgil looked down awkwardly, quickly growing uncomfortable with the thought of soggy bone. Remus looked closer at the bone and noticed it was turning more yellow than white. “Why is it yellow-y white now?” Remus asked.

“Because it’s wet now. That’s what wet bone looks like. Because my bones are alive yet not engulfed in wet layers, my bones go more and more white from exposure.” Arial explained.

Remus hummed curiously and poked his finger between two of the ribs. “Am I able to-”

“OhoHOHOHOhohohokahahahay...Ihihi dihihid NOHOHOT expehect thahahat!” Arial admitted.

“Sorry Arial. I wanted to see if I could fit my fingers through your ribs.” Remus told her bluntly.

Arial chuckled with her eyebrow raised. They’re so weird. After a bit of thought, Arial lifted up her shirt and watched Remus bring his finger over to her rib spaces.

Remus started to put his fingers through the different rib spaces that were lower and more safe to touch. Remus discovered he could fit his pinky and ring finger through her ribs! But his thumb and index finger were too big for her rib spaces. All of it tickled enough to make her giggle through the whole thing.

Arial had to watch and feel every ticklish move Remus made with his hands and wiggly fingers. The anticipation was both anxiety-inducing, yet adrenaline-rising! She couldn’t figure out if she liked all the excitement, or didn’t like the unpredictability. Remus could strike at any given moment. Remus could easily change his mind and start full-blown tickling her in a surprise attack. But even his unintentional tickling was still tickling her.

Remus’s moving through her ribs would move quicker and turn more intense, before slowing back down. It was SOOO EEEVIL!

“OHOKAHAHAY! Thahahat’s ehehenohohough!” Arial decided, pulling her shirt down and giggling up a storm. “Nohoho mohohohore guihinea pihihig time.”

“Well that didn’t take long at all!” Remus reacted.

“Well how would you feel if you had fingers wiggling in between your sensitive ribs?” Virgil started skittering and digging his fingers into Remus’s ribs. He made sure to pay particular attention to the Duke’s rib spaces.

“aaAAAHAHAHAHAHA! VIHIHIRGILYOUFUCKING AHAHAHAHAHASS!” Remus shouted at him.

“Sorry Remus! I wanted to see if I could fit my fingers through your ribs!” Virgil teased as he continued to ‘attempt’ to fit his fingers through Remus’s muscle-covered ribs. “Oh wait! You have muscles and skin!” Virgil acted. “That means you’re eleven moooore ticklish!” Virgil started massaging Remus’s ribs and ab muscles next. Remus had a particularly tight core. For some people, this would make massaging it more painful. But for Remus, this made Remus more ticklish beyond belief!

Remus quickly flopped to the ground and landed smack dab onto his right shoulder and hip. Thankfully, it didn’t really hurt that much. Virgil knelt down, and just kept on skittering and massaging his fingers into the abs and lower ribs of the Duke of Stinkyton. Remus had completely lost his composure and was now laughing hysterically below the emo.

Oh my, how the tables have turned.

Arial happily watched the new tickle fight while sitting on the couch with her glass of water. She had started to finish her last gulp of water when something rock-like and hard, smacked into her nose hole.

Ow...What was that- Oh…

Arial picked it up and chuckled to herself as she held the soggy toe in her finger and thumb. With one last bit of toeless water, Arial put the cup down, dried her wet toe on her shirt and put the big toe back onto her foot. There. Now she’s all together again.

Let me rephrase that: She’s all TOE-gether again.

[someguyscaliforniavoterguide]

Select L.A. County/California Races, March 3, 2020

Hi friends, it’s me again. I am here to offer my opinions on how you should vote. As before I am up front about my biases: I am a Warren supporter, I live in L.A. and I am actively pro-density (Yay SB50, you deserved better) and pro-transit. I live in the east Valley, so I tend to focus more closely on the issues that directly impact my side of town, though I try to keep an ear out on things countywide. 

Last time I did this a couple of folks reached out to give me gifts to say thanks for doing this guide. This year, I would encourage anybody who wants to say thanks to donate $5 to Fair Fight,  a group founded by Stacey Abrams to fight voter suppression in the 2020 election. We’re gonna need all the help we can get in November to defeat the GOP, and Abrams is doing it in a smart way. 

Other voting guides

This is my voting guide and reflects my general opinion on things. However, I am indebeted to many other guides, including the Knock L.A. Voter Guide and the L.A. Podcast Voter Guide for their takes. I don’t always agree with them, but both of these are invaluable resources for the progressive voter in Los Angeles. 

L.A. City Council 

This year the even numbered seats are up for re-election. Half of them are effectively uncontested, a couple are very much contested, and two are free for all because of term limits. 

CD2: Ayinde Jones

Look none of these candidates set my heart afire. I work with Councilmember Krekorian’s office a lot (remember, I live in the east Valley) and he’s a competent politician with a ton of endorsements and community ties, I have no illusion he’s going to win his full term comfortably on March 3. However, I believe it’s good to encourage competition, and Ayinde Jones did a good (not great) job at the candidate forum I attended hitting on themes of how the parts of CD2 north of Victory are being left behind as the area evolves. I wish he were better on S50, but then again all three candidates were opposed, so that’s kind of a wash. I look forward to hearing more from Jones in the future. 

CD4: Sarah Kate Levy

From a paucity of options to a surplus of options next door. CD4 is currently represented by David Ryu, a politician who came out of the Neighborhood Council system and went on to become...a city hall politician. Both his opponents are great. Nithya Raman is the founder of SELAH, a group that does amazing work helping the unhoused in Los Angeles, and recently led Times Up! Hollywood for a year. I’d vote for her in a heartbeat, but I am encouraging people to vote for Sarah Kate Levy for two reasons: first, Levy is unabashedly supportive of SB50 and we need this kind of leadership, and second I am hoping these two excellent women will get so many votes that they overwhelm Ryu and leave him in third place. Fingers crossed. 

CD6: Bill Haller 

This is another shoo-in. Nury Martinez is the City Council president and has the backing of the County party and all the local clubs. I am endorsing Bill Haller because he supports an agenda that includes more public funding for affordable housing, more and better transit, and climate justice.  

CD8: Marqueece Harris-Dawson 

There are no other candidates in this race, so congratulations on your re-election Councilmember Harris-Dawson. 

CD10: Aura Vasquez 

This is an open seat, and the smart money has Mark Ridley-Thomas as the frontrunner. Ridley-Thomas is a current member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors (more on them later) who is termed out of that position. I’m endorsing Aura Vasquez, a progressive activist with ties to Mid-City who has served as a commissioner for LADWP and led fights for renewable energy, banning single use plastics, and housing affordability in her community. 

CD12: Loraine Lundquist 

Dr. Lundquist rules. She takes public transit to debates, she is an honest to goodness scientist, and she nearly beat a Republican in what is the most conservative district in L.A. during a special election. I have donated money to this lady because we need to win this one. Her opponent, John Lee, wasted no time in trying to block housing for the homeless in his district and in attacking a successful safer streets project on Reseda Blvd. The city has a chance - a really great chance thanks to the realigned municipal elections - to toss out the worst possible councilmember in favor of the most progressive voice, don’t mess it up. 

CD14: Cyndi Otteson

This race is Kevin de Léon’s to lose, but he won’t commit to serving a full term since he really wants to be mayor. I say let him have his spare time to run for mayor and select Ms. Otteson, a grassroots activist who has the support of the UTLA and who is the only voice in favor of the Colorado Blvd alignment of the NoHo to Pasadena BRT project. Transit equity matters, and Ms. Otteson deserves your vote this March. 

LAUSD School Board 

Deferring to the teachers’ endorsements on this one. 

Board Seat 1: George McKenna

Board Seat 3: Scott Schmerlson

Board Seat 5: Jackie Goldberg

Board Seat 7: Patricia Castellanos

Glendale City Council: Dan Brotman 

An environmental activist with progresive views, Brotman will be a useful voice in Glendale’s city hall. 

District Attorney: Rachel Rossi 

George Gascón and Rachel Rossi will both be light years better than the current county D.A., Jackie Lacey. Both have promised to make substantial reforms in the office. I am really torn on this one, since I think Gascón’s experience as a Deputy DA in San Francisco is a big deal, and since he has the backing of the County Party. I am endorsing Rossi in a tilt-at-windmills hope that somehow she and Gascón make it to the final ballot in November and give us a thoughtful debate between a career prosecutor bent on reform and a public defender whose goal is reform about methods and ideas. Anyway, don’t vote for Jackie Lacey is all I am saying here. 

Superior Court

Voting for judges is stupid. We shouldn’t be doing this, but since we have to, I’ll make some suggestions. My math is based on other progressive endorsements, Party endorsements, and reverse-engineering some well known conservative voting guides to, if nothing else, make sure I am not voting for their endorsement. 

Office 17: Shannon Kathleen Cooley (the race is uncontested) 

Office 42: Linda Sun

Office 72: Myanna Dellinger

Office 76: Emily Cole (Cole is a prosecutor, but her opponent is a man who literally changed his name to “Judge” after serving as a judge in Stanislaus County) 

Office 80: Klint James McKay

Currently an administrative law judge, he impressed Public Defender Union representatives with his thoughtful and articulate answers to their questioning.

Office 97: Sherry L. Powell (Powell’s opponent ran as a conservative Republican for state assembly in 2018, this is a defensive vote)

Office 129: Kenneth Fuller

Office 131: Michelle Kelley (the race is uncontested)

Office 141: Lana Kim (the race is uncontested)

Office 145: Troy Slaten (Slaten’s opponent has a troubling history of misconduct and should not be elected to a judgeship) 

Office 150: Tom Parsekian

Office 162: David D. Diamond

L.A. County Board of Supervisors

The Supervisors oversee policy for the County, including all unincorporated areas, the LASD, County Health services, etc. For a county of TEN MILLION PEOPLE, there are only five supervisors, so they have a hugely outsized influence. 

Seat 2: Jorge Nuno 

A lot of progressives are endorsing Holly Mitchell in this seat. Me, I just can’t go there when she’s speaking at events for Livable California and when she gave a floor speech opposing SB50. Though he’s the front runner, Herb Wesson doesn’t deserve your vote - he was City Council president when the homelessness crisis exploded and he’s done little to address it. Nuno is a progressive and has an ambitious platform. 

Seat 4: Janice Hahn 

She’s solid, and nobody’s pushing her from the left. 

Seat 5: John Harabedian 

Kathryn Barger, the incumbent, is a Republican who supports Trump’s immigration policies. John Harabedian is a solidly Center Left Democrat who has the backing of the county party and who could, in this presidential election year, win an upset in what is traditionally a Republican stronghold of L.A. County. Vote for him. 

County Ballot Measures

Measure R: YES YES YES 

This will provide crucial tools to the already existing civilian oversight committee for the LASD, including subpoena powers. It also requires the commission to study ways to divert offenders from jail. You need to vote yes on this. 

State Ballot Measures 

Prop 13: Yes

$15B in bonds to invest in public schools and “local control” to allow local school districts to issue larger bonds. The only real opposition is from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a revanchist organization that is singlehandedly responsible for much of our state and local problems in the past few decades. Don’t listen to them. 

Congressional Elections 

Despite some misgivings, I am generally supporting the progressive challengers here to hopefully lead to a Progressive/Center Left election in the fall. 

CD 25: Christy Smith 

She has a good track record in the state assembly and a strong local support network. She’s not a carpetbagger with a YouTube show, and she’s not a Republican. 

CD 28: Adam Schiff 

He’s not the most progressive guy in Congress but he’s been critical to holding Trump accountable. He’s earned this vote. 

CD 29: Angelica Duenas 

Tony Cardenas is a bit of a non-entity on the national stage but he does good local work and he was an early vote in favor of impeachment. The rape allegations against him which troubled me last time were dismissed with prejudice in 2019. Cardenas has a progressive challenger, Angelica Marie Duenas, who has run in the past as a Green Party candidate. I don’t trust her decision to abandon that label and come into the Democrats after getting drubbed in 2018, but overall I like her ideas and I’d be happy to see her and Cardenas in a runoff this year. 

CD 30: CJ Berina 

Brad Sherman is an okay Congressmember. CJ Berina is a young, progressive challenger who’s attracted the attention of the Sunrise Movement. I’d vote for him to try to push the GOP out of the runoff and make this a race between the Center Left and the Progressive Left. 

CD 34: Frances Yasmeen Motiwalla

Jimmy Gomez is solid; let’s push the GOP out of the runoff though by supporting this progressive. 

State House 

District 39: Luz Rivas

District 41: Chris Holden 

District 43: Laura Friedman 

District 44: Jacqui Irwin

District 45: Jesse Gabriel 

District 46: Adrin Nazarian

District 48: Blanca Rubio 

District 49: Edwin Chau 

District 50: Richard Bloom

District 51: Wendy Carillo

District 53: Godfrey Plata

District 54: Tracey Jones

District 55: Andrew Rodriguez

District 58: Margaret Villa

District 59: Reggie Jones-Sawyer

District 62: Autumn Burke

District 63: Anthony Rendon

District 64: Fatima Iqbal-Zubair

District 66: Al Muratsuchi

District 70: Patrick O’Donnell

State Senate

SD 21: Kipp Mueller

SD 23: Abigail Medina

SD 25: No Endorsement - I rarely do this but honestly Anthony Portantino does not deserve your vote. Write in Mickey Mouse. 

SD 27: Henry Stern

SD 29: Josh Newman

SD 31: Richard Roth

SD 33: Lena Gonzalez

SD 35: Steven Bradford

County Committees 

Look this is getting waaaaaaaaaaaaaay into the weeds. What I am going to say is this: I know that a lot of “progressive” slates are out there and I encourage you to try your best to vet them. In my district, one of the candidates is somebody I know personally - she actively campaigned for Jill Stein, she circulated the decades-old “Clinton Death List” to voters, and she pushed Pizzagate theories. I am not voting for this person, but she is endorsed by “Progressive California” so...just be careful. 

[randallapollo]

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Vegan 🌱 Street Fair NoHo Ca. Free event!! 🎪 Right in front of Red Line and Orange Line Metro stations. 🍩🍡🥠🥟🍔🍕🥗🌮 2 days of yummy food and cool products all animal friendly. 🐮 🦄 Besides all the options available from the seemingly endless amount of booths, is that as you look around it is one of the most diverse crowds. Really beautiful 💜 . . . . . . . #veganstreetfair2019 #veganstreetfair #vegan #veganasfuck #fortheanimals #plantbased #animalfriendly #whatveganseat #noho #ilovela #gayvegan #vegangay #animalrights #randallapollo #singersongwriter #vegetarian #directorofphotography (at Vegan Street Fair) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvZbrAoH2H-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6hcmd7j9u1lp

[thedollfacedames]

Tonight we have a private party AND we’ll be providing entertainment for the Yule Ball @idlehour 7-9pm free event come get your #harrypotter on with us! - - - #lolabouteepresents #dressup #thedollfacedames #cosplay #dance #party #noho #northhollywood #live #costume #entertainment #contortion #food #drinks #dancing #holiday #fun #saturday #photography by #timhunterphotography (at Idle Hour) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrbiLpPFi_7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10o2dajjgfb9t

[hollywoodumc-harmonytolucalake]

IN 2 DAYS - We will host a FREE community Holiday concert at Harmony. Let's all get in the holiday spirit with some great Christmas songs performed by Gattison and the band, PLUS some special guests. 🎄🎁. (this event will not be live-streamed, so please join us in person). . . . #Holidays #HolidaySeason #Christmas #ChristmasSeason #Advent #FreeHolidayConcert #HolidayConcert #HollywoodUMC #Community #HUMC #HarmonyTL #TolucaLake #NoHo #StudioCity #Burbank #Inclusivechurch #affirmingchurch #churchfamily #AllAreWelcome (at Harmony Toluca Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmHPuDEMxd6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nohoartsdistrict]

Experience NoHo Plaza presents Randy Emata and the NoHo ArtWalk in L.A.’s NoHo Arts District in North Hollywood on the official NoHo Arts District Guide; www.nohoartsdistrict.com