#heartbreak coverup

[partiallypearl]

ITS JUST ANOTHER LONELY NIGHT THEY HAPPEN ALL THE TIME NOW THAT YOURE NOT AROUNDDDDD

[gerardwayissexah]

WIP Wednesday - NejiTen Tattoo Shop AU

I'm procrastinating on something I need to do, so here's a short excerpt from one of my WIPs. Even though I'm open about generally disliking alternate setting AUs, I've written about 17k words of a modern AU fic inspired by some fanart I saw last year. To be human is to be a hypocrite, so sue me. :)

In what I have so far, Tenten is a tattoo artist/ninja weapons and gun enthusiast. Neji comes into her shop one day wanting a tattoo to cover up his mark - which she later finds out is a magical seal placed by his uncle. Intrigued and a little infatuated, Tenten gets sucked further into his orbit...and I'm still working on the rest. Here's a little preview! Let me know what you think, and please share if you enjoyed the excerpt.

“What brings you in today?” “I...you do tattoo cover ups, don’t you?” he said, his mellow voice airy with a slight nasal quality. “Uh, we do. Usually it’s cheaper than getting them removed.” Tenten lifted the corners of her lips in a smile, eyes upturned so she could meet the customer’s shifting gaze. Not even a hello, huh, she thought. Often customers who wanted their regrettable tattoos covered up came in on the heels of a recent breakup, when they found that their commitments in fact had been outlasted by their ink. Sometimes they showed up with a contrite expression on their faces, because she’d been the one who inked them in the first place. Tenten never commented aloud on their regrettable situation or probed, as was expected of good customer service. “That’s also what I’ve heard,” he answered. His jaw locked before he continued speaking. “Removal...also isn’t an option in my case. It’s not that I can’t afford it.”

She hummed, giving a single deliberate nod in acknowledgment. She didn’t want to pry on why it wasn’t an option for one who apparently had no shortage of resources at his disposal. The nagging interest at the back of her mind refused to leave, despite her repeated urgings to herself to forget them. The customer stepped forward to set a hand on her counter, then turned his head all around to survey the shop for anyone else around. Tenten wanted to tell him that he’d chosen a perfect time to visit, at the slowest hours of the week when only she held down the fort and the shop’s managers and other artists were absent. Maybe he’d even done his market research before coming, and intended to keep his request a secret from all whom it wasn’t absolutely necessary to involve.

Tenten pursed her lips and splayed her hands out in a shrug, to signal that there was little she could do at the moment. The first order of business when it came to covering up a tattoo was assessing what she had to work with. Some designs were easier to rehabilitate than others. Names of past lovers could be transformed into a patchwork of flowers, vines and thorns. Abstract geometric patterns if the customer favored designs of a less feminine bent. The sweeping curves and lines of a past lover’s name could be incorporated into the petal of a rose nested in a corona of thorns, or the arc of a Celtic knot. Turning heartbreak into beauty was among Tenten’s favorite challenges as an artist, one of the rare occasions where she had maximal discretion to exercise her creative mind. Other failed tattoos needed a coverup altogether, and the process of inking over entire patches or swaths of skin was often a painful one.

“Alright, that’s great to know,” Tenten said with a hint of sarcasm matching her dry smile. “Before I can do anything, I need to see what I’m working with. Won’t judge, promise. I’ve seen worse, guaranteed.”

The customer’s face turned even whiter, overprinting the few hints of color on his already pale skin. Tenten saw in his pallor the stark white of a fish belly, or a sheet of fresh printer paper. She knit her brows between her eyes while his lips parted, then he swept the tip of his tongue over his chapped bottom lip. Watching his struggle, she wished she could point to a line of other customers and tell him that she didn’t have all day to wait. Unfortunately for Tenten, the empty shop left her nobody else to draw her attention away, and she had hours left in the day before her shift ended. She weighed concocting some bogus task – restocking the back of house, sanitizing equipment – to break the heaviness in the air. But instead, she returned to her sketchbook and doodled a radial design of sweeping curls and intricate shading. It might make a nice tattoo to place on her shoulder blade or upper thigh, one of the few places where ink didn’t already cover her.

“If it’s an ass tattoo of your ex’s name in a pentagram, trust me, I’ve seen that.”

A breathy laugh met her joke. The idea of the uptight young man before her unveiling an ass tattoo brought a lopsided smirk to Tenten’s face. She hadn’t meant to make him laugh – the outburst of impatience was ill-advised, even when the tenor of her work environment was more on the casual side. Tenten’s supervisor would have rebuked her with a sharp word had he heard her mocking a customer, especially one who gave the impression that he didn’t take such offenses lightly.

“No, no. Nothing like that. I would never get an...ass tattoo of my own volition.”

“Most people with ass tattoos wouldn’t,” Tenten laughed. “Usually they’re under the influence of one thing or another. Not that I imagine a proper gentleman like yourself ever putting yourself in that position. And...what’s your name, by the way?”

[forgotten-elves]

Generations 1 & 2 of the Space Legacy Challenge (@simsandstrawberries)

Gen 1: Nova Mercury [x]

A restless alien who immigrated to Earth to experience all this strange planet had to offer. She tried every career and skill that peaked her interest, and embraced an adrenaline-junkie lifestyle that eventually lead her to the peak of Mt. Komorebi.

Gen 2: Perelandra Venus [x]

An alien raised on Earth is bound to have a life full of contradictions. Her parents simultaneously embraced the nurturing roles of a nuclear family, while using memory erasure to deal with minor disputes. Sixam abductions were an inescapable reality, and she knows they'll haunt her entire life.

Despite teenage heartbreak (and learning how to wrap guys around her finger), Perelandra's ambition has outshined everything else. Graduated early, dove headfirst into university, she's landed her first job at a legal firm in the isolated town of Strangerville. Only, she's realizing that her hiring had less to do with her credentials, and more to do with her heritage. An alien would be more trusted to keep certain alien-related coverups a secret, right?

Wrong. Perelandra is fueled by spite (and a geeky, good-hearted rancher might help her learn some compassion for humankind).

(I know technically the Strangerville mystery was listed as optional for the Mars generation, but I have different, Batuu-related plans for that space-faring gen.)

[rayshippouuchiha]

Thing is, I like reading Team-Tony fics. Because I myself, am Team-Tony. Problem is most of those fics focus on how heartbreaking the whole situation is and on how Tony is still struggling to be a good and moderately forgiving person because he needs these idiots help. I want this man feral, I want him tearing everything they ever loved to the ground. I want him to be full of spite and pettiness and to go "if you think I'm the source of everything bad that's ever happened to you, let me make that your reality". And it's all legal and aboveboard and stuff he wouldn't even get in trouble for on a social basis. Because part of him ruining their lives is airing out all their dirty laundry and revealing all the coverups he's done for them. I want him to body slam these idiots into a hell of their own making, as he comes out of it looking like a saint for having dealt with them and fixed their problems for so long.

I would also be down for fic recs along this theme. Lovelies?

[somekindofsentience]

reframing Omori, or are the endings really black and white?

MAJOR OMORI SPOILERS FOR EVERY SINGLE ENDING PLEASE PLAY THIS GAME I SWEAR ITS SUPER GOOD PLAY ALL THE ENDINGS (OR AT LEAST KNOW ABOUT THEM IF YOU'RE TOO SCARED TO PLAY THE NEUTRAL ENDING BECAUSE GOD KNOWS I WAS TOO)

TW: SUICIDE, GRIEF, LOSS, DEPRESSION, MENTAL ILLNESS, GAME-TYPICAL CONTENT

THIS IS ALSO REALLY LONG BECAUSE I'M INSANE. SORRY.

Right. This will be a big write-up of multiple interpretations of the different Omori endings. I feel like the game is quite black-and-white with how the endings should be interpreted, the achievements literally state what is good and bad for the player (and "other", which is also referred to as the neutral ending). But I don't think things are as good or as bad or as neutral as they seem.

Let's be explicit here - you're meant to get the good ending. The game does everything it can to ensure you get the good ending - even scrapping a daytime Hellmari jumpscare to ensure the player would keep opening the door for Kel. You're meant to save Basil. You're meant to defeat Omori. You're meant to uncover the Truth. You're meant to sit there and cry when Sunny and Mari play that Final Duet. And also, we like a story where there's the possibility for a happier ending! Don't you want these little babies you've follow around for 20 or 80 hours to get some closure and peace?

For these reasons, the good ending is usually considered canon, and I personally think the secret ending is also canon. I'll also be considering both canon for the sake of this post, although that isn't really relevant, since I'm going through all endings.

With this in mind, let's consider each ending.

THE "GOOD" AND SECRET ENDING.

This one is by far the easiest to flip the switch on. Since it's left ambiguous as to whether or not Sunny is forgiven by his friends, it could easily lead to a far worse ending where Hero throws Sunny down the stairs, or he is never forgiven, or other horrible events occur. Arguably, the point of the game is Sunny's personal acceptance, so whether or not his friends forgive him is so irrelevant that it's up for player speculation.

But that's all so simple, and all personal interpretation. I think considering the actual canon is far more interesting, particularly how it may affect Basil.

You could consider the secret ending to be an objective "good" ending - Sunny and Basil are smiling, and the Somethings fade away. But take a look where each Something goes.

Sunny's fades away entirely behind him, because his character arc surrounds finding and accepting the truth, and this means admitting to his friends what he has done. In this way, he also somewhat frees Basil from needing to obsessively hide the truth from the others, which is part of Basil's character arc, and quite crucial for the specific event that traumatised them both. This is healing specifically from Mari's death and the coverup.

But Basil's Something seems to... hide itself. It doesn't fade. It is still there.

Furthermore, the credits. Despite everything, Sunny does move from Faraway, the credits of a car rolling by definitely suggest this. I also don't think this fight would deter Sunny's Mom from wanting to start a new life - in fact, she'd probably want to do so more.

Basil's abandonment issues are unanswered.

I believe these issues have occurred for longer than the day of the recital - Basil takes photos of things he is "afraid to lose", we know Basil's parents are absent - and therefore they are a separate problem Basil needs to heal from. (omocat make an Omori 2 about basil pls it would be so good i swear i swear)

Basil means a lot to Sunny. We can see this in the numerous Basil-related things that appear in Headspace - all the little flower facts, the photo album's integrity to the group, Headspace's insistence they are best friends - and we juxtapose this to Basil's absolute state of panic over potential further abandonment, which is heartbreaking to witness, ending with his psychotic meltdown, furiously begging Sunny to stop leaving him. The abandonment of Basil had a massive affect on Sunny's mindscape, where his friend is constantly missing and tormented in Black Space, a forever reminder of the truth and the world he shut away. And from the way their Follow-Up Moves work, a hurt Basil is also hurt Sunny.

This comes to my final point - the Good ending is not objectively "Good" because of the implications it has for Basil, who has the ability to influence Sunny. Basil is missing a massive part of his healing, which is often why he is mischaracterised by the fandom as an insane yandere. Sure, the ending has the potential for future healing, but this ending also has the potential for further mental decline, and even points to the latter.

The ending is better than the others, yes. But it is far from a "good" ending.

Whether or not Sunny is aware of all this is up to you, which could be altered by whether or not you believe the two share dreams.

THE "BAD" ENDING.

Obviously the bad ending is bad. I am absolutely not encouraging the events of that ending, and I genuinely thought it was the worst possible ending - you did all that work to seek the truth and mend friendships and it leads to... that? - up until I watched this one amazing animation by _ysther. Please watch it for context.

Rolling Girl is about suicide, or severe mental illness, at least. Many people believe that the 'rolling' within the song is a metaphor for self-harm, but you may also consider that it is a metaphor for some half-baked existence - this feeling of being barely alive, surviving off the next hit of a potential future.

This animation frames the ending in a slightly different way, at least in my interpretation - that Sunny is exhaustedly trudging through Headspace, trying to see if there is something there for him, and there isn't. Omori and Sunny's hug at the end of the animation is notable - Sunny is in his hospital gown, and the headspace background fades through the air... this is implicit of the Bad Ending. This animation ends with the bad ending, and in the context of the song, Omori accepts Sunny's exhaustion, and sets him free.

Ultimately, the Truth is overwhelming. That's why Sunny repressed it for four years - it is so horrific that he cannot function in daily life without dissociation, and even with it, he's still a barely functional shut-in. He creates Omori and White/Black/Red Space, and daydreams to cope with his loneliness. At the end of the game, he faces Omori, who convinces him that death is the only option left in a seemingly sadistic way.

But Omori's purpose - just as any mind with suicidal intentions - is not to kill Sunny. His purpose is not only to repress the Truth, but to protect and support him. This is shown in Omori's final hug. When things get overwhelming, Omori convinces Sunny into suicide for their own freedom from suffering. It is a selfish act, which is why Omori spends time deeming Sunny worthy of committing it, but it is also a freeing act.

Furthermore, we know Headspace repeats over, and this repetitive cycle is innate to Sunny's (and many other people's) trauma. Repress, uncover, repress, uncover. Sunny's final fight with Omori was probably not the first, and if Sunny had survived the bad ending, it probably wouldn't have been the last. Omori is the absolute last line of defense, protecting Sunny and his friends from the Truth. This suggests that Sunny wasn't ready for healing, which lead to the bad ending.

The "bad" ending isn't explicitly bad - it is some twisted form of freedom. By killing him, Omori is freeing Sunny from the guilt and pain that has been destroying him for years. This suicide is the ultimate form of self-protection, Omori's final love note to Sunny.

But it is also a symbol of immaturity, though not necessarily a negative one. The bad ending is the implication that Headspace should have repeated, and the Truth needed further repression before Sunny could accept it. Sunny fell into Omori's trap because he simply wasn't ready, and this led to his death.

People always consider this ending in the context of what is best for the group and everyone outside of Sunny's mind, but they don't consider that, to himself and Omori, Sunny is a selfish person who is worthy of one final selfish act for peace.

THE "NEUTRAL" ENDINGS.

While the other segments were focused on greying out the black and white, demonstrating the more subtle implications of the endings, this will be proving that the word "neutral" should never be associated with these endings ever again.

Please note that I am only talking about the neutral endings that occur when you choose not to save Basil on the final night - we will discuss the implications of the Hikikomori route and its endings later.

The neutral endings are, hands down, the worst possible route you can take during the game. One of them is the only ending where three people explicitly die during the game. If you won't take this from a Basil lover, I'm going to prove objectively that this is the worst route for all members of the group, including Sunny.

Firstly, we have to talk about the dialogue that Aubrey, Kel and Hero say when Basil commit suicide.

Aubrey thinks it is her fault, for everything she did to Basil. Aubrey will forever blame herself for Basil's suicide, and this quote implies that. Looking at her expression, she's completely despondent. She isn't crying, she is feeling horrific guilt - not unlike the guilt Sunny feels for the truth. She might even slip into his habits of isolation and repression, or perhaps lash out further to cope.

Kel, on the other hand, is crying - which is incredibly notable for him, because his whole thing is ignorance and smiles - but he isn't blaming himself or the group or even Aubrey, but comparing this death to Mari's. Kel is such a complex character that I have difficulty analysing this particular line, but I personally think Kel is holding some of that childlike confusion, something similar to when he interacted with the depressed Hero. Why does this keep happening? Kel holds his own cycle of ignorance, and here it's broken. Perhaps he's questioning his own ability to "be happy" just as much as he is questioning the deaths.

idk. i'd love to here people's takes on this.

Hero's use of the second font is particularly notable. This font is associated with truth, and in particular, distortion. The most notable characters who use this distorted font are Basil during a breakdown and Omori - both characters associated with severe trauma and repression, trying to hide something. To me, this suggests that Hero is next.

Hero feels like he is the caretaker of the group - and he's failed, again. He thinks he hasn't been doing enough to protect everyone. He may experience another depressive episode, or that same repression followed by obsessively behaviour, trying to keep everyone alive safe. Whatever it may be, Hero is completely broken, as is the rest of the group. This is the end of any remaining functionality that they worked so hard to build up.

After this, viewing Basil's body leads to his door disappearing, as Sunny slips further into his repression. Something is yet again behind Sunny in the mirror, reminding him of the Truth.

I want to now draw your attention to something stated by the disembodied voice in the Map of Truth.

'They' is referring to both Basil and Mari, and at this point, Basil and Mari are dead. Sunny is the only person still alive who knows the Truth.

There is no way he can live with this, which is why the Knife Ending is readily accessible - but only if you explicitly seek it out. Within the knife ending, a dial-up rings forever for a call that will never be answered, as Sunny bleeds out on his bed. Sunny's Mom has lost both her children, and Kel, Aubrey and Hero have lost three of their friends, close enough to be family. This is in no way a "neutral" ending, this is the worst case scenario.

But even the Abandon Ending is unbearable. Sunny is the only one left who knows the truth of Mari's death. Implicitly, he has also killed Basil by the player's choice not to save him - which you could take as suggesting he somehow knew Basil was going to die.

The game shows to us that complete repression of the Truth is not possible. Even in the Hikikomori route, cracks of the Truth show in abstract ways - including Black Space 2 and the simulated Mari fight are good examples, as well as the horrific repeated jumpscares prevalent on the night in the real world before moving day. Even if Sunny moves away from the two ghosts he left behind, he will never be able to repress the Truth forever.

These endings are in no way neutral, and I think that's obvious to everyone. These are the worst endings you can receive, even the biggest Basil hater couldn't stomach all of this. I think.

THE HIKKIOMORI ROUTE.

If the good ending has elements of bad, and the bad ending has elements of good, and the neutral endings...

Well. Then the Hikikomori route is the perfect combination of both good and bad. It captures perfect game mechanics, and the peak of repression, but in some ways, it is the worst route you could consider taking.

On one hand, it's the perfect route for die-hard players. Peak exploration, unique information, the chance to level up and buff your characters, free access to the photo album, boss rush, and so much more. I personally love it, and I carefully plan out every aspect of what I'll do on that One Day Left. For Sunny, it is also a symbol that Omori has achieved his goal of "repression", or the façade of it, and will now sleep forever in peace. Dreamworld Basil is no longer a threat to Omori's perfect world (of which the meeting of the two literally felt like a wedding) and defeating the three Somethings achieves repression. Everything is okay, in Sunny's head.

On the other hand... it's the guiltiest route. The player is making an active decision to reject Kel and reality, which makes you feel guilty. It is incredibly difficult to take this route by pure accident, unless you were paralysed by the Hellmari jumpscare the night before. Unlike the other endings, Sunny never sees the truth in this route, only distorted fragments in Black Space and Black Space 2. Sunny never experiences the Something boss fight, but does still experience a Stranger fight, Headspace's final prayer to accept the truth, before Omori takes over forever.

And I don't know about you. But watching that piano fade away in the Lost Library... I felt shameful. It makes you want to apologise for the world you left behind.

It's quite easy to forget all this in the blur of Headspace, but Basil and Mari at the picnic blanket are a constant reminder. The blanket represents safety and protection, both for the party, but also the two left behind in it. Perhaps the fact he is present in the picnic blanket specifically suggests that Sunny is somewhat aware that Basil has committed suicide.

This route's endings are no more notable than the neutral endings, except Basil doesn't explicitly die in them, but it can be inferred he does from the results of the neutral endings. But the fact that we cannot confirm this just brings back that regret - Sunny has abandoned Basil and his old friends forever, for unrealistic Headspace reflections that Sunny made up. As I stated before, there is no way the Truth can be repressed forever, but it's pure speculation as to what happens after you abandon the group on the Hikikomori route.

thanks for reading, lol. i don't know how to conclusion. let me know your thoughts! this almost felt like stating the obvious half the time but i dunno, it felt cathartic to write.

i may write something about my journey with omori and i may not. this is a place for me to, idk, ruminate on things. i hope i don't become obsessed.

[ybcpatrick]

cannot fucking BELIEVE some of the canadian radio hits the rest of the world lowkey missed out on. like wdym you've never heard heartbreak coverup by jesse labelle? ghost by fefe dobson? this is what it feels like by armin van buuren feat. trevor guthrie? kiss goodnight by tyler shaw? break my heart by victoria duffield? hit me up by danny fernandes feat. josh ramsay and belly? goodbye by glenn morrison? inner ninja by classified? literally anything at all by marianas trench?

[zeynepsadik]

.*･｡ﾟ ━ ( melisa asli pamuk / cis woman / she/her) i think i just saw ZEYNEP SADIK on the subway.  the TWENTY-NINE year old PUBLICIST has been living on cornelia street for FOUR YEARS. zeynep’s friends know her to be perspicacious , zealous  &  vivacious , but she has a reputation on cornelia street for being devious , mercurial  &  imprudent. when i see zeynep , i can’t help but think of the well-planned coverup of a scandal , perfectly tailored designer clothing  &  the almost overwhelming need to protect a good thing  !  in  fact , i sometimes i think i hear LAVENDER HAZE when i see her walk by-

zeynep ayla sadik, just consider her cornelia street's tree paine.

bisexual.

born september 13, 1993 - we love virgos around here, okay?

the only child of the now former chairman and ceo of sony music and a one-hit-wonder pop star.

was really just faced with opulence and excess from the moment she was born. her silver spoon was probably diamond encrusted.

had the perks of a ridiculously wealthy father - her favorite popstar performed at her sweet sixteen, she had the nicest clothes, and the best vacations. she got into any event, party and club she wanted to.

but it wasn't all louboutins and good vibes. image was always very, very important to her father and he had no issue telling her exactly what she should be doing and made sure she did it.

she liked lacrosse growing up, but he wanted her to play tennis - she could do that at the country club and impress his friends. she preferred theater, he had her join the choir and take voice lessons. god forbid his daughter couldn't hold a note.

growing up, she never really felt like her own person, more just an extension of her father.

the first time she really felt like an individual was when it was time for college. she didn't just choose the school - columbia - but also her major - communications. standard for most, but a big deal for her.

it probably helped, though, that she knew what she wanted to do at that point. actual fame held little appeal to her, but she was fascinated by the business side. she'd see starlets - either friends she made or those contracted to sony - commit some debaucherous act right in front of her eyes. the next day, it'd be covered up entirely, twisted in the press or distracted from by some careful planned pap shots or a puff piece. she thought that was genius and wanted to be a publicist from then on out.

she was always a little sneaky and a step ahead of others, might as well make a career out of it.

freshly graduated, her dad pulled some strings to get her a job at a prestigious pr firm, giving her access to clients at a level most new hires never get the chance to represent.

so, yeah, nepotism got her in the door but she is really fucking good at her job. she's not afraid to play dirty (in fact, she thinks that's kinda fun), she has sources with people and tmz for all your puff piece needs, and has a knack for always knowing when a pap walk or publicity stunt is needed.

she's really managed to build a reputation of her own and her career is a great source of joy for her.

tbh, it's amazing to see someone so professionally successful and seemingly put together have such a messy personal life.

it's been one heartbreak after another for zey and she'd be hard-pressed to tell you exactly why. okay, sure, some of them were doomed from the start, obviously poorly matched paramours zeynep pursued in a kinda (totally) childish urge to rebel after her overbearing father criticized them.

but the rest? beats zey. she'd say she just has a broken picker, an issue no fault of her own and one that just can't be fixed. her friends would probably tell you that she's too impulsive when it comes to relationships, she feels that spark and is just ready to jump right in.

whatever the reason, no matter how meant to be she thinks they are, whether it's in two months or two years - it ends. and that's exactly why she wants to protect this new relationship she's in.

things feel good, really, really good and she's determined to shield this love from her less-than-charming family (especially the father who never approves of her partners), well-meaning but judgey friends, the stresses of the job and just the rest of the world. she doesn't want anything to taint it.

deep down, way down, zeynep realizes that's not exactly logical or realistic. they're gonna have to face the real world eventually. but she's also cool with just staying in that honeymoon phase for as long as they can and, honestly, doesn't have much of an idea or plan for how things will work once that ends.

wanted connections

romance is not dead if you keep it just yours aka muse b in lavender haze. the new love zey is so desperate to protect, she's all in on this.

it's nice to have a friend aka the besties. give me the fun, wild friends she can have a night out with but also the protective, logical ones who roll their eyes whenever she says 'it's different this time'.

i know i make the same mistakes every time aka the exes. zeynep has a history of failed relationships so a few of these would make sense.

clients. whether a public figure or a corporation, zey would be a great asset to have on the team.

anything and everything. she's a lifelong new yorker so there's plenty of time for run-ins, neighbors, former classmates, whatever.

[trinity-ars281]

Project Title: Cover-Up

Project Description:

Building on my previous assignment, "Pose," my new project, "Cover-Up," aims to delve deeper into the hidden struggles of college students. This project will feature five different magazine covers, each showcasing a college student posing confidently in the center. However, their smiles will mask their internal worries, reflecting the duality between their external demeanor and internal struggles. Many college students and young adults face significant issues that often go unspoken. We are frequently told to “be happy” and “you are young, you’ll figure it out” but this isn't always the reality of our feelings. This project will explore themes of financial stability, love, time management, mental health, and graduation—all major and pivotal moments for college students. By addressing these themes, "Cover-Up" seeks to shed light on the universal yet often hidden anxieties that plague young adults.

Inspired by Annie Leibovitz’s imaginative work, especially her vibrant commercial shoots for Vogue, I plan to emulate her use of color to evoke emotions and feelings. Leibovitz's ability to capture the essence of her subjects through vivid imagery will serve as a guiding influence for my project. Each cover will use pops of color and blends to convey the underlying emotions of the subjects, creating a visually compelling narrative that speaks to the complexity of their experiences.

Technically, each theme will feature a smiling student in the center, with watermarked images and icons in the background to visually represent their internal emotions. For instance, the cover dealing with financial stability will include faint images of bills, student loans, and job applications. The theme of love will feature symbols of heartbreak or relationship struggles, while time management/running out of time will showcase clocks and deadlines. Mental health will be represented with imagery related to stress, anxiety, and self-care, and the graduation theme will include caps, gowns, and uncertain futures. To achieve this I will be using Photoshop. 

The goal of "Cover-Up" is to create a commentary on the importance of acknowledging and expressing true feelings.  I hope to emphasize that while external appearances often suggest happiness and confidence, there is a critical need to address and manage the underlying emotions to promote genuine well-being and mental health. Additionally, young adults and college students should not be afraid to address that. 

Outcomes:

Five images of five students 

Designed Magazine coves (“Coverup Magazine)

The small blurbs will also convey students' inner thoughts

Settings: Predominately nature, Stony Brook campus

Methods & Materials 

I will use Photoshop to create the magazine templates 

Photoshop will also  be used to add symbols for each thing

References: Annie Leibovitz

[crescentmoonhotel]

starting to realize that me going "oh, im not going to bring it up and im going to hide that im into this thing because my friend doesnt like it, its just common sense" is actually just a bit of a coverup for me being just afraid to share interests, to share things, with my bestie in general, which is kind of heartbreaking to me since we have been like inseparable for 6 years

[allielee]

𝕒𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕔

oil stains on concrete. a dirty wrench. careful calculations on grid paper. nike sneakers and small shorts. sports bras and baggy sweatpants. waterproof mascara.

𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕤

Full Name: Allison Laramie Lee

Nickname(s): Allie, Aliwoo

Age: Thirty-Two

Birthday: September 8th

Hometown: Abilene, Texas

Length of Time in town: a few months

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/Her

Orientation: Heterosexual

Relationship Status: Single

Occupation: Mechanical Engineer, restores and sells antique cars

Accent: generic American accent

𝕓𝕚𝕠𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕡𝕙𝕪 

tw abuse, abortion, car accident, sibling death

She was the reason her parents fought. That was the impression that she had been born with, the first child of two virtual strangers who decided to stay together for her. That was always clear. The implicit: you better be worth it, never said but always resting over her shoulders.

So she tried to be. Smart, a perfectionist, she tried to wow her parents with her brains and grades, and when that didn't work, she tacked on extracurriculars. She wanted to show them she wasn't a mistake, that she was worth their fights, not the cause of them. It wasn't enough, they split, and it just seemed to get worse.

Dancing started off small, a few classes here and there, but it paired perfectly with her honor roll grades, her perfect image. Allie thought that if she tried hard enough, she could win her mother back over. All so curated, all so perfect. She was dabbing coverup on her sister's bruises and whispering to keep quiet, swallow the poison, never let anyone see, because if they did, well, then that whisper would be right. She was the cause of it all.

When it was time for college, she was accepted into one that was out of state, for a good reason. She had a dancing and cheering scholarship that was a coveted full ride, and her grades helped with that. She needed to shed her skin. She needed to be able to look in the mirror and not see the cracks like porcelain just under the surface.

She was a good girl, but she soon found out that her picker was something of broken. It was always this dude, with his anger issues — a reflection of their mother, who put her hands on people, and the men were the same — or that dude — a reflection of her father, absent, leaving her to chase after them. A cycle of heartbreak and self esteem issues.

When there was a missed period and a pink positive sign, Allie was terrified. She was 19. She was no older than her mother was, and the childhood she had flashed before her eyes, and she knew it would've been better to not have the kid than to repeat that cycle, so she called the only person she knew who would help her: her sister Olivia.

After the spring semester, which she managed to finish without too much fanfare, she headed home for a break. The decision was made. She was going to have an abortion and quietly forget anything happened. It was done, and that was that, and in the two weeks between spring semester ending and summer starting, she had already arranged to attend Stanford in California for a summer semester and then she could fully transfer to Stanford for the rest of her career.

When she was 22, she graduated from Stanford with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She moved back to Dallas and took a job at a firm. She was still dancing, and on a whim she decided to audition for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. It wasn't a surprise that she was hired, she had worked hard for the position.

She went on to cheer for three seasons before a scandal broke out. Allie had been one of the cheerleaders that had caught one of the executives of taking photos of them changing without their consent. She quit while she worked on a case.

Moving back to California, she took another job doing lower level engineering work. She met the man who would become her boyfriend. Daniel was a Formula D racecar driver — he was in Prosec at the time, and wasn't fully a professional. They hit it off, after all, she was pretty and liked cars.

Pretty soon, they became something of a power couple, with her posing for pictures and designing a new engine for him. It was her designs that ended up propelling him into the professionals, even and it landed them a deal with Ford Mustang to have their own proprietary line.

They were good for each other, at least everyone thought so. But most people didn't see the behind the scenes where Daniel struggled with alcoholism. Allie held it all together.

When the court case finally settled, Allie came into a ton of money. She quietly tucked it away, and that became something of a fight, even if Daniel was making a ton of money off brand deals and races.

When he proposed to her, it was an easy yes. It wasn't long after that tragedy struck, on a hiking trip, her brother slipped and fell. He passed away some months later after being in an extended coma. The death of her brother rocked Allie. But disaster wasn't over yet.

Daniel got behind the wheel of a car, and wrecked it. It tanked his career, as well as got him into a ton of legal trouble. Allie wanted to postpone the wedding, to try to handle all of this, and he fought her on it. So she called it off. It was all too much to handle.

So she moved to Whiskey Flats, trying to be closer to her sister and away from the drama. The engine designs were hers, so she took those too, the brand deal with Ford now in litigation as well. Meanwhile, she's living off her settlement money and making real money by restoring old cars that she picks up and does the work on her own.

𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖

2013: graduated college and became a DCC cheerleader

2016: DCC scandal / quits DCC

2017: meets Daniel

2018: designs the engine

2022: court proceedings and settlement from the DDC

2022: engaged / accident with brother

2023: brother passes away

2023: Daniel gets into an accident / she calls off the engagement / moves to Whiskey Flats

[regarding-stories]

Shows I've recently watched (and it's all anime...)

I guess I'm getting some use out of that Crunchroll subscription... though this phase started on Netflix. Shows with links I wrote more about elsewhere. Presented in no particular order.

Uncle From Another World: I love this show. Quirky characters, subverted expectations, lots of laughs. 17 year old obsessed with video games lives in a fantasy world while in a coma, wakes up 17 years later. The show plays the issues of all characters in a satisfying way. If the manga is anything to go by, will get more serious and heartfelt.

Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World: Extremely good show, highly recommended. Plenty of gore, you're warned. But resolutions in this show are ever so rewarding. Great Isekai world building - with a time loop twist.

Handyman Saito: Funny in a cute way, rather inconsistent. Rather gimmicky and tends to make too many crude jokes.

Romantic Killer: Oh, that one really got me. This show made me laugh so hard! It has a unique style that it plays very well. Girl resists being forced into romance-sim plot. Lots of character development all around. When you're not laughing it gives you the feels. Definitely deserves another season.

The Quintessential Quintuplets: I liked it so much, I watched the two seasons twice in a row. Seeing the movie conclusion in the cinema soon. Funny that I pick it up right before the release of that movie. Great characters, tears, laughs, heartbreak. Whatever the conclusion will be, I will be sad. And probably mad.

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash: It's a good Isekai story with a slower pace. The anime will not continue, though, and the books are an annoying disappointment. Who on Earth can stand Ranta?

In/Spectre: An unexpected show. Lots of talking - in fact, weaving of narratives, alibis, and coverups is the main theme of the show. If you like smartasses, you won't be able to resist the main character - a goddess of wisdom with a mouth and some issues. All stories feel like they have depth and logic to them, plus you get to meet some of Japan's outlandish spirits and monsters. If you make it through the Steel Lady Nanase arc that takes up so much space. Can be gory.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation: An extremely good fantasy story, but the show's depiction of an adult reborn as a child in another world can be sometimes very cringy to watch. Why? Because as adult he lived as shut-in (hikikomori) without human relations and developed some kinks he obsesses with. If you can see past that, you will find an actually extremely decent protagonist who grows a lot during the show - and away from that. Mostly. We also learn what traumatized him. His depiction is very honest in many ways, so the uncomfortable and weird is there for a reason. For the same reason, the humor can really hit home. Very detailed world that feels alive. Sudden dramatic reversals. I will write an article about the character arc of Eris (female love interest) soon because I think it is amazing, especially in the way it concludes. Started reading the books to continue, and it's definitely readable material.

SPY x FAMILY: This show is extremely funny, but it's also heart-warming. Telepathic child, woman with side job as assassin, and undercover spy form a fake family of convenience - and neither of the adults knows about the hidden side of the other, nor of the power of the child. And the family of course grows to be more liek the real thing. This show requires some suspension of disbelief, but it is just extremely enjoyable.

BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense: A light-hearted show which can be fun. The humor worked quite well for 2-3 episodes, pretty harmless, then I started losing interest for lack of stakes. Still, might revisit it.

Cautious Hero: In many ways a good show and parody of the Isekai genre. Unfortunately full of boob jokes and really has a problem with depicting women. At least the behavior of the protagonist gets an explanation in the end - it recontextualizes a few things. That doesn't vindicate the rest, but it was... watchable. I definitely wanted to see it to end.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: It's fun, but somehow I lost interest within 2-3 episodes. It seemed predictable at that point, but maybe that would change...?

The Way of the House Husband: Well, I continued it. (I think they uploaded new episodes.) The show is fun and funny. Former Yakuza member turns into house husband, displays same intensity when it comes to chores. At times surreal, the art style is very interesting.

I wish another season of Dorohedoro were to be announced. Netflix will never become a mainstay for anime (most of the aforementioned stuff was on Crunchyroll) if it remains so inconsistent in releasing new seasons.

[thewaybackcloset]

Geometric textiles, feathery eyelashes, and color blocking: Doll Fashions

There are stunning costumes in the film that you can only dream about when reading the book. The designer William Travilla professionally known as Travilla, designed all of the girl's most stylish looks. Mod A-line dresses, bedazzled pantsuits, cage pattern dresses and of course red carpet evening gowns were a staple for the film's starlets.

Neely was a bit tomboyish in the beginning, until her success in showbiz afforded her voluminous blowouts and extravagant fashion. Though she is most often remembered by her scene in a scotch induced stupor, yelling at her then-husband Ted on their pool deck wearing only a bra and slip. Jennifer North had the face and tall stature to wear Travilla. She can be seen in glittering minidresses with matching door knocker earrings. On her visit to Neely's Hollywood home, she is in a pink beach coverup suit hybrid and reveals a lime green swimsuit with matching bangles. Barbara Parkins who played Anne Welles, had the most boring of everyday looks, as she stated in a Valley of the Dolls documentary. Beige everything: dress, winter coat, matching beret to go with the office's beige envelopes. With her chestnut brown hair she practically blended in to the woodwork. The career woman Travilla sets were based on Jackie Kennedy's impeccable first lady looks. Parkins DID have her shining moments in the colorful glamor of the Gillian Girl commercial and then after.

I feel like I could pickup Valley of the Dolls over and over again to read. Its charmingly hilarious and I find myself shaking my head at all of the feminine trepidation these girls went through with love, heartbreak and career. I knew I wanted to wait to view the film after I had read the true account that Jacqueline Susann had conveyed. In a way it was her own account; she was Anne Welles wading her way through entertainment in the 1960s and wrote from all the different angles. The film wasn't the novel verbatim (they seldom are) but more like watching a series fashionable comedy skits. The acting was like a roller coaster, as are the emotions.

The supporting women are equally hilarious: Miriam (sister to the nightclub singer, which Jennifer was wed to) and aging Diva Helen Lawson were spectacularly bizarre in their dialogue exchange. Everyone should check out this piece of camp history, because both works are idyllic definitions of the camp genre.

[kaitlinj16]

I play the game

Even though I go up in flames

And I'm burning down tonight 🔥

[deanpinterester]

anyway i did find the ipod and the music app in there is Such a throwback to early 2010s songs i forgot about

[sulanimami]

Jasmine Chaney

Tray Flies & CC Links under the cut 

Things to Remember 

1. If it is not listed, either the creator took the link down or it is behind a paywall

2. I tend to reuse and repeat the same makeup and jewelry, so it might be listed for one outfit and not the other, just to save time.

3. I gave exact names to save time when looking for her CC but I do highly recommend downloading the full collections as they are so amazing.

4. No strict TOU. Just do not claim as your own, no paywall, respect the other creators TOU and please share pics if you do decide to download her!

Jasmine’s Tray Files

Everyday: Hair (Kimberly V2) Necklace (Heartbreak V2) Top (Josie Cardigan V2) Nails  Skirt (Button Plaid) Eyeshadow  Lips/Facepaint Shoes (Tai Platforms) Anklet Earrings  

Formal: Necklace (Heartbreak V1) Dress (Shannon Dress) Hair  Eyeshadow Earrings Lipliner 

Active: Top & Bottoms  Hair (Kimberly V2)  Nails Shoes (Low Top Sneakers 03) 

Sleep: Top & Bottom Shoes 

Party: Catsuit (Julia) Eyeliner Earrings  Eyeshadow Lipstick 

Swimwear: Bikini (Tara Bikini Coverup) Highlighter  Eyeshadow Shoes  

Hot Weather:  Necklace (Armorini) Lips Shoes (Platform Sandals 05) Eyeliner 

Cold Weather: Top Skirt (Chanel) Shoes (Leather Ankle Boots) 

Sliders, Skins, & Mods: Eyes Skin Overlay Nose Eye Preset Eyebrow Slider Thigh Slider Hip Shape Slider Bodyshape Eyebrows

[electricgoldtendercare]

YACHT CLUB || C.L.

||hi everyone! I got inspired to write a little blurb about Charles Leclerc and meeting his friends for the first time so I wanted to post it here! I don’t own any characters but this is all my writing. Let me know what you think, any feedback is wanted! Forgive my formatting, i’m on mobile! ||

When Charles had asked you to come meet all of his friends you had been excited, happy that it was finally happening but as it got closer and closer you were nervous. The nerves were only made worse when you found out you’d all be on a yacht in the Mediterranean. Of course you knew the racers by their fame but you had yet to meet them. You had been to races but only really stayed in the Ferrari paddock, meaning your connection extended to Carlos and the Ferrari team.

You and Charles had been dating since the end of 2021 and despite both wanting you to meet his friends earlier, as soon as the 2022 season started he was focused on nothing else. You were with him to go through the highs and the heartbreaks of the first half of the season and without much break, it ended up being just the two of you.

As nervous as you were, you were even more excited. Charles had told you so many stories about everyone and it just made it all the more exciting to meet them. The love Charles showed for them made you want this night to go perfect, so if you took a little more time getting ready no one could blame you. You went through a few swimsuits before finding the perfect one. Matching with Charles, you wore a pink bikini with splashes of red and blue on them and opted for a lacy white coverup. Charles had seemed wary of it, fingertips tracing up and down your arms and biting at his lip. The way his eyebrows furrowed just made you giggle and with just a few kisses and your fingers twirling the hair at the back of his neck he was back to normal.

Arriving to the yacht you felt the nerves creeping up, wrapping your hands around Charles’ arm and not letting him get too far ahead of you. You and Charles had learned ways to comfort each other early on. Wether it was a sad night or a difficult race, you always seemed to know what to do to help out. In this case he slipped his arm around your waist and kissed the top of your head “It will all be okay, mon bebe. They will adore you.” Immediately you felt more relaxed and ready for the night.

Stepping in you heard voices up ahead and put on a smile as you both turned the corner to see the group of drivers sitting together. Instead of it being awkward like you had expected, the room erupted into cheers and whistles for the two of you. Each driver got up to introduce themselves to you, mostly with hugs but the occasional man (Danny & Pierre) would kiss each of your cheeks, causing Charles’ arm to tighten ever so slightly around your waist.

Once things were settled and drinks were handed out, you sat close to Charles on the couch with Lando on your other side. “So y/n, I can see why Charles has been hiding you away, keeping

you all to himself.” Daniel jokes and you laugh a little, glancing towards Charles. “Well now that i’ve met you all, he’ll have a hard time keeping me away.” You joke back, causing a small amount of cheers from the drivers. You feel Charles’ hand slipping underneath the cover up, finding your hip to rub slowly and pull you back into his chest.

After catching up and talking for a while, Lando suggested that everyone goes for a swim before the sun starts to set. You hop up and pull Charles along behind you. You pull your cover up off and notice that your boyfriend was basically standing guard, keeping you hidden from the other drivers. You giggle and wrap your arms around him from behind, pressing a kiss to his neck. “You know i’m here with you, right?” You tease and he grumbles something in french under his breath. Having been fairly isolated for most of your relationship you never saw the cute ways Charles got jealous over you until now. Figuring he just needed to cool off you brought him down to the ledge and made him jump into the water with you. You noticed a difference immediately and within minutes you were all splashing each other and playing around.

After nearly an hour, you were all climbing back into the yacht, talking about playing some games and drinking some wine. You were about to join them on the couch when you felt your boyfriend pull you away. Confused, you ignored the whistles from the guys and followed him with furrowed brows. Once arriving to the bow of the ship you noticed an area decorated with candles, blankets, and a bucket of different kinds of champagne. It didn’t hit you that Charles had set this up until you glanced over to him and he had a small smile on his face, waiting for your reaction. Your face broke into a huge grin and you nearly jumped into your boyfriend’s arms, shaking her head. “You did not set this up all for me, did you?” you ask, to which he replied “Of course I did, mon amour. Just for you.” He smiled, pulling you into a kiss before carrying you over to the area and sitting you down.

Champagne was opened and the two of you cheered to how well the night had been going so far. “The view is pretty but you’re even prettier.” Charles whispered, causing you to laugh loudly and shake your head. “You are so corny.” You joke, climbing to straddle his lap. The sunset had been completely forgotten as you felt his arms wrap around your waist and yours threaded into his hair. Your lips melted together into a kiss, getting more and more heated. Large hands had just started sliding up to start undoing your bikini top when you both were jolted apart by a whistle. Thanking god that your back was turned, you watched Charles pull a blanket up over the two of you as Pierre yelled down “hey love birds, we’re about to start charades and we need the two of you to stop making out and come up.”

Your cheeks went pink and you hid your face in your boyfriend’s neck, giggling softly to yourself as you felt his body shake against you as he chuckled. You pull off your swimsuit cover and reach over for his shirt, sliding it on with a smirk. You gave him a few more kisses before standing up to go back to the group. You both went reluctantly and settled down on the couch.

“No! You guys can’t be a team, you’ll cheat!” Lando says and before you or Charles could fight it Daniel spoke up “I call y/n! Come be on my team.” He smiles and despite Charles tensing under you you climbed up, giving him a small kiss before you went over to sit next to Daniel. The rest of the group paired up and the game began.

Turns out you and Daniel made an amazing team. Somehow you just knew what he was acting out and vice versa. “Joe Montana!” You yell as the timer ends and Daniel runs over and spins you around with a laugh. You think nothing of it until you hear Lando chuckle and glance over to Charles who has a grumpy look on his face. You sit next to him, about to whisper something to him when it’s his and Lando’s turn to play. Daniel takes his place next to you and starting to tell you some story about a party where Charles’ got extremely drunk. You let out a laugh, nearly having to cover your mouth with how loud it comes out. You blush slightly but realize it had gone silent, looking over at your boyfriend.

He has the most adorable pout on his face and it nearly made you coo audibly. Lando let out an exasperated sigh when the timer runs out without Charles even getting one action in. Charles nearly stomps over to the couch and sits back, a furrow in his brow. As adorable as he looked you didn’t want to make him sit in his misery for too long. You had a few turns before you went next so you decided to climb onto his lap.

You get some over dramatic ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ but your focus was on your grumpy boyfriend. Your hands hold the sides of his face and you lean in to kiss him. You kiss his eyelids, his cheeks, his nose and then finally his lips before pulling away to see a small smile on his face. “There he is.” You whisper, hand moving down to the side of his waist to tickle him a bit. He lets out a chuckle and your job is done.

Well, it was. Until you and Daniel won the game of charades. “Maaate! We fucking killed that! I reckon we’re a better team than you and Charles, ey?” He says, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. You rolled your eyes and gave him a hug, shaking your head. The anger on your boyfriend’s face no longer cute and you felt bad. “I think it’s probably time for us to turn in.” You said, walking over to Charles and pulling him up. You slip your arms around his bare waist and lean up to kiss him before turning back to the group. “I had so much fun, it was really nice to meet you all.” You told them genuinely and went around to give quick hugs. Daniel could tell he had taken it too far so a handshake was all that was offered with a knowing look.

You take Charles’ hand and lead him away as you say goodbye to everyone. Once you’re off the yacht you slip your arm around his waist again and turn to face him. Looking up through your lashes you put on your best pouty face, biting your lip slightly. “Tu seras toujours mon partenaire de jeu préféré, mon amour.” You whisper up to him and the smile that cracks on his face at the broken french is enough to get your heart racing.

No more words were shared on your way home, just the constant feeling of Charles’ fingers brushing against any bare skin he could access. That didn’t stop on the way up to his home, barely able to keep his hands off of you to get the keys out of his pocket to let you both inside. Once you were in, you both changed and climbed into bed.

One of your favorite things about Charles was the small whines he’d let out when he wanted something but didn’t want to ask. Most days right before you both went to bed he’d tug your shirt off, or try to at least. If it worked he’d just smile proudly to himself but if it didn’t he’d let out small grunts and wines until you finally caved in. You caved in every time. Tonight wasn’t any different and you suddenly found yourself with your back pressed directly to his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around you and resting on your bare stomach. “Plus de nuits de jeux s'il vous plaît.” Is all he whispered into your ear before the both of you drifted off to sleep.