#health and wellness bazaar

[plastic-surgery-in-mexico]

Nose Job Cost in Mexico: Comparing Results and Patient Satisfaction

Enhancing the shape and function of your nose through rhinoplasty is a popular choice worldwide. With the increasing interest in undergoing the procedure, many foreigners are considering Mexico as their destination. But is the nose job cost in Mexico truly worth it? Let's explore the details.

In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive analysis of the quality of results and patient satisfaction among those who have undergone rhinoplasty in Mexico. We'll also delve into the cost and other factors influencing decision-making. So, stay with us as we uncover the insights you need.

When comparing the nose job cost in Mexico with other countries, it's important to note that reliable alternatives, like medical tourism agencies, can connect you directly with top-notch specialists. At Health and Wellness Bazaar, for instance, rhinoplasty costs range from approximately $4,500 to $5,000 in an all-inclusive package, offering great value for your investment.

Remember, the quality of your results and patient satisfaction depend on the expertise and care provided by the best plastic surgeons in Mexico. If you seek a guaranteed and safe experience, reach out to our advisors at Health & Wellness Bazaar. We're here to assist you in scheduling an appointment and guide you through the process, ensuring a wonderful transformation and results that make you proud. Click the link below to connect with us and get started.

Nose Job Cost in Mexico: Results & Patient Satisfaction (hwbazaar.com)

[felixethereal]

Stray kids for Harper's bazaar

Stray kids cut interview

[Bang Chan]

Q: Who eats the most?

A: I.N!

Q: Who has the strongest mentality?

A: All of us!

Q: Who is the most indecisive?

A: It must be me! I decide what to buy when I go shopping, but I spend three hours not being able to decide. And I end up not being able to buy anything, hahaha. But when I go shopping with Felix, I don’t hesitate. Felix is persuasive and he always encourages me like, “That’s great, you look good in that.” So, I go like, “yeah?” and buying things becomes really easy.

Q: Who relies on you the most?

A: Felix, perhaps? But we have a good relationship where all the members can rely on each other. As we have spent so much time together, we have very deep ties, and we believe in each other. We are such a great team!

Editor’s NOTE

He really takes control of the conversation! He even answered in Japanese to some questions. He has such an elegant and gentlemanly behavior and has an extremely great communication skills.

[Lee Know]

Q: Of all the members who has changed the most since you first met?

A: At the beginning, I had an impression that it might be difficult to get along with Bang Chan as he seemed dignified as a leader, but now he has more affection to SKZ than anyone and is very charming man.

Q: Who is the best listener?

A: It may change according to the situation, but I think Changbin listens to everyone a lot. So does Hyunjin and so does HAN, oh that means we all listen to one another really well.

Q: What is the chemi you cannot resist recently?

A: It’s Seungmin and I.N. They both love coffee but they promised not to drink it for their health. But in fact, they are drinking coffee behind their back. It’s funny and it’s sweet to see them like that.

Q: Who relies on you the most?

A: My cat that I have at home.

Editor’s NOTE

During the recording of 25 Questions, Lee Know was speaking fluent Japanese. He was so caring. When Changbin was about to digress from the main subject, he warns Changbin like a big brother, and he was making a nice atmosphere. We gave them some instant tonkotsu ramen to enjoy back home, Lee Know was so delighted.

[Changbin]

Q: Of all the members who has changed the most since you first met?

A: I think Seungmin. I first thought he was gracious and neat, but actually he is the most mischievous and unique.

Q: Who is the best listener?

A: I talk to all the members and every one of them listens to each other very well. So, it is difficult to pick one.

Q: Please tell me about hidden faces of the members that only you know.

A: When we were living in the same dorm, I heard someone calling me. I peeked into his room, but he was fast asleep. Lee Know speaks very clearly even in his sleep and that was very funny.

Q: Who relies on you the most?

A: All the members younger than myself!

Editor’s NOTE

Changbin came in to see other members’ interviews and shooting sessions for a while. As he received the gaze from the production staff he had met for the first time, he was a bit shy at the beginning, but all through the shoot, he spoke to the members, and really set the mood for 25 Questions recording. He is the unsung hero of the team. Whenever he says something funny, or when other members react to him funnily, he keeps cool. But before you know he is always in the center of the circle. That is the charm he has, and I was drawn in.

[Hyunjin]

Q: Of all the members who has changed the most since you first met?

A: I think Seungmin. At first, he was a no-joker, serious guy but I think he is the strangest person of all the members. He really is, strange!

Q: Who is the best listener?

A: I think I.N. Whenever I talk with him, he is so warm and makes me calm. He is so therapeutic to be with.

Q: Please tell me about hidden faces of the members that only you know.

A: HAN and I.N like drawing and they often paint still life in oils. They paint characters so well and they show the drawings at STAY’s events.

Q: What is the chemistry you cannot resist recently?

A: It’s Changbin and Seungmin. Seungmin teases Changbin first and it starts from there. Then Changbin gets angry at Seungmin and Seungmin laughs at Changbin. It’s always the same and they love it (lol).

Editor’s NOTE

He has the most beautiful pose, and it was extremely difficult to choose which picture to post. You might think whoever is good at dance performance maybe good at posing, but it is not true. Whether you zoom in or zoom out, Hyunjin has wide variations of poses and has a knack for making the clothes look better. Every time he gets one step closer to success, his parents tell him “I believed in you”. Watching the shooting session and interviewing him, I felt that with that self-esteem, his innate ability to express himself will bloom even more.

[HAN]

Q: Who is the no.1 trendsetter?

A: I think Seungmin sets the trend with the way he talks. He talks in such a way so that the members laugh and gradually we all begin mimicking it. It’s kind of difficult to explain, but he uses that funny voice, or he teases us quite often.

Q: Who has the strongest mentality?

A: It is definitely Seungmin. He is really mentally strong. No matter what people say to him, he is never distracted. He has got that kind of strength. Unbreakable strength.

Q: Who is the most indecisive?

A: Felix maybe? He changes his mind a lot, haha.

Q: Please tell me about hidden faces of the members that only you know.

A: There are not many hidden secrets... Bang Chan cannot drink coffee! Well, this maybe famous. But it could be a new information for someone who came to know us recently.

Editor’s NOTE

A soft-spoken man, HAN was embracing other members’ words during the 25 Questions recording. He answered the interview politely and shyly. It was hard to believe that he was the same HAN who has got into the rap bag with the rap legend Tiger JK in the single, “TOPLINE (feat. Tiger JK)” , from the album “★★★★★ (5-STAR)”.

[Felix]

Q: Who is the most particular about food?

A: All of us eat well and eat a lot but if I were to pick one person, it is Changbin. He takes care of his body and does lots of exercise, so he is really healthy!

Q: Who is the no.1 trendsetter?

A: Changbin teaches us lots of buzzwords. HAN is also funny. They are such entertainers, they mimic comedians’ way of talking and moves, and it is so funny we laugh so much.

Q: Who is the most indecisive?

A: Perhaps myself, haha. I decide and I buy something, and I often think something is different afterwards. I regret a bit, then I think “but maybe it’s good in the end”. I keep doing that. I can give good shopping advice to others, though. Bang Chan gave me confidence when he said that I was persuasive.

Q: Please tell me about hidden faces of the members that only you know.

A: Sometimes I can hear a tiger roaring when I am sleeping. Yes, anyone can snore when he is tired. Bang Chan is so busy he often works at dawn, or many times we start early in the morning, so I figure he is tired.

Editor’s NOTE

It was impressive to see Felix greet each of the shooting staff he met for the first time. When a staff from Australia gave him a local sweet the kids love, he showed the biggest smile. It was great to see his facial expressions change so much. He is open-minded to everyone. When I asked them, “Who is the most indecisive?” almost all the members said Felix as if it was prearranged. That was where I caught the glimpse of their relationship.

[Seungmin]

Q: Who is the most particular about food?

A: Changbin. He has this strict rule that the dinner must be finished before the date changes.

Q: Who is the no.1 trendsetter?

A: Changbin talks about buzzwords a lot. He is so good at that kind of things. For example, when he was eating chili crab, he got excited and started singing, “chili chili crab crab” after the lyrics of “chili chili men men”. It just comes at the right point.

Q: Who has the strongest mentality?

A: I think it is Changbin. He has an ability to deal in any situation.

Q: Who is the most indecisive?

A: Felix often changes what he is interested in. Hyunjin changes his mind a lot when he tries to choose something from the menu, or simple things like that.

Q: Tell me about your recent TMI (random incidents).

A: Lee Know is doing a lot of cooking at the dormitory recently. He buys some cooked food and arranges it his way. He’s very good.

Editor’s NOTE

I asked him, “If you were to be reborn, what do you want to be?” “A Stray Kids fan,” Seungmin said. “I want to see how Stray Kids are from STAY’s point of view.” Everyone marveled at this answer. He is a quick thinker but also witty as he answered many questions pretending to be Changbin.

[I.N]

Q: Of all the members who has changed the most since you first met?

A: I think Changbin for me. At first, I thought he was a bit scary but as I got to know him better, he is such a good big brother and making us laugh all the time.

Q: Who is the best listener?

A: "kon kon jeu"(those who are born in 2000, Hyunjin, HAN, Felix, Seungmin ) listen to me a lot. They are a bit older than I am, but they are nice big brothers for me that I can be with like friends.

Q: Please tell me about hidden faces of the members that only you know.

A: It’s Felix’s recent hobby. He seems to like to paint to customize his keyboards.

Q: What is the chemistry you cannot resist recently?

A: Lee Know goes on and on about some facts to Changbin. The words he uses and the fact he talks about can only be called truth, but it is just so funny and Changbin’s pressured face is also hilarious. It is not that he does not talk back, but the rule is that Changbin always loses.

Editor’s NOTE

I.N has a brother who always gives him good feedback. “My brother really gives me great advice and it is very useful for me. As he looks at our team, he always thinks we are great and that also becomes my driving force.” A lovable man-ne(the youngest), how I.N shows his talent freely and purely is because of the affection his big brothers give him.

[lxnlxnranch]

kisses in public

>> includes: sky and four a/n: sorry for being gone for like, a year, but I'm back!

Sky

As affectionate as the Hero of the Sky is, there is almost nothing that will stop him from showing his love and adoration to his beloved. There is no particular reason as to why he kisses his significant other in public, he just does. He’s a romantic at heart, and if he wants to show you how much you mean to him and you both happen to be in public- well, that is no issue to him! Because of this though, his kisses tend to be incredibly impulsive and rather out of nowhere. He feels like the sharp sting of wind on early spring mornings, the warmth of downy soft feathers leaving you gasping for air. 

It was such a gorgeous day on Skyloft. Hylia had finally graced your group with a world that was fairly calm in comparison with all the others, and there was something simply whimsical and fairytale-like about being so high up in the sky. This wasn’t your first time on the floating island- you sincerely hoped it wouldn’t be your last- and the layout of the sanctuary was easy for you to remember. While the Chain were busy recounting Sun of their tales, you’d decided to peruse the Bazaar and restock on much needed supplies. 

“Y/N!” Your name rang through the thin air, and you looked much more ahead of you to the source of the voice. The potions seller waved her hand through the air, a wide smile on her face as she beckoned you over. 

“And good afternoon to you too, Luv,” you stopped just short of the counter, gazing at all the brightly-colored liquids scattered over the table. You swung your bag to the front of your body, prying out empty bottles as Luv continued to talk. 

“My my, you’re almost here as often as poor Link! Now tell me dear, what would you like this time? I have a flash sale for the weekend, and everything is twenty percent off.” She gladly reached forward and took the glass bottles off of your hands, setting them on her workbench as she started to make preparations.

“Just some health potions this time, I’m afraid.” 

“Oh not to worry my dear, anything for one of my favorite customers.” And that out of the way, your conversation immediately turned to the local gossip of the town. You couldn’t say you weren’t interested, and before you knew it you’d spent nearly an hour just at her stall. But what could you say? Learning that the people before you still had squabbles, embarrassing moments, and more, was grounding in a way. Hylians were always Hylians, with their problems and virtues and vices, you were all still the same, no matter how many centuries had passed. 

Unbeknownst to you however, was the fact the Chain was already done with their debrief. Sky knew where you’d be, and he’d started looking around the Bazaar already, and there was just something different this time around when he did so. When his eyes fell upon your form, he swore he could feel his heart melting inside his chest. There was something he couldn’t quite describe, seeing you talk with his people. The way you leaned forward to listen to Luv’s conversation better, the way she genuinely seemed to enjoy your presence and dropped all pretense of wanting to sell. Fi hummed gently against his back, and he snapped out of his reverie. He wanted to see this more. He wanted to see you feel at home with the rest of his people, and maybe he should start looking for a ring? A brilliant smile made its way on his face, and he weaved through the crowd to make his way over. It was Luv to notice him first. 

“Ah, Link!” She looked over your shoulder and waved, one bottle of half-filled potion in her other hand. You whirled around only to be met with lips pressed up against yours, the faint taste of pumpkin and wind reassuring you everything was alright. Before you could reciprocate, Sky had already pulled away, a scarred hand resting on the small of your back. “Hi Luv, how have you been? I feel like it has been ages since we last spoke!” 

And as much as surprise kisses were common, you were still annoyed with the fact you were never ever able to kiss back. Sensing your distress, your hero turned and gave you a small peck on the corner of your lips and- “Goddesses Sky, that’s almost worse, you little rat!” 

Both their laughter echoed throughout the market, and as annoyed as you were, you couldn’t help but join in.

Four

Four was never truly the type to enjoy public displays of affection; he always found them cheesy and embarrassing. Well, that was until he met you, of course. Now he could understand. As something as simple as holding hands and/or as exuberant as kissing in the busiest hours of the market, he now understood that love had no qualms about time nor place. This isn’t to say he didn’t like privacy. He was much more partial to subtlety: a kiss to your knuckles here, a peck to your temple there. His kisses were gentle, but they never betrayed how much love he held just for you. 

The Hero of the Minish, the Hero of the Four Sword, the Hero of Light. Four wasn’t one for titles, but they followed him wherever he went. His people excitedly called his name, waved as he walked past stalls, threw him thankful smiles or reverent nods his way. He’d normally be alright with this type of attention, but not when he’d lost you just ten minutes before in the hustle and bustle of town. 

“Y/N?” He called out, easily weaving in between crowds of people, his head swiveling this way and that to try and catch a glimpse of your cloak. Nothing. He pursed his lips, exhaling through his nose. You were both going to be late for dinner at this rate, and he did not want to be on the receiving end of Time’s disappointed stare. Just how in the world did you two get separated? You were looking at the same stall for the Goddess’ sake, he swore you were right behind him too. His foot tapped impatiently on the ground, nervousness starting to crawl up his spine. He doubted you were in danger, but there was still that slim chance- 

There was a small bit of pressure on his pant leg, and Four was too experienced to not know what it was. He looked down by his left foot, and leaned down as a small smile graced his features. “Hello, my friend. Is everything alright?”

The Minish waved their arms in greeting, gracefully stepping onto the hand Four offered them as they sat down in the middle of his palm. “Hello Link! Y/N asked us to find you, they seemed rather lost when they stumbled on us.” And oh, wasn’t that a relief. He felt a breath he didn’t even know he was holding escape his lungs, and he straightened back up as he cupped the Minish with both hands. “Thank you, my friend. Would you lead me to them? I’m afraid we might be late for dinner.” 

The Minish nodded, and they were on their way. 

Soon enough, he was guided to a small bundle of trees just off the main market, the sunset washing everything in a beautiful orange glow. You were sitting at the base of the tree, your knees pulled up to your chest as multiple Minish ran across the tops of your knees, crawling up your hands and arms to braid various flowers into your hair. You could almost die with how cute they were, and you didn’t have the heart to tell them no as they started building a braided flower crown atop your head. 

“There you are,” Four made his way to your side, opening his cupped hands by your knees. The Minish gently pat Four’s thumb and climbed out, joining their brethren in decorating your head. You couldn’t move much or risk throwing the cute creatures off your head, so you simply raised your hand in greeting. 

“Hey. Sorry for getting lost, I swore to myself I’d be right back. That turned out rather well, I’d like to think.” 

“It did, didn’t it?” He hummed in response, making sure the spot next to you was clear of Minish before he sat down. And here, with flowers cascading through your hair and Minish chattering away in the sunset’s dying glow, he was lucky enough to see the most beautiful sight in the world unfold right before his eyes. The hustle of the market was slowly quieting as more and more people started closing up shop, and as much as he’d love to stay here until nightfall… 

“We ought to go back,” he gently took your hand in his, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles as he brought them to his lips. He kissed each individual one, and you could feel the heat radiating off your cheeks, and it was only a little consolation that you could see his own cheeks turn red. “We’re already running late as it is.”  “Would you like to explain that to our little friends?” You tilted your head only a centimeter up, pouting your lips to motion to the frankly too adorable creatures sitting on your head.

And as much as you were both scared of Time’s signature disappointed look…

Four sighed, though there was no hiding the smile on his lips. It was in that moment you knew you’d won him over. He intertwined his hand with yours and leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to your cheek, and he felt his heart squeezing almost painfully in his chest. Goddesses, he loved you so.

“Alright, alright, but you’re going to be the one explaining this to Time.”

“Hm,” you hummed, gently squeezing his hand. “I think I’m alright with that.”

[herkonular]

SEVENHİLLSSHOPPİNG - MEGA+

Turkish cuisine is famous for its rich flavors and unique combination of spices and ingredients. Turkish cuisine has been influenced by many cultures such as the Ottoman, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean, resulting in a wide variety of dishes and flavors. One of the most popular aspects of Turkish cuisine is its desserts, known for their sweetness and unique texture. Two of the most famous Turkish desserts are baklava and Turkish delight. Baklava is a pastry made from layers of phyllo filled with chopped hazelnuts and honey syrup; Turkish delight, on the other hand, is a sweet, chewy confection made with starch and sugar, often flavored with rose water or other natural extracts. These traditional sweets are widely available in Turkish markets and specialty stores such as Seven Hills Shopping, which offers a wide range of Turkish baklava and other desserts. Turkish cuisine is known for its desserts as well as popular beverages such as herbal teas and Turkish coffee. Herbal tea is made from a variety of natural herbs and flowers such as sage, chamomile and rosehip. This tea is often consumed for its health benefits, including its ability to calm digestion, boost the immune system, and promote relaxation. Turkish coffee is a strong, rich coffee made using a special method of boiling coffee grounds in water and serving it without filtering. Turkish coffee is often served with a small glass of water and Turkish delight, making it a popular and enjoyable social experience. If you want to try traditional Turkish desserts and drinks, there are many options available online. Sultan Bazaar and Grand Bazaar Istanbul are two popular online retailers specializing in Turkish products such as baklava, Turkish delight, herbal tea, and Turkish coffee. These retailers offer a wide range of high-quality products, including mixed baklava flavors, saffron and specialty Turkish products. Hafız Mustafa 1864 Istanbul is another popular brand that offers a wide variety of traditional Turkish desserts, including baklava, Turkish delight and chocolate. Whether you want to pamper yourself with a sweet treat or enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee or herbal tea, there are many options to experience the unique flavors and traditions of Turkish cuisine. You can access the product you want through our website.

[resplendentoutfit]

Deathly Pale

The desire of women for ultra-pale skin didn't end with the Elizabethan era. In Victorian times, women still coveted the look of translucent white skin and applied the same causic, poisonous substances to their face, neck, arms and hands. Turbuculosis was a common cause of death in the era. The look of death was considered romantic for its tragic and poetic beauty. Even if a Victorian woman wasn't charmed by death due to turbuculosis, she still coveted pale, translucent skin. Tanned faces were the result of long hours of work out-of- doors, belonging to the lower classes.

“The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world.” - Edgar Allan Poe

The two predominant beauty standards were the painted beauty and the natural beauty. The later was the preferred ideal of the average fashionable woman. The methods she employed to achieve good skin and complexion were all in an effort to look natural. The overly painted look was seen as racy - the province of prostitutes and "loose" women.

Upon a well-off Victorian woman's dressing table were arsenic, ammonia, and opium, among other toxic substances. The Ugly-girl Papers, Or, Hints for the Toilet was a book published in 1874 that contained a series of beauty articles for Harper's Bazaar. The author recommends coating the face with opium before bed and a brisk wash with ammonia in the morning. How refreshing.

Lotions containing lead were popular for whitening the skin as well as erasing freckles and other blemishes. Complexion wafers containing arsenic were widely advertised. These products were peddled to women as being harmless when, in fact, they caused headaches, nausea, and even paralysis.

To achieve eyes with a seductive gaze, Victorian women used Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade in the form of eye drops, which diluted the pupils. Eye irritation and even blindness were reported symptoms of this practice.

A little color over that deathly white facial palor was usually achieved with beet juice and sometimes, animal blood. It's intriguing to wonder how women came into possession of animal blood, though the answer may be as simple as a purchase from a local vendor. Vermillion, also known as red mercury, was used to tint the lips and was known to be poisonous.

Virginie Gautreau, the subject of the famous John Singer Sargent painting known as Madama X, was not only known to use products to whiten her skin, but was also purported to use indigo dye to paint veins over the ultra-pale veneer of her skin. I haven't found any sound evidence of this, however. What I did read in both The Collector and in an article at minsooki, was that over her arsenic pale skin, Virginie used a lavender powder to counteract the warmth of candlelight.

What's most troubling is that in the face of ample evidence of the health consequences of many of these products, women continued to value the look they provided, over their own health and safety.

References:

• Molly Brown House Museum: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: How Victorians Used Common Poisons to Become Drop Dead Gorgeous

• Awful Forever

• Atlas Obscura

• minsooki.com

• The Collector

[mayamidnightmelody]

Brandy Gordon

Brandy Gordon is a rising star in the modeling world, known for her captivating presence, striking features, and versatile talent. With her unique blend of classic beauty and modern edge, Brandy has quickly made a name for herself in the fashion industry.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Brandy Gordon was born and raised in a small town in the United States, where she developed a passion for fashion and modeling at a young age. Her early fascination with fashion magazines and runway shows inspired her to pursue a career in modeling. After being scouted by a talent agency during her teenage years, Brandy moved to New York City to chase her dreams.

Professional Achievements

Brandy’s career took off rapidly as she began booking high-profile gigs with renowned fashion brands and designers. Her work has been featured in prestigious magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle. She has also walked the runway for major fashion shows, including New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Milan Fashion Week. Brandy's ability to adapt to various styles and trends has made her a sought-after model for both editorial and commercial work.

Unique Style and Presence

What sets Brandy apart in the modeling world is her unique blend of elegance and boldness. Her striking blue eyes, flawless skin, and statuesque figure make her a standout in any campaign. Brandy's versatility allows her to effortlessly transition from high-fashion editorials to commercial advertising, making her a favorite among photographers and designers alike.

Social Media Influence

In addition to her work on the runway and in print, Brandy has also built a substantial following on social media. Her Instagram account, where she shares behind-the-scenes glimpses of her modeling career, fashion tips, and personal moments, has garnered a large and engaged audience. Brandy uses her platform to promote body positivity, self-confidence, and the importance of pursuing one's passions.

Advocacy and Personal Interests

Beyond her modeling career, Brandy Gordon is known for her advocacy work. She is passionate about mental health awareness and often speaks openly about the importance of mental well-being. She also supports various charitable organizations, using her influence to raise awareness and funds for causes close to her heart.

In her personal life, Brandy enjoys exploring new fashion trends, traveling, and practicing yoga. She often draws inspiration from her travels and incorporates different cultural elements into her personal style.

Future Prospects

With her talent, charisma, and dedication, Brandy Gordon is poised for a bright future in the fashion industry. She continues to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be a modern model. As she expands her portfolio and ventures into new opportunities, Brandy remains a role model for aspiring models and a beloved figure in the fashion world.

In summary, Brandy Gordon is not just a model; she is an inspiration, a trendsetter, and a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry. Her journey from a small-town girl to a global fashion icon is a testament to her hard work, resilience, and undeniable talent.

[joesalw]

You really can't write this shit lmao...

TS's friend group consists of Miss 'idc about genocide and continue to employ a bloodthirsty zionist CEO for my makeup brand' and Cara D who's great grandfather created the Black and Tans which is a terrorist organisation that killed Irish people during the Irish War of Independence. A group that also sent their people to kill Palestinians in favor of establishing the state of Israel. Last night these 3 went to Ramy Youssef's (who Taylor probably met at the "Poor Things" premiere) comedy show in NYC and 100% of the proceeds would go to the Gaza relief fund. The thing is, Selena and Taylor are getting all the credit and praise for Ramy's activism. I've been a fan of her work for the past 10 years and her recent activities have turned me off of her completely. The turning point was that pathetic TIME interview.

I've always thought of her as this well-read individual who can masterfully express herself whether it would be public speaking or writing but I couldn't help but cringe while reading that article. She tries too hard to appeal to gen z and younger millennial crowd when she herself is practically pushing 40 atp. I feel like all of her 'intelligence' came from being around Joe Alwyn who's a notorious bookworm. The fact that she describes her Rep era as 'goth-punk' was the first strike, the 2016 hate train as a ' career death' was the 2nd and the whole patriarchy delusion she went into just hit the final nail in the coffin and I was like 'nope, not doing this shit anymore'.

I know that swifties have been comparing her to Beyonce lately saying things like 'well, Taylor writes her songs' or 'Beyonce can't read' and talking about how she doesn't give interviews so people don't know that she's dumb. And as a comparison I've found her Harper's Bazaar interview that she gave when she turned 40. And good God, I've slept on this woman for way too long. In the interview she talks about building her work ethic from an early age. The dedication of her life's decades (First decade was dedicated to dreaming, the teens were about the grind, the 20s were about building a strong foundation for her career and establishing her legacy, the 30s were about starting her family and prioritizing her own life over her career). She started her own management company at 27, in 2013 she started her charity foundation in which she helps hurricane relief, education, supporting minorities businesses, families with housing needs, water crises, pediatric health care and pandemic relief. She talks about expanding her business ventures beyond music industry, talks about setting boundaries in the world of celebrity culture, about her friends being a group of strong independent women, about the importance of mental health. She also says that she's most inspired by her parents ("My mother has always been my Queen and still is. She has always been so strong and is filled with humanity", "No matter how tired she was, she was always professional, loving, and nurturing."; "My father constantly encouraged me to write my own songs and create my own vision. He is the reason I wrote and produced at such a young age."). That woman is so well-spoken and genuine you can't help but feel warm while reading it and she doesn't feel the need of throwing unnecessary 'smart people' words to seem that way.

Reading Taylor's "Person of the Year" profile and Beyonce's 'Entering 40s' interview were completely different experiences. And as a result, one of them lost a fan and the other gained one. I wish Tree Paine would stop Taylor from giving these interviews because everytime she does, she comes across as tone-deaf, out of touch, mentally stuck overgrown teenager, try-hard bratty diva who can't stand being not the only one praised.

Anyway, I'd recommend to read the full interview and watching her new film. I've watched it yesterday and got the urge of turning my life around. That lady is truly such a light.

Taylor's friend list also includes 'Mr. and Mrs. plantation with slave cabins on the property wedding', 'a sex offender and a SA apologist as the newest addition', 'Ms. "I assaulted my own sister", ' an insecure and whiny music producer who likes to stir drama on Taylor's behalf'. And not to mention that she's dated a nazi this year and her newest flavour of the month is a fatphobic jock with a double digit iq, her father is also an avid republican voter. I think the people she surrounds herself with tell about her more than she does herself.

And concluding with two cents about Joe Alwyn. I'm glad she's out of his life. While I was a swiftie I've watched his interviews and he always came across as a very gentle, calm, well-spoken and a bit introverted man. And she's... well, her. I also think that she'd held him back in her job in regards of producers and directors not wanting their work to be overshadowed by 'Taylor's BF is in this' articles. I'm hoping he does more projects in the future or maybe dips his toes in writing and directing something because clearly he's a talented writer.

Sorry for the long rant, had to get it out of my system <3

I love reading your rants, keep it coming. they are so on point.

[fandomtrumpshate]

FTH 2023 Wrap-Up

Boy has it been a year, guys.

This seemed like the year when anything that could go wrong did, from covid to family emergencies to work obligations to software bugs. We're so grateful to you all for your patience and for coming back year after year to remind us why we do this.

Historically, non-election years have usually seen slumps in both our number of auctions and our donation totals. But this year? You guys blew us away yet again.

We had just as many auctions as last year, which is amazing. But even beyond that: our donation total —just 10% lower than last year's massive record— is 150% higher than our third best year, making it a very close second.

So are you ready for this year's grand total?

This year

thanks to all of you

FTH raised...

$47,361.75!

Which brings our seven-year total to

$239,507.86

Thank you so much to our 616 creators who offered 800+ auctions in over 400 different fandoms and subfandoms, and to everyone who bid! Also a special shoutout to our record 17 crafters who raised over $2500 of this - three times as much as any of our previous craft bazaars!

Your returning mods (@porcupine-girl, @captainbunnicula, @tiltedsyllogism, @anyawen, and @renjunbabygirl) would also like to give our heartfelt thanks to this year's two additions to the mod team, @trickybonmot (who has been a mod before but was returning after several-year absence) and @a-still-small-vox (who is brand new to this whole thing). Given everything that went down this year, the auction literally could not have happened without them. They've been ridiculously awesome.

Creators, be sure you contact your bidders by April 1, and bidders, on your end please respond to their communication by April 15!

Once the fanwork is posted, let us know via our form (can you believe six creators have already finished??) and if you're posting it on AO3 be sure to add it to the Fandom Trumps Hate 2023 collection. If you're writing a fic for FTH and need help from our Regiment of Fan Laborers, email us!

As always, we hope that for at least some people, your involvement in FTH will lead to continued action throughout the year. Sign up for our organizations' email lists, check out their volunteer opportunities, and help boost their signals on social media!

And if you'd like to run your own fanworks auction for a good cause, we can help get you started! Contact us at fandomtrumpshate at gmail.com and we can send you our auction playbook, as well as answer any questions you have about our process.

Your mods are going to be going into post-auction hibernation mode (or, for most of us, post-auction deal-with-all-this-other-stuff mode) for a little while. So if you email us, don't panic if we don't get back to you immediately! We will start actively monitoring the inbox again by April 15 at the latest.

Here is a quick snapshot of the donations to individual organizations - see below the cut for all of the totals!

We hope to see you all again next year!

Amounts raised for each of our individual orgs:

TLDEF $8,594.5 (18.15%) DigDeep/Navajo Water Project $7,037 (14.86%) Rainbow Railroad $5,970 (12.61%) Sherlock’s Homes Foundation $3,169.5 (6.69%) Life After Hate $3,069.75 (6.48%) Never Again Action $3,062.75 (6.46%) Citizens’ Climate Education $2,235 (4.72%) Xerces $2,103 (4.44%) Razom $2,101 (4.43%) Violence Policy Center $1327 (2.80%) NNtEDV $1,157.75 (2.44%) The Appeal $935 (1.97%) Other organizations (that aren’t abortion funds) $1,151 (2.43%)

All abortion funds $5,468.50 (11.54%) Indigenous Women Rising $2,073 (4.43%) other abortion funds $1,184.50 (2.50%) Abortion Fund of Ohio $963 (2.03%) KY Health Justice Network $634 (1.34%) New Orleans Abortion Fund $349 (.74%) Buckle Bunnies $240 (.51%)

[ethereal-bumble-bee]

hi pookie bear /p I have a TGS writing request if you’d perhaps consider it

could you write something with Hyde and Lanyon, maybe if Hyde was left alone with Lanyon after the Blackfog bazaar incident? With how Hyde was conked with that pipe, if it’s okay, I’d really like to see him let the secret out with Lanyon, and see Lanyons reaction to this crazy guy he’s never met before knowing him by name and saying he and his best friend are one and the same.

maybe with some angst if Lanyon realises Hyde isn’t lying? I’d really like it to be mainly between Lanyon and Hyde, though, maybe with a few panicked interjections from Jekyll watching it.

thanks in advance if you can do this, if not, that’s completely fine too!

mwah •3•

(idk why I didn’t just reply to this ask instead of tagging you but I’ll just reply anyways lol, sorry about that!

one and the same (1840 words) by etherealbumblebee Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Glass Scientists (Webcomic) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Dr. Henry Jekyll/Dr. Hastie Lanyon | Robert Lanyon, Dr. Henry Jekyll & Dr. Hastie Lanyon | Robert Lanyon, Edward Hyde/Dr. Hastie Lanyon | Robert Lanyon Characters: Dr. Hastie Lanyon | Robert Lanyon, Edward Hyde, Dr. Henry Jekyll Additional Tags: Angst, Dr. Henry Jekyll Has Issues, Dr. Hastie Lanyon | Robert Lanyon is So Done, bc he is, Hyde is obsessed with Lanyon’s eyes it’s canon, the homoeroticism is strong with this one, Anger, Discovery, Transformation Potion | Formula HJ7 (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) Summary: Lanyon carries Hyde home from the incident at Blackfog, and is (so graciously) attempting to nurse him back to health. Hyde decides to stir up trouble. … It doesn’t go well.

[genshin-silliness]

Personal headcanons for Tighnari, Cyno and Collei :)

Disclaimer: These are all my PERSONAL thoughts on each character and aren't meant to be taken as canon.

Tighnari

Starting off with my king, obviously (the obsession I have with this man is so unhealthy pls send help-).

I see him as being Pansexual. I don't think gender would really be a requirement for him to be attracted to someone (I'm projecting tbh).

Back in his Akademiya days, he used to have a horrible habit of neglecting his health for extra study-time. He thankfully improved and now puts self-care as a priority rather than optional.

Pretty popular headcanon, but he used to have longer hair back in his Akademiya days as well. He subconsciously grew it out because it looked similar to his father's, but once he moved to the forest he had to cut it since it would get in way. (F in the chat for Tighnari's hair😔).

I see him as either being cis-male or genderfluid.

Whenever he visits the grand bazaar, if he finds something that he thinks Collei would like he'll immediately buy it and leave it on her bed when he returns.

He's open to having his ears touched, however, what he doesn't tell people is that he enjoys it when they scratch that particular spot behind his ear. It's something of a guilty pleasure for him.

Has a few scars on his hands from digging in the dirt as a kid (he was a curious boy trying to look for treasures, unfortunately, all he found was sharp things).

Speaking of scars, also a pretty common headcanon, but he has a scar traveling down his left arm after the archon quest due to, yk, getting struck by lightning. I don't think the scar would bother him too much, as he would compare it to vines.

He grew up in Vimara village. His dad decided it would be best to raise a child there, since it would be easier on his ears.

After the archon quest, he didn't realize how much getting struck by lightning had traumatized him. It was only when a thunderstorm (I think he'd associate lightning with thunder since he heard thunder just before he got struck) passed through the village when he realized just how much it had effected him.

Don't think he's much of a crier. Not that he attempts to bottle up his emotions, I just don't think he's type to get too emotionally overwhelmed. (Not saying that it never happens, he's had his moments).

He feels most at ease when he's with his family and friends.

Refers to Cyno as his brother due to their close bond (I can't really call it a headcanon but I personally like the idea of them being childhood friends soooo).

Has actually has incredible artistic ability, due to drawing many sketches of different plants and organisms from a young age.

I don't think he'd ever admit it but somewhere, deep, deep, DEEP down, he has a soft spot for Cyno's jokes. He still hates them and finds them annoying, but since they make Cyno happy, and he knows the intent behind them, he can put up with it.

His love languages are physical touch, words of affirmation, and acts of service (source? I'm literally hoyoverse-)

Cyno

Bisexual and trans. I don't make the rules (I do).

I do see him being on the neurodivergent spectrum.

My man is TOUCH STARVED. As a kid, I don't think he received much physical touch, mostly because he doesn't seem like a kid who would want it. It wasn't until Tighnari asked if he could give him a hug that Cyno realized just how much he was starved of physical affection.

Dogs have a tendency to be attracted to him for some reason. He doesn't mind though.

Became the General Mahamatra at a young age (in his mid-teem years) (I don't think if that's actually canon or not tbh).

Had a lot self-identity problems growing up. Regarding his power, Hermanubis, all that stuff. But nowadays he's perfectly happy and content with who he is.

He has a scar on the back of his neck that he covers with a choker. He got it during his first year starting as a Matra when he let his guard down and someone came from behind and cut the back of his neck. He was embarrassed he let that happen, and now wears a choke to hide it.

He's an impulse purchaser (mostly when it comes to TCG stuff).

Since he doesn't like to be vulnerable around others he doesn't know, whenever he finds himself seriously injured (rare occasion) rather then heading to the Bimarstan he always goes to Tighnari. Since Tighnari knows him the best out of anyone.

He will occasionally visit Candace in the desert, and drop off a large crate of toys for all the kids of the village. He never takes credit though.

A few scholars, who weren't intimidated by Cyno's presence and instead became entranced by him started a secret fanclub for him. He is completely unaware that this fanclub exists.

After the archon quest, he started frequenting the Grand Bazaar and Nilou and him became good friends :) Nilou helps Cyno with his emotions, while Cyno helps Nilou with staying on guard (guys I love Nilou, can you tell??).

As a kid, he had REALLY long and thick hair that reached almost all the way down to his ankles. Lisa eventually helped cut it (Cyrus....tried. But it got too pitiful to watch so Lisa had to step in).

He would never admit it, but the sole reason he covers one eye with his hair is because he was influenced by Cyrus.

Kaveh once sheepishly asked if he could do Cyno's hair, which he agreed. Now, whenever the four meet up for their weekly gossip Cyno always leaves with his hair in a new style (Cyno's personal favorite was braids that tied back into a small ponytail).

When he was a kid, Cyno would experience sleep paralysis due to the influence his powers had on him at that age. One night, he cried and cried because he was scared, but then, Nahida spoke in his mind and told him it would be okay, and told him stories until he drifted back to sleep (kind of like with Dunyarzad) (I'd like to think Nahida spoke to a lot of children, not just her). Unlike Dunyarzad, Cyno doesn't remember this experience.

Collei

I personally don't have a solid gender or orientation headcanon for her, but I do think she'd be open to both men and women. Possibly unlabeled.

Give my girl freckles.

Her handwriting is SO bad and only Tighnari and a select few can actually understand it (she's getting better though).

While she's studying and taking notes she doodles little plants in the margins. When looking over her notes, Tighnari will sometimes make a comment on it like: "nice illustration here" and then she gets embarrassed.

She once got emotional when Tighnari told her he was proud of her (are half of these just gonna involve Tighnari...).

She needs to feel useful almost all the time (in Cyno's second story quest when you say you'll show off your tent pitching skills and she goes "no that's my job D:" UGHHHHH I love her so much).

She has heterochromia, with one of her eyes being grayish and the other being purple.

After reading so many light novels from Inazuma, she started writing short stories of her own as a hobby. She tends to base the characters of her stories off of the people she knows without realizing it. Though she has fun writing these stories, she vowed to never show anyone.

A larger headcanon, but I'd like to think that when Collei grows older, instead of enrolling in the Akademiya, she becomes an adventurer and traveler! I'd like to think she realizes that she wants to see more of the world, maybe that idea stemming from meeting the traveler. After hearing countless stories of their trips, she realizes that she wants to experience those stories herself. (I also like to think she'd travel with Freminet as well but that's a whole other post).

[karaloza]

Legend of Zelda Theme Park - Gerudo Desert

At long last, I've found a way to add the desert to my theme park!

At the western end of the Dark World is the entrance to a sandstone canyon which meanders a bit and then debouches onto a lively bazaar. Buildings are constructed from off-white masonry contrasting with brilliantly colored fabrics and mosaics. There are numerous planters containing palm trees and cacti to help direct foot traffic as well as providing bench space and extra shade. Near the center of the plaza is a circular fountain featuring a statue of a woman wielding a sword, surrounded by more vegetation. The outside edge of the area is bounded with facades representing sand dunes, among which can be seen landmarks such as the OoT Desert Colossus and BoTW Gerudo Town. From time to time, an animated figure of a Molduga arches from one sand dune to another like a breaching whale.

Attractions

Nabooru’s Training Course: A combination maze and obstacle course—periodically, the winding corridors offer an opportunity to hone your skills as an elite bandit…but if you don’t feel up to tackling the balance beam, overhead bars, crawl net, or other physical challenge, a normal path continues alongside the obstacle. This is just the beginners’ course—from time to time, you can peek through to a more advanced course where Gerudo make trapeze-caliber leaps over jets of fire, dodge flying darts, and disable booby traps (or fail to do so!). At the end of the maze is a playground featuring more things to climb and jump in, just in case you had any excess energy left.

Gerudo Warriors’ Procession: Taking place at scheduled intervals in the bazaar, a squad of the Gerudo tribe’s most impressive warriors parade through the street to a stage where they demonstrate some of their combat skills.

Skipper’s Time-Shifted Boat Tour: Inspired by the Lanayru Sand Sea from Skyward Sword, this dark ride uses projection mapping, augmented reality goggles, and a bit of motion simulation to create the illusion of riding in a boat through a desert that has been transformed into an ancient ocean, but only in a set radius around the craft thanks to the aura of the Timeshift Stone. Fantastic corals appear and disappear, long-decayed ships spring back into operation only to wither again as the boat leaves them behind, the bleached bones of sea monsters turn into living threats until the robot guide manages to outrun them. The queue includes a few interactive “windows” where the push of a button activates a Timeshift Stone to alter a scene—a massive tree reverts to a tiny sapling in a meadow, a crumbled ruin becomes a bustling fortress in its heyday, etc.

Sand-Seal Rally Race: A high-speed ride along a figure-eight racing track, in a seal-drawn “sand sled.” Watch out when you get to the crossing point—don’t crash with another sled!

Shops

5. Silken Palace: Scarves, shawls, capelets, veils, and other free-flowing clothing and accessories made from scrumptiously colored and patterned fabrics…even sarees! Knowledgeable staff can show how to properly put on your purchases if you need help.

6. Hotel Oasis Spa Shop: A health and beauty shop featuring LoZ-inspired makeup palettes, custom-blended perfumes and colognes, bath salts, soaps, scrubs, massage oils, and other products to pamper your skin after a long day in the desert.

7. Starlight Memories: A jewelry boutique specializing in big, showy styles of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, and even diadems. Many pieces are inspired by the traditional jewelry styles of the Middle East and South Asia.

8. Sand-Seal Adoption Center: The Sand-Seal Rally Race exits through this shop specializing in plush toys of sand seals and other desert creatures both real and fanciful, with an optional “adoption ceremony” for your special new friend.

9. Miscellaneous Merchandise Booths: Small spaces leased out to small business retailers whose wares are in line with the overall “vibe” of the Bazaar.

Eateries

10. Gerudo Bistro: A café with well-shaded patio seating, featuring a menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern entrees and appetizers.

11. Arbiter’s Grounds: An Arabian/Persian/Turkish style coffee and tea bar, harking back to the ancient relationship with coffee enjoyed by the cultures that inspired the Gerudo. Brews are available hot, iced, flavored, even blended with ice cream for a perky smoothie. Or head next door…

12. Kara Kara Creamery: Beat the heat with frozen treats! Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, milkshakes, and smoothies are all available here, made to order. If you’re with a group, try the Seven Heroines Sundae, with seven “orbs” of different flavors reflecting the virtues prized by the Gerudo: skill, spirit, endurance, knowledge, flight, motion, and gentleness.

[baublekute]

BaubleBarbelle Journey

Day 1 - Muscle mommy dreams. Getting swole... eventually. Everyone starts somewhere.

Over the past week, I've been sitting and sifting through ideas. Dangerous. I know. How can I feel stronger and what is in my control. One of the answers is my health and honoring/respecting what my body is capable of. As I was researching my idea, I came across a story I was previously unaware of that propelled me forward.

The Turners. German immigrants of Civil War-era America who believed in physical fitness, beer, and democratic socialism. Several members fought against slavery and even became a volunteer guard to Abraham Lincoln.

gymnastic Gymnastik-, gymnastisch, Turn-, turnerisch

“A Turner is a—man—or woman—of liberal and harmonious education of body and mind—a believer in life and its beauty and its perpetuation ever nobler and inspiring ideals. Should be cheerful, happy, sympathetic, charitable, tolerant, striving for the truth and justice, and for promoting the social and economic condition of all.” (Source: MSS Lot Lincoln Turners Box 3, Souvenir Program for the Grand Colonial Fair and Bazaar, 1919)

Now I also thought about creating a side blog for this, but I also realized that video games have kept me interested in physical activity. How can I train to become as strong as my OCs? How can I incorporate some D&D-based motivation? So far, all I've been doing is using dice rolls to track some "street cred" or "experience", but I know it can be taken further. It's a start and I'm sure it will evolve.

More historical context and sources below the cut:

The Turners in Germany

Began as a major gymnastic movement in Germany under Napolean occupation. Started by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, also known as Turnvater or "father of gymnastics". The Turnvereine or "gymnastic unions" were gathering places for athletics as well as political unionizing for independence. Advocating for a united and democratic Germany, the Turners were initially rooted in liberal and nationalist ideals. There's a whole lot of German Revolution history here. Like any group, particularly during times of instability, had radical members on both sides. And it's also important to mention that some of the Turner elements were taken and misappropriated by the growing Nazi movement within Germany.

Sources: https://jacobin.com/2023/08/german-forty-eighters-immigrants-turners-exercise-socialists-abolitionists-civil-war

https://www.chicagohistory.org/gymnastic-history-of-the-turners/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turners

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Hilarious headline and caption from the Daily Mail by u/Mickleborough

Hilarious headline and caption from the Daily Mail I won’t bother summarising the article - something about Sussexes inflicting themselves on a school to convince the children that they have mental health issues or something.The headline and caption were great though.Headline:https://ift.tt/QCxm5gU Mail archived / unarchivedEDIT: Seems from the article that Harper’s Bazaar is the official mouthpiece. Harper’s is known for hard-hitting, factual, objective reporting. post link: https://ift.tt/7tWn3HL author: Mickleborough submitted: August 15, 2024 at 10:03PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[ronaldofandom]

A Love Eternal / Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna

Chapter 9 is here!!

Entirely dedicated to RamSita. Deep conversations about their relationship and about what all they have gone through together. Covers the wholeness and incompleteness of their dynamic. Can be read as a one-shot.

No warnings.

I haven't found much content dedicated to them, hope that changes soon :)

Chapter 9

(Links to Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 7, Ch 8, Ch 10 , Ch 11)

Ram spent the next hour pacing along the outskirts of the village. Trying to find the right words to express the multitude of emotions raging through him. He couldn’t recollect the last time they had an honest conversation about their relationship. He had put it off for so long that the burden of unsaid feelings was hanging heavy between them. To the point that Ram was convinced it was all lost. But he would try to take Bheem’s advice and not assume anything. There was no point in putting this off any longer. Tonight, was as good (or as ominous) as any to speak to Sita. Maybe he won’t have to say much. Maybe she will just understand, like she understood everything else about him.

When he walked in, Sita was wrapping up her chores for the day.

‘How was the meeting? Did you learn anything useful from the informants?’

She asked, while handing him a bowl of herbal soup. To Ram, it smelt like petrol and tasted much worse. But he had learnt it the hard way that there was no scope for negotiation. Sita was in charge of Ram’s diet. It had been less than three weeks since his escape. He was yet to recover fully and to regain his strength. Sita had taken it upon herself to nurse him back to health. She prepared all his meals with special nutritional ingredients. Even when he was tied up somewhere else and couldn’t come to her to eat, she would send the food via someone.

Ram made a face while drinking the soup, which she pointedly ignored. And repeated her question.

‘Yes, the meeting was very fruitful. But…our village is under heavy surveillance. They are circling it to find any sign of me.’

She nodded silently, understanding the implication. They will have to stay here longer, away from their home. It wasn’t safe to return, not yet.

‘Hmmm. It’s fine. We will make do. Has Babai reached safely?’

‘Yes.’

‘Hmm. I can see the bowl is not empty, Ram. Pick it back up and finish it. We will not have the same conversation again.

He did so grudgingly. And she smiled at him fondly.

‘We are progressing well in teaching basic English to the informants. Jenny and I are taking extra classes. People have picked up really fast. We should be able to complete their training well before we had originally anticipated.’

Her eyes shone with silent determination and resolve, drawing Ram in.

‘Which reminds me, did they bring the medicinal herbs I had asked for? I need that to try some of the new techniques I learnt from the books you got for me.’

Her voice broke Ram out of his reverie.

‘Ummm yes. I think they got a few from your list. And some ready made potions from the bazaar as well. You will have it in the morning.’

‘Good. Lots of work to do.’

She cleaned Ram’s bowl, as he changed for the night. Unable to broach the subject yet.

‘When do you have to go for the supply run? Tell me in advance. I need to pack some healthy food for you.’

‘Day after tomorrow. Bheem and I will leave early morning, along with a few other men.’

‘Fine. I will get it ready by tomorrow night then.’

She got back to her work then, already thinking about the things she had to get done tomorrow.

Ram stood still, just looking at her. In some ways, she was the female version of him. It struck Ram how she never complained about their situation. Never asked him why he was late or why he had to go away for long. What needed to be done had to be done. She understood it as clearly as he did.

She had the same will, same resolve, same sense of duty, same fortitude of silent strength. She loved the land, the people as much as he did.

Yet, she was vastly different from him, in so many ways.

In their years of struggle, she hadn’t lost her humanity. Her empathy. Her morals. Her perceptiveness. Her kindness. She had managed to preserve a part of herself that wasn’t lost in pain & vengeance. She had retained a sense of hope. Of better times. For their motherland. For him and her. She hadn’t turned into an emotional wreck, a robot, a dysfunctional sociopath.

The revolution had not destroyed her true nature. Rather, it had enhanced it. In that way, she was a lot like Bheem.

Ram wished he could be like the two of them. Strong. Loving. Good.

His hands fisted and opened and fisted again in silent frustration.

‘Don’t you ever get tired? Does it not get too much sometimes?’

She turned around and looked at him in confusion.

‘Tired of what?’

‘Of being so….righteous all the time. Of taking care of everyone. Of giving all of yourself for everyone else, and not thinking about your own wishes at all. Of being this beacon of hope for everyone around you. Don’t you want to scream into a pillow sometimes? Or run away, without ever looking back?’

Sita looked at him for a few seconds, then moved closer to stand right in front of him.

She knew this was going to be a long, deep conversation. And she was glad - he was finally talking to her about stuff that was eating away at him.

‘I am no saint. I am a human, I get tired too. Frustration gets to me as well. There have been many moments where I have asked god why he did this to us. Why such cruelty was destined for us. Why we couldn’t have a normal childhood, a normal life, like anyone else. But then, I am reminded of what your Amma used to say - that our purpose in life is bigger than our own selves. God hasn’t singled us out for this pain. Rather, we are the chosen ones, to change the course of history forever. To create a better future for our country, our children, their children. To bring back the pride, the glory, the honour of our motherland. We are all soldiers for this cause, men and women alike. With a single goal that unites us all - to live in the Bharat of our dreams. So, how can I think of running away, Ram? When this runs in my blood. And where will I run to? Why will I abandon my people? Who am I without them?’

Ram shook his head in wonder, coupling it with a dry laugh.

While his father’s vows and words had hung like a dead weight on Ram’s shoulders, crippling him inside and out, her mother’s words had instead become a mantra of Sita’s life. She had embraced them fully - heart and soul. To the point where she was almost a reflection of his mother - a woman willing to sacrifice her husband and both sons for the larger cause of her country.

He felt the same warmth, same hope, same comfort and same care in Sita’s presence. Like he could put his face in her lap and all his troubles would go away. Her pallu a blanket of security around him.

He reached out tentatively, his fingers curling into hers.

‘Is it enough for you, then? Living for your country? Or, do you….do you want more from life?’

His voice turned small, but she heard what he said. And what he didn’t say.

She gently clasped his hands and squeezed them lightly.

‘I will take what I get, Ram. What comes my way. I will make my peace with it.’

His eyes shut in pain. In guilt. Was this her way of saying she would make do with whatever morsels of affection he throws her way, if at all?

‘I know that. I know you can take anything in your stride and deal with it. But my question is, DO YOU WANT MORE?’

Sita thought long and hard about her response.

‘Yes. Like I said, I am only human.’

Ram knew this was coming. He had seen the unspoken dreams in her eyes. And he had dreaded this situation. Because he didn’t know if he was capable of more. In fact, he was pretty certain that he wasn’t. The part of him, that knew how to love another human being so deeply, had died that day along with his family. Since that day, he had been too closed off, not letting anyone else get too close to his heart, not even Sita. Another loss of love would be too much for him to bear, so he had figured it would be best to not let anyone in. Over the years, that sentiment had cemented itself. This was now second nature to him.

He was too toxic, too heartless, too cold, too hopeless for someone as pure as Sita.

He truly wanted her to be happy. To get the ‘more’ she had been seeking all these years. For that to happen, he needed to disappear from her life.

He said all this out loud. Now that he had kept his promise to his father, he could go away somewhere else and participate in the movement there. She could be with another then, someone who would love her like she deserved. She could be free from this half-maiden, half-widow like life she had with him. Everyone would be better off with him gone, but most of all her.

He blurted all this out quickly, lest he ran out of courage. He looked up and saw the pools of tears in her eyes, which he had expected.

But he hadn’t expected what came next. Not even in his wildest dreams.

Sita slapped him. Hard. Across the face.

Normally, he wouldn’t have moved an inch from the force of it. But the shock of it almost made him tumble. It stung deeply and he covered his cheek with his hand, still processing what had happened.

‘If that’s what you think of me, if that’s how little you know me, then maybe you are right. Maybe we shouldn’t be together.’

Her tone and her words cut him deeply. She had recovered from her distraught state - fury was the prevailing emotion in her eyes now.

She came closer and fisted her hands in his shirt, shaking him with all her might.

‘When I said I wanted more, I meant I wanted more WITH YOU. Only and only with you.’

She shook him some more.

‘If my choices are status quo with you vs not having you at all, I will pick you every single day. No matter if someone else can offer me the sun. I don’t want it. DO YOU HEAR ME, RAM? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?’

He nodded at her, and she let go of his shirt. Taking two steps back.

‘Why?’

His voice was nearly a whisper now. He couldn’t fathom why she was so devoted to him. And he wanted to make sure it wasn’t due to a false sense of duty she might feel towards him.

‘Oh, you stupid fool, you can go to hell….’

He cut her off.

‘Please? I really need to know this. I want to understand. Why Sita, why me? Why still me? Even after everything that I have done? You may not even know the full details - let me tell you those. Let me tell you what I have stooped to, who I have become. You have a right to know everything.’

‘You don’t need to tell me anything. I know it all.’

‘You can’t possibly know…’

It was her turn to cut him off.

‘I know what you did to Bheem, both at the party and at the punishment site. Jenny told me. I know what you did to Lachchu when you held him for information. He told me himself. Rather, I coaxed it out of him when he was keeping his distance from me. The sweet boy was hesitating to tell me, lest I start thinking less of you. And, I know what you had to do in Delhi all those years, to rise up the ranks of British forces. Babai told me. Is there anything I am missing?’

Ram opened and closed his mouth, like a fish. She knew all this, yet she loved him. How? For what wapt reason? Could she not see that her childhood best friend had turned into a monster?

‘If you want me to say you made all the right decisions and I stand by you 100%, then you are grossly mistaken. Hurting Bheem, Lachchu, your own countrymen wasn’t right, wasn’t justified. You should spend your whole life to make up for it, if that’s what it takes. But, I also know that not everything is so black and white. Remember what your baba used to say - there is collateral damage in a war. The Pandavas had to fight and kill many friends on the opposite side - they had no choice. They didn’t know any other way’.

He listened with rapt attention, hanging on to every word she said.

‘Ram - I know you didn’t hurt your own countrymen out of spite. I know you didn’t take any pleasure from it. I know it’s eating away at you. I know you thought it was the only way, to not let your baba down. I know you are not this monster that you tout yourself to be. A monster does not carry the burden of remorse, like you do every second. I am not saying you are blameless. You should have tried harder to find another way instead of the path you chose, no matter how long it took. You came to that realisation later but it shouldn’t have come after you did what you did. But tell me - who should have told you otherwise? Who was there to guide you? You have been making every important decision of the village since you were 12 years old - you had no one to look to for support. You didn’t know any better. So, I can’t bring myself to hate you. I can’t bring myself to love you any lesser.’

Overwhelmed with emotion, Ram reached out to her and rested his head on her shoulder, seeking comfort in her embrace. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and patted his head gently. Suddenly, he felt like his 10 year old self, seeking her out when he got too overwhelmed. She was the only one who could soothe him then, and it seemed to be the case even now.

Knowing that she knew everything made him feel lighter. Knowing that she still loved him despite all this made him feel utterly unworthy of her love.

He wanted to do right by her. To do justice to her. She knew that. But she had some questions of her own too.

‘Ram - is there someone else?’

He looked up from her shoulder, straight into her eyes.

‘What?’

‘Well, we have been away for a very long time. Completely out of touch for the last four years. You have been alone all this while. It’s possible someone else may have caught your eye during this period. Someone who was a companion first, then a confidante and then maybe….more. You don’t have to feel duty bound to stay with me if that’s the case. You don’t have to worry about what might happen to me, what the villagers might think about me. I can handle that. But I don’t want to come in the way of your happiness. And I definitely don’t want to force this on you - three hearts will be broken and no one will be happy.’

She continued her rant. Ram was too shocked to intervene. But when she finished and asked him again whether he had anything to say, he started with that dry, cynical laugh again.

‘You think….you think I had any mind space to fall in love with someone else while I was in a living hell? You think I would…cheat on you?’

‘No…no I didn’t mean it like that. I just…I didn’t want you to…’

‘Shhhh….it’s fine. There is no one else Sita. There could never be anyone else, if not you.’

He hugged her. And she buried her face in the crook of his neck as his hands stroked her back.

‘Ram?’

‘Hmmm.’

‘What do you feel about me?’

Neither had the strength to look at the other while he responded to it, so they stayed in the embrace.

‘You are my biggest strength. All these years, I wanted to succeed for my family but also for you. I knew they wouldn’t be around when I go back, but you would be there, waiting for me with pride. I wanted to come home to you after fulfilling my promise. You are also my moral compass. Every time I did something heinous in Delhi, I confessed it to you in a letter which I never posted. I had fallen in my eyes long back, but I was afraid to fall in yours. Your disdain, your contempt, your indifference, your disgust would break me. I won’t know what to do with myself. I would lose my centre of gravity, my only constant in life, if I lose you. I can not imagine a world or my life without you in it.’

Her tears threatened to spill over, but she willed them away, not wanting to disturb his flow.

‘You are my oldest friend. The one person who really knows me for me. Who knows what has shaped the person I am today. Who wouldn’t hesitate to show me the mirror. Who would do everything to help me course correct if I stray from my path. You give me peace. You give me hope. You make me feel safe. You make me feel so…loved. In my book, you could do no wrong. You could never be not good. You are the best person I know. You and Bheem make me believe in goodness again. You are also the…most beautiful woman I know.’

She giggled in the middle of her sobs.

‘Really - what about all the city girls? Or the English women - I am sure many would have batted their eyelashes at you?’

He stroked her upper arms gently, as she continued to snuggle against him.

‘No one holds a candle to you. No one.’

She looked at him then, and wiped the lone tear that had escaped his eye.

‘Ram - I didn’t know you feel this way.’

‘How would you? I never said it before. Never showed it to you with my actions either.’

‘But I do know now, and you know what? I don’t need more. This is enough for me. Truly.’

She didn’t know whether what he said was synonymous with love. It felt close to it. Their bond was so deep, so familiar that if not in this life, he must have certainly loved her in another life.

Ram wasn’t buying it though.

‘You maybe saying it now, but will it suffice forever?’

‘Yes it will. I know it will.’

‘You are being stubborn, not really thinking it through. Are you sure you would never want your spouse to be as lovesick as say Bheem? Don’t you want what they have?’

Truth be told, while Ram knew that Bheem was a sensitive romantic at heart, he had never anticipated him to turn into such a lovesick puppy. At times, he almost wanted to whack him for all his fluffiness.

Sita was deep in thought. She had seen their bond up close and was privy to most of his thoughtful gestures. She had seen the giddiness on Jenny’s face every time she spoke about him or about something he had done for her. She had seen the way Bheem sought her out in any gathering, his eyes always searching for her. The way his face lit up when he spotted her. The stolen glances, the brushing of hands, the little whispers - the excitement of new love. The joy of discovering new things about your partner. And Ofcourse, …….the intimacy of their bond.

Ram was thinking the exact same things when she spoke again.

‘I will be lying if I say I haven’t thought about all that. It is exciting, it makes my heart ache a little and I do admit that. But would I take that over what we have? The answer is a resounding no.’

He was about to interrupt but she signalled him to stop.

‘I don’t need you to make flower garlands or shell necklaces for me - I know that’s not you. I don’t need you to follow me around like I am the centre of your universe. I don’t need you to drop everything and stay by my side. I don’t expect you to sing for me or cook for me or carry me around in your arms. I don’t need you to be him. I love you for you.’

‘I love how you always bring me the most interesting books, since I couldn’t be in the city & books are the only way for me to get exposure to the new world. I love how I am an equal partner in your revolution - it’s always been the two of us, together. I love how you always encourage me to grow my skills. I love how you always share everything about the revolution with me and take my opinion on key matters. I love how you want to bring me along for some of your upcoming missions, to be able to spread the knowledge among other women. I love how proud you are of me.’

‘I love that you think of me as your home because….you are the only home I have ever known. Since I remember anything, I remember you. We were bound together by life, by destiny. Why should I want the giddiness of new love, when I have the certainty & comfort of years of togetherness. Why should I want the thrill of discovering new things, when I am the one who knows you inside out? Why should I wonder what future holds for us, when I already know we would spend the rest of our lives together, however long we may have. Ram - what they have is great and I am very happy for them. But trust me, what we have is even better. It works for us.’

Ram was speechless after her passionate submission. She reached out for his hands again, holding them close to her cheeks.

‘I wish we could have both. I wish I could give you everything. It’s not fair to you. But hey, when has life ever been fair to us?

She smiled, despite her emotional state.

‘What if…what if we are never able to be…together like that? I know you love children. And don’t tell me you don’t want your own kids.’

Sita was anticipating this, the final piece of the puzzle.

‘We don’t know what the future holds for us. If we are meant to have our own kids, we will. If not, we can always adopt right? We will figure something out.’

‘Hmmmm.’

Ram had no other argument left. She had won, convincingly. And he was secretly glad about it. The chasm between them all this while had been too painful for both. He swore to never have that emotional distance from her again.

‘Its late - should we get some sleep?’

He nodded and took out the mat, while Sita laid on the cot. This was their routine. A few minutes passed and both were on the brink of sleep.

‘Sita?’

He called out from below.

‘Hmm.’

‘I can’t believe you slapped me.’

She laughed. Out loud. For the first time that night. It sounded beautiful to him. He wished she did that more often.

‘Well, someone had to do it to tell you how idiotic you can be. Bheem and I were the most likely candidates. But he would never do this to his Anna so it had to be me.’

Ram could see the logic in that, but he didn’t intend to let it go anytime soon.

‘It hurt. A lot. I think a bruise is forming.’

‘Awww. And I thought you didn’t blink an eye for 2 months when they beat you up. Yet a tiny bruise from a girl’s bare hand is hurting a lot?’

Well played, he thought. She giggled again at his concession of defeat.

He was silent for another two minutes. She was half asleep by then.

‘Sita?’

‘What now?’

‘Will you marry me?’

She suddenly became fully alert.

‘But..we were anyway supposed to…’

‘I know. Everyone just assumed that we will get married one day. Like both of us did too. But….but I never really asked you, did I? So I want to ask now, right now. Will you marry me? Not because we were always supposed to get married but because we WANT to spend whatever life we have left together?’

‘Is this your way of proposing to me? When both of us are half asleep? And after the draining talk we just had?’

‘Yes.’

‘I expected nothing different. Yes - I will marry you, Ram. In my heart, we have been married for years. But let’s do a proper ceremony for everyone, and for us, whenever we can make our way back home.’

‘Okay.’

‘Good night. Try to get some sleep now.’

He smiled. His first heartfelt smile tonight.

‘Good night, fiance.’

Two minutes more. Her soft snores started to fill the room. Sleep never came easy to Ram but he liked to watch her sleep - it gave him peace and some sense of relaxation.

But something was bothering him still. He knew he won’t get even a few hours of rest if his mind is not eased.

‘Ummm, Sita are you asleep?’

‘No. I snore while being awake. OFCOURSE I was asleep.’

‘Sorry.’

She heard the pain and restlessness in his voice.

‘What is it? The nightmares are back, are they?’

‘No, not that.’

‘What is it then? What’s bothering you?’

He spoke after a few seconds of silence.

‘Do you think I will ever be able to earn the forgiveness of my countrymen? The several who I have wronged?’

From the cot, Sita extended her arm towards him and he held her hand.

‘You have to keep trying. You have to keep fighting for our country. And one day, maybe, they will forgive you. It’s a long journey, Ram, and I will be with you every step of the way.’

He squeezed her hand in response. Thanking the universe for her.

‘Every time I see Bheem, I am reminded of the way he looked at me that night. First in disbelief, then in pain, and then broken with betrayal. But, on the day of the….punishment, he refused to look at me at all. Like I wasn’t worthy of any emotion from him, not even disgust. And yet, he….he risked his life to come back for me. How will I ever make it right with him? He refuses to even talk about it. He refuses to let me apologise.’

She knew how much this pained him. Hurting Bheem had broken him the most.

‘First of all, you need to apologise to everyone who was there and is scarred by that memory. Not just Bheem. But his friends who accompanied him to Delhi and also, Jenny.’

‘I have spoken to her. Somewhat. But yeah, don’t think I have apologised explicitly. And Lachchu - I tried many times but he just tolerates my presence somehow. That will take time. I will speak to the others.’

‘Good. And about Bheem - ask him to show you his scars.’

‘His what?’

‘The scars that he got from the lashing. And from being beaten up while in captivity. Ask him to show them to you.’

‘Aren’t they…aren’t they healed by now?’

‘No. They are better but far from being healed. Jenny is still applying the salve twice a day.’

He felt sick to the core. Bheem hadn’t told him this, of course he didn’t. And he hadn’t asked, the coward that he was. Then and now.

‘But…what…what good would that do?’

‘It’s the only way both of you will face the reality of what happened. You are both brushing it under the carpet, thinking it will just go away. The physical scars will go away, Ram, but the emotional scars will fester the longer they are unaddressed. He says he is fine but subconsciously, he is hurting too. Ask him what he felt, what he had to go through. Ask him how he spent the two months in hiding, struggling to make ends meet. Living with the worst betrayal of his life. Have a real conversation with him about this. Not the superficial one you both do, where you guys just say how much you love each other and it’s all fine. No, it’s not fine. You have to work on it to make it fine, to be able to move on.’

Ram stayed still as her words echoed in the quiet of the night.

‘When did you become so wise?’

‘When you became this stupid. Needed to restore the balance.’

They stayed like that - her on the cot and him on the mat, arms outstretched, holding hands. The sound of her calm breathing lulling him to a few hours of sleep, without any nightmares.

.......................................................................

Phew! I hope I did them justice. As always, would love to hear your thoughts :)

Shout out to @fangirlshrewt97 for brainstorming some of the scenes with me.

@irisesforyoureyes @rambheem-is-real @thewinchestergirl1208 @eremin0109 @eenadu-varthalu @rorapostsbl @yehsahihai @budugu @maraudersbitchesassemble @juhiiiiii @justmeand-myinsight @rambheemisgoated @rosayounan @jrntrtitties @obsessedtoafault @rambheemlove @jjwolfesworld @alikokinav @iam-siriuslysher-lokid @bromance-minus-the-b @dumdaradumdaradum @lovingperfectionwonderland @annieginny @chaanv @ssabriel @sally-for-sally @milla984 @doodlesofthelastpage @boochhaan @mesimpleone @filesbeorganized @ladydarkey @teddybat24 @stanleykubricks @stuckyandlarrystuff @burningsheepcrown @veteran-fanperson @voidsteffy @ronika-writes-stuff @beingmes-blog @yonderghostshistories @nisreenart @chaidrivenwhore @bheemaxrama @carminavulcana @umbrulla @mizutaama @rosefulmadness @gifseafins

[eiirisworkshop]

Chiaroscuro

A Star Trek TOS fanfiction Complete fic available to read on Ao3 here.

~

Chapter 1

“Considering how well things went last time 'round,” McCoy griped, “I can't say I'm looking forward to this.”

Kirk clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I don't think Starfleet much cares whether any of us are looking forward to it, Bones. The Summit meeting is on our way and at least this time we only have one ambassador to worry about.”

“Yeah, yeah.” McCoy tugged at the cuff of his dress uniform tunic. “But the one we've got is the one I'd most like to avoid. If he's not dyin' on us, him and Spock'll be glaring at each other the whole damn trip and swearing they're doing no such thing. I dunno that I've got the mettle for either.”

Kirk stifled a grin. “Well, you have about five minutes to prepare yourself.”

McCoy huffed and grumbled something to do with a Southern summer not being enough time.

Right on schedule, five minutes later, they were docking at Hestia-1, an independent space station variously described as a floating city, a grand bazaar, and an island of lost toys. It also happened to have been the site of a recent trade agreement signing, which had brought Ambassador Sarek and his wife to the station. Now Kirk went to meet them—as was his duty, even if it was merely a formality—and escort them to the ship, McCoy and Spock in tow along with a couple security officers.

Sarek and Amanda were waiting for them in the station's gardens. Kirk plastered a standard, diplomatic smile across his face. “Ambassador, I hope you're in better health.”

Sarek contemplated him a short moment. “I am.”

“Glad to hear it.” He turned to the ambassador's wife. “And Lady Amanda, always a pleasure.”

“So nice to see you again, Captain,” Amanda said pleasantly before turning to greet her son. “Spock, how are you?”

“I'm fine, Mother,” Spock said diplomatically.

“Of course you are.” Amanda gave a faint smile, almost a smirk, Kirk wasn't entirely sure he hadn't imagined—at least until Spock's eyebrow twitched up in turn. Amanda's smile widened as she turned again. “Doctor, I trust you're well.”

“Doing quite alright, thank you, ma'am.” McCoy gave a half bow.

For his part, Sarek just nodded his way through the niceties.

Once the ambassador and his wife had been shown to their quarters, the ship had been resupplied, and all the necessary bureaucracy with the station had been seen to, the Enterprise continued on her way.

The end of Alpha shift found Lady Amanda sitting in the Officer's Mess with Lt. Uhura and Nurse Chapel, sharing an angular pot of aromatic bright pink tea between them.

“He does have to be mindful not to overexert himself, still,” Amanda said to Nurse Chapel. “Even so, I can tell he is much more comfortable thanks to you and Dr. McCoy, and Spock, of course. I wish he'd tell you himself how grateful he is, but….” She trailed off, shook her head, and sipped her tea. “In any case, I know he'd rather be alive than dead, and I must admit I prefer him that way, too. At least since the council meeting on Babel I've managed to convince him that as his wife I deserve to be kept abreast of his health.”

“You have the patience of a saint,” Nurse Chapel said dryly.

“I genuinely don't know how you stay sane,” Lt. Uhura breathed, pouring herself another cup of tea.

Amanda shrugged. “I love him. It's amazing what love will teach us to tolerate, even to find endearing. Even so,” she grinned at them, “it is quite nice to have the opportunity to relax and spend time with other human women once in a while.”

“We have to stand together,” Lt. Uhura said, holding her cup out for Amanda to clink her own against. “Otherwise these men are going to drive us all crazy.”

“No matter their species,” Nurse Chapel added, clinking her cup with Uhura's, too.

Amanda laughed.

“Anyway,” Nurse Chapel began, “is that why Ambassador Sarek's been in your quarters more or less ever since the two of you joined us? He's having to rest?”

“So he says.” Amanda sighed. “I suspect, though, that the greater part of the truth is he's taking it as an excuse to avoid most of the crew. I do believe he's still rather embarrassed over causing such a fuss last time.”

“Sarek? Embarrassed?” Uhura teased. “That sounds unlikely.”

Amanda laughed softly. “The thing about Vulcans is they're not unfeeling, as much as they claim to be—I think you've both worked with my son long enough to know that. If anything, they feel more deeply than we do, it's just that it does take more to rouse their emotions than it does for us, and of course, no matter what they're feeling, they won't admit it. That part's mostly cultural and it's the most frustrating.”

“I can imagine,” Uhura said sympathetically.

“I can't.” Nurse Chapel snorted faintly. “I have almost the opposite problem, working with McCoy. His mood changes on hardly anything and I have to keep up.”

“Somehow, that's why he and Spock are friends,” Uhura said conspiratorially.

“Are they really?” Amanda asked. Uhura and Chapel nodded. Amanda smiled. “I'm glad to hear that. I knew he and the Captain were friends, but I'm heartened that he has more than the one.”

“The three of them are like this,” Uhura said, twining her index, middle, and ring fingers together. “The three Musketeers. There are jokes among the crew that one of these days we're going to find a planet where triple marriage is the norm and the whole world will assume the three of them are hitched, and they probably won't even notice until someone starts asking about their honeymoon.”

Amanda had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing too loudly. Nurse Chapel almost choked on her tea with mirth.“I hadn't heard that one!”

“I heard it from Sulu,” Uhura giggled. “He says it's been going around Engineering.”

With a soft fwshh, the door to the Mess opened and Spock walked in, hands clasped behind his back. The three women looked at each other and burst out in redoubled laughter.

One of Spock's eyebrows twitched up. “Am I...interrupting?”

“Of course not.” Uhura smiled angelically.

Spock fixed her with a stony stare for a moment then turned his gaze to Amanda. “You wanted to see me, Mother.”

“I did.” Amanda got smoothly to her feet and stepped around the table. “Are you free now?”

“If I weren't, I would not be here,” Spock pointed out.

“Naturally.” Amanda folded her hands into her flowing sleeves.“I was hoping you'd show me around the ship.”

“You've been given a tour of the ship previously,” Spock said, with a vague hint of puzzlement.

“I have,” Amanda agreed, “but never by you, and it's been some time. Indulge me, won't you?”

Spock took a breath and ever so slightly dipped his head. With a warm smile, Amanda followed her son out of the Mess.

“I sense,” Spock said softly as he and his mother walked down the corridor, “that you have ulterior motives for this.”

“Yes, but I'm hardly hiding them, Spock.” The cowl neck of Amanda's dress slipped off her shoulder and she fixed it. “I so rarely have the opportunity to see you, and even when I do we barely get to talk. Show me around, I'd love to see your favorite places on the ship, and I'm sure you've seen all sorts of incredible things during your duties that you could tell me about.”

“Well,” Spock began thoughtfully, turning his steps toward the ship's botanical garden, “have you ever heard of tribbles?”

“I haven't.”

~

End of chapter! Read the rest on Ao3 here.

[laslow]

Get In Loser We're Going Shopping | Team Verdane

A drabble in which we earn a little bit more than we bargained for

The realization that things did not go to plan was of little surprise.

Honestly, he'd be surprised if things did go smoothly for once. All things considered, a shipwreck blowing them off course was nothing. A mere inconvenience!

Less so was the fact they lost some allies while gaining others. Laslow prays those swept away by the currents are faring safely wherever they washed up. It'll surely make for a grand story once they've all endured this latest adventure.

He sets his worries aside for now; there are more pressing matters at hand, like scrounging up a weapon or two. Utterly embarrassing, to lose his equipment. But perhaps a kind lady might take pity on him--a poor young man floundering ashore without a sword to protect himself! Yes, he can see it now, the compassion in a lovely pair of eyes, the tugging of the heartstrings--

Someone jostles his shoulder and ruins the illusion. There's a muttered sorry before they're swallowed up by the crowd. Laslow adjusts his jacket. For the best he doesn't get too lost in his head anyway. The bazaar is teeming with people, from sellers peddling their wares seated on colorful rugs to shoppers of all ages going about their day.

"Stay close," Laslow warns both Corrin and Hilda. They push through well enough, only slowing when they all notice an incredibly busy stall with a brightly dressed man at the center. He looks like he wants to stand out, despite the tinted glasses hiding half his expression. Bottles and vases containing suspicious liquids are arranged in haphazard order, and Laslow thinks it's a miracle no one has accidentally broken one.

Eventually, he catches the seller's attention.

"afternoon! could you direct me to the vulneraries, please?" The merchant smiles wide at Laslow's approach, and immediately begins bowing and gesturing and rubbing his hands together when he seems interested in what he has for sale. "Vulneraries? For what ailment? My child, you'll have to be more specific. I've a number of remedies -- warts, sunburn, bellyache, hair loss, sore feet... name your illness and I'll fix it, good as new! What shall it be?" laslow blinks a moment. the one for sore feet actually doesn't sounds too bad.... "oh, for general health! my friends and i just escaped a shipwreck, you see. it was all rather harrowing." it’s now that corrin pipes up, smiling despite the… strange energy of the man. “we were planning to travel towards…” a moment’s pause to pray she correctly remembered the name of their original destination, “grannvale, and we’re just looking to stock up for the journey.”

"A shipwreck? Oh! Yes, I did hear news of a bunch of foreigners coming ashore this morning." His smile seems to curl. "Now, I have just the thing for you. Those waves can be mighty rough." Nimble fingers pick through a sectioned box as he nods along to Corrin's request, lifting one thin vial of multi-colored liquid after another until finally finding one - a vibrant green - and plucks it from the batch. "Grannvale's quite a distance from here. Seven days might get you to the border, if you're on horseback. If you plan to walk, well..." He holds out the vial, his other hand poised under it palm-up like a stage. "This little concoction will melt away all of those pesky aches, and you won't feel any new ones for half a day at least. A must-have for any long journey. You'll feel like you're enveloped in a cloud!" “oh! how convenient.” damn. they’re going to be here a while. corrin leans closer, peering at the little vial for a moment. her expression is considerably less suspicious than it should be, probably. “i’ve never heard of anything like it. you must be quite skilled at your craft,” her head tilts, “how much would that run us, do you think?” news indeed travels fast. laslow isn't thrilled about the idea of riding horses for a week straight, but if it gets them to their destination faster, he'll deal with it. as nice as that green potion sounds, he can't help but wonder what else it may do. delay reaction times, slow down thought processes,... eyes flit to corrin. she really is too trusting. "you seem a knowledgeable man. do you know where we might find a map as well?" "Thirteen hundred for the vial. Good for one person." The merchant glances back to Laslow. "I don't sell maps, I'm afraid, but for a small fee, I can draw you one." "how much for the map?" laslow asks, doing his best to keep his suprise at bay. To this, the merchant thinks for a moment, a finger to his chin. Then he holds up two fingers. "Two hundred, and my handicraft will be yours."

As the merchant names his price, Hilda turns to him with her most disarming smile. “Wow! Your stock is so impressive.” She gestures to the array before laying a friendly hand on his arm. “But we lost so much in the storm…” Her expression falls to one more dejected as she turned to her allies. “I guess we’re out of luck if we want something of such high quality…”

The merchant is taken in by Hilda's wily charms and honeyed words. "Now, you must understand that I run a business, so I cannot simply part with my wares for free. However, I will extend to you a fraction of Nahan's generosity. If you purchase this vial, I will give you a discount. One thousand for it, and I will draw you a map to Grannvale for free." He then reaches over the table and grabs a heftier, long-necked bottle of what looks to be tarnished silver, but you know it couldn't possibly be made of material that precious. He sets it down in front of you beside the bright green vial. "And a sample of a special hair oil, just for you." His words bring a smile back to her face, her expression lighting up. “You mean it? Thank you! That’s such a generous offer.” She bats her eyelashes at him before turning back to the others. “But my friends here hold the coin purse. What do you think?” the most fortunate one here, corrin makes something of a show of fishing around in her pocket as if to further prove that she definitely did not have enough money for the previous price. it’s only a moment before she produces the proper sum, offering it forward with a grateful nod. “we cannot thank you enough, really.”The apothecary takes the money with a grateful bow. "My pleasure. I do hope you'll remember to stop by again before you embark for Grannvale."

Unknown concoction in hand, Laslow leads their little group to a weapons stall. Metal of all shapes and sizes gleams in neat rows. He itches to reach for a sword, excuses of "just testing it out!" poised on his lips when he catches sight of the woman clearly in charge.

Ruffles his hair just so before approaching “Hel-lo there! I couldn’t help but notice these lovely swords being sold by an even lovelier woman.” It's a blur after that--all the trepidation melts from her gaze, interest sparking instead. He recalls the phrases "eye candy" and "nice older lady" being used, but his mind is far too busy catching up with the fact she didn't threaten him with the very sharp weapon at arm's length the moment he opened his mouth. none of this is how he expects it to go. He turns red to the tips of his ears, barely managing not to look at corrin out of sheer embarrassment. (Learned the lesson a long time ago that some women don’t like it when you look at another girl while talking to girl #1) He stutters out a response. “Um. Uh. Well, thank you, my darling, for such a kind offer. I truly do need a weapon—how else can I fend off all the boys vying for your hand?” He throws in a wink for good measure. “Alas, I lost my own trusted blade in a shipwreck.” A dramatic sigh for effect "Well, we can't have that now can we?" She picks up the Slim Sword from her collection. "I've had trouble selling this one. There's nothing wrong with it, but most mercenaries and other battle-types who come through these streets are often looking for something far more valuable than what I have the supplies for. I've give it to you for an eighty-percent discount. 520." She glances up at him with a smile. "You'd look dashing with it, I think." Laslow nods. “I do happen to like my face where it is.” Returns her smile. “You’re far too sweet to be dealing with the likes of those ruffians, buttercup! Aww, you truly think so? May I try it on?” He also gestures to corrin, beckoning her closer. “My friend holds all the coins—she doesn’t trust me not to spend it all in one place.” He totally 100% “””accidentally””” lets their fingers brush Tests the balance/etc “It’s perfect! Thank you, darling. Say, can you tell me a little more about this town? We were headed for Grannvale when we were waylaid by a nasty storm.” "About Nahan? Not much to say. This village has always earned its keep from the sea. Been brought very nearly to ruin a couple times, but we've fared better than other parts of the country. You've come at a good time. It's the best it's ever been in these parts." “I’m included to agree, since I met you,” he says, fixing the sword to his belt. “Any word on that church? Sailors, of course, are full of superstitions, but one can never be to careful these days, eh?” At mention of the Church of Loptous, the woman's demeanor suddenly changes. She retracts from from Laslow with a mixture of fear and surprise. "Why are you asking about them?" She shakes her head. "No. No. Nothing. And that's the way it should stay, here." He holds his hands up in retreat “I’m so sorry, my darling. It was all the talk of the sailors. Thank you ever so kindly for all your help. Perhaps we should go out for tea some time, yeah?” She still seems visibly fluster, but the offer of tea seems to smooth things over a little. She laughs and calls him sweet, but ultimately declines because she does in fact have a husband. But Laslow is quite the handsome young thing.

The sword is a familiar weight at his hip on the walk back. He's still blushing by the time they all meet up in their room again.